Hey, thanks to anyone who can give some guidance. I'm trying to start a family tradition as my family is in sore need of gameday inspiration beyond the stepshow-- I hope to expose them to the glory of tailgating in cheaper lots first. Then will 'set the hook' with more expensive locations. (currently I see $178 tickets on Ticketmaster which I'd have to spring for on my own at this point.) I have a childhood memory of tailgating in grass lots east of JTS. Do people tailgate there? Is there a tailgating scene outside the paved JTS lots? do people tailgate at the 'PUB' lot south of JTS for $25 a ticket?

Thanks!

Hopefully we get to find out the answer to this after Saturday’s game.

In order to win Saturday, I feel like we have to neutralize Iowa's biggest threat. He hurt us last year, and is the main reason they eked out a win last week.

I would like to see us bring some token punt block pressure. SDSU was content to just let him sit back there and calculate his punts. If Taylor doesn't sense any pressure, he a will hold the ball and wait for his coverage to get a running start. Why let them do that?

I would like to see us always bring 2 or 3 rushers from his right side. Take away that rugby nonsense and put some heat on him. Yeah, we risk taking a 15 yard penalty. So what?. Iowa's offense likely isn't going anywhere. Those same 15 yards would have shown up in the punt if gave him all the time he wanted.

10 of Iowa's 60 offensive snaps are going to be punts. We can't just concede those to them.

H

7 people went down last week we are now at 136. Updated tiebreaker numbers are below.

2 points 24 people
1 point 102
0 points 10 people

This week I'm adding this extra special tiebreaker points opportunity.

Assuming ISU are still underdogs for the cyhawk game, if you pick ISU and we win you will earn 3 tiebreaker points.



Rules/How to Play if you are new:

1. Pick a team you think will win that weeks game. Pick only 1 team per week.
2. Don't pm me the pick, post on here your pick.
3. You can only pick that team ONCE the entire time you are in the game.
4. The goal is to advance and be the last person standing.
5. Only games that have a FBS school facing another FBS school are eligible to be picked.
6. You have up until the start time of the game you picked to switch.
7. If your team loses, you are out for the competition.
8. If you skip a week of picks, you are out.
9. You can switch as many times up until the game you have picked officially starts.
10. If you have questions, pm me
11. Post 2 of the thread will have the possible games you can pick.
12. Post 3 will have each player and their previous week's picks.
13. You can only pick teams that are undefeated (they will be bolded).
14. You can't join in during the middle of the season.
    Please include prior weeks picks with your pick for the week.
15. If an undefeated favorite wins and covers the spread you gain a tiebreaker point. If an undefeated underdog wins you gain 2 tiebreaker points.
16. There is no tiebreaker point due to a undefeated team winning on the road as that is a tiebreaker in the big 12 elimination game.

Have any questions, pm me or ask in the thread. Thanks!

Cough. This is certainly no deep dive, just a superficial look. I’m sure that someone will manage that later this week. More than once.

So then. Let’s start with the bad news, shall we?

The Defense

The Line
I’m seeing good but not great players here. The thing is, they’re good enough athletes, and experienced enough, to do their job. Which, I assume, is mostly creating opportunities for the linebackers.

Linebackers
The difference maker here is middle linebacker Jack Campbell. Either he fits their defense extremely well, or they fit their defense to him—one of the two. Just about anyone else they trot onto the field with him is going to still make this a strong unit.

Defensive Backs
A lot has been made about the depth and experience of Iowa’s defensive backfield, but they may be starting to show some cracks when yet another walkon has to fill in.

This will be an intriguing matchup with ISU’s new era of wideouts.

***This defense is a salty bunch. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if we score 21 points.

That said, if we manage to break it open with the new passing game, I won’t be totally shocked to see more.

The Offense

Offensive Line
It all starts here, with every offense, and three statements say it all about this group.

A. There are some very talented players here. Tristan Wirfs gave them some credibility on the national recruiting front the last two or three years that had been lacking for a while.

B. Those guys are still pretty inexperienced.

C. They certainly haven’t played together as a unit very much.

Given that cohesiveness is the core of an OL, I think I’ll be worried more about this unit next year.

The Tight Ends
Every Iowa source keeps talking about LaPorta being a potential first round pick. And his backup, Lachey, not only has incredible bloodlines, but is an excellent athlete himself.

Check. One Hawk offensive unit that’s solid. I’ll take their word for it.

The Wide Receivers
Aside from the off-season attrition (and the fact that the position recently has strived to attain mediocrity), Iowa has been riddled with injuries here. Ragaini is supposed to be out another week, Brecht and Vines have been dinged up. It looks like Arland Bruce was the only scholarship WR to play Saturday…or, at least, the only one to make a catch Saturday.

Maybe some of these guys will be back?

The Running Backs
The first thing that I noticed was that Gavin Williams apparently didn’t even play. Leshon Williams was limited to 3.0 yards per carry. Of the two touted freshman RB’s, Kaleb Johnson got three carries for no yards. That South Dakota defense must be really, really tough, huh?

Quarterback
I feel like Spencer Petras’ struggles on Saturday are well documented. Part of that had to be due to the lack of…well, to be honest, talent and experience around him.

***I think the shortcomings of the offensive unit…creates opportunities.

Special Teams
Punter Tory Taylor. What I want to know is why he didn’t go to the NFL after last season. Unless they changed the rules, he’s old enough.

Their new kicker(s), not so much.

***Taylor will likely create a challenge in field position, one that I’m not sure true frosh Tyler Perkins is quite up to. Yet.

Guess that the offense had better help him out, huh?

Does anyone have or can make a gif of him juking the guy out of his jock on the sideline when he came up just short of the TD?

I feel like both fan bases think they're going to lose the game so wanted to test that hypothesis with a poll broken down by which team you cheer for.

From Circa Sports:

We've favored after yesterday's performances, right?

ISU -2.5?

Need a new setup for DirecTv for tailgating. A few years ago I was using the Winegard Carryout but that no longers works as I believe DTV got rid of their standard def sats.

I have a H24 receiver so now need to find a compatible satellite. Would prefer something that self aligns. So what is everyone using?

delete

I have heard that the defensive staff has “master code breakers” with regards to the opponents offensive signals, which could be one of the reasons the defense gets stronger as the game goes on. I noticed in the games we really struggled last year (giving up over 30 pts to WV and TTU specifically) the QB was not taking signals but was running to the sideline to get the call from the coach. Is this a potential concern going forward? Am I off base with this? I just remember thinking it was weird and the defense was a step slow in those games and I specifically remember the QBs running to their coach every play. It also would explain the slow starts on defense followed by clamping down in the second half.

Tamborine

Just messing around trying to dig up more music for my playlists, and it struck me that I had forgotten how great Bryan Adam's Reckless album was. Good songs all the way through.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reckless_(Bryan_Adams_album)

Washington State was up a TD against Idaho with just under a minute left. It was 4th and goal at the 1 yard line and Idaho had no time outs left.

Would you try a FG attempt there or just go for it?

WSU took a delay of game penalty and went for the FG. They missed it. Idaho took over at their own 20 and quickly got down the field inside the WSU 30. Luckily for WSU, they got an interception.

I think if I were coach, I might have just gone for the TD. The percentages between gaining one yard and making the FG aren’t that much different and if you don’t get in, the other team takes over inside the 1 instead of at the 20.

Personally, I love Campbell's emotionless, cold readings of ag-heavy Cyclone Radio sponsorships. There's something perfect about it.

John sounds like he could work for the company he's promoting. Rhoads came across like the illiterate, but enthusiastic director of facilities for the groups he read for.

Matt? It's like a combination of Belichek and Marshawn Lynch to the press. "I'm just here so I don't get fired." And I love it.

Can't wait to drink so much chocolate Milk this season on Cyclones way to Big12 CCG Title.

Thanks for making me feel welcomed today. My favorite cyclone memory is watching Seneca beat Banks in iowa city.

Tiz all I have to say. Brock will be the guy this year but Nortons looked Breece and Montgomery like out there in his few carries today

I see they only scored 7 points today. Can't believe they could only score one touchdown against the Jackrabbits.

Also, **** the hawks

Thoughts after game one?

I going to back and 4rth watching Notre Dame and Utah's offenses. Both seem to have a variety of running plays that are keeping OSU and Florida off balance some. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't we have just one running play or have only showed one running play? I would like to see us get more creative and show more vairety there.

Offense:
- Xavier Hutchinson looked as good as I have seen an ISU receiver look in a game since, maybe ever. He isn't as tall as Lazard but has excellent speed.
If we aren't throwing to him 10-12 times next week against you know who, we aren't doing it right. He could be in the running for the Blitnikoff if he has a few more games like that.
- Hunter Dekkers: what a debut. He was composed, didn't run out of the pocket and panic. I love on all the deep throws so many passes were just in stride and smooth, and on the crossers he put some feather touch on the ball. Going to be a great player for us folks. He belongs. He looked fantastic.
- Jihrehl: so happy for him, over 100 yds and showed some burst in second half. Although against Iowa I think we need to throw to set up the run.
- Deshawn Hanika: he looks like a bigger receiver almost than TE but showed quick feet on his TD.
- Demetrius Stanley scores a TD on the bomb from Becht if he isn't held. Also had a nice catch I love this pickup. He has wheels. Wilson had a long catch as well.
- Cartevious Norton: serious bummer he pulled the hammy but he clearly will be a GUY for us down the line. Reminds me a lot of David M.

Defense:
- Jeremiah Cooper plays with reckless abandon and hits hard, in a good way
- Will McDonald wasn't himself today. I hope that changes in 7 days. He should be up to the task.
- the LB's as some have said were not quality today. Too many qb scrambles where they looked lost. I wonder if we start playing McClaughlin more as he looks like a quality athlete.
- Myles Purchase: two times they tried to throw deep he ran the receiver out bounds perfectly without doing pass interference. I feel great about him and Tampa
- Please, please, please. Against Iowa SELL out to stop the run and put 8 guys in the box. Iowa has zero down field threat, Raigaini is hurt and Jones is now on Purdue. I have zero respect for the skill guys and pass game.

Oh if you want some free comedy check out a Hawkeye board. Holy schnike are they fed up with Brian "constipation face" Ferentz.

Based on some disagreement in another thread, I thought I would make a poll.

Been trying to find how to watch the game as a non-cable owner.

I have a youtubeTV account, but they’re not showing the game on their list because it’s espn+. One site suggested fubotv, which I signed up for a free trial with, but they don’t have it listed either. How are non-cable watchers getting the game?