In honor of the Big Sky media days … in no particular order …
1) Tanner Gueller's development
Unlike 2015 when Bengals coach Mike Kramer seemed cautiously optimistic about his quarterbacks, he’s come out forcefully in favor of Gueller this summer. Is Kramer using the media as a tool to build his young QB's confidence, or does the head ball coach truly think Gueller is one of the league’s best quarterbacks?
Honestly, it doesn’t really matter, right? Because with Michael Sanders transferring, Gueller, in his third year on campus, is the lone quarterback with any college game experience. He's clearly the guy. And if plays well, then the stench of 2015 will quickly waft away.
Not to get too hyperbolic here, but is there a single person more important to the success or failure of the Mike Kramer regime at Idaho State than Tanner Gueller? The team was in such a miserable condition when Kramer arrived, he deserved a few years to build a base of talent. That talent was brilliant in 2014. It looked like Kramer and the Bengals were a new force in the Big Sky.
Then 2015 happened — 8-4 to 2-9. From nearly knocking off Eastern Washington on the road to getting blown out at home. From whipping Sacramento State 44-24 one year to losing 38-13 the next.
Ignore the defection of Don Bailey, the special teams disaster and injuries to the defensive and offensive lines ... what are you left with? You’re left with feeling like Justin Arias — who was robbed of the ’14 Big Sky MVP — was ultimately the major difference between 2014 and 2015.
In ’14, Arias threw for 4,076 yards, 38 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He tossed a pick on 1.9 percent of his passing attempts. For reference, NFL quarterbacks average interceptions on 2.9 percent of their passing attempts. In ’15, Gueller and Michael Sanders combined for 2,986 yards, 26 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Their interception percentage leaped to 3.7 percent.
The impact of Arias was much more than raw numbers. He kept drives alive by making plays on third down. The dynamic passing game set Xavier Finney loose to reign terror upon the league, and Arias helped the defense — yes, the defense. You don’t think a defender’s mindset is affected in a positive way if he knows his offense, his quarterback, is going to rattle off 40 points a game?
That’s what brings us to Gueller. As a sophomore, he has three years and a minimum of 33 starts in front of him (provided he stays healthy). If he can prove in 2016 that he’s as good as Kramer says he is, as Idaho State needs him to be, then the Bengals are in supreme shape.
That’s what it comes down to. Because I’m not sure Jeff Tingey or Idaho State fans can put up with too many more years of 2-9.
2) How will ISU transition to Matt Troxel as the O-coordinator? AND, WAIT, WHAT? IDAHO STATE IS ABANDONING THE NO-HUDDLE??
From Kramer’s own mouth … via the Idaho State Journal …
“I just know that the game’s changing a little bit to move away from what we’re being: hyper-fast and going quarterback only and throwing the ball to wide receivers on the outside as much and as often and as quickly and as soon as possible,” Kramer said. “We don’t have to do it anymore. We don’t have to do is as much. We will still continue to do it. But we can rely more on a more traditional approach. And we won’t necessarily huddle all the time, but we will be more efficient and more effective with the ball, every possession.”
Idaho State switching to a more traditional offense — if it’s true — is a possible sign for so, so many things. Is it because Kramer believes in Matt Troxel, and he’s letting his excellent young coach alter the offense to his own vision? Why wasn’t this change in offensive philosophy inserted during spring ball? Was it and none of the local media noticed?
Exactly how much will Idaho State slow down? And is the change motivated by wanting to help out the defense by staying on the field? Or is the conversion more spurred by the throught that Kramer and Troxel want to take advantage of the talents they have on the offensive side of the ball?
You know how the defense switched from the 3-4 to the 4-3 in the spring? That’s really a purely cosmetic decision. The Bengals played mostly Nickel defense anyway. But if Kramer is dead serious about leaving the hyper-fast, chuck-it-around-50-times-a-game offense for a slower ride, that’s definitely not cosmetic. … If they huddle … ?? Kramer and ISU have structured their entire identity around the up-tempo spread. Mike Kramer was the national coach of the year because of that offense.
So … whoa … holy whoa.
3) Calming down now … When Kramer promoted Sheldon Cross to be his offensive coordinator, he said he’d always have a FORMER QUARTERBACK run his offense. A year later Kramer needed another O-coordinator and this time chose Troxel, a wide receiver in college. What gives?
Better yet, I’d love to know if Kramer regrets not tabbing Troxel to run the offense a season ago ….
Here's the deal with Troxel. He's smart, talented and a great leader. He'll connect with his quarterbacks, and (I believe) find a better way to handle the offense while coexisting with Kramer's whimsical demands. Really, the only downside with Troxel switching jobs is that Idaho State's offensive line lost three starters from 2015, and sophomore Brian Fineanganofo’s status is still a mystery. With the offensive line having to completely remake itself, the Bengals are counting on first-year coach Dorian Keller to cobble things together.
Maybe that's OK. Maybe.
Here’s the real question: I don’t think Kramer ever fully gave Cross the offensive reins — definitely not like he handed them to Bailey. Will Kramer let Troxel do his thing? Or will the Big Human continue his heavy involvement with the play calling, the strategy and handling the quarterbacks?
4) Ty Flanagan, the man, the talent, the mystery
Jakori Ford is explosive, shifty and a solid pass-catcher out of the backfield — DOES IT STILL STING NORTH DAKOTA? https://twitter.com/ByKyleFranko/status/652949680540790784 — but is Ford really an every-down tailback? He’s had a penchant to fumble and cuts outside on running plays designed to go inside, often to his detriment. If he’s going to be that No. 1 RB, Ford has to prove he can grind out carries between the tackles. Sometimes 3 yards on first down is OK.
This is why Ty Flanagan is really interesting. He was the gem of the 2015 recruiting class, but Idaho State doesn’t tackle in practice, and since he redshirt, we have no freakin’ idea if the kid can play college football. Hey, that’s cool, though … we’d see him in the spring!
…. And then he misses spring ball.
We’re left at an odd point. Flanagan looks the part of a stud running back with a great body, quick feet, dynamic in high school, could have gone to a more high-profile program. At the start of Year 2, however, we don’t have a clue what he’s capable of at this level.
Yet, he’s a guy I’d be watching closely, because if Ford, who is not a big body, can’t handle the workload, or doesn’t fix his fumbling issues, or won’t hit the hole in runs up the middle, then Flanagan (or somebody) is a player Idaho State fans had better hope is ready to start producing.
Not to belabor this point … just think about this … When Idaho State’s offense is rolling, the second-string running back is crucial. Finney’s backup in 2014, Daniel McSurdy, finished that season with 113 carries for 781 yards and eight touchdowns. 113 CARRIES! Finney, lest you forget, led the Big Sky in rushing attempts with 259. Even if Ford is spectacular and stays healthy, ISU needs a No. 2 running back to perform well.
5) Really? Is Idaho State really going to slow down? I mean, for real?!
It’s hard for me to envision a Bengals football game where Kramer says he doesn’t want to run 100 plays. In truth, though, after listening to Kramer at the Big Sky Kickoff, the alterations to the offense hinge just as much on formations, types of running plays and what parts of the field the Bengals want to attack with the passing game.
Madison Mangum is gone. Broc Malcom is ineligible. So the focus of the offense turns inward to KW Williams and Josh Cook, and to trying to get the ball to Jakori Ford where he’s at his best — sprinting toward the sideline, making guys miss, stretching the field horizontally. Those are smart things, things I’d expect a guy like Troxel to implement. If Kramer is ceding control to the best coach on his team, good.
1) Tanner Gueller's development
Unlike 2015 when Bengals coach Mike Kramer seemed cautiously optimistic about his quarterbacks, he’s come out forcefully in favor of Gueller this summer. Is Kramer using the media as a tool to build his young QB's confidence, or does the head ball coach truly think Gueller is one of the league’s best quarterbacks?
Honestly, it doesn’t really matter, right? Because with Michael Sanders transferring, Gueller, in his third year on campus, is the lone quarterback with any college game experience. He's clearly the guy. And if plays well, then the stench of 2015 will quickly waft away.
Not to get too hyperbolic here, but is there a single person more important to the success or failure of the Mike Kramer regime at Idaho State than Tanner Gueller? The team was in such a miserable condition when Kramer arrived, he deserved a few years to build a base of talent. That talent was brilliant in 2014. It looked like Kramer and the Bengals were a new force in the Big Sky.
Then 2015 happened — 8-4 to 2-9. From nearly knocking off Eastern Washington on the road to getting blown out at home. From whipping Sacramento State 44-24 one year to losing 38-13 the next.
Ignore the defection of Don Bailey, the special teams disaster and injuries to the defensive and offensive lines ... what are you left with? You’re left with feeling like Justin Arias — who was robbed of the ’14 Big Sky MVP — was ultimately the major difference between 2014 and 2015.
In ’14, Arias threw for 4,076 yards, 38 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He tossed a pick on 1.9 percent of his passing attempts. For reference, NFL quarterbacks average interceptions on 2.9 percent of their passing attempts. In ’15, Gueller and Michael Sanders combined for 2,986 yards, 26 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Their interception percentage leaped to 3.7 percent.
The impact of Arias was much more than raw numbers. He kept drives alive by making plays on third down. The dynamic passing game set Xavier Finney loose to reign terror upon the league, and Arias helped the defense — yes, the defense. You don’t think a defender’s mindset is affected in a positive way if he knows his offense, his quarterback, is going to rattle off 40 points a game?
That’s what brings us to Gueller. As a sophomore, he has three years and a minimum of 33 starts in front of him (provided he stays healthy). If he can prove in 2016 that he’s as good as Kramer says he is, as Idaho State needs him to be, then the Bengals are in supreme shape.
That’s what it comes down to. Because I’m not sure Jeff Tingey or Idaho State fans can put up with too many more years of 2-9.
2) How will ISU transition to Matt Troxel as the O-coordinator? AND, WAIT, WHAT? IDAHO STATE IS ABANDONING THE NO-HUDDLE??
From Kramer’s own mouth … via the Idaho State Journal …
“I just know that the game’s changing a little bit to move away from what we’re being: hyper-fast and going quarterback only and throwing the ball to wide receivers on the outside as much and as often and as quickly and as soon as possible,” Kramer said. “We don’t have to do it anymore. We don’t have to do is as much. We will still continue to do it. But we can rely more on a more traditional approach. And we won’t necessarily huddle all the time, but we will be more efficient and more effective with the ball, every possession.”
Idaho State switching to a more traditional offense — if it’s true — is a possible sign for so, so many things. Is it because Kramer believes in Matt Troxel, and he’s letting his excellent young coach alter the offense to his own vision? Why wasn’t this change in offensive philosophy inserted during spring ball? Was it and none of the local media noticed?
Exactly how much will Idaho State slow down? And is the change motivated by wanting to help out the defense by staying on the field? Or is the conversion more spurred by the throught that Kramer and Troxel want to take advantage of the talents they have on the offensive side of the ball?
You know how the defense switched from the 3-4 to the 4-3 in the spring? That’s really a purely cosmetic decision. The Bengals played mostly Nickel defense anyway. But if Kramer is dead serious about leaving the hyper-fast, chuck-it-around-50-times-a-game offense for a slower ride, that’s definitely not cosmetic. … If they huddle … ?? Kramer and ISU have structured their entire identity around the up-tempo spread. Mike Kramer was the national coach of the year because of that offense.
So … whoa … holy whoa.
3) Calming down now … When Kramer promoted Sheldon Cross to be his offensive coordinator, he said he’d always have a FORMER QUARTERBACK run his offense. A year later Kramer needed another O-coordinator and this time chose Troxel, a wide receiver in college. What gives?
Better yet, I’d love to know if Kramer regrets not tabbing Troxel to run the offense a season ago ….
Here's the deal with Troxel. He's smart, talented and a great leader. He'll connect with his quarterbacks, and (I believe) find a better way to handle the offense while coexisting with Kramer's whimsical demands. Really, the only downside with Troxel switching jobs is that Idaho State's offensive line lost three starters from 2015, and sophomore Brian Fineanganofo’s status is still a mystery. With the offensive line having to completely remake itself, the Bengals are counting on first-year coach Dorian Keller to cobble things together.
Maybe that's OK. Maybe.
Here’s the real question: I don’t think Kramer ever fully gave Cross the offensive reins — definitely not like he handed them to Bailey. Will Kramer let Troxel do his thing? Or will the Big Human continue his heavy involvement with the play calling, the strategy and handling the quarterbacks?
4) Ty Flanagan, the man, the talent, the mystery
Jakori Ford is explosive, shifty and a solid pass-catcher out of the backfield — DOES IT STILL STING NORTH DAKOTA? https://twitter.com/ByKyleFranko/status/652949680540790784 — but is Ford really an every-down tailback? He’s had a penchant to fumble and cuts outside on running plays designed to go inside, often to his detriment. If he’s going to be that No. 1 RB, Ford has to prove he can grind out carries between the tackles. Sometimes 3 yards on first down is OK.
This is why Ty Flanagan is really interesting. He was the gem of the 2015 recruiting class, but Idaho State doesn’t tackle in practice, and since he redshirt, we have no freakin’ idea if the kid can play college football. Hey, that’s cool, though … we’d see him in the spring!
…. And then he misses spring ball.
We’re left at an odd point. Flanagan looks the part of a stud running back with a great body, quick feet, dynamic in high school, could have gone to a more high-profile program. At the start of Year 2, however, we don’t have a clue what he’s capable of at this level.
Yet, he’s a guy I’d be watching closely, because if Ford, who is not a big body, can’t handle the workload, or doesn’t fix his fumbling issues, or won’t hit the hole in runs up the middle, then Flanagan (or somebody) is a player Idaho State fans had better hope is ready to start producing.
Not to belabor this point … just think about this … When Idaho State’s offense is rolling, the second-string running back is crucial. Finney’s backup in 2014, Daniel McSurdy, finished that season with 113 carries for 781 yards and eight touchdowns. 113 CARRIES! Finney, lest you forget, led the Big Sky in rushing attempts with 259. Even if Ford is spectacular and stays healthy, ISU needs a No. 2 running back to perform well.
5) Really? Is Idaho State really going to slow down? I mean, for real?!
It’s hard for me to envision a Bengals football game where Kramer says he doesn’t want to run 100 plays. In truth, though, after listening to Kramer at the Big Sky Kickoff, the alterations to the offense hinge just as much on formations, types of running plays and what parts of the field the Bengals want to attack with the passing game.
Madison Mangum is gone. Broc Malcom is ineligible. So the focus of the offense turns inward to KW Williams and Josh Cook, and to trying to get the ball to Jakori Ford where he’s at his best — sprinting toward the sideline, making guys miss, stretching the field horizontally. Those are smart things, things I’d expect a guy like Troxel to implement. If Kramer is ceding control to the best coach on his team, good.
