Rock Chalk Q&A

by Denverjhawk on Sep 26, 2008 8:29 AM CDT

After some discussion between Hiphopopotomus, Rockchalk and myself we are going to begin a new weekly series...Rock Chalk Q&A. The exact format may change a bit but the thought is each Wednesday, typically a slow day, a Q&A post will go up with the goal of getting some conversation, debate and predictions going about the past weeks games as well as the games to come. We will give our thoughts on the questions and we want your feedback and thoughts on the questions as well.

Let's get things started shall we. Read the questions jump into the post and read everyone's comments...respond to the comments, respond to the questions yourself let's keep it lively.

1. Recently Coach Mangino discussed Todd Reesing trying to do to much...Do you think this is the case? If so does he have any other choice? Can he handle it? What do you like and dislike about his play so far?

2. The issues on this team have been widely discussed on this Blog. What issue does this team have the best chance of addressing and which do we stand the worst chance at fixing this year? Why?

3. The Big 12 has 5 teams in the Top 25, 8 in the top 30. Is this the best conference in the country or can the SEC still lay claim to this title?

4. With the bye week we have some extra time to look at our upcoming opponent. What does everyone know about Iowa State? Concerns? Top Players? Threats? This will help us all learn a little more about this team.

5. Big 12 Picks...Plain and simple...who wins

Army at Texas A&M

Arkansas at #7 Texas

Colorado at Florida State

ULL at Kansas State

#24 TCU at #2 Oklahoma

Troy at Oklahoma State

Virginia Tech at Nebraska

Denverjhawk's Answers:

1. This is a tough question by design...it's not easy to look at the best player on your team with the idea of finding fault. Do I think Todd is trying to do to much? No. I would love for him to not have to do everything but if we aren't having frequent mistakes and the offense keeps working when on his shoulders I would say he is doing his job. My concern comes in as we enter Big 12 play and we start to face stiffer competition and better athletes. The good thing is we have faced South Florida and that will help our preparation. What do I like most about Todd so far? His knack for scrambling in the pocket and keeping his eyes downfield. With Todd back there we always have a chance to make a play. What do I dislike most? I am concerned with the amount of batted passes at the line and the fact that he seems to throw of his back foot frequently.

2. The problem that we have the best opportunity to fix is the offensive line woes. The longer this group is together and the more experience they have together, the better they will gel is my hope. We have seen the interior succeed and the two new tackles have talent we just have to get through the growing pains. Hopefully that can happen this year. What area do I think we have the least chance of fixing. That would be the other side of the line, specifically the pass rush. On this side of the ball it is a question of talent and at this point we don't have the players to consistently pressure a quarterback behind a Big12 offensive line.

3. While the Big 12 could have as many as 8 teams in the top 25 over the course of the next 2 weeks I'm not quite ready to say we are the best conference. We are damn close but I watched Auburn v LSU last weekend and I bet if you watch Alabama vs. Georgia this weekend you will be impressed. Big time football in a Big time environment every single week and whoever comes out of that conference will be battle tested and ready to win a National Title. I don't know if you can say that yet about the Big 12. In our case last year and Missouri's this year there are still a lot of games in conference that are no contest. Again though this is close...

4. Iowa State is somewhat of a mystery. They looked horrible against Iowa but showed some heart against UNLV. They also handled Kent State and SDakota State fairly easily early in the year. Granted none of those opponents strike fear into your heart but that's what we've got so far. Quarterback Austen Arnaud has looked very good at times and has some solid recievers to throw to in RJ Sumrall and Houston Jones. However statistically they are one of the worst offensively in the Big 12. Couldn't find any defensive stats but despite this being Coach Chizik's stong suit I feel Todd will move the offense.

5. Still not to many tough games to pick...but expect that to begin changing come conference play

Texas A&M over Army
Texas over Arkansas
Florida State over Colorado (This was a tough call)
Kansas State over ULL
OU over TCU
OSU over Troy
Nebraska over Virginia Tech (Lincoln is a tough place to play)

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Ok

Not enough time to answer in depth, but here goes…

1. Yes, because he has to.

2. Defense best, rushing worst.

3. Tie

4. Don’t know.

5. Army, Texas, Colorado, KSU, OU, OSU, VT

"Strikeouts are boring - besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls. More democratic."

by giants9107 on Sep 27, 2008 12:17 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Short and sweet...

Thanks for the input

-Chuck Norris recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull.

by Denverjhawk on Sep 27, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Bye Weeks are Boring.

1- With Sparky, too much is never enough.

2- The secondary will improve the most. While their problems are mostly technique-related, both the defensive and offensive lines seem to lack the physical strength to become dominant. When you can’t push a 1-AA team around enough to get a 4th and inches, there is something bigger than simple mental mistakes going on.

I still think the running game can get going though, with better play calling and a gelling of the personnel.

3- The most important position in college football is quarterback. Given the Big 12’s unprecedented collection of talent there, I will give them a slight edge over the SEC. I was thoroughly unimpressed by both the LSU and Auburn offenses last week. Outside of Tebow and Stafford, there isn’t a QB in that league that I would fear going up against in a two minute drill with the game on the line. And even Tebow’s throws can be erratic at times.

4- Iowa State stole USC’s uniforms in hopes of tricking their opponents. Unfortunately for them, they play nothing like the Trojans. I watched them play Iowa in one of those field goal fests that can make you question why you even follow the game. Their qb seems to be pretty mobile, but inaccurate. No real elite talents to speak of that require gameplanning for.

5- ATM, Ark (just a weird hunch), CU, KSU, OU, OSU, VT

by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Sep 27, 2008 1:22 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

I think...

you make a very valid argument in terms of SEC v Big 12 but I’m afraid if your hunch of Arkansas over Texas holds you might be hurting our argument. =)

-Chuck Norris recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull.

by Denverjhawk on Sep 27, 2008 1:52 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I was WAY off

Whoops. Looks like I confused Arkansas with their former coach, who did pull off a huge upset. Heh.

I still say that yesterday made it official: The Big 12 is the best conference in college football this year (three out of the top five teams in the polls certainly helps).

by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Sep 28, 2008 7:25 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

agreed

-Chuck Norris recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull.

by Denverjhawk on Sep 28, 2008 8:08 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Also...

Thanks for your feedback

-Chuck Norris recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull.

by Denverjhawk on Sep 27, 2008 1:52 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Big 12 results so far:

A&M 21-Army 17
Texas 52-Arkansas 10
KSU 45-UL-La. 37
FSU 39-Colorado 21
OSU 7-Troy 0, In progress
OU 7-TCU 0 In progress

Darn, almost Army. Maybe next time.

"Strikeouts are boring - besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls. More democratic."

by giants9107 on Sep 27, 2008 6:27 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

So far I'm up with the CU loss but...

I;m also the only one to take Neb

-Chuck Norris recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull.

by Denverjhawk on Sep 27, 2008 6:54 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Guess I was wrong....

on Nebraska…after watching that game I think Nebraska is clearly more of a rebuild job than I thought…Defense is bad and offense struggled as well

-Chuck Norris recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull.

by Denverjhawk on Sep 28, 2008 12:02 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

You're still 1 up on me though

"Strikeouts are boring - besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls. More democratic."

by giants9107 on Sep 28, 2008 4:19 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Forgot about the Army pick...

you were close on that one

-Chuck Norris recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull.

by Denverjhawk on Sep 28, 2008 5:28 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Sorry for being so late.

Obviously, I can’t give my predictions on the games, but here are my answers to the questions:

1) Yes and no. Sure, it would be nice to not have to depend on him for everything and to be able to allow someone else to take part of the load, but the fact is that there really isn’t anyone else to help him out. So yeah, he probably is “doing too much” for us to be a truly successful team, but he is doing what he has to to win; and we will need all of that “too much” production to stay in games.

2) Best chance is the running game. The tackles will get better with time, and eventually one of the 3 RBs, most likely the immensely talented Jocques Crawford, should figure it out and we should be on track. It won’t ever be as good as last year’s rushing attack, but it should be significantly better than it has been the past couple of weeks. Worst chance would be getting pressure on the QB. Sure, we have showed flashes, but we couldn’t do it last year either with largely the same players, and until somebody shows something for a consistent amount of time, it is a hole.

3) The SEC is better. Although, that gap isn’t as wide as most people tend to think, and it could be closed if a SEC team falls off the map. After all, 4 of the Top 7 teams in the country are currently from the Big 12. That is damned impressive, no matter what you say. Still, top to bottom, the SEC is a superior conference. In any case, both are, far-and-away, the two best conferences in college football. And it really isn’t close. Like, at all.

4) I really don’t know too much about them as of yet, having only watched their late comeback against UNLV (and that only with passing interest). Still, all signs point to Austen Arnaud being just another damn fine QB in the Big 12, and their defense appears to be improved over last year’s unit. Any further analysis, however, will have to wait for the next couple of days.

Again, sorry for my late responses.

by rockchalk on Sep 29, 2008 12:47 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Better late than never...

I tend to agree with your line of thinking no SEC v. Big 12…The your only as strong as your weakest link…and in that case the SEC top to bottom is better still although by a slimming margin.

-Chuck Norris recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull.

by Denverjhawk on Sep 29, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Also RockChalk...

email me your preferred email address and I will shoot you the questions a day ahead that way I can include yours in the actual post.

-Chuck Norris recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull.

by Denverjhawk on Sep 29, 2008 11:24 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Sorry

for the extremely late reply.

1. I do think he’s starting to force things a bit. Unfortunately, I think part of that is human nature when you’re not getting help from your running game and not getting a consistent pocket. While he may have scrambled a bit when he had a pocket to work with, it’s hard to fault him for it as he likely is just getting so used to having to scramble that when he feels it collpasing a bit, he gets out of the way… What I don’t understand is why they aren’t just rolling the pocket out more anyway. That’s always been the easiest way to hide a suspect line and obviously Todd doesn’t mind throwing on the run.

2. Agree completely with the o-line. We just don’t have anyone capable of getting a consistent pass rush. However, all of the o-linemen are cpable, they’ve just yet to come together.

3. It’s certainly as close as it’s been in a while. The transitive property absolutely does not work in football, but I’ve found it pretty interesting that La Tech beat Miss St – and since then we easily handled La Tech, while Miss St has kept it very close against Auburn and in Baton Rouge. Meanwhile, they were also destroyed by Georgia Tech.

It’s tough to say for certain as the Big XII hasn’t played much of a schedule yet, but to my own surprise I’m actually leaning toward them right now.

4. I’m still looking into ISU a bit more and will have more for you all shortly. Long story short though, it’s all about coming out aggressive and taking care of the ball. Theyhave a few athletes and playmakers, but all in all, they just aren’t very good from what I’ve seen/heard.

by hiphopopotamus on Sep 29, 2008 11:15 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

There you are...

I thought you had dissapeared…and yes I would agree if Todd is forcing it, what else can we expect right now….also email me your email address and I’ll send you the questions a day before the Q&A post that way I can put your answers in the post if you would prefer…I would just need a slightly more timely response =)

-Chuck Norris recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull.

by Denverjhawk on Sep 29, 2008 11:26 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs