Respecting CPR's Judgment

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Aclone

Well-Known Member
Dec 14, 2007
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Des Moines, Ia.
I posted most of this this in another thread, but think the thoughts deserve their own. I'm including a quote, but am eliminating the OP, because I don't think who it was really matters--and I don't want to single anyone out.

I still have 100% faith in Rhoads although I hope he corrects some of the offense issues are adjusts the staff accordingly. If he goes into next season with the same group of coaches, that faith will dwindle.
Not to pick on any one person, but this statement is representative of a certain prevalent attitude--and made me chuckle.

People have gone out of their way to blame Courtney Messingham for all of the problems on the offense. Apparently they just aren't watching the team closely, or don't know a whole lot about football. I have to admit, it's the simplest assumption. If the offense isn't good, blame the coordinator.

The funny thing is, someone who says that he has "100% faith" in Coach Rhoads is clearly paying absolutely no attention to what CPR is saying. Or in Coach Rhoads' judgment, one of the two. Because throughout the season, despite expandingly ludicrous accusations on the part of fans, CPR has repeatedly addressed the OC rumor and innuendo. After the Tulsa game, he talked about what a terrific job Coach Messingham did calling plays. After the Texas game,, he spoke on what a fantastic job CM did bringing the offense together. Don't believe me? It's ight there on the Paul Rhoads show replays.

In other words, CPR knows that the offensive coordinator isn't the problem. And frankly, if you're one of the people disagreeing with him, then you do not have "100% faith" in him. You're putting your own judgment above his.

It's not hard to to tell what CPR thinks the main problem has been Let's start out with how he mentions that in six games, there have been six different combinations of starting offensive linemen. Even a casual observer likes myself knows that you don't just plug pieces in, offensive line efficiency is built on teamwork, cohesiveness and familiarity with one another.

Sure, there are other problems from that point. CPR mentions them, if you actually pay attention to what he says. If you don't you have no one to blame but yourself. And Courtney Messingham hasn't been perfect as a playcaller. He has room for improvement. The odd thing is, even when I watch NFL games, I don't think anyone is a "perfect" playcaller, there are always headscratchers.

Yep, even watching Manning in Denver.

My point is, CPR has played more football than most of us on this board, and more importantly, he's coached more football than anyone on this board. He has a better idea of what plays are called, and why, and a whole lot better idea of why any individual play failed.

So, maybe this is just my point of view, but if Paul Rhoads doesn't think that Coach Messingham is the major problem with the offense, I'll sure as heck take his word for it, over the judgment of some anonymous message board poster. No matter how unhappy I am with the team's performance.

That's good enough for me, and I think it's a little bit more like "100% confidence" in Coach Rhoads is supposed to look like.

Of course, feel free to tell me I'm wrong. I HAVE been mistaken before, after all. More than any of you would imagine, matter of fact.
 
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DuckDynastyCy

Well-Known Member
Feb 8, 2013
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Nashville, TN
I have confidence in Coach Rhoads and if you listen to the UNI/Iowa games post games, you can tell when he says "I think we need to improve on the playcalling" that only means 1 person. Mess doesn't recognize trends in a game and go with them. He always retries plays that don't work and the entire flow of the offense is not smoothe with all the checks to the sideline etc. I'm sorry but I disagree that Mess isn't a big part of the problem. He has called about 30-40% of the games since he has been here well, even when we had healthy players. The other 60-70% is an unmitigated disaster.
 

Stewo

Well-Known Member
Oct 29, 2008
16,856
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Iowa
TL;DR

Personally, I'm slowly losing faith in Rhoads. Without off season coaching changes, I will continue to lose faith. Lots of the people in the stands will begin to do the same. I think we all know what happens next.
 

ahaselhu

Well-Known Member
Sep 10, 2007
1,871
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Clarinda, IA
Honestly, I fail to see an offensive strategy that could work with the state of the offensive line and the youth in the receiving corps that we have. I place much more blame on the offensive line status than on Messingham for the ineptitude of our offense over the last couple of games.

Consider that at the end of spring training, our line looked like this:

Code:
OT    Jr# Gannon        So# Dagel
OT    Sr# Lichtenberg   So# Lalk
OG    Jr# Dika          Jr# Graham
OG    Sr# Tuftee        Fr# Burton
C     Jr# Farniok       Jr# Loth

Starting 3 Jr# and 2 Sr#, with 2 Jr#, 2 So#, and 1 Fr# backing up.

And now we look like this:

Code:
OT    Fr# Dunning        
OT    So# Dagel
OG    So# Omoile        Sr# Tuftee*
OG    Fr# Burton        So# Lalk*
C     Jr# Farniok*       Jr# Loth

Starting 2 Fr#, 2 So#, and 1 Jr#, with 1 So#, Jr#, and Sr# backing up. Completely out of backups at OT. Here's the injuries we've sustained since spring ball:

Dika - career ending injury
Graham - season ending injury
Tuftee - injured all season
Farniok - injured early in first game, still not fully recovered
Lalk - injured early in second game, still not fully recovered
Gannon - injured in 5th game
Lichtenberg - disappointing all year, injured in 6th game

That's 3 of our 4 guards in the 2-deep injured, with the other a Fr#. Another Fr# forced into starting at OT who wasn't even on the depth chart in the spring.

As I recall, most close to the program thought our best OL in the spring were Farniok, Dika, and Tuftee. One is done due to injury, and the other 2 have been severely hampered by injuries.

Maybe the former OL in me is overvaluing the offensive line, but I don't see how any team, let alone ISU who isn't bringing in blue chip recruits, can compete in the Big XII sustaining the injuries on the OL that we have since spring ball.

Add to that youth forced to play and installing a new blocking system = offensive issues.
 

Rhoadhoused

Well-Known Member
Apr 27, 2010
11,211
245
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Ames, IA
Rhoads is no doubt the guy to lead the program and build a football team, he is just not an offensive (QB specifically) guru. He has made bad decisions for his OCs and that is his biggest downfall so far. Pretty much everything else has been boosted by his arrival, even recruiting is picking up this year a little, even though it has been a very slow improvement.
 

cuphues

Active Member
Aug 5, 2011
579
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Dallas
Honestly, I fail to see an offensive strategy that could work with the state of the offensive line and the youth in the receiving corps that we have. I place much more blame on the offensive line status than on Messingham for the ineptitude of our offense over the last couple of games.

Consider that at the end of spring training, our line looked like this:

Code:
OT    Jr# Gannon        So# Dagel
OT    Sr# Lichtenberg   So# Lalk
OG    Jr# Dika          Jr# Graham
OG    Sr# Tuftee        Fr# Burton
C     Jr# Farniok       Jr# Loth

Starting 3 Jr# and 2 Sr#, with 2 Jr#, 2 So#, and 1 Fr# backing up.

And now we look like this:

Code:
OT    Fr# Dunning        
OT    So# Dagel
OG    So# Omoile        Sr# Tuftee*
OG    Fr# Burton        So# Lalk*
C     Jr# Farniok*       Jr# Loth

Starting 2 Fr#, 2 So#, and 1 Jr#, with 1 So#, Jr#, and Sr# backing up. Completely out of backups at OT. Here's the injuries we've sustained since spring ball:

Dika - career ending injury
Graham - season ending injury
Tuftee - injured all season
Farniok - injured early in first game, still not fully recovered
Lalk - injured early in second game, still not fully recovered
Gannon - injured in 5th game
Lichtenberg - disappointing all year, injured in 6th game

That's 3 of our 4 guards in the 2-deep injured, with the other a Fr#. Another Fr# forced into starting at OT who wasn't even on the depth chart in the spring.

As I recall, most close to the program thought our best OL in the spring were Farniok, Dika, and Tuftee. One is done due to injury, and the other 2 have been severely hampered by injuries.

Maybe the former OL in me is overvaluing the offensive line, but I don't see how any team, let alone ISU who isn't bringing in blue chip recruits, can compete in the Big XII sustaining the injuries on the OL that we have since spring ball.

Add to that youth forced to play and installing a new blocking system = offensive issues.

THIS
 

mustangcy

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
3,825
895
113
Bloomfield
Honestly, I fail to see an offensive strategy that could work with the state of the offensive line and the youth in the receiving corps that we have. I place much more blame on the offensive line status than on Messingham for the ineptitude of our offense over the last couple of games.

Consider that at the end of spring training, our line looked like this:

Code:
OT    Jr# Gannon        So# Dagel
OT    Sr# Lichtenberg   So# Lalk
OG    Jr# Dika          Jr# Graham
OG    Sr# Tuftee        Fr# Burton
C     Jr# Farniok       Jr# Loth

Starting 3 Jr# and 2 Sr#, with 2 Jr#, 2 So#, and 1 Fr# backing up.

And now we look like this:

Code:
OT    Fr# Dunning        
OT    So# Dagel
OG    So# Omoile        Sr# Tuftee*
OG    Fr# Burton        So# Lalk*
C     Jr# Farniok*       Jr# Loth

Starting 2 Fr#, 2 So#, and 1 Jr#, with 1 So#, Jr#, and Sr# backing up. Completely out of backups at OT. Here's the injuries we've sustained since spring ball:

Dika - career ending injury
Graham - season ending injury
Tuftee - injured all season
Farniok - injured early in first game, still not fully recovered
Lalk - injured early in second game, still not fully recovered
Gannon - injured in 5th game
Lichtenberg - disappointing all year, injured in 6th game

That's 3 of our 4 guards in the 2-deep injured, with the other a Fr#. Another Fr# forced into starting at OT who wasn't even on the depth chart in the spring.

As I recall, most close to the program thought our best OL in the spring were Farniok, Dika, and Tuftee. One is done due to injury, and the other 2 have been severely hampered by injuries.

Maybe the former OL in me is overvaluing the offensive line, but I don't see how any team, let alone ISU who isn't bringing in blue chip recruits, can compete in the Big XII sustaining the injuries on the OL that we have since spring ball.

Add to that youth forced to play and installing a new blocking system = offensive issues.

Every now and then I come to CF and read a post that restores my faith in Iowa State University. This is one of those post's. Well done.
 

Wesley

Well-Known Member
Apr 12, 2006
70,923
546
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Omaha
Honestly, I fail to see an offensive strategy that could work with the state of the offensive line and the youth in the receiving corps that we have. I place much more blame on the offensive line status than on Messingham for the ineptitude of our offense over the last couple of games.

Consider that at the end of spring training, our line looked like this:

Code:
OT    Jr# Gannon        So# Dagel
OT    Sr# Lichtenberg   So# Lalk
OG    Jr# Dika          Jr# Graham
OG    Sr# Tuftee        Fr# Burton
C     Jr# Farniok       Jr# Loth

Starting 3 Jr# and 2 Sr#, with 2 Jr#, 2 So#, and 1 Fr# backing up.

And now we look like this:

Code:
OT    Fr# Dunning        
OT    So# Dagel
OG    So# Omoile        Sr# Tuftee*
OG    Fr# Burton        So# Lalk*
C     Jr# Farniok*       Jr# Loth

Starting 2 Fr#, 2 So#, and 1 Jr#, with 1 So#, Jr#, and Sr# backing up. Completely out of backups at OT. Here's the injuries we've sustained since spring ball:

Dika - career ending injury
Graham - season ending injury
Tuftee - injured all season
Farniok - injured early in first game, still not fully recovered
Lalk - injured early in second game, still not fully recovered
Gannon - injured in 5th game
Lichtenberg - disappointing all year, injured in 6th game

That's 3 of our 4 guards in the 2-deep injured, with the other a Fr#. Another Fr# forced into starting at OT who wasn't even on the depth chart in the spring.

As I recall, most close to the program thought our best OL in the spring were Farniok, Dika, and Tuftee. One is done due to injury, and the other 2 have been severely hampered by injuries.

Maybe the former OL in me is overvaluing the offensive line, but I don't see how any team, let alone ISU who isn't bringing in blue chip recruits, can compete in the Big XII sustaining the injuries on the OL that we have since spring ball.

Add to that youth forced to play and installing a new blocking system = offensive issues.
Yep, when put that way, looks like six more losses because the other teams do not have our problems without a solution.
 

Cyclonestate78

Well-Known Member
May 23, 2008
12,115
646
113
I posted most of this this in another thread, but think the thoughts deserve their own. I'm including a quote, but am eliminating the OP, because I don't think who it was really matters--and I don't want to single anyone out.


Not to pick on any one person, but this statement is representative of a certain prevalent attitude--and made me chuckle.

People have gone out of their way to blame Courtney Messingham for all of the problems on the offense. Apparently they just aren't watching the team closely, or don't know a whole lot about football. I have to admit, it's the simplest assumption. If the offense isn't good, blame the coordinator.

The funny thing is, someone who says that he has "100% faith" in Coach Rhoads is clearly paying absolutely no attention to what CPR is saying. Or in Coach Rhoads' judgment, one of the two. Because throughout the season, despite expandingly ludicrous accusations on the part of fans, CPR has repeatedly addressed the OC rumor and innuendo. After the Tulsa game, he talked about what a terrific job Coach Messingham did calling plays. After the Texas game,, he spoke on what a fantastic job CM did bringing the offense together. Don't believe me? It's ight there on the Paul Rhoads show replays.

In other words, CPR knows that the offensive coordinator isn't the problem. And frankly, if you're one of the people disagreeing with him, then you do not have "100% faith" in him. You're putting your own judgment above his.

It's not hard to to tell what CPR thinks the main problem has been Let's start out with how he mentions that in six games, there have been six different combinations of starting offensive linemen. Even a casual observer likes myself knows that you don't just plug pieces in, offensive line efficiency is built on teamwork, cohesiveness and familiarity with one another.

Sure, there are other problems from that point. CPR mentions them, if you actually pay attention to what he says. If you don't you have no one to blame but yourself. And Courtney Messingham hasn't been perfect as a playcaller. He has room for improvement. The odd thing is, even when I watch NFL games, I don't think anyone is a "perfect" playcaller, there are always headscratchers.

Yep, even watching Manning in Denver.

My point is, CPR has played more football than most of us on this board, and more importantly, he's coached more football than anyone on this board. He has a better idea of what plays are called, and why, and a whole lot better idea of why any individual play failed.

So, maybe this is just my point of view, but if Paul Rhoads doesn't think that Coach Messingham is the major problem with the offense, I'll sure as heck take his word for it, over the judgment of some anonymous message board poster. No matter how unhappy I am with the team's performance.

That's good enough for me, and I think it's a little bit more like "100% confidence" in Coach Rhoads is supposed to look like.

Of course, feel free to tell me I'm wrong. I HAVE been mistaken before, after all. More than any of you would imagine, matter of fact.

This post is a bunch of ********. You just quoted a post from another thread and everyone knows whose post it was so cut the **** with this "I am not trying to call anyone out or single anyone out" crap... You absolutely just singled someone out and your entire post is an attempt to call that person out for their opinion. Now that I cleared that up for you on to your post... (Yes... I am singling you out here)

You have cherry picked a couple comments Rhoads made. How about some of his other comments?

After the Baylor game:
Rhoads: Offensively, there is no question about it. Offensively and it’s not just the Baylor week it has been the two back to back weeks that we have been overall very unproductive and at times inept. We have gone 19 series without a first down in the last two weeks that is awful offensive football so no question the offensive side.

Who is in charge of the offense?

In regards to the QB play:
Rhoads:Productivity. We were looking for the football team to move down the field. We were looking for first downs and we weren’t getting them. So we put Grant into the ballgame and try to jump start that and see what could get accomplished, didn’t really happen. Sam’s knowledge is far ahead quite simply of where Grant’s knowledge is. That’s just time and experience, that’s an important factor and will remain an advantage for Sam as the year goes along. Did not get banged up anymore for the first time this season, so he will be even healthier going into this game. Sam’s going to start, we plan on him playing at a higher level with his physical health, he’s got to make smarter decisions and quicker judgments.

Who is in charge of developing the QB's?

After the Iowa game:
PR:Well, I want to see us take advantage of things that people give us. We’ve got certain qualities that different receivers can do. We’ve got to take advantage of those qualities and not do what we can’t do. We don’t protect well enough to throw the ball downfield with regularity. We’ve tried to do too much of that. We need to get the ball out of our hand quicker and that starts with the play caller.

Who is the play caller again?

After the Iowa game:
“(Iowa’s) front four is very stout,” he said. “But we’re not opening up the kinds of holes we need to to run the ball effectively, and I think play calling has a little bit to do with that.”

Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads said he agreed that the play calling needs to be better, but was decisive when it came to being asked if a change in play callers was needed.


Paul Rhoads has certainly questioned the play calling this season and a few games when the offense played well against terrible defenses in Tulsa and Texas doesn't change that. Rhoads called the offense inept against Tech & Baylor... I would say that is a pretty damaging comment for an OC. Wouldn't you?
 

Wesley

Well-Known Member
Apr 12, 2006
70,923
546
113
Omaha
Offense - 2111 yards
Defense - 2952 yards
Kirby - 1860 yards
Kick returns - 592 yards
Penalties - 291 yards
KickOffs -1781 yards
Punt Returns - 143 yards

Kirby is close behind the offense and ahead of KickOffs. Our penalties have doubled. Is that because we are young and inexperienced too?
 

twojman

Well-Known Member
Jun 1, 2006
7,090
2,909
113
Clive
Honestly, I fail to see an offensive strategy that could work with the state of the offensive line and the youth in the receiving corps that we have. I place much more blame on the offensive line status than on Messingham for the ineptitude of our offense over the last couple of games.

Consider that at the end of spring training, our line looked like this:

Code:
OT    Jr# Gannon        So# Dagel
OT    Sr# Lichtenberg   So# Lalk
OG    Jr# Dika          Jr# Graham
OG    Sr# Tuftee        Fr# Burton
C     Jr# Farniok       Jr# Loth

Starting 3 Jr# and 2 Sr#, with 2 Jr#, 2 So#, and 1 Fr# backing up.

And now we look like this:

Code:
OT    Fr# Dunning        
OT    So# Dagel
OG    So# Omoile        Sr# Tuftee*
OG    Fr# Burton        So# Lalk*
C     Jr# Farniok*       Jr# Loth

Starting 2 Fr#, 2 So#, and 1 Jr#, with 1 So#, Jr#, and Sr# backing up. Completely out of backups at OT. Here's the injuries we've sustained since spring ball:

Dika - career ending injury
Graham - season ending injury
Tuftee - injured all season
Farniok - injured early in first game, still not fully recovered
Lalk - injured early in second game, still not fully recovered
Gannon - injured in 5th game
Lichtenberg - disappointing all year, injured in 6th game

That's 3 of our 4 guards in the 2-deep injured, with the other a Fr#. Another Fr# forced into starting at OT who wasn't even on the depth chart in the spring.

As I recall, most close to the program thought our best OL in the spring were Farniok, Dika, and Tuftee. One is done due to injury, and the other 2 have been severely hampered by injuries.

Maybe the former OL in me is overvaluing the offensive line, but I don't see how any team, let alone ISU who isn't bringing in blue chip recruits, can compete in the Big XII sustaining the injuries on the OL that we have since spring ball.

Add to that youth forced to play and installing a new blocking system = offensive issues.

All this is true but does not cover up the fact that the offensive line has been a permanent dumpster fire in the Rhoads era. Remember having NFL'rs Osemeli, Hayworth Hicks and Carter Bykowski on the line at the same time? We also had a freshman named Farniok (future NFL) on that line. 95% of the teams in the country would have averaged 200 yards rushing per game. What did ISU have? Yeah, the line stunk that year. This is an ongoing problem and the injuries this year are a convenient excuse. This oline has always been destroyed by a blitz in the Rhoads era. Our QB's **** their pants when a blitz comes at them. What gives?

edit, we averaged 175 yards/game for 39th in the country, should be better with NFL guys.
 
Last edited:

ISUCubswin

Well-Known Member
Mar 3, 2011
23,227
6,269
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My Playhouse
I realize we have 0 talent on our offense minus Wimberley and Bundrage, but our playcalling is also atrocious. I know it's bad when you have players that can't make a play, but does no one remember every call against UNI and Iowa? And then we beat Tulsa, and people start thinking Messingham is a great OC.
 

Cy$

Well-Known Member
Sep 1, 2011
23,930
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Ames
Rhoads makes mistakes. He will neither be the first, or last coach, if he gets canned in 4-5 years (which I doubt) for being too loyal to his coordinators (reminds me of someone). Also, to AClone, it's called coachspeak. Nobody here (maybe CW) knows if Rhoads actually likes the playcalling or not. Plenty of examples by 78 where Rhoads says the opposite.
 

Wally86

Well-Known Member
Oct 23, 2008
1,242
541
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Central Iowa
I have had a wait and see on CPR since the UNI game. Play calling against UNI, zone read, zone read, zone read, zone read damaged the entire season. That precipitated SR's ankle injury. A healthy SR gives us a better chance against Iowa and Texas and puts the offense further along in the learning curve. The second thing is Mess may not be the complete problem but there is no measuring scale on which he appears to be a solution. If that is where your program is, you make a change to keep the fans interested and hopeful. This is entertainment and the only time the same thing over and over is entertaining is when it works.

To me the rest of the season is about player growth and recruiting. Before the OSU game two years ago I was all in. My status has changed to waiting. Waiting for the next OC. UNI lost the last two weeks. There must be some FCS coordinators that can out scheme Mess. It's hard to believe we can't hire an offensive coordinator from a successful FCS offensive team that is an upgrade.
 

JUKEBOX

Well-Known Member
Oct 27, 2008
7,895
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I posted most of this this in another thread, but think the thoughts deserve their own. I'm including a quote, ... blah blah blah

Everything that is said at those pressers are mostly canned answers. You really think he is going to say Mess sucks at the press conference?

Mess is a problem, and he is probably not the only problem.
 

awd4cy

Well-Known Member
Dec 29, 2010
26,221
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Central Iowa
It blows my mind that there are people that still don't think Mess is a problem. I'm not saying he is the only problem on offense because there are so many others.