Bench Bret Meyer?

travman23 · 01-22-2007, 05:47 PM

Here's a thought to throw out there. Is this any much different than when Meyer took over for Flynn other than the fact Meyer has the job a little longer in this case? Flynn got thrown to the wolves like Meyer did last year with a bad offensive line and Mac went to a reshirt freshman Meyer after it was apparent that Meyer was a better option. At the time ISU fans were split on the decision because it was not like Flynn was playing terrible. Who is to say that Arnaud doesn't outplay Meyer in practices this fall and make a case for a QB switch?

This is in now way saying I am rooting for Meyer to lose his job. I just want it going to the guy that is going to play the position better and if Arnaud proves he can I have no reservations of playing him ahead of Meyer even if Meyer is a senior. The point is to win games and if Arnaud would give us a better chance to win games I want him in there regardless. Granted we don't know if he is a better option at this time but to say you start Meyer even if it means losing every game on the schedule when you might have a guy on the roster that could be better is just ignorant to think. I think this is true with any position on the field. If there is someone playing behind am incumbant 2 or 3 year senior starter that is better than the starter and could possibly be more of a playmaker and help win games I want that guy playing regardless of who has to be benched to make it happen. Competition for starting jobs is the best way to get guys to play hard and stay motivated because the next slip up could mean the guy behind you gets a shot at your starting job.

Personally I don't know what to think about Meyer. I think he took a step back last year and I'm not sure if he's going to get much better than what we have already seen. He's probably not even NFL calibeer at this point and I'm not so sure that Todd Bandhauer might have been better QB than Meyer so for recent QB's at ISU he ranks no better than 3rd or 4th in my book behind Seneca and Sage.

billdo00 · 01-22-2007, 06:02 PM

Austin wasn't a 4 year starter at quarterback holding tons of ISU records. They had just came off a terrible season where AF didnt perform that great and hadn't showed that he would get much better. I feel much better with a Qb that has proved he can play. Meyer may have looked so much better the years before because we played an easier schedule but i'm not about to think that a RS Freshman can come in and perform any better. If the season starts going down the drain, then maybe you split some time but I dont see any reason to ever not have Meyer as our starter unless he is hurt.
I will say this though. Say we start off 2-0. Lose the next 3 and Meyer gets hurt. If AA comes in and wins 4-5 games in a row then you leave him as our starter and its just bad luck for Meyer. But I dont think there is any reason to split time or bench Meyer short of an injury or 3-16 for 34 yds and 4 int performances like Grossman. I dont think Chizik would let him stay in there an play if he perfoms like that either. He has no real allegiance to BM and I trust he will play the best player. He wants to win more than any of us.

ketelmeister · 01-22-2007, 06:11 PM

I hope he can show us the Myer of two years ago. He looked slow to me this year and indecisive at time. Although, our play calling for him was no cakewalk. I hope he gets the chance to show his stuff.

GoClone · 01-22-2007, 07:06 PM

Our new coaching staff needs to be willing to make changes when things are not going well for a player. Sometimes taking a break for a series actually helps a player get a new feel for the game. It can also change the rythum of the game, especially at a position like quarterback.

Just as important, we need this year's back-up quarterback to get some quality snaps in games through-out the year. That may assure the position is in capable hands after Brett graduates.

D UP Clones · 01-22-2007, 07:40 PM

I don't know if someone is coaching ISU's quarterbacks to start going down or out of bounds, but it's stupid. I watch all of these other games and their quarterbacks run hard up the field and break tackles.

Two examples.

Seneca ran hard early in his career. Later he dropped to the ground and almost looked scared to run the ball. Probably cost ISU games.

Meyer ran hard early in his career and gradually is running out of bounds and dropping to the ground. I know this has cost ISU games. Who fears a running quarterback who won't keep running? NO ONE!

If your quarterback isn't going to run the ball hard up the field, then go to a drop back offense where the quarterback never runs.

It's not just the quarterbacks either.

ISU was soft this year, really soft!!!! I want to see tough players who don't shy away from contact. Is that too much to ask? All great teams have this characteristic and most good ones do as well.

benjay · 01-22-2007, 07:50 PM

Well the general idea is you don't want your quarterback to get hurt trying to run through a 225 lb linebacker barrelling at him at fullspeed..

And seriously, Meyer's running ability is not what costs us games.

PolkCityClone · 01-22-2007, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by Drive4cy

I would agree he tends to do that too much, but lots of QB's do. He didn't have the greatest season last year but how much can we expect from him when he loses Blythe and Davis for multiple games, Hicks in and out of the lineup and no RB play from the backups on regular basis, and horrid offensive line. I'd like to see Bret step up into the pocket a little more but thats minor.

He took lots of beatings last year and kept getting up for more, he's a tough kid.

We had a running back. It just took until the last game of the season for Mac and Barney to figure that out.

PolkCityClone · 01-22-2007, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by D UP Clones

I don't know if someone is coaching ISU's quarterbacks to start going down or out of bounds, but it's stupid. I watch all of these other games and their quarterbacks run hard up the field and break tackles.

Two examples.

Seneca ran hard early in his career. Later he dropped to the ground and almost looked scared to run the ball. Probably cost ISU games.

Meyer ran hard early in his career and gradually is running out of bounds and dropping to the ground. I know this has cost ISU games. Who fears a running quarterback who won't keep running? NO ONE!

If your quarterback isn't going to run the ball hard up the field, then go to a drop back offense where the quarterback never runs.

It's not just the quarterbacks either.

ISU was soft this year, really soft!!!! I want to see tough players who don't shy away from contact. Is that too much to ask? All great teams have this characteristic and most good ones do as well.

Meyer always looked like he was in slow motion and went down to easy.

guitarchitect7 · 01-22-2007, 08:04 PM

This debate makes me think of the last game of the season last year. Hicks was hurt the rest of the season, so we needed a replacement for his position. Instead of using Johnson to play the whole game, the staff stuck with Kock. Why? Well he got the job done, which means we was best suited for the job. We could have played Johnson and got him some experience, but instead we went with the best player at the time.

I think this goes the same for the QB postion. We may be losing, and Meyer has no need to really play anymore; but he will probably be the best player suited for that postion at that time.

darts180 · 01-22-2007, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by amyk33

This is not even a debate. Play Meyer. Arnaud watches and learns. If, after several weeks of poor performance Meyer and several weeks of Arnaud beating him out in practice, that is an entirely different conversation.

I think your interest in the coming season is great, but let's please steer clear of acting like Iowa fans in that our best player on our team in the 2nd string quarterback.

Not to worry Amy, this was a smart assed thread started to stir things up, and deflect attention from the Mac threads.

D UP Clones · 01-22-2007, 08:25 PM

Uh, the general idea is that is baloney. You win games by converting first downs. Running out of bounds two yards short costs the team first downs. I'm sorry, but I will use the Florida reference.

Last year Leak dropped down, ran out of bounds, etc. This year he has a new coach and guess what, Leak gets sent the message that in an offense that expects the quarterback to run, he has to RUN!!! Enter Tebow and oh my goodness, look at Leak run now.

PS I've watched a lot of football and I have seen more injuries occur by trying to avoid one than I have by playing as hard as you can. Did you see the Chiefs this year?

Play to win. If not, get off the field.

darts180 · 01-22-2007, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by guitarchitect7

This debate makes me think of the last game of the season last year. Hicks was hurt the rest of the season, so we needed a replacement for his position. Instead of using Johnson to play the whole game, the staff stuck with Kock. Why? Well he got the job done, which means we was best suited for the job. We could have played Johnson and got him some experience, but instead we went with the best player at the time.

I think this goes the same for the QB postion. We may be losing, and Meyer has no need to really play anymore; but he will probably be the best player suited for that postion at that time.

The bad part was that it took 46 games for the former coaching staff to give Kock the chance. That is a huge indictment especially when you consider how poorly we ran the ball the past two years with Stevie hurt.

MNclone · 01-22-2007, 08:31 PM

I just hope someone teaches Meyer how not to take a sack.
No one should take as many sacks as he did in college football. The solution is simple, get out of the pocket, throw the ball out of bounds and past the line of scrimmage.
Meyers running may not have cost us any games, but all the sacks he took sure did.

ketelmeister · 01-22-2007, 08:53 PM

Meyer will bounce back with a big year with leadership from Chizik. He has the tools in my view. Last year was a mess all the way around.

amyk33 · 01-22-2007, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by darts180

Not to worry Amy, this was a smart assed thread started to stir things up, and deflect attention from the Mac threads.

You may be right!

I guess when I debate something...it is over something real and that could have an impact. I don't have energy for this kind of stuff. If and when it happens, we can discuss.