UConn Breakdown

[thatguy]

Doesn't it feel good to say that we expect/think to win?

we know what usually happens next....

[Clones21]

we know what usually happens next....

Knock on wood or Knock on Steele.

[CycloneErik]

If we can play the run like we did against Iowa, then I don't think they have any offense left, barring a career day from a QB that hasn't shown that kind of ability. With CPR at the helm, I feel confident that we won't see that old nightmare scenario.

Offensively, we should be able to put some points up. On paper, I feel good about this matchup, just like before the season. Of course, it's just a matter of putting it together Friday night.

[Tre4ISU]

Thought this was a bit comical...but here goes...this was posted on the UCONN Football boards in JULY - posted by CTfan07.....

I would like to get his evaluation now.....

I see UConn as the favorite for this game, especially at home. I do think the game will be close, but knowing that Iowa State will be as inept as us on offense is comforting.

QB- New QBs for both teams. Push
Steele J.>Trick Shots McGee.

RB- New RBs for both teams. Push
This is probably a push for starters but we have depth.

WR/TE- Neither have too much going for them, particularly with new QBs.
Offensive Line- Iowa State has an excellent player at Tackle, but I UConn consistently puts out one of the best lines in the Big East year-in, year-out. Edge UConn

I think we have all of those categories. Besides, they are incredibly one dimensional.

Defensive Line- This will be UConn's strength in 2011. NFL draft pick in Kendall Reyes at DT, very experienced line, lots of depth. Edge Uconn
Probably right. Reyes is good. Our interior guys will have to be good to control him. That of course makes the guys around him better.

Linebackers- Edge Iowa State. They have some of the best in the Big 12
Edge? It's not even close.


Defensive Backs- Iowa State is average/solid in the back. UConn has a star at corner in Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Dwayne Gratz at the other corner position ain't to shabby either. UConn
A push is pushing it for UCONN. Washington has made our unit actually pretty damn good.

Special Teams- DOn't know much about Iowa State, but Uconn will have the best kicker, maybe the best punter, and the best return man (Nick Williams... led the NCAA in return average) in the Big East. UConn

May be right with the exception of punting. Had this stat monkey looked at Kirby's stats he would know that.

[04clone]

Thought this was a bit comical...but here goes...this was posted on the UCONN Football boards in JULY - posted by CTfan07.....

I would like to get his evaluation now.....

I see UConn as the favorite for this game, especially at home. I do think the game will be close, but knowing that Iowa State will be as inept as us on offense is comforting.

QB- New QBs for both teams. Push

RB- New RBs for both teams. Push

WR/TE- Neither have too much going for them, particularly with new QBs.
Offensive Line- Iowa State has an excellent player at Tackle, but I UConn consistently puts out one of the best lines in the Big East year-in, year-out. Edge UConn

Defensive Line- This will be UConn's strength in 2011. NFL draft pick in Kendall Reyes at DT, very experienced line, lots of depth. Edge Uconn

Linebackers- Edge Iowa State. They have some of the best in the Big 12

Defensive Backs- Iowa State is average/solid in the back. UConn has a star at corner in Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Dwayne Gratz at the other corner position ain't to shabby either. UConn

Special Teams- DOn't know much about Iowa State, but Uconn will have the best kicker, maybe the best punter, and the best return man (Nick Williams... led the NCAA in return average) in the Big East. UConn

This type of analysis is always entertaining, but completely irrelevant. Are we going to have a mano-y-mano QB face off?

UCONN's offense has been pathetic this year...they are averaging ~ 210 yards per game through games against Fordham and Vandy (projected for last in the SEC). If the ISU d-line can play at the level they did against Iowa, I think UCONN will have trouble sustaining drives. The ISU D-line held its own against a pretty solid O-line from Iowa. The first two games of the year sure don't suggest UCONN's line is any better than Iowa's.

On the other side of the ball, it's hard to say which ISU team will show up. Will it be the team that scored 6 TDs last week or the one that struggled for 3 quarters against UNI?

[Doc]

I'd be really surprised if UConn had a better D than iowa

I'd be surprised if they didn't have a better defense than Iowa. I guess it depends on how good you think Iowa's D is this year.

[Bigman38]

This type of analysis is always entertaining, but completely irrelevant. Are we going to have a mano-y-mano QB face off?

UCONN's offense has been pathetic this year...they are averaging ~ 210 yards per game through games against Fordham and Vandy (projected for last in the SEC). If the ISU d-line can play at the level they did against Iowa, I think UCONN will have trouble sustaining drives. The ISU D-line held its own against a pretty solid O-line from Iowa. The first two games of the year sure don't suggest UCONN's line is any better than Iowa's.

On the other side of the ball, it's hard to say which ISU team will show up. Will it be the team that scored 6 TDs last week or the one that struggled for 3 quarters against UNI?

I wish, I'd take Steele against over all of them.

[woodie]

ISU WILL STUFF UCONN...

[jj-cyclones]

I hope isu can get the run going early... don't need Steele trying to win one in the 4th or OT, on the road. This game will tell us a lot about the rest of the season imo.

[CycoCyclone]

This type of analysis is always entertaining, but completely irrelevant. Are we going to have a mano-y-mano QB face off?

UCONN's offense has been pathetic this year...they are averaging ~ 210 yards per game through games against Fordham and Vandy (projected for last in the SEC). If the ISU d-line can play at the level they did against Iowa, I think UCONN will have trouble sustaining drives. The ISU D-line held its own against a pretty solid O-line from Iowa. The first two games of the year sure don't suggest UCONN's line is any better than Iowa's.

On the other side of the ball, it's hard to say which ISU team will show up. Will it be the team that scored 6 TDs last week or the one that struggled for 3 quarters against UNI?

Maybe I have Cyclone selective amnesia, but I don't see the team that played UNI from coming out again. The boys might not pull this one home, but that won't be because we don't come to play, God bless CPR

[JY07]

Both ESPN and Cyclones.com disagree :-)
Iowa State Cyclones 2011 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - College Football - ESPN

Iowa State - Cumulative Season Statistics

espn also says we're 4 of 5 on 4th down conversions, and i'm pretty sure that ain't right either... so i wouldn't put full faith in them

2011 NCAA Division I-A College Football Team Statistics Leaders for Downs - ESPN

[d4nim4l]

We're 5 of 5 on 4th downs according to the official NCAA Statistics web site.

Horne does not have a TD though.

[MNCyGuy]

Maybe I have Cyclone selective amnesia, but I don't see the team that played UNI from coming out again. The boys might not pull this one home, but that won't be because we don't come to play, God bless CPR

I'm inclined to agree. Outside of the fumble and penalties we came out with our foot on the gas against Iowa, very different than the beginning of the UNI game. Based on Rhoads history I don't think it was just because it was Iowa either. I think they've legitimately figured out how to start games with this offense and if we see them struggle later this year it will just be because we're facing better teams.

[CycoCyclone]

I'm inclined to agree. Outside of the fumble and penalties we came out with our foot on the gas against Iowa, very different than the beginning of the UNI game. Based on Rhoads history I don't think it was just because it was Iowa either. I think they've legitimately figured out how to start games with this offense and if we see them struggle later this year it will just be because we're facing better teams.

Herman seemed to find his play calling rhythm keeping the Iowa D guessing and eventually sending blitzes to create pressure.

I see offensive line play being critical again, making sure the pedal can be pressed that far, and we need to start seeing a breakout game from a RB. Eat more clock!

[Clones85']

When UCONN starts recruiting DLine talent like Iowa and getting them drafted every year, I will start believing that they have a better line than Iowa. Until than, no their dline is not as good as Iowa's.

I think people are underestimating how good our Oline is with KO in there and Hicks back. Those 2 are as good as anyone in the country.

Key for us is to continue to be quick with our tempo on offense and not allow them to sub dlineman in the game. That makes their defensive line gassed like they were for Iowa and allows us to just manhandle them up front