question. ..

[kansasCowboy]

I don't like bad mouthing players, especially ones that have worked their asses off for the team and what not, but that int and fumble really hurt us.

Understood. But I'm guessing we have a player who is a very good practice player. He always look good in practice but simply can't perform in a game. That's fine. It happens. Some guys look great on the driving range and putting green but once the round starts, they play like Rodney Dangerfield. So the coach has to see this tendency and make a change. The guy is a senior and the team was Montana - at home. It ain't gonna get any easier than this.

Holy Crap people! It was the very first game! You all were calling for him to be benched by the 2nd quarter!

Seriously, a new coaching era, a new season and by halftime or QB is needing to be benched. Our O Line sucks. And our brand new OC is no better than Cockhill... Everyone on here was so excited for a new season, but had low expectations, but now it's back to how terrible we are in practically every direction. Seriously, what the hell?

These guys have implemented a new offense in what, like 15 or 20 practices? You don't think there will be bugs to get out on both sides of the ball?

[carbonpoke]

in regards to brett smith having stayed for this year...

I have a belief that you "can take a pro style quarterback and put him in a spread system and find success, but you may have difficulties in taking a spread quarterback and placing him in a pro style offense."

there is a patience-mental game that goes into the pro game. in the spread, four positions are usually in a "route" to catch a ball. reads are easier pre snap, and the short pass to the vacant space (from the shot gun).... while looking complicated, is actually much easier to process mentally.

in the pro style set, sometimes only 2 people are in "route" to catch a pass. the quarterback under center, making foot work more important. then the quarterback has to read fewer options, but with a greater critical impact on the timing of the throw. In addition, pro style route design takes more time to develop... the receiver and quarterback are moving through play action taking the receiver farther away from the quarterback. if the completion is successful the receiver should have more defenders behind him than in front of him.

so in conclusion, while I think smith would be starting and providing a great dynamic... this would be a hard system for him to adjust too... and that is the main reason tampa cut him.

[ragtimejoe1]

He got rattled and looked bad. He did have a few good throws. Route spacing was bad at times. Pass blocking needs lots of improvement. If there is decent improvement by AF then no need to panic.

[Asmodeanreborn]

He got rattled and looked bad. He did have a few good throws. Route spacing was bad at times. Pass blocking needs lots of improvement. If there is decent improvement by AF then no need to panic.

In all honesty, did he? Were there many throws aside from the lateral that went for -2 yards or the screen plays that were dead on target (i.e. not too high, too low, or behind the receiver)? There were at least 2 more of his throws that should have been picked off by the Montana defense. You can't stare down your receiver over the middle, especially if you don't put the ball right into his hands.

[ragtimejoe1]

I thought some of his throws, especially in the first half weren't terrible. Definitely stared down receivers but some of that might be a new playbook. If there is little progress, then, yeah, we are screwed. The question is how much is lack of ability contributing vs. new system? We'll know by progress or lack of progress next week.

[Larawie]

I don't like bad mouthing players, especially ones that have worked their asses off for the team and what not, but that int and fumble really hurt us.

I agree. It's poultry waste, imo. I also believe it was a matter of first game jitters from top to bottom...and on both sides. I noticed there were a few times when #11 rolled out, had an open receiver but didn't get rid of the ball soon enough. I still believe he's the best available and will learn. Same with every kid on the team. Time will tell. One game neither makes nor breaks a season.

[cowboyz]

I don't like bad mouthing players, especially ones that have worked their asses off for the team and what not, but that int and fumble really hurt us.

Understood. But I'm guessing we have a player who is a very good practice player. He always look good in practice but simply can't perform in a game. That's fine. It happens. Some guys look great on the driving range and putting green but once the round starts, they play like Rodney Dangerfield. So the coach has to see this tendency and make a change. The guy is a senior and the team was Montana - at home. It ain't gonna get any easier than this.

Holy Crap people! It was the very first game! You all were calling for him to be benched by the 2nd quarter!

Seriously, a new coaching era, a new season and by halftime or QB is needing to be benched. Our O Line sucks. And our brand new OC is no better than Cockhill... Everyone on here was so excited for a new season, but had low expectations, but now it's back to how terrible we are in practically every direction. Seriously, what the hell?

These guys have implemented a new offense in what, like 15 or 20 practices? You don't think there will be bugs to get out on both sides of the ball?

Totally agree with this. Colby may have been here a while, but his college actual game experience is fairly low. We all pretty much have faith in the new coach and his leadership. We need to have faith in his ability to pick the best QB in the bunch to lead on the field. Colby's in there to manage the game. He still hit over 60% of his (short) passes. You take away the INT and it's almost exactly what he's out there to do.

I was sort of hoping to win by a couple TDs yesterday, but new coach, new system, etc., I'm glad we didn't screw it up.

Next week's game might define the season. I win we might go 8-4, a loss and we could be looking at 4-8. I still think it's a win.

I've seen some praise for the D and the RBs etc., but I'll give a shout out to the kicking game. Stuart wasn't called on to hit a game winner, but he hit every time he was called upon and his 5 points were the margin of victory, and Ethan averaged over 44 yards a punt. I'll take that every game!

[OrediggerPoke]

I've seen some praise for the D and the RBs etc., but I'll give a shout out to the kicking game. Stuart wasn't called on to hit a game winner, but he hit every time he was called upon and his 5 points were the margin of victory, and Ethan averaged over 44 yards a punt. I'll take that every game!

I will give a shot out to our former kicker...Daniel Sullivan. He lowered the boom on the kickoffs and sailed them through the endzone. He would be a nice weapon to have.

[fromolwyoming]

I've seen some praise for the D and the RBs etc., but I'll give a shout out to the kicking game. Stuart wasn't called on to hit a game winner, but he hit every time he was called upon and his 5 points were the margin of victory, and Ethan averaged over 44 yards a punt. I'll take that every game!

I will give a shot out to our former kicker...Daniel Sullivan. He lowered the boom on the kickoffs and sailed them through the endzone. He would be a nice weapon to have.

Yep, he launched those kicks pretty well.

[laxwyo]

I've seen some praise for the D and the RBs etc., but I'll give a shout out to the kicking game. Stuart wasn't called on to hit a game winner, but he hit every time he was called upon and his 5 points were the margin of victory, and Ethan averaged over 44 yards a punt. I'll take that every game!

I will give a shot out to our former kicker...Daniel Sullivan. He lowered the boom on the kickoffs and sailed them through the endzone. He would be a nice weapon to have.

Yep, he launched those kicks pretty well.

Is he the one that missed the XP?

Colby was sacked 6 times right? Half of those were Colby's fault. OL can't block forever. I thought OL played relatively well. And by that, I mean, it wasn't a complete poop show.

[YankPoke]

I've seen some praise for the D and the RBs etc., but I'll give a shout out to the kicking game. Stuart wasn't called on to hit a game winner, but he hit every time he was called upon and his 5 points were the margin of victory, and Ethan averaged over 44 yards a punt. I'll take that every game!

I will give a shot out to our former kicker...Daniel Sullivan. He lowered the boom on the kickoffs and sailed them through the endzone. He would be a nice weapon to have.

Yep, he launched those kicks pretty well.

Is he the one that missed the XP?

Colby was sacked 6 times right? Half of those were Colby's fault. OL can't block forever. I thought OL played relatively well. And by that, I mean, it wasn't a complete poop show.

The o line was a poop show pass blocking. I give Kirk a c for the game he didn't play terribly and if he didn't make those two dumb mistakes I would've rated him higher. A big probl was he had happy feet from not being able to do a 3 step drop without being under pressure. Line looked good in run game and dominated there, but need vast improvement in pass block or Colby doesn't stand a chance.

[mwc fan]

Yes the line did get manhandled at times when we passed. Our right tackle had problems with the long haired DE and some interior guys got beat on occasion. The thing was at times there were eight defenders in the box, leaving our WR's with man coverage and still he was incredibly inaccurate after the first quarter. After the turnovers he seemed very unstable ( can't say I don't blame him ) and wide open receivers had to drop to their knees to make the catch. Hopefully it was jitters and I do believe he is our best option at this point. I expect to see either a huge improvement or a huge meltdown by CK. I'm really pulling for Kirk and I know he can be a serviceable Qb if he just relaxes and trusts his training. Easy for me to say I know, but he is a Qb for an FBS team so let's hope his first win as a starter can boost his confidence.

[Wyo2dal]

It's basically how I play QB in NCAA 14, Just going to run for life.

[J-Rod]

It's basically how I play QB in NCAA 14, Just going to run for life.

If we put you in for Kirkegaard, please realize it is okay to throw beyond 15 yards.

[Wyo2dal]

Whoever was blocking OL needs to be looked at, That long haired guy got through so many times it's not even funny, Hell one of the times he was holding him with a handful of hair. Needs better push or control they need something on that or Colby is going to be running for his life.

By running for his life what I really mean is sitting on his ass.

[Wyo2dal]

It's basically how I play QB in NCAA 14, Just going to run for life.

If we put you in for Kirkegaard, please realize it is okay to throw beyond 15 yards.

Four Verts, Always throw to X or R1 on the crossing route........

[OrediggerPoke]

I've seen some praise for the D and the RBs etc., but I'll give a shout out to the kicking game. Stuart wasn't called on to hit a game winner, but he hit every time he was called upon and his 5 points were the margin of victory, and Ethan averaged over 44 yards a punt. I'll take that every game!

I will give a shot out to our former kicker...Daniel Sullivan. He lowered the boom on the kickoffs and sailed them through the endzone. He would be a nice weapon to have.

Yep, he launched those kicks pretty well.

Is he the one that missed the XP?

No, I believe that was a different kicker.

[gbpoke]

Whoever was blocking OL needs to be looked at, That long haired guy got through so many times it's not even funny, Hell one of the times he was holding him with a handful of hair. Needs better push or control they need something on that or Colby is going to be running for his life.

By running for his life what I really mean is sitting on his ass.

I could be wrong, but itsn't the long haired guy the one who they are projecting to be a NFL caliber player? If so I guess it's somewhat understandable that our O-line would have some problems with him. Still have to do a better job though because Oregon and Michigan State are full of guys who are NFL caliber players.

[WestWYOPoke]

Whoever was blocking OL needs to be looked at, That long haired guy got through so many times it's not even funny, Hell one of the times he was holding him with a handful of hair. Needs better push or control they need something on that or Colby is going to be running for his life.

By running for his life what I really mean is sitting on his ass.

I could be wrong, but itsn't the long haired guy the one who they are projecting to be a NFL caliber player? If so I guess it's somewhat understandable that our O-line would have some problems with him. Still have to do a better job though because Oregon and Michigan State are full of guys who are NFL caliber players.

Yes, he was their conference pre season defensive POY. He will at the very least be a free agent signee. He probably shouldn't have applied as much pressure as he did, but don't completely blame our OL, that kid is talented.

[Cowboy Junky]

To me the question is, "Can Captain Kirk become a game manager." I don't need him to be Brett Smith. I need him to stop turning the ball over. I need him to make the open passes. I need him to throw the ball away to avoid sacks. I don't need him to try and force a ball into coverage.

If he can learn to do that we have a chance to be very competitive.

If he continues to turn the ball over, I see a change to Tommy or the youth movement. That's one thing we simply can't have is turnovers on offense.