UPDATED Depth Chart

[brett108]

I think we have more depth at the LB position than we have ever had. And we only lose 1 guy after this year so next year we should be stacked at LB.

Really? We have some guys, but a true frosh is backing up a starter. And no offense to Miller, but he is not a 5 star guy like Manti Teo or Keith Rivers. I like what Matt Morton does for us, but he is painfully small out there against other Big 12 teams. I think we have bodies, but no the quality depth that we want. If Klein or Knott get hurt, the drop off will be severe.

[d4nim4l]

When you are jumped by a kid who knows nothing of the system and what you are trying to do, and who you have a full year on in terms of weight training and conditioning, that does not seem that good to me. Maybe Miller is that good, but this shows me we are painfully thin at LB once more. We really need to get some more bodies there. Maybe Mattison is destined to move, but we need to get some more bodies in there in order to do it. I wish Donald Smith could have gotten here ahead of schedule. We also could have used a JUCO like Jackson just to give us some options at LB that are ready to play.

Has it ever occurred to you that some of the reason for guys falling or jumping on the depth chart has more to do with intelligence and coachability than straight athleticism? If a true freshman who is an enrolled early to be here is jumping a guy who has been in the system for over a year I would trust that the coaches saw something. Like work ethic, intelligence, nose for the ball, etc.

[UNIGuy4Cy]

When you are jumped by a kid who knows nothing of the system and what you are trying to do, and who you have a full year on in terms of weight training and conditioning, that does not seem that good to me. Maybe Miller is that good, but this shows me we are painfully thin at LB once more. We really need to get some more bodies there. Maybe Mattison is destined to move, but we need to get some more bodies in there in order to do it. I wish Donald Smith could have gotten here ahead of schedule. We also could have used a JUCO like Jackson just to give us some options at LB that are ready to play.

Do you think with his frame he is a "true" linebacker? I don't, IMO he will be that Hybrid LB since he has a lot of speed but a smaller frame.

[Yes13]

Really? We have some guys, but a true frosh is backing up a starter. And no offense to Miller, but he is not a 5 star guy like Manti Teo or Keith Rivers. I like what Matt Morton does for us, but he is painfully small out there against other Big 12 teams. I think we have bodies, but no the quality depth that we want. If Klein or Knott get hurt, the drop off will be severe.

Well then its a good thing he's third string.

Adrian Bennett is always being mentioned by Wally. George is probably as good as Matt T. Miller has shown he is very talented. Mattison, as even you say, is very athletic.

[tazclone]

Really? That is interesting and news to the rest of the world.

Freshmen year
39 catches, 833 yards, 9 TD's

Sophomore year
52 catches, 1000 yards, 9 TD's

He really went in the dumps

Great...we have had one receiver live up to the hype over a ten year period. Whopptydamndo. I did notice you didn't post his Jr and Sr numbers. Probably because he lived up to the hype for one year and then dropped off. He had fewer catches, fewer yards, fewer TDs and fewer YPC in his Jr and Sr campaigns.

Don't get me wrong, I like Blythe and thought he was darn good but he peaked as a soph and really didn't live up to the hype of his soph season. People were thinking NFL type receiver after his soph year.

[Clones85']

Really? We have some guys, but a true frosh is backing up a starter. And no offense to Miller, but he is not a 5 star guy like Manti Teo or Keith Rivers. I like what Matt Morton does for us, but he is painfully small out there against other Big 12 teams. I think we have bodies, but no the quality depth that we want. If Klein or Knott get hurt, the drop off will be severe.

We had Knott and Klein backing up when they were TR freshmen and they were both solid. Miller also has the benefit of being here MONTHs earlier than them.

The Iowa Hawkeyes had a pretty solid defense last year and James Morris backed up for them as a true freshmen.

It use to be that if one our starters went down we would be playing a walk on at LB as we had NO depth. That isn't the case anymore. We now have a bunch of redshirt freshmen ready to come in and they all look athletic enough to get the job done

[brett108]

Has it ever occurred to you that some of the reason for guys falling or jumping on the depth chart has more to do with intelligence and coachability than straight athleticism? If a true freshman who is an enrolled early to be here is jumping a guy who has been in the system for over a year I would trust that the coaches saw something. Like work ethic, intelligence, nose for the ball, etc.

If that is the case what does that say about our player development? You have a super athlete, get him in for a year in your program, and he is instantly passed. I realize these things happen, but at ISU we need to be able to make these guys better. If we can't, then we will be winning 5 games a year for the next 10 years. You have to have the players on your roster improving year after year. Unless there are phenoms coming in, this should always be the case for a program like ISU. Look across the state at Iowa. They bring in talented freshman, but none play significant time on offense or defense because they get guys developed in their system, and they are the better players because of it. I hate to use them as a template, but that is where we need to get to.

Now this is only one player, but I was hoping for some moves by other second year guys. I was hoping George would take over MLB. He played as a true freshman, and was very highly thought of coming out of HS. I like that Tuftee is going to be starting, but I would have liked to see one of Gary, Young, West, or Horne break into the top 3 WR.

I am probably expecting too much after just spring ball, but all the guys I had hoped to see make moves were here last year minus Horne. I want to see that the players we are getting with Rhoads are the guys that fit the system and can make us better, but I see mostly Chizik recruits out there on the field. Many have used the square peg in a round hole analysis and said our team would look better with Rhoads guys, but they aren't beating out the previous regimes players.

[Clones85']

Great...we have had one receiver live up to the hype over a ten year period. Whopptydamndo. I did notice you didn't post his Jr and Sr numbers. Probably because he lived up to the hype for one year and then dropped off. He had fewer catches, fewer yards, fewer TDs and fewer YPC in his Jr and Sr campaigns.

Don't get me wrong, I like Blythe and thought he was darn good but he peaked as a soph and really didn't live up to the hype of his soph season. People were thinking NFL type receiver after his soph year.

Take a deep breath. Back away from the computer. Everything is all right!

I never said anything about our WR's and their lack of production. I agree with you. I was responding to the comment that Blythe overachieved and than underachieved his soph year. That isn't true. And if you read the thread you would also see that I did talk about his junior senior years. Both were solid. He was averaging identical #'s his junior year before he got a virus and missed games. His senior year was the same catches wise but a drop in yards and TD's. A lot of that is b/c of a new staff

[Clones85']

If that is the case what does that say about our player development? You have a super athlete, get him in for a year in your program, and he is instantly passed. I realize these things happen, but at ISU we need to be able to make these guys better. If we can't, then we will be winning 5 games a year for the next 10 years. You have to have the players on your roster improving year after year. Unless there are phenoms coming in, this should always be the case for a program like ISU. Look across the state at Iowa. They bring in talented freshman, but none play significant time on offense or defense because they get guys developed in their system, and they are the better players because of it. I hate to use them as a template, but that is where we need to get to.

Now this is only one player, but I was hoping for some moves by other second year guys. I was hoping George would take over MLB. He played as a true freshman, and was very highly thought of coming out of HS. I like that Tuftee is going to be starting, but I would have liked to see one of Gary, Young, West, or Horne break into the top 3 WR.

I am probably expecting too much after just spring ball, but all the guys I had hoped to see make moves were here last year minus Horne. I want to see that the players we are getting with Rhoads are the guys that fit the system and can make us better, but I see mostly Chizik recruits out there on the field. Many have used the square peg in a round hole analysis and said our team would look better with Rhoads guys, but they aren't beating out the previous regimes players.

Question #1: When has a spring depth chart ever been the same depth chart come August?

Answer: Never

Question #2: People say ISU needs to recruit better players to come into the football program. So the coaches go and recruit a stud that can play as a freshmen and he passes up a kid 1 year older than him. Is this a bad thing?

Answer: Nope

[d4nim4l]

If that is the case what does that say about our player development? You have a super athlete, get him in for a year in your program, and he is instantly passed. I realize these things happen, but at ISU we need to be able to make these guys better. If we can't, then we will be winning 5 games a year for the next 10 years. You have to have the players on your roster improving year after year. Unless there are phenoms coming in, this should always be the case for a program like ISU. Look across the state at Iowa. They bring in talented freshman, but none play significant time on offense or defense because they get guys developed in their system, and they are the better players because of it. I hate to use them as a template, but that is where we need to get to.

Now this is only one player, but I was hoping for some moves by other second year guys. I was hoping George would take over MLB. He played as a true freshman, and was very highly thought of coming out of HS. I like that Tuftee is going to be starting, but I would have liked to see one of Gary, Young, West, or Horne break into the top 3 WR.

I am probably expecting too much after just spring ball, but all the guys I had hoped to see make moves were here last year minus Horne. I want to see that the players we are getting with Rhoads are the guys that fit the system and can make us better, but I see mostly Chizik recruits out there on the field. Many have used the square peg in a round hole analysis and said our team would look better with Rhoads guys, but they aren't beating out the previous regimes players.

You're again missing the point. Football is not played only on offense and defense. There is a special teams unit that has been a focus of this staff from day one where guys like George have, and will continue to, contribute to.

Some of these guys do have a lot of athleticism but it's more than that. If they can't get the system then you have to find another spot for them like special teams. As long as they are contributing to any of the three phases of the game we should be happy they are here because they are at least doing something right.

As for the new guys beating out Chizik's recruits... it's tough to beat out an upperclassman. Especially ones with previous starting experience. What you are seeing is Rhoads recruits beating out Rhoads recruits (Miller over Mattison, Farinok over Tautolo). That cannot be an awful thing, it shows competition is stepping up.

[RustShack]

I think we have a solid five at LB. Knott, Klein, Tauafuu, Miller, and George. A lot better depth than we had last year, hopefully none of them get hurt this year. George had the ability last year, but not the size.

[tazclone]

Take a deep breath. Back away from the computer. Everything is all right!

I never said anything about our WR's and their lack of production. I agree with you. I was responding to the comment that Blythe overachieved and than underachieved his soph year. That isn't true. And if you read the thread you would also see that I did talk about his junior senior years. Both were solid. He was averaging identical #'s his junior year before he got a virus and missed games. His senior year was the same catches wise but a drop in yards and TD's. A lot of that is b/c of a new staff

1. Please don't take my comments as a rip on Blythe. They are not meant to be that. I recognize that he is one of the all time best receivers to com eout of ISU. He was very important to our teams success.
2. By underacheiving, I was meerly stating his numbers peaked his Sophmore year and went down after that. His YPC really dropped which shows us that teams could take away the deep ball from him which they didn't his soph year. Some of that had to do with OL play but teams could and did take him away. Either way I look at YPC because that can account for games he missed.
3. We also had receivers like Hamilton and Sumrall on the field with him his Jr and Sr years. Hamilton is the only ISU WR to make an NFL squad since JJ Moses. So it isn't like Blythe was the only threat.

In short, my initial comment was that ISU fans hype the WR corp evey single year. We talk about all these great playmakers that we have, yet every year, they fail to meet expecttions. Every single year. I stand by that comment and Blythe havign a great Soph year doesn't change the fact that our WR corp has consistently underperformed.
I for one he decided not to buy into the hype anymore. I have bought into it most years until this year.

[brett108]

Question #1: When has a spring depth chart ever been the same depth chart come August?

Answer: Never

Question #2: People say ISU needs to recruit better players to come into the football program. So the coaches go and recruit a stud that can play as a freshmen and he passes up a kid 1 year older than him. Is this a bad thing?

Answer: Nope

I hope this is the case. Like you said everything can change. How many summer sessions does the NCAA allow? Most of our other freshman and two mnore JUCOs should be here. I really hope Simon shows something. A good DL could make our LB core look better than last year, and keep them upright on more plays.

[Clones85']

I think we have a solid five at LB. Knott, Klein, Tauafuu, Miller, and George. A lot better depth than we had last year, hopefully none of them get hurt this year. George had the ability last year, but not the size.

Don't forget about Adrian Bennett

[tazclone]

I think we have a solid five at LB. Knott, Klein, Tauafuu, Miller, and George. A lot better depth than we had last year, hopefully none of them get hurt this year. George had the ability last year, but not the size.

Tau'fo'ou did not impress me that much last year prior to getting hurt and let's face it, he is injury prone. I was hoping George would over take him this year.