Matt Campbell and depth

[AuH2O]

First, show you are going to have an opportunity to compete for playing time. That helps get some better depth within classes through recruiting. Second, play a lot of guys in games. Obviously this builds depths in multiple ways as others have said. The unheralded advantage of that if you have 16-17 guys that are likely to see the field on defense as part of typical rotation rather than 12-13, you have more guys fully engaged in practice and meetings. Not only are more guys playing, a guy that may have been two or three injuries away from seeing the field might be one injury away. It reminds me of something Chris Peterson said when he was at BSU. He played a ton of guys and would always have weekly packages and series where backups and third string guys played and even got the ball. He said whatever dropoff he might have in talent on the field for a few plays each week was more than offset by having a lot more guys all-in and fully engaged in prep every week.

 

[dualthreat]

First, show you are going to have an opportunity to compete for playing time. That helps get some better depth within classes through recruiting. Second, play a lot of guys in games. Obviously this builds depths in multiple ways as others have said. The unheralded advantage of that if you have 16-17 guys that are likely to see the field on defense as part of typical rotation rather than 12-13, you have more guys fully engaged in practice and meetings. Not only are more guys playing, a guy that may have been two or three injuries away from seeing the field might be one injury away. It reminds me of something Chris Peterson said when he was at BSU. He played a ton of guys and would always have weekly packages and series where backups and third string guys played and even got the ball. He said whatever dropoff he might have in talent on the field for a few plays each week was more than offset by having a lot more guys all-in and fully engaged in prep every week.

It also helps when you're Boise st playing garbage teams most weeks. Campbell has to play his 3rd teamers @TCU, Baylor and the like. We never have games that are over in the 3rd quarter..

 

[CyCloned]

First, show you are going to have an opportunity to compete for playing time. That helps get some better depth within classes through recruiting. Second, play a lot of guys in games. Obviously this builds depths in multiple ways as others have said. The unheralded advantage of that if you have 16-17 guys that are likely to see the field on defense as part of typical rotation rather than 12-13, you have more guys fully engaged in practice and meetings. Not only are more guys playing, a guy that may have been two or three injuries away from seeing the field might be one injury away. It reminds me of something Chris Peterson said when he was at BSU. He played a ton of guys and would always have weekly packages and series where backups and third string guys played and even got the ball. He said whatever dropoff he might have in talent on the field for a few plays each week was more than offset by having a lot more guys all-in and fully engaged in prep every week.

One of the things that I really like about playing more guys is that then when they do have to get on the field they are not scared, lost or overwhelmed.

 

[Cycsk]

The philosophy of finding a way to get your best 11 on the field regardless of position is part and parcel of this. No other coach finds a way to play his former starting QB at LB when he loses his starting job. So much talent languishes (and often eventually transfers) under so many coaches because the coach would rather they sit then get creative to find another way to play them.

You know, I'm really starting to believe him when he says "Players, Formations, Plays." We are already seeing it with Will McDonald. And I expect to see it with Kene and Re-al too.

 

[CyFy]

The crazy thing is I should feel worried about losing Lima, Johnson, Bailey and Leo in 1 year. In years past we would be ready for a 4 win season. Instead I am kind of excited. We will have a senior Uwaz. The work Isiah Lee got as a true freshman made me excited for him. I have also really liked what I have seen from Robersten. The player I might be most excited about on the whole team will have a year under his belt, Blake Petersen. That dude looks like an NFL edge rusher as a early enrolled true freshman. I honestly could not believe that kid was supposed to be in highschool still in the DL photos that were put out there. 6'4" with long arms and already 240 already on campus when he should be taking a date to pizza hut.

I didn't know if Josh Bailey would pan out but hearing his name mentioned in spring camp is great news. CMC does not usually bring up a name for no reason. hopefully he is ready to go next year and we will still be fine.

 

[CycloneVet]

The crazy thing is I should feel worried about losing Lima, Johnson, Bailey and Leo in 1 year. In years past we would be ready for a 4 win season. Instead I am kind of excited. We will have a senior Uwaz. The work Isiah Lee got as a true freshman made me excited for him. I have also really liked what I have seen from Robersten. The player I might be most excited about on the whole team will have a year under his belt, Blake Petersen. That dude looks like an NFL edge rusher as a early enrolled true freshman. I honestly could not believe that kid was supposed to be in highschool still in the DL photos that were put out there. 6'4" with long arms and already 240 already on campus when he should be taking a date to pizza hut.

I didn't know if Josh Bailey would pan out but hearing his name mentioned in spring camp is great news. CMC does not usually bring up a name for no reason. hopefully he is ready to go next year and we will still be fine.

The “taking a date to Pizza Hut” is right up there with the “Team out East quote”

 

[bozclone]

You know, I'm really starting to believe him when he says "Players, Formations, Plays." We are already seeing it with Will McDonald. And I expect to see it with Kene and Re-al too.

I think Soehner and the other tight ends are going to be another example of this. This interview with Soehner is really good. He seems like an awesome kid. I hope he has a great year. His size and athletic ability is really unique. I think Manning's experience with the Colts will make the TEs a much bigger part of the offense this year.

https://cyclones.com/news/2019/5/1/football-cycast-dylan-soehner.aspx

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

In the McCarney & Rhoads years how many times was ISU in the game until getting worn down in the 3rd or 4th quarter? Depth is essential to winning.

 

[AuH2O]

I think Soehner and the other tight ends are going to be another example of this. This interview with Soehner is really good. He seems like an awesome kid. I hope he has a great year. His size and athletic ability is really unique. I think Manning's experience with the Colts will make the TEs a much bigger part of the offense this year.

https://cyclones.com/news/2019/5/1/football-cycast-dylan-soehner.aspx

I love watching Soehner. Kid is a nasty blocker in the run game.

 

[CycloneVet]

In the McCarney & Rhoads years how many times was ISU in the game until getting worn down in the 3rd or 4th quarter? Depth is essential to winning.

Or how many times we got ever living **** kicked out of us

 

[TheJackWePack5]

Or how many times we got ever living **** kicked out of us

I still have nightmares of the 71-7 game in Waco.

 

[CycloneVet]

I still have nightmares of the 71-7 game in Waco.

And the Utah game, multiple OU games, TCU games

 

[demoncore1031]

Player development is a huge part of why we have depth now. CPR and staff were decent recruiters, but they could not develop certain positions, QB for example. Campbell and his staff and excellent recruiters but they also seem to be great at developing players at most positions, although o-line development seems to be a question mark, which makes no sense to me. Meeker and Good-Jones are going into their 4th year as starters and I have not been impressed by either one.

I can't wait to see the RB depth this year. We might have one of the best stables in college football.

 

[cyclone4L]

This much depth in a span of four years is the most impressive aspect of Campbell’s tenure. The staff has had VERY few recruiting whiffs.

I love recruiting. I almost like it as much as watching the games. But watching Rhoad’s recruit was like watching a car crash in slow motion. We would get a guy and I would try to find a reason why we went for him. Look at the 2010-2012 classes and try to build a team with that....

You can tell who a Campbell guys is. Very athletic, physical and DRIVEN to win.

I’m ready to see some guys being dudes.

 

[EvilBetty]

this staff doesn't recruit "depth" they are just better at recruiting (at least thus far). although there have been misses, those misses in recruiting have been few and far between compared to previous staffs.

Consistently identifying talent and developing that talent is what is setting this staff apart from those in the past.

 

[hoosman]

Is the OL depth Ok? I read that we are losing 4 starters after this year. OL talent is hard for me to judge.

 

[CyCal]

Is the OL depth Ok? I read that we are losing 4 starters after this year. OL talent is hard for me to judge.

Yes, we are losing four of last year's starters after next season in Good-Jones, Meeker, Knipfel, and Olson. The OL depth is still fairly decent though, at least considering they will be replacing four of their top eight linemen (and likely four multi-year starters).

Newell will be back in 2020 as a junior and three-year starter. Campbell has also mentioned that Robert Hudson (R-SO), and Trevor Downing (R-FR) are both ready to play this year and will be pushing for playing time in 2019. They are the early favorites to start at guard in 2020. Campbell also mentioned Joey Ramos (R-FR) as a tackle ready to play this year. If you pencil Ramos in as a starting tackle in 2020 that really just leaves one tackle position open. Sean Foster (R-JR) does have starting experience, and significant game experience at tackle over the course of the last two seasons. He seems like the most likely player mentioned to get leapfrogged for a starting spot on the line though, as far as I can tell.

Of course, I'm sure that the coaches are hoping another player or two can rise up the ranks over the course of this season, and possibly a true freshmen or two from this year will be ready to go in 2020.

 

[Aclone]

Yes, we are losing four of last year's starters after next season in Good-Jones, Meeker, Knipfel, and Olson. The OL depth is still fairly decent though, at least considering they will be replacing four of their top eight linemen (and likely four multi-year starters).

Newell will be back in 2020 as a junior and three-year starter. Campbell has also mentioned that Robert Hudson (R-SO), and Trevor Downing (R-FR) are both ready to play this year and will be pushing for playing time in 2019. They are the early favorites to start at guard in 2020. Campbell also mentioned Joey Ramos (R-FR) as a tackle ready to play this year. If you pencil Ramos in as a starting tackle in 2020 that really just leaves one tackle position open. Sean Foster (R-JR) does have starting experience, and significant game experience at tackle over the course of the last two seasons. He seems like the most likely player mentioned to get leapfrogged for a starting spot on the line though, as far as I can tell.

Of course, I'm sure that the coaches are hoping another player or two can rise up the ranks over the course of this season, and possibly a true freshmen or two from this year will be ready to go in 2020.

Nice summary. And I’m fairly sure that Grant Treiber is the fifth piece of that equation—doing the “leapfrogging”.

 

[Cycsk]

In the McCarney & Rhoads years how many times was ISU in the game until getting worn down in the 3rd or 4th quarter? Depth is essential to winning.

And the drop-off when Farniok or Bobek went out of the game was huge.

 

[MeowingCows]

To speak somewhat to this topic, I saw today that Stewart Mandel did another Mailbag piece on The Athletic. Many of the questions pertained to his early top-25 football rankings. One of the mailbag questions was "Why do you have Iowa State ranked ahead if Iowa?" Mandel's response was simply, "Because Matt Campbell is a really good coach who gets the most out of his teams?"

Part of being a "really good coach" is finding and developing depth. Playing that depth is what "gets the most out of his teams".