During the 3rd QT....When Drob come out at QB....
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:45 PM ^
Was I confused, YES but we hadn't done anything all game with Tate.
I do wish that on the first play we had just said "go deep" since as the announcers made us aware "When DRob is in the game he runs it 80% of the time".
P.S. whoever is negging everything I say I love you man! (CERANO WANT TO BAT!)
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
Denard needs to get in at least a series every game! He has to get experience in games. Like it or not, Tate is quite breakable and Denard must get game experience, especially on the road.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:37 PM ^
Denard needs to get in a series a game, yes. But in the first 3 quarters when passing is not our only option. Down by 14, with around 10 min left is not the time to put in your run first QB when you have an accurate QB like Tate. I don't care if he hadn't done anything yet...did we watch the ND & IU games? He is, was, and will be our best chance to win when we're trailing late in the game. Period.
October 4th, 2009 at 3:53 PM ^
"Like it or not, Tate is quite breakable and Denard must get game experience, especially on the road." Great point to go along with the fact that the offensive had produced much up to that point. We need to give credit to the coaches for knowing what the team needs - within each game and over the course of the season.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
No you are not the only one, I wanted to kick your dog too. It is not a pit bull is it? Just want to know for future games.
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:42 PM ^
Of an old Yakov Smirnoff joke: "Every country has cities it makes fun of. For instance, in your country, you make fun of Cleveland. In Russia, we also make fun of Cleveland."
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:40 PM ^
have commented on this. It didn't significantly change the complexion of the game, IMO. There will be a lot of second-guessing in the wake of this loss but it won't change the result and it won't prepare us for Iowa. As posters/bloggers, it's time to move past the quibbling on play-calling and talk about preparation for Iowa. The coaching staff will analyze the mistakes and make the necessary adjustments.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:41 PM ^
Confused, yes, but had he picked up a first down, we'd all be wondering why he wasn't out there earlier. Today was a day of weird bounces and luck.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:41 PM ^
kid. Not just in mop up time either. He has to face some pressure to prepare properly. He also needs to face the adversity of not performing that well.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:43 PM ^
to everyone who believes Denard needs to play at least a couple of series every game. I totally agree.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:47 PM ^
Putting Denard in is SOP, and for good reason. Like RR has said - we need 2 QBs we can win with. It is simply good coaching.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:49 PM ^
I wasn't happy to see Denard in at that moment either, but I think that might RR's way to let the QB know that he's not doing well enough. He pulled Tate out after he threw that stupid INT against Indiana, and even though it didn't work with Denard the following series, it sure seemed to help Tate focus better to finish the game. And he sure finished strong today also. Bottom line, RR knows what he is doing, even if we might not understand the reason.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:51 PM ^
running straight forward and sitting in the pocket did not work for him today. I think teams will be anticipating the run most of the time with Denard. I'm not asking for a 25 yard pass down the middle, but what about a screen to Grady? I'd like to see some short yardage passing stuff with Denard along with the option to Carlos Brown Carlos Brown.
Have we tried a bootleg yet with Denard? I think that might actually do rather well.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:34 PM ^
it worked vs. IU (I think?). Dropbacks have been miserable. See ND game, another instance when he was in the game without reason on a 3rd and 16.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:52 PM ^
It was actually the beginning of the fourth quarter. I'm surprised we didn't sub Tate for him when it got to 3rd and 12. Asking Denard to convert that was too much.
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:28 PM ^
Exactly.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:40 PM ^
thank you. Get Denard in the game. But there's a time and place.
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:43 PM ^
He's the man but frankly, when our running game is getting shut down like that I don't see why they wouldn't have him toss a couple balls around. The run obviously wasn't working
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:43 PM ^
The one thing that I noticed on that series was that instead of just tuck and run he looked like he really wanted to throw it. The thing that I liked most was that he did not throw it when he could not find an open man like he did in the past. As bad as I hated to see him take the sack and lose 12 yards or whatever it was I think he is learning. 4 weeks ago he would have thrown it and probably thrown a pick. Sack is better than a pick.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:46 PM ^
I thought that series was a total waste...a quick 3 and out. When DRob comes in they know running is highly likely. Tate is the one who makes this offense go...RR needs to get DRob in at the same time somehow.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:17 PM ^
The first play, attempting to catch MSU over-pursuing DRob witht the reverse was a good call, IMO. Props to MSU for staying home.
I thought Tate should have gone in on 3rd and long.
It wasn't a full wasted series. It was a wasted 3rd and 12.
Is that any different than running a conservative draw in that situation?
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:18 PM ^
It was a waste of a possession. In a game of limited possessions where we all knew Tate was going to be the defining factor in the end, we all would have wished for an extra Tate possession somewhere in there.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 PM ^
for it at all. There were worse things, like the Zoltcat punt formation. I did manage not to kick my dog. I think I busted a vocal cord, though.
October 4th, 2009 at 5:40 PM ^
proved that we need more Denard earlier. He couldn't get comfortable out there and was understandably gunshy after his earlier picks. He needs some meaningful but non-pressure time in at QB. Tate already has nagging injuries and we will want DR good to go if he has to come in.
October 5th, 2009 at 9:08 AM ^
I'm aware that last week he had a bruised shoulder...never heard about others..