UPDATED Depth Chart

I would be fine with George being the MLB, that or if Miller can play like he has been this spring then move Klein to the middle and have Miller and Knott on the outside. I would still use Matt in short yardage situations though.

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Originally Posted by brett108

If that is the case what does that say about our player development?

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That it is outstanding- taking a high schooler and making him a 2nd team guy in a few months.

Not sure what is tripping you up. Mattison came in last year with the aim to be LB-S hybrid after a couple of years in the S&C (also showed up slightly out of shape IRRC). Less than 8 months later Miller came in to play LB, and was already bigger than Mattison. You are surprised that Miller is ahead of Mattison at a true LB position?
How is Miller moving ahead of George, making the huge assumption that a Spring 2-deep means anything, a bad thing?


I really like how the defense is coming together. We still lack the upper-level playmakers, but should have a solid play and 2-deep at almost every spot.

Like to see the young OLine in the 3 deep, and is states as a highlight in scrimmages...

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Originally Posted by tazclone

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.

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And Neither of those guys have a single NFL catch. The fact that ISU has only ever had 4 receivers in the NFL that have ever caught a pass and none in the last 30 years tells you everything you need to know about the offensive production of ISU WRs. Here's some trivia, can anyone name all 4 (TEs and RBs don't count)?

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Originally Posted by tazclone

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.

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You also have to factor in that he tore his ACL one spring in there. I can't remember off the top of my head which one but some people come back from that better than others.

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Originally Posted by The_Architect

Ever heard of Blythe? :v_SPIN:

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I believe his given name was Passitto Blythe.

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Originally Posted by synapticwave

And Neither of those guys have a single NFL catch. The fact that ISU has only ever had 4 receivers in the NFL that have ever caught a pass and none in the last 30 years tells you everything you need to know about the offensive production of ISU WRs. Here's some trivia, can anyone name all 4 (TEs and RBs don't count)?

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Otto Stowe, Ike Harris, Eppie Barney and Luther Blue were all WR.

Jim Doran was listed as an end, which in the 50s could have been either a TE or SE (WR).

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Originally Posted by Ciclone

I believe his given name was Passitto Blythe.

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no, it was Throwitto Blythe.

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Originally Posted by theshadow

Otto Stowe, Ike Harris, Eppie Barney and Luther Blue were all WR.

Jim Doran was listed as an end, which in the 50s could have been either a TE or SE (WR).

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theshadow strikes again. He's right, technically Eppie was listed as Flanker which depending on the system may have been more of a RB split out but we'll call him a WR.

It still is surprising that we haven't a single WR in the NFL despite having two NFL quarterbacks recently.

Yeah, I totally understand why people are upset we recruited a better LB than Mattison. Why would we possibly want to upgrade our talent?

I think some people are just ****** that an Iowa kid can come in and overtake a hyped up Texas kid immediately.

When a freshman comes in and plays so well it is not a bad thing.

our LB's are some big boys... 240+ for the starters and miller at 236. dang! love the size on our safety's too. we'll have a defense that can punish some people

Mattison more of a raw athlete than a FB player which is probably the reason he didn't get as many looks from other schools. He has that raw athleticism, it's just a matter of him picking up a position I think. CPR just recently said that he's one of the fastest players on the team. I think he is just a project and will need more time to learn how to use that speed.

I think this also speaks as to why he isn't playing at safety. He is most likely a liability in coverage so safety would be a bad spot for him right now. Hopefully in a few years he will eaither bulk up and be a speedy Weak Side LB or be able to learn the hybrid position effectively.

It seems that Miller is a much more natural LBer and is apparently ahead of Mattison in being ready to see the field at LB. This is not a bad thing. I don't think the staff said anything about Mattison being close to playing last fall, so having someone only one year behind him come in and have similar ability to play now is not horrible. Especially when that True Freshman is reportedly 6'4 and 235 lbs combared to Mattisons 5'11 200.
It does not mean that Mattison is a failure, it just means he needs more time to develop. With his natural athleticism he could be that much better once he is ready.


As for out LB depth, it is better, but not yet good. We at least have a few young guys who can play in a pinch as opposed to having to play walk-ons significant minutes due to injuries. We still need to pull in a few LBs every year and have most of them pan out as Big12 caliber players and some of them be studs.

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Originally Posted by RustShack

I would be fine with George being the MLB, that or if Miller can play like he has been this spring then move Klein to the middle and have Miller and Knott on the outside. I would still use Matt in short yardage situations though.

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Personally, I'd be fine with the coaches doing whatever they damn well please, figuring that it's their jobs and reputations on the line, and that they know more about the players than I do.

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Originally Posted by brett108

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.

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Call me crazy, but I'd say that all it says is that Miller has a steeper learning curve than Mattison. Nothing more, nothing less.

Well, it also might mean that Miller is bigger than Mattison, and better suited to be a linebacker, but I wouldn't want to run all over the place drawing unfounded conclusions. :wink:

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Originally Posted by synapticwave

And Neither of those guys have a single NFL catch. The fact that ISU has only ever had 4 receivers in the NFL that have ever caught a pass and none in the last 30 years tells you everything you need to know about the offensive production of ISU WRs. Here's some trivia, can anyone name all 4 (TEs and RBs don't count)?

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Which is exactly why I will not believe any hype over our WR corp until they prove it on the field. I hope they prove me wrong htis year. I really hope they do. I would be more than happy to go out shoot a couple of c rows and have me some crow pot pie. But I am done being a Cyclone fan that buys all the hype about our offense every year. This year even moreso...We will have a new QB, a new RB, a new TE, 2 new OL, and a WR corp that lost its best receiver.