Deep Threat at WR?

[Aclone]

Money disappeared down the stretch, last year. During the first 5 games of the season, he grabbed 26 catches for 488 yards and 6 TD's. In the last 6 games (I'm not counting the Kansas game as he did not play) he had 17 catches for 173 yards and 1 TD.

Cracked ribs can do that. Well, that and having a different QB who can't get it down the field...

Money did drop quite a few balls, but he gave us the option of going down field if we wanted. Reynolds could have been REALLY good if he was healthy because he made some crazy grabs here at his time at ISU...but he also dropped quite a few he should have had.

Since you used the phrase twice, please define "quite a few". I don't remember that many his senior year.

Jantz also didn't see a wide open Lenz the opening drive against Iowa, I think we have WR capable of getting downfield, our problem has been a qb that can make a solid throw when they do.

Or, perhaps, the pass protection for a downfield route to develop.

I'm looking forward to that changing.

 

[caliball]

Last season I don't remember too many deep passes (or routes) outside of a few jump ball situations to Money and a couple of over/under throws to Lenz and West. Most of the passing routes were underneath or passes to the flats. Most teams knew this and committed more men in the box and dared the Cyclones to throw it deep. Hell; the longest pass last year was an underneath route where the receiver legged it back outside for 57 yards. Receivers can't catch it deep if there aren't many 9 or go routes. You have to at least attempt going deep 5-7 times a game just to keep the defense honest which will in turn open up the the rest of the field.

I've noticed that most on this board seem to think that we don't have the type of receivers that can gain separation from defenders therefore it hinders our passing game. I beg to differ from that philosophy. Size and just speed has nothing to do with it. Ryan Broyles and Kenny Stills are neither fast nor big. Neither is the new incoming guy from WVU Travon Austin. A combination of quickness and agility and route disipline can get the job done. And again; you gotta at least make the attempts to chuck it deep.

I can think of quite a few teams that traditionally put up big passing numbers that have nowhere near the speed nor athletic ability as Iowa State (Western Michigan, Tulsa, BYU, just off the top of my head). I'll take our receivers over theirs every day of the week. ;

 

[CyDude16]

Hard to miss something we didn't have.

 

[snowcraig2.0]

I'm not sure if JB can even throw it over 40 yards.

I would like to see if that is true.

Why don't we arrange a time to have JB stand 40 yards from you, then put a bulls-eye over your junk, and then give him 5 throws to hit the bulls-eye. That should prove it one way or another.

 

[Clones21]

I would like to see if that is true.

Why don't we arrange a time to have JB stand 40 yards from you, then put a bulls-eye over your junk, and then give him 5 throws to hit the bulls-eye. That should prove it one way or another.

Hahaha.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I don't think we've had a true deep threat since Todd Blythe. Even though Jake Williams had the ability to make big plays once in awhile. I'm not expecting big things out of the receiver spot this fall. Lenz and Gary are solid but after that it's hit and miss. Hopefully Bundrage is ready to make an impact.

I was going to type a very similar post. Spot on :notworthy:

 

[FootballinTexas]

I think I've posted this before but I can give a little insight on why we don't throw deep very much.

1. We are not built to do it. Our QB's work off a rhythm throwing. In order for us to throw deep, the WR must have his route won (has eaten up the DB's cushion) on the QB's third step. if not, the QB will come off that read, hitch up to his second read. If that's not open, you either get a dump to the check down (usually the RB) or the QB will run. We haven't had a WR eat up cushion consistently enough to call a bunch of deep routes. Most of the deep balls last year came from having to keep a play alive because we missed our other reads (scramble drill) and the reverse pass.

2. CPR wants more explosive plays (17+) yards. Those move the chains, keeps the defense on their heels, and can come from higher % throws. We can run a WR screen and get 17 yards. High % pass and YAC. If you look at guys like Weeden and Griffin, they throw tons of screens. They are not completing 65-70% of their passes by throwing deep a lot. They also had guys who could catch a 5-10 pass and turn into 60 or 70 because they got open.

3. YPC need to go up but not by throwing it deeper. Getting more YAC is the answer. How many of our screens or underneath plays went for TD's compared to other teams? Maybe one. The Reynolds leap against UCONN.

 

[Aclone]

I think I've posted this before but I can give a little insight on why we don't throw deep very much.

1. We are not built to do it.

You could have stopped right there, no reason to get any fancier. :yes:

When your quarterback is continually spinning away from pass rushers, only to find himself dodging away from yet more pass rushers, he's not going to have much opportunity to stop, plant, and throw the ball deep downfield.

Not sure why you guys see a need to overanalyze that simple truth. We haven't had a line that was proficient at pass protection since Marty Fine walked into the program, and wrought destruction with everything he touched.

In case you doubt me, sometime check to see how often the glacial Todd Bandhauer was sacked. Then compare that to last season's 27.

 

[keepngoal]

I'm not worried about a deep threat.... don't really need one to be effective ... just give me two guys that will go over the middle and catch the ball .... that'll keep a safeties eyes where they shouldn't be.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I'm not worried about a deep threat.... don't really need one to be effective ... just give me two guys that will go over the middle and catch the ball .... that'll keep a safeties eyes where they shouldn't be.

Yes, I will take the ability to throw 15+ yards over the middle over a deep ball any time.

 

[dualthreat]

Yeah those were more 10 yard passes and alot of YAC

a 40 yard gain is a 40 yard gain. From '07-'10 we didnt have that type of player in either fashion.

You could have stopped right there, no reason to get any fancier. :yes:

When your quarterback is continually spinning away from pass rushers, only to find himself dodging away from yet more pass rushers, he's not going to have much opportunity to stop, plant, and throw the ball deep downfield.

Not sure why you guys see a need to overanalyze that simple truth. We haven't had a line that was proficient at pass protection since Marty Fine walked into the program, and wrought destruction with everything he touched.

In case you doubt me, sometime check to see how often the glacial Todd Bandhauer was sacked. Then compare that to last season's 27.

i think we've had a good line since Bill Bleil got here. there have been times when it wasn't so good (UNI!!)

there aren't many teams in the country that their QB has all day to throw. that doesn't mean you can't throw deep.

 

[Aclone]

a 40 yard gain is a 40 yard gain. From '07-'10 we didnt have that type of player in either fashion.
I think the point isn't so much that a deep threat would be entertaining, but that one would pull the safeties further away from the line of scrimmage. A 10 yard completion doesn't do that.

i think we've had a good line since Bill Bleil got here. there have been times when it wasn't so good (UNI!!)

I'm not sure even Coach Bleil would agree. In many ways, he's been trying to make silk purses from sow's ears. It's getting better.

 

[dualthreat]

I'm not sure even Coach Bleil would agree. In many ways, he's been trying to make silk purses from sow's ears. It's getting better.

injuries...

 

[Aclone]

injuries...

What did I post? 27 (or 29?) sacks a year ago, some might have been attributable to the injuries. 33 the year before, not so much.

 

[FootballinTexas]

I thought the OL played pretty well all season except for the bowl game. But, a lot of that had to do with what Rutgers was doing. Did we see a different OL with JB (only 10 sacks compared to 17 with SJ), or a better OL ( we had tons of injuries by the time JB was playing). I think the ability to run our offense more efficiently was the difference. Just for grins, RGIII was sacked 27 times. Based on his numbers one would assume he had one hell of a OL.

 

[dualthreat]

What did I post? 27 (or 29?) sacks a year ago, some might have been attributable to the injuries. 33 the year before, not so much.

just saying Bliel has done a good job with some young, inexperienced guys... and they have been performing just fine for the most part.

QB sacks isnt always conclusive statistic. our rushing game has been great... and our QBs may hold the ball too long?

 

[FootballinTexas]

DT, you are correct.

 

[Bigman38]

I'm not worried about a deep threat.... don't really need one to be effective ... just give me two guys that will go over the middle and catch the ball .... that'll keep a safeties eyes where they shouldn't be.

Having a deep threat is how you open up space in the middle for those 10-15 yard passes. I'm not saying we have to rely on deep throws to score but having a guy that the safeties constantly have to worry about keeping in front of them can be huge for the passing game.

 

[Cystate22]

Hopefully our TE Brun can help stretch the field.

 

[Cincyclone]

Bundrage is that type of receiver. He'll be a stud soon enough.