A Lot of Talented Players Not a Good Team
- Thread starter JCloned
- Start date
Yeah we have some good talent, but you're right the team is not playing well together. I actually thought the D Line played as well as I've seen them play this year. We seem to be getting better every week in that department. However our O Line has been under achieving.
I think the McCarney haters are nuts as he's a good coach, but I would agree he probably needs to find a different Offensive coordinater.
I think the McCarney haters are nuts as he's a good coach, but I would agree he probably needs to find a different Offensive coordinater.
Ah yes, the typical reaction. Fans want the risky call, criticize coaches for conservative play calling, and when the risky play is called, they complain that it was a dumb call when it fails. See also the reverse called in the first half that lost us 9 yards.
The coaches are really in a no win situation with many fans right now.
The coaches are really in a no win situation with many fans right now.
Jearomy,
I agree the Defense needs to improve more. I do think they've been playing better then expected while the Offense has been worse then expected.
You can never please the Mob. It' easy to be an arm chair coach.
I remember when the Iowa fans wanted Kirk Ferenz's head and now he's the best thing that ever happened to that program(until they have a losing season.)
I agree the Defense needs to improve more. I do think they've been playing better then expected while the Offense has been worse then expected.
You can never please the Mob. It' easy to be an arm chair coach.
I remember when the Iowa fans wanted Kirk Ferenz's head and now he's the best thing that ever happened to that program(until they have a losing season.)
No, see, in my opinion you need to either actually go for it with your offense, or just take the field goal. With NU lining up in a regular defense formation, it was not a great idea to try for the fake, especially considering we needed so many yards. You either go for it with the offense, or if you're going to take the points, then take the points. The only time I could see a fake being potentially a decent thought is if we needed very low yardage for a first down and we were as far behind as our team was last night, or if we're on the goal line. So I feel that it wasn't exactly smart to go for it by faking the kick instead of keeping the offense on there and really trying to do something, especially since we had plenty of yards to go for a first down.
Exactly.
If either the reverse or fake field goal works...fans go nuts...then will praise the players. Yet when things go wrong...it's never the players fault...
I have no problem with the play calling. Like a few of you have said, if those plays work, we're all going crazy in the stands and telling each other what a good call it was. I was also happier with how the defense played even though we gave up some huge number of yards on the ground. We only gave up 7 points in the 2nd half and that was at a time in the game when it didn't matter because the game was essentially over. Our defense played good enough for us to win, especially in the 2nd half. And then there's the offense. It was in a word, horrible. The one thing that I was really disturbed by was the complete lack of discipline shown by our team last night, especially the offense. How many times in the second half did we have the ball deep in Nebraska terriorty and it was 3rd and 10 only to have a false start penalty push us back even further. Granted, 3rd and 10 is not exactly the most desireable position to be in, but when you push it to 3rd and 15, that limits our play calling ability. Throughout the Dan McCarney era you can expect at least 2 things out of his teams. They won't beat themselves with turning the ball over and they won't beat themselves with penalties. I think turnovers were even last night, but penalties absolutely killed us. I've been on the Mac bandwagon for a long time now, and I still am. I'm just worried about the trend this season of our team beating themselves with key penalties. Most games it has been the inexperienced defense having some dumb penalties at key times in the game (see Texas or Iowa games). But tonight, the offense let us down with mistakes they can control.
yesterday I attended the Navy vs. Air Force game (Navy won) and have to say it was really impressive watching the naval academy play.... they run the option mostly, but their O-Line was just super-disciplined and played a nearly flawless game, i.e. not killing themselves. They had a fullback who freaking ran at over, and thru people, unlike what ISU's lone "threat" in the backfield does. So it made me realize that perhaps the source of our woes ultimately is in the trenches and the guy we're handing the ball off to. Everything starts in the trenches. We have no running game, period. Hicks seems to be a good kid and can block decently, but he is not a threat! His stuttering in mid-stride and attempted jukes drive me insane! But seriously, maybe if he had more holes to run thru he'd be a bit more respectable, which begs the question, why does this veteran O-Line stink? I read their body language and it's no wonder opposing D-Lineman tee off on them. And better yet, we'll have to replace 4 spots next year! maybe thats not such a bad thing, but I think replacing their offensive coach is another place to start. As Sean Keeler pointed out in his column, the talent gap b/t NU and ISU is back, as is the aggresiveness. Hello to another decade of finishing in the middle of the Big 12 north.
You know I disagree about the perceived talent gap. The only position where that may exist is the running back position. I'd put our receivers and quarterback up against pretty much anybody in the country. Our D line needs some help, but our Linebackers are really good. I'm willing to cut them some slack as they are all so new, but there's no excuse for the Offensive line right now. They're seasoned veterans and should be doing a better job.
Truth is we haven't had a decent running back since Ennis Hayward. Stevie is a good pass blocker and is part of the reason Meyer(most of the time) has been as good as he is. However Stevie never has impressed me too much with his speed or power. I remember watching the Davis Brothers and Enis work with less of a line then we have now and those guys just used to make people miss or run through them. We don't have that now.
McCarney knows that and that's why he keeps saying we need to put the running game together. It sounds like we've got some good backs behind Stevie, but they either have ball control issues or don't pass block too well.
Truth is we haven't had a decent running back since Ennis Hayward. Stevie is a good pass blocker and is part of the reason Meyer(most of the time) has been as good as he is. However Stevie never has impressed me too much with his speed or power. I remember watching the Davis Brothers and Enis work with less of a line then we have now and those guys just used to make people miss or run through them. We don't have that now.
McCarney knows that and that's why he keeps saying we need to put the running game together. It sounds like we've got some good backs behind Stevie, but they either have ball control issues or don't pass block too well.
You know, recruiting in the heartland, a great o-line should be the one thing you can really put together. I just don't get why our offense isn't clicking at all.
At least I can understand why the D is bad. There are no excuses for the O at all. Those guys should be embarassed.
At least I can understand why the D is bad. There are no excuses for the O at all. Those guys should be embarassed.
We seem to forget Flynn was just a yard or two (I think) shy of that first down. Get some better blocking...who knows.
Either way...not one person on the ISU team, everyone included...can say they gave 100% Saturday. No one.
It's time to buck up folks - we are playing football. Or at least...supposed to be.
Either way...not one person on the ISU team, everyone included...can say they gave 100% Saturday. No one.
It's time to buck up folks - we are playing football. Or at least...supposed to be.
Sounds like a coaching problem. I see many coaches running around calling for a timeout in case it is fishy. Think our staff can do that next time?
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Three yards unfortunately according to the scoreboard I read. Not that close. Unbfortunately also, a fieldgoal would have meant an 11 point game.
Poor McC. He has made four non conservative calls ain the last few weeks and they have all gone astray. I think we need a brain trust to improve our quirky plays so we actually fool the other time. Think Spurrier innovation.
Seriously, when the game has been on the line, our quirky plays have failed. When Bret has faced big third and fourth downs, the other team usually blitzes so he does not have a chance. Is it me or are we telegraphing our plan to the world in these critical situations. Could we try a screen pass when Bret sees them blitz. Does Bret at home check off as much as other teams?
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I agree with you there. A time out could have made a big difference.
Does the coaching staff see all the replays like we do on t.v.?
Does the coaching staff see all the replays like we do on t.v.?
Yeah he's kind of dammed if he does and dammed if he doesn't. He's a big ball control coach and doesn't like doing quirky things, but the fans view that as a lack of creativity and get on him, so when he finally does try a few they back fire and the fans get on him for that.
I agree. However, would you rather have Albert Young or Damian Sims? Or Jon Cornish? Or Cody Glenn and Marlon Lucky? Or Brandon Malraky? Jack Zip? Would that make us good enough? I believe Stevie could work out with smarter playcalling.
We are Telegraph City. Here is the play, Mr. Red, watch us run it. It is pretty bad when the fans know who will have the ball and which direction they will go. Halloween is coming up. Let's have some disguised plays.
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How come we have never run the WR DP??? Last time I checked we do have an exQB at WR. seems like it should work.
