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Should Ballenger start against KU?

Mr. Babar

Mr. Babar

I have no elephant books
There are several reasons why Ballenger needs to get a couple starts under his belt in the next two or three games:

1) Adds another dimension (vertical passing & across the middle passing) to our offense.
2) If Ballenger is a known quantity and struggles, then the "boo birds" won't come out as fast when Hawkins is in the game.
3) Cody is rattled. The last two games have been HORRIBLE for him. The defenses were great, but he looked over matched.

What do you think?
 
Not a chance, **** how about we factor in that Cody's playing behind a makeshift offensive line. Any talk on a QB change is over reactionary horse ****.
 
IowaBuffFan said:
There are several reasons why Ballenger needs to get a couple starts under his belt in the next two or three games:

1) Adds another dimension (vertical passing & across the middle passing) to our offense.
2) If Ballenger is a known quantity and struggles, then the "boo birds" won't come out as fast when Hawkins is in the game.
3) Cody is rattled. The last two games have been HORRIBLE for him. The defenses were great, but he looked over matched.

What do you think?
Click to expand...
Yes....give him the start. Prepare for the future.
 
canuck_buff said:
Not a chance, **** how about we factor in that Cody's playing behind a makeshift offensive line. Any talk on a QB change is over reactionary horse ****.
Click to expand...


Not seeing the QB is a MAJOR problem on this team is being blind to the current situation. In fact, a very sound argument can be made that the QB should change BECAUSE of the makeshift offensive line.
 
Clarification:

1. I like Cody Hawkins leadership and grit
2. Definitely not a Hawkins basher
3. If he keeps struggling then Ballenger will begin to been seen as the "messiah" that Cody's dad won't play

My whole point was that we need to get Ballenger out on the field to either:

1. Spark the offense
2. Prove Cody IS the man for the job
 
DallasBuff said:
No panic.....just looking at the future. Cody is not a legit D-1 QB...
Click to expand...
yes, of course. No offense can succeed with him at the helm. I mean, what, he only led the O to 65 points in one game last year.

Jesus, were any of you guys even around in 06? Or do our memories just stop working when our QB has OMFG TWO BAD GAMES!!
 
FallenSkye said:
yes, of course. No offense can succeed with him at the helm. I mean, what, he only led the O to 65 points in one game last year.

Jesus, were any of you guys even around in 06? Or do our memories just stop working when our QB has OMFG TWO BAD GAMES!!
Click to expand...
Been around a lot longer than 06. Wake up man! He is not getting it done, so try someone else,
 
Something has to be done. I don't know if benching him for a RS FR is the right move. I also don't want to see Cody's struggles continue.

But like I said, something has to be done. I hope the coaches don't throw away the season. That'd be a slap in the face to every upperclassman on the team.
 
valdezj said:
Something has to be done. I don't know if benching him for a RS FR is the right move. I also don't want to see Cody's struggles continue.

But like I said, something has to be done. I hope the coaches don't throw away the season. That'd be a slap in the face to every upperclassman on the team.
Click to expand...

I agree. A shake up needs to happen if that is a quarterback change so be it but this offense is not functioning right now...I would say it isnt just the last two games but really the whole year.
 
Yeah, the offense with all the injuries and true freshmen playing on it had two bad games against two of the best defenses we have seen in a long time. Yep, all the QB's fault.:rolleyes:

I do agree with getting Ballenger some playing time, although CU has not had a big lead in any game to where we had that luxury. Maybe the series or two during the game with the 1's is the right thing to do. That, plus when you do that, recuits see that they will get playing time during the game when it matters, not just at the end when we are way ahead, or way behind.

I do not think Cody will be the starter for the next two years, but do think that he should start the rest of this year at least. And try to get Bally some playing time. Next year, if Bally starts, then Hansen needs a series or two of playing time per game too.
 
I don't think the poor play on offense has been limited to the past two games.

The offense struggled against EWU, and could only muster 17 points against WVU. The offense has only averaged about 350 yards per game. Add to that the fact that Cody has turned the ball over about 10 times already this year, and it is clear he is struggling.

Whether a QB change will make a difference I do not know. But it seems that a spark is definitely needed.
 
Lt.Col.FrankSlade said:
I don't think the poor play on offense has been limited to the past two games.

The offense struggled against EWU, and could only muster 17 points against WVU. The offense has only averaged about 350 yards per game. Add to that the fact that Cody has turned the ball over about 10 times already this year, and it is clear he is struggling.

Whether a QB change will make a difference I do not know. But it seems that a spark is definitely needed.
Click to expand...

:dito: I agree. A change needs to happen. Given the OL situation, Ballenger might be the answer. He may be able to throw faster and harder to get plays off when there is pressure and the pocket collapses. Plus he seems to be able to run too. 230 lbs is also harder to bring down. There will be passing options the Offense doesnt currently have. Need to start grooming him now. Cody still needs to play but Ballenger needs to get more playing time.
 
Boulder Buff said:
Both QBs need to play next week.
Click to expand...

I'm okay with that idea. Get him some experience, see how the O responds to the guy, and give opposing DC's something else to think about.

Not okay with the idea of Ballenger starting against the squawks. Conference road game, hostile environment? Bad idea. Period.
 
No. I think Cody has earned the right to get a few more chances. However, if he is completely ineffective, then I wouldn't have a problem putting Ballenger in to see what happens.
 
buffedup said:
No. I think Cody has earned the right to get a few more chances. However, if he is completely ineffective, then I wouldn't have a problem putting Ballenger in to see what happens.
Click to expand...

I agree. However, he shouldn't get all the snaps... He HAS earned the right to remain the starter for now, however, HAS NOT earned the job out-right IMO.
 
Ballenger has all of, what, 17 snaps under center...in scrub time and some of you guys want to make him the starter?!! Everyone saying we should bench Cody and go with Ballenger for the rest of the season is also admitting that they are willing to throw away the rest of the season and not go to a bowl game. At 3-2, I'm not ready to fold on this season.

Cody played nearly every O snap last year. He knows how to make the reads and audible into the correct plays. He's developed the precise timing needed in the air game and gotten comfortable with the speed of the game at this level. It will take the rest of the season of Ballenger taking his knocks and making lots of mistakes for him to get where Cody is at managing the offense (that assumes he has what it takes between the ears to do that). I know he's got the physical skills but I don't think replacing Cody with a RS freshmen will help our record this season.

I know Cody has had a bit of a slump lately but the only way to fix that is to let him play his way out of it. I do want Ballenger to get a significant amount of snaps this season, but Cody should be the guy in at least Q1 & 2 for the rest of the season unless he gets hurt.
 
buffsyko said:
Cody should start and ballenger should get 2 series a game. What's wrong with that?
Click to expand...

Isn't that what Big Hawk used to do at Boise? I remember seeing Tharp get a series or two while watching them play before Hawk came to CU. I remember thinking "yes, a coach who is committed to getting the back up qb actually ready to play". This was a huge releif after 5 years of GB where our back up QB always seemed to be dreadfully lacking in talent and experience (even practice experience).
 
Cody is nothing with out a good line. Our O line is depleted. Ballenger can overcome the ****ty line makeup.

No matter what, you put yourself in a position to win.

What's the point of knowing the playbook if you can only use 35% of it because you don't have the physical gifts to use it against Good talented teams.

Ballenger has the gifts.

All we need to do is simplify the offense and give Scott more touches out of the pro ace or I.


Some of you will chide me for advocating a simpler playbook. But you have to remember that's the way we beat Chodelahoma last year.

Infact if it wasn't for Hypolite recommending the buffs keep it simple, there would have not been a miracle in boulder that year.

C'mon Hawk!

Pull the trigger.
 
Lt.Col.FrankSlade said:
Interesting to see the Rocky Mountain News poll shows 84% of the people who voted want Ballenger to start against KU.

(Sort of embarrassing that only 102 people voted in a Rocky Mountain News poll, though)


http://www.rockymountainnews.com/polls/2008/oct/CUQB/
Click to expand...

All coaching decisions should then be made by poll. Hell why even have a head coach to make decisions. We could get those little digital play calling machines like you see in bars and we as fans could then make the play calls.
 
Before we kill Cody...before Ballenger is looked at seriously...I think we need to take it back to basics...and learn how to KICK FREGGIN FIELD GOALS....not getting points when you are in the red zone changes the entire dynamic of a game....momentum is a savior or a killer. Can you take back a scholarship once you give it :) Joking...that's not cool, I know.
 
buffsyko said:
Cody should start and ballenger should get 2 series a game. What's wrong with that?
Click to expand...

It's what I'd like to see. Something that gives Ballenger some real-time, game-speed experience. It also gives Cody a chance to put on the headset and talk to the coaches - get a better understanding of what they're seeing and why they're calling certain plays.
 
RedDirtBuff said:
It's what I'd like to see. Something that gives Ballenger some real-time, game-speed experience. It also gives Cody a chance to put on the headset and talk to the coaches - get a better understanding of what they're seeing and why they're calling certain plays.
Click to expand...

Yea, keep Cody the starter for now but if he starts to struggle and/or the offense is struggling, put Ballenger in there. He needs some meaningful snaps when the game is still far from over, not just mop-up duty. That often doesn't tell you a whole lot and more importantly, the backup probably doesn't get much out of those types of situations. And how often have you seen a team that is struggling on offense change QB's during a game and they suddenly get a spark?

I'm not a fan of rotating QB's every few series as a regular part of your offense, but I am a fan of changing QB's when one is clearly struggling and has been for a couple of games now.

I'm curious, does anyone know by how much Cody won the starting job in the Spring and in August? I got the impression that Cody was never seriously challenged for the starting position, and that's probably a factor of him knowing the offense better and having run it for a full season.
 
FallenSkye said:
yes, of course. No offense can succeed with him at the helm. I mean, what, he only led the O to 65 points in one game last year.

Buddha, were any of you guys even around in 06? Or do our memories just stop working when our QB has OMFG TWO BAD GAMES!!
Click to expand...

I don't think you are paying attention, opposing DC's have figured out the deep over the middle ball isn't going to happen with Cody and there is no need to spy Cody because he isn't going to run. Therefore, one more man in coverage or rush. The O has been pretty anemic against weak competiton, (i.e. EWU) and of no consequence against good competition (i.e. FSU, UT).

Ballenger ahs the ability to run and get the ball downfield over the middle without it looking like a punt....
 
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