Talent???

[djcubby]

A lot of Blythes problems were a result of the qb and the passing game

Don't forget about always having the other teams best corner on you, and most of the time being in double coverage since we didn't really have another go to guy for the past couple of years.

He may not have fulfilled all promises with ISU, but I would almost guarantee that he'll be making an impact on Sundays.

 

[KMAC_ATTACK]

Don't forget about always having the other teams best corner on you, and most of the time being in double coverage since we didn't really have another go to guy for the past couple of years.

He may not have fulfilled all promises with ISU, but I would almost guarantee that he'll be making an impact on Sundays.

For sure, don't doubt it at all that the opposing teams best db was covering him...however, if your "Big Time" it don't matter, you should still get open and make plays. That IMO is a big time receiver, no need for gadget plays or quadruple moves, the talent is obvious, simple out pattern, crisp route and the ball is there...its quite simple....I'm not sure that Blythe has the ability to create seperation in the big show because if he thinks he had the best db lined up across from him, he will have someone at that level every week at every position. Just don't know if he's got the work ethic, the drive, the desire......you can always tell something about a player when the plays not designed for them.....sorry but TB had a lil Randy moss in him that percluded him from physical contact unless it had 6 on it for him......too bad.....If you watched the game last week, those WR kicked our DB's arses all night long, and that is a true team player......but, for those of you that only want to bask in the glory of 31 td receptions over his career, well, thats fine too...he did a lot for ISU, just think he could have done so much more....everyone talks about how Meyer didnt continue to elevate his game since his sophmore season, did Blythe?????

 

[herbicide]

DB are our biggest needs - and i don't care if we have 22 returning players back there, they were exposed against KU, seemed slow and not agressive at all - in essence intimidated....not to mention got their arses handed to them when KU wideouts blocked them......it was a sad display!!!!!!!

One thing about DB's, especially corners is that it is one of those positions that experience is a huge factor. I think that they will be a much improved unit next season.

Look at Ellis Hobbs and Hicks. The way they played as underclassmen pales in comparison to their senior years.

Also, I think lack of QB pressure will expose the best corner backs, and we did average at best on QB pressure this season.

 

[247cy]

Here's my armchair evaluation of ISU's returning talent:
...

To sum up, our most important needs for next year are a big JUCO OL, a playmaker at WR, an outside LB to replace Bowen and a defensive back who can play physical. If Chizik can fill these holes, I think we can improve on 3-9...

I agree with almost all of your summary.

Arnaud throws a better deep ball than Meyer ever has, and shows a tad more ability to avoid a tackle (or at least not get tripped up by one man diving at his shoes).

I'm shocked that we went the entire year without Bates even attempting a pass. Lining him up at QB was a pointless exercise if all you're going to do is run a QB keeper. D-coordinators in the Big XII are not stupid, and probably told their kids "if you see #8 lined up at QB, sell out for a running play".

KU's OL starters are all Jrs, I believe, and I think that was the biggest difference in the game Saturday. Iowa State doesn't get a good enough pass rush out of the front 4...so we need to bring extras to get any pressure. Kansas did an excellent job of finding open receivers before our blitzers got there and it resulted in some huge plays for them. And they moved our defenders backwards when they wanted to run the ball. How many times did they get 5 to 8 yards on 1st down running off tackle? A bunch!...and with a guy who is a converted fullback with about as much speed as Kock had for us last year! Giving up 8 yards on 1st down is going to put you in a hole in a hurry, which is exactly how the game shaped up.

Chizik is no dummy, and I was overjoyed when he said in an interview that it all starts up front with the D-line, and O-Line. He'll recruit those positions hard and I think it will be a couple years before we see the results. Iowa State has been it's best when we've gotten solid line play on both sides of the ball. In my opinion, there was a slow sublimation of the O/D lines under DMac. How many years had it been since we've had a 1,000 yard rusher? The D-line slowly faded as well, from when Leaders was a senior to now. I'm not saying that there haven't been a few bright spots Curvey, Morehead, Tuba, there just haven't been enough of them.

Improvement on the D line will help out our DBs tremendously. A good D line can turn average DB/LBs into great ones. I don't think our cover guys were that bad at all this year, against KSU and CU when we got some pressure, they made some big plays. They tackle well in space - for the most part, which shows that the coaches are stressing good fundamentals. (The KU game -especially in the 1st half - it looked like the whole team forgot how to tackle.:no

Also I like the rotation Chizik is using and I hope we can land some recruits because of it. Kids want to play, and I think Chizik's philosophy is if you work hard in practice and know your assignments then you'll likely see the field on gameday. You might not see a majority of snaps, but you'll get to play. I think that's all kids really want from a coach - to not be BSed about playing time, but having an honest opportunity to earn the honor of seeing the field on Saturdays.

 

[Tazzels]

Michael Tate

Did Michael Tate's ankle finally heal? I would hope that he would compete for a start DT spot next year.