Why is everyone blaming Richardson?

[Scott34]

Still trying to comprehend why everyone is throwing Sam under the bus. From what I have seen so far is a line that isnt doing something the job they should be. The running backs seem to be non existent. Love how the quarterback is always the first one to catch all the heat even when there are way bigger issues with the offense.

 

[SwirlyBird]

They're not.

 

[CycloneErik]

Not sure anyone is getting ignored in the postgame.
The OL is getting plenty of notice for their lack of run blocking.
I don't think anyone knows what to think of the RBs, except that they aren't producing much, but don't have any blocking to work with.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

Because it is more pleasant to think one position is the problem/answer than to deal with the reality of the fact we have widespread, systemic issues, and have for 6 years.

 

[Scott34]

Guess I didnt listen to any of the post game but was mainly asking why it seemed like 90% on this forum are blaming him

 

[ISU2]

It's easy to blame the qb when the offense is struggling. Don't get me wrong Sam wasent perfect but the reason we lost is because of the same problems we have had in previous years. No run defense and the lack of a big 12 o line. Also the same stagnet running formations doesn't help Sam out either.

 

[cycloneinpdx]

Look, he played well in the first half.

He missed a few big throws in the second half. It's tough to win when you can't pass the ball, and he didn't have help.

But that interception was high school freshman-level bad. He stared down his receiver, and then hit the defender in the numbers. We were down 7. There was just 2:30 left in the game. That sealed it. Sure, if he throws it away we are facing 4th down. But at least we would have still had a chance.

He didn't lose the game alone. But we haven't had good QB play in years, and it would appear that he has all the weapons to throw to he would need. Most of the game, he had more than enough time. So either it's an execution issue (him and the WR's), or a playcalling issue, or more likely, it's both. But with the talent at WR and with enough time to throw, I would expect a little more than 66 yards in the second half.

 

[psychlone99]

There is plenty of concern to go around- it's not limited to QB. That said, RELATIVE TO EXPECTATIONS, has any one unit/position disappointed more than QB? I don't think so. The defense is showing signs of improvement. The offensive line/run game is what many thought it would be. But most expected Sam to to perform like the senior he is.

He appears to have regressed. His stat line against UNI was misleading, IMO. He's appeared very tentative in both games, most obviously in the passing game, but even running the ball when he usually shines. Generally, he's not making confident decisions- confident throws, check-downs, and tucking and running. He's a mess.

 

[Tedcyclone]

We can't run and thats not Sam, and certainly doesn't help him one bit, but I blame Sam because he regularly had 5 second plus to throw the ball and couldn't get rid of it or find anyone. He couldn't feel sacks coming. He's annoying to me because he doesn't put balls in places that plays can be made by two 6'5" WRs. They are all bullet passes. The pass to Bundrage on third and forever was a great play, but a line drive way off. What about just floating that down the sideline and letting Bundrage find it. Anyway, I obviously want him to do well, but I can't say that Im a big fan.

As a 5th yr Senior I expect him to throw people open. Know where they are going and get the ball to that spot. He doesn't.

 

[cyatheart]

Still trying to comprehend why everyone is throwing Sam under the bus. From what I have seen so far is a line that isnt doing something the job they should be. The running backs seem to be non existent. Love how the quarterback is always the first one to catch all the heat even when there are way bigger issues with the offense.

I think saying the lack of quality qb play the last few years isn't a problem is equally silly. Sam is average, he isn't good enough to overcome our other flaws. It's not that he's terrible, he is just limited. The problem is that in this conference you have to have an offense that Is capable of scoring 36 points every week to have a chance, Sam doesn't have the tools to be able to do that. Now the line isn't capable of that either, but every week we are going into games (ex ku) with the other team having a better player at the most important position on the field. It's not a knock on the guy, he's just not the kind of player that can rise up and overcome our other flaws.

 

[Skidoosh]

Even the packers have Eddie Lacy. There were 2 series in a row in the 4th quarter (17-17) where we passed on every down. There is a small handful of college QBs who can succeed in our system and none of them will ever play for ISU.

 

[kingcy]

He should get a some blame. He is a RS Senior, that has a lot of playing time under his belt and he looks lost half the time out there. He has a good receiver core, that he cannot get passes to. He locks in on receivers and is slow making decisions. He does make some nice throws now and then, but he needs to step up and make more.

 

[UNIGuy4Cy]

He is a 5th year senior that lacks confidence and continues to stare down receivers.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

Look, he played well in the first half.

He missed a few big throws in the second half. It's tough to win when you can't pass the ball, and he didn't have help.

But that interception was high school freshman-level bad. He stared down his receiver, and then hit the defender in the numbers. We were down 7. There was just 2:30 left in the game. That sealed it. Sure, if he throws it away we are facing 4th down. But at least we would have still had a chance.

He didn't lose the game alone. But we haven't had good QB play in years, and it would appear that he has all the weapons to throw to he would need. Most of the game, he had more than enough time. So either it's an execution issue (him and the WR's), or a playcalling issue, or more likely, it's both. But with the talent at WR and with enough time to throw, I would expect a little more than 66 yards in the second half.

SR is not the answer to the problem, but he isn't the problem.

The biggest and most crucial weapon a QB has is a good OL and run game. We don't have that. We also don't have a well designed offense. We also have an extremely overrated WR group, although I could buy the argument they are being completely marginalized by the cluster **** of an offense.

Sam, Steele, Austen...this offense sucks and its foundation was built on some wet-dream of the read option. The only QB that was fluent in that was JB, but he was a poor passer.

So no, SR does not have all the weapons.nor is he the problem.

 

[demoncore1031]

Sam has held the ball too long at times this year, but he is not to blame for the loss. The O-Line sucks (as usual). Mangino needs realize the line sucks and we have no running game and it's time to get creative to get the ball to the playmakers.

 

[Wesley]

We can't run and thats not Sam, and certainly doesn't help him one bit, but I blame Sam because he regularly had 5 second plus to throw the ball and couldn't get rid of it or find anyone. He couldn't feel sacks coming. He's annoying to me because he doesn't put balls in places that plays can be made by two 6'5" WRs. They are all bullet passes. The pass to Bundrage on third and forever was a great play, but a line drive way off. What about just floating that down the sideline and letting Bundrage find it. Anyway, I obviously want him to do well, but I can't say that Im a big fan.

As a 5th yr Senior I expect him to throw people open. Know where they are going and get the ball to that spot. He doesn't.

He does not know how to loft.

 

[Cyrealist]

Still trying to comprehend why everyone is throwing Sam under the bus. From what I have seen so far is a line that isnt doing something the job they should be. The running backs seem to be non existent. Love how the quarterback is always the first one to catch all the heat even when there are way bigger issues with the offense.

Obviously something of a running game would have certainly helped, but Richardson didn't have a good game. He stood back there like the ball was glued to his hand. He's a senior; he's supposed to be a leader out there. A spread offense only makes sense if the quarterback can make quick decisions and get rid of the ball. We did nothing on offense in the whole second half. As the announcer said, ISU hasn't had a decent offense since Seneca was here. I'd even go back to Sage Rosenfels. Seneca was so good he covered up a lot of problems.

 

[SwirlyBird]

Even the packers have Eddie Lacy. There were 2 series in a row in the 4th quarter (17-17) where we passed on every down. There is a small handful of college QBs who can succeed in our system and none of them will ever play for ISU.

yep, running it would have helped a whole lot. Did you not see how ******* terrible our backs were?

 

[demoncore1031]

And to defend the WRs... Teams aren't going to stack the box on a team that averages 12 rushing yards per game so it's gonna be tough to get guys open vs more defenders playing the pass.

 

[Cyrealist]

Even the packers have Eddie Lacy. There were 2 series in a row in the 4th quarter (17-17) where we passed on every down. There is a small handful of college QBs who can succeed in our system and none of them will ever play for ISU.

I disagree. Leach succeeded with some fairly average quarterbacks.