The Montana Grizzlies took another hit to their coaching staff with the hiring of offensive coordinator Jonathan Smith by Boise State. Smith will be the quarterbacks coach at Boise State and yet receive a nice bump in pay: The Broncos pay their assistants anywhere from $140,000-310,000, and I’ve heard that they’ll pay Smith somewhere in the neighborhood of $210,000.

As Robert De Niro said at the end of Midnight Run: “That’s a very respectable neighborhood.”

Griz coach Robin Pflugrad, meanwhile, is faced with finding replacements for both Smith and departed defensive coordinator Mike Breske, who was hired by Washington State on Sunday. But first and foremost is recruiting. For one thing, the human resources part of hiring new coaches takes time; for another the Griz have two weekends left to complete their 2012 signing class. There are 16 verbal commitments with the addition of Zach Peevey,* and UM could sign 24 on Feb. 1.

I’m going to miss the mellow Smith and demonstrative Breske, and the situation is tough for Pflugrad. But it’s not impossible. I look forward to seeing who turns up – or moves up – to take over these two key spots for the Griz.

- Fritz Neighbor

*-Peevey’s 2011 stats, according to Hellgate coach R.L. Boyles: 62 tackles, 27 solo; 12 tackles for loss; 9 sacks; 12 QB hurries and an interception returned for a TD. Peevey did play all over the place for the 1-9 Knights, including noseguard.