ISU v. OSU Game Thoughts

[cyclone1209]

Offense

• Rocco is still playing through something. Upper body injury, shoulder, or perhaps just the yips. He was barely good enough to win yesterday. I'm hoping he can play better in the bowl game so we have some better momentum going into spring. I know he's one of the best to ever do it for ISU, his first 5 games he was simply at an All American level. Let's hope next year he finds that level again.
• Sowell - really been disappointing to me. He had two penalties off the ball, one for a holding and one for an offsides. In a tight game that can be the difference between winning and losing. His play at times frustrates me. I think Brett Eskildsen is our best receiver, it is encouraging they both Eskildsen and Sowell come back next year.
• Run game - this is maybe the best rushing attack we have had since Troy Davis? We have two RBs who can tote the rock. Carsen Hansen and Abu are at a super high level right now. One concern I have is Dylan Lee is going to transfer most likely (bc he doesn't get snaps). It will be key to restock the RB pipeline. Ryver Peppers is also coming off a Achilles.

Defense - much more positive thoughts

• I feel the LB group is the most improved position group on the team at year end. Kooper Ebel is playing at an All Big 12 level and I think he's playing his way into an NFL career. 10 total tackles and 3 tackles for loss is seriously impressive.
• Cael Brezina is improved as well and he had a beautiful forced fumble.
• Drew Surges, man I love this kid. He had an interception, a tackle for loss, and a forced fumble. He impacts the game in so many ways. I know we didn't just play Georgia but still. He's going to help the team going forward.
• Caleb Bacon - this is the player I wanted to write about most today. I am thrilled that he is coming back next season. I do think we should play him much more in a defensive end type role next year. The kid had 3 sacks today because we let him forget about playing LB, and let him just rush the quarterback.
  • In one game, Caleb Bacon had 3 sacks. To put that in perspective he just produced 30% of the sacks we had produced for an entire season of 11 games up to that point. And to build off the point, Caleb Bacon is not a great coverage linebacker who covers sideline to sideline. Jon H., please let him do what he does best next year. It can help the defense as we need a consistent pass rusher so badly. He provided a massive boost. Someone else on the board wrote about this a week ago and it really was proven correct yesterday in the game.

We're 8-4, I'm thankful to be 8-4 for our squad. I started becoming a fan in the late McCarney years when I was about 10 years old and have seen some brutal programs from Chizik to Rhoads. Campbell is providing us the consistency we have always wanted.

 

[Erik4Cy]

• Run game - this is maybe the best rushing attack we have had since Troy Davis?

Breece Hall would like a word.

Just about everything else I'm with you on. Sowell has GOT to stop dropping the ball and learn to catch with his hands. We have no possession receiver (excl. TEs) if he cannot produce consistently. If he doesn't improve, we def need to get another WR in portal for insurance.

 

[cyclone1209]

Breece Hall would like a word.

Just about everything else I'm with you on. Sowell has GOT to stop dropping the ball and learn to catch with his hands. We have no possession receiver (excl. TEs) if he cannot produce consistently. If he doesn't improve, we def need to get another WR in portal for insurance.

This is true. I think Dom Overby has big game breaking ability, but he has disappeared at times this year. Perhaps a freshman "wall".

 

[pourcyne]

 

[isufbcurt]

Offense

• Rocco is still playing through something. Upper body injury, shoulder, or perhaps just the yips. He was barely good enough to win yesterday. I'm hoping he can play better in the bowl game so we have some better momentum going into spring. I know he's one of the best to ever do it for ISU, his first 5 games he was simply at an All American level. Let's hope next year he finds that level again.
• Sowell - really been disappointing to me. He had two penalties off the ball, one for a holding and one for an offsides. In a tight game that can be the difference between winning and losing. His play at times frustrates me. I think Brett Eskildsen is our best receiver, it is encouraging they both Eskildsen and Sowell come back next year.
• Run game - this is maybe the best rushing attack we have had since Troy Davis? We have two RBs who can tote the rock. Carsen Hansen and Abu are at a super high level right now. One concern I have is Dylan Lee is going to transfer most likely (bc he doesn't get snaps). It will be key to restock the RB pipeline. Ryver Peppers is also coming off a Achilles.

Defense - much more positive thoughts

• I feel the LB group is the most improved position group on the team at year end. Kooper Ebel is playing at an All Big 12 level and I think he's playing his way into an NFL career. 10 total tackles and 3 tackles for loss is seriously impressive.
• Cael Brezina is improved as well and he had a beautiful forced fumble.
• Drew Surges, man I love this kid. He had an interception, a tackle for loss, and a forced fumble. He impacts the game in so many ways. I know we didn't just play Georgia but still. He's going to help the team going forward.
• Caleb Bacon - this is the player I wanted to write about most today. I am thrilled that he is coming back next season. I do think we should play him much more in a defensive end type role next year. The kid had 3 sacks today because we let him forget about playing LB, and let him just rush the quarterback.
  • In one game, Caleb Bacon had 3 sacks. To put that in perspective he just produced 30% of the sacks we had produced for an entire season of 11 games up to that point. And to build off the point, Caleb Bacon is not a great coverage linebacker who covers sideline to sideline. Jon H., please let him do what he does best next year. It can help the defense as we need a consistent pass rusher so badly. He provided a massive boost. Someone else on the board wrote about this a week ago and it really was proven correct yesterday in the game.

We're 8-4, I'm thankful to be 8-4 for our squad. I started becoming a fan in the late McCarney years when I was about 10 years old and have seen some brutal programs from Chizik to Rhoads. Campbell is providing us the consistency we have always wanted.

If you are going to criticize Sowell at least get one of the penalties correct. He was called for OPI and not offsides. And the OPI was BS because he was trying to run up the seam and the DB was holding on to him and he was trying to get away from the DB and the throw went to Brahmer on an out route.

 

[swiacy]

OL had another solid game against a competitive Okie Defense. Big reason why Hansen has done well and been consistent. Congrats to the Seniors on that line, they saw 3 of the last 4 years of carting the Cy Hawk trophy into Ames. How many ISU O Lines can say that? They sucked it up and go out 8-4 with a happy flight from Stillwater.

 

[dshindy]

If you are going to criticize Sowell at least get one of the penalties correct. He was called for OPI and not offsides. And the OPI was BS because he was trying to run up the seam and the DB was holding on to him and he was trying to get away from the DB and the throw went to Brahmer on an out route.

Yup beat me to it. And I realize this is an Okie St game thread specifically, but overall he was underwhelming for me this year. By quite a bit actually. Maybe I'm jaded from watching Noel and Higgins catch pretty much everything, but the amount of drops he had this year was brutal. Had at least 1 big one in this game that I remember also.

 

[hoosman]

ISU can’t buy guaranteed recruits. They have to find diamonds in the rough and recondition them. This takes more coaching effort. John Heacock has this down to a science.

 

[twincyties]

Yup beat me to it. And I realize this is an Okie St game thread specifically, but overall he was underwhelming for me this year. By quite a bit actually. Maybe I'm jaded from watching Noel and Higgins catch pretty much everything, but the amount of drops he had this year was brutal. Had at least 1 big one in this game that I remember also.

I don’t know if they track drops in college football stats available online but feel like Sowell had several easy ones per game. Rocco has not been sharp but WRs are not helping. Maybe it’s just me but feel like Sowell has killed several drives in those losses with drops ok 3rd or 4th down.

 

[isucy86]

I don’t know if they track drops in college football stats available online but feel like Sowell had several easy ones per game. Rocco has not been sharp but WRs are not helping. Maybe it’s just me but feel like Sowell has killed several drives in those losses with drops ok 3rd or 4th down.

Sowell is frustrating because he does make some nice plays, but way to many drops. Yesterday it cost a 1st down. Is it a matter of focus and working on his hands during the off-season.

I believe Sowell got some pretty good green from ISU in the portal last year. In this NIL/House Payment era, curious if Sowell had a 2 year deal or if Campbell has a blank slate after each season and decides how to spread the $.