For those who are on the ledge...

[joefrog]

2 Quarters with no adjustments on D. Then shutdown after halftime! why can't this occur earlier?

Because our coaches have a philosophy of not tipping their hand. They want to win the second half, so they just try to keep it close in the first, make their major adjustments at halftime so the other team doesn't have time to properly respond, and hopefully ISU wins the second half.

This hasn't changed under CMC and also will not change. Likewise, Campbell is not going to Playstation games and try to just score as much as possible. Announcers have even noted how ISU is comfortable playing in tight games. I'm more comfortable being up multiple scores.

Face it folks, Campbell is a lot like Ferentz in philosophy, loyalty, and being stubborn. He raised our floor and ceiling, but he likewise will not quite play risky enough to go for it all. When is the last time we faked a punt?

 

[Hoggins]

I’d rather be 3-9 bad than this crap where we lose while clearly being the better team. That way I can enjoy my Saturday and the hilarity that comes with terrible ISU teams.

 

[Neptune78]

Exactly. For all the praise heaped on Heacock, I don’t understand why we have to make so many adjustments at halftime or why we can’t make those same adjustments earlier. Also, it’d be ******* nice to get a 3rd down stop now and then.

For those more in the know, how much of this is related to pre-game film study being a little lacking? Did Baylor,and every team for that matter, come out in the first half with something not on film? Seems doubtful.

 

[Neptune78]

Because our coaches have a philosophy of not tipping their hand.......When is the last time we faked a punt?

The 'last time' list is probably long, but I'd add--
Reverse
Screen pass

 

[ghyland7]

It was frustrating to see the loss yesterday. I think its even more frustrating to see all the armchair QBs complain about Purdy and the offense.

It is so weird to me- a ton of posters bash the O-line; when a bad play happens, it's just "oh look the oline is awful my point is proven." Then they casually ignore Breece getting 150 yards on like 6 yards a carry. They played much better as the game went on. This is what we want. Our players were better conditioned as the game went on.

Baylor brought a TON of exotic blitzes. A lot of the pressure wasn't because of our tackles playing like ****, but it was good play design by Baylor that we didn't take advantage of. Yes; occasionally an olineman got beat. That happens literally every game. NFL lineman still occasionally give up sacks.

Purdy played good enough to win the game overall. It's disappointing that the final snap was fumbled.

Mevis even played fine for ST; however, our punt and kickoff coverage have been downright terrible.

It was a frustrating game. We weren't athletically outclassed. We had piss poor "defensive" special teams and it cost us. Dunn had 3 punts. 1 boomed, two terrible punts.

The offense and defensive efforts were enough to win. Missed FG (although was 47 so can't be too mad), and a kickoff return for a TD. We lose by 2.

 

[keepngoal]

This team is exhausting to watch. I haven’t seen one aspect live up to the hype train.

I just have to be done with FB as soon as games like that happen, then come back next game day…..

 

[bosco]

Watching Rhoads teams was infuriating because they didn't do what is necessary to win football games which resulted in being kicked in the teeth due to the talent gap. Watching this team is infuriating because they don't due what is necessary to win football games and lose games they shouldn't because there is no talent gap.

 

[atlantacyclone]

I’d rather be 3-9 bad than this crap where we lose while clearly being the better team. That way I can enjoy my Saturday and the hilarity that comes with terrible ISU teams.

Basketball sometimes plays on Saturday’s… you will always have last season!

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

The box score shows us the reasons we are losing games like this. Total yards ISU 479, Baylor 282, time of possession ISU 35.39 to Baylor's 24. 21. We kept the ball and rolled up 200 more yards of offense, the turnovers were one each, we won the battle of penalties ISU 3-25 to Baylor's 9-100. Then why did we lose? Just look at the kicking and returns stats.

Punting ISU 3 for 106 35.3 avg. Baylor 4 for 218 54.4 avg.

Punt returns ISU 3 for 7 2.3 avg, Baylor 2 for 47 23. 5 avg.

Kick returns ISU ZERO, Baylor 3 for 121, 40.3 avg and one TD.

 

[Cyched]

While it's disappointing that we seemingly won't live up to the high expectations this year, ultimately I want to see that what we have under this staff is sustainable.

I was definitely hoping this would be the year we got to that 10 win mark (still possible). But if we get 8-9 and another decent bowl (Alamo?) after 8, 8, 7 and 9 wins, it's a good foundation for the future. I don't think we'll see a massive dropoff next year with the likes of Dekkers, Silas, Sanders, Tampa, etc. How high of a ceiling does the underclassmen on this team have?

Of course, at some point you need to have that special breakout year to say your program is established. Does that happen this year, or in the next cycle?

Still a lot to play for this year, so hopefully we address these deficiencies and make us forget about yesterday.

 

[aauummm]

The box score shows us the reasons we are losing games like this. Total yards ISU 479, Baylor 282, time of possession ISU 35.39 to Baylor's 24. 21. We kept the ball and rolled up 200 more yards of offense, the turnovers were one each, we won the battle of penalties ISU 3-25 to Baylor's 9-100.

We also had 27 first downs compared to their 15. I agree, we dominated them in every stat except special teams. Normally that would be good enough to win the game easily.

 

[Daserop]

A good coaching staff addresses issues. This coaching staff just sticks it's head in the sand and chooses to ingore them. This will be their downfall and we're seeing it happen.

 

[dirtyninety]

Baylor brought a TON of exotic blitzes. A lot of the pressure wasn't because of our tackles playing like ****, but it was good play design by Baylor that we didn't take advantage of.

.

I wish we could bring a ton of exotic blitzes....maybe even in first halves.

 

[kcbob79clone]

#LosingInTheMargins

 

[jbhtexas]

We also had 27 first downs compared to their 15. I agree, we dominated them in every stat except special teams. Normally that would be good enough to win the game easily.

And ISU didn't dominate BU on the scoreboard...which given all of those gaudy offense stats, should have been the case...except that ISU can't get in the endzone and has to settle for FGs. This is a killer in P5 football.

 

[Die4Cy]

Because our coaches have a philosophy of not tipping their hand. They want to win the second half, so they just try to keep it close in the first, make their major adjustments at halftime so the other team doesn't have time to properly respond, and hopefully ISU wins the second half.

This hasn't changed under CMC and also will not change. Likewise, Campbell is not going to Playstation games and try to just score as much as possible. Announcers have even noted how ISU is comfortable playing in tight games. I'm more comfortable being up multiple scores.

Face it folks, Campbell is a lot like Ferentz in philosophy, loyalty, and being stubborn. He raised our floor and ceiling, but he likewise will not quite play risky enough to go for it all. When is the last time we faked a punt?

It's cool to be comfortable playing in one score games. But not if your special teams is putting you at a -13. That is just you giving away games.

 

[norcalcy]

Every year there are early top 10 teams that are over rated. This year it was us and North Carolina. This kind of fall from grace is not unique to us. Sometimes those over rated teams crawl back into the rankings , sometimes they don’t. The cumulative weight of ISUs struggles over the decades is weighing on fans. Take a breath. We never were a playoff team. Conference is still up for grabs. I have my doubts that this team can take that prize, but we shall see. As someone else said, we might be better suited as the hunter rather than the hunted.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

We've likely seen the best of the Campbell tenure, the peak was making and the performance in the Fiesta Bowl. Unfortunately the Campbell era will likely be the best in my lifetime (I'm in my mid 30s). There's very little reason to get excited about the big picture in relation to Iowa St. football. At least we have 7 to 9 win talent now which is the best we've had in the history of the program, with the lone possible exception being some of the teams in the 70s.

Wow, I bet you are a lot of fun to be around.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

Every year there are early top 10 teams that are over rated. This year it was us and North Carolina. This kind of fall from grace is not unique to us. Sometimes those over rated teams crawl back into the rankings , sometimes they don’t. The cumulative weight of ISUs struggles over the decades is weighing on fans. Take a breath. We never were a playoff team. Conference is still up for grabs. I have my doubts that this team can take that prize, but we shall see. As someone else said, we might be better suited as the hunter rather than the hunted.

No doubt we that we have not adjusted to the "hunted role." As fans, we have not adjusted to this situation. I would be more negative, but we are 4-5 plays from being 4-0.

It is no longer a talent issue..........it is eliminating three plays a game. Three very fixable plays vs talent issues.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

I’d rather be 3-9 bad than this crap where we lose while clearly being the better team. That way I can enjoy my Saturday and the hilarity that comes with terrible ISU teams.

You can do that. So please adjust your attitude while the vast majority of us don't want 3-9 teams. Otherwise, it was a funny post.