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When you get your a** kicked like we did... it's a combination of a LOT of things.

But... I feel like the game really took a turn for the worst at the end of the 1st half due to our horrible coaching. At a minimum we should have been going into the half down 7, and getting the ball first after halftime. But instead, due 100% to ineptitude by our coaching staff, we go in down 14. That was a big turning point.

Then of course, we come out in the 2nd half and turn the ball over 3 times... which is entirely on the players... and that ended any chance of any comeback at all and it snowballed from there.
The turning point happened before that- The third down before we missed a field goal where pass interference wasn't called. We tried to kick a field goal and missed. Call PI and we have a first down with a chance to tie. This is my opinion of course.
 
I disagree. I think Hansen is definitely good.

The running back rotation has been the most perplexing part of this season to me.

Jackson had one good game. But the dedication to Sama was bizarre. Especially since Hansen was so consistently good when he was in there.
What's with the Sama hate? Hansen averaged 5.0 yds/carry, Sama 4.7. Not much different. I like Hansen more, but it's not a big gap.
 
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The missed PI call was bad. No doubt.

But IMO, it has zero impact on our ability to stop them. And I don't trust out offense to go score for score with most teams. Because we'll have the odd drop, false start, whatever.

So maybe its 45-31. But we had tied them at 10, they kept scoring. So the idea that us scoring again changes something, I don't see it.

Now, if we had managed to score at the end of the first half, and its what, 17-17 AND we get the ball to start the 2nd half, where we can maybe draw ahead or bare minimum, again, keep their offense of the field for say, 30 minutes or so of real time, and maybe 5-8 minutes of game time and disrupt their momentum and let our defense breathe?

MAYBE. That scenario, MAYBE, changes. But there is no part of me that thinks even if we tie the game that they don't go right down and score again, like they had done every drive of the game to that point
 
What's with the Sama hate? Hanson averaged 5.0 yds/carry, Sama 4.7. Not much different. I like Hanson more, but it's not a big gap.
I don't think the criticism is fair, but I think it's because Abu's runs got to 4.7 with runs of 0, 1, -2 and 20. More runs that went nowhere, whereas Hanson usually went 3, 4, 5 and 7.
 
The missed PI call was bad. No doubt.

But IMO, it has zero impact on our ability to stop them. And I don't trust out offense to go score for score with most teams. Because we'll have the odd drop, false start, whatever.

So maybe its 45-31. But we had tied them at 10, they kept scoring. So the idea that us scoring again changes something, I don't see it.

Now, if we had managed to score at the end of the first half, and its what, 17-17 AND we get the ball to start the 2nd half, where we can maybe draw ahead or bare minimum, again, keep their offense of the field for say, 30 minutes or so of real time, and maybe 5-8 minutes of game time and disrupt their momentum and let our defense breathe?

MAYBE. That scenario, MAYBE, changes. But there is no part of me that thinks even if we tie the game that they don't go right down and score again, like they had done every drive of the game to that point
That's about exactly how i feel. That 4th and 2 big play certainly was a missed moment (and a sign that Az State was playing to win).

Like you, i thought if we could get to half tied or ahead we could adjust....BUT, i think even if we did likely they would have pulled ahead as it was "their day" type of day.
 
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What's with the Sama hate? Hanson averaged 5.0 yds/carry, Sama 4.7. Not much different. I like Hanson more, but it's not a big gap.
I think there is a perception that Sama is either feast or famine, with a lot more famine this year than feasting. Whether the data supports that IDK, but I think that's the vibe of fans. Snowmageddon, fun and flukey as it was, looms large in his perception too.
 
What's wild is David Montgomery is one of the most beloved players of all time by the fane base. Averaged 4.7yds/carry in his career. Sama is at 5.8.

Hansen is also at 4.7yds/carry in his career.
If you cant see the differences between Sama and David Montgomery from their times are ISU, well then you'll just have to remain bewildered.
 
What's with the Sama hate? Hansen averaged 5.0 yds/carry, Sama 4.7. Not much different. I like Hansen more, but it's not a big gap.
The gap feels larger because Hansen seems to get 2-4 yards a carry and the occasional 10-20 yard run. Sama has negative plays and home runs and everything in between.
 
The missed PI call was bad. No doubt.

But IMO, it has zero impact on our ability to stop them. And I don't trust out offense to go score for score with most teams. Because we'll have the odd drop, false start, whatever.

So maybe its 45-31. But we had tied them at 10, they kept scoring. So the idea that us scoring again changes something, I don't see it.

Now, if we had managed to score at the end of the first half, and its what, 17-17 AND we get the ball to start the 2nd half, where we can maybe draw ahead or bare minimum, again, keep their offense of the field for say, 30 minutes or so of real time, and maybe 5-8 minutes of game time and disrupt their momentum and let our defense breathe?

MAYBE. That scenario, MAYBE, changes. But there is no part of me that thinks even if we tie the game that they don't go right down and score again, like they had done every drive of the game to that point
That fourth and short was a killer. Knock that pass down and it’s a way different game possibly.
 
I don't think the criticism is fair, but I think it's because Abu's runs got to 4.7 with runs of 0, 1, -2 and 20. More runs that went nowhere, whereas Hanson usually went 3, 4, 5 and 7.
Hansen's style was a better fit for our offense. We want to pass the ball, and it works a lot better when you're in 2nd and 4-6 as opposed to 2nd and 11
 
I guess I would describe their differences as; Sama has heavy feet, like you may think of wrestlers with heavy hips. Hansen is for agile on his feet.
???
 
I guess I would describe their differences as; Sama has heavy feet, like you may think of wrestlers with heavy hips. Hansen is for agile on his feet.
???
I think Hanson has the natural ability to turn his shoulders/hips to squeeze through a small hole while Sama tries to run through a brick wall, hoping his force would create a hole
 
Sama did go from 7.3 YPC in 2023 to 4.7 this year. He did have 40 less carries in 2023, but he (or our blocking scheme) got worse yardage.

On the other hand, If you remove the KSU game from last year his YPC drops to 5. So he's been pretty consistent.
 

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