I think CPR is a good coach, but the Cyclones are just so messed up on recruiting and have had so many defensive no shows in the last 4 years. They are so short on quality defensive players it isn't funny. Also, the offense has repeatedly shown that it can not hold the line of scrimmage, or throw down field, or catch a pass down field, that teams are compressing the field and daring ISU to do something more than 5 yards down field. Even tonight ISU took 4 shots down field, three of the passes were out of bounds, and the other was a rocket 10 yards over the head of the reciever. Until the defense develops and there is a QB and line that makes other teams respect the down field game, it is going to be ugly against very good teams.
I really felt sorry for the defense tonight, they were really out there fight for all they had, but it just isn't enough.