CF POSTGAME: Iowa State handles North Dakota

[Freebird]

Iowa State ran 48 plays, one of the lowest amounts in last decade. The reactions seem a bit dramatic to me. Was a low drive, low play game that Iowa State won comfortably. Maybe I’m an optimist.

The second quarter kinda throws everyone’s perspective out of whack. Typical Campbell opener and accompanying fan angst. This was never going to be a 45-3 type game but was a couple plays away from being a 35-3 game.

 

[jctisu]

Here’s the deal for those basing today on how Iowa will go next week. It didn’t matter one bit how we looked because until we stop trying to out-Iowa the Hawks we are likely losing that game unless we play a clean game with no turnovers, which we never do.

 

[FallOf81]

Huh? He was 20 of 26. he had 2 high throws to Green and one Brahmer should have caught.

Yah.
He's a million dollar plus plus Soph QB in the open market.
Never mind the father who knows just a little about football ... and most likely encouraged him to stay put.
Some folks must have been pretty drunk watching him.

 

[madguy30]

Here’s the deal for those basing today on how Iowa will go next week. It didn’t matter one bit how we looked because until we stop trying to out-Iowa the Hawks we are likely losing that game unless we play a clean game with no turnovers, which we never do.

I need to ask: what does 'out Iowaing Iowa' entail?

I see it a lot but ISU has thrown a lot against them and won two years ago by grinding out a drive at the end with no explosive plays (aided by aeveral penalties by Iowa's D).

In '21 the turnovers resulted in trying to go big instead of taking what was available.

In '19 ISU simply turned it over with poor fundamentals with several chances to win.

Breece Hall is still waiting for a check down that he would have at least flipped the field with instead of Purdy throwing it down the middle. (There was uncalled PI but it was still way underthrown into coverage)

 

[cyclone1209]

Amid all the hand wringing today, the bright spot is that we have a stud at QB, the most important position on the field. He’s got to NFL receivers to throw to and and NFL tight end who didn’t even get a touch today. Sure the defense is a work in progress but Rocco is gonna ball out this year and it’s going to be fun.

And.. next week please for the love of God keep the offense OPEN, essentially throw to open up the run game. And do not play into Iowas hands running up the middle. The last 7 years have shown us we don’t well doing that. Keep it up tempo, throwing laterally and stretching field

 

[NebrClone]

I could understand being a little underwhelmed. But people are panicking over winning by 3 scores. (Likely 4 if Jontez Williams catches that pass)

If Noel does not make a miracle of a catch on the 1st play, we are behind the chains and probably have to punt on the 1st drive.

 

[HouClone]

What does it say about our defense, changed years ago to feature LBs, when we are freaking out about a LB former walkon, the "heart and soul", goes down with an injury? It says we are in trouble.

 

[madguy30]

And.. next week please for the love of God keep the offense OPEN, essentially throw to open up the run game. And do not play into Iowas hands running up the middle. The last 7 years have shown us we don’t well doing that. Keep it up tempo, throwing laterally and stretching field

Can you cite an example of this since ISU has thrown a whole bunch against Iowa and doesn't really play up tempo as a general rule?

Should they go hurry up for most of the game for one game of the season?

 

[madguy30]

If Noel does not make a miracle of a catch on the 1st play, we are behind the chains and probably have to punt on the 1st drive.

Yet people wanted that all day even though it was likely a bad read/throw vs. the general game plan.

Like two play drives were just going to be the norm since it happened the first drive.

 

[Cyched]

Yet people wanted that all day even though it was likely a bad read/throw vs. the general game plan.

Like two play drives were just going to be the norm since it happened the first drive.

I expect to see more one play drives now

 

[ScottyP]

Listened to Bruns on Iowa Everywhere. He said that unless the long snapping/handling the snap doesn’t improve, Iowa is going to block an Iowa State punt next week.

 

[Aclone]

Listened to Bruns on Iowa Everywhere. He said that unless the long snapping/handling the snap doesn’t improve, Iowa is going to block an Iowa State punt next week.

He also said that was his only real concern.

 

[madguy30]

I expect to see more one play drives now

Half.

What kind of offense scores on a full play in 2024?

 

[cyclone1209]

Can you cite an example of this since ISU has thrown a whole bunch against Iowa and doesn't really play up tempo as a general rule?

Should they go hurry up for most of the game for one game of the season?

Milking the whole play clock, and too many runs up the middle doesn’t work against them man. Maybe not no huddle but we have to keep them off balance. The fact we lost to them and couldn’t score points with breece hall, Brock Purdy, and Charlie kolar is pathetic. That’s coaching

 

[SolarGarlic]

I'm with you until the last one. Vegas won't move the line that significantly. Especially for a game known for being low scoring and poorly played.

It was 14-3 at half. It was definitely in doubt for a significant portion of the game. Most people wouldn't describe that game as us "handling" them.

That game was absolutely never in doubt. It was over after two plays. North Dakota wasn't even trying to win.

 

[SolarGarlic]

We stink. I chose not to go to the game at Iowa next week because I thought it would be a blow out. Now I know it will be. I'm done. Go ahead and beat me up over this.

Cool dude. Keep us posted.

 

[SolarGarlic]

Brent, I definitely appreciate your work with the program, and your required reactions. With that said, none of us here have those same constraints.

You saying it was a "low drive, low play game" definitely doesn't tell the whole story...at all. In fact its extremely disingenuous. The only reason it was a low play game was because it was as poor of a showing on 3rd down defense from ISU as I've seen in years from this defense. I'd honestly like to know how many 22 play drives there were across all of college football last year. We just absolutely COULD NOT get stops.

This game was not comfortable. North Dakota was not going away, and we only won because of their missed opportunities, NOT because we were controlling the game.

Our LBs have to greatly improve next week if we want to have a chance. They were completely missing their keys yoday which let the ND OLine (who was very inexperienced) continuously control the 2nd level.

I trust in our coaches and I feel this is probably just another variable solidifying the "ISU always starts slow" narrative. With that said.... when it's SO easy to see our our obvious deficiencies in week one, it IS always hard to think they can get incredibly better in one week. Lucky for us we've seen extreme improvements between weeks before. Here's hoping for another one before Iowa!!!

The game was frustrating. But it was definitely a comfortable win. We could score when we needed. They couldn't.

 

[Billups06]

Listened to Bruns on Iowa Everywhere. He said that unless the long snapping/handling the snap doesn’t improve, Iowa is going to block an Iowa State punt next week.

I was thinking the same during the game; long snap + Perkins' catch & punt seemed slow. Hoping that's not an issue after week 1.

 

[Malty Flannel]

Outside of LB injuries and run defense I came away optimistic from yesterday. Not sure how anyone can be down on the offense. “ISU didnt run the ball well”. Our 2 feature backs only had 5 carries and 6 carries, respectively. Sama looked great finding holes and has a nice burst. Not ready to say the OL sucked at run blocking when we only really tried 11 times. We also had 2 drives end because of Rocco overthrowing targets. Could have easily been 28 or 35 to 3. I don’t think the offense has trouble scoring this year. Bigger question will be can the defense get off the field.

 

[madguy30]

Milking the whole play clock, and too many runs up the middle doesn’t work against them man. Maybe not no huddle but we have to keep them off balance. The fact we lost to them and couldn’t score points with breece hall, Brock Purdy, and Charlie kolar is pathetic. That’s coaching

Did ISU run up the middle a lot with those guys? Hall's fumble turned IA TD was an outside run.

Purdy's int at the 50 during the meltdown in '21 was about a 45 yard throw.