Kudos to the D

[chuckd4735]

Easily the reason ISU was able to win that game. Holding Iowa's offensive line/RB's to 2.9 yards per carry on 44 attempts. That's somewhat shocking seeing what happened in the first 2 games. Love the improvement I am seeing from them. If the offense can start scoring over 30, and the defense keeps getting better, I don't see any reason why this team cant get to 6 wins.

 

[cyyote15]

I couldn't believe the push our D-line was getting! Great effort from all of them and I love see how willing our corners and safeties to lay down the big hits. Every single defensive player was flying to the ball every play! Great game

 

[CY9008]

Progress from week 1 in YPG is astounding...of course opponent plays a major factor...but you can literally watch these guys getting better each week.

 

[Skidoosh]

Not sure why people were doubting Wally. He has always given our teams a chance to win. It's usually been a lack of offense that eventually breaks our defense.

Last year was an anomaly. Even an NFL defense would give up points when they're on the field for 90% of the game.

 

[GoClones123]

If they continue to progress they may leap serviceable and be average. That isn't sarcasm or criticism either. They are moving in a great direction. We have played some traditionally run heavy teams, I'm waiting to see how the D-line fairs against more pass heavy offenses.

 

[chuckd4735]

Progress from week 1 in YPG is astounding...of course opponent plays a major factor...but you can literally watch these guys getting better each week.

Week 1 was 6.9 YPC on 44 attempts.
Week 2 was 5.7 YPC on 41 attempts.
Week 3 was 2.9 YPC on 44 attempts.

The improvement from last week alone is shocking, and Iowa's offensive line might be the best offensive line we have played to date.

 

[Beyerball]

Ndsu offensive line IMO was better, they are just so used to their system, they are technically so sound. Now iowas oline was defiantly the most physical. I like seeing Myers in at DT spelling cousins and running the 3-3-5 D. I bet we see this a lot in the big 12. Our sack production will drop as Baylor, OU etc.. Just get rid of the ball so fast.

 

[Boxerdaddy]

Not saying you're wrong...i agree we've been getting better. But... Iowa tried to run around the edge a lot yesterday and we're fast enough to shut that down. I really felt like if they had run up the middle on us more we'd have been in trouble. But still...i'm really happy about how this defense is improving.

 

[Cyclophile1]

Yep, I tip my hat to Wally and the boys on D. They were much improved both from week1 to week2, and again to week3. Part of it, undoubtedly, is that I don't think Iowa is good at all, but our guys played much more solid. Iowa doesn't have the weapons that are going to hurt you with a quick strike, but our guys seemed to be much more solid fundamentally.

 

[cyclonepower]

Big deal? In the grand scheme of things not really unless we somehow get 5 more wins...still fun? Absolutely yes!

 

[F5cy]

The improvement from last week alone is shocking, and Iowa's offensive line might be the best offensive line we have played to date.

General consensus is that Iowa has this great amount of talent, but I sure didn't see anything that made me believe they had superior talent to our guys. RSFrosh Campos had a decent game, our D managed 4 sacks, and Morrisey pretty much owned the, "All American, Huge heart, gonna play even without a left leg" Scherff.

I think some of the improvement is simple tackling. Our guys were wrapping up better against Iowa than they did in our other games. We only really forced one 3 and out the whole game. The first drive of the entire game, although the interception in the 3rd quarter was on 3rd down I believe.

The biggest defensive stop of the entire game, I think, was on the drive where Iowa had the ball from the 3rd into 4th quarters - Iowa was running, running running the ball in short bursts - only had one pass that possession I think (Thanks Greg Davis!!) and we held them right at the edge of field goal range. Iowa decided to punt. That stop was probably the difference in the game. Even though it would have been a long attempt, I'm surprised they didn't either GO for it on 4th and 6 at our 36. They did pin us at the 8 with the punt, but the result was a 92 yard drive that ended up with Nealy catching the Go ahead TD.

 

[redrocket22]

I very happy with the effort and progress. Coaches and players are working hard to get better. They deserve some success after the piling on that occurred after the first two games.

 

[ArgentCy]

They are improving quickly like a young D should. However I will still wait and see against Baylor. They love to spread everyone out so far and just run go routes. One person in the wrong spot and its a TD.

 

[Cychedelia]

Yep good job against Iowa and KSU.

 

[CarolinaCy]

General consensus is that Iowa has this great amount of talent, but I sure didn't see anything that made me believe they had superior talent to our guys. RSFrosh Campos had a decent game, our D managed 4 sacks, and Morrisey pretty much owned the, "All American, Huge heart, gonna play even without a left leg" Scherff.

I think some of the improvement is simple tackling. Our guys were wrapping up better against Iowa than they did in our other games. We only really forced one 3 and out the whole game. The first drive of the entire game, although the interception in the 3rd quarter was on 3rd down I believe.

The biggest defensive stop of the entire game, I think, was on the drive where Iowa had the ball from the 3rd into 4th quarters - Iowa was running, running running the ball in short bursts - only had one pass that possession I think (Thanks Greg Davis!!) and we held them right at the edge of field goal range. Iowa decided to punt. That stop was probably the difference in the game. Even though it would have been a long attempt, I'm surprised they didn't either GO for it on 4th and 6 at our 36. They did pin us at the 8 with the punt, but the result was a 92 yard drive that ended up with Nealy catching the Go ahead TD.

Great points about the the 3 and outs and keeping them out of the end zone. Can't remember which studio show I was watching yesterday, but they were praising someone for limiting the other team to several FG attempts. One of them said roughly "in this day of high powered offenses, the goal of defenses these days is to simply keep the offense out of the endzone".

I know most people hate the "bend, don't break" type defense that ISU has run for years, but realistically that's our best option on defense. We don't have superior talent to be an aggressive, attacking defense like 'Bama or OU, so we have to concede yards, take advantage of TO's when we can force them, and when a team drives on us, use the shortened field to hold them to FG attempts more often than not.

 

[cy4prez7]

Staff has made some great tweaks in the second and third games with Miller/Meeks and Mitchell at DT.

 

[TXCyclones]

I'm being overly critical and probably shouldn't be. But for the love of God D-line PUT YOUR HANDS UP on the pass plays. Overall they did well, but that was discouraging. Basic fundamentals.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

The only thing I wish for is for the love of God narrow the cushion our corners give. On a 3rd and 6 we were still giving a 12 yard cushion.

 

[FanatiClone]

Great points about the the 3 and outs and keeping them out of the end zone. Can't remember which studio show I was watching yesterday, but they were praising someone for limiting the other team to several FG attempts. One of them said roughly "in this day of high powered offenses, the goal of defenses these days is to simply keep the offense out of the endzone".

I know most people hate the "bend, don't break" type defense that ISU has run for years, but realistically that's our best option on defense. We don't have superior talent to be an aggressive, attacking defense like 'Bama or OU, so we have to concede yards, take advantage of TO's when we can force them, and when a team drives on us, use the shortened field to hold them to FG attempts more often than not.

I tend to criticize it on occasion. I agree with you about how it is a logical game plan for a squad like ISU that is limited in talent, comparatively speaking. The philosophy can be very effective if, like you said, we take advantage of TOs or consistently keep the opponent to FGs. The flaw comes in not mixing the defenses up a little here and there, though. Even a bend don't break style can be easily broken when the opposition knows what they're working against. Aggression, not as a style, but as a variance, would make our D better imo. That 4th and 8 that Iowa converted could be seen coming from a mile away. I hated to call it because I have a tiny superstitious streak in my system, but just before the play, I drew it up as it happened seconds later. Just too damn predictable imo.

 

[BryceC]

Bend but don't break is great if you have a guy like givens and others who are great at forcing turnovers. Last 2 years we just haven't done it but I like how hard this secondary hits, it's only a matter of time.