Transfer Portal '22-'23 Offseason

[Dmills]

And so it begins...

 

[BJJ guy]

He's been demoted to fourth string so I don't think this is surprising.

 

[Dmills]

Damien Jackson also entered the transfer portal a while back. He was kicked off the team at the beginning of the year.

Matthew Wedig announced last week that he was retiring due to back problems.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Waring was an absolute lock to enter the portal. How do you go from 2nd team QB and a starter most of the year one year to 4th string and slotted to play wide receiver the very next? It could just be that he is not the new Offensive Coordinator's guy. Probably so. People can keep talking about Matt Brown and Tre but the QB position (starter and backups) has been a mess for the most part. I like Annexstad and he played pretty well this season but there is no depth.

 

[MadBird]

Waring was an absolute lock to enter the portal. How do you go from 2nd team QB and a starter most of the year one year to 4th string and slotted to play wide receiver the very next? It could just be that he is not the new Offensive Coordinator's guy. Probably so. People can keep talking about Matt Brown and Tre but the QB position (starter and backups) has been a mess for the most part. I like Annexstad and he played pretty well this season but there is no depth.

Okay, I'll talk about Brown and Roberson (and Kolbe and even Brady Davis).

Spack became coach in 09. Matt Brown became starting QB in 09, and stayed for 4 years under Coach Spack. 09, 10, 11, 12. 2013 keys were turned over to former Illinois HS player of the year Blake Winkler - didn't go so good. Then came Tre Roberson, who came to play under Coach Spack, 2014 and 2015. Pretty good years. Then in 2016 HS recruit Jake Kolbe took over, had two pretty good years, good enough to now rank as the #5 career passing yardage QB in ISU history, #5 in passing completions in ISU history, #5 in career passing attempts, 2016 was the #5 passing attempts season record in ISU history and #3 pass completions record - in other words not so much of a mess. 2018 and 2019, Brady Davis took over, somewhat of a dropoff, but good enough to be among the top 5 in several passing records categories. 2020 and 2021, not so much again.

Four of the top 5 career leaders in pass efficiency in ISU history came under Spack - Brown, Roberson, Kolbe and Davis. Three of the top 5 career pass completion percentage record holders came under Spack. There's more, but I won't belabor the point.

So, a "mess for the most part" includes record setting seasons for 4 years of Brown, 2 years of Roberson, 2 years of Kolbe, and 2 years of Davis. That's 10 years out of 13 of Spack's years (and Annexstad, I guess the jury is out, but he's completed over 62% of his passes and has 200 yards per game in his 8 games in year 14).

So I'd say NOT a "mess for the most part", but instead an unexplained dropoff the last 3 years or so. And no argument about the depth, always been a problem, except when Kolbe backed up Roberson and Davis/Kolbe were together.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming . . . . .

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Okay, I'll talk about Brown and Roberson (and Kolbe and even Brady Davis).

Spack became coach in 09. Matt Brown became starting QB in 09, and stayed for 4 years under Coach Spack. 09, 10, 11, 12. 2013 keys were turned over to former Illinois HS player of the year Blake Winkler - didn't go so good. Then came Tre Roberson, who came to play under Coach Spack, 2014 and 2015. Pretty good years. Then in 2016 HS recruit Jake Kolbe took over, had two pretty good years, good enough to now rank as the #5 career passing yardage QB in ISU history, #5 in passing completions is ISU history, #5 in career passing attempts, 2016 was the #5 passing attempts season record in ISU history and #3 pass completions record - in other words not so much of a mess. 2018 and 2019, Brady Davis took over, somewhat of a dropoff, but good enough to be among the top 5 in several passing records categories. 2020 and 2021, not so much again.

Four of the top 5 career leaders in pass efficiency in ISU history came under Spack - Brown, Roberson, Kolbe and Davis. Three of the top 5 career pass completion percentage record holders came under Spack. There's more, but I won't belabor the point.

So, a "mess for the most part" includes record setting seasons for 4 years of Brown, 2 years of Roberson, 2 years of Kolbe, and 2 years of Davis. That's 10 years out of 13 of Spack's years (and Annexstad, I guess the jury is out, but he's completed over 62% of his passes and has 200 yards per game in his 8 games in year 14).

So I'd say NOT a "mess for the most part", but instead an unexplained dropoff the last 3 years or so. And no argument about the depth, always been a problem, except when Kolbe backed up Roberson and Davis/Kolbe were together.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming . . . . .

MB...a few things. I included in my post "starter and backups". You only talked about starters. I was talking about the QB position as a whole, not the three that always get named, and not everyone holds Kolbe in high esteem. Saying someone is high on the all-time team list really means nothing. Jay Cutler is the all-time passing leader for the Bears, followed by Sid Luckman! After them are Jim Harbaugh and then Jim McMahon. Not exactly Dan Marino, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, or Johnny Unitas. Being the best of a lower tier is nothing to get excited about. When you talk about record-setting seasons it is also smoke and mirrors. If you talk about beating Dan Marino's passing records in Miami, I am impressed. If you talk about passing Tom Brady's record with New England/Tampa, I am impressed. If you talk about passing Brian Sipe's records for the Browns...I am not so very impressed (yes, Brian Sipe is the Brown's all-time passing leader in yardage, Otto Graham is second and Bernie Kosar is third.). I still maintain the QB position has been a mess when you factor in starters, backups, development, and recruitment. The miserably failed co-offensive coordinator two-time experiment played into that. Possibly a QB coach that only played QB as a high school player and his coaching career before ISU was mostly quality control positions and running backs coach may be a factor as well. I look at Kolbe as sort of proof. I liked Kolbe and thought he had a great first year. So was it him to blame for his regression or was it the system and coaching? They essentially dumped Kolbe and went after Davis and was that much of an upgrade? Davis was inconsistent during his tenure. Was it the coaching? Really only two superior players at QB in 14 years and the coaching staff inherited one of them. Also, passing percentage can be misleading too. Short passes that are not long enough to pick up first downs and dump off passes go to percentage of completions but not always to winning games. I never saw Brown play, no streaming capability at that time for me to tune in. I did see Tre play and he was the only QB since I have been able to watch Redbird games that made the defense cover the entire field consistently. Annexstad has being promising and it was a damn shame he was injured but then we saw the lack of any depth at the QB position again. That part of the development, as you said, and is common with the Redbirds. Broadnax, Jefferson, Baltz, Waring, Rittenhouse as a few examples. I really don't want to hear about their lack of college game experience either. I would point to Carson Camp as one who was local to ISU and went to SD. He started as a true freshman and lit up ISU for 221 yards and accounted for all 3 touchdowns in his college debut against then #7 ISU.

You see that is the problem...you go to regularly scheduled programming where I take control and use the DVR to watch what I want when I want! You are playing conservatively while I am being aggressive. ISU's offense goes to regularly scheduled programming! Teams with offensive confidence seize the day! Carpe Diem! 😁

 

[Total Red]

It may seem strange to give both of the last two posts "Likes" but both posts are well thought out with Mad focusing more on what we've gotten right at the QB position and Virginia detailing what has gone wrong.

 

[Adunk33]

Redbird Football Weekly Press Conference // 11.15.22

Video: Redbird Football Weekly Press Conference // 11.15.22. Football

goredbirds.com

Spack references having 14 players walk for senior day on Saturday but then said they'll be more players gone Monday when the portal hits. Then he goes on to say he's excited to have most of his team back next.

I'm not sure how many interviews/pressers the board has listened to with coach but he is pretty anti-coach speak for the most part. If you ask him a question, he's going to answer it and THEN some. He's still throwing unprompted jabs at the '21 Spring Season. He's a really interesting guy to listen to.

 

[MadBird]

It may seem strange to give both of the last two posts "Likes" but both posts are well thought out with Mad focusing more on what we've gotten right at the QB position and Virginia detailing what has gone wrong.

Yeah, and that damn Virginia is wearing me out!!! 🤣

 

[MadBird]

MB...a few things. I included in my post "starter and backups". You only talked about starters. I was talking about the QB position as a whole, not the three that always get named, and not everyone holds Kolbe in high esteem. Saying someone is high on the all-time team list really means nothing. Jay Cutler is the all-time passing leader for the Bears, followed by Sid Luckman! After them are Jim Harbaugh and then Jim McMahon. Not exactly Dan Marino, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, or Johnny Unitas. Being the best of a lower tier is nothing to get excited about. When you talk about record-setting seasons it is also smoke and mirrors. If you talk about beating Dan Marino's passing records in Miami, I am impressed. If you talk about passing Tom Brady's record with New England/Tampa, I am impressed. If you talk about passing Brian Sipe's records for the Browns...I am not so very impressed (yes, Brian Sipe is the Brown's all-time passing leader in yardage, Otto Graham is second and Bernie Kosar is third.). I still maintain the QB position has been a mess when you factor in starters, backups, development, and recruitment. The miserably failed co-offensive coordinator two-time experiment played into that. Possibly a QB coach that only played QB as a high school player and his coaching career before ISU was mostly quality control positions and running backs coach may be a factor as well. I look at Kolbe as sort of proof. I liked Kolbe and thought he had a great first year. So was it him to blame for his regression or was it the system and coaching? They essentially dumped Kolbe and went after Davis and was that much of an upgrade? Davis was inconsistent during his tenure. Was it the coaching? Really only two superior players at QB in 14 years and the coaching staff inherited one of them. Also, passing percentage can be misleading too. Short passes that are not long enough to pick up first downs and dump off passes go to percentage of completions but not always to winning games. I never saw Brown play, no streaming capability at that time for me to tune in. I did see Tre play and he was the only QB since I have been able to watch Redbird games that made the defense cover the entire field consistently. Annexstad has being promising and it was a damn shame he was injured but then we saw the lack of any depth at the QB position again. That part of the development, as you said, and is common with the Redbirds. Broadnax, Jefferson, Baltz, Waring, Rittenhouse as a few examples. I really don't want to hear about their lack of college game experience either. I would point to Carson Camp as one who was local to ISU and went to SD. He started as a true freshman and lit up ISU for 221 yards and accounted for all 3 touchdowns in his college debut against then #7 ISU.

You see that is the problem...you go to regularly scheduled programming where I take control and use the DVR to watch what I want when I want! You are playing conservatively while I am being aggressive. ISU's offense goes to regularly scheduled programming! Teams with offensive confidence seize the day! Carpe Diem! 😁

Okay, Virginia, like I told Total Red, I'm worn out. My point is only that "we" tend to blame Spack for all the problems with the offense and QB room BUT don't give him credit for the good things. You said "mess for the most part" - I don't disagree there's been some mess, especially in the last 3-4 years, BUT for God's sake, there have been some very solid QB's and offensive production under Spack FOR THE MOST PART! Most years we've had a solid QB and that QB has produced (produced program records, whether you want to give that "status" or not).

So how about on the running back side - do you discount the records of James Robinson and Marshaun Coprich?

I have always been "betwixt and between" on Jay Cutler. Again, I say it's hard to dispute his talents - and therefore his records - and when you compare him to other QB's we've seen come through the Windy City, he's up there pretty high. Lots of faults and baggage, but up there. Rotten personality. Not a great leader. But he could wing the ball on a good day.

Good talking to you, have a nice day!

 

[Virginia Redbird]

It may seem strange to give both of the last two posts "Likes" but both posts are well thought out with Mad focusing more on what we've gotten right at the QB position and Virginia detailing what has gone wrong.

One thing I enjoy on this forum is the interaction between us without getting mad or insulting. Even a bit of humor as well. Bottom line is between the two of us I think we covered it all. We just need Fourth to run stats against all time FCS records! I assume he is already on that....

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Okay, Virginia, like I told Total Red, I'm worn out. My point is only that "we" tend to blame Spack for all the problems with the offense and QB room BUT don't give him credit for the good things. You said "mess for the most part" - I don't disagree there's been some mess, especially in the last 3-4 years, BUT for God's sake, there have been some very solid QB's and offensive production under Spack FOR THE MOST PART! Most years we've had a solid QB and that QB has produced (produced program records, whether you want to give that "status" or not).

So how about on the running back side - do you discount the records of James Robinson and Marshaun Coprich?

I have always been "betwixt and between" on Jay Cutler. Again, I say it's hard to dispute his talents - and therefore his records - and when you compare him to other QB's we've seen come through the Windy City, he's up there pretty high. Lots of faults and baggage, but up there. Rotten personality. Not a great leader. But he could wing the ball on a good day.

Good talking to you, have a nice day!

I did not mean to add to your stress level MB!

JR and Coprich were both pretty special but not because of where they are in the ISU record books. I don't even know where they are in the record books. They were both game changers in the sense that they made the opposing defense adapt to them. I would give JR a bit higher rating because I think he did what he did with less talent around him over all. Marshaun had Tre for part of his career, a really solid offensive line and of course a really good defense. JR never had a QB like Tre to take some of the heat off him. He did have pretty good defense and O-lines.

I am not a big records guy. Emmitt Smith passed Walter on the all time list but Smith had much better teams and much, much better offensive lines for the bulk of his career. You cant lose taking either guy but if I had to pick one it would be Walter every time and not because I am a Bears fan. Sweetness was the very best all around football player I have ever seen and you cant find that in the record books. He could run the ball of course, block like a guard, catch the ball well and he could pass ... even playing QB for a series back in 84 I think it was. He should have played in the single wing!

Cutler is a strange case. He had such physical talent but just not a leader. I think one of the important intangibles for a QB is that when he comes into the huddle late in a game and they need a score to win, when he says to the rest of the players they are taking the ball, moving it down the field and scoring everyone believes that is exactly what he is gong to do. When the players believe it they are more likely to do it. Cutler is numero uno in the Bears record book but I can think of a bunch of QB I would take before him.

Good talking to you as well! Have a good one!

 

[crazzymark]

Looking like 3 LB's all starters, 2 starting OL, 2 RB's 2 TE's 1 starter, 3 DB's 2 starters 2 DL both starters and a kicker are entering the portal. Hope Coach has a big portal season. BTW. SDSU and NDSU are not having players going portal. Can't wait to move up and play a bowl game.

 

[fdbird83]

Aren't 2 of our 3 starting LB's 5th year seniors, who don't have any eligibility left?

Never bring up facts when a good rant is going on.

 

[cpacmel]

Never bring up facts when a good rant is going on.

I deleted my post. I should know better 🤡

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Looking like 3 LB's all starters, 2 starting OL, 2 RB's 2 TE's 1 starter, 3 DB's 2 starters 2 DL both starters and a kicker are entering the portal. Hope Coach has a big portal season. BTW. SDSU and NDSU are not having players going portal. Can't wait to move up and play a bowl game.

I can't confirm and I can't deny, I simply have no information. That is a pretty specific list though so where does this information come from?

 

[Redbird222]

Looking like 3 LB's all starters, 2 starting OL, 2 RB's 2 TE's 1 starter, 3 DB's 2 starters 2 DL both starters and a kicker are entering the portal. Hope Coach has a big portal season. BTW. SDSU and NDSU are not having players going portal. Can't wait to move up and play a bowl game.

What do your resources say about SIU and Missouri State

 

[normalbird]

I thought “bombshells” were supposed to come out on Tuesdays.

 

[topiarydan]

So Taula and Demming (our 2 Senior TEs are going to portal) - why not see if a decent FBS program offers (perhaps warmer)?
If not remain

 

[fourthandshort]

Okay, I'll talk about Brown and Roberson (and Kolbe and even Brady Davis).

Spack became coach in 09. Matt Brown became starting QB in 09, and stayed for 4 years under Coach Spack. 09, 10, 11, 12. 2013 keys were turned over to former Illinois HS player of the year Blake Winkler - didn't go so good. Then came Tre Roberson, who came to play under Coach Spack, 2014 and 2015. Pretty good years. Then in 2016 HS recruit Jake Kolbe took over, had two pretty good years, good enough to now rank as the #5 career passing yardage QB in ISU history, #5 in passing completions in ISU history, #5 in career passing attempts, 2016 was the #5 passing attempts season record in ISU history and #3 pass completions record - in other words not so much of a mess. 2018 and 2019, Brady Davis took over, somewhat of a dropoff, but good enough to be among the top 5 in several passing records categories. 2020 and 2021, not so much again.

Four of the top 5 career leaders in pass efficiency in ISU history came under Spack - Brown, Roberson, Kolbe and Davis. Three of the top 5 career pass completion percentage record holders came under Spack. There's more, but I won't belabor the point.

So, a "mess for the most part" includes record setting seasons for 4 years of Brown, 2 years of Roberson, 2 years of Kolbe, and 2 years of Davis. That's 10 years out of 13 of Spack's years (and Annexstad, I guess the jury is out, but he's completed over 62% of his passes and has 200 yards per game in his 8 games in year 14).

So I'd say NOT a "mess for the most part", but instead an unexplained dropoff the last 3 years or so. And no argument about the depth, always been a problem, except when Kolbe backed up Roberson and Davis/Kolbe were together.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming . . . . .

Well, I think that is an optimistic take on Kolbe and Davis .. and I was a big an of Kolbe.

Kolbe 2016 to 2017 was a big dropoff: QBR went from 144 to 123, TD to Picks went from 22-7 to 12-11, Completion % went from .62 to .56. And all his MVFC contemporaries in 2016 got better in 2017 .. Stick, Streveler, McGuire, Christion .. while Kolbe slipped to bottom tier in MVFC.

Davis 2018 to 2019 was also a big dropoff, except I thought Davis's slide started mid 2018. He had great games against EIU and CSU, then started getting very inconsistent in 2018. My take was he got very skittish throwing into coverage for fear of picks. And while he succeeded in avoiding picks with a 19-5 ratio, he got more irratic and inconsistent. from what I saw on field and in stats. His drop off was worse than Kolbes .. QBR went from 142 to 117, TD ration dropped to 9-9, completion % dropped from .56 to .52. He did this throwing just 20 per game, while Kolbe threw 30 per game. Davis also had not only the best defense in ISU history 2019 arguably, but also one of our 2 best RB in history (i.e. Coprich).

So it seems pretty clear Kolbe had the one good 2016 season. Davis had the one good 2018 season, albeit sporadically very good to mediocre. But both fell way off in season 2. IMO they both slowly lost confidence and played tighter and tighter over time .. regardless of who the OC was.

As for Brown and Roberson ... Brown was just way too good and too confident in his abilities. Roberson was just way too talented as true dual threat, combined with his uncanny deep ball, plus some dude named Marshaun helped a bit, along with a very good OL and WR/TE group. Beathard acting as QB whisperer was the one who tapped Roberson's potential in 2014.


Kolbe Stats


Davis Stats