Where I think Klein missed the boat:

Divining Rod

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in no particular order:

1. EJ Smith better than Owens, [edited]. We needed what he brings.

[OKAY, that was frustration above and uncalled for- sorry. I have no idea how big Owens heart is, and he is in there for a reason as many pointed out his blocking. and he's not unskilled as a runner- i just thought EJ was brininging something this year that was lacking elsewhere]

2. Where the hell were our crossing routes which were our best plays all season. We finally found one late in the red zone.

3. Our big target TE's- make it easy on a struggling QB- 6-10 yd passes to huge targets with great hands. nope, nowhere to be found for the most part.

4. Stretch the field- at least throw a few more long ones. I know we were against the wind, but crank a few35-40 yarders to loosen up the underneath stuff.

5. Run more read option to help a QB struggling with his passing game- get Marcel in a groove then start running some play action. Putting him as a pocket passer was STUPID- he didn't have it today.

36

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kbarj

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7:41p, 12/20/25

AG

I agree. And though you said no particular order, #5 was topmost in my mind during the game.

Bill '77

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DallasAg 94

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7:41p, 12/20/25

I opened this thread thinking it was about Klein not showing up like JfF.

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Philip J Fry

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7:41p, 12/20/25

AG

agreed. We had too many weapons on offense to not use. Totally no excuse for anything less than 30 points.

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phatbc

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7:42p, 12/20/25

He never made it easy for him/us

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TAMUallen

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In reply to DallasAg 94 • 7:44p, 12/20/25

AG

DallasAg 94 said:
I opened this thread thinking it was about Klein not showing up like JfF.

I mean they were similar. Neither made a showing. Both were elsewhere and it was known

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the more coolest guy

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7:46p, 12/20/25

I look to real football people to say what was there and reasonable and whether what we were doing was just stupid. Seems like we did less with more way too much this season and in the last two games in particular, but maybe there really wasnt anything there…?

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Ag in ATL

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7:46p, 12/20/25

AG

I think opposing defenses figure him out as the year went on. Got too predictable.

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Onionman

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7:51p, 12/20/25

I don't think Klein should have been OC after he accepted the KSU job.

Reed was bad but Klein did not call a good game either, IMO.

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Jimbo4win

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In reply to Onionman • 7:59p, 12/20/25

AG

Onionman said:
I don't think Klein should have been OC after he accepted the KSU job.

Reed was bad but Klein did not call a good game either, IMO.

And these issues are unacceptable from the head coach. If you can't anticipate that your OC is going to check out once he gets a head coaching job, that is on Elko. Coordinators accept new jobs prior to playoff and bowl games but good head coaches adjust and have their teams prepared. Elko isn't getting paid to just be a DC anymore. It's his job to ensure the offense is prepared and doesn't come out flat. Elko failed miserably in preparation for this game.

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8:02p, 12/20/25

AG

1. No slants. WTF?
2. No wheel routes.
3. Too many bubble screens.

Overall his worst called game of the year by far.

I know a lot about a little, and a little about a lot.

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aginresearch

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8:03p, 12/20/25

AG

The real problem was the accuracy of Reed. End of story.

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DallasAg 94

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In reply to Divining Rod • 8:04p, 12/20/25

Divining Rod said:
in no particular order:

3. Our big target TE's- make it easy on a struggling QB- 6-10 yd passes to huge targets with great hands. nope, nowhere to be found for the most part.

5. Run more read option to help a QB struggling with his passing game- get Marcel in a groove then start running some play action. Putting him as a pocket passer was STUPID- he didn't have it today.

Let me itemize for you.

Quote:
1. EJ Smith much better than Owens, and more heart. We needed what he brings.

His role has been to come when the team is within the 5yd line and score. He has 40 carries this season and half his yards are from his longest carry in each of 6 games. He is not... at least has not been... a RB that gets many touches. Can he block? I don't know.

Quote:
2. Where the hell were our crossing routes which were our best plays all season. We finally found one late in the red zone.

If you believe Reed was "struggling"... the worst thing you can do is have him throw across the middle. Over/Under throw and you get an INT. He had 2, today.

Quote:
4. Stretch the field- at least throw a few more long ones. I know we were against the wind, but crank a few35-40 yarders to loosen up the underneath stuff.

So, throw incompletions to stretch the D? That only works with completions. Reed didn't have the time for receivers to get down field... and he was nowhere near accurate enough to risk more INTs. We were in "manage the game" mode, which means, don't let your QB turnover the ball and lose the game.

AGinHI

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8:07p, 12/20/25

AG

He missed the boat in not telling Elko - I achieved my dream and what matters most to me. Sorry, but I'm out.

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DGrimesAg92

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In reply to DallasAg 94 • 8:09p, 12/20/25

DallasAg 94 said:
Divining Rod said:
in no particular order:

3. Our big target TE's- make it easy on a struggling QB- 6-10 yd passes to huge targets with great hands. nope, nowhere to be found for the most part.

5. Run more read option to help a QB struggling with his passing game- get Marcel in a groove then start running some play action. Putting him as a pocket passer was STUPID- he didn't have it today.

Let me itemize for you.

Quote:
1. EJ Smith much better than Owens, and more heart. We needed what he brings.

His role has been to come when the team is within the 5yd line and score. He has 40 carries this season and half his yards are from his longest carry in each of 6 games. He is not... at least has not been... a RB that gets many touches. Can he block? I don't know.

Quote:
2. Where the hell were our crossing routes which were our best plays all season. We finally found one late in the red zone.

If you believe Reed was "struggling"... the worst thing you can do is have him throw across the middle. Over/Under throw and you get an INT. He had 2, today.

Quote:
4. Stretch the field- at least throw a few more long ones. I know we were against the wind, but crank a few35-40 yarders to loosen up the underneath stuff.

So, throw incompletions to stretch the D? That only works with completions. Reed didn't have the time for receivers to get down field... and he was nowhere near accurate enough to risk more INTs. We were in "manage the game" mode, which means, don't let your QB turnover the ball and lose the game.

Bull**** he had plenty of time and when he did, he missed wide open receivers. The kid stands in the pocket way too long. He has no sense of presence, no situational awareness, he hesitates when he does decide to run, he's just not a good quarterback.

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Hank the Grifter

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8:10p, 12/20/25

The love affair this board has with EJ is so weird.

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txags92

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8:15p, 12/20/25

AG

Klein's playcalling in the red zone has been weak all year. We have a highly mobile QB that throws well on the run. We have a set of road graders in front of him. So we ran RPOs and used the mobility of the OL to run at the corners of the D in the red zone, right? No. We dropped back in the pocket with a QB that was not throwing accurately and made him find small windows to throw to. We ran right into the teeth of the defense, just like we did against tu. We threw away using Reed's mobility against the defense. We threw away using our backs and mobile OL to get to the corners of the defense. And we went 0-3 in the red zone.

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Bill Superman

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8:17p, 12/20/25

AG

EJ is not better than Owens. Not even really debatable either.

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Paul Pierce Ag

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8:17p, 12/20/25

Klein wasn't the problem. He did what every great OC is supposed to do and called plays to neutralize the defense.

All those early screen passes? They're supposed to get Reed comfortable and stop their DEs from wreaking havoc early.

Lack of runs called? Miami was loading the box, our efficiency was garbage. Take what the defense is giving you.

Exclusively throwing after getting 1st and goal? There's not enough time left, we can't risk a huge pileup that takes 15 seconds to unwind. Passing preserves clock and would've been effective if we had an accurate throw.

Bottom line is that Reed is good but not great. He's not the guy who leads a game-saving drive. He's the guy who throws picks when the pressure ratchets up. He's the guy that's sometimes inaccurate even on the easy throws. He's the guy that doesn't see the whole field at times.

It is what it is. Klein was limited by who he has at QB, not the other way around.

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oldschool87

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8:29p, 12/20/25

AG

I told you Klien was a huge problem after game 3 last year. And again this year!!!!!

All you said Was z5-0, 6-0, 8-0…

Thus was a national championship football team and we scored 1 touchdown in 2 games.

1st and goal at the 5…. Run Marcel 3 times!!!!! There was time!

Klien called plays, he didn't know how to call a game or series of plays that play off of each other.

If we would have faked the wide screen we could have walked into the endzone! We threw deep once!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Klien never had a 3rd and 2 play!!!!

Klien cost us a lot! He cost us. Dearly last year and with the talent at wide receiver this year, this is all he does….

GOOD RIDDENS!!!!

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oldschool87

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In reply to oldschool87 • 8:30p, 12/20/25

AG

..

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TAMUallen

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In reply to Hank the Grifter • 8:31p, 12/20/25

AG

Hank the Grifter said:
The love affair this board has with EJ is so weird.

The tolerance of the RB playcalling that has never made any sense by Klein is 10x worse.

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In reply to Paul Pierce Ag • 8:32p, 12/20/25

AG

You realize that Reed is his QB and he has had years with him?

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90ags

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8:36p, 12/20/25

There were lots of crossings routes, but Reed was too busy scrambling from porous OL and typically in the wrong direction.

When u rewatch, you'll see WRs flashing across the screen w no one near them, but Marcel is running for his life the other direction and unable to see the Wr nor would have been able to rotate, set and make a throw.

______________________________________________________ Play for the name on the front of your jersey, not the back...

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levimod

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8:37p, 12/20/25

AG

I do wonder when he found out that Klieman was stepping down for sure. Perhaps before SC?

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MookieBlaylock

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In reply to AGinHI • 8:41p, 12/20/25

AG

AGinHI said:
He missed the boat in not telling Elko - I achieved my dream and what matters most to me. Sorry, but I'm out.

yep you can't serve 2 masters - he did a disservice to KState and the Eggies by overstaying his welcome

reminds me of when sleepy sheeman stayed with the Texans and ruined their playoff run and essentially ending is Eggie career by 1 decision

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Lance Uppercut

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In reply to Divining Rod • 8:43p, 12/20/25

AG

Divining Rod said:
in no particular order:

1. EJ Smith much better than Owens, and more heart. We needed what he brings.

2. Where the hell were our crossing routes which were our best plays all season. We finally found one late in the red zone.

3. Our big target TE's- make it easy on a struggling QB- 6-10 yd passes to huge targets with great hands. nope, nowhere to be found for the most part.

4. Stretch the field- at least throw a few more long ones. I know we were against the wind, but crank a few35-40 yarders to loosen up the underneath stuff.

5. Run more read option to help a QB struggling with his passing game- get Marcel in a groove then start running some play action. Putting him as a pocket passer was STUPID- he didn't have it today.

All valid.

No one could ever convince me that Klein was even 50% dialed into our last 2 football games once he knew he had a new job.

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AggieBB

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In reply to Hank the Grifter • 8:55p, 12/20/25

AG

Hank the Grifter said:
The love affair this board has with EJ is so weird.

Yep. Dude is so avg

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In reply to aginresearch • 9:04p, 12/20/25

Nope, Klein owns this. His incompetent play calling set up Reed to fail should never have been allowed to stay.

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9:09p, 12/20/25

It felt like tv timeouts killed our drives. It seemed whenever Reed started getting in rhythm a tv timeout just killed our groove. Don't know if anyone else noted this.

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9:14p, 12/20/25

A HUNH tempo offense improves Reed. Less time for hine to think, more time to play free, less time for defense to go exotic.

Not sure why this is so difficult

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9:45p, 12/20/25

Well, #1 wasn't even slightly true so I quit reading. I like Smith in short yardage situations. Owens is WAY more versatile than Smith and Owens has been throwing some amazing blocks last few games.

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Aggie_buster

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In reply to txags92 • 9:48p, 12/20/25

AG

txags92 said:
Klein's playcalling in the red zone has been weak all year. We have a highly mobile QB that throws well on the run. We have a set of road graders in front of him. So we ran RPOs and used the mobility of the OL to run at the corners of the D in the red zone, right? No. We dropped back in the pocket with a QB that was not throwing accurately and made him find small windows to throw to. We ran right into the teeth of the defense, just like we did against tu. We threw away using Reed's mobility against the defense. We threw away using our backs and mobile OL to get to the corners of the defense. And we went 0-3 in the red zone.

It wasn't just this year. What about last year? Everyone has tended to overlook that he was **** last year too. Why Elko let that dip**** stick around is a failure on Elko.

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Mr.Milkshake

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In reply to Divining Rod • 9:50p, 12/20/25

Divining Rod said:
in no particular order:

1. EJ Smith much better than Owens, and more heart. We needed what he brings.

2. Where the hell were our crossing routes which were our best plays all season. We finally found one late in the red zone.

3. Our big target TE's- make it easy on a struggling QB- 6-10 yd passes to huge targets with great hands. nope, nowhere to be found for the most part.

4. Stretch the field- at least throw a few more long ones. I know we were against the wind, but crank a few35-40 yarders to loosen up the underneath stuff.

5. Run more read option to help a QB struggling with his passing game- get Marcel in a groove then start running some play action. Putting him as a pocket passer was STUPID- he didn't have it today.

1. Wrong

2. Were you in the ****ter when Reed missed a cross by 7 yards for an int?

3. Guys were open all day. Reed was horrid

4. You clearly have no idea what you're talking abt

5. Acorn found

agchugger

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9:51p, 12/20/25

AG

EJ Smith is so incredibly average. Texags built him up like he was something special because of the last name. The true fish Morrow saw more field early in the season than Smith. I love his grit and he definitely did the best at blitz pickup but he was not special running the ball. The only back he was more dynamic than was Daniels. Good hard runner and knew the his role well but just average. He is not a difference maker at all.