Assuming Shapen is healthy - who do you start Saturday?

Who do you start Saturday?


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    229

NWADog

Junior
Aug 16, 2014
756
227
43
Missouri has an incredible defense. We can’t run the ball. You have to run the ball to win games against good defenses. KT gives us a run game and is good enough in the pass game to hit some big plays
 
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RocketDawg

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2011
18,960
2,079
113
Start Shapen. Maybe Taylor if it was a home game, but not on the road. Shapen, if nothing else, has the experience. If he screws up, then try Taylor fairly early into the game.

And Lebby needs to make proper in-game decisions, such as - kick the FG when it's time. Maybe go by the statistics that the announcers are always talking about.
 
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Dec 9, 2018
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This I disagree with 100000%.

I think if you start KT, you are making the change for the rest of this year and planning for next.

What you don't want to do is give KT a short leash. Besides destroying his confidence, every other coach in the SEC is hoping we piss him off this year, and that right there would do it.
There is a lot merit in what you are saying. Honestly I don't know what I would do. KT does seem to be the best choice right now which is how I voted. The entire team seems to play better when he is in. But, there is no way Lebby is going with anyone but Shapen if he can play. He is totally sold on Shapen.
 
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8dog

All-American
Feb 23, 2008
13,966
5,860
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How can anyone say we have a better chance of winning with Shapen? Is it because of the win against Tennessee? Or the win against Texas? Or definitely the one against Florida? You do have the one against Arkansas where Kamario scored 2 TDs. We haven't been winning with Shapen. PERIOD.
Are you talking about the games where we scored 34 and 38 points? I don’t just love shapen but if protected, he gives us a better shot to win.
 

Darryl Steight

All-American
Sep 30, 2022
3,784
6,354
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Shapen is missing on more than he's hitting those by the way Taylor is really accurate on deep balls, it's the short passes he has more issues with
I don't think we have seen enough deep balls by KT to know that yet... That long TD to Evans against Arkansas looked pretty badly underthrown to me, but Evans makes it a TD with his effort.
 
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Drebin

Heisman
Aug 22, 2012
21,481
25,024
113
You don't watch games. Taylor hit those the last two weeks too
He hit one on Saturday. The one he completed the week prior was severely underthrown.

I think KT needs to play, but accuracy is a big problem for him and that's the argument for playing Shapen. The counter is that Shapen accelerates the pass rush and guarantees a bunch of negative plays.
 

thekimmer

All-Conference
Aug 30, 2012
8,078
2,095
113
Shapen might know the playbook 5X better than Taylor but what good does it do you when you can't execute? Shapen's is not a run threat and cannot evade pressure and that is LETHAL with our swiss cheese oline. Taylor is a run threat and can evade pressure. That helps protect our running backs AND helps our pass attack. He is just as good a passer as Shapen to my eyes. Finally, Taylor is our future. Shapen done all he is going to do and it has been pretty pedestrian.

It is a no-brainer to me that Taylor should start the next two games.
 
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dawgstudent

Heisman
Apr 15, 2003
39,426
18,846
113
Missouri is 6th in the conference with 24 sacks. Leader are 2 teams (Texas and A&M) at 34 sacks. We have 18.

So what it boils down to - if Reese is healthy - start Shapen. Otherwise, it's a toss up.
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
56,671
26,006
113
I don't think we have seen enough deep balls by KT to know that yet... That long TD to Evans against Arkansas looked pretty badly underthrown to me, but Evans makes it a TD with his effort.
It was a bit under-thrown, but those are low percentage passes under the best circumstances. It was a good throw, and a very good catch. KT is going to give you more bad than good. But with him the good is very good.
 
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Chesusdog

All-Conference
May 2, 2006
4,780
4,737
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It was a bit under-thrown, but those are low percentage passes under the best circumstances. It was a good throw, and a very good catch. KT is going to give you more bad than good. But with him the good is very good.

Really want to see him learn to read when to give the ball away. There were a couple plays against Florida where he chose to keep and got stuffed when the handoff option was gonna be wide open.
 

FreeDawg

Senior
Oct 6, 2010
3,861
642
98
This really isn’t that complicated. Lebby doesn’t want to put KT in front of one of the worst OLs in CFB consistently. Blake has done a respectable job considering how awful the OL is. How many different OL 5 across have we ran this year? I’d love to know that answer because it’s got to be staggering. When KT comes in, DLs have been pinning their ears back and he’s slipping by. If he plays a whole game, defenses will play zone & rush 3 with a spy & we still won’t be able to block them.

We have 1 path forward: start Shapen, sprinkle in KT for a spark, and next year load up on OL in portal with another year of development for KT. We also have 3 juco guys who redshirted. We’ll have more bodies and better prospects next year. This year we’re like a prize fighter with a great right hook that can’t throw it because he had a broken hand. He still has a chance to win with left & a jab but the odds are stacked against us.
 
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The Cooterpoot

Heisman
Sep 29, 2022
6,850
11,950
113
It was a bit under-thrown, but those are low percentage passes under the best circumstances. It was a good throw, and a very good catch. KT is going to give you more bad than good. But with him the good is very good.
Nah, he's processing way faster than Shapen. Shapen locks in on one guy, takes a sack, and fumbles. Dude has 3 more TDs than turnovers. That's a shittton of bad from Shapen! Taylor has to learn touch on the short balls and that's about it. He handles the RPO better too
 

ronpolk

All-Conference
May 6, 2009
9,144
4,742
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Are you trying to win? Or are you playing for next year? That answer yields different answers to your question.
That’s fair. And I’m fine turning the page to next year. I do think Shapen is the better QB right now but honestly it’s not by a wide margin. I’d start Taylor….

Frankly, I’m just tired of seeing Shapen get sacked and looking at his first read, tucking it and running for 3 yards. But your point is valid, Shapen can clearly run the offense better right now.
 
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POTUS

Heisman
Sep 29, 2022
3,888
10,294
113
It blows my mind that the coaches can't figure this out. Just play Shapen until we get in a short yardage situation or get inside the 15 or so. Then it's KT time. The paradigm has already been shown in the way Urban used Leak & Tebow.

As to the question of whom to start, it's Shapen if he's healthy. You don't start a true freshman on the road for the first time unless you don't have another choice.
 

Dawgbite

All-American
Nov 1, 2011
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Confused No Idea GIF by Bombay Softwares
 

Tractorman

Senior
Mar 15, 2009
1,148
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If we had an oline that could give us time, Shapen is a very accurate qb and he would be my choice. We don't have that luxury right now and K1 makes a decision pretty quick and either throws it or takes off. I think that option gives us the best chance to win this year. He hasn't been very accurate, but, having sec game experience will help him to get more comfortable in the passing game. I would go with Taylor for that reason. It also helps that he will be getting some great experience for next year.
 

Barkman Turner Overdrive

All-Conference
May 28, 2006
4,583
3,017
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I think it's more telling of our fanbase.


That plan has proven to work time and time again so it's likely the best route. Leak/Tebow, Russell/Dak, etc. etc. KT in short yardage, maybe a throw here or there.

Honestly, I am truly concerned about what we look like next year with Taylor full time. His throwing ability at this level leaves a lot to be desired, but that doesn't jive with Lebby's offense. I mean we act like he's Cam Newton. Maybe he will be, but I'd feel better about that if say, Mullen was the coach and not Lebby.

So many think Lebby is going to pivot to a Mullen type run-based offense......and he's not. Without the long pass threat the shlt breaks down.
I would feel better about a lot of things if Huncy was the coach vice Humpty.
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
56,671
26,006
113
Agreed but what if you play Taylor and he doesn't come back ? Not claiming I know who to play but if Shapen is the best option to win ...I play him .
You always play to win. Always. We have a chance to go to a bowl game & we’ve literally got some fans wanting to play for next year. That’s insane. We have some really dumb fans.
 

Seinfeld

All-American
Nov 30, 2006
11,115
6,930
113
It really is weird how so many of you value this over actually hitting downfield passes.
Is it?

Objectively, look at the stats below and tell me what Shapen does better than KT? Make a couple situational throws here and there, sure, but KT has him beat in every other statistical and physical measure

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T-TownDawgg

All-Conference
Nov 4, 2015
4,591
4,367
113
For me it’s simple.

When your mediocre-at-best transfer quarterback talks Shiť to and about the fans who pay his got-damn NIL, and then backs up his talk with even shitttier play, I’m 100% pulling for 2nd and 3rd string to pick up the mantle.
 
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maroontide06

Senior
Dec 14, 2023
778
773
93
You start Shapen until we have a better line.

You do give Taylor more playtime.
If State's OL isn't at 100%, then that means there's a deficiency there. Shapen will look like David Carr if the OL isn't at 100%. They used to say that David Carr was a sack waiting to happen. That's kind of where Shapen is right now.

Kamario definitely needs more playing time. When the OL has glaring deficiencies, you need someone who can scramble to keep the play alive. I also believe Kamario gives the OC (Lebby) some different options to be more aggressive on offense since the defense will be held in check by having a mobile QB in the game.
 
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Dec 9, 2018
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I went back and viewed the tape of the 2nd half. I didn't watch on Saturday. I know the game was already decided. But I would go fully with KT. The last 2 games should be his. He passes the eye test. Physically there is no comparison. He may throw some interceptions, but Shapen fumbles like crazy. It would require these coaches to modify their approach somewhat, which would require some thought on their part, so there is that problem.
 

MSUDC11-2.0

Heisman
Sep 29, 2022
8,806
13,711
113
The demeanor coming out of Lebby’s press conference today did not seem optimistic about Shapen being healthy enough to play Saturday. Egg Bowl may be a different story since we’ve got a bye week beforehand. But the speculation currently is Shapen is probably out for the Mizzou game.
 

thekimmer

All-Conference
Aug 30, 2012
8,078
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The only reason I would agree with Shapen starting against Mizzou would be as part of a plan to pull another Chris Relf type move on mississippi in the egg bowl.
 

Tractorman

Senior
Mar 15, 2009
1,148
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One guy couldn’t throw a rock in the Pacific Ocean from Santa Monica peer.

the other is 65% with 15 TDs
One guy couldn't escape my grandma rushing him and has 12 yards on 94 attempts

the other guy has 200 yards on 34 attempts and 5 TDS, 58% completion

It’s so obvious but apparently 50% of fans can’t see it.

Am I doing this right?
 

bulldoghair

All-Conference
Jul 9, 2013
2,453
1,932
108
Kamario has a long way to go to make basic throws.

It’s so obvious but apparently 50% of fans can’t see it.
Remember the quick pass he threw that wasn’t even close? I immediately thought of Vasity Blues when Mox hit the other teams mascot with the ball to stop the clock. He also missed a wide open crossing route inside the red zone and almost threw it into the stands.
 

paindonthurt

All-Conference
Apr 7, 2025
3,789
2,749
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One guy couldn't escape my grandma rushing him and has 12 yards on 94 attempts

the other guy has 200 yards on 34 attempts and 5 TDS, 58% completion

It’s so obvious but apparently 50% of fans can’t see it.

Am I doing this right?
No you aren’t at all!

Kamario isn’t ready to take all the snaps. Look at how bad he misses passes! Wide open easy passes.