Poll-Season wins after 1st game

**dmclone** · 08-31-2007, 12:16 PM

Now that we have 1 game under our belt, what do you expect our final record to be?

Aug. 30, 2007 Kent L 23-14 0-1
Sept. 8, 2007 Northern Iowa
Sept. 15, 2007 Iowa
Sept. 22, 2007 at Toledo
Sept. 29, 2007 at Nebraska
Oct. 6, 2007 at Texas Tech
Oct. 13, 2007 Texas
Oct. 20, 2007 Oklahoma
Oct. 27, 2007 at Missouri
Nov. 3, 2007 Kansas State
Nov. 10, 2007 Colorado
Nov. 17, 2007 at Kansas

**ISUFan22** · 08-31-2007, 12:24 PM

I'm thinking the 7-9 win crowd will be making some adjustments...

**AirWalke** · 08-31-2007, 12:27 PM

Missouri went 7-5 in 2005, even after losing a home game to New Mexico, a dreaded mid-major loss.

Don't count these guys out yet...

**DaddyMac** · 08-31-2007, 12:35 PM

I'm saying 3-9. Not sure how that'll shake out and against who. But it sounds about right.

Here's my quandry. I've talked to a couple people in the office today about the game. And aside from having a rare 100 yd rusher, I can't tell you one thing that really stood out as a positive.

On the other side of the coin, I can't really point at one thing that was an utter failure either. Last year, week in and week out we could revive the thread that said "our line sucks"! I wasn't tragically unhappy last night. I wasn't pleased to be sure. But I'd say they were at least equal to last year, maybe better (100 yard rusher again) and the fact that they're new, young as opposed to 4 seniors last season - gives reason for hope and improvment. Bret wasn't good, but had flashes. Same goes for the Jeckel and Hyde running game, first half to the second half.

Defensively was probably the biggest concern. We got a few good licks in on the QB. But more often we couldn't contain the outside and they got way too many 6-8 rushes. And we almost never got anything resembling a consistent pass rush. Secondary was also hit and miss. A couple nice plays, but then they'd have a play (first TD) where they looked completely lost.

**4429 mcc** · 08-31-2007, 12:41 PM

11-1...what?

**ISUFan22** · 08-31-2007, 12:41 PM

I said 4-5 wins before the season...told myself I would not adjust my W/L projection until after the 3rd game. But when you drop one of your W's in Week 1...

3-4 is where I've got to go.

**CyinCo** · 08-31-2007, 12:43 PM

I hate to be pessimistic. But I voted 2 wins. I see this year being a major challenge for the players to stay focused and up beat. Colorado has a great coach in Hawkins and they had their struggles last year. I think we'll experience the same things CO did. But, I didn't expect an instant improvement. This will take years. I'm behind Chizik and Co. all the way.

**dmclone** · 08-31-2007, 12:45 PM

Just for reference, when I did a similar poll at the beginning of August it looked like this.

34.8 said 5 wins
21.7 said 6 wins

http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/...cord-poll.html

**mjlane** · 08-31-2007, 12:50 PM

I was one of those who said we could squeeze out 6 or 7 wins this year, and I have definitely revised that prediction based on the first game. However, I would like to try to explain why I think many people were saying 6 or 7 wins weren't hard to fathom.

For years we heard from the coaches that the talent level was getting better and that the Cyclones were 'thisclose' to getting there. I believe that we were somewhat misled about the actual talent level of many of the players.

Mac had us believe that we were taking all of these 2* prospects and coaching them up to be Big 12 caliber players. In some cases that was true, there were a few diamonds in the rough (Jordan Carstens, Nick Leaders). But for the most part, many of these players peaked as frosh or sophs. How many times did we hear about some player who was "vastly underrated" by everyone else, and then in 4 years they rarely saw the field, or were spot players. The Smith twins out of Missouri and the Fisher twins come to mind (maybe it has something to do with twins).

I also think some of the blame lies with us as fans. We want to believe that our players are as good as anyone else in the North or the rest of the conference (except maybe UT and OU). But the reality is that even our good players maybe aren't that good. If you look at our LB's last year, they combined for 383 tackles, which is great. But only 16.5 of those were for a loss, and they combined for only 3 sacks the entire year. Yet many of us put Alvin Bowen up against any LB in the conference talent-wise. I mean, he's no slouch, but he's probably not the best LB in the conference. I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

I'm not saying this to bring everyone down, but merely to provide my perspective on our current situation. I think it's very difficult to objectively analyze your favorite team, especially when you've had someone pumping sunshine up your rear-end for 12 years about how much more improved you are.

**crash_zone** · 08-31-2007, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by 4429 mcc

11-1...what?

Glad to see I wasn't the only one to vote for that option.

Besides, I go for the games/to back ISU and catch up with old friends....the w/l column isn't all that important.

**cycloneryan** · 08-31-2007, 01:20 PM

I think 3-9 will be the mark this year. Get used to it people we suck this year we will likely continue to suck all year long, but these are our clones and we have to stick with them. Chizik will make this a proud program again just give it time.

**bellzisu** · 08-31-2007, 01:26 PM

Ok... Five people said 0-12... Wow... What was your picks before this game.. 12-0. We will win. We will a few games. probably 4 games again. Don't lose hope after one game.

Oh... and I have to mention this. All you bandwagon fans.... Please dont' give up after one game.. come to the games, buy the merchandise, and cheer. Don't let the tickets sit, don't sell them to idoits. Come to the game and continue to support YOUR school...

**wesley_w** · 08-31-2007, 01:28 PM

Well, I had it 6-6 before last night, so reluctantly I voted 5-7. Still optimistic though!!

**ISUFan22** · 08-31-2007, 01:30 PM

Why ride the folks that think we'll be 0-12? That game last night by looking at it from the outside was probably #1 or at worst #2 on our most winnable list.

While I don't think we'll go 0-12, it certainly is a possibility. Far more possible than going .500 or better at this point.

**bellzisu** · 08-31-2007, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Why ride the folks that think we'll be 0-12? That game last night by looking at it from the outside was probably #1 or at worst #2 on our most winnable list.

While I don't think we'll go 0-12, it certainly is a possibility. Far more possible than going .500 or better at this point.

22 I know people have their own opinions and thoughts about this. I'm not trying to ride them hard, but it seems like we lost all faith. We lost one game. The sky must be falling. I'm sick of the ISU thought process and how our fans over react. Thats my main point. Don't jump off the ledge. We will supprise a team here or there.

Alot of people agree some of mistake we made are fixable. They will be fixed. We can't jump to conclusions yet......