SDSU

Total Red

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QB is good, at least the first team. Rittenhouse looked okay against YSU (still have not watched the SDSU game) and where is Waring? He started a bunch of games last season out of need and was not great but was not terrible. My guess would be Waring will look at the portal. When you are number 2 and get passed by a younger guy in this day and age the trend is to not fight for a position but to move on to supposed greener pastures.
Pantagraph article on QB depth including Jackson Waring

 

Virginia Redbird

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Pantagraph article on QB depth including Jackson Waring

So the QB they recruited and started a bunch of games last year is now the third-team QB behind a walkon and slated to play wide receiver. Yep, that sounds about the way they go about the QB position. Spack loves nothing more than to recruit a QB that he has no intention of playing at QB. Rittenhouse will be a DB by next season just watch!
 

MadBird

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Comments in today's Argus Leader say ISU tried some new defensive tricks to throw off JackBunnies:

“I felt like we came out a little bit flat,” Gronowski admitted. “But (the Redbirds) came out in some different defenses we really weren’t prepared for. Once we made some adjustments the ball started rolling and they really couldn’t stop us.“We were struggling running the ball and they were coming with different blitzes from the edge and packing the box with their safeties,” he added. “We said, well, the safeties are coming down so we might as well throw it over them. That really spread out their defense.”

 

fourthandshort

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Defense was all over the field most of the 1st half. Though SDSU got smart and took us deep to open things up in Q2, and then the rout was on. but it was a very dominant performance for a while defensively.

SDSU is a very good team in all phases of the game, so the outcome is not surprising considering our offensive personnel. I have to wonder if Wright is still nursing his injuries or not, because he's nto looked himself since he was pulled for the injuries after 1 carry against NDSU. But he did very little against YSU, and SDSU was certaily going to be tougher to get space. But still, Wright doesn't seem like himself.

But my gripe is unchanged .. we have a 3rd or 4th string RS FR QB playing 2nd string. He plays with a lot of heart, but there was only so much he could do out there. So without QB Annexstad and RB Mueller, nor a fully productive RB Wright .. we had no chance. I don't watch enough of every game to really say much more.

So I sincerely hope there is a plan this offseason to let OC Peterson do most of the QB recruitment and start building up our QB room. We are too strong a program to be so sporadic and with no depth at the most important position in the game. Spack needs to recognize his weakness and give the keys to OC Peterson.

The AD ought to help ensure this happens.
 

CaliRdBrd

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Defense was all over the field most of the 1st half. Though SDSU got smart and took us deep to open things up in Q2, and then the rout was on. but it was a very dominant performance for a while defensively.

SDSU is a very good team in all phases of the game, so the outcome is not surprising considering our offensive personnel. I have to wonder if Wright is still nursing his injuries or not, because he's nto looked himself since he was pulled for the injuries after 1 carry against NDSU. But he did very little against YSU, and SDSU was certaily going to be tougher to get space. But still, Wright doesn't seem like himself.

But my gripe is unchanged .. we have a 3rd or 4th string RS FR QB playing 2nd string. He plays with a lot of heart, but there was only so much he could do out there. So without QB Annexstad and RB Mueller, nor a fully productive RB Wright .. we had no chance. I don't watch enough of every game to really say much more.

So I sincerely hope there is a plan this offseason to let OC Peterson do most of the QB recruitment and start building up our QB room. We are too strong a program to be so sporadic and with no depth at the most important position in the game. Spack needs to recognize his weakness and give the keys to OC Peterson.

The AD ought to help ensure this happens.
We’re too strong of a program, or we think we’re too strong of a program. I’ll go with the latter.
 

fourthandshort

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We’re too strong of a program, or we think we’re too strong of a program. I’ll go with the latter.
Obviously our roster was too thin to absorb many inuries on offense. But my point is we would be going to final 8 more than 4 times in 12 years if we could get some amount of consistency and depth ... not greatness, just pretty goodness ... at the QB position. Some here thinking our #1s have been better overall than I give Spack credit for ... that is debatable, though I maintain my point there regard no HS QB recruit has ever worked out under Spack. But i don't there is any debating we've never had a #2 ready to come in and be ready. What always happens is we are forced to shut down most of the pass play book and be strictly a game manager.

This whole don't let the QB or pass game lose the game for us is THE problem IMO. This year it manifested itself in 2 obvious ways:
  • once again, no #2 QB
  • our 2nd half offensive stats vs 1st half offensive stats
Regarding the latter, it is no coincidence we have been in every game this year at half time .. even Wisconsin. Then either gone conservative to play a tight game and win some or get blown out.
  • Wisconsin was 17-0 at half .. but they needed a 100 yd pick 6 return, then a 94 run after getting stuffed in backfield for 14 of those 17 points. We dominated them the 1st qtr.
  • NDSU was just 10-7 at half time playing without Wright
  • SDSU was just 14-7 at half time playing without Annexstad
  • ISUb we were up 20-7, but it wasn't even that close .. 1st downs were about 20 to 4.. But we again shut it down 2nd half and nearly lost.
  • YSU was close, but we had control of the game. Playing conservative gave them a chance to win .. and they did. Playoff hopes killed.
Playing not to lose does not work if you want to be a very good team consistently. It helps you win games in isolated situations. But it builds a culture of playing not to lose. I think this philosophy is most manifested in our QB room and pass game. I think it is what took a very promising 2016 Kolbe and made him inefffective in 2017 and 2018. And he was are only true HS QB recruit who turned into a starter and had a good season ... but just one good season.

Give OC Peterson the keys to the QB Room and Pass Game. Love what Spack can do with restof roster. Even love how Spack gets his teams ready to play against good teams most of the time .. until 2nd half, that is. But the QB room is Spack's weakness. AD needs to get involved and finesse this.

Edit .. to clarify, I agree with others who argue Spack has proven he is willing to throw it. My point is, yes, but only when it is safe to do so and mostly mistake free. Every Head Coach hates turnovers. Every Head coach will put games on ice at some point. Spack does this too, but much moreso than most head coaches. This holds us back as program .. and scares away good QBs. It even looks like it might be starting to scare away good WRs.
 
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