2023 ISU QB

[MisterO]

Dekkers not being a running threat is also a reason our running game is struggling. Defense doesn’t have to take him serious that he will keep it and the few times he does, it shows why he’s probably told to just hand it off, he doesn’t have a good nose for running. He also is a turnover machine.

It’s not the QB’s job to ensure a potent rushing attack any more than it is on the running backs to ensure Hunter completes his passes (or in our case- that receivers actually catch the ball).

Sure, Hunter isn’t the best runner, but when he does, he’s athletic and competent and can run when he needs to. Including blame on him for our lack of a running game doesn’t make sense to me. I thought our line and running backs tend to be responsible for that…

 

[cytor]

The O line needs to improve drastically. I think the Manning days should be over. Time to shake things up with those 2 coaching positions.

 

[clonehome]

I saw JJ play twice this year (Roosevelt and SC East) and in both games he looked like a HS QB. I think it’s a stretch to suggest that he can be the starter at ISU next year, especially with this OL. Kohl is a big, strong guy and a pure pocket passer, far less mobile than Purdy or Dekkers. As has been said, QB play won’t improve until we significantly improve the OL and the running game.

 

[Jeff51106]

It goes back to the coaching. When Adrian Martinez was at Nebraska he was as inconsistent as Dekkers. He transferred to Kansas State and did quite well until his injury.

 

[MisterO]

So we can't bring in a senior via transfer portal or you plan on the 2023 season resting on the shoulders of a true freshman QB?

No- it will be Hunter’s job to keep and JJ’s to take from him.

Let it go man- the transfer portal is not a miracle worker.

 

[stewart092284]

The first and 3rd interception were on Dekkers.

1st - high throw that might be catchable but is the kind of ball that typically either gets the receiver killed because its high and he has to leave himself vulnerable across the middle and the safety has a giant smile on his face right before the hit or its picked off on the tip drill. Either way, its a bad pass.


3rd - OMG. That was just bad.


I was really excited for Dekkers as I thought a stronger armed QB would help the offense evolve. Instead we seem to have devolved. Yes, that is in no small part due to not being able to run BUT -

how much are defenses selling out to stop the run because they have zero fear of a down field passing attack or they figure, Dekkers is going to give them 1-2 if they force him to throw it?

 

[BCClone]

It’s not the QB’s job to ensure a potent rushing attack any more than it is on the running backs to ensure Hunter completes his passes (or in our case- that receivers actually catch the ball).

Sure, Hunter isn’t the best runner, but when he does, he’s athletic and competent and can run when he needs to. Including blame on him for our lack of a running game doesn’t make sense to me. I thought our line and running backs tend to be responsible for that…

In our offense, when we run, it requires a threat for the qb to keep it and run. Without that threat, the defense can just key on the back and blow them up. So it is a huge part that hunter is at least a threat at running, which 98% of the time he isn’t. While our Oline is a mess and a good chunk of the issue, our running offense will not improve much until the defense sees hunter as a threat to keep the ball. If hunter does not want any responsibility for the run game, then he should play at a place like Iowa where the qb is not supposed to be a run option.

 

[ozzie8]

He’s a first year starter, mistakes will be made. He’s also 3 brutal drops away from probably 3 more wins with the game on the line that must be caught.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

Dekkers is an OK runner if he commits to it. His problem is that when he is indecisive or doesn't commit to running that he's bad.

He is slow-footed. Once he gets downhill, he's got decent top-end speed, but his first few steps look as though he's slogging thru wet cement.

 

[quasistellar]

Do we realize that we'd all be saying how clutch Dekkers is if our WRs don't drop the absolute dimes he delivers to them at the end of a few games this year? We'd all be saying how he fought through the adversity to win the games.

Crazy how the narrative of fans change when the rest of the team crumbles around the QB (who is not guilt free!)

I think I was wrong about Purdy. I thought he didn't have what it takes to go to the next level. I now think it's the coaches that don't have what it takes to make the most of our players. I mean, I've thought that about Manning before, but in the back of my mind I was thinking Purdy might be partially to blame, but now I'm sure I was wrong and it's like 99.9% Manning and Myers.

 

[FeedBreece]

I like to think back to last summer when we were hearing rumors of how solid the O-line would be and how Dekkers would be one-and-done. Good times. Hell, I bought into it, as usual.

And anticipate the same things being said next summer.

 

[NorthCyd]

If hunter does not want any responsibility for the run game, then he should play at a place like Iowa where the qb is not supposed to be a run option.

Or change the system to fit the personel, which is what Campbell SAYS he does. Not sure we actually see that on the field.

 

[quasistellar]

And anticipate the same things being said next summer.

I don't remember hearing anything about Dekkers being good enough to go pro after 1 year starting. I just heard he had a great arm, and he does. He still makes bad decisions, though. The question is why? After watching this team's QBs under Manning, I'm not thinking it's the QBs anymore. Couple that with the completely incompetent OLine, just average RBs who keep getting injured, WRs who drop passes, and TEs that are also seemingly average, and here we are.

 

[Tri4Cy]

When looking at tipped balls you also have to see why they were tipped. The pass to stanley Saturday was tipped, but it was tipped because he threw a rocket when he should have taken a little off. Throwing it as hard as you can a little high 10 yards down field makes it nearly impossible to catch. That pick was on Dekkers, he threw basically an uncatchable ball.

and I believe it may have been his first pass of the game when his threw a soft floater to the edge and damn near gave up a pick-6 because it took so damn long to get to X. That probably influenced him to not do that again.

 

[BCClone]

Or change the system to fit the personel, which is what Campbell SAYS he does. Not sure we actually see that on the field.

Yeah, I guess going to a pistol instead of spread could help there, we would need a FB type player though and Rus is the closest we have but question him carrying it 3-4 times a game.

 

[ZRF]

Tom Manning and/or Campbell are abysmal at scheming, preparing, and coaching on offense.

How bad is it? Just look at the Chicago Bears in terms of finding a tutorial on how to ADAPT an offense and scheme to the players on the roster. To start the year, the Bears came out trying to run a variation of your prototypical NFL offense. After week 2 or week 3 when it became apparent Fields couldn't yet make the reads, the receiver corps was weak (to put it mildly) and that the o-line struggled in pass protection, Luke Getsy overhauled the entire scheme. He devised more QB designed runs, relied more on the run in general, and crafted some of the more creative misdirection plays you'll ever see. The result was an offense that went from incompetent, to competent. A QB that went from struggling, to insanely effective and an offense that gave even the best defenses fits.

Now lets look at our offense. Iowa State refuses to change things that have NEVER worked, let alone things that haven't over a multi-game stretch. Our offensive line is subpar, our blocking schemes are atrocious, the use of misdirection plays are non-existent, we run plays/routes which our offensive line CANNOT block for, and we continue to put Dekkers in poor situations. Add in the hillbilly logic of refusing to run plays under center, especially in short yardage situations, and we are an EXTREMELY easy offense to play against. It's astounding Hutch has the receptions and yards that he has as he's the only player teams really have to game plan against.

Coaches routinely give the spiel of "I/we haven't don't a good enough job", but Campbell really needs to own this disaster. The special teams are still problematic and the offense is in shambles. Own the fact you've refused to hire a coordinator and own the fact you've employed a strategy, as well as an offensive coordinator, that aren't working. Own not being able to understand short yardage situations and being able to get plays in ON TIME without using timeouts. Own that you are a piss poor strategist and that you need to get better.

Campbell was great for this program, maybe he still is, but the program is in a delicate situation. The recruiting and the culture/program buy-in have been his biggest assets. You can sell kids on "we are building something" and tell them "that is where the program used to be" when the previous debacles were someone else's doing. Can he do that now? This is HIS mess. What will he tell the kids now? Will his current players still be buying in when (potential) NIL poaches come calling?

Dekkers has made some major gaffes this year and watching him take sacks on 4th down (game on the line) situations leaves me seething, but it's honestly no where close to our biggest problem. Why can't this university field a decent o-line (like ever)? Will Campbell make needed changes to the offense? Can we continue to retain and bring in talent? Will we ever address special teams? QB, lol....that's not even in the top 5 of the program's most pressing issues.

 

[clonedude]

Dekkers not being a running threat is also a reason our running game is struggling. Defense doesn’t have to take him serious that he will keep it and the few times he does, it shows why he’s probably told to just hand it off, he doesn’t have a good nose for running. He also is a turnover machine.

Dekkers is 10x the runner that Kohl is…. so Kohl is not the answer if that’s what people want?

 

[Clonefan32]

Dekkers needs help. I'm not sure how you grade him anything more than an incomplete this year. He's dealt with a bad OC, a horrible line, average running backs and wide receivers that have let him down on multiple occasions. I don't know how you can properly evaluate him this year due to those factors.

Go into next year with him as starter and see if Kohl can push him.

 

[ruxCYtable]

If someone other than Dekkers starts next year I think it's more likely to be Becht than Kohl. I've heard a few inside tidbits it will not be handed to HD, he will have to compete for the job again.

 

[AuH2O]

It's a little wild seeing all the wild swings on QB opinion, which I've certainly done.

Whether just due to physical limitations, decision-making, etc. I think the idea of Purdy sticking on a roster, and that team seemingly ready to roll with him as QB2 on a team in the playoff hunt would've seemed crazy.

So I think in general our fans should agree he was probably better than most of us thought. Then factor in what Breece was doing with the Jets. We may have had the best RB on the face of the earth, any level, in ISUs backfield last year. And Kolar is an all-timer at TE.

Here's what Purdy did in his fourth year as a starter:
245 ypg 19 TD 8 int 72 cmp%

Here's what Purdy did his first year:
225 ypg, 16 TD 7 INT 67 cmp%

At his current pace here's what Dekkers will end up with as a first year starter:
264 ypg, 20-21 TD, 15-16 Int, 67 comp%

Now, obviously that's not been great considering the INTs. But I think there are a few points that are important to remember:
- Purdy was and is a good QB
- When Purdy did not have Montgomery or Breece playing/established (@texas in 2018, UNI 2019 come to mind), the offense was horrible


ISU's pass pro was not good last year, but I think it's taken another step back. Some plays highlight just how bad it is. For example on one of the last two drives I think it was #30 for OSU was part of a 5 man rush. ISU kept both Dean and Rus in and were double teaming him, they both essentially whiffed, maybe were confused on if/when to release and #30 came in clean. Even in WVU they ran some 3 man rush stuff and were getting pressure by a count of three. Sorry, but those are completely hopeless, impossible situations for any QB. Just hopeless. You have a 3 man route with the D dropping 6 and you have a rusher running free? And again, it isn't like we have guys just physically getting whipped. On stunts and blitzes our guys are lost. We outnumber the rushers, sometimes by 2, and get free rushers coming untouched.

Our pass protection is very poorly coached. Period. I don't think any level of talent would make it a good line. Replace them all with top 10 college linemen, you can still just stunt and bring blitzes from different spots, because they don't know how to properly adjust and pass guys off.