Rittenberg Interviews Dantonio

fishrose · 11-13-2009, 02:37 PM

Big Ten spotlight: MSU's Mark Dantonio, Part I - Big Ten Blog - ESPN

Pretty solid interview, looking forward to Part II.

Sparty2k · 11-13-2009, 03:11 PM

On Kirk Cousins...

"We're trying to grow within a total position unit, too, but he's done an excellent job."

Dude. You have the best QB in the conference. When someone asks a question about him, do we really need thinly-veiled references to how you still want to take playing time away from him and give it to Nichol?

I like Coach D a lot, but the QB situation and his handling of it are beyond puzzling.

RedHotLlama · 11-13-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparty2k

On Kirk Cousins...

"We're trying to grow within a total position unit, too, but he's done an excellent job."

Dude. You have the best QB in the conference. When someone asks a question about him, do we really need thinly-veiled references to how you still want to take playing time away from him and give it to Nichol?

I like Coach D a lot, but the QB situation and his handling of it are beyond puzzling.

It seems more and more likely that Dantonio promised Keith a lot of playing time. I can't really blame him as our QB situation was definitely a question at the time of Nicol's recruitment; but in retrospect losing Foles and not giving Cousins the snaps he needs is too high a price.

ScriptState · 11-13-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHotLlama

It seems more and more likely that Dantonio promised Keith a lot of playing time. I can't really blame him as our QB situation was definitely a question at the time of Nicol's recruitment; but in retrospect losing Foles and not giving Cousins the snaps he needs is too high a price.

Losing Foles was a foregone conclusion, regardless of whether Nichol came back or not.

Munn Field · 11-13-2009, 03:21 PM

Part II is posted now.

Big Ten spotlight: MSU's Mark Dantonio, Part II - Big Ten Blog - ESPN

RedHotLlama · 11-13-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScriptState

Losing Foles was a foregone conclusion, regardless of whether Nichol came back or not.

Really, I must not have heard the full story, care to explain?

ScriptState · 11-13-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHotLlama

Really, I must not have heard the full story, care to explain?

His Dad has said before that Nick was really home sick and was starting to look around even before Nichol decided to transfer. Certainly Nichol's decision to come home played into it, but it's not like he was forcing Foles out.

Sigmakan · 11-13-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

You've worked Keith Nichol in at quarterback throughout the season, and both he and Kirk [Cousins] are sophomores. Do you expect a similar pattern going forward? Will the rotation continue next year?

Mark Dantonio: That's not up to me. That's up to each individual player and how they perform.

What pile of garbage. If this were true, then why the hell do you pull cousins after a long TD drive?

RedHotLlama · 11-13-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScriptState

His Dad has said before that Nick was really home sick and was starting to look around even before Nichol decided to transfer. Certainly Nichol's decision to come home played into it, but it's not like he was forcing Foles out.

Gotcha, it's too bad, Foles is going to be a good one.

ToP · 11-13-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigmakan

What pile of garbage. If this were true, then why the hell do you pull cousins after a long TD drive?

What Dantonio really means is "I really wish Kirk Cousins wasn't performing so much better than Keith Nichol so I can just give Keith Nichol the job."

Sparty2k · 11-13-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToP

What Dantonio really means is "I really wish Kirk Cousins wasn't performing so much better than Keith Nichol so I can just give Keith Nichol the job."

Exactly. It's obviously not up to the players, because one of them is clearly better. So since you've taken the decision out of their hands, at least be up front with why you're making the decisions you are. I think it was totally fine to play them both at the beginning of the season, or even putting Nichol in for some plays and to finish against Michigan. But the rotating series thing should stop. Put Nichol in if there's a reason. Otherwise, let the better player play.

ScriptState · 11-13-2009, 03:41 PM

I agree 100% with Dantonio that we need to develop our entire QB unit, especially given that they're both young and were virturally untested coming into this season. I do not, however, understand this switching QB's in the middle of a drive nonsense. I mean, really, who cares if it happens against the Western Michigans and Montana States of the world, but in the middle of the Minnesota game right after Cousins threw a TD...I just don't get it at all.

Sigmakan · 11-13-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScriptState

I agree 100% with Dantonio that we need to develop our entire QB unit, especially given that they're both young and were virturally untested coming into this season. I do not, however, understand this switching QB's in the middle of a drive nonsense. I mean, really, who cares if it happens against the Western Michigans and Montana States of the world, but in the middle of the Minnesota game right after Cousins threw a TD...I just don't get it at all.

Perhaps this article will help shine some light on this 'situation'
Keith Nichol might play against Purdue | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Quote:

"Yeah, absolutely," Warner said of possibly using Nichol near the goal line. "We don't necessarily have a specific plan for Keith when he goes in the game, but he's running our offense, he's doing the same thing Kirk is doing."

The coaching staff didn't have specific plans to use Nichol in the past couple games, instead deciding to go with quick in-game decisions based on how the game was going, Warner said.

Warner typically makes suggestions during games about quarterback substitutions and relays them to coach Mark Dantonio for approval.
"Coach D., at times, has said, 'I want Keith in the game,'" Warner said. "It's a two-way deal, but obviously Coach D. has the final say."

ToP · 11-13-2009, 03:51 PM

Yeah, I don't really see anything wrong with that. Afterall, that's how I coach my 6 year old's soccer games.

Sigmakan · 11-13-2009, 03:55 PM

I'm cool with quick in-game decisions. But what the f*** can you be seeing on the field to bench a QB who is just starting to heat up????

blanch32 · 11-13-2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigmakan

Perhaps this article will help shine some light on this 'situation'
Keith Nichol might play against Purdue | detnews.com | The Detroit News

FTR, that Dantonio quote only shows that Ws & Ls are not that important to him this season---and that BETTER change next season...

Gurkha Legend · 11-13-2009, 07:07 PM

I am pretty sure I heard Coach D on a radio interview saying that they were giving both of them reps because next year Nichol would have an entirely offense build around him, while Cousins would continue to run the current one. Said it would make it much more difficult for teams to prepare for two different offense.

(Huge i think)