Better this year?

[Rhoadhoused]

Offensively, it's easy. We lost key skill players, but our offense sucked last year, and it sucked because we never had big plays. Those players are being replaced by more dynamic, explosive players.

On defense, we basically only lose our two safties. The LBers will be good again barring injury. The Dline can't be worse than it was last year, and was on the upswing towards the end of the year so there is reason for optimism

 

[bosco]

Everyone seems so convinced we will be better this year. What are the reasons? I'm not seeing it. I think we'll have a season about like last year.

You're right that we might not improve on the record from last year but that maybe due to the schedule, we will be better however. Those two points are not mutually exclusive.

According to Brent Blum

@brentblum

2010 ISU defense held last 4 Big 12 opponents to under 400 yards. Only 2nd time in 20 years D has had 4 straight sub 400 yd conf. games.

https://twitter.com/#!/brentblum/status/104602090923491328

There are 9 returning starters from that squad. The offense will be better from a statistical stand point. No where to go but up.

 

[heitclone]

I think its safe to assume our defense will be improved, the offense is purely speculation. Almost everything is banking on guys who've never contributed stepping up. Honestly I don't think this team will great by any means but if we get guys to step up at RB and WR,a bowl game isn't a huge stretch.

 

[cyatheart]

Everyone seems so convinced we will be better this year. What are the reasons? I'm not seeing it. I think we'll have a season about like last year.

Better team, worse record. Defense is getting there and should be a lot better. I think the record will be the same or worse. Which most will freak out about, but right now progress isn't necessarily measured in wins.

 

[NEICyFan]

More depth throughout and therefore able to do more with what we have.

A defense that has really come together.

3rd year with a new coach.

a couple solid recruiting classes that are now coming into their own and shold be able to make an impact.

A quarterback, that although unknown at this level, has put up big numbers in JC.

A coach who says this is the best team he's had. Coaches normally don't say that, so hearing that gets me pumped for the season.

A couple new receivers that should make an impact plus other receivers that have had another year of experience and work to improve.

We are still undefeated in 2011 so why not be excited?

Need any other reasons?

More depth? How do we know this?

Our recruiting hasn't changed much the past few years.

Coaches say crap like that all the time. It means little once the season starts.

Receivers--it's one position I'm positive we've taken a step back on. Might not be a big step back, but a step back.

Jantz certainly couldn't be much worse than our past QBs.

People keep calling me "negative" but I don't feel that is true. I'm quite pleased with our head coach and our program. I understand who we are and where we've come from. This thread has a natural negative slant. I just think there's a lot of blind faith and group think going on here.

And, most of all, I HATE HATE the melt down that will inevitably happen when this team starts to struggle and they WILL struggle. I hate all the finger pointing and badmouthing of the coaches that goes on. Am I intentionally being a wet blanket because of this? You better believe it.

 

[cyatheart]

Don`t underestimate the impact of offensive players that were recruited to fit this system. It could provide huge results.

I totally agree here, we still are not even close to having the players we need to run this system to its full potential. Still 2 or 3 years away I think.

 

[UNIGuy4Cy]

The answer to your question is "yes." There were 25 teams behind us.

Most of those teams are not in a BCS conference. Nebraska, GT and Illinois are run first offenses.

 

[Mr Janny]

People keep calling me "negative" but I don't feel that is true.

Am I intentionally being a wet blanket because of this? You better believe it.

lol.

 

[dualthreat]

Were going to be better because Paul rhoads said we are going to be. You don't have to believe ME, but if you don't believe HIM then who are u going to believe?

The rest of the staff has pretty much echoed Cpr with each of their respective position groups.

 

[CycloneErik]

There is nothing I like more than people telling me not to be optimistic.

 

[Al_4_State]

More depth? How do we know this?

Our recruiting hasn't changed much the past few years.

Coaches say crap like that all the time. It means little once the season starts.

Receivers--it's one position I'm positive we've taken a step back on. Might not be a big step back, but a step back.

Jantz certainly couldn't be much worse than our past QBs.

People keep calling me "negative" but I don't feel that is true. I'm quite pleased with our head coach and our program. I understand who we are and where we've come from. This thread has a natural negative slant. I just think there's a lot of blind faith and group think going on here.

And, most of all, I HATE HATE the melt down that will inevitably happen when this team starts to struggle and they WILL struggle. I hate all the finger pointing and badmouthing of the coaches that goes on. Am I intentionally being a wet blanket because of this? You better believe it.

I think Jantz will be fine, but if people think we couldn't do much worse at the QB position, well, I just we hope we never find out. Our QB play didn't hold us back the last two year. It could have been a lot better, but it wasn't our biggest issue.

It could get a lot worse(see: 2003). Let's pray that doesn't happen.

 

[gocubs2118]

I think it's way past someones bed time.

 

[DesertClone1]

 

[bosco]

More depth? How do we know this?

First CPR has said he has more depth this year. If you don't believe him then look at how many true freshman or RS freshman that are in the 2deeps. If you have been a fan for any amount of time you'll realize that this hasn't been the norm

Our recruiting hasn't changed much the past few years.

Here are the last two incoming classes.
Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com 2010 Iowa St. Commitments

Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com 2011 Iowa St. Commitments

Compare that to the classes in 2002 and 2003
Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com 2002 Iowa St. Commitments

Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com 2003 Iowa St. Commitments

Something looks different to me.

Coaches say crap like that all the time. It means little once the season starts.

Show me one time that CPR has been blowing smoke up our skirts?

Receivers--it's one position I'm positive we've taken a step back on. Might not be a big step back, but a step back

.
WR certainly hasn't performed the way that we have hoped but as a group the talent is there.

Jantz certainly couldn't be much worse than our past QBs.

If he is as good as Seneca or Sage the team will be better.

 

[State43]

CPR said it's his best team that he is putting on the field.
/thread

 

[CycloneWanderer]

So therefore it always works out that way.

Gotcha.

So therefore it never works out that way?

 

[Carr50010]

Everyone seems so convinced we will be better this year. What are the reasons? I'm not seeing it. I think we'll have a season about like last year.

Because Knott and Klein are going unchained and let loose on the blitz.
Because we have a QB that can throw the ball accurrately farther than 10 yards.
Because we have D-Line that will actually be average.
Because Horne may be the best receiver we have seen in my memory.
Because we have many other players that have the talent be be stars in the making. Lenz, West, Money, Shontrelle, Woody, Leonard, Lattimer, and Tau’fo’ou.

 

[Istate]

Because Knott and Klein are going unchained and let loose on the blitz.
Because we have a QB that can throw the ball accurrately farther than 10 yards.
Because we have D-Line that will actually be average.
Because Horne may be the best receiver we have seen in my memory.
Because we have many other players that have the talent be be stars in the making. Lenz, West, Money, Shontrelle, Woody, Leonard, Lattimer, and Tau’fo’ou.

I think we will be about the same. We lost too much experience to expect their replacements to exceed what those lost had done, especially early in the season. Simms will be a huge hole. He was our 2nd best run stopper behind Jake. I still think our DEs will get pushed around against the run. We lose a qb that has seen everything and replace him with a guy that maybe accurate but doesn't have a strong arm and has never played against division I talent. We lost some reliable receivers, and Money is injured right now. To think Horne may be the best receiver in memory is ridiculous (please cut and past that for season's end because I'd love to be proven wrong). We lost our second best lineman who made the OL calls and have two inexperienced guys starting in the OL this fall.

So why when it looks like we should be worse do we have the chance to be about the same? Depth. Outside of the qb position where we have little if any, ISU has someone behind the starter at almost every position that could fill in admirably. That not only helps with substitutions during games but also with improving talent through camp and practice with competition.

 

[cstrunk]

I think many believe that we'll be a better football team but also know that it just may not show up in the W/L record as improvement because of the tougher schedule.

 

[Clones21]

I believe we have the best QB we have had since Seneca Wallace. Yeah, yeah he hasn't played a Big 12 game yet. I don't care.