Final drive vs KU

[ISUFan22]

Tired of talking about moral victories, our schedule, etc. I want to discuss the play calling on that final drive against KU.

ARob is clearly the best player we have on offense - or at least - has consistently been the most productive. In the final drive, when we had plenty of time (2:36) and all of our timeouts, we gave him the ball just once...on the first play of the drive. What did he do with it? Ripped off a 17 yard run. That was the longest play of that drive.

After that, it was 100% passing plays. We didn't even look to throw ARob the ball. How can we do that? He's our playmaker, he is this offense - and we get him the ball just once with the game on the line? We were not rushed for time. In fact, we needed to run more time off the clock - otherwise KU was certainly going to score.

For me, it was the most frustrating part of the game. I know our defense gave up a ton of points and yards - but I expected that. I don't fault AA for that final pass as he was able to escape defenders to give himself the chance to even get rid of it, KU came after him hard.

I didn't expect us to all but ignore our best player who was having a great game for us in that final sequence.

 

[chuckd4735]

Was it that drive or the previous drive where Robinson pretty much fell down walking off the field?

 

[Clones85']

Tired of talking about moral victories, our schedule, etc. I want to discuss the play calling on that final drive against KU.

ARob is clearly the best player we have on offense - or at least - has consistently been the most productive. In the final drive, when we had plenty of time (2:36) and all of our timeouts, we gave him the ball just once...on the first play of the drive. What did he do with it? Ripped off a 17 yard run. That was the longest play of that drive.

After that, it was 100% passing plays. We didn't even look to throw ARob the ball. How can we do that? He's our playmaker, he is this offense - and we get him the ball just once with the game on the line? We were not rushed for time. In fact, we needed to run more time off the clock - otherwise KU was certainly going to score.

For me, it was the most frustrating part of the game. I know our defense gave up a ton of points and yards - but I expected that. I don't fault AA for that final pass as he was able to escape defenders to give himself the chance to even get rid of it, KU came after him hard.

I didn't expect us to all but ignore our best player who was having a great game for us in that final sequence.

A screen pass to AROB would have been a great call as they started bringing pressure up the middle.

The worst call was the screen to Jake Williams. Jake decided that he didn't want to run around the defender but rather right into him. It was an easy 7 yard gain and he turned it into a no gain.

Oh and the slant pass was a bad call too. We hadn't run a slant all game and our passing game looked solid. Our WR's are not quick enough to beat their guy to the inside and AA isn't good at throwing a slant. We were lucky that it was not picked off

 

[Bigguns]

Tired of talking about moral victories, our schedule, etc. I want to discuss the play calling on that final drive against KU.

ARob is clearly the best player we have on offense - or at least - has consistently been the most productive. In the final drive, when we had plenty of time (2:36) and all of our timeouts, we gave him the ball just once...on the first play of the drive. What did he do with it? Ripped off a 17 yard run. That was the longest play of that drive...
...For me, it was the most frustrating part of the game. I know our defense gave up a ton of points and yards - but I expected that. I don't fault AA for that final pass as he was able to escape defenders to give himself the chance to even get rid of it, KU came after him hard.

I didn't expect us to all but ignore our best player who was having a great game for us in that final sequence.

This is very true. ARob is a warrior.

 

[ISUFan22]

Was it that drive or the previous drive where Robinson pretty much fell down walking off the field?

Previous drive. He picked up a 4th down for us and came out. A few plays later AA hit Schwartz for a TD.

I was at the game, ARob looked bad initially as he came out but was quickly on the bike and looked fine.

Proven by the 17 yard run he ripped off on the last drive.

 

[ISUFan22]

A screen pass to AROB would have been a great call as they started bringing pressure up the middle.

The worst call was the screen to Jake Williams. Jake decided that he didn't want to run around the defender but rather right into him. It was an easy 7 yard gain and he turned it into a no gain.

Oh and the slant pass was a bad call too. We hadn't run a slant all game and our passing game looked solid. Our WR's are not quick enough to beat their guy to the inside and AA isn't good at throwing a slant. We were lucky that it was not picked off

I'm not going to completely pick apart the play calling. The WR screen call was ok for me (unlike previous games) because it was effective against KU.

I agree our slant passes are usually not great, but Hamilton usually is good enough (and big enough) to get those.

 

[ISUonthemove]

My biggest beef was going to the endzone with 1:30 left. Why would you WANT to score and give KU 1:30 to operate? I agree run the ball, get inside the 10 with less than :30 and see what happens.

 

[CYdTracked]

If you're so knowledgable about play calling how come you aren't a D1 Offensive Cooridnator somewhere 22?

I am sick of this wouldva shouldva couldva crap that is dominating these boards today. Seriously folks, MOVE ON! We are 3-3 and have shown some big strides from where we were at this time last season so can't we just accept it and move on? The team moved on from the KSU game judging by the performance against KU, it's time we as fans do the same and move on after each win and loss. You can't change the result, you can only look to improve on what you did wrong.

 

[Clones85']

I'm not going to completely pick apart the play calling. The WR screen call was ok for me (unlike previous games) because it was effective against KU.

I agree our slant passes are usually not great, but Hamilton usually is good enough (and big enough) to get those.

It was effective for 5 yards. Jake Williams is a solid WR but IMO isn't a WR you throw that pass to. JMO

 

[Enginerd]

I think the players and coaches put us in a position to win on the last drive. Make a play on the final play and we win the game.

Hard to win a game against a ranked opponent on the road botching a fg snap, missing two xp, and the balls and calls not bouncing your way.

I know a lot of people have piled on the defense. I think the players and coaches did the best with what they had which is a DL with no depth and a middle linebacker that lacks speed. We confused them early by dropping the backers deep into coverage but once KU adjusted we didn't have an answer.

 

[HandSanitizer]

We score a touchdown on that last play and everyone thinks they are the smartest coaches in the world.

 

[Clones85']

If you're so knowledgable about play calling how come you aren't a D1 Offensive Cooridnator somewhere 22?

I am sick of this wouldva shouldva couldva crap that is dominating these boards today. Seriously folks, MOVE ON! We are 3-3 and have shown some big strides from where we were at this time last season so can't we just accept it and move on? The team moved on from the KSU game judging by the performance against KU, it's time we as fans do the same and move on after each win and loss. You can't change the result, you can only look to improve on what you did wrong.

Travman, this is a message board. What do you expect? It's a place for fans to get together and talk about their teams. What did we do good? Bad? What should we have done?

It is fun for fans to talk about. If you don't like it, don't read it

 

[CYdTracked]

I think the players and coaches put us in a position to win on the last drive. Make a play on the final play and we win the game.

Hard to win a game against a ranked opponent on the road botching a fg snap, missing two xp, and the balls and calls not bouncing your way.

I know a lot of people have piled on the defense. I think the players and coaches did the best with what they had which is a DL with no depth and a middle linebacker that lacks speed. We confused them early by dropping the backers deep into coverage but once KU adjusted we didn't have an answer.

This might be one of the most logical posts I've seen! :notworthy:

 

[atlantacyclone]

I felt that way during the Iowa game. The run was working but instead of handing A Rob the ball we kept handing it to the Iowa defenders. The game was much closer than the score suggests.

 

[ISUFan22]

We score a touchdown on that last play and everyone thinks they are the smartest coaches in the world.

I can't agree. Most of us in the stands were wondering why we kept throwing it when we have a great ground attack and there was so much time left - this was well before the last play.

 

[ISU_phoria]

A screen pass to AROB would have been a great call as they started bringing pressure up the middle.

The worst call was the screen to Jake Williams. Jake decided that he didn't want to run around the defender but rather right into him. It was an easy 7 yard gain and he turned it into a no gain.

Oh and the slant pass was a bad call too. We hadn't run a slant all game and our passing game looked solid. Our WR's are not quick enough to beat their guy to the inside and AA isn't good at throwing a slant. We were lucky that it was not picked off

Based on the circumstances, it would seem that the play call to Jake was really a good one then. If he could have gotten 7 yards, that would have been a successful play. We just didn't execute it very well, but that play had worked for us many times in the game previously.

I am pretty sure we also scored a TD or a 2-pt conversion on a slant to our TE once. Again, maybe a good call, but bad execution or good defense.

I do agree with the OP though, we had the time to run the ball a few more times and KU was having trouble stopping A-Rob. He did go out of the game for a bit the previous drive, but the annoucers said it was for his arm (stinger , I'd guess) not his groin injury.

Nothing we can do now but learn and get better, both coaches and players! Let's put it all together (like I know we can) and take it to Baylor this weekend!

 

[yoteforever]

My biggest beef was going to the endzone with 1:30 left. Why would you WANT to score and give KU 1:30 to operate? I agree run the ball, get inside the 10 with less than :30 and see what happens.

AMEN

You can certainly 2nd guess any call, that's our perogative as fans, but other than that deep throw with 90 seconds left, we wouldn't be complaining if any of the plays they ran worked. That wideout screen had worked all day, it is just at that moment in time, the defender made a great play. Give them credit for that.

Then there is the last play. It was sooooooooooooo close. The wind at his back gave it just a bit to much lift, but what a play AA made to even get his team in position to win the game.

Say what you want, but this team looked like a football team. There wasn't one point in the game where they gave up or packed their bags and called it quits. That shows me something. They are going to compete to the end. My hat is off to them despite the fact we lost. They played their butts off. If we can shore up our defensive line, we will win some more games.

Overall, I was extremely happy with our performance. I am proud of these guys, they NEVER QUIT.

 

[DaddyMac]

It was effective for 5 yards. Jake Williams is a solid WR but IMO isn't a WR you throw that pass to. JMO

Jake needs to learn to catch the ball and immediately turn it upfield. He's a bit hesitant and tries to juke a little too much.

Continue to get 5 yards per play on that WR screen, and it's effective for ISU.

But when he hesitates and only gets 3... it's not a a worthwhile play.

As it is, I have no problem with the calls.

 

[CycoCyclone]

There are only so many tools in our toolbox right now.

Personally, I believe in Herman, who has been keeping us in these shootout games, by the way. Give him another season and you'll see some huge results.

 

[DRCHIRO]

I would like to see that wr screen ran to the short side of the field. It seems like the ball takes quite a bit of time to get there.