Bates impact on loss

[djkent01]

The issue I have with your post is that you're speaking as if this is fact. Most of us are just speculating (since we aren't in the huddle with these guys).

Let's not speak of this as fact until someone provides some credibile evidence (more than just speculation).

Didn't mean to speak of it as fact, just trying to make a generalization. The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior (that is fact). I'm simply trying to relate a team situation in business to a team situation in sports.

The big question in my mind is will the future behavior be based on past ISU behavior, or will it be based on typical human behavior.

I will say that 33 reported in another thread that the team was still very down as of noon yesterday, and he was there (I think).

[IsUaClone2]

I think PBJ's departure affected the players. I think that even PBJ is despondent today if not devasted. I think he was a good team mate as evidenced by his friends on the team, his immediate bonds with recruits and his support by the coaches. That's why the team is distracted and disjointed. They are confused. I think PBJ was a big part of the chemistry. If he was a whiner, the team would have been glad to get rid of him and there would have been no hangover.

I think the coaches were affected because not only was their game plan disrupted, their strategy for the year was torn in shreds. I think the coaches were trying to win the most games but meanwhile bring PBJ along patiently by playing him in situations were he could best succeed. I believe that PBJ is/was a great talent but still immature in his decision-making primarily evidenced by quick decisions to handle it himself rather than wait for the opportunity to develop. His throws were often rushed and he resorted to carrying the ball too often. Experience under fire is the best cure for those tendencies. Success under fire makes a player a real star. I firmly believe that the coaches were trying to play PBJ in those situations where he would have success and build that permanent self-confidence that all winners have. I think he would have made it and taken over from AA next year and never looked back.

Finally I think that PBS has not only damaged a promising team but may have irrevocably destroyed his son's confidence. PBS's attempt to take down the coaches will have only a temporary effect. Long-term it shouldn't have any impact after a new strategy is developed and implemented.

[cyclonenum1]

To lay this clunker of a loss on Bates leaving is purely excuse making...something many ISU fans have become masters at.

However, I do think his departure brings to light two major issues:

1) Does Arnaud have the mental focus to keep pushing himself as hard as he can to improve with no one providing a legitimate alternative to him at QB? It is in the nature of many people to ease up once the pressure is off.

2) Will the coaches change their game plan and play calling relative to the QB since we really only have one viable option at the position?

The bottom line is that we lack depth at a lot of positions...including the most important one...QB.

[SmokinH2O]

I think it was tough for AA and the coaches. They know they didn't really have a good 2nd option at QB to change the pace. Bass changed the pace but they failed to recognize that.

[Wesley]

The only thing that should have been a difference is AA being the man now and not having a safety net. Sure it may affect him protecting himself more but it should be no excuse in the way this team lost the way they did.

AA did not play well, completed only 51% of his passes (88% for the opposition), did not run or stretch defense much, did not throw long, looked very plain jane. This is not a good sign this far into a season. He does not look like a very vocal leader at this point. We need a vocal leader somewhere on the field in the offense. Who is the leader?

[SmokinH2O]

AA did not play well, completed only 51% of his passes (88% for the opposition), did not run or stretch defense much, did not throw long, looked very plain jane. This is not a good sign this far into a season. He does not look like a very vocal leader at this point. We need a vocal leader somewhere on the field in the offense. Who is the leader?

Agreed. I think AA wants to be but he seemed a bit bewildered last night. Didn't see anyone else step up. I think JJ might have been able to but they pulled him after he helped move the ball.

[MontyBurns]

Let's not speak of this as fact until someone provides some credibile evidence (more than just speculation).

I don't think we'll hear anything. The only one who will speak publicly on this will be Gene Chizik, and Gene is not an excuse-maker.

[MontyBurns]

I think the coaches were trying to win the most games but meanwhile bring PBJ along patiently by playing him in situations were he could best succeed.

In the last 4 games, PBJ got 15 snaps against Kent State, 15 against Iowa, 3 against UNLV, and 0 against Kansas. We'll never know for sure what the coachs' plans were or what they told PBJ, but I don't think he was being brought along. I think he had been effectively phased out.

[ketelmeister]

I never said this is an excuse for losing, but to deny it's a distraction?

[BryceC]

It may have impacted preparation, but once the pads go on I doubt it had any real impact. But game prep was probably affected.

[ISUclones33]

It had more of an impact than we would have liked it to have.

The team was out of it ALL day yesterday, the coaches tried to keep things on track, but it just wasnt there.

With a lack of focus, we got the ball first, came out stale and got smacked in the jaw first.

When we Finally got ready to score, lack of concentration took over again, and that drive, IMO killed the will for the rest of the game, we were on the 3 yard line and couldnt get it in for a TD.

The game plan was conservative and just plain bad. We couldnt establish the run early and that is what we try to do every game. Too many lateral passes, not enough slant routes. Yes the game plan this week was screwed up.

Defensively we played soft, we got knocked around by BU and never picked ourselves up.


This game is not ISU. This is not the team we are. Everyone knows it, Now its time to see if we can respond to it or not. Things are going to change in many ways i believe for the nebraska game, we've nothing to lose now. except possibly a red shirt.

[Cyclones78227]

It had more of an impact than we would have liked it to have.

The team was out of it ALL day yesterday, the coaches tried to keep things on track, but it just wasnt there.

With a lack of focus, we got the ball first, came out stale and got smacked in the jaw first.

When we Finally got ready to score, lack of concentration took over again, and that drive, IMO killed the will for the rest of the game, we were on the 3 yard line and couldnt get it in for a TD.

The game plan was conservative and just plain bad. We couldnt establish the run early and that is what we try to do every game. Too many lateral passes, not enough slant routes. Yes the game plan this week was screwed up.

Defensively we played soft, we got knocked around by BU and never picked ourselves up.


This game is not ISU. This is not the team we are. Everyone knows it, Now its time to see if we can respond to it or not. Things are going to change in many ways i believe for the nebraska game, we've nothing to lose now. except possibly a red shirt.

Driving back from Waco to Austin last night to go out, the consensus in the car was that the coaches were going to take one for the players, and not lose their cool at the group. They looked like they knew that they had a distracted (nice way of putting it), and flat team, and they decided to take the hit for them, publicly, and just get out of there with nobody getting hurt.

Now, practice this week may be a completely different story.

Are we on the right track?

[CLONE2THEBONE]

You guys are really funny. Jebus. It's not like Bates died. He decided to play football somewhere else because he wasn't playing here.

Big whoop.

He was liked. Whoopdeedoo.

Jack is right. If the players were in a funk because of this and played poorly, we need new players.

"That's where PB used to stand on the sideline. Right there on the 47. He loved to stand on the 47. Holding that clipboard of his and being all ripped, looking like a badass. I remember just last week, I walked by, and he was standing there not playing in the game. I miss him so much it hurts my insides...ahhh a fumble."

[ISUclones33]

You guys are really funny. Jebus. It's not like Bates died. He decided to play football somewhere else because he wasn't playing here.

Big whoop.

He was liked. Whoopdeedoo.

Jack is right. If the players were in a funk because of this and played poorly, we need new players.

"That's where PB used to stand on the sideline. Right there on the 47. He loved to stand on the 47. Holding that clipboard of his and being all ripped, looking like a badass. I remember just last week, I walked by, and he was standing there not playing in the game. I miss him so much it hurts my insides...ahhh a fumble."

Theres more to it than that, Austen actually did have a good relationship with Phil, Austen was out of it last night, When you plan all week for a game, your game plan is set, and then a guy just leaves, altering the whole game plan, it will have an effect. Austen didnt have the sense of urgency that "if i dont diversify and make this my position, the guy behind me is going to come in and eat it up" He didnt have any confidence last night, it showed.

This team bonds together better than most in the past have, when a guy decides to walk out on you, it does make a difference. That is why i expect the team to get things back on track this week. Last weeks practice was very intense, they had some hard workouts early in the week.

[kingcy]

Things are going to change in many ways i believe for the nebraska game, we've nothing to lose now. except possibly a red shirt.

Lets hope its not #11's RS. I'm all for winning now but there is no reason to throw away the future to get a token win this year. I doubt Tiller is ready anyway. Even if AA gets injured this season is a loss, it would be a waste to use his RS up now. If something happens go with #8 and plan for next year.

Thanks for the info 33