The Coaching Turnaround Has Been Drastic

He definitely didn't play. And I'll keep saying it, but I'd guess a big part of the play calling that day was due to not knowing if Rocco could throw more since he was literally throwing up all game.

The Ohio loss sucks because it may very well cost us a bowl game. But it's probably smart not to take anything away from it other than that.

Announcers - Rocco takes the snap, surveys, he's got Higgins deep. What's this? Rocco is asking to be taken out of the game, ohhhhhh there's a giant brown stain on his butt and running down his leg. I guess it wasn't a good day to wear the white pants.
 
I’m in a very optimistic mood so I hate bringing this up, but the play calling vs Ohio was far too similar to the playcalling vs Iowa to put 100% of that disaster on a virus.

The premise of the thread is correct, there has been a shift in philosophy and it should be celebrated rather than some fantasy that the team was in a straight line planned progression and never changed its course. It’s kind of insulting to the coaches/players to deny they retooled and improved after the disappointing September.
 
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The first part of the season was a set up for that one play. I'm not saying it was a good set up, but it worked.

Yes, the calls are better, the timing is decisive, or more so, and it's great to keep the defense guessing. It opens the run game, and the blocking is improving. Maybe teams are not pressing the box as before. They are not sure if we are going to run or pass. Love that. Being more unpredictable works!
I think the fake field goal had everything to do with the film room. Cincy has regularly overloaded one side of the line on field goal block attempts and they were waiting for them to line up that way in this game. Jordan made them pay.
 
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I’m in a very optimistic mood so I hate bringing this up, but the play calling vs Ohio was far to similar to the playcalling vs Iowa to put 100% of that disaster on a virus.

The premise of the thread is correct, there has been a shift in philosophy and it should be celebrated rather than some fantasy that the team was in a straight line planned progression and never changed its course. It’s kind of insulting to the coaches/players to deny they retooled and improved after the disappointing September.
I still think Campbell finally decided to let scheelhaus call the game he wants to call.
 
It was all about Rocco today. Getting him involved in the running game was huge. It kept a couple drives moving and created another variable for the defense to account for. Also, how are we not talking more about that pass to Higgins? That was NFL caliber precision. He missed a couple high, but he also threw some laser beams on the run. Rocco was turned up a little last week and a little more this week without going too far and turning the ball over. Rocctober indeed.
I thought it during the game and still think it now. My best guess is that JJ has shown marked improvement in practice. Before they thought he wasn't ready to lead this team so they had to protect Rocco at all costs and limit his contact. If they open Rocco up in the running game that suggests to me that they are comfortable they can win with JJ if Rocco gets dinged for a game or two.

Hopefully JJ gets a chance to play in our last regular season game and a bowl game - because they want to give him reps rather than because they have to because of injury. Getting significant playing time going into the offseason could really help his development for next year. It might also give him hope that he can contribute here rather than looking elsewhere.
 
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Our special teams have extremely improved. Hiring a ST Coach seems to be a positive. Our line still has some issues, but has improved as the season has went on, a couple years of development with the new coach hopefully will show results. Im worried most about our Run Defense, this seems to have regressed some.
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This got me to think so I did a little research.

OSU rushing
Season 146.5 per game, 4.6 per attempt
v. ISU 131, 5.5
v. KSU 4.4
v. KU 5.7

OU rushing
Season 164.8, 4.1
v. ISU 157, 3.8
v. Cinci 3.0
v. UT 4.7

TCU rushing
Season 184.3, 4.8
v. ISU 185, 5.0
v. Hou 4.9
v. WVU 3.6
v. BYU 5.1

Cinci rushing
Season 220.6, 5.1
v. ISU 115, 3.5
v. OU 3.8
v. BYU 5.1

Draw your own conculsions.
 
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I thought it during the game and still think it now. My best guess is that JJ has shown marked improvement in practice. Before they thought he wasn't ready to lead this team so they had to protect Rocco at all costs and limit his contact. If they open Rocco up in the running game that suggests to me that they are comfortable they can win with JJ if Rocco gets dinged for a game or two.

Hopefully JJ gets a chance to play in our last regular season game and a bowl game - because they want to give him reps rather than because they have to because of injury. Getting significant playing time going into the offseason could really help his development for next year. It might also give him hope that he can contribute here rather than looking elsewhere.
That could be the case. My assumption is that JJ wasn't playing garbage time so they could keep his redshirt intact. I hope you're right. That would be great if he was making strides too.
 
I thought it during the game and still think it now. My best guess is that JJ has shown marked improvement in practice. Before they thought he wasn't ready to lead this team so they had to protect Rocco at all costs and limit his contact. If they open Rocco up in the running game that suggests to me that they are comfortable they can win with JJ if Rocco gets dinged for a game or two.
That's possible, but I think it also could have been part of an effort to simplify the offense for Rocco by giving him fewer options and decisions and fewer jobs to do. It looks like it worked well.
 
The big difference on the OL has been inserting a freshman RG, Black (51) for multi-year starter Simmons (55). My only Simmons sighting today came immediately following the high snap on the FG attempt, saved by the punter / holder. CMC appeared to be chewing out Simmons on the sideline immediately following that play. Is Simmons the long snapper?
No he is not. But he just stood there and his guy had a chance to block the field goal
 
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No he is not. But he just stood there and his guy had a chance to block the field goal
He was getting an earful from Campbell. Reminded me of when Julian Good-Jones did something similar, got an earful from Campbell, and then the next field goal/PAT attempt, Julians guy did end up blocking it (pretty sure it was the WVU 2018 game)
 
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Not as a knock against past teams, but honestly, don’t feel like we’ve had many games where we won 3/3 phases of the game.

Typically we win big in 1 and do enough in the other or cover up the one phase that was a minus.

Loved to see it.
What is crazy to me is ISU won all 3 phases, and won by 20, but other than ST, they were far from perfect. Now, I am not complaining about a 20 point conference win on the road, but as this team continues to improve, look out. This UT game in November gets extremely interesting all the sudden!
 
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When things turn around like they have this year, I wonder this. Do people that follow the "No excuses" mantra look back on the early games seeing the reasons/excuses? For example, nobody wanted to hear how young we were. But when you look back, the staff didn't know what they had in many positions and wanted to slow the game and protect those players with a simplified game plan. I felt confident going into this season that this team had potential to be much better than last year. There were a lot of things going on that were not common to Campbell's culture. (Hunter arguing with CMC on the sidelines in at least 2 games that I can remember.)

Anyway, our coach has won 5 conference COTY awards, and 2 AP COTY. He's 43. He's proven to change his philosophy in past years. He fired his best man for crying out loud. He's won more Big XII games since 2017 than any other program than OU. He's beaten every single team he's played. I have no issues with people criticizing results, but calling for Matt Campbell's head at Iowa State is just crazy.

After our next loss, take a breath. Things are never as bad as it seems. Let the season play out before you make claims you can't take back. It will serve us all better. Matt has earned a lot of trust.
 

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