QB change

[bent20]

So is Johnson going to be the starter and get the most reps for the rest of the season? What happened to Seliger? Will Stutzriem work his way back into the starting spot? Seems awfully early in the season for a QB change, but I guess with the offense struggling so much changes have to be made.

 

[IndyTreeFan]

No changes will help the qb's until the o-line figures out how to block somebody...

 

[new sycamore fan]

Seems like a bad dream, and eerily similar to the QB musical chairs from last year. I hate to say this, but (even with the turnovers) we'd be MUCH better off with Dowdell at QB. In fairness to the current QBs, there's not much you can do when you take a 3 or 5 step drop, take a quick look, and then have to scramble for your life. I watched the film of yesterdays game--it's pretty much always one contact and then the play is over for the O-Line. It's like we're running a screen on every play, where the linemen are let free.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

At some point Miles is going to have to "totally" commit to a starting QB and just stick with a kid. I mean you can't keep switching QB's every other game, how do you expect to get any consistency?

I just don't like the idea of cycling through QB's like this... But hell what do I know? 317 Don't answer that.

 

[bent20]

At some point Miles is going to have to "totally" commit to a starting QB and just stick with a kid. I mean you can't keep switching QB's every other game, how do you expect to get any consistency?

I just don't like the idea of cycling through QB's like this... But hell what do I know? 317 Don't answer that.

I agree. I didn't like it when they sent Seliger out there on third down right before the half against Quincy. We were marching toward a score and after failing to convert the third down we also missed the FG. Just stick with one QB in a situation like that.

 

[SamTheFoxSquirrel]

Like some of you have pointed out. I don't think the QB is the problem. They have no time to make reads. I will say Chris seems to hold on to the ball a little longer than Johnson but you h ave to be able to go through your reads. If our O-Line is making one bump and that is it we are in for a long season.

Our coaches need to go to every Big Ten school at the end of the year and say, "OK who is leaving? You got a starting spot gaurnteed on our O-Line." I am getting to the point now that our guys might not even be that good next year. There are a couple with potential but overall they are just struggling.

 

[Sackalot]

Haven't seen any film and not a "knowledgable" football fan in terms of knowing what is needed...but that O-liine just struggles from the one game I have seen. I am not sure if it is not understanding the offense, I am not sure it if is size, etc. But I am sure of one thing, they need help, they need cardio and they do not work well as an "O-line team".

 

[treefromafar]

Protection

Let me start by saying that I was not at the game, nor have I seen any tape on it. I simply want to make a point. It is very easy for us as fans to blame the o line when a QB faces pressure, or appears to be running for his life. And it very well may be a poor offensive line. However, what is lost is that on every pass play, there are different protections called as to where the pocket is going to be, and it us up to the line to create that pocket, and the QB to flow to where the pocket is, either step up, or slide left or right. This is especially important when you are dealing with a line that you(coaches) know is not very strong. Again, I do not have video or personal viewing evidence that this is what is going on, but I think this does have something to do with this.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Honestly, I think it has to do with the mobility of Stut. With the way the offensive line has been treated like a turnstile, IMO, Coach Miles wants a QB in there that is a bit more mobile and has a quicker release. Stut has a canon, but isn't fleet of foot and has a slight hitch in his release.

It all boils down to the offensive line, honestly and truthfully. We can't pass because of the bad pass pro and we can't get a running game going either because the line has been getting manhandled at the point of attack. Miles is in a precarious situation in that regard.

Ultimately, I hope that Miles goes out and brings in 2-3 JUCO offensive linemen and is able to redshirt the current freshmen so they can spend a year in the program learning the system and getting bigger. The program needs to get to the point where offensive linemen can be redshirted and not on the depth chart as true freshmen.

 

[new sycamore fan]

treefrom makes a good point. All of the ripping on the O-Line (myself included) is not the whole story. Our receivers rarely, if ever, get separation or run crisp routes. Our QBs--one not at all mobile, one with fair mobility do not help matters with fluttering throws, poor judgement, and turnovers that cannot be blamed on the O-Line. I'm OK with the first 2 RBs, but you can see the huge difference between the talent of Mon Williams and that of our RBs. So, as I've mentioned before, this is not an easy fix, and it's not just the O-Line that needs fixing. I hate to be pessimistic, but the offense has (unbelievably) taken a huge step backward this year. The defense has got to find a way to get takeaways, and to get the ball in the end zone.

 

[TJames]

just a point to make....

EIU had eight Division I transfers on their team. Their quarterback was from Iowa, their top running back transferred from the University of Florida, their top backup RB transferred in from Michigan. Heck, their primary backup QB was their starter last year and won All-OVC honors.

Yeah, their top RB looked good. He should. He played for a national championship team at Florida. You had a Division I talent going up against a young FCS team. I thought they held him in check except for two runs. And on both of those runs, he showed the moves and speed that is the difference between a BCS talent and FCS talent.

Maturity, physical size, big-game experience. That's the difference between Indiana State and EIU. Being able to attract some Division I transfer talent is crucial for the Sycamores, as well as hitting the junior colleges.

Indiana State has to find a way to get bigger, older and more experienced on both the offensive and defensive lines. ISU's defensive line is talented, but very young and not physical enough to endure an entire game if they're going to be on the field a lot. They wear down. That's not a knock on anybody. Just the truth.

 

[BankShot]

"Inventive" Play Calling

Would this facilitate more time on the field for the offense? Is Miles' offense too predictable?

 

[rgd]

TJames:

Nice to have you back and glad you are out of the doghouse.

 

[rgd]

BankShot:

At this point, the offense is fairly predictable because of the limited abilities of the O Line. As TJames was stating - if we had 4 seniors and 1 junior starting on the O Line, then we wouldn't be having this conversation. I know they were running the Wildcat earlier in the year to try and use some deception, but this formation also requires the O Line to be physical as well.

 

[treefromafar]

combination

Per my earlier post, I believe it is a bad combination. Underperforming offensive line, plus immobile QB is not good. You add to that a first time offensive coordinator, and you have what you have. We are going to have to live with the growing pains, and pray for improvement on a weekly basis.

 

[SamTheFoxSquirrel]

I'll say this the play calling was much better versus EIU than previously. Quincy was terrible.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

I'll say this the play calling was much better versus EIU than previously. Quincy was terrible.

Better play calling like being in the shotgun with 26 seconds left in the 1st half on 3rd and forever on your own 30 or so.... You know since we have so much trouble with snapping the ball whether you are under center or in the gun. Yeah ok.

 

[Steve Rogers]

Big bump!

 

[TJames]

its a damned if you do and damned if you dont situation.....

if they try to run the ball and it gets stuffed at the line of scrimmage, people gripe...why dont you pass more....

if they try to pass the ball and the quarterback doesn't have enough time to get the ball off.....people gripe...why don't you run the ball more.....

play action wont work since the running game isn't going.....the defense isnt going to bite on the play action...which means that the passing game is going to have a tougher time....

opposing defenses can lock onto receivers.....play tight coverage on them....which makes it tougher to get open.....and right now, isu doesnt have a receiver who is athletic enough to separate themselves from a big, physical cornerback....a dependable playmaker....

trick or gimmick plays may work once or twice....but you can't go to the well very often with that kind of stuff.....

as i said earlier...football games are won up front.....with the offensive and defensive lines.....you can control the game on the ground...and use your ground game to set up your passing game.....with play action.....

or you can use the passing game to set up your running attack....get the defense back on their heels and set up some running lanes....but if both segments aren't working...what do you do??????

so its up to you...all of you amateur offensive coordinators.....with your vasts knowledge of offensive football...what do you do....what do you suggest??????

 

[Jason Svoboda]

if they try to run the ball and it gets stuffed at the line of scrimmage, people gripe...why dont you pass more....

if they try to pass the ball and the quarterback doesn't have enough time to get the ball off.....people gripe...why don't you run the ball more.....

play action wont work since the running game isn't going.....the defense isnt going to bite on the play action...which means that the passing game is going to have a tougher time....

opposing defenses can lock onto receivers.....play tight coverage on them....which makes it tougher to get open.....and right now, isu doesnt have a receiver who is athletic enough to separate themselves from a big, physical cornerback....a dependable playmaker....

trick or gimmick plays may work once or twice....but you can't go to the well very often with that kind of stuff.....

as i said earlier...football games are won up front.....with the offensive and defensive lines.....you can control the game on the ground...and use your ground game to set up your passing game.....with play action.....

or you can use the passing game to set up your running attack....get the defense back on their heels and set up some running lanes....but if both segments aren't working...what do you do??????

so its up to you...all of you amateur offensive coordinators.....with your vasts knowledge of offensive football...what do you do....what do you suggest??????

Recruit, recruit, recruit.