Old Seneca Wallace Quote

[QCCyclone]

No news here, sorry, just a quote that I thought was interesting. I was reading up on the current Browns QB "controversy" and it mentioned this quote from Seneca Wallace from when the Browns gave Colt McCoy the starting nod over Seneca himself a few years back.

"Cleveland has had situations where they had quarterback controversy and all this other stuff and if you’re going to move forward with a guy and it be your franchise guy, you need to put all your focus in that guy and let him play and take all the media situations out of it and the fan situations out of it and let him play in order to build that franchise the way you want it."


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Obviously NCAA and NFL are two different animals when it comes to "franchise" guys, but I'd say this applies pretty well to the same QB situation ISU has been in for the last several years. Do you think Seneca would disapprove of the way ISU has been handling the situation? Here's the article for anybody that's interested:

http://www.dawgsbynature.com/2014/5/12/5707480/killing-a-quarterback-controversy-before-it-starts

 

[ISUCubswin]

I think anyone with eyes would disapprove the way Iowa State has handled the QB controversy.

To have a "competition" between two QB's last from December to August, and the original starting QB comes out looking bad and the next QB looks just as bad, it just means neither QB had the talent to play in this league, or neither QB wanted it bad enough. Either way, we haven't had a Big XII QB since Arnaud.

 

[no2cyclones]

That's a really good way of looking at it. I think, with Mangino handling the show, the QB situation will start to play itself into greater focus over the summer and by the time practices roll around in the fall, there will be a fairly solid answer to who will be the starter.

 

[Stormin]

Like you said, the NFL and NCAA are completely different.

I see nothing wrong with the competition taking place. Our QB's are not pros. And we have no idea as to who is going to develop into the best QB. Plus we have seen our QB's get injured and need the next man to step up.

If you think our situation is complicated then look back at Tom Brady's college career at Michigan. That is crazy. And shows you what happens when you don't allow what is taking place on the field to drive the decision making process.

 

[djcubby]

I think anyone with eyes would disapprove the way Iowa State has handled the QB controversy.

To have a "competition" between two QB's last from December to August, and the original starting QB comes out looking bad and the next QB looks just as bad, it just means neither QB had the talent to play in this league, or neither QB wanted it bad enough. Either way, we haven't had a Big XII QB since Arnaud.

To be fair to both QB's last year, the lack of protection from the o-line had both QB's running for their lives. It was more survival than trying to run plays most of the time. Rohach played better at the end of the year when the o-line finally startet to get healthy, but that was against some lower tier competition. I believe that one of the 3 we have can be a solid Big12 caliber QB under Mangino. The question is how long will it take for them to get to where they need to be?

 

[isufbcurt]

To be fair to both QB's last year, the lack of protection from the o-line had both QB's running for their lives. It was more survival than trying to run plays most of the time. Rohach played better at the end of the year when the o-line finally startet to get healthy, but that was against some lower tier competition. I believe that one of the 3 we have can be a solid Big12 caliber QB under Mangino. The question is how long will it take for them to get to where they need to be?

I agree it is hard to judge QB's when they are getting rolled as soon as they receive the snap.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

I agree it is hard to judge QB's when they are getting rolled as soon as they receive the snap.

I remember back in the Alex Espinoza days Pete Taylor's standard play call was "Espinoza back to pass, he's in trouble."

 

[Clonefan94]

If there is one thing about the Rhoads era at ISU that looks terrible on his resume. It's the QB situation and how it's been handled. Granted, I don't think we've had Heisman caliber QBs here and his staff screwed them up, but I think they focused too much on the negatives of each QB and seemed to always have the threat looming over them of losing their job. When in reality, a Heisman Caliber QB probably wouldn't have fared much better with what they had to work with. Especially last year with our revolving O-line. It seemed very much grasping at straws by the staff to change up QBs as they did and basically deny the other problems around them. Like a switch at QB was going to magically fix all the problems we had last year.

Where the NFL and College do have their differences. I think there is a lot to be said for picking a guy and just going with him, without the threat of one bad game costing him his job because you are also giving reps to his back up. It also doesn't help you QB heal when you run the same read option play 40 times a game, then wonder why your guy isn't making good decisions. When he's already hurt and knows one more jolt could be the end to his year, how do you expect him to react to making the decision at the line of scrimmage.

I still believe the problem was the Herman offense that was still pretty much in place. If you watched Ohio States games last year, they won despite it. A lot of their offense was their QB making great plays after something was busted. Hell, Iowa held them pretty much in check until Miller would make some awesome play from a broken one. I'm just glad Mess is gone now and hopefully we can rid ourselves of that.

 

[RubyClone]

I'm not sure what you guys are meaning by "how it's been handled"?

What are we expecting? We have guys coming in and playing well (not even great, just well) one game, then the next like they are playing Jai Alai or something. There has been no consistency at that spot by anyone in pretty much CPR's entire term here. Now perhaps that falls on him and the staff in recruiting. And Curt correctly mentioned that it may not be fair as our olines haven't been stellar either.

But what are they supposed to "handle", exactly?

Are people suggesting that the coaches have taken players out of the game who were playing well and replaced them with an inferior talent?

Steele Jantz could only live off the Iowa win so long...
Jared Barnett could only live off the OSU win so long...
Sam Richardson could only live off the ..... ..... ..... Kansas win(?) so long...

I really think CPR and co gave Barnett every chance to take the reigns, but didn't get the job done. Same with Richardson - who I believe is injured more than not. Nobody has pulled a Sage or Seneca (that one isn't fair for any QB) and taken the job. And all have been given ample chances.

This isn't on the coaches IMO. Somebody needs to step up and perform consistently.

 

[Judoka]

I think anyone with eyes would disapprove the way Iowa State has handled the QB controversy.

To have a "competition" between two QB's last from December to August, and the original starting QB comes out looking bad and the next QB looks just as bad, it just means neither QB had the talent to play in this league, or neither QB wanted it bad enough. Either way, we haven't had a Big XII QB since Arnaud.

What does that even mean? I'm sure that both Richardson and Rohach want the starting job very badly and are doing everything within their power to win it. The handling of our QBs over the past half decade is a coaching issue. Not an issue with the kids "not wanting it enough".

 

[coolerifyoudid]

I agree that we haven't really had someone really step up to be the man at QB in awhile. However, coupled with the O-line issues and the poor play calling, it was rough.

I like Mangino to play to our strengths versus masking our weaknesses. I'm guessing we see a lot more different levels of passing this year (meaning 5-10 yards, 10-20 yards, bombs) to highlight our strong receiving core. A run game wouldn't hurt either.

 

[ISUCubswin]

What does that even mean? I'm sure that both Richardson and Rohach want the starting job very badly and are doing everything within their power to win it. The handling of our QBs over the past half decade is a coaching issue. Not an issue with the kids "not wanting it enough".

I don't mean mentally. I just mean that when both QB's had the job, neither seized it. And that's what I would like to see - one of those two get a chance and make the most of the opportunity, instead of throwing for 30% completion rating and making Steele Jantz look like Peyton Manning.

For the record, I love a healthy Sam Richardson. I don't think the o-line helped him get healed, and the coaches definitely didn't help him get healed, but when healthy he seems like an alright QB.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

I don't mean mentally. I just mean that when both QB's had the job, neither seized it. And that's what I would like to see - one of those two get a chance and make the most of the opportunity, instead of throwing for 30% completion rating and making Steele Jantz look like Peyton Manning.

For the record, I love a healthy Sam Richardson. I don't think the o-line helped him get healed, and the coaches definitely didn't help him get healed, but when healthy he seems like an alright QB.

I'm torn on Sam. During the beginning of the UNI game, he held onto the ball way too long and ended up getting "rushed" on a couple plays that he didn't need to be rushed on. That was when he actually was getting time. He normally seems really poised and capable of making the plays with his arm and legs, but that game really sticks out for some reason (possibly because my expectations =/= the outcome). Maybe he just needs a couple easy throws to get settled in. I dunno. I'll let the coaches do what they do.

I do know that I feel much better with Mangino calling the plays though.

 

[Nuts4Cy]

I remember back in the Alex Espinoza days Pete Taylor's standard play call was "Espinoza back to pass, he's in trouble."

I was young but had tickets w/my Dad during the Walden years. I thought Walden was always known for his OL. That's why TD was able to run all over the field his first 2 years. Behind Waldens OL. Could be wrong.

 

[ISUFan22]

I remember back in the Alex Espinoza days Pete Taylor's standard play call was "Espinoza back to pass, he's in trouble."

"Flynn on the keeper" all season long in 2003.

 

[Cyvilian]

I have a lot of respect for Flynn for what he went through, especially that year, and for the loyalty he showed the program.