DEPTH CHART IS OUT!

I think WRs will sort itself out after a few games. But probably a lot more guys playing this year than last. The fact they were trying out Jeremiah Cooper at CB tells you the coaches are a bit concerned at the other CB spot and don’t feel like they have a great solution there.
Or, they have so much talent at S they are trying to figure out how to get their best 11 on the field like they talk about every year.
 
Here's the thing about the "ORs"

The order ABSOLUTELY matters. ISU has a team full of 105 alpha dogs. The staff knows that the public will read into whatever they put out, AND THE PLAYERS WILL EVEN MORE SO.

Every player will look at the top guy and say "That's the guy". The staff knows this.

To me, the "ORs" mean "But don't be surprised to see"
Yes, players will want to be at the top of the depth chart and if a player is out talenting another player but the other player is outworking the more talented player the coaches may put out a depth chart with the harder worker at the top. It can be and often is used as a motivational tool, especially in the preseason.
 
Wrong.

Last year defenses only had to focus on two guys. Making them spread their attention to three wideouts far is better—TE’s and RB’s aside—including when one of your “studs” is getting a breather. Putting as much stress as you can on a defense is always optimal.
Your argument that the ISU football team is better off without two stud NFL WRs than with them is nonsensical. Just take a step back and give it the old smell test.

Also, what led you to believe the defenses could just ignore the ISU 3rd WR last year but now need to account for them since we don’t have Higgins and Noel? Nonsense.
 
I agree they will be greatly missed, but did you watch the bowl game where Higgins was absent? Noel did alot of damage, but some of the others stepped up and made plays. IMHO its going to take a game or two to produce fruit. The talent appears to be there to be successful, maybe not as instant as last season, but we have the TE's to lean on until it happens.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VeloClone
I find the debate about whether it’s better to have 2 1,000 yd receivers vs 4 500 receivers very interesting.

I think it might be better to have the 4 500 yd receivers honestly. If I’m an opposing defense, I think having to worry about 4 is harder than 2.
I don’t recall saying anything about four 500 yard receivers.

I think instead of 1,250, 1,250 (two studs, it would be better to have 1,000, 1,000, 840, 500.

Because the third (and fourth) guy open things up for the first two.
 
Your argument that the ISU football team is better off without two stud NFL WRs than with them is nonsensical. Just take a step back and give it the old smell test.

Also, what led you to believe the defenses could just ignore the ISU 3rd WR last year but now need to account for them since we don’t have Higgins and Noel? Nonsense.
No, nonsensical is you saying that’s my argument. Matter of fact, you thinking that is just plain buck stupid.

My argument is that it’s far better to have three or even four stud receivers, rather than being limited to two guys.

*Edited for a semblance of politeness.

I mean, seriously. I’d think that my posts about how good Sowell, Townsend, Overby and Eskildsen could be might have been a clue? A tiny little one? Hello?

To be clear, Higgins got of to a slow start in his first season here in ‘23–and still had 983 yards.

That’s not expecting too much from our new guys.

Please stop underestimating our players.
 
Last edited:
  • Haha
Reactions: CloneIce
I think the points are:

  • Yes, stud receivers are hard to replace.
  • You don't have to replace one to one - multiple players can replace the production of one guy.
  • It is easier to key on (give help on) two guys than it is to cover multiple guys who are all very capable.

In a 4 or 5 receiver set I know who I am going to key on when there are two guys on pace for over 1,000 yards and nobody else who is doing much. When you have 4 or 5 guys on pace for 600-800 yards there isn't a clear answer to who you are going to help on. Line it up and look to see which matchup(s) favor you.

Yes, everybody wants a stud receiver(s), but spreading the ball around to multiple very capable receivers also creates difficult decisions for defenses.

Not saying it is better, but just that it isn't cause for doom and gloom.
 
It's week 0, against a top 3? conference opponent, where there is zero film on our WR transfers at ISU. You think Campbell is going to reveal his hand in this situation? They have some film on Green, Overby, and Eskildsen - let them prepare for those three. Now, I do think a lot of WR's will play. But as the year goes on, I think we will see Sowell and Townsend (when healthy) separate themselves from the pack
I know nothing about any of them, and don't have high expectations of anyone in particular frankly. But I will say, new guys in the CMC system get some chances early, but playing time increases gradually.

E.g. with Higgins, you saw him flash a bit early that first year and thought "whoa that guy is special" but he wasn't Randy Moss out of the gate. His usage increased and then last year he was kind of a cheat code. Just hoping one of those guys can separate himself and be a stud.
 
There is zero tape on Sowell and Townsend in the Iowa State offense.
And the scant amount of tape on Eskildsen and Overby is likely very little like how they’ll be used this year.

In either case, opposing coaches can get some idea of what the player can do.

Just for one example, who you don’t want to try to cover with a linebacker.
 
And the scant amount of tape on Eskildsen and Overby is likely very little like how they’ll be used this year.

In either case, opposing coaches can get some idea of what the player can do.

Just for one example, who you don’t want to try to cover with a linebacker.
And as of right now, Kansas State doesn't know how we'll use/utilize Sowell or X
 
Sure! There’s no way they’d ever guess that it might be similar to the way we used Higgins and Noel!
Even though these two were brought in and are similar to Higgins and Noel, one short and shifty, the other is taller and a burner, they're not the same players. Players. Formations. Plays.
 
I think the points are:

  • Yes, stud receivers are hard to replace.
  • You don't have to replace one to one - multiple players can replace the production of one guy.
  • It is easier to key on (give help on) two guys than it is to cover multiple guys who are all very capable.

In a 4 or 5 receiver set I know who I am going to key on when there are two guys on pace for over 1,000 yards and nobody else who is doing much. When you have 4 or 5 guys on pace for 600-800 yards there isn't a clear answer to who you are going to help on. Line it up and look to see which matchup(s) favor you.

Yes, everybody wants a stud receiver(s), but spreading the ball around to multiple very capable receivers also creates difficult decisions for defenses.

Not saying it is better, but just that it isn't cause for doom and gloom.

You can have two stud receivers and still spread it around. It’s actually easier for the other guys to get open in that situation.