3 games in; how good is the offense?

[Cyinthenorth]

Pretty good I'd say. The O-Line is shaping up to be the best we've seen in the Campbell era, sans the 2020 season, and they get some good push in the run game which is something we've maybe never seen. The RB room very good, and very deep, though I think would have some concern is J. Brock went down. Sanders and Silas are clearly more complementary type backs and I'd be concerned if one of them had to carry a full load or if it were down to just the two of them in a committee.

One thing that has frustrated me so far is the passing game, with the amount of throws to the flats, 4-5 yard outs, 8-10 yard crossing patterns and slants etc. When the blocking is there, these plays can appear 'explosive', but what I'd like to see if more downfield stuff. We know Dekkers has the arm. Is the issue in offensive scheme or in WR talent? X and Noel are really good in space, but not sure either of them are burners. Is the missing piece someone that can take the top off of a defense, or is it just not schemed to move the ball like that? I am fine with getting 7-8 yards per play, and the offense has a nice flow to it so far, but I'd like to see us tee up a few more home run opportunities. Final scores of 42-10 vs SEMO and 43-10 vs Ohio are great, but look around the conference a little bit:

Kansas beat Tennessee Tech 56-10
WVU beat Towson 65-7
Texas Tech beat Murray St 63-10
Oklahoma State has put up 58 and 63 in games this year

I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining, but it'd be nice to see a result like one of the above at some point, and I'm trying to figure out why we don't ever see it. 70-21 v.s Louisiana Monroe a few years back is the closest I've seen a Campbell-led ISU team get.

 

[Thomasrickj]

Pretty good I'd say. The O-Line is shaping up to be the best we've seen in the Campbell era, sans the 2020 season, and they get some good push in the run game which is something we've maybe never seen. The RB room very good, and very deep, though I think would have some concern is J. Brock went down. Sanders and Silas are clearly more complementary type backs and I'd be concerned if one of them had to carry a full load or if it were down to just the two of them in a committee.

One thing that has frustrated me so far is the passing game, with the amount of throws to the flats, 4-5 yard outs, 8-10 yard crossing patterns and slants etc. When the blocking is there, these plays can appear 'explosive', but what I'd like to see if more downfield stuff. We know Dekkers has the arm. Is the issue in offensive scheme or in WR talent? X and Noel are really good in space, but not sure either of them are burners. Is the missing piece someone that can take the top off of a defense, or is it just not schemed to move the ball like that? I am fine with getting 7-8 yards per play, and the offense has a nice flow to it so far, but I'd like to see us tee up a few more home run opportunities. Final scores of 42-10 vs SEMO and 43-10 vs Ohio are great, but look around the conference a little bit:

Kansas beat Tennessee Tech 56-10
WVU beat Towson 65-7
Texas Tech beat Murray St 63-10
Oklahoma State has put up 58 and 63 in games this year

I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining, but it'd be nice to see a result like one of the above at some point, and I'm trying to figure out why we don't ever see it. 70-21 v.s Louisiana Monroe a few years back is the closest I've seen a Campbell-led ISU team get.

I do get annoyed by these constant 2-3 yard passes. The problem is I don't think we have that barn burning speed guy. Scates had that speed, but he is gone and didn't work out at ISU. Do I think with a guy like Dekkers that Scates could've gotten more catches? Absolutely. Our play calling on offense doesn't excite me and I'd like to try some longer throws and less two yard passes with receivers setting screens. When we go against better teams with stronger and faster secondary's then it may not work as well. Baylor has a tough defense so I'm intrigued to see if we spread the ball a little further down the ends or continue with the play calling we've been doing these first three games. It'll also be interesting to see if we sling it more because some of these short throws could have something to do with trying to get Dekkers more comfortable and confident since he's only started three games now.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I don't think a Matt Campbell offense is ever going to light up the scoreboard when compared to other teams, as I think he prefers long balanced drives that eat up the clock and rest the defense. With that said, with this team, it looks like they recognize that Dekkers can make the defense defend the entire field, so they're opening it up a bit more.

 

[Bewilderme]

It was 30-3 at halftime. They obviously took a foot off the gas in the second half.

 

[madguy30]

At times it's looked like the ball control offense we've been waiting for.

Even in record breaking years' past the O could get kind of erratic and struggle to keep a good or consistent pace.

It seemed the other day, they were on the same page after a biggish play to get up and get something else going. Not in a hurry up way, but to keep the field tilted and put pressure on the defense.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

I don't think a Matt Campbell offense is ever going to light up the scoreboard when compared to other teams, as I think he prefers long balanced drives that eat up the clock and rest the defense. With that said, with this team, it looks like they recognize that Dekkers can make the defense defend the entire field, so they're opening it up a bit more.

In general, I like that philosophy of long grinding drives. You don't need to play that way v.s SEMO or Ohio though. I'd have like to see more explosive plays in those games. Against Iowa and Big 12 opponents, absolutely play death by a hundred paper cuts.

 

[werdnamanhill]

Also, some of the teams that other Big 12 teams have played, like Towson, UAPB, Albany, Tennessee Tech, and Murray State are godawful. Ohio is on another planet compared to those, and I'd say SEMO is even a step up from some of those schools

 

[BCClone]

Our offense/defense strategies are a little odd when compared to each other. Our defense is one that says it's hard to drive the length of the field so we will keep from giving up long shots and hold them to FGs at worst.

Our offense looks to go with shorter, high percentage plays and not go deep in taking the idea of using sustained drives and driving the length of the field.

Why I've always said, if you want to stop a teams offense, look no further than the defense that their own team runs. Many times the HC will have a defense that is suited to stop their own offense.

 

[cyclonpediaJoe]

I really like our RB room. Norton should be healthy to start Big 12 play and that is helpful.

 

[Cyclonepride]

In general, I like that philosophy of long grinding drives. You don't need to play that way v.s SEMO or Ohio though. I'd have like to see more explosive plays in those games. Against Iowa and Big 12 opponents, absolutely play death by a hundred paper cuts.

I think it makes sense to play your preparatory games in the way that you intend to play. I would like to see more deep shots too, and I think we will simply because Hunter has the arm (and it looks like the protection) for it.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

In general, I like that philosophy of long grinding drives. You don't need to play that way v.s SEMO or Ohio though. I'd have like to see more explosive plays in those games. Against Iowa and Big 12 opponents, absolutely play death by a hundred paper cuts.

I also think it's worth noting that all of the teams we've played so far have been running a shell coverage zone. I think we will see the deep ball more now that we are in conference play and we will see more man coverage.

 

[Marcelason78]

The key to the season was-- how will Dekkers perform in his starting role? Based on what we have seen so far, the kid is going to kill it as Iowa State's QB.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

I really like our RB room. Norton should be healthy to start Big 12 play and that is helpful.

The hole Brock ran through on that 61 yard run was big enough to drive a truck through.

 

[davegilbertson]

Pretty good I'd say. The O-Line is shaping up to be the best we've seen in the Campbell era, sans the 2020 season, and they get some good push in the run game which is something we've maybe never seen. The RB room very good, and very deep, though I think would have some concern is J. Brock went down. Sanders and Silas are clearly more complementary type backs and I'd be concerned if one of them had to carry a full load or if it were down to just the two of them in a committee.

One thing that has frustrated me so far is the passing game, with the amount of throws to the flats, 4-5 yard outs, 8-10 yard crossing patterns and slants etc. When the blocking is there, these plays can appear 'explosive', but what I'd like to see if more downfield stuff. We know Dekkers has the arm. Is the issue in offensive scheme or in WR talent? X and Noel are really good in space, but not sure either of them are burners. Is the missing piece someone that can take the top off of a defense, or is it just not schemed to move the ball like that? I am fine with getting 7-8 yards per play, and the offense has a nice flow to it so far, but I'd like to see us tee up a few more home run opportunities. Final scores of 42-10 vs SEMO and 43-10 vs Ohio are great, but look around the conference a little bit:

Kansas beat Tennessee Tech 56-10
WVU beat Towson 65-7
Texas Tech beat Murray St 63-10
Oklahoma State has put up 58 and 63 in games this year

I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining, but it'd be nice to see a result like one of the above at some point, and I'm trying to figure out why we don't ever see it. 70-21 v.s Louisiana Monroe a few years back is the closest I've seen a Campbell-led ISU team get.

add a poll

 

[CascadeClone]

Agree with the OP that the O-line looks pretty decent. I hope they stay healthy and keep getting better. Although I think Treiber has done pretty well from what I can tell.

I think those looking for deeper throws, what you really want is the "explosiveness" piece, where you can score quickly if needed. That can come from run game (Breece, man) or even slants against the wrong defensive alignment, not just deep patterns. They haven't really attacked that part of the field yet. Is that because they can't? Or haven't needed to? Guess we will find out.

Anyone know about Remsberg & Norton? Like actual info? I am sure CMC has them on day-to-day whether they have the sniffles or have had a limb amputated.

 

[davegilbertson]

Our offense/defense strategies are a little odd when compared to each other. Our defense is one that says it's hard to drive the length of the field so we will keep from giving up long shots and hold them to FGs at worst.

Our offense looks to go with shorter, high percentage plays and not go deep in taking the idea of using sustained drives and driving the length of the field.

Why I've always said, if you want to stop a teams offense, look no further than the defense that their own team runs. Many times the HC will have a defense that is suited to stop their own offense.

I would say that our offense is suited to beat our defense or at least go toe to toe with it. Discipline and being content to take the 75-yard field in 4-5 yard chunks is what our Defense preys on. So far that's what this team has been able to do effectively on offense.

I was encouraged regarding the number of 60+ yard drives to start the year. Yes, we've had some chunk plays, but they're moving the ball very efficiently outside of plus explosive plays.

I'd rather rely on the former vs the latter over the course of a full season.

 

[Pope]

This will be blasphemy to some of the Monday morning quarterbacks on this board, but I think Manning deserves a lot of credit for play calling so far this season.

He's done an excellent job of taking what the defense is giving and playing to our strengths, especially early in the game. While we've surprisingly thrown 50% and run 50% so far for this season, we've been pretty pass heavy early in the games to build our leads and run heavy later in the games to protect our leads.

 

[Aclone]

Also, some of the teams that other Big 12 teams have played, like Towson, UAPB, Albany, Tennessee Tech, and Murray State are godawful. Ohio is on another planet compared to those, and I'd say SEMO is even a step up from some of those schools

CMC does just fine scoring points when it’s a ULM caliber school—and that ISU team didn’t have the overall talent this one does.

 

[Aclone]

The key to the season was-- how will Dekkers perform in his starting role? Based on what we have seen so far, the kid is going to kill it as Iowa State's QB.

The real key to the season has been how well the offensive line plays…since Seneca’s junior season.

 

[KremitGreens]

I don’t care about running up the scoreboard. I get more excited seeing the young depth getting almost 2 quarters to learn and make mistakes without concern of a L.