Football optimism going forward - Kool-aid thread

[State2015]

Been thinking a lot about the future of ISU football since the bowl game and I've slowly been getting more and more excited to turn to a new era of football at ISU. Campbell will be entering his 7th(!!!) year at ISU, and I see this as a marking of a new era and we can see how strong this program actually is. And I believe it will show to be very strong.

Recruiting has been slowly getting better each year, and the roster seems to be filled with Big 12-level guys at all positions. Not the case in CMC's first 5 years or so as he was dealing with CPRs guys, and had to recruit with some of our programs' disadvantages. It's crazy how different this program is perceived both in our eyes as fans and in the public's eyes over the past 7yrs. This definitely impacts recruiting.

If some of you remember how Clemson football was seen just 10 years ago. They were the program that was solid, won some big games, but always ended up 'Clemsoning' or blowing big games and could never take the next step. In Dabo's 7th year, they ended up making the championship game for the first time, the first of a few appearances in a short span. I am not comparing us to Clemson or saying we will make the natty this year. Simply saying that it takes time to build that foundation, and sometimes it takes a few years of close calls to really hit that ceiling.

I believe that the solid foundation of players we have in the program currently, mixed with CMC showing loyalty and a desire to really build something here, I'm extremely excited to see the trajectory of the program with Dekkers at the helm and the team taking on a new look/identity. I believe the Cyclones will continue to play top-level defense, along with some smart, smashmouth offense with a few shots from Dekkers' strong arm.

Apologies for the long post but I am just realizing how close ISU is to being really great, and that a Fiesta Bowl win is not this programs ceiling. Past few years, even including 2020, there are about 5-10 plays over each year that could have changed the outcome of our season massively. This season will be a blank slate without the expectations of prior years but plenty of talent and hunger. Understand I'm definitely drinking the Kool-aid but hey that's what the offseason is for.

Thoughts?

 

[CyCloned]

ISU needs to just plain get better. Better players, better at coaching, better at finishing games. Some of that is skill players, but a lot of the issues are the same place they have been for CMC entire time at ISU. The OL is just not very good. Now, there seems to be some young guys that are better OL, but compared to every other position, the OL is just not up to the same level. Is that the players, Meyers, Manning, or the strength program? Who knows, but it is definitely something that is holding ISU back.

 

[State2015]

ISU needs to just plain get better. Better players, better at coaching, better at finishing games. Some of that is skill players, but a lot of the issues are the same place they have been for CMC entire time at ISU. The OL is just not very good. Now, there seems to be some young guys that are better OL, but compared to every other position, the OL is just not up to the same level. Is that the players, Meyers, Manning, or the strength program? Who knows, but it is definitely something that is holding ISU back.

Definitely agree - and ISU isn't the easiest place to get better quickly at these things. But we are close IMO

 

[Omaha Cy]

I feel that the main difference we're seeing now in CMC's tenure is the 2nd team guys are a lot more capable to fill in and play quality ball. That's a situation that can lead to more success as the competition ramps up for virtually every position. The Coach Mac and Rhoads 2nd teamers were typically a steep drop off.

That might lead to a few more transfer portal issues as capable back-ups know they should be on the field.
Program is pointed in the right direction.

 

[CyCloned]

I feel that the main difference we're seeing now in CMC's tenure is the 2nd team guys are a lot more capable to fill in and play quality ball. That's a situation that can lead to more success as the competition ramps up for virtually every position. The Coach Mac and Rhoads 2nd teamers were typically a steep drop off.

That might lead to a few more transfer portal issues as capable back-ups know they should be on the field.
Program is pointed in the right direction.

This is very true. The only games I recall the loss of a starter really showed was this year when Mike Rose was out for a couple games. I though the defense was pretty good in the bowl game without him, so maybe just a little more experience from the reserves made the difference. Or maybe it was just a couple games where the rest of the defense was not playing well.

 

[WhoISthis]

ISU needs to just plain get better. Better players, better at coaching, better at finishing games. Some of that is skill players, but a lot of the issues are the same place they have been for CMC entire time at ISU. The OL is just not very good. Now, there seems to be some young guys that are better OL, but compared to every other position, the OL is just not up to the same level. Is that the players, Meyers, Manning, or the strength program? Who knows, but it is definitely something that is holding ISU back.

Our record was notably worse than our performance and ratings. We were talented and generally played well. The staff has laid a great foundation.

We’re not far off from 2020 occurring frequently. Better execution (coaching) and luck.though better players will help to

 

[CyCloned]

Our record was notably worse than our performance and ratings. We were talented and generally played well. The staff has laid a great foundation.

We’re not far off from 2020 occurring frequently. Better execution (coaching) and luck.though better players will help to

There were definitely a lot of games, all but Iowa, where ISU had a decent shot to win at the end, and they just couldn't execute. Something to work on for next year.

 

[WhoISthis]

There were definitely a lot of games, all but Iowa, where ISU had a decent shot to win at the end, and they just couldn't execute. Something to work on for next year.

And we didn’t have a chance against Iowa because we do badly stepped on our dicks early in the game.

It’s good to be frustrated with 7-6. The talent and play was good enough to be better. That could bode well for next year imo

 

[bozclone]

It is going to be fun to see how the new guys perform and how they grow within the program. Out best players have been the same guys the last couple of years, now we will get to see some new guys come into those roles.

 

[TheJackWePack5]

There have always been players who step in during the Campbell era (after losing players to graduation, etc) and don’t seem to miss a beat. It is a laundry list.

2022 will be no different, except they are likely higher rated players (on paper).

Seems like a decent problem to have. That’s what developmental programs do.

 

[CYdTracked]

With as many guys leaving after this season it is inevitable we will see some new looks both on offense and defense to play towards the strengths of the guys we have taking over positions that were occupied by other guys for several years. Most notably will be on offense. I'm curious to see if how we use the TE position changes with Kolar and Allen gone. Easton Dean only caught 1 pass this season and was not used much like we saw when we had Soehner in a 3 TE set. Does he or someone else step up and become a receiving threat or do we target the TE less? We obviously will have a different look at QB and RB. We return a good chunk of our WR core with X coming back for 1 more year.

On defense do we make some changes in how we line up or do we think we have the guys that have "plug and play" skill sets that can fill in for the guys they are replacing? We are notorious for starting the season slow but with as many new guys we will be working into the 2 deep this fall hoping we don't play another 1st game nail bitter and then look unprepared against Iowa yet again in week 2. It's long overdue to get that Iowa losing streak monkey off our back but can't keep starting our seasons out like we have in recent years.

 

[heitclone]

In '21 all our of losses came to bowl teams, the schedule was subtly more difficult than '20. We got OSU at home but other than that, we played road games at the teams that finished 2,3,5,6,7. So other than OSU we hosted the bottom 3 teams. With every road loss being so close, you have to think could have easily beaten any of those teams at home, especially with how good we've played at JTS the last few years. For sure we win a couple of those games at home. I'm confident we would've won at KU, TCU and Texas. To me that was difference between 7-5 and 9-3.

I'm guessing we'll be predicted to finish worse than 4th next year but if you take us out and rate the other 9 teams, I think things would look pretty similar to how they finished last year.

That means not only do we get 5 home big 12 games next year, we likely get our toughest games at home, where we have played well. That will be nice with some new faces playing big roles.

Things are setting up next season to be a good year. I'm trying to stay focused on basketball season but there is a lot to be excited about with football.

 

[TheJackWePack5]

In '21 all our of losses came to bowl teams, the schedule was subtly more difficult than '20. We got OSU at home but other than that, we played road games at the teams that finished 2,3,5,6,7. So other than OSU we hosted the bottom 3 teams. With every road loss being so close, you have to think could have easily beaten any of those teams at home, especially with how good we've played at JTS the last few years. For sure we win a couple of those games at home. I'm confident we would've won at KU, TCU and Texas. To me that was difference between 7-5 and 9-3.

I'm guessing we'll be predicted to finish worse than 4th next year but if you take us out and rate the other 9 teams, I think things would look pretty similar to how they finished last year.

That means not only do we get 5 home big 12 games next year, we likely get our toughest games at home, where we have played well. That will be nice with some new faces playing big roles.

Things are setting up next season to be a good year. I'm trying to stay focused on basketball season but there is a lot to be excited about with football.

I’d wager that we might be picked 8th or 9th.

 

[CycloneErik]

I’d wager that we might be picked 8th or 9th.

I suspect we have a lot of respect to earn back, and you're most likely right.

 

[JimDogRock]

ISU needs to just plain get better. Better players, better at coaching, better at finishing games. Some of that is skill players, but a lot of the issues are the same place they have been for CMC entire time at ISU. The OL is just not very good. Now, there seems to be some young guys that are better OL, but compared to every other position, the OL is just not up to the same level. Is that the players, Meyers, Manning, or the strength program? Who knows, but it is definitely something that is holding ISU back.

Totally agreed - the OL still holds us back.
I would argue it's the position group that is least able to be helped by individual training. Because of this it takes that much longer to develop the unit. Longer than 4 years. It's not as simple as getting and developing a talented player like Montgomery or Hall and then Iowa State being labeled as having "good" RBs. It's about collective growth and building the culture. Fortunately, Campbell and his staff are good at that.

It's a tough to accept having generational talent at our offensive skill positions and a consistently great defense the past few years but not seeing that translate to more wins.
Having said that, I think perspective is very important as an Iowa State fan. This is still, almost undeniably, the golden age of Iowa State football.

Iowa State has had a winning conference record 5 years in a row. That has never happened. Heck, the 2000 season was the only other year that we had a winning record in the Big 12.
The closest we were to achieving 5 years in a row was from 1923-1927 when we were in the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Unfortunately, we couldn't pull off a W against Grinnell in 1926, the final score was a 0-0 tie, and we were .500 that year.

Back to the OL, allow me to nerd out on history for just another minute.
Since 1994 when the NFL draft went to 7 rounds Iowa State has had 2 lineman play in NFL games. I'm going off of this page which I believe only lists a player if they made an appearance in a game.
Kelechi Osemele in 2012 and Oliver Ross in 1998.
A simple comparison is to look out East. They've had 24 players with the same criteria. Also, 9 of them were still active through 2021.
Another perhaps relevant comparison would be Toledo. They've had 8, and 2 are still playing.

We've been stuck in a negatively reinforcing feedback loop for much of Iowa State football's history. Some might think of this as "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer". Producing OL prospects, or any players getting looks from NFL teams, especially reflects this.

 

[cytor]

I’d wager that we might be picked 8th or 9th.

To go 8th or 9th in the conference. you are going to have to be about 4-8. ISU is better than that.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

I’d wager that we might be picked 8th or 9th.

We won't be picked in front of Baylor, OU or OSU, but I doubt we'll be behind KU, KSU, TCU, Tech or WVU. I think we're either 4th or 5th depending on how much they over-value Texas again.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

I’d wager that we might be picked 8th or 9th.

If I had to wager I bet we are picked around 6th.

 

[State2015]

All great points, glad to see others feeling like we are turning a tide when there's optimism like this behind the program for rebuilding a roster.

ISU fans have always been great at showing up and being loud, filling a stadium. Let's set a goal for the fanbase to step things up on the donation front as well. I know we've all seen the numbers from past years that ISU has some of the smallest donation revenue among P5 schools. I've upped my donation

 

[isucy86]

I’d wager that we might be picked 8th or 9th.

That seems a bit pessimistic. We get 5 Big12 home games.

Is KU going to improve enough to beat ISU?

TCU and TT are bringing in new coaches, so there should be some transition for both new coaches. One could argue, TT won't regress and they beat ISU last season. But ISU gets TT in Ames

How about WVU and KSU? Both games are in Ames and I don't see either program getting better next year. If anything WVU may be taking a step back.

Is Texas going to find it's way?

I still think OSU, OU and Baylor will be the sure favorites. I would think the media will see ISU finishing 4th or 5th.