ISU vs. K State Game Thoughts

[cyfan92]

I'm sure it's been stated already, but I re-watched the game on my morning flight and there needs to be a discussion on whether Abu Sama belongs at RB2... Bummer for the local kid, maybe slot WR or corner?

 

[MartyFine]

 

[CyHans]

1 penalty and it was an odd one at that.

 

[sunset]

I think that’s the hurling stadium.

Correct. Croke Park is their Gaelic Athletics Association stadium. Check out video of a hurling or Gaelic football finals match if want to see rabid fans.

 

[CIAFarmer]

Woah he really popped him. Impressive.

 

[IlliniCy]

I don't think ESPN loved any part of Iowa State winning.

1. The latest ESPN FPI rankings have KSU ranked 21, they dropped from #18.
2. KU's big win over FSU (Fresno not Florida) bumped them to #25 from #26.
3. ISU is not ranked in the top 25. We skyrocketed from #33 to #31 after beating KSU.
4. 13 SEC are ranked higher than ISU.
5. Nebraska & Iowa are ranked #29 & #30 respectively.

We can't hate ESECPN enough.

 

[EnkAMania]

The highlight for me was Brahmer doing the Irish jig after the game.

 

[Cyched]

40 seconds times three is 2 minutes.

 

[StPaulCyclone]

Didn’t someone post a link to the full game on YouTube? Can’t find it now.

 

[SouthJerseyCy]

Part was the safeties (especially Neal) helping with heavy run support. We also are playing our 1 and 2 string backers instead of 4+. The first 2 groups are much faster than what we had last year.

Agree on safety help and especially Neal. I wasn't talking about just last year though. IMO our LB core has been bad for several years and I hope what I'm saw Saturday continues!

 

[SouthJerseyCy]

Agree on safety help and especially Neal. I wasn't talking about just last year though. IMO our LB core has been bad for several years and I hope what I'm saw Saturday continues!

BTW - Credit also to the DL. There was not a lot of pressure on the QB, but felt they held their positions well that allowed the LB's and Neal to flow to the ball. In the past we'd see OL running free on the second level taking out the tacklers.

 

[CyPack]

I think Dylan Lee gets a fair share of carries this year and I don’t think he takes them from Hansen. Seems to have great vision and cut back ability. He has to be able to help in pass protection, though.

I think Dylan Lee should start getting Sama's carries. I just don't see "it" from Sama, he's got speed but that seems to be about it, no vision, just straight line runner. Need to get Lee more involved in the run game.

 

[Statefan10]

I think Dylan Lee should start getting Sama's carries. I just don't see "it" from Sama, he's got speed but that seems to be about it, no vision, just straight line runner. Need to get Lee more involved in the run game.

I think our staff sees “it” and I’m going to trust them more than us fans. Sama played okay on Saturday and started to do some nice things. That’s also a very good KState defensive front and defense overall. Top 3 we’ll see all year for sure.

 

[CychiatricWard]

I'm sure it's been stated already, but I re-watched the game on my morning flight and there needs to be a discussion on whether Abu Sama belongs at RB2... Bummer for the local kid, maybe slot WR or corner?

Just dumb. Tired take.

 

[CychiatricWard]

I think Dylan Lee should start getting Sama's carries. I just don't see "it" from Sama, he's got speed but that seems to be about it, no vision, just straight line runner. Need to get Lee more involved in the run game.

What has Lee done to bring you to this conclusion exactly? Would love to hear it. Bet it’s a doozy.

 

[cymonw1980]

Offense

• Rocco: not his best day admittedly. But when the game is on the line, he just makes huge plays. I'd love for more consistency rest of non conf. His deep balls to Brett E. and Overby were NFL level throws.
• Brett Eskildsen - he is a natural at WR. I think he's going to make a lot of plays for us this year. Runs good routes and has speed. He's going to be a good one.
• Dom Overby - his stutter step and go route was a thing of beauty. Game breaking speed and he's just scratching the surface.
• TE's: our WR room does not have to be elite when Brahmer and Burkle are making plays the way that they did.
• Run Game - I listened to the post game with Chris Williams and the one disagreement I had was he said that "the O line just started to block better in second half." I see this a totally different way. Our run game improved immediately in the second half when we went back to our best running back. Carson Hansen gets in the game and we immediately start to rip off runs of 5 plus yards consistently. Abu, while probably a great kid, just does not find creases for running lanes well. To put an accent on the note of the run game / offensive line room, we just beat Kansas State without our best O lineman (Trevor Buhr).
• James Neal and Tyler Miller were very solid. It will be nice to get Trevor Buhr back soon and we need him.
• Offense Misc. Point: I want us to find a better 2nd string RB than Abu. At a certain point if Abu continues to get stuffed I want to see Dylan Lee more or Aiden Flora.

Defense

• Marcus Neal is a game wrecker. One of the best run defending safeties we have had in ISU modern day football. His tackle for loss on a 4th down was huge
• DL - I thought they played well. Dom Orange was solid, and Ike Ezeguo had a pass tipped. Ike i'm looking for to make more plays the longer this year goes. If there is one concern I have on D, do we have a difference maker who can get sacks this year? That will go a long way in improving our D.
• Carson Van Dinter - I really like this prospect. He was (minus one play) always in position and flying around the ball.
• LB Group - our defense with the 3 / 3 stack works great when our linebackers are as good as we have right now. Kooper Ebel looks so much improved over a year ago and was great. Caleb Bacon and Carson Willich made plays, I like this group a lot. K State is a power run attack and our LB group was stellar.

ST

• Aiden Flora looks like a good kickoff return man. He had one that almost went 40 yards today. Liked him back there. (i'd like to see him get a couple touches at RB each game)

NIce summary...

I think for me, there were a few things I saw on the re-watch.

1) It was not pretty when 95 came off the field. DL was blown up pretty bad and it immediately changed when he came back. I don't know what options we have other than hawk, but a bit concerning. I know he got knicked up, maybe that was part of it? but definitely need to do better there.

2) Rocco was not perfect, passes not 100% on target, but there were a lot of opportunities for guys to make plays and some big drops too. I understand, conditions were tough.. so, not nearly as much of a concern as #1. But, I hope the passes will be bit more accurate and when the pass is a bit off, hope the receivers can do a better job adjusting to the ball and making the play. The near pick.. i am not sure if that is on Rocco or if Sowell ran the wrong route? hard to say.

3) I don't really know what to make of the offensive line/run game. I still would like to see them run more out of a spread out look. I feel like they do better when the defense is covering both the run and the pass than when they try to run with everyone close to the line... Understand they are trying to set up pass plays off of the run looks (TE leak on 3rd and 1), but feels like a lot of downs with limited production out of that look.

4) Blown coverage snaps were not good. In this defense you can't give up those plays... we don't put a lot of pressure on the QB (rush 3 most of the time), we don't force a lot of turnovers, we usually don't completely shut down offenses, we just force them to move the ball 3-5 yds at a time and then if they make one mistake, they are off schedule and we try to force the punt. You can't break in a bend-don't-break scheme...

5) Overall, you have to love the grit and determination of this team.. they just executed a bit better than KSU in key moments and that was the difference. All of the notes above are opportunities for us to improve even further, and we just beat what most people thought would be one of the best teams in the conference. I'll take it!

 

[isucy86]

Sure. Everyone exploited it so much that we led the league in passing defense. By a decent margin.

Edit: Aside from two bad reads by RS freshman safeties, if my math is right (it isn’t always), the defense gave up 171 passing yards Saturday. To a fairly decent offense, with good players.

I think we've been through this before regarding last year's team. Our pass defense led the Big 12 because our run defense was porous. Teams like Cincy, UCF, etc are prime examples. Why pass when you can run at will on the perimeter.

I would agree our defense was really solid other than 3-4 big pass/run plays Saturday. BUT Avery Johnson is not a top half of Big12 passing QB. Against top Big12 passing QB's our pass rush & coverage will need to be a lot better.

The good thing, KSU was game 1.

 

[Aclone]

Two new and separate rules:
(1) Defense making disconcerting action/signal -- this was ISU's only penalty
(2) Player injured after ball is spotted -- costs a timeout; if out of timeouts, then a penalty

Both of those calls were a little iffy, but they will be points of emphasis until it goes against a brand name in a key situation.

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Any player within one yard of the line of scrimmage (stationary or not) may not make quick and abrupt or exaggerated actions that simulate action at the snap and are not part of normal defensive player movement in an obvious attempt to make the offense foul (false start).(A.R.7-1-5-IV).

No player shall use words or signals that disconcert opponents when they are preparing to put the ball in play.No player may call defensive signals that simulate the sound or cadence of, or otherwise interfere with, offensive starting signals.The terms “move” and “stem” are reserved for defensive cadence and may not be used by the offense.The offense may use a “clap” as a starting signal and this signal may not be used by the defense (A.R.7-1-5-V).

In the event of an injured player(s):
An official will declare a timeout and the player(s) must leave the game.That player must remain out of the game for at least one down, even if that team is granted a team timeout.When in question, officials will take a timeout for an injured player.If a player presents as injured after the ball is spotted by officials, that team will be charged a Team Timeout or a delay penalty if all timeouts have been used (A.R.3-3-6 X-XII)

Is there an unwritten rule where they have to add a new rule or two every year—and they got desperate for something?

 

[Aclone]

Thanks for analyzing my post and jumping on the 'just say some ****' train that is CF.

I don't know everything and won't claim that. But I'm guessing an outside LB isn't supposed to stay inside in a preventish/soft coverage type of situation vs getting out to the flats.

Looked like pretty typical first game type of stuff.

You said that context matters. He simply replied showing the only context you had offered.

I hope you two are fine now?

 

[Aclone]

Didn’t someone post a link to the full game on YouTube? Can’t find it now.