I like that Heacock has a full off season and knows what we need to fix. It’s not like we had any games in the last half of the season that we somehow got lucky and stopped the run and covered up the problem.
Thoughts on next year?
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- Start date
I thought Bacon played inside last year subbing in for Sadowsky early and getting more and more snaps by the end of the year. Pretty sure most of his play was at MLB unless they used him to rush off the edge. One thing I think Bacon needs to improve on is his pass coverage, but he really hasn’t played a ton of snaps yet.
A summary of this thread is impossible, but I'll take a shot, anyway.
First, 2024 - Offense - Almost half of Mouser's calls were bad this year, but we overcame them with players with mediocre talent, with poor coaching, and with lousy game management at the end of halves to get to 11 wins.
Defense - conventional wisdom is that, as the injuries mounted, Heacock did it with smoke and mirrors. I buy the theory that there was really only one defender on the field, the rest were MechDyne holograms. Hence, the need to outscore the opponent. With a real defense, we can win without outscoring the opponent.
Looking forward: Offense - There is one sure starter next year - QB Rocco Brecht. RBs - the good ones are too slow; the fast ones are not good. WRs - returners plus the new transfers = maybe 1/2 starters. TEs - there are a couple all-conference guys in this group, but they will be hurt all year. The ones that can play can't block and wear boxing gloves to catch with. OL - If Clanton works 18-hour days and takes no vacation time until Ireland, the line will be average - again.
Defense - DL - since it is too difficult to recruit good d-linemen, we should switch to a scheme that requires more of them. LBs - the room is full of 2nd and 3rd stringers. In addition to the training table, LBs should be made to each eat a large pizza every day. The ones that gain the most weight become d-linemeen. The others play LB but are slow to their gaps and tackle poorly. DBs/Safeties - there are some good young players in this group, but they are all slow. Maybe we can use a scheme that compensates for that - like . . . a 3-3-5?
Given that outlook, we will either win the Big 12 outright and go to the CFP or we will win enough games to play a bowl game in Memphis . . . against Memphis.
Postscript: Thanks Team 133. Forever.
First, 2024 - Offense - Almost half of Mouser's calls were bad this year, but we overcame them with players with mediocre talent, with poor coaching, and with lousy game management at the end of halves to get to 11 wins.
Defense - conventional wisdom is that, as the injuries mounted, Heacock did it with smoke and mirrors. I buy the theory that there was really only one defender on the field, the rest were MechDyne holograms. Hence, the need to outscore the opponent. With a real defense, we can win without outscoring the opponent.
Looking forward: Offense - There is one sure starter next year - QB Rocco Brecht. RBs - the good ones are too slow; the fast ones are not good. WRs - returners plus the new transfers = maybe 1/2 starters. TEs - there are a couple all-conference guys in this group, but they will be hurt all year. The ones that can play can't block and wear boxing gloves to catch with. OL - If Clanton works 18-hour days and takes no vacation time until Ireland, the line will be average - again.
Defense - DL - since it is too difficult to recruit good d-linemen, we should switch to a scheme that requires more of them. LBs - the room is full of 2nd and 3rd stringers. In addition to the training table, LBs should be made to each eat a large pizza every day. The ones that gain the most weight become d-linemeen. The others play LB but are slow to their gaps and tackle poorly. DBs/Safeties - there are some good young players in this group, but they are all slow. Maybe we can use a scheme that compensates for that - like . . . a 3-3-5?
Given that outlook, we will either win the Big 12 outright and go to the CFP or we will win enough games to play a bowl game in Memphis . . . against Memphis.
Postscript: Thanks Team 133. Forever.
Yes, the point is this is a desire position much more than a skill position. A great hs 6’1 DE or a 6’2 TE can step into this spot and be a major college contributor. We can all remember we had a a fantastic dual threat QB (Walling) from DM East that turned out to be a game changer at gunner. Iowa isn’t blessed with a long list of D1 prospects. When you can create a niche position were you can get a solid contributor from guys that aren’t traditional D1 recruits you’re winning in the margins.
Will Hawthorne was invited to play in the All American Bowl, A LB to watch.
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
Cyclonepride
Thought Police
Get back to me when the roster is settled. Need some key pieces, but we do have some key pieces. Need a lot of guys to either step in or step up on defense. Right now, all I will say is better than our average.
I forgot about him. He had a really good high school tape before he got hurt. Our TE room has some really talented depth.
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
Tripp Walsh also saw a lot of playing time at fullback as well and looked decent.
There’s am awful lot of discussion on this, considering that the staff recruited Keaton Roskop specifically for the role. As mentioned before, Tyler Moore will likely fill the starting spot this Fall.
I can see reasonably well today, for the first time in weeks. Enough to actually catch up on threads.
On page four of this one, some good entertainment value so far. :grin:
247 has an article today ranking Big 12 schedules. ISU has the 3rd most difficult schedule out of 16 teams. So, just another year as usual.
Here's the link, for those interested.
Big 12 football schedules 2025: Ranking the league’s toughest slates next season
Which Big 12 teams have the most difficult schedules in 2025?
247sports.com
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
Roster has been updated, and include the transfers and early enrollees...
cyclones.com
2025 Football Roster - Iowa State University Athletics
The official 2025 Football Roster for the Iowa State University Cyclones
Roster has been updated, and include the transfers and early enrollees...
2025 Football Roster - Iowa State University Athletics
The official 2025 Football Roster for the Iowa State University Cyclones
2 things I noted. Beni Ngoyi is listed as a DB and Tyler Miller is officially coming back for has last year of eligibility.
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
No, but Freeman wanted Heacock badly. I'm not sure if it was when he was hired or the second year. But they targeted him and I'm pretty sure Heacock talked with them and decided to stay here.
My guess is that it's less likely this time just because he is that much closer to retirement (frankly I'm sort of surprised he's still around). But maybe that would make him more likely to stay.
