Pre-fall depth chart
- Thread starter AWOL2000
- Start date
I pretty much agree with all of this. I think we're going to get manhandled up front again defensively, especially against all Big 12 teams that aren't KU.
However, my only glimmer of hope is that we do have quite a different starting 11 on defense right now than we did last year. Nobody really knows if that will be a good thing or not, but we know it's different at least. I'd be more concerned if guys like Robby Garcia were still starting... nothing against him because he could end up being a good player down the road (he's only a sophomore), but he's now 3rd string this year when he was a starter last year.
And I'll take my chances with Harris over Sealey at MLB too.
But yes, this defense would need to make one GIGANTIC leap for us to even be competitive in most Big 12 games. And I just don't see enough infusion of talent there to think this has any chance of happening.
Demond Tucker looking good in our own spring game does not impress me much, I'm sorry. I will need to see him do it against Big 12 competition, not ISU.
I'm excited to see Levi. I was sick last year of watching our linebackers wait for the ball carrier to make contact with them. That will not be the case with Levi. He loves to hit people. Even if he messes up from time to time, he will probably be fun to watch.
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
Cool to see Jordan Wallace wearing #15. Also cool to see Meyers switching to #58. Don't see the point of moving Lynn to WR. 3 years experience at CB and he moves to a position where he probably won't even play.
You're right, players never get bigger, stronger, faster, smarter or learn from their mistakes.
I thought it was the packers and then he decided against even going to camp or anything.
Personally, I haven't seen this happen much since Rhoads has been here. His best year was his first pretty much, and then it's been all downhill since basically. Not a whole lot of "improvement" going on there.
Well the problem may be that everyone's players get bigger, stronger, faster, smarter, and learn from their mistakes and that everyone's else's players seem to start significantly ahead of ours... ISU isn't the only school practicing.
Sure, his first year was his best record wise but I would probably rank that season 2nd or 3rd in the Rhoads era. It is disappointing that Rhoads has struggled to develop players and I wasn't saying that all of our players will be amazing this year because they are experienced. It's just an odd generalization to say that you'd rather have all freshmen on the field than guys with experience who have struggled previously.
Exactly. Even if our players were improving (I'm not saying they are), they are starting so far behind everyone else to begin with, there's no catching up.
What players have gotten significantly better throughout their career in the Rhoads era? farniok, bibbs, maybe morissey? Other than those 3 I haven't seen much development.
I've seen a lot of people saying Peters isn't big enough to be a b12 linebacker, but in my opinion he is not going to be the problem on defense. Despite his size, I would not be surprised if he is our leading tackler. I think size is a bit overrated anyway, if you can play, you can play. We have too many guys who can not play on our defense to be worried about guys who are under-sized.
I've seen a lot of people saying Peters isn't big enough to be a b12 linebacker, but in my opinion he is not going to be the problem on defense. Despite his size, I would not be surprised if he is our leading tackler. I think size is a bit overrated anyway, if you can play, you can play. We have too many guys who can not play on our defense to be worried about guys who are under-sized.
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
Nope he signed with Baltimore then decided he didn't want to play football anymore.
Man, some of you people are so negative it is unbelievable.
Do I think Iowa State's defense will be great let alone good this year? No, I do not. I do, however, think that they will be improved and that is not a stretch at all. Look at all of the new names (which nobody has seen play) who have entered the depth chart, many of which have beaten out starters from last year.
Linebacker is exciting seeing new faces and names there. I don't see how that could be a bad thing.
The defensive line (Garcia, Cousin, Aka, Trent, Meyers were all soph or younger) played a ton as underclassmen last year and Rhoads has said numerous times that in the trenches is the most difficult position to play as an underclassmen. Look at a guy like Jake McDonough, progressed nicely as he got older.
Just tired of people acting like our players can't and will never get any better.
Do I think Iowa State's defense will be great let alone good this year? No, I do not. I do, however, think that they will be improved and that is not a stretch at all. Look at all of the new names (which nobody has seen play) who have entered the depth chart, many of which have beaten out starters from last year.
Linebacker is exciting seeing new faces and names there. I don't see how that could be a bad thing.
The defensive line (Garcia, Cousin, Aka, Trent, Meyers were all soph or younger) played a ton as underclassmen last year and Rhoads has said numerous times that in the trenches is the most difficult position to play as an underclassmen. Look at a guy like Jake McDonough, progressed nicely as he got older.
Just tired of people acting like our players can't and will never get any better.
This season will come down to offensive line play and the defense somehow finding a way to become below average instead of the worst defense in FBS (in yards per game).
The projected starters on the offensive line have a combined 75 starts and they all have good size. Inexperience and undersized arguments won't work; if they struggle it will be due to lack of athletic ability, poor strength and conditioning, or coaching (probably all three). Decent OL play gives WR time to actually run a route and SBR a chance. Our WR's should be a nightmare for defenses, but with no running game and no time to pass we were relegated to lateral passes against 7-8 defenders (5.8 ypa, 118 out of 128).
Good OL play would also help a defense that we should all hope see's as little time on the field as possible. We have numbers, not depth. The secondary doesn't look too bad, if we can actually force passing downs. but our DE's other than Taylor are undersized and the LB's are either unproven or have already proven they couldn't handle the Big 12. The whole front 7 needs to improve significantly if we don't want the worst defense in the country again.
The projected starters on the offensive line have a combined 75 starts and they all have good size. Inexperience and undersized arguments won't work; if they struggle it will be due to lack of athletic ability, poor strength and conditioning, or coaching (probably all three). Decent OL play gives WR time to actually run a route and SBR a chance. Our WR's should be a nightmare for defenses, but with no running game and no time to pass we were relegated to lateral passes against 7-8 defenders (5.8 ypa, 118 out of 128).
Good OL play would also help a defense that we should all hope see's as little time on the field as possible. We have numbers, not depth. The secondary doesn't look too bad, if we can actually force passing downs. but our DE's other than Taylor are undersized and the LB's are either unproven or have already proven they couldn't handle the Big 12. The whole front 7 needs to improve significantly if we don't want the worst defense in the country again.
Thejackwepack,
There's a host of undercover Hawkeyes around....so take some of the negativity with a grain of salt. Others just feel the need to rain on even the smallest ray of sunshine that might come to light on the board...and every family/group of friends has "that guy" in it. A few offer rational criticisms...often voicing what even we optimists accept...for example, we all know the defense isn't going to transform into the Steel Curtain but if you even express the hope that might achieve mediocrity, some of these guys just melt down. They can't help it, apparently.
There's a host of undercover Hawkeyes around....so take some of the negativity with a grain of salt. Others just feel the need to rain on even the smallest ray of sunshine that might come to light on the board...and every family/group of friends has "that guy" in it. A few offer rational criticisms...often voicing what even we optimists accept...for example, we all know the defense isn't going to transform into the Steel Curtain but if you even express the hope that might achieve mediocrity, some of these guys just melt down. They can't help it, apparently.
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