MONDAY MUSINGS: Matt Campbell's greatest challenge

[Cyclonepride]

Since we have clearly have some talent (but not necessarily depth) and the coaching staff is putting them in a position to win, what it will take is for some key guys to make some key plays at critical times in key games. Do that a few times, and you have a different outlook.

 

[SolarGarlic]

I don't know the X's and O's of football well enough to say what was really happening in the 4th quarter the last two weeks, but it sure felt like they scrapped the offense and tried to rely on the QB run really heavily. If you look at what they were doing well up to that point, they were really mixing in screens to Ryen and Jones, fly sweeps and short passes to go along with QB runs and zone read. Then, both weeks, there came a point where the offense became Lanning trying to run on every play.

Noticed this too. I think it was the first drive of the 4th quarter against Baylor, when we ran Lanning twice in a row. Gave me instant flashbacks to the McCarney era. Then they did the same thing against OSU. The coaching has gotten exponentially better since UNI. I expect them to fix this issue as well. Hopefully they can keep the players focused.

 

[brokenloginagain]

the future is bright with 2-3 more good recruiting classes. hope he can keep it up on the recruiting trail and get those kids signed and eligible!

 

[madguy30]

"A" players need to make "A" grades. With the game on the line in the fourth the staff has to identify their playmakers and put them in position to make that momentum swinging play.

Like Lazard and Warren, who both had that chance?

Other things needed to happen, but those didn't help.

 

[jbindm]

Like Lazard and Warren, who both had that chance?

Other things needed to happen, but those didn't help.

Those two combined for four targets in the fourth quarter until the final desperation drive. Four. That's not enough.

 

[norcalcy]

Sadly I think ISU's athletic budget and various other minor laws will prevent us from being too active in this year's college football player free agent market.

He seems to have some curse breaking powers. We'll see.

 

[madguy30]

Those two combined for four targets in the fourth quarter until the final desperation drive. Four. That's not enough.

I agree with that part. Man, they had some crucial drops though.

Warren needed more carries in the 2nd half...he DOES tend to lose the ball but he also seems to get better as the game goes.

The actual culture changing is just going to take longer than other places, but I think the short term on-field product has been improved from the last couple of seasons, and that's saying something considering one of the weaknesses--Oline--has become formidable. Even under CPR when the Oline was a strength, I don't recall it being all that reliable.

I can't count on a win vs. Texas this week, but I still feel like 4 wins is realistic for this team---I didn't think it would be even close 3 weeks ago.

 

[NickTheGreat]

Well said Chris. It ain't gonna be easy. The Fred Hoiberg comparison seems to really make sense to me.

 

[isuforlife]

maybe he needs a mullet

 

[RedDog]

The last sentence was the most glaring. " ...against a reeling Texas program is on the horizon Saturday (6pm on Cyclones.tv)."
Is this the only telecast?

 

[cycloneG]

The last sentence was the most glaring. " ...against a reeling Texas program is on the horizon Saturday (6pm on Cyclones.tv)."
Is this the only telecast?

It's also on the Longhorn Network.

 

[ISU_phoria]

I remember Zimmer's first year as the Vikings coach. He said something like: "First, we have to learn how to win. Then, we have to learn how to handle winning."

For the Vikings, I would say he's pretty much achieved the "learning how to win." We'll see as the season progresses (& likely playoffs) if they "learn how to handle winning."

Iowa State is certainly in the "learn how to win" phase. They are begging to compete with some good teams and the play has improved drastically. Now, can they figure out "how to win?" How do they weather the storm when momentum (inevitably) changes during a game? How do they finish out a game and an opponent?

I think they can do it - it may take some time, but I am pretty confident Campbell will get it squared away & then we can start asking ourselves: "can they learn how to handle winning?"

Let's go! I'm all in for the ride ahead! Who's with me?!

 

[jbindm]

It's also on the Longhorn Network.

Can we trust Cyclones.tv after the UNI debacle?

 

[Sigmapolis]

If Campbell has us fighting for a long-term spot in the Top 10 and in consideration for conference championships and knocking off a Top 5 team or two in a few years...

Then, yeah, he's almost Fred.

But probably just as gone if that happens.

Amazing to think how many big jobs are going to be open this year, maybe...

-LSU
-USC
-Texas
-Penn St.
-Auburn
-Houston (on a cascade)
-Florida St. (on a cascade)
-Oregon
-Notre Dame

...so you'd figure one of them would come calling one of these years if Campbell has any iota of success at a difficult program, historically.

 

[brett108]

"A" players need to make "A" grades. With the game on the line in the fourth the staff has to identify their playmakers and put them in position to make that momentum swinging play.

This is the only issue I had on Saturday. Warren was so under utilized in the 4th quarter. I mean, why not try a 1300 yard back with a 3 score lead. he was getting 8 ypc in the first half. Seemed like a good option considering we needed to kill clock and keep the ball out of OSUs hands.

 

[brett108]

If Campbell has us fighting for a long-term spot in the Top 10 and in consideration for conference championships and knocking off a Top 5 team or two in a few years...

Then, yeah, he's almost Fred.

But probably just as gone if that happens.

Amazing to think how many big jobs are going to be open this year, maybe...

-LSU
-USC
-Texas
-Penn St.
-Auburn
-Houston (on a cascade)
-Florida St. (on a cascade)
-Oregon
-Notre Dame

...so you'd figure one of them would come calling one of these years if Campbell has any iota of success at a difficult program, historically.

Who is hiring Jimbo at this point? Seems to be on a downward slope IMO.

 

[SpokaneCY]

I don't know the X's and O's of football well enough to say what was really happening in the 4th quarter the last two weeks, but it sure felt like they scrapped the offense and tried to rely on the QB run really heavily. If you look at what they were doing well up to that point, they were really mixing in screens to Ryen and Jones, fly sweeps and short passes to go along with QB runs and zone read. Then, both weeks, there came a point where the offense became Lanning trying to run on every play.

In both games the team failed to execute at crunch time. Dropped passes, missed blocks, tackle wiffs, bad throws... The team has the schemes to win, they just fail at close to 100% execution when it matters/

 

[SpokaneCY]

This is the only issue I had on Saturday. Warren was so under utilized in the 4th quarter. I mean, why not try a 1300 yard back with a 3 score lead. he was getting 8 ypc in the first half. Seemed like a good option considering we needed to kill clock and keep the ball out of OSUs hands.

What was the OSU defense doing differently? JL took 6 sacks during the game so the OL wasn't dominating, but what adjustments did their D make that did or did not take us out of our game?

We fumbles, we threw INTs, we missed blocks and tackles... During crunch time. I think it's all there but the consistent execution that will be helped by having a few more athletes spread throughout the roster.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I would add that starting the year on a little four or five game winning streak would do wonders for the outlook. Not undoable, and would just require a couple of expected wins, an upset over Iowa (entirely possible on any given year) and one or two more consecutive wins. Seems like a lot of years are derailed when we beat Iowa but lose a couple others that we should have had.

 

[Erik4Cy]

Can we trust Cyclones.tv after the UNI debacle?

And the Texas game debacle a few years back?