Seems most draft pundits are critical of our usage of Will McDonald last year:

[3TrueFans]

We used him how he was needed to fill a pretty productive role on our highly regarded defense. What’s the problem?

We should change our defense so scouts could see Will at a more natural position for him?

 

[CoKane]

bend-but-don't-win defense.
Others have pointed out how we were almost toyed with defensively....when opposing teams had to score, they did so. Almost eerie how they would after we somehow mustered a play to score or get a lead, it was immediately answered by opponents scores.

Let me just make sure I understand you here quick. You're blaming the defense for this season?

 

[AuH2O]

NFL scouts will figure it out.

Players being used in the way that helps their team most being in conflict with showing what they will be able to do in the NFL happens all the time.

ISUs defense played winning football for 10 games.

The staff experimented with Will as an OLB in the past and put him back at DE.

He can get after the QB. He will have a role.

 

[AllInForISU]

Obviously he won’t play 3-4 end in the NFL, but this scout has no reason to criticize how the ISU defense played this year. It was one of the best in the country.

This scout, if he had any brains, should know the goal of Iowa state coaches isn’t to get guys drafted, it’s to put Iowa State in the best position for Iowa State to win.

This scouting report is poorly written.

 

[Donqluione]

Some might recall that they tried McDonald at OLB early in his career, I think as a sophomore. Talked up how great they thought he'd be in that position with his unique skills, certainly seemed like he could be, but he was awful. No feel for the position, certainly couldn't cover, end of that experiment.

 

[cyclones500]

Will didnt get a lot of sacks this year because teams double and triple teamed him, which benefited MJ Anderson. Last two years Will played the same position and got double-digit sacks so he seemd to do just fine in the scheme.

I also wonder how many times McDonald got held and a penalty wasn't called.

I know "you could call holding on every play" and NFL blockers will do better than college without holding -- it's just that he got double-teamed AND held frequently, so his stats/results probably are going to suffer.

 

[CyclonesRock]

This isn't necessarily and unfair take. However, I'm sure NFL scouts are pretty good at watching his performance and making a judgement on how it translates to their teams.

NFL Scouts are always right. Signed Brock Purdy.

 

[Malty Flannel]

He seems like a classic Za’Darius Smith type role in the NFL.

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

You cannot change your whole defensive philosophy over the talents of one player. He was out of place in our 3-3 defense, he will be fine in a normal 4-3 defense that many teams in the NFL play.

Stat wise we had a top 10 defense this year, my only complaint was they just could not get turnovers, which is kind of amazing considering we generally had 5 DB's in the game most of the time. You would think that those guys would have picked off more passes than what we did. They finished #`117 in the country in turnover margin with a -0.7 a game, but still held every conference opponent below its scoring average of the season, when they played ISU.

The defense was not the problem for ISU for the majority of the games.

 

[SolarGarlic]

Obviously he won’t play 3-4 end in the NFL, but this scout has no reason to criticize how the ISU defense played this year. It was one of the best in the country.

This scout, if he had any brains, should know the goal of Iowa state coaches isn’t to get guys drafted, it’s to put Iowa State in the best position for Iowa State to win.

This scouting report is poorly written.

The goal of the scout is to analyze McDonald's ability. Pointing out that our scheme didn't fit his skillset is more relevant than pointing out ISU had a good defense despite that. Your reading comprehension is worse than the scout's writing.

 

[CapnCy]

View attachment 107391
This is from PFF’s top 10 edge rushers of the 2023 NFL draft list, which Will is #9.

I’ve seen this multiple places now. Most experts feel like he was grossly misused, especially last year.

"why does Wally....er....Heacock get a pass?!?!?!" Lol

 

[AuH2O]

The goal of the scout is to analyze McDonald's ability. Pointing out that our scheme didn't fit his skillset is more relevant than pointing out ISU had a good defense despite that. Your reading comprehension is worse than the scout's writing.

It’s very much written as if our defensive staff didn’t know how to use McDonald and that they were playing him “out of position.” The answers to that are either to change the defense or try the failed OLB experiment again.

 

[Marcelason78]

Heacock after reading this evaluation— “You play to win the game.”

 

[SolarGarlic]

It’s very much written as if our defensive staff didn’t know how to use McDonald and that they were playing him “out of position.” The answers to that are either to change the defense or try the failed OLB experiment again.

That's my point. The analyst doesn't care about our defense outside of the context of maximizing McDonald's ability. The analysis isn't about our defense. It's about Will McDonald.

 

[clone52]

Obviously he won’t play 3-4 end in the NFL, but this scout has no reason to criticize how the ISU defense played this year. It was one of the best in the country.

This scout, if he had any brains, should know the goal of Iowa state coaches isn’t to get guys drafted, it’s to put Iowa State in the best position for Iowa State to win.

This scouting report is poorly written.

He wasn't scouting the Iowa State's defense. He was scouting one player. Both can be right. He was playing in the right spot for Iowa State's defense while also playing the wrong spot for an NFL defense.

 

[CloneJD]

I have no issues with what the scout said. What i have an issue with is the OP’s characterization of him being ‘grossly misused’ which isn’t what the scout was saying at all.

 

[Cyclonepride]

View attachment 107391
This is from PFF’s top 10 edge rushers of the 2023 NFL draft list, which Will is #9.

I’ve seen this multiple places now. Most experts feel like he was grossly misused, especially last year.

As much as you'd like your players to showcase their skills, you play them within your scheme to give your team the best chance to succeed. Clearly impressed the scouts anyway

 

[Pope]

Are these the same draft scouts that said don't bother drafting Purdy?

While our coaches try to take a player's potential NFL position into consideration, they have to put our guys where they can do the most good for our team. I have no issues whatsoever with where our coaches played McDonald. They tried to position him at linebacker early on, but it was evident to them that his coverage skills were not adequate for that position.

 

[CloniesForLife]

He didn't have the sack numbers this year but I thought he still made a lot of great plays and was double and triple teamed a lot.

 

[isucy86]

I tend to agree with the PFF evaluation. When McDonald came back, I was expecting Campbell and Heacock were going to put together a defense that allowed McDonald to not have to take on OG/OT every play and the ability to play in space.

Heacock has had success with the 3-3-5 defense so I wouldn't have expected him to deviate from that formation to make McDonald shine. But I think he could have made some tweaks to create a defense that put more pressure on opposing QB's and force turnovers. It would have been interesting to see McDonald as a OLB in the 3-3-5 who rushed the passer on most passing downs or used as a spy (instead of Vance).

As an NFL player, he will be an OLB in a 3-4 defense. He'd be great in a Von Miller, Bobby Wagner, DeMarcus Ware, Greg Lloyd, Clay Matthews type role.