MONDAY MUSINGS: It's hard to be optimistic anymore

[CloneIce]

I'm thinking you wait until Texas to bring Lanning out. The next two defenses are bad but they'll be games where the offense is in desperation mode after the first quarter. He has to have built up some confidence in how he's played, although sparingly, but I'd hate to see all of that lost while trying to keep them in a game where the other team is scoring 50+.

Why? He is a 20+ year old, 235 lb football player, not some delicate flower with emotional issues. Get him out there and get some experience against a poor TCU defense. Let him sling the ball around the field when we get way down and see if he can get in a rhythm and get on the same page as our good WR group.

We are the only fan base that is so worried about confidence... get him out there and let him play football!

 

[tejasclone]

I really, really, really don't understand how you go away from running the ball, controlling the clock, and keeping hte Tech offense on the sidelines... especially when you have a kid getting 10 yards a pop. We continued to put the ball in the air, throw incompletions and interceptions, and getting in our own way.

We did the same thing against Baylor the last two years. The offense goes three-and-out and gives the ball back to the other guys without taking more than a minute off the clock.

Controlling the clock seems like a simple and effective strategy, especially when you have the personnel and the matchups to exploit it. But we just refuse to do it.

 

[Wesley]

I really, really, really don't understand how you go away from running the ball, controlling the clock, and keeping hte Tech offense on the sidelines... especially when you have a kid getting 10 yards a pop. We continued to put the ball in the air, throw incompletions and interceptions, and getting in our own way.

We did the same thing against Baylor the last two years. The offense goes three-and-out and gives the ball back to the other guys without taking more than a minute off the clock.

Controlling the clock seems like a simple and effective strategy, especially when you have the personnel and the matchups to exploit it. But we just refuse to do it.

That is ISU football.

 

[Bigman38]

Why? He is a 20+ year old, 235 lb football player, not some delicate flower with emotional issues. Get him out there and get some experience against a poor TCU defense. Let him sling the ball around the field when we get way down and see if he can get in a rhythm and get on the same page as our good WR group.

We are the only fan base that is so worried about confidence... get him out there and let him play football!

Yeah, 20 year olds are known for their mental stability.

Why do you think Sam has regressed? His arm didn't get weaker, he hasn't learned less about the playbook, it's coaching and a lack of confidence.

 

[CloneIce]

I really, really, really don't understand how you go away from running the ball, controlling the clock, and keeping hte Tech offense on the sidelines... especially when you have a kid getting 10 yards a pop. We continued to put the ball in the air, throw incompletions and interceptions, and getting in our own way.

We did the same thing against Baylor the last two years. The offense goes three-and-out and gives the ball back to the other guys without taking more than a minute off the clock.

Controlling the clock seems like a simple and effective strategy, especially when you have the personnel and the matchups to exploit it. But we just refuse to do it.

But the pass plays were well designed, and resulted in easy passes to wide open WRs.... our QB just couldn't complete the passes. I can see your point, but if our QB is even mediocre the play calling would not have been an issue.

 

[CloneIce]

Yeah, 20 year olds are known for their mental stability.

Why do you think Sam has regressed? His arm didn't get weaker, he hasn't learned less about the playbook, it's coaching and a lack of confidence.

Why are we scared to play a 3rd year QB because losing might effect him mentally? You think sitting on the bench losing is going to give him a mental edge? Watching us lose will give him more experience then actually playing in a game like this? If we are worried about this, we must be the most mentally fragile team in the nation.

I have never heard of a team or fanbase be scared to play a 3rd year QB out of concerns for his delicate mental state. You use SR as an example - well he is not physically or mentally tough enough to be a Big 12 QB. If Lanning has the same problem, I'd prefer we find out now, so we can recruit a JC QB for next year.

 

[Bigman38]

Why are we scared to play a 3rd year QB because losing might effect him mentally? You think sitting on the bench losing is going to give him a mental edge? Watching us lose will give him more experience then actually playing in a game like this? If we are worried about this, we must be the most mentally fragile team in the nation.

I have never heard of a team or fanbase be scared to play a 3rd year QB out of concerns for his delicate mental state. You use SR as an example - well he is not physically or mentally tough enough to be a Big 12 QB. If Lanning has the same problem, I'd prefer we find out now, so we can recruit a JC QB for next year.

You're assuming someone's confidence it either there or it isn't, and that couldn't be further than the truth. Although it seems to be a belief of the coaching staff too.

If any fanbase knows the importance of confidence it should be this one, we've watched promising young QB's get dismantled until they struggle to complete bubble screens time and time again.

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

Can we just run the wishbone or flexbone at this point? Warren, Thomas, Ryen as slotbacks/rb; Lazard, Bundrage as WR and rotate in new blood when needed; Lanning as QB.

Honestly, why did Trever Ryen, our most explosive speed option, get three touches all game?

 

[CycloneBob]

I really, really, really don't understand how you go away from running the ball, controlling the clock, and keeping hte Tech offense on the sidelines... especially when you have a kid getting 10 yards a pop. We continued to put the ball in the air, throw incompletions and interceptions, and getting in our own way.

We did the same thing against Baylor the last two years. The offense goes three-and-out and gives the ball back to the other guys without taking more than a minute off the clock.

Controlling the clock seems like a simple and effective strategy, especially when you have the personnel and the matchups to exploit it. But we just refuse to do it.[/QUOTE

I don't necessarily disagree. However, K State is the best at this approach, and TCU hung 52 on them - given this, it's scary to what they might do to us under either approach - does our nice scoreboards have enough capacity?

Bottom line, forget the sarcasm, wise remarks and other jabs. This season and program is just totally disappointing and disheartening, especially given all the fan support. I've been there for 5 decades, each year hoping for better, but frankly don't see it this year, either. The fans just deserve better.

 

[CloneIce]

You're assuming someone's confidence it either there or it isn't, and that couldn't be further than the truth. Although it seems to be a belief of the coaching staff too.

If any fanbase knows the importance of confidence it should be this one, we've watched promising young QB's get dismantled until they struggle to complete bubble screens time and time again.

I just can't agree with your belief that Lanning will gain more confidence sitting on the bench watching us get our *** kicked then he will from, you know, actually playing QB in a Big 12 football game. This isn't how sports works - did you play sports?

And if you are right, and Lanning is mentally fragile like SR is, and becomes too scared to play effectively because of losing a couple of games, we need to know that right now so we can recruit a JC QB to start next year! Don't you think so?

 

[heitclone]

I don't get why we care if Lanning can throw or not, if he can be a consistent runner (a la every qb Kstate) then throwing is a non issue. Just throw in some different wrinkles with Lanning running and ride he and Warren from here on out.

 

[Judoka]

I just can't agree with your belief that Lanning will gain more confidence sitting on the bench watching us get our *** kicked then he will from, you know, actually playing QB in a Big 12 football game. This isn't how sports works - did you play sports?

And if you are right, and Lanning is mentally fragile like SR is, and becomes too scared to play effectively because of losing a couple of games, we need to know that right now so we can recruit a JC QB to start next year! Don't you think so?

Rhoads destroys QBs. The more attention he pays to them the worse they get. I'd prefer Lanning never get the full Paul Rhoads Starting Quarterback Coaching Experience.

 

[Bigman38]

I just can't agree with your belief that Lanning will gain more confidence sitting on the bench watching us get our *** kicked then he will from, you know, actually playing QB in a Big 12 football game. This isn't how sports works - did you play sports?

And if you are right, and Lanning is mentally fragile like SR is, and becomes too scared to play effectively because of losing a couple of games, we need to know that right now so we can recruit a JC QB to start next year! Don't you think so?

Who said he's gaining confidence on the bench? He's gaining confidence from his role in the offense right now, which has been largely positive.

There's very little, if anything, to be gained from throwing him to the wolves in two very lopsided games. I think ISU should be trying to grow the younger talent instead of just throwing them into games for the hell of it and then declaring him mentally fragile when it doesn't work out.

Leave the "do you even lift bro?" crap for discussions with children.

 

[NickTheGreat]

You know it's bad when the "sunshine pumpers" can't pump the sunshine.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Who said he's gaining confidence on the bench? He's gaining confidence from his role in the offense right now, which has been largely positive.

There's very little, if anything, to be gained from throwing him to the wolves in two very lopsided games. I think ISU should be trying to grow the younger talent instead of just throwing them into games for the hell of it and then declaring him mentally fragile when it doesn't work out.

Leave the "do you even lift bro?" crap for discussions with children.

For the hell of it? How about to try to win the game? I'm as negative as anyone but not giving guys a chance is ridiculous. Ask Lanning how he feels about it and I have a feeling you'll find you are wrong. No one on this team is good enough that they need to be "protected". Our best chance going forward is to find some diamonds, you aren't going to find any diamonds by letting the cubic zirconia get all of the playing time.

 

[brett108]

Can we just run the wishbone or flexbone at this point? Warren, Thomas, Ryen as slotbacks/rb; Lazard, Bundrage as WR and rotate in new blood when needed; Lanning as QB.

Honestly, why did Trever Ryen, our most explosive speed option, get three touches all game?

Huh? I am almost certain if you lined them up and had a race, Warren would torch Ryen. Warren was a 100m dash champion in the state of Oklahoma. Ryen plays fast, but the fastest guy on offense was getting the ball, just not enough.

 

[brett108]

Who said he's gaining confidence on the bench? He's gaining confidence from his role in the offense right now, which has been largely positive.

There's very little, if anything, to be gained from throwing him to the wolves in two very lopsided games. I think ISU should be trying to grow the younger talent instead of just throwing them into games for the hell of it and then declaring him mentally fragile when it doesn't work out.

Leave the "do you even lift bro?" crap for discussions with children.

You have no idea what you are talking about. The good players think they deserve to play and want to play in these types of games. If he is afraid of this opportunity he will never be the right guy.

 

[Bigman38]

For the hell of it? How about to try to win the game? I'm as negative as anyone but not giving guys a chance is ridiculous. Ask Lanning how he feels about it and I have a feeling you'll find you are wrong. No one on this team is good enough that they need to be "protected". Our best chance going forward is to find some diamonds, you aren't going to find any diamonds by letting the cubic zirconia get all of the playing time.

agreed, that's why you don't put him in an impossible situation next week.

 

[Bigman38]

You have no idea what you are talking about. The good players think they deserve to play and want to play in these types of games. If he is afraid of this opportunity he will never be the right guy.

what are you referring to in my post?

If you're going to start with an insult you might want to make sure you've read the post you're talking about.

 

[Judoka]

You have no idea what you are talking about. The good players think they deserve to play and want to play in these types of games. If he is afraid of this opportunity he will never be the right guy.

It isn't about Lanning not wanting to play. I'm sure he'd jump at the chance. It is about what Paul Rhoads and staff will do to his psyche if he is the starting QB. Rhoads will ruin Lanning like he ruins every QB if he turns his attention towards him.