Okay - were only 2 days and 12 hours away from kickoff....i thought i would start a thread that only looks at the matchup....
First off - i'm almost too confident about this game which makes me wonder if the kids are too? I mean on paper this contest should not be close, if you can believe that. But, thats the very essence of a watchout game!!!!
ISU Offense versus UConn Defense
RUSHING
The numbers say this is going to be very close. However, i'm reading into this a bit further to suggest its not as close as it appears. ISU's rushing offense is ranked 49th in the nation. The two teams that uconn has faced are 85th and 109th respectively. Thus, our rushing attack is far more successful then either of the teams that Uconn has faced. Much of that has to be our Oline and its shear size. Oconns front is very good, however, they are thin, if our big guys lean on them all day our rushing attack will get more successful as the day goes along just as it did against Iowa. Secondly in regards to the rushing attack - Jantz makes guys run, which is a killer for a DL...IMO we will wear their front down and have big success in the second half. The numbers are misleading as Fordham is the bearer of their boastful numbers. Its fordham that ran the ball 30 times for 20 yards, you figure out the avg (.7 per attempt). Again Vandy another lowly ranked rushing opponent ran the ball 32 times for 118 yards which is better at 3.7 yards per carry. If ISU runs the ball as they did against Iowa, 52 times for 194, Uconn will be gased.
PASSING
Again Uconns defense is highly ranked and we will wait to see if rightfully so....they faced an offense that ranks 84 and 101 in passing, their numbers should be good. Iowa States passing attack is ranked 54th and that would be higher but it took about 3 quarters for Jantz to get his feet under him and adjust to the speed. However, against Iowa he made some truly special throws. Several back shoulder throws which by the way are a welcome sight for a cyclone fan! the 3rd and 20 throw to Money was pinpoint accuracy...you could see the disgust on Praters reaction to that throw, it was simply perfect. If Jantz continues on this pace, he will only continue to get better as the lil things in the offense become second nature. Uconn has 1 excellent corner, but the rest of the defensive backfield are no better then Iowa's and we just lit them up. I think this is an area that is a huge advantage for ISU.
Looking at these facets of the ISU Offense against the UConn Defense on paper, this should be a blowout. Everyones talking about the short week and how it benefits UCONN...i think just the opposite. UCONN has a lot more to prepare for simply because of the pace that our offense is playing at....that pace is dictating repeat coverages and offering indicators to how or what their coverages will be making it easier to take advantage. I am not a firm believer that this defense will be the best we've seen this year. If Iowa or even UNI had played Fordham and Vandy their defense would be ranked in the top 20 of every aspect as well. I think their stud dline will get worn down and our success will only get better as the game goes along. We need to sustain drives and move the ball down the field methodically and this game will not be close. I think Jantz as a runner/scrambler is huge...those DL will be chasing - thus tired. Don't be surprised if KO is pulled at half. This offense is beginning to click and i'm buying into it. The passing game is light years ahead of where its been. The timing, the reads are spot on. I think Uconns linebacker core is not nearly as good as Iowas and will be exposed to the quick slants and tight end packages that will ultimately open up huge running lanes for SJ and Woody not to mention White. I think UConn is susceptible to our 3,4,5 wr sets and we will spread them out and hand the ball off away from Reyes.
And for all these reasons is exactly why this worries me...this matchup looks too good on paper. but i'm sticking with the facts....
ISU Offense vs UConn Defense - HUGE Advantage ISU.
First off - i'm almost too confident about this game which makes me wonder if the kids are too? I mean on paper this contest should not be close, if you can believe that. But, thats the very essence of a watchout game!!!!
ISU Offense versus UConn Defense
RUSHING
The numbers say this is going to be very close. However, i'm reading into this a bit further to suggest its not as close as it appears. ISU's rushing offense is ranked 49th in the nation. The two teams that uconn has faced are 85th and 109th respectively. Thus, our rushing attack is far more successful then either of the teams that Uconn has faced. Much of that has to be our Oline and its shear size. Oconns front is very good, however, they are thin, if our big guys lean on them all day our rushing attack will get more successful as the day goes along just as it did against Iowa. Secondly in regards to the rushing attack - Jantz makes guys run, which is a killer for a DL...IMO we will wear their front down and have big success in the second half. The numbers are misleading as Fordham is the bearer of their boastful numbers. Its fordham that ran the ball 30 times for 20 yards, you figure out the avg (.7 per attempt). Again Vandy another lowly ranked rushing opponent ran the ball 32 times for 118 yards which is better at 3.7 yards per carry. If ISU runs the ball as they did against Iowa, 52 times for 194, Uconn will be gased.
PASSING
Again Uconns defense is highly ranked and we will wait to see if rightfully so....they faced an offense that ranks 84 and 101 in passing, their numbers should be good. Iowa States passing attack is ranked 54th and that would be higher but it took about 3 quarters for Jantz to get his feet under him and adjust to the speed. However, against Iowa he made some truly special throws. Several back shoulder throws which by the way are a welcome sight for a cyclone fan! the 3rd and 20 throw to Money was pinpoint accuracy...you could see the disgust on Praters reaction to that throw, it was simply perfect. If Jantz continues on this pace, he will only continue to get better as the lil things in the offense become second nature. Uconn has 1 excellent corner, but the rest of the defensive backfield are no better then Iowa's and we just lit them up. I think this is an area that is a huge advantage for ISU.
Looking at these facets of the ISU Offense against the UConn Defense on paper, this should be a blowout. Everyones talking about the short week and how it benefits UCONN...i think just the opposite. UCONN has a lot more to prepare for simply because of the pace that our offense is playing at....that pace is dictating repeat coverages and offering indicators to how or what their coverages will be making it easier to take advantage. I am not a firm believer that this defense will be the best we've seen this year. If Iowa or even UNI had played Fordham and Vandy their defense would be ranked in the top 20 of every aspect as well. I think their stud dline will get worn down and our success will only get better as the game goes along. We need to sustain drives and move the ball down the field methodically and this game will not be close. I think Jantz as a runner/scrambler is huge...those DL will be chasing - thus tired. Don't be surprised if KO is pulled at half. This offense is beginning to click and i'm buying into it. The passing game is light years ahead of where its been. The timing, the reads are spot on. I think Uconns linebacker core is not nearly as good as Iowas and will be exposed to the quick slants and tight end packages that will ultimately open up huge running lanes for SJ and Woody not to mention White. I think UConn is susceptible to our 3,4,5 wr sets and we will spread them out and hand the ball off away from Reyes.
And for all these reasons is exactly why this worries me...this matchup looks too good on paper. but i'm sticking with the facts....
ISU Offense vs UConn Defense - HUGE Advantage ISU.
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