Todd Blythe

**ISUFan22** · 08-28-2007, 09:03 AM

Some of us may have forgotten what this man looks like, being nearly non-existent last year. Seemingly wrote out of the playbook (excluding overtime) and then having mono, keeping him out of a few games.

Thanks to the DMR, here's a photo gallery of "The Todd"...

Galleries

**Knownothing** · 08-28-2007, 09:07 AM

Todd's last year hopefully made some defensive coordinators forget what he is capable of doing.

**Land Grant** · 08-28-2007, 09:15 AM

It is such a relief to no longer deal with the previous staff's deficiencies.

**brianhos** · 08-28-2007, 09:19 AM

That really p*ssed me off last year when he had to go begging for the ball. When you are leading the conference in yards per catch the previous 2 years, you should not have to beg to get the ball thrown to you.

**copenhagen** · 08-28-2007, 12:29 PM

how many times last yr were we all screaming to throw to blythe? Where i was sitting it was bout every play somebody around me at the stadium would scream it including me.

**isufbcurt** · 08-28-2007, 12:36 PM

yeah what the heck, when oppossing teams are double covering him with bracket coverage we should force it to him every play. God what were we thinking.

**wgleason** · 08-28-2007, 12:37 PM

DMR has had decent coverage of ISU the last few days.

**DaddyMac** · 08-28-2007, 12:40 PM

Umm, I'm going to get nailed for this but so it goes.

There was plenty of blame to go around for our lack of a Meyer to Blythe passing game. A good deal goes to the O-line. Some to the coaches and play calling, game planning, some to Meyer for seemingly FINDING tacklers, and there's a healthy dose to Todd as well. He as all the tools - size, strength and decent speed, to be a premier receiver. But his route running leaves a fair bit to be desired. Most of his big games come off of long, broken plays and jump balls type catches (see A&M) - which he is exceptional at. But when running rounded outs, curved slants, with little faking - he is much easier to keep a body on. And when you play the likes of OU, Tex and NU with equal athletic talent - he's going to "disappear" a little.

**cybsball20** · 08-28-2007, 12:41 PM

I couldnt beleive how many times we were in a big spot and Blythe wasn't even in the game... It wasn't like we were dominating time of possesion and he needed a break... You could tell some times watching him on the sideline that he had no idea why he wasn't in the game.

**ISUFan22** · 08-28-2007, 12:43 PM

Todd had double-coverage every play last year? News to me!

I guess Toledo forgot to double-cover him in the 2nd and 3rd overtimes then? You know...when the game was really on the line.

A good number of Todd's catches have come despite double-coverage. Few can match his height in opposing secondaries. We've got a good enough QB to get the ball in tight spots when he's not running for his life.

I beg opposing teams to double-cover Todd this fall (as long as we're not riddled with injuries at WR this year). I'll be very interested to see how it's done when we go 3-4 wide with the likes of Sumrall, Hamilton, Franklin, Messiah and Moses alongside Blythe.

**ISUFan22** · 08-28-2007, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by DaddyMac

But his route running leaves a fair bit to be desired. Most of his big games come off of long, broken plays and jump balls type catches (see A&M) - which he is exceptional at. But when running rounded outs, curved slants, with little faking - he is much easier to keep a body on. And when you play the likes of OU, Tex and NU with equal athletic talent - he's going to "disappear" a little.

This is correct and something he was working on feverishly in the spring. The new WR coach specifically mentioned that at the clinic in March - the guys last year did not run routes well - Todd included.

I fully expect a vast improvement in that this fall.

**copenhagen** · 08-28-2007, 12:57 PM

in single coverage where meyer didnt even look his way!! Thats bs to say he wasnt running any good routes, if meyer would quit locking in on only one reciever he might have thrown it to him more. Not overthrowing may help also.

**DaddyMac** · 08-28-2007, 01:06 PM

Like I said, plenty of blame to go around.

**darts180** · 08-28-2007, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by isufbcurt

yeah what the heck, when oppossing teams are double covering him with bracket coverage we should force it to him every play. God what were we thinking.

Curt, it wasn't that we weren't "forcing" him the ball that was the problem. Had he been used properly as a decoy, then your point would be correct.

It was yet one more example of the previous coaching STAFF digging their heels in and cutting their nose off to spite their face. How many times did reporters ask the head coach, and the offensive coordinator, why TB wasn't even getting looks.

Their answer was to excuse not using one of your THREE playmakers, because, well, other teams knew that we would look for him when we needed a play. So we'll fool them by cutting him out of the offense (wow).

At a school like Iowa State, you are afforded only so many guys that develop into playmakers who can get it done for you. This isn't USC, we only have so many on each side of the ball. To not use one is a killer, and that was one, of many, reasons that last year was so bad.

**CyCloned** · 08-28-2007, 01:11 PM

Not overthrowing may help also.[/QUOTE]

Or throwing the ball 5 yards out of bounds on sideline patterns. Meyer had at least 2 of those gems every game, and it wasn't on purpose. Hopefully this is something else the coaches have addressed.