Lujan or Christion?

[ThomasJack]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

I just can't sit back anymore without posting.

Like others have said, this whole idea of a player not losing a job due to injury is absolutely ridiculous. If you believe in that, you're likely an old timer who has let the game pass you by. You also likely believe that the only way to win is to run the ball and stop the run, that asking for water in summer workouts is a sign of weakness, and that players should just tough it out through a head injury. It's a flawed thought, just like Stigs past thoughts of being loyal to veteran players instead of giving a younger more talented player a chance.

Lujan has served his role well, but let's be honest, after that NDSU game, we all know we need more from that position than what he can offer. He's a good passer, but one dimensional. His floor may be higher than TC's but it sure seems like his ceiling is lower too. I don't think anybody will be satisfied with being pretty good and then getting destroyed by NDSU in the playoffs again. We don't know if TC can beat an elite team either, but until he gets a chance, we will never know. Which leads me to my last point...experience. Some of you guys want Lujan to be the starter based only on experience. Like somebody else said, he has a grand total of 11 games. Let TC play now, and he will be nearly as experienced as Lujan by the time the playoffs come. If you don't let him play, Lujan will be the more experienced player next year and.....well never mind.

However, with all that being said, if Stig went on the record by saying that Lujan will be the starter when he is healthy, then he almost has to start Lujan the first game back. If he doesn't, he loses a lot of credibility IMO. Why he would say that and put himself in a box is beyond me.

[Southeast]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

Speaking in absolutes often comes back to bite a person.

If we get another win with TC at the helm on Saturday (in front of 16,000) reinstating Lujan is only going to get tougher (and crazier).


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[goon]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

Lujan was our best player in the ndsu game. I just have a hard time going from experience and a guy who can throw over 300 plus yards agame. We have 4 running backs who can run. I guess others don't like it but the coaches see them every day. They know how practice goes. We don't unless some on here go watch every practice. So I will trust the coaching staff. Glad none of us have to make those choices and get scrutinized for every single choice we make.

[bigticket1]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

We (Midco Sports Network) talked with Stig today for Jackrabbit Journal (which I'll post later this week). Here is his quote, verbatim, on Zach Lujan's health status:

"He's making progress, it's between him and the trainer. Zach would want to play, but he's got to be full speed. He is our number one quarterback, that hasn't changed on the depth chart. And so, when he's healthy, he'll be on the field."

Take that for what it's worth, but I figured you guys would like to know

Stig just basically said the same thing on his radio show. But then he seemed to hedge a bit and said you have to go with the player who gives you the best chance to win. I think TC starts on Saturday with Lujan getting a few series. I don't think he starts Lujan when he hasn't played at all for three weeks. If you look at UNI's defensive stats they are really bad against the pass and pretty good against the run. Bringing Lujan off the bench and really throwing the ball downfield could be a good change of pace. On another related tidbit they talked about Wieneke's reduced production recently and Stig said he isn't 100% physically.

[KUlawJack]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

God that just seems so dumb. Maybe it's coachspeak and Stig knows TC will keep the job. If that's true, the good. If he's being honest though, yikes.

And for those of you read to smash the reply button and start furiously typing your "trust the coaching staff" takes: remember it took TOB quitting the team, not his dreadful in-game performance to give Sumner a shot. Dale Moss was the best WR on the team his one year. Anybody remember how many games it took before he actually got to play consistently?

I believe it was 4 games. It took 4 games to get Moss on the field. Almost went bald that season pulling my hair out.

[mmiller_34]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

Here is how it should happen:

Northern Iowa: TC gets the start
Missouri State: Lujan gets the start (100% again)
Illinois State: TC gets the start from here out (TC beats Lujan out in practice)

[mitchell]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

I haven't read the whole thread but I think some people are selling Lujan short after the NDSU game (a game where every offensive player crapped the bed). I don't have much opinion of which should play as I think both are capable, but I'll play devil's advocate for the Alaskan.

Christion has played really well and adds another dimension with his running, but the following concerns me:

- He had 2-3 interceptions dropped in the Indiana State game and looked uncomfortable for much of the Youngstown game.
- Teams have yet to come into a game with a full game plan devoted to Christion being the QB. Indiana State was caught off guard and Youngstown had to prep for both. If teams shut down Christion's running, will he be able to pass to a victory?
- Jake Wieneke and Christion aren't on the same page like he is with Lujan, and with Jake being SDSU's best player, that's a bit concerning.
- Christion has had great poise for a true freshman, but will the lack of game experience come back to bite him in big moments?

Here's the NCAA QBR of SDSU quarterbacks since going DI to show that Luhan isn't chopped liver. Not to mention he led the Jacks to their first ever FBS win.

Lujan 142
Berry 139
Sumner 131
O'Brien 112
Kardoes 111

Christion has a rating of 154 in 2 games


Like I said, I think both are capable and I'm excited to watch either play. If Stig goes back to Lujan, I'm not so sure it's because of the "can't lose starting spot because of injury" mantra and not the fact that they feel Lujan gives them the best chance to win.

[TK22867]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

Like others have said, this whole idea of a player not losing a job due to injury is absolutely ridiculous. If you believe in that, you're likely an old timer who has let the game pass you by. You also likely believe that the only way to win is to run the ball and stop the run........

To be fair, that "old timer" strategy has worked pretty well for the current 4-peat national champion.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

I believe it was 4 games. It took 4 games to get Moss on the field. Almost went bald that season pulling my hair out.

We as fans only see the good/great plays. I think Moss was probably a similar situation with JT Hassell. Athletically, he is on another level and makes some electric plays. We as fans might not notice when he screws up an assignment, overpursues, or flat out does the wrong thing. I would rather have an average talent making the right decisions 100% of the time than an electric player making the wrong decision 25% of the time.

I think there is a misconception with Stig. He doesn't favor seniority, he favors decision making. AFAIK, game film is broken down pretty extensively and players are graded for how they perform. Older players are likely making better decisions, and so they grade out better on film. Playing time is distributed accordingly.

Eventually this will work itself out, for now we have two quarterbacks I feel comfortable with.

[CappinHard]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

We (Midco Sports Network) talked with Stig today for Jackrabbit Journal (which I'll post later this week). Here is his quote, verbatim, on Zach Lujan's health status:

"He's making progress, it's between him and the trainer. Zach would want to play, but he's got to be full speed. He is our number one quarterback, that hasn't changed on the depth chart. And so, when he's healthy, he'll be on the field."

Take that for what it's worth, but I figured you guys would like to know

If this really happens, I'll lose some respect for Stig and the coaching staff. I have a ton of respect for them right now, but this would be ridiculous unless TC does something to lose the job or they think Lujan gives them a better chance to win. Not sure how anyone could confidently say that.

[CappinHard]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

Technically not true.

Crawford got his job back for 1 game, we got rolled by SIU in the quasi-conference championship at home, and then TOB was awarded the starting spot.

So therefore (in the coaching staffs minds), Crawford technically didn't lose his spot due to injury.

I can see this happening, unfortunately. It will cost us a loss to get TC back in, which is ridiculous. Think about the ramifications of starting Lujan for the rest of the year. There's no way they sit a senior next year, so then we potentially lose pretty much 2 whole seasons of one of our most highly recruited QBs in SDSU history. I'll still be an SDSU fan through it all, but I would be so frustrated if this happens.

[Justwin]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

I can see this happening, unfortunately. It will cost us a loss to get TC back in, which is ridiculous. Think about the ramifications of starting Lujan for the rest of the year. There's no way they sit a senior next year, so then we potentially lose pretty much 2 whole seasons of one of our most highly recruited QBs in SDSU history. I'll still be an SDSU fan through it all, but I would be so frustrated if this happens.

I shudder at the thought of that happening but if it did I think this situation would be solved..........wouldn't surprise me for TC to say "see ya later".

[goon]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

I can see this happening, unfortunately. It will cost us a loss to get TC back in, which is ridiculous. Think about the ramifications of starting Lujan for the rest of the year. There's no way they sit a senior next year, so then we potentially lose pretty much 2 whole seasons of one of our most highly recruited QBs in SDSU history. I'll still be an SDSU fan through it all, but I would be so frustrated if this happens.

Double edged sword on that one. What if they stick with tc and he has growing pains and we lose some games that could argue lujan migjt have lead us to win. We are a potential top 8 seed. Do we really trust a freshman lock that up?

[Jackedforlife]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

Once Lujan is 100% I expect whoever the starter is to have an incredibly short leash. It isn't unreasonable to think they might split duties. I'm not for that btw but I could see it happening.

If Weineke truly is hampered by injury I would be in favor of him warming up and being available. If he's not needed then give him time to heal. He will be needed at some point. Now that said Jake at 80% is still our best wr, but there are capable wr's that could shoulder the load. I've been very impressed with how well Larves Jones blocks. Curious though, I know they pulled Wilde's redshirt. Have yet to see him make the rotation at WR, would be nice to get him a few snaps. They must've saw something to pull the RS.

[CappinHard]

Re: Lujan or Christion?

I shudder at the thought of that happening but if it did I think this situation would be solved..........wouldn't surprise me for TC to say "see ya later".

I would if I were him... If they burn his redshirt year, Lujan starts the rest of the year, and it looks like Lujan is going to start next year... I would be looking for the first train out of Brookings, and I wouldn't blame him. People say it "worked out pretty well" for the Bison when Wentz sat while Brock Jensen played out his career. That is a COMPLETELY different situation. You're comparing an almost 4 year starter who was the greatest QB in NDSU history to Zach Lujan.

Speaking of Brock Jensen, NDSU's 2010 season could end up being a very similar QB situation to SDSU, as Jensen replaced an injured Jose Mohlar as a freshman. They switched back and forth until settling on the freshman and making a deep run in the playoffs. The decision to finally go with the freshman "worked out pretty well" for the Bison in the long run. In case you have lived in a shell for the past 4 years, Jensen went on to lead the Bison to 3 straight championships. I don't know about you guys, but I like the prospect of anything even close to that. I think most people are neglecting the long run aspect of this situation. Can Lujan lead us to a possible seed and maybe have a chance at winning a playoff game or two? Sure... can Christion do the same thing? I think so... So look at the long term benefits of going with TC and make the right decision. I really wish any of my words had any weight on the coach's decision.

Also, super excited for Hobo Day!