Beathard back as OC

[RBFANTOO]

Thank you Coach Spack. This is like an early Christmas present.
Welcome back Coach Beathard. :clap: :dance: :clap:

 

[DannyCooksey]

Exciting to think what Coach Beathard can do with a good returning O-Line and a stable of talented running backs.

I don't think it's unrealistic to say that James Robinson and Markel Smith will combine for well over 2,000 yards rushing if both remain healthy.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

For some perspective on Beathard's influence on QBs and pass game. I went to the spring game in spring 2014 ... this is before the Natty Run and before Tre Roberson transferred in June 2014. Remember Blake Winkler ? Good kid, good thrower, but a little undersized and not quite ready for speed of game at MVFC level .. but good QB otherwise. I mean this as a positive .. he was like Rex Grossman in that sense .. he could throw it in a strong pocket.

Also recall we just came off a 5-6 season in which the defense started season horribly, but made great in season improvements, and we're very respectable 2nd half of season. But offense was just the opposite, started promising with QB Jared Barnett (OK ST transfer) but he faded fast, and then Blake took job and he started very well but also quickly faded. Similar to now, it was partly on QB but moreso on OC.

Anyway, here's my point. We fired the former OL coach turned OC Barnett and hired OC Beathard that offseason. So at this point, we had very uncertain QB situation .. QB Barnett quit the team and QB Winkler had lost all confidence by end of 2013. QB Meredith had already turned WR for 2013 and did ok. RB Coprich had 900+ yards but showed some serious promise.

But then I went to spring game and witnessed the transformation of QB Winkler and a very dynamic pass attack .. I recall leaving that spring game thinking .. holy sh-t, we might actually have a pass game that had dwindled to nothing in 2013 with same QB Winkler under prior OC.

And then Roberson transferred in June 2014, showed up to OTAs and most assumed Roberson would easily win job. To further cloud matters, Tre broke his right hand middle of OTAs and so most of us assumed Winkler would be starter again. By August camp, Winkler and Roberson were splitting reps 50/50. Roberson was NOT impressing yet. But then the last week, they started working more on deep passing game and Roberson just lit it up and won the job.

Note, Winkler was far better thrower in short--intermediate pass game, but Tre could run and kills teams with deep ball. but Tre really struggled underneath and that was obvious the 1st half of season in which he had many weak performance before everything came together AFTER the UNI loss. Only then was Tre one of the best QBs in country due to his dual threat with deep ball.

Point being this ... Kolbe is taller more mobile version of Winkler. Winkler was barely beat out by Roberson last week of August camp for starting job because of how well Winkler was playing. New OC Beathard turned Winkler into a contender at QB after a very rough 2013. So I can't wait to see what Beathard can do with Kolbe this spring.

p.s. except we're going to NEED couple WRs for this to work.

Good comparison, Fourth. Regarding the WRs...I am hoping the return of Coach Beathard impacts the ability of the program to attract talent. Players are aware of the coaches and the track records of those coaches. If you were a WRs looking for a new home I would think this coaching addition would be very positive for you. Lets hope so!

 

[Redbird28]

Honestly didn't think he'd come back, but I couldn't be more happy to be wrong. This is tremendous news. It never hurts to get a guy back on staff that understands, and has been exposed to, first hand through NFL teams what it takes to land guys in the league. This is seriously such a positive impact for the program that it can't be overstated. Welcome back, Coach Beathard!

 

[CaliRdBrd]

For some perspective on Beathard's influence on QBs and pass game. I went to the spring game in spring 2014 ... this is before the Natty Run and before Tre Roberson transferred in June 2014. Remember Blake Winkler ? Good kid, good thrower, but a little undersized and not quite ready for speed of game at MVFC level .. but good QB otherwise. I mean this as a positive .. he was like Rex Grossman in that sense .. he could throw it in a strong pocket.

Also recall we just came off a 5-6 season in which the defense started season horribly, but made great in season improvements, and we're very respectable 2nd half of season. But offense was just the opposite, started promising with QB Jared Barnett (OK ST transfer) but he faded fast, and then Blake took job and he started very well but also quickly faded. Similar to now, it was partly on QB but moreso on OC.

Anyway, here's my point. We fired the former OL coach turned OC Barnett and hired OC Beathard that offseason. So at this point, we had very uncertain QB situation .. QB Barnett quit the team and QB Winkler had lost all confidence by end of 2013. QB Meredith had already turned WR for 2013 and did ok. RB Coprich had 900+ yards but showed some serious promise.

But then I went to spring game and witnessed the transformation of QB Winkler and a very dynamic pass attack .. I recall leaving that spring game thinking .. holy sh-t, we might actually have a pass game that had dwindled to nothing in 2013 with same QB Winkler under prior OC.

And then Roberson transferred in June 2014, showed up to OTAs and most assumed Roberson would easily win job. To further cloud matters, Tre broke his right hand middle of OTAs and so most of us assumed Winkler would be starter again. By August camp, Winkler and Roberson were splitting reps 50/50. Roberson was NOT impressing yet. But then the last week, they started working more on deep passing game and Roberson just lit it up and won the job.

Note, Winkler was far better thrower in short--intermediate pass game, but Tre could run and kills teams with deep ball. but Tre really struggled underneath and that was obvious the 1st half of season in which he had many weak performance before everything came together AFTER the UNI loss. Only then was Tre one of the best QBs in country due to his dual threat with deep ball.

Point being this ... Kolbe is taller more mobile version of Winkler. Winkler was barely beat out by Roberson last week of August camp for starting job because of how well Winkler was playing. New OC Beathard turned Winkler into a contender at QB after a very rough 2013. So I can't wait to see what Beathard can do with Kolbe this spring.

p.s. except we're going to NEED couple WRs for this to work.

Damn! You're an encyclopedia. Well done and a nice confidence booster for those (me) worried about our lack of offense going into next season.

 

[fourthandshort]

For some perspective on Beathard's influence on QBs and pass game. I went to the spring game in spring 2014 ... this is before the Natty Run and before Tre Roberson transferred in June 2014. Remember Blake Winkler ? Good kid, good thrower, but a little undersized and not quite ready for speed of game at MVFC level .. but good QB otherwise. I mean this as a positive .. he was like Rex Grossman in that sense .. he could throw it in a strong pocket.

Also recall we just came off a 5-6 season in which the defense started season horribly, but made great in season improvements, and we're very respectable 2nd half of season. But offense was just the opposite, started promising with QB Jared Barnett (OK ST transfer) but he faded fast, and then Blake took job and he started very well but also quickly faded. Similar to now, it was partly on QB but moreso on OC.

Anyway, here's my point. We fired the former OL coach turned OC Barnett and hired OC Beathard that offseason. So at this point, we had very uncertain QB situation .. QB Barnett quit the team and QB Winkler had lost all confidence by end of 2013. QB Meredith had already turned WR for 2013 and did ok. RB Coprich had 900+ yards but showed some serious promise.

But then I went to spring game and witnessed the transformation of QB Winkler and a very dynamic pass attack .. I recall leaving that spring game thinking .. holy sh-t, we might actually have a pass game that had dwindled to nothing in 2013 with same QB Winkler under prior OC.

And then Roberson transferred in June 2014, showed up to OTAs and most assumed Roberson would easily win job. To further cloud matters, Tre broke his right hand middle of OTAs and so most of us assumed Winkler would be starter again. By August camp, Winkler and Roberson were splitting reps 50/50. Roberson was NOT impressing yet. But then the last week, they started working more on deep passing game and Roberson just lit it up and won the job.

Note, Winkler was far better thrower in short--intermediate pass game, but Tre could run and kills teams with deep ball. but Tre really struggled underneath and that was obvious the 1st half of season in which he had many weak performance before everything came together AFTER the UNI loss. Only then was Tre one of the best QBs in country due to his dual threat with deep ball.

Point being this ... Kolbe is taller more mobile version of Winkler. Winkler was barely beat out by Roberson last week of August camp for starting job because of how well Winkler was playing. New OC Beathard turned Winkler into a contender at QB after a very rough 2013. So I can't wait to see what Beathard can do with Kolbe this spring.

p.s. except we're going to NEED couple WRs for this to work.

Damn! You're an encyclopedia. Well done and a nice confidence booster for those (me) worried about our lack of offense going into next season.

it's a curse, but thanks. my strong recall of this is because I was one of the posters claiming we finished 2013 as a much better team than many realized .. and felt we just needed a new OC to turn the corner, because the defense was developing very nicely, and we all liked what we saw in Coprich in 2013.

Others here also noticed Winkler's improvement in spring game as well. And by August, several of us were talking about a possible playoff run, even BEFORE they announced who would start at QB.

p.s. I also predicted a playoff run this year ... so batting .500

 

[Redbird28]

In fairness, fourth, we should have been a playoff team. They just didn't do what they should have on the field to take care of their end of the deal.

 

[fourthandshort]

In fairness, fourth, we should have been a playoff team. They just didn't do what they should have on the field to take care of their end of the deal.

completely agree .. even with OC Dicken, this team should have been 7-4 minimum and made playoffs. But with Beathard, I completely believe our offensive lows would have bee less low and less often.

 

[Redbird28]

In fairness, fourth, we should have been a playoff team. They just didn't do what they should have on the field to take care of their end of the deal.

completely agree .. even with OC Dicken, this team should have been 7-4 minimum and made playoffs. But with Beathard, I completely believe our offensive lows would have bee less low and less often.

100% agree. Pedigree (exposure and immersion) and game flow understanding go along way in this sport.

 

[Chi-bird]

It's great news that Beathard is back as OC, but time will tell just how big an impact he will have.

 

[fourthandshort]

It's great news that Beathard is back as OC, but time will tell just how big an impact he will have.

good subtle point chi bird .. i think we are just so excited to have made this much needed upgrade .. we/I may be pouring the red koolaid on a bit much with our optimism .. so guilty as charged, but still fired up.

 

[TIMMY]

Beathard's "0" will work best with a true dual threat OB. They went hard after Tre Rob and sold him on competing for a national championship. They would not have gotten there without him. I wouldn't mind seeing something similar happen. The kid from Minny would be a good place to start.

 

[DannyCooksey]

Beathard's "0" will work best with a true dual threat OB. They went hard after Tre Rob and sold him on competing for a national championship. They would not have gotten there without him. I wouldn't mind seeing something similar happen. The kid from Minny would be a good place to start.

I agree.

Maybe that guy is on the roster. I don't know. But I agree that's the key to unlocking the offense. Plus some much needed WR help.

The Minny QB is very intriguing

 

[TreRoberson4Heisman]

When Tre and Marshaun headlined the offense no one could stop the run. What is ISU’s strength with this group? THE GROUND.

Imagine having Croft (Minnesota), who by all accounts has better legs than an arm, can run a read option / triple option with Robinson and Smith...200+ rushing yards a game, no doubt. With that, even calling your own number on a broken passing play is something we haven’t had since Roberson. All-in on attacking Croft.

 

[ekeyfanclub]

As someone who follows Minnesota sports, I am not a huge fan of Croft. He was suspended part of the year and had other issues. He is a good runner, but the passing offense was non-existent at end of the year. Roberson was so effective because he could beat you running and throwing, even if his short throwing game wasn't that great. I just don't see Croft being close to the level QB Roberson was here.

 

[MadBird]

As someone who follows Minnesota sports, I am not a huge fan of Croft. He was suspended part of the year and had other issues. He is a good runner, but the passing offense was non-existent at end of the year. Roberson was so effective because he could beat you running and throwing, even if his short throwing game wasn't that great. I just don't see Croft being close to the level QB Roberson was here.

I agree with this. Also follow Minnesota sports. Croft was pretty highly regarded out of HS, I think Boylan was pretty good when he was there, but he barely beat out a senior walk-on to get PT this year, and really never "took off". That's not to say he couldn't be coached up and he wouldn't find his way at ISU, but go on the Gopher board and read a few things about him. He wouldn't bring what Roberson brought at this point unless he really busted out.

 

[fourthandshort]

Roberson was proven guy at Indiana, even with his suspect short pass game. He played very well at Indiana, but lost to more traditional pocket guy. Minnesota had very strong run game last year but horrible pass game .. they went 8-4 and ran well, but couldn't throw ball at all even though teams played them to run ball.

So Tre was a proven dual threat at FBS level

PASSING GP Comp Att Int Yards TD Long Pct Avg/P Avg/G
2011 9 81 142 6 937 3 43 .57 6.6 104.1
2012 2 33 50 1 368 2 71 .66 7.4 184.0
2013 12 83 138 4 1128 15 68 .60 8.2 94.0
Total 23 197 330 11 2433 20 71 .60 7.4 105.8


RUSHING GP Att Yards Td Long Avg/C Avg/G
2011 9 109 426 2 34 3.9 47.3
2012 2 12 133 3 50 11.1 66.5
2013 12 85 423 5 35 5.0 35.3
Total 23 206 982 10 50 4.8 42.7

 

[varedbird]

About damn time!
Im glad to hear Aimee talked some sense into her husband brock spack.

 

[Total Red]

In fairness, fourth, we should have been a playoff team. They just didn't do what they should have on the field to take care of their end of the deal.

completely agree .. even with OC Dicken, this team should have been 7-4 minimum and made playoffs. But with Beathard, I completely believe our offensive lows would have bee less low and less often.

If Kolbe had been healthy for the SDSU game I believe we would have finished 7-4 and would have made the playoffs.