As someone stated (I think Williams), good teams win their clunker games. That was an ugly game one half in. We grinded it out and turned it on in the critical stages of the game. Great road win and love this team. Thoughts below:
Defense -
I owe a sincere apology to Heacock. I look up in the third quarter and Houston has 145 yards rushing, and 0 points. The defense from the 50 yard line in was elite at clamping down, forcing a 3rd and difficult situation, and getting off the field.
Defense -
I owe a sincere apology to Heacock. I look up in the third quarter and Houston has 145 yards rushing, and 0 points. The defense from the 50 yard line in was elite at clamping down, forcing a 3rd and difficult situation, and getting off the field.
- Cael Brezina is ISUs next NFL linebacker. I think he actually runs better than Mike Rose and he hits like Jake Knott. Dude is extremely tough and has a nose for the ball
- Kooper Ebel had his best game of the year, led the team in tackles (9), and 1.5 tackles for loss
- Dom Orange and JR singleton also look like future NFL guys, playing extremely well
- Jeremiah Cooper's INT at the end was in garbage time, but man was that one of the prettiest plays I have seen in a long time by a safety. Toe tap sideline INT.
- Malik Verdon is playing his way into the top 5 rounds of the draft, wow is he having a year.
- I figured Beni Ngoyi would have played a little more when Noel went down but it seems as another poster has said that Beni is slotted to only play Higgins' position. But I was extremely impressed with Carson Brown #32. Had a big third down catch when the game was tight and had zero hesitation out there. I liked him a lot. Researched Carson Brown was a great HS player at Dowling in Des Moines and had no offers. We may have a gem in him and future starter.
- Abu Sama - it's clear at this point he is not the bell cow back type like David Montgomery. BUT he can still be extremely effective. He has the propensity to bust a 40 yard plus run every game if the line blocks well.
- Jaylin Jackson - he's the surprise of the team almost to me. He was huge in the Iowa game, he was huge in this game. He finds tough yards when there isn't any blocked, in this regard he's actually better than Abu Sama.
- Carson Hanson to me is the perfect back to get 3 tough yards. He always falls forward and pushes a pile for positive yards.
- The OL has a different look and feel with Jaylin Travis and Trevor Burr. We can bully people more with those guys so that's exciting.
- My only critique last night? We seemed super intent on slow tempo / run game up middle and off tackle - and the front 4 of Houston was like the strength of their team. I would have preferred to spread them out more last night (like second half of Iowa).
- I'm starting to think the list of Big 12 (or national) corners that can cover Jaydin Higgins is a very short list, hence the above thought. I am bummed we don't play Colorado b/c Higgins versus travis hunter would have been must watch tv.
