Who was asking these questions?

[michigancat]

Prince firmly set on Freeman

MANHATTAN - In his three starts and change of experience, Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman has thrown eight interceptions and zero touchdowns. He has completed 40.6 percent of his passes.

Dylan Meier, in his five starts, tossed four interceptions and three touchdowns while completing 50.4 percent of his passes.

Relax, this isn't an attempt to ignite a quarterback controversy.

It wouldn't matter, anyway, because K-State coach Ron Prince has made it perfectly clear there isn't one. And he did so again Tuesday.

"I'm not going to go back and forth and waffle back and forth," Prince said. "It's the kind of thing that is divisive. If the situation comes up where we have a medical issue, I have confidence in Dylan....

"I'm not going to go back and forth. I don't think it's fair to the team."

But what about in the spirit of competition, which Prince has repeatedly hailed as a key to building a championship-caliber team?

Wouldn't it make sense for Meier, the seasoned if unspectacular senior, to be given a legitimate chance to push Freeman, the inexperienced and unquestioned future of the program who acknowledged Tuesday the starting job was his for the foreseeable future?

That was the essence of the question asked of Prince following his news conference Tuesday, and he listened to most of it before quickly responding:

"Those are your words."

It was hastily explained that he'd just said that minutes earlier, but it didn't matter. Prince cut off the explanation.

"It's been very competitive in practice."

He turned his back, seemingly fed up, and a last question was posed to him -- then does Meier have a chance to overtake Freeman, in the spirit of competition?

Silence, as he walked out the door.

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/sports/colleges/kansas_state_university/15840506.htm

 

[ksu_FAN]

I think he does have a philosophy, but sometimes its hard to explain and in some cases it might not line up.  I think its clear for the future of the program having Freeman consistently work with the #1s and be the starter baring injury is the way to go if you're going to make that decision.  Now, that is looking inconsistent when he talks of competition and the fact that Meier was replaced b/c we weren't scoring TDs when he was in the game.  These are times when "fair is not always equal" across the board for the coach.  The problem was how Prince handled that.  I think he just needed to explain himself.  Granted, not everyone is going to be happy and Prince is under the microscope, but I completely understand his rational for what he's doing.

[Racquetball_Ninja]

Our coach is still searching for his philosophy.  Hopefully he finds one sooner rather than later.

In the meantime he gives us ism's!   

[catzacker]

Prince looks inconsistent in his application of the "competitive environment" philosphy he's touted.  He looks inconsistent because had Meier had the kind of game Freeman had against MU, he would be shown the bench (like he did after Baylor) due to "performance issues".  I'm fine with Freeman being the guy "torpedos be damned", but the questions are warranted considering what Prince has said. And it kind of reinforces the "princes' guys vs. snyder's guys" thing, although personally Snyder's guys on the offense are just terrible and overrated (excluding WR's).  

[ksu_FAN]

zacker, you're completely correct.  I don't mind Prince's thinking here, but his explanation to the media leaves a lot to be desired.

[michigancat]

He could make a pretty reasonable argument just by citing big play potential.  I might look it up at lunch, but I'm guessing Freeman has many more big plays than Dylan.

He could also make a reasonable argument by saying, "Dylan Meier has been a loser in every Big XII game he's participated in", but that wouldn't be very nice to Dylan.

[WILDCAT NATION]

My opinion is that he either needs to come clean and just say that he's building for the future....or just STFU.  It's obvious he doesn't care what the media thinks, so why not just STFU?

[michigancat]

My opinion is that he either needs to come clean and just say that he's building for the future....or just STFU.  It's obvious he doesn't care what the media thinks, so why not just STFU?

He turned his back, seemingly fed up, and a last question was posed to him -- then does Meier have a chance to overtake Freeman, in the spirit of competition?

Silence, as he walked out the door.

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/sports/colleges/kansas_state_university/15840506.htm

 

[pissclams]

Nice work Jmart. 

[GoldbrickGangBoss]

Why not just throw out a fat lie and say 'If I deem Dylan bold and daring enough to lead this team over my boy Freeman than he'll be the one saddling up' or some dumb crap?

He's losing his media darling approach he once had.

[cireksu]

"Prince looks inconsistent"

No he doesn't he said from day one that he was going to name a starter and stick with it.  Meier was named the starter and just wasn't getting it done.  Freeman has more potential and has actually won a big 12 game.

[Levi Wolters]

"Prince looks inconsistent"

No he doesn't he said from day one that he was going to name a starter and stick with it.  Meier was named the starter and just wasn't getting it done.  Freeman has more potential and has actually won a big 12 game.

Dude, that doesn't make any sense. First off, I don't recall him ever saying he was going to pick a starter and stick with it. Secondly, if he did say that, then he's a liar, because he picked Dylan and didn't stick with him. And if he's already gone back on his word on that, then why can't he do the same with Josh?

What he has said is that there is competition at EVERY position...and that no matter a player's previous disposition, he would be given a look...and, regarding players, "if you're ready, we're ready."

Was Josh ready? Hmmm.
Is Dylan's previous disposition holding him back? Hmmm.
Is there even competition at quarterback? Not according to Prince.

I don't think anybody would care if he just flat out said, "Every position is open to who wins the competition at practice. Except at quarterback, because Josh is our starter no matter what." Instead he flounders around and pushes what he says back on the reporters who ask the questions, then walks away.

[michigancat]

I'm pretty sure he's always said you name a starting QB and stick with them, unless something drastically changes.

In this case, I don't think he realized how bad Dylan was, so he made a change, and has stuck with it.

Like I said before, I think he wants to say, "Dylan Meier has a history of losing at the Big XII level.  He just doesn't have the talent, and Freeman, despite his horrible stats, is a better QB."  He can't say that, and it flusters him.

[FBWillie]

he's not going back to dylan becaus we already knows how bad he is. Josh still has that x-factor about himself.

[Levi Wolters]

Nobody is asking for an explanation as to why Dylan isn't playing. I think it's understood and has been since the summer...likely before.

The question Prince refuses to answer is: How come 21 positions at practice are open to "competition", but Josh Freeman's is safe, barring injury?

[PoetWarrior]

Typical-journalistic-who-cares-garbage








(I don't know what that means either)

[michigancat]

Nobody is asking for an explanation as to why Dylan isn't playing. I think it's understood and has been since the summer...likely before.

The question Prince refuses to answer is: How come 21 positions at practice are open to "competition", but Josh Freeman's is safe, barring injury?

I'm sure he has some BS theory on "continuity", but I agree with PW that the media cares more about this MUCH more than anyone else.

Ronald's media access has made you guys greedy real quick...it wasn't too long ago that you didn't get ANY info or explanation for ANY coaching decision.

[willie]

Nobody is asking for an explanation as to why Dylan isn't playing. I think it's understood and has been since the summer...likely before.

The question Prince refuses to answer is: How come 21 positions at practice are open to "competition", but Josh Freeman's is safe, barring injury?

Maybe Freeman outplays Dylan in practice, but can't execute during games?  Maybe they figure that JF is just a few good blocks up front away from breaking out?

Either way, I guess I understand your frustration with the guy, he's sort of an enigma when it comes to the media.  He puts on a front of openness until it gets uncomfortable for him, them he shuts it down.

By the way, I liked your article on 3rd down conversions.  I'd be interested to see a correlation drawn between penalties on 1st or 2nd downs and the resulting sucess (or lack there of) on third down.

 Like:

1st/2nd down penalties = ??% 3rd down completions
vs.
no penalties = ??% 3rd down completions.

I don't have the time to come up with this on my own...

[Levi Wolters]

Nobody is asking for an explanation as to why Dylan isn't playing. I think it's understood and has been since the summer...likely before.

The question Prince refuses to answer is: How come 21 positions at practice are open to "competition", but Josh Freeman's is safe, barring injury?

I'm sure he has some BS theory on "continuity", but I agree with PW that the media cares more about this MUCH more than anyone else.

Ronald's media access has made you guys greedy real quick...it wasn't too long ago that you didn't get ANY info or explanation for ANY coaching decision.

Like I said, I think the answer is pretty clear, and the writing was on the wall long before Dylan was benched.  It's pretty obvious that Prince cares quite a bit about it, otherwise he wouldn't have acted like he did on Tuesday.

And, yes, Ron's open-door, speak-to-who-you-want-when-you-want policy is tremendous.

[Levi Wolters]

Willie, thanks. I'm not big on all the statistic stuff, but that is a pretty telling one and the information is easy to get, since third-down stats are provided. Figuring out all that penalty stuff would take a lot of man hours that only D.Scott Fritchen would spend trying to calculate it all up.

[michigancat]

Thanks for the discussion, LW.  I don't doubt Freeman was promised a significant amount of playing time this season...and to be honest, once AE and AW left, I was all for him taking every snap.


Also, here's an easy stat to calculate:

Big XII wins:

Freeman: 1
Meier: 0

[ksu_FAN]

1st, QB is a unique position when it comes to PT and continuity.  Patience plus long term effects are bigger factors. 

2nd, I think you can see Prince moving this direction in other positions as well, like RB and WR, but not to the same extent.  For example, Figurs' role on offense and Alsup's disappearance at RB. 

Again, I agree that his response was pretty poor.  Prince has shown that when he has time to prep he's a master at PR/media skills, but when pressed a little he's showing he's an inexperienced HC handling these situations for the first time.  I think he'll get better at it over time.

[Levi Wolters]

Thanks for the discussion, LW.  I don't doubt Freeman was promised a significant amount of playing time this season...and to be honest, once AE and AW left, I was all for him taking every snap.


Also, here's an easy stat to calculate:

Big XII wins:

Freeman: 1
Meier: 0

True that, Rusty. Can't argue with results. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a fan that isn't for JF taking every snap. We've still got to ask the questions to report the answers, though, even if we have a pretty good idea what they are anyway.

[michigancat]

I also figured pass plays over 20 yards.

Dylan has 8, Freeman has 12.

[ksu_FAN]

Rusty, I enhanced your numbers:

I also figured pass plays over 20 yards.

Dylan has 8 in 137 attempts (5.8%), Freeman has 12 in 95 (12.6%).

[michigancat]

Nice, but Freeman has 128 attempts by my count.

[fatty fat fat]

Rusty, I enhanced your numbers:

I also figured pass plays over 20 yards.

Dylan has 8 in 137 attempts (5.8%), Freeman has 12 in 95 (12.6%).

Nice. Now, let's get him a TD pass!

[ksu_FAN]

Nice, but Freeman has 128 attempts by my count.

Darn.  Rivals needs to update their stats. 

[Levi Wolters]

I'm bored, so I'm going to throw out a question. It was tossed around a bit at lunch on Tuesday:

Is everyone in a agreement that it's a good thing for Freeman to be going through this --poor numbers, low win total, playing behind this o-line-- and that this season will have little effect on his long-term play?

[michigancat]

Is everyone in a agreement that it's a good thing for Freeman to be going through this --poor numbers, low win total, playing behind this o-line-- and that this season will have little effect on his long-term play?

It's not an ideal situation, but I think the long-term effects will be minimal.  Since redshirting was pretty much not an option, what's the harm in getting him as many snaps as possible?