@BShark said in Good Grief, Just Beat Iowa State:

Lance taking the ball out of his QB's hands too much plus bad clock management at the end...

Something about great coaches also being oddly conservative in situations that do not call for it…

We look like the better team by not a small margin.

@AsadZ ideally Mondesi can play a full season for once… but can’t bank on that.

Another disappointing season in the books. The Royals will lose 95+ games and likely end the season holding onto a Top 5 draft pick.

John Sherman did make a big move to let GM Dayton Moore go. I know some have mixed feelings on it. I think most agree that it was time to move on.

JJ is going to get to call the shots, officially, starting in 2023. I think you'll see Matheny gone. I think you'll see basically all of the coaches gone except for some of the guys in the minor league system.

Now, the positives of what the Royals have going on. They are really young, and they have a lot of good young talent. Singer looks like a #2 in a playoffs rotation. I think they'll do what they can to bring Greinke back as well. But they need to go spend $50M this offseason on pitching if they want to compete. Just the truth.

I think next year's offense will really look significantly better than they did this year. A lot of rookies who I think will come out next season and play better.
- C - Salvy - as long as he can handle it, keep him catching. I wasn't sure his bat would be good enough to put at 1B or DH but I have to say the last 3 seasons he's shown it is.
- 1B - Pratto - By far the biggest disappointment of the rookies. But I believe his patience at the plate will end up serving him well. I expect him to be a 20+ HR guy next season with a significantly better K rate.
- 2B - Massey - He looked good this year for a 2B. I think he showed he can outplay Lopez and send him to the bench.
- SS - ? Do we put Witt back here? Do we go sign someone? Do you play Lopez here to start the season? Can Mondesi come back?
- 3B - I say leave Witt at 3B. Royals have a star in Bobby Witt. I expect this season to be basically his "bad" season.
- LF - Olivares/Eaton - Eaton is a great fielder. Olivares had a decent stick. One of them will get time here.
- CF - ??? Really not sure what they'll do here.
- RF - Isbel - Meh. Fine.
- DH - Vinnie - Solid DH. Going to hit 30 bombs next season.

If I was building the order right now:

1. Melendez
2. Witt
3. Vinnie
4. Salvy
5. Pratto
6. Olivares
7. Massey
8. Isbel
9. Lopez

I really don't think they need to do much with position players in the offseason. I wouldn't be upset with an OF or a 3B with some power. But I really think if they were to make better analytical decisions building the lineup that the offense could be top 10 next season in OPS.

The bigger issue is simple, it is that we gave up the 4th most runs in baseball. And unless you have the team putting up the most runs in baseball it is going to be hard to win games. The biggest thing that needs to happen this offseason is the team spends money on FA pitching. Trade some prospects if you have to. But the pitching MUST get better.

If it were me, I'd slide Bubic, Keller and Lynch into the pen or maybe even send them down. I'd do what I could to bring back Greinke. And then I'd sign the rest of my starting pitchers. 4 guys for $60M, break it up however you want. For me, it would be throwing money at Syndergaard and Sonny Gray. And then probably go after 2 of Kluber, Odorizzi, or Mike Minor. I'd look for guys you think could have a bounce back year. And if they suck, then you just move Lynch back in to the rotation.

The goal next year shouldn't be playoffs (though I don't think that is impossible). But it should be to win more than 75 games. They just have to find a way to make that happen. I think they have the core that they need. Now it is all about spending the money to win and using better analytics to drive decision making.

I was in Cancun last week and as soon as I said I was from Kansas my driver brought up Wizard of Oz immediately. In a way it is nice to have that reference.

We are also the home of Superman, but nobody brings that up...

I really thought it was funny how bothered people got by the comments of that guy though. He made himself sound like such an ass that you didn't even need to justify anything. It made New Yorkers seem like total assholes.

@FarmerJayhawk Honestly my first thought is can he catch? lol.

Would love to see that track speed, long stride and jumping ability on the outside... Plus he runs REALLY tall for a RB at the P5 level. Much more of a run by you than a run over you type of dude.

This is.... not what I was hoping for. Would like to see them have someone else AND Shaq.

Has to be more to this unless they are saving their pennies to give to lance :face_with_tears_of_joy:

I do think he is going to need to score 45+ TDs between his arm and his leg to win. CJ Stroud is off to a SCORCHING start and is going to throw like 50 TDs this season.

The season he needs to be trying to emulate is the RGIII 2011 Heisman season. If that isn't enough to get it done, considering the insane turnaround that would be KU football in this scenario, I don't know what would.

I put $10 on him at +10,000. All the way down to +3,500 now.

If this team somehow starts 7-0 I think he becomes the Heisman favorite.

@ReggieKansas '23 recruiting has been terrible locally. But I guess I'm not that shocked. KSU really cleaned up in '23 with the local guys. Landed 5 local 3* guys and then Avery Johnson. We have Zero.

So, seems obvious the focus will have to be on the transfer portal again. Staff did a great job this year, and really think you'll see them only improve in that area again. Much easier sell to transfers than a year ago too.

Hopefully we make headway with the '24 class based on this season's performance. I do think the staff knows how important it is to land local guys. And I do think they are trying to prioritize. But I don't blame a guy for looking at KSU vs. KU and picking KSU based on recent success, NFL potential, facilities, and the BMOC factor.

Vital that KU improves their facilities and dominates the KC Metro area recruiting as much as possible.

Certainly fits into the “get more athletic” category.

The number of missed OU tackles was honestly hysterical.

KSU did not do anything spectacular. OU just couldn’t tackle in the open field at all.

KU officially in top of the B12

I really think you could see Bostwick and Novitsky make rosters at the next level.

@FarmerJayhawk alsi mentioned Armaj who has all of the tools to be a guy who plays on Sundays.

This is probably one of the best lines in CFB.

@MoonwalkMafia I mean im hopeful they win 8 games.

I just don’t think it is fair to the staff or players to heap those expectations on them now that they’ve shown a little success.

Fans make jobs like this suck because expectations immediately turn into something they shouldn’t.

I implore everyone to just enjoy the ride this season instead of throwing out some gaudy expectations after beating two non-p5 teams and one of the worst B12 teams.

We can reset expectations in the off-season.

I’m trying to keep expectations low. Don’t be greedy. 6 wins and this program is 2-3 years ahead of schedule imo.

Eric Bienemy’s name popping up in Nebraska job.

Fan base reaction on Twitter seems pretty uninspired if he were picked. Officially at the point of “if he couldn’t get another job why would we want him?”

LL keeps moving up in the Nebraska job odds. But KU really blitzed the PR today with “I ain’t f’ing leavin’” (meme from Wolf of Wall Street) PR today.

I’m assuming (purely my read) that KU and Lance have something in the works to make him and his agent happy.

He went on a Podcast today with KU broadcast big time in the background. 100% staged.

Then he wore a We/Me shirt at a press conference (not an accident obviously) today.

I’m expecting him to get a raise to ~$6M/yr if I were to guess. But ultimately, today was PR101 from KU Athletics.

@justanotherfan I would say this OL deserves a ton of credit too.

The hogs up front are legit. I think they might have multiple pros.

@BeddieKU23 that was tough to watch…

Good game though! Electric!

KU FOOTBALL WILL BE IN TOP 25 NEXT WEEK

Also JD legit Heisman candidate?

Pass rush is improved so much this year it’s amazing

I honestly still have a hard time believe it 😂

@nwhawkfan I missed how that gave us a penalty. I’m at a bar so that’s part of it. But I didn’t see what we did to get a penalty there

The APP ST. FINISH 🤯🤯🤯🤯

Officially considering us a football school

This is a top 25 team?

LL does not get on the team plane home without a new contract

HOLY SHIT WERE GOOD AT FOOTBALL

@FarmerJayhawk PELOTAS GRANDE.

Holy shit.

GREEN WAVE THE WHEAT.

f*ck KSU

I will relentlessly ridicule KSU fans for years if KU finishes above them in the B12 standings this year and beats them.

YOU LOVE TO SEE IT.

GreenWave

I think it is hard to criticize the running game based on what we’ve seen through 2.25 weeks

Silly

Freeman for ND might not make it the full season lol

Momentum killed 🤬

@Kcmatt7 said in Drop the Cougs:

Right where we wanna be

We seem to enjoy the comeback

Right where we wanna be

@FarmerJayhawk I figure that if we start 6-0 game day will be in Norman.

@bskeet just as long as you’re watching!

It was really disappointing that they sucked the entire time I was in school.

@BeddieKU23 said in KCmatt's Locks of the Week:

@Kcmatt7

It's interesting because Louisville looked just as awful last week against UCF until the 2nd half.

Satterfield is a weird dude but he's hard to gameplan against with his style. I'm not convinced he has staying power there once Cunningham is gone. I was also surprised they were beaten that badly week 1. I'm not sure he's got dudes this year. I'll find out later. He's stuffed our D Coordinator in a locker in the first half the last two years

That Louisville defense is weaker than wet toilet paper. Wow.

@BeddieKU23 I decided not to make anything of the Louisville game. And just write it off as a first game with no film from one side vs. the other.

Although it was surprising to see Satterfield be the one underprepared... I sort of expected him to take Lousiville up a notch this season.

@BShark said in Game day - Week 1 vs. Cards:

@Kcmatt7 said in Game day - Week 1 vs. Cards:

Herbert is a stud. So likable. Wish he played in the NFC

He is, which really makes it amazing that he is 16-18.

Mahomes, in contrast, is 60-16.

Peyton started 16-16... I will honestly be shocked if Herbert doesn't bring home the Lombardi at some point in his career. Guy has winner written all over him.

Not fair to compare anyone to Pat. Mahomes is just trying to shatter every record known to QBs in the NFL. And if he plays until he's ~40 without getting a serious injury he will. Even if you adjust for the extra games.

Herbert is a stud. So likable. Wish he played in the NFC

@BeddieKU23 same combo that got them a 5-7 record a year ago.

Purdue returned their QB from a year ago and despite a tough loss to PSU I think they mostly look like the 9-win team they did from a season ago.

Week 2 - I'll keep my record the rest of the season. Feel free to join! I'll keep standings/record for all those who play.

1. Oklahoma -11 @ Nebraska: OU -11. LOCK IT IN.
2. Purdue @ Cuse: ML +105 Purdue
3. Hawks @ Cougs: +8.5 Hawks
4. Wake vs. Liberty : -16.5 Wake all day
5. Nevada @ Iowa: +23 Nevada
6. Fresno State @ USC: -12.5 USC

The 2-0 Hawks are 8.5 dawgs at Houston this weekend.

This was always one of the games on the schedule that was winnable, but I thought unlikely to be a win at the beginning of the season. A 12-2 Houston team from a year ago returning their starting QB who threw for 30 TDs was always going to be a challenge.

But dare I say this game looks more winnable now than before? They struggled to score against a TTU team that nobody expects to be very good. While Tune has still be okay so far, they haven't ran the ball well enough to help him. And their defense has allowed a ton of yards.

I honestly think that as long as we get a similar performance from Daniels and Co. this week that this game is a win. We may honestly have one of the best OL in the country. And so I expect the offense to keep the wheels turning with some level of consistency. If the defense can get early stops, I really think we can start this season 3-0 coming into a 3-game home stand.

Prediction: KU 42 - HOU 31

@Woodrow I wouldn’t blame him. And I do think he’d go.

I just think Nebraska is a weird job.

Legit question - is the Nebraska job better than the Iowa job?

I think that it is a worse job than:

• OSU
• PSU
• UW
• USC
• Michigan
• UCLA

Basically on par with the Iowa job imo. Reality is that Nebraska is in a barren wasteland of talent. They can try to recruit Ohio/Penn rich area but you're competing against the big boys and you are further away than Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Cincinnati, Iowa, Purdue, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisville, Illinois and Michigan State. They have lost the Texas pipeline by moving to the B10. Nebraska's in-state talent is awful. Neighboring states are also vast wastelands of talent.

It is a shitty job.

I think Lance would end up being a phenomenal hire for Nebraska. But I don't think a big money donor for Nebraska ponied up the $7.5M to fire Frost early to hire Lance. They are going to backup the Brinks truck for Matt Campbell or someone like that. I'm shocked I haven't seen Dave Clawson's name thrown around. Could see Mark Stoops there.

Really hoping we have our big money guys step up to match whatever offer. I do think that if he stayed here he could be a legend. At Nebraska he'll be "a guy."

I personally think the Nebraska job is one of the absolute worst in football. Expectations of B10 championships despite being maybe the 7th or 8th best job in the B10 now that UCLA and USC have been added. Its an absolutely awful job imo.