Andersen. Offense or Defense?

[NorthernPlains]

Ok this has been discussed but now the season has ended it is worth a serious review.

It seems soooooo very obvious. None the less there remains strong opinions on both sides.

While playing QB, a position he is not very adept at, Troy Andersen just set Montana State records for...

1. Most 100 yard rushing games in a season.

2. Most touchdowns scored in a season.

Set aside any passing yards / touchdowns he accounted for, then tell me what percentage of the offense did he personally generate? Then try to justify the argument that "Moving him to LB makes us better in two positions". A new, college level, quarterback will be identified and brought into the mix. Still how in the heck does removing 60% of your offense make a team better? The fact is the coach would be nuts to move this kid to defense.

I will readily admit I'm wrong... if he is moved to linebacker next year and can still match or beat the number of touchdowns he generated this year on offense. If he does feel free to pummel me. Otherwise don't kill the bobcat offense in order to make the defense marginally better. Swing away.

[mslacatfan]

Dude.... he broke records at RB....... he didn’t do jack squat at QB.

I’m not trying to be a dick, but it’s the truth. I’m a huge TA fan, amazing what he has sacrificed for the team. But he is a LB, who should get a handful of rb snaps every game.

[CatsNoMatterWhat]

At linebacker he totally eliminates the over-the-middle pass game for opposing offenses and creates a real sack threat up the middle. We finally have a deep stable of QBs and Rovig has experience.

Defense.

[GoldstoneCat]

Defense, with a sprinkling of 5-8 touches a game in the run game. Imo it's not even close.

[BelgradeBobcat]

We are hoping for a transfer quarterback-we haven't gotten one yet. Are we not also looking for transfer linebackers? All the cows aren't in the barn yet-lets see how recruiting goes. I find it hard to believe we will get enough good players on offense to replace 21 touchdowns and over 100 rushing yards per game. I think Andersen will be used primarily on offense next season. We shall see.

[BleedingBLue]

This game today showed where he should really be. National Championship caliber teams are going to shut down an offense like ours every day of the week. Not to mention we got our asses kicked in the run game on D.

Edit: Even a game managing QB should account for double the TDs TA did through the air. Add more goal line runs and TDs for the backs, plus TA still getting his touches and TDs offensively, the argument of what he accounted for doesn't really work, especially cause that's part of the offenses problem against great team.

[Cat Grad]

I double checked the stats for the QB for NDSU and sure enough, he was 7 for 12 for 86 total yards throwing the football and seven different receivers caught one of his passes. I'm not real certain but from previous film sessions after games during the season, it appeared as though again in this game today more than a few routes were run incorrectly, broken off by the receivers and I saw one of those bad passes hit the receiver for the Cats right in the hands! Dang those poor throws like that...

[Bocephus]

What wins championships? Defense and running the ball and thats 2 paces we need Troy.

Starting LB along with mixing in the backfield with Ifanse. Watch out. Jensen, Bauman or Rovig would make a great starting QB with that running game.

[Hi-Line Bobcat]

If Troy is our qb next year, then get prepared for this again. 2nd round and out. Troy is our best football player and if 1/3 of the team played with his heart we would instantly be better, but him at QB is holding his career back and the team. He needs to play defense or running back.

[BleedingBLue]

If Troy is our qb next year, then get prepared for this again. 2nd round and out. Troy is our best football player and if 1/3 of the team played with his heart we would instantly be better, but him at QB is holding his career back and the team. He needs to play defense or running back.

Yes! We will not beat Championship caliber teams with this offense.

[NorthernPlains]

This game today showed where he should really be. National Championship caliber teams are going to shut down an offense like ours every day of the week. Not to mention we got our asses kicked in the run game on D.

Edit: Even a game managing QB should account for double the TDs TA did through the air. Add more goal line runs and TDs for the backs, plus TA still getting his touches and TDs offensively, the argument of what he accounted for doesn't really work, especially cause that's part of the offenses problem against great team.

Just in case I wasn't clear in my op, I am not saying Troy should be playing QB next year. He doesn't belong there, and the cats are lucky to have won as many games as they did with "this offense".

My point is, in any game Andersen is a potential scoring machine and he should be on offense getting his hands on the ball. A change into an actually balanced offense with a true QB would generate a real passing game. That would replace some of his production from this year. None the less moving him to LB would leave a gapping hole to try to replace all of his offensive scoring.

[BleedingBLue]

This game today showed where he should really be. National Championship caliber teams are going to shut down an offense like ours every day of the week. Not to mention we got our asses kicked in the run game on D.

Edit: Even a game managing QB should account for double the TDs TA did through the air. Add more goal line runs and TDs for the backs, plus TA still getting his touches and TDs offensively, the argument of what he accounted for doesn't really work, especially cause that's part of the offenses problem against great team.

Just in case I wasn't clear in my op, I am not saying Troy should be playing QB next year. He doesn't belong there, and the cats are lucky to have won as many games as they did with "this offense".

My point is, in any game Andersen is a potential scoring machine and he should be on offense getting his hands on the ball. A change into an actually balanced offense with a true QB would generate a real passing game. That would replace some of his production from this year. None the less moving him to LB would leave a gapping hole to try to replace all of his offensive scoring.

I understand your point. My point is it's not like those TDs he accounted for disappear. It's entirely possible a different QB could have as many TDs through the air that TA had combined this season. Plus he will still get some from the RB position and a more balanced offense with a true passing threat will allow a guy like Ifanse to have an even better year.

[94VegasCat]

I’ll take a QB that has 25-30 passing TDs and 5-10 rushing TDs with a RB that scores 14-20 rushing TDs. It simply CANNOT be the QB only.

[AFCAT]

Today was evidence enough for me where he should be. Mainly on defense with some carries on offense. Both sides of the ball are not championship caliber yet.

[bobcat99]

Today was evidence enough for me where he should be. Mainly on defense with some carries on offense. Both sides of the ball are not championship caliber yet.

Exactly. He's gonna get touches, because he's too valuable not too...but his future is at LB. After watching that game it should be beyond obvious how badly we need speed on defense.

[GoldstoneCat]

Today was evidence enough for me where he should be. Mainly on defense with some carries on offense. Both sides of the ball are not championship caliber yet.

Exactly. He's gonna get touches, because he's too valuable not too...but his future is at LB. After watching that game it should be beyond obvious how badly we need speed on defense.

Yeah our second and third levels couldn't match up with their offense. 18 fkn senior starters will do that, though. Impressive.

[WalkOn79]

If Troy is our qb next year, then get prepared for this again. 2nd round and out. Troy is our best football player and if 1/3 of the team played with his heart we would instantly be better, but him at QB is holding his career back and the team. He needs to play defense or running back.

Yes! We will not beat Championship caliber teams with this offense.

Love the kid, but this is the TRUTH!

[catinahat]

I wonder what TA wants? I know at the beginning of the year he wanted defense, but i wonder if after a season of leading this team as the qb, he has changed his mind. I feel if he wanted to to be the qb next year, he would do the work in the off season and be a damn good qb next year. Look at much he has progressed over this season.

[RobertoGato]

The answer is yes.

Every down linebacker and 5-7 touches a game on offense so that they don't lose his big play ability.

[coloradocat]

I wonder what TA wants? I know at the beginning of the year he wanted defense, but i wonder if after a season of leading this team as the qb, he has changed his mind. I feel if he wanted to to be the qb next year, he would do the work in the off season and be a damn good qb next year. Look at much he has progressed over this season.

I doubt he's lost the desire to hit guys.