Will McDonald usage (lack of)

[jrastrel]

Will McDonald is a beast. I love watching him wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Was he on a limited play count yesterday after getting banged up in the Texas tech game? It seemed like he was on the field much less than usual yesterday.

I was pulling my hair out when he was not on the field and that seemed like the majority of yesterday’s game(1 play in 1st quarter). When we rush 3 with him off of the field, it usually results in the qb having all day and picking apart our backfield. He is our biggest playmaker on defense and we really needed big plays by the d since our offense wasn’t humming in all cylinders. On all of the scoring drives yesterday, he wasn’t on the field at the start of the drive and they would get 50 yards and into a rhythm without will in there to make plays. I would be curious to see a yards per play with will on the field vs when he is not on the field.

Hopefully if he is stilled banged up, he will heal up this week and get to go out with a beastly performance that he deserves. He has been under the radar much of his time at isu but is likely our greatest end that we have had in the cardinal and gold. The really crazy thing is there were a lot of games where he wasn’t on the field the majority of defensive snaps. We have so many beloved cyclones on this team but he is the one I will miss the most when he leaves. Although I’m confident we will get to see him develop even more and keep sacking qbs in the nfl.

 

[CyTwins]

Yes he has a hip injury

 

[jsb]

Do you honestly think they wouldn't have played him if he wasn't injured?

We all need to work on using our brains.

 

[brycy]

Don't think our 3 man front will work without him. If he opts for the draft, which I think he should we will surely have to go back to a 4 man front or somebody will really need to step up.

 

[Cyclones1969]

Do you honestly think they wouldn't have played him if he wasn't injured?

We all need to work on using our brains.

i honestly think some folks on social media think the coaches are trying to lose games on purpose

 

[CyCloned]

Don't think our 3 man front will work without him. If he opts for the draft, which I think he should we will surely have to go back to a 4 man front or somebody will really need to step up.

It worked without him for 3 years, and most of last year. Not saying that he doesn't add another dimension to the ISU rush defense, but he is certainly not the foundation of what is going on. There are times that I wish ISU would go back to the 4 man front. I doubt they will have the guys to do it next year, but who knows. JH needs to tweak some thing on the defense before next year. Manning has a lot more work to do than him.

 

[jsb]

i honestly think some folks on social media think the coaches are trying to lose games on purpose

That and a lot of people think they know more about football than the coaches.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

Do you honestly think they wouldn't have played him if he wasn't injured?

We all need to work on using our brains.

I think you’re asking a lot out of a lot of posters there, babe.

 

[cyclo120]

I had heard whispers he was out for the season and was pleasantly surprised to see him out there yesterday. Defense definitely looks a step slow when he is not in.

 

[Pope]

He's a potential 1st round draft pick, so I'm sure our coaches aren't going to risk further injury by playing him too early. Unfortunately, we may have seen the last of Will. Even if he recovers by the bowl game, he has an enormous amount to lose by re-injuring himself.

 

[Peter]

He's a potential 1st round draft pick, so I'm sure our coaches aren't going to risk further injury by playing him too early. Unfortunately, we may have seen the last of Will. Even if he recovers by the bowl game, he has an enormous amount to lose by re-injuring himself.

For Will’s sake I really hope he sits out the bowl game so he’s 100% for the combine. He has the potential to put up video-game like numbers and could really rocket his stock.

 

[FeedBreece]

They took away Will McDonald’s sack on the stats!!!

Bastards.

 

[CyCloned]

They took away Will McDonald’s sack on the stats!!!

Bastards.

I suppose since he fumbled it doesn't count as a sack. So darn lucky their OL was able to pick it up and get out of the end zone.

 

[FeedBreece]

I suppose since he fumbled it doesn't count as a sack. So darn lucky their OL was able to pick it up and get out of the end zone.

I think it’s because the recoverer ended up gaining yardage.

Even still that feels cheap. Give the guy the sack.

 

[isufbcurt]

Will McDonald is a beast. I love watching him wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Was he on a limited play count yesterday after getting banged up in the Texas tech game? It seemed like he was on the field much less than usual yesterday.

I was pulling my hair out when he was not on the field and that seemed like the majority of yesterday’s game(1 play in 1st quarter). When we rush 3 with him off of the field, it usually results in the qb having all day and picking apart our backfield. He is our biggest playmaker on defense and we really needed big plays by the d since our offense wasn’t humming in all cylinders. On all of the scoring drives yesterday, he wasn’t on the field at the start of the drive and they would get 50 yards and into a rhythm without will in there to make plays. I would be curious to see a yards per play with will on the field vs when he is not on the field.

Hopefully if he is stilled banged up, he will heal up this week and get to go out with a beastly performance that he deserves. He has been under the radar much of his time at isu but is likely our greatest end that we have had in the cardinal and gold. The really crazy thing is there were a lot of games where he wasn’t on the field the majority of defensive snaps. We have so many beloved cyclones on this team but he is the one I will miss the most when he leaves. Although I’m confident we will get to see him develop even more and keep sacking qbs in the nfl.

He's hurt so they are trying to play him on downs when he will be most effective

 

[cyrocksmypants]

I suppose since he fumbled it doesn't count as a sack. So darn lucky their OL was able to pick it up and get out of the end zone.

It definitely still counts if they fumble.

 

[theshadow]

It definitely still counts if they fumble.

The sack went away when the play ended in positive yardage.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

The sack went away when the play ended in positive yardage.

Yeah, I don’t know the rules, but I would assume the result of a sack can’t end with positive yards, so it ends up just being a forced fumble.

 

[cyclone1209]

For Will’s sake I really hope he sits out the bowl game so he’s 100% for the combine. He has the potential to put up video-game like numbers and could really rocket his stock.

I agree. My thoughts are the pass rush wasn't a big problem against OU. Because we really limited them in the pass game and Caleb Williams barely did anything through the air.

Now against TTech and against WVU, we gave their qb's too much time to throw. I think we actually need to take more chances on an outside linebacker blitz (from the opposite side of Will M., or a corner blitz occasionally, or something)

Giving decent qb's 5 seconds to throw isn't a recipe for success

 

[t-noah]

i honestly think some folks on social media think the coaches are trying to lose games on purpose

Yup, that was part of the game plan. I'm sure of it.