Offseason Wish List

[fourthandshort]

2016: Played in all 12 games at quarterback, with 11 starting assignments … ranked No. 4 in the MVFC with a pass efficiency rating of 140.2 … tied for second in the MVFC in touchdowns passes with 22, which is tied for fourth on the ISU single-season list … ranked No. 5 in passing average/game (225.2) … became just the seventh Redbird to surpass 2,000 passing yards in a single season with 2,703, the sixth-best single-season mark in school history … threw multiple touchdown passes in the final four contests of the year ... named MVFC Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 11), after throwing four touchdown passes in a win over Western Illinois … ran for a career-long 58-yard touchdown against Eastern Illinois (Sept. 17) … tallied a career high 287 passing yards and went 30-for-41 against Northwestern (Sept. 10).

I'm thinking we'll see a somewhat improved version of the 2016 Kolbe in 2018. Even in 2016, he showed some erratic tendencies early season, but settled down very nicely. And despite his poor overall play in 2017, he did improve considerably in a much less secure pocket in 2017.

Beathard & Kolbe ... I'm liking their chances ... but I've been wrong before .. about a year ago I think.

 

[RBFANTOO]

Beathard & Kolbe ... I'm liking their chances ... but I've been wrong before .. about a year ago I think.

I like our chances with Beathard & Kolbe and/or Beathard & whoever he works with. I am really looking forward to another Beathard offense. Put me down as Beathard's #1 fan. :clap:

 

[fourthandshort]

Beathard & Kolbe ... I'm liking their chances ... but I've been wrong before .. about a year ago I think.

I like our chances with Beathard & Kolbe and/or Beathard & whoever he works with. I am really looking forward to another Beathard offense. Put me down as Beathard's #1 fan. :clap:

that would make you #2 actually .. welcome to the club !

 

[StLRedbird]

Beathard & Kolbe ... I'm liking their chances ... but I've been wrong before .. about a year ago I think.

I like our chances with Beathard & Kolbe and/or Beathard & whoever he works with. I am really looking forward to another Beathard offense. Put me down as Beathard's #1 fan. :clap:

that would make you #2 actually .. welcome to the club !

I’m happy Beathard is back, but all we really know is that he can coach a helluva read offense if he has the right personnel. I’m hopeful

 

[Total Red]

I’m happy Beathard is back, but all we really know is that he can coach a helluva read offense if he has the right personnel. I’m hopeful

We know Beathard as a read option OC but before he came here he had an extensive coaching history with mostly drop back passing QB's. Beathard made a swift adjustment to the talent he encountered here (Roberson/Coprich) but now he's coaching a QB (Kolbe) that's actually closer to what he's accustomed to working with.

 

[StLRedbird]

We know Beathard as a read option OC but before he came here he had an extensive coaching history with mostly drop back passing QB's. Beathard made a swift adjustment to the talent he encountered here (Roberson/Coprich) but now he's coaching a QB (Kolbe) that's actually closer to what he's accustomed to working with.

Thanks for that, TR. We may take people by surprise this year.

 

[fourthandshort]

and I still recall very clearly how much Tre struggled the first 8 games ... then absolutely lit up the MVFC and FCS the last 7 games .. despite not having a short passing game, which most offenses rely very heavily on to pad their passing stats and keep defenses honest in today's game. Roberson was very talented, but Beathard made it work. Certainly thee read option was a big factor that mitigated the lack of short passing game .. but Tre had amazing passing stats despite not being able to fluff them up with the underneath stuff in spread attack.

 

[Total Red]

We may take people by surprise this year.

I agree with this and your earlier point that what we know about Beathard is that he's a very good OC when he has talent. He'll have tools to work this season and he doesn't have to overthink things. Handing the ball off to #25 will be a good place to start. Giving the ball to #25 was a good call the last time he was here and it will be a good call again.

 

[fourthandshort]

We may take people by surprise this year.

I agree with this and your earlier point that what we know about Beathard is that he's a very good OC when he has talent. He'll have tools to work this season and he doesn't have to overthink things. Handing the ball off to #25 will be a good place to start. Giving the ball to #25 was a good call the last time he was here and it will be a good call again.

Then after handing off the #25 at 215 lbs several times, bring in #21 at 225 lbs (Smith) for a few punishing runs. And just for fun, let's finish with couple handoffs to #8 at 235 lbs (Birch) .. our high hurdler. The fact that we will have these 3 guys behind a much more veteran OL this season .. and Beathard designing the system/playbook and game plans, and then calling the plays ... going to be very fun to watch our offense this fall.

p.s. This is further why I think we will see what Kolbe is capable of for his senior season. He improved in pocket last season despite entirely new OL, but struggled passing for many reasons. So he should be even better in the pocket this season, and also throwing under much less pressure than he was his last 2 seasons. Just need some WRs to step up.

 

[Total Red]

Then after handing off the #25 at 215 lbs several times, bring in #21 at 225 lbs (Smith) for a few punishing runs. And just for fun, let's finish with couple handoffs to #8 at 235 lbs (Birch) .. our high hurdler. The fact that we will have these 3 guys behind a much more veteran OL this season .. and Beathard designing the system/playbook and game plans, and then calling the plays ... going to be very fun to watch our offense this fall.

p.s. This is further why I think we will see what Kolbe is capable of for his senior season. He improved in pocket last season despite entirely new OL, but struggled passing for many reasons. So he should be even better in the pocket this season, and also throwing under much less pressure than he was his last 2 seasons. Just need some WRs to step up.

:text-+1:

 

[fourthandshort]

let's start a pool on tearing down Kaufman ... if and when. I think new east side was constructed with Kaufman tear down being part of a Hancock 5.0 idea.

Hancock 2.0 .. east side
New Turf
IPF
Hancock 3.0 .. south end zone
Hancock 4.0 .. west side with Horton tear down
Hancock 5.0 .. north end zone, tear down Kaufman, complete the horseshoe look, and add section 100 to east side, then turn corner to complete that end of horse shoe

I would bet money on this being the long term plan. ISU spends money carefully .. this would be in line to build as needed.

Look at picture of east side from inside stadium .. stands are not centered to field, but the entry ways are centered to field .. this is not an accident or oversight. It is for a reason.

too much free time and search capability .... but here is what i mean about how they designed new east side with entry points being centered on field, but NOT centered to stands. Even the upper level suites are centered on the field, but not centered on stands. This is why I am convinced they designed and built the east side fully intending to eventually tear down Kaufman and replacing with one more section to complete the east side.

Now whether that is 3, 5, or 10 years away remains to be seen.

https://twitter.com/RedbirdFB/status/996843866820145152

 

[TIMMY]

let's start a pool on tearing down Kaufman ... if and when. I think new east side was constructed with Kaufman tear down being part of a Hancock 5.0 idea.

Hancock 2.0 .. east side
New Turf
IPF
Hancock 3.0 .. south end zone
Hancock 4.0 .. west side with Horton tear down
Hancock 5.0 .. north end zone, tear down Kaufman, complete the horseshoe look, and add section 100 to east side, then turn corner to complete that end of horse shoe

I would bet money on this being the long term plan. ISU spends money carefully .. this would be in line to build as needed.

Look at picture of east side from inside stadium .. stands are not centered to field, but the entry ways are centered to field .. this is not an accident or oversight. It is for a reason.

too much free time and search capability .... but here is what i mean about how they designed new east side with entry points being centered on field, but NOT centered to stands. Even the upper level suites are centered on the field, but not centered on stands. This is why I am convinced they designed and built the east side fully intending to eventually tear down Kaufman and replacing with one more section to complete the east side.

Now whether that is 3, 5, or 10 years away remains to be seen.

https://twitter.com/RedbirdFB/status/996843866820145152

Definatly see how they left off a section. Pretty sure at some point they will extend it. But 3, 5, 10 years? It to It took 50 years and countless splinters in my ass to get rid of the McCormick Field bleachers.

 

[fourthandshort]

let's start a pool on tearing down Kaufman ... if and when. I think new east side was constructed with Kaufman tear down being part of a Hancock 5.0 idea.

Hancock 2.0 .. east side
New Turf
IPF
Hancock 3.0 .. south end zone
Hancock 4.0 .. west side with Horton tear down
Hancock 5.0 .. north end zone, tear down Kaufman, complete the horseshoe look, and add section 100 to east side, then turn corner to complete that end of horse shoe

I would bet money on this being the long term plan. ISU spends money carefully .. this would be in line to build as needed.

Look at picture of east side from inside stadium .. stands are not centered to field, but the entry ways are centered to field .. this is not an accident or oversight. It is for a reason.

too much free time and search capability .... but here is what i mean about how they designed new east side with entry points being centered on field, but NOT centered to stands. Even the upper level suites are centered on the field, but not centered on stands. This is why I am convinced they designed and built the east side fully intending to eventually tear down Kaufman and replacing with one more section to complete the east side.

Now whether that is 3, 5, or 10 years away remains to be seen.

https://twitter.com/RedbirdFB/status/996843866820145152

Definatly see how they left off a section. Pretty sure at some point they will extend it. But 3, 5, 10 years? It to It took 50 years and countless splinters in my ass to get rid of the McCormick Field bleachers.

Hey !! Just because they had to do carbon dating to guestimate how old those bleachers were to convince our trustees to replace them, doesn't give you the right to bitch about splinters !!!

 

[Redbirdwarrior]

That. Reggie. Doe.

He must be twice the size of the last one. Hash to Hash. EXCELLENT!

 

[rdt99]

I have always noticed that the exits and suites were off kilter. Adding a section on the north would make sense.

 

[bb fan]

The new east side was designed from the beginning to line up center with the 50 yard line. I think it will be decades, if ever that Kaufman will be demolished and an additional section is added to the east side. You will see Horton demoed and a new west side done first, and that is a ways off, Next big project will be the indoor practice facility.

 

[Redbirdwarrior]

The new east side was designed from the beginning to line up center with the 50 yard line. I think it will be decades, if ever that Kaufman will be demolished and an additional section is added to the east side. You will see Horton demoed and a new west side done first, and that is a ways off, Next big project will be the indoor practice facility.

While I agree with this, I think the VERY long term plans will include Kaufman into the actual grandstand. Honestly, I don't really understand why they didn't just add one more section and connect it, in some way, to Kaufman's south side.

Either way, you are right about the indoor facility. Even a bubble would be fine for me (I dare say preferred). Beyond that, I'd like to see the horseshoe completed and THEN see Horton demoed. Hell, who knows, by then, maybe the state of Illinois will find it's way to paying ISU back its FIVE HUNDRED MILLION it owes the school over the last 20 years. That might go a long way to building a new series of buildings including- gasp- an engineering and a law building.

Of course, there is an argument to be made that says if you WERE to build a brand new indoor practice facility and have it be a full on 30+ year building, why not plop it right where Horton is now? I mean, you have to assume the facility would be multi-use, not just football, right? This gives you the chance to innovate the west grandstands into the building as it is now, only be... not... terrible.

 

[bb fan]

Good comments, Redbirdwarrior. The athletics department is pretty anxious for the indoor facility, putting it where Horton is is problematic for a couple of reasons. It would hold up, for a long time construction of the indoor facility, because it would cost another $4 million-ish to tear Horton down. It's expensive because it's seamlessly attached to the North and South gyms, classrooms and lockerrooms, etc. It will be tight enough to get the bucks just to build the new indoor facility. Also, Horton is used for intramurals and other campus wide stuff. There needs to be a place to do that. Also, it is not believed that the footprint for the fieldhouse is nearly big enough for a new indoor facility the way it needs to be done.

And yeah, the state has basically screwed over ISU for years. Did know we get the lowest per student state $$$ support of any university? We are also the lowest in the percentage of our overall budget that is state $$$. We will have to replace the whole Horton complex at some point. Just don't see that happening in this century with the mass financial woes created by our state career politicians, lead by our speaker of the house.

 

[DaveBird10]

Bbfan, I've always wondered how the athletic department would tear down Horton when the time comes. With it being connected to the north/south gym and the other football bleachers that can't be an easy task. With classrooms and other tunnels under Horton I imagine it will be difficult and $$$.

With regards to the indoor facility isu is at 78% of the total $$ money raised from redbird rising for what they need for various projects. I am dissapointed we haven't seen more layouts on what isu has planned for the indoor facility.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[TIMMY]

I really don't want Horton to go. It's valuable space and when you give space away you rarely get it back. Just needs to be better taken care of. . I've been in many amazing new practice facilities. I can't think of a single school that then tore down an existing Fieldhouse. And the bleachers on the west side are great seats. After the practice facility the next up on my agenda would be south end zone with field level boxes.