Why is everyone blaming Richardson?

tmetz74

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It looked like Sam was just locked onto Lazard the entire second half. It seemed like almost every pass went his way and Sam wasn't even looking to the other side of the field. I'd have to re watch the game but from my seat it looked like there where other receivers open but Sam just stared down his number 1 option.
 

kingcy

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It looked like Sam was just locked onto Lazard the entire second half. It seemed like almost every pass went his way and Sam wasn't even looking to the other side of the field. I'd have to re watch the game but from my seat it looked like there where other receivers open but Sam just stared down his number 1 option.

Very much so. He also seems throws to his right 75% of the time never looking left.
 

bozclone

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Sam was great in the first half and terrible in the second half. You can try to blame others, but the fact is we need our QB to be our best play maker and he needs to make plays at critical times during the game. Sam makes too many bad throws or bad decisions at critical junctions during the game. I don't know how you fix that other than growing some nads.
 

swarthmoreCY

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Here nor there
We got beat in the trenches need to shore that up, but how? Recruit a lot better.

You mean coach a lot better. Any high school linemen you sign has a ton of needed development ahead of him. If that development falls short, you will not have good lines. It is no coincidence that KSU and Iowa consistently have walkon or lightly recruited guys become starters or even NFL guys

Rhoads on the other hand can't make up his mind on the kind of linemen he wants, let alone know the kind we need, and he certainly does not have much insight how to get them there..
 
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cyclones12321

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Feb 21, 2009
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Still trying to comprehend why everyone is throwing Sam under the bus. From what I have seen so far is a line that isnt doing something the job they should be. The running backs seem to be non existent. Love how the quarterback is always the first one to catch all the heat even when there are way bigger issues with the offense.
Sam missed a couple throws but its hard to throw the ball when you cant run the ball and have no time to throw it. Oline was just atrocious
 

67CY

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Apr 13, 2006
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Sam is under a lot of pressure, it appears that CPR has put his coaching future on the QB position.
 

Scott34

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It looks like history is repeating itself with this board and putting all the blame on the quarterback and still thinking the backup is always the best option. So some of you people want a team to be one dimensional and still be able to pass on every down? Sorry thats not going to happen. Has Sam played great ball, obviously far from it. We have no idea on what he is being told to do, if thats to pass first then run, whatever the case maybe. Just seems like a lot people find it easy to blame the quarterback and not anyone else.
 

Cyclonick182

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Oct 12, 2007
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It looks like history is repeating itself with this board and putting all the blame on the quarterback and still thinking the backup is always the best option. So some of you people want a team to be one dimensional and still be able to pass on every down? Sorry thats not going to happen. Has Sam played great ball, obviously far from it. We have no idea on what he is being told to do, if thats to pass first then run, whatever the case maybe. Just seems like a lot people find it easy to blame the quarterback and not anyone else.

Just my humble opinion but I think WAY more people are placing the blame on CPR and staff.
 

Wesley

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Apr 12, 2006
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Overrated WR group? Is that why schools like Stanford and Notre Dame offered Lazard? Is that why Montgomery was a top 150 recruit? Come on, they're the one bright part of our team. SBR is terrible and that's why our receivers don't put up great stat lines. I can tell you now that if Lazard were on a team like TCU, he would easily be averaging over 100 yards a game.

SBR had plenty of time the entire game. The o-line wasn't great (other than Campos, who was fantastic), but having five seconds most plays and just sitting around unable to make a decision is bad qb play. Like one other poster said here, look at the amount of times he missed a wide open receiver then threw his hands up to apologize. Our defense was bad, but SBR was worse and a qb is the leader of the team. Stop trying to protect him when he's a big part of the problem.

Sam basically just throws a straight line pass. Our receivers basically caught everything in their direction if it was close. The problem is getting a close ball to the receivers despite lack of running game threat, getting passes off, need to scramble, or whatever.
 

Scott34

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Sam missed a couple throws but its hard to throw the ball when you cant run the ball and have no time to throw it. Oline was just atrocious

This is my exact point. Funny how people expect a team to be able to throw it on every down and have the defense play the run. Sorry folks but when a team has no run game, the passing game isnt going to get u very far.
 

GoClones123

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Sep 5, 2010
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I don't think we should blame only the QB in this anemic offense, but his criticisms are not off base at all either. I'm sorry but he is a captain, and LIKE IT OR NOT the QB is responsible for the offense on the field. When I get a cold sandwich at a resteraunt I don't ask to speak with the Dish washer about it, I wanna speak to the manager. So what I can't figure out is.....is this a coaching or a SR problem. CPR (along with many of us) talks constantly about the bad OL play.

SO what are they doing to counteract the fact they have KNOWN issues with the OL? I don't see bootlegs to get pressure off the QB and to get him out in space, I don't see the coaches changing up a darn thing with how their 'system' wIrks. The coaches refuse to adapt to the fact they can't run the system they want to. Just keep running the same crap...same results
 

nickcyv

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Sam is what he is at this point. He hasn't developed into a guy who is going to lead ISU to victory alone. He needs help and ISU suffers from a talent deficiency and coaching ineptitude, so he is getting little help.

Its an offense/ISU problem as much as it's a Sam problem.
 

norcalcy

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Oct 20, 2010
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So what I can't figure out is.....is this a coaching or a SR problem. CPR (along with many of us) talks constantly about the bad OL play.

SO what are they doing to counteract the fact they have KNOWN issues with the OL? I don't see bootlegs to get pressure off the QB and to get him out in space, I don't see the coaches changing up a darn thing with how their 'system' wIrks. The coaches refuse to adapt to the fact they can't run the system they want to. Just keep running the same crap...same results

I kept waiting for them to roll the pocket in the 2nd half. I don't recall it happening. Can Sam make a throw on the run? He's got the wheels to move, it's not like he's Big Ben or something.
 

Stewo

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Oct 29, 2008
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You know why everyone (most) blame Sam? Because he's not that good of a QB. Stats are worthless if your conference win/loss record is 0-15 as a starter. Under pressure, he makes poor decisions and poor throws. Yesterday is a prime example of that. Iowa scores a TD with 2 minutes and change, and Sam throws an interception. He tries too hard to make things happen that are above his abilities. I love the kid for being a Cyclone and giving it his all, but he's just not very good. His lack of consistency is what determines that.
 

CyVik7

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He's a damn captain.

CPR, Mangino, or whoever isn't going to bench him for Lanning or Rohach. I still wouldn't be surprised if we saw Lanning during the year in a certain formation or package, but CPR isn't going to bench a captain on his team, especially with this "culture change" talk.

Sam is average or slightly above average at that position, but when you can't run for ******* 100 yards or more in any game as a team, your passing game is going to struggle at some point during that game.

It struggled in the 2nd half because Iowa realized we had no chance running the ball.

Could the play calling been better in the 2nd half? Sure. Could Sam have not forced that throw on 3rd down, and checked it down to have a chance on 4th down? Yes. But saying it's all on your QB for that loss is garbage.

We are 2 games into the season. Step off the ledge people.
 

fsanford

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Intangibles in a QB are important. Guys who have them find ways to carry their team. When ISU had the ball late in the 4th, Sam had a chance to hit Bundrage going down the sideline, he has step or 2 on the defender and the ball was not even close. That has defined Sam's career.

Its not always about collective stats, its about making a critical play at a time when you need it.

Look at Iowa, Ruddock was the QB last year, a veteran guy and their offense was challenged.People said it was coaching, Beathard comes in and their offense is night and day better. Same coaches though..


People need to realize sometimes you need to be able to stretch the field to open up the run a bit more.
 
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