Offense improvement

[ajk4st8]

good stuff. some of that can be credited to tom herman

Didn't it seem KO missed time earlier in games too?

[Cyclonestate78]

Didn't it seem KO missed time earlier in games too?

I think so. Has anybody else noticed that when ISU is working their no huddle early in the game they just go straight to the line and run the initial play that was called but in the 2nd half they get to the line step back, stand up, and look to the sidelines more often? It is almost as if Herman is running plays early on to see how the defense lines up to defend it and then in the 2nd half when he sees the defense line up to defend a set in a similar fashion to what they did previously in the game he has a play dialed up to make them pay. For example in the Iowa game ISU had run several plays in the redzone in which Iowa loaded up and came with an all out blitz. Then in OT when they saw that alignment from Iowa on 4th and goal they ran a quick pass to Money for a TD. Then in the 3rd OT they saw the same alignment from Iowa again and they shifted James White to the right of Jantz and ran the option against the blitz which left no defender to cover the RB on the potential option pitch.

Herman is doing an outstanding job in the 2nd half this year of making the right calls at the right time to make the D pay.

[Clones21]

I think so. Has anybody else noticed that when ISU is working their no huddle early in the game they just go straight to the line and run the initial play that was called but in the 2nd half they get to the line step back, stand up, and look to the sidelines more often? It is almost as if Herman is running plays early on to see how the defense lines up to defend it and then in the 2nd half when he sees the defense line up to defend a set in a similar fashion to what they did previously in the game he has a play dialed up to make them pay. For example in the Iowa game ISU had run several plays in the redzone in which Iowa loaded up and came with an all out blitz. Then in OT when they saw that alignment from Iowa on 4th and goal they ran a quick pass to Money for a TD. Then in the 3rd OT they saw the same alignment from Iowa again and they shifted James White to the right of Jantz and ran the option against the blitz which left no defender to cover the RB on the potential option pitch.

Herman is doing an outstanding job in the 2nd half this year of making the right calls at the right time to make the D pay.

It's all meant to keep the defense off base. I have heard somewhere that Herman already has about the first 5 plays ready to go and will run them unless they see something different on the defense. If you are running the "Jet" you have to have plays lined up and ready to go. It's all a mind game and Herman is doing an alright job with it so far this year.

[CykoAGR]

In my opinion the biggest difference is the # of touchdowns and "big plays". We had our longest pass play in like 4-5 years against IA when Horne went for 50+. The QB position statistically is very similar except for TD passes thrown (yes I know this is very important). Att/Comp/% are similar but the yds per game is up and # of scores is up as well. These can be inflated due to the OT game.

The most drastic change that I see is the production from the WR. This could be partially or mainly due to QB play but these guys are making the difference.

Rushing game was already solid and the fact that it has remained just as productive while the passing game has improved tells me that our Offense is not one dimensional like it was last year.

Others have stated the biggest dissapointment has been the TO's and Penalties.

[Cyclonestate78]

It's all meant to keep the defense off base. I have heard somewhere that Herman already has about the first 5 plays ready to go and will run them unless they see something different on the defense. If you are running the "Jet" you have to have plays lined up and ready to go. It's all a mind game and Herman is doing an alright job with it so far this year.

I get that. But I am referring to second half adjustments which always seems to have the offense at the line in a particular formation and they stop and look to the sideline. They basically get set in a particular formation to manipulate how the defense is going to line up based on what they saw them do in the first half and then Herman calls down with a play to exploit the D based on how they are set up. Very similar to a game of chess where you are making moves based on your opponents tendency and when they make their move that you already saw coming you already have your next move ready to hit them where it hurts. In the UCONN game I am sure that Herman had been watching how the UCONN D lined up and how their secondary reacted on certain plays.... say a running play to the right out of a particular formation. Then when we needed a big play and he got that same alignment from the D we run it heading right, flip it to Lenz going back the other way, who throws it to Money who is running by himself 30 yards down the field. It wasn't by accident that ISU ran that play and Money was all alone down the field. They set that play up, they knew exactly how UCONN was going to line up, they knew exactly how UCONN's secondary on the left side would react to a running play to the right out of that formation, and because of that they knew Money was going to be wide open. Herman has done an exceptional job so far this year and the offense has done a solid job executing the plays when they have the defense where they want them in the second half.

[SCarolinaCy]

Again, like I said in another thread, INT's come when you have a gunslinger at QB. Steele is a gunslinger. He will throw into coverage sometimes. He will go deep when the person isn't open. In his career Steele will probably throw alot of TD's, but alot of INT's too. Just like Brett Favre.

I think this pretty well sums up Jantz. And, this seems how CPR/ISU defense expects him to play.

High risk. High reward.

[KMAC_ATTACK]

IMO we need to get the positive plays so the offense can get into the jet tempo....to me, Jantz has just appeared to be so much more relaxed while running the jet., i hope we goto it on a regular basis...get them spread out in a pass defense and let the big uglies wear them the F out......

I'm so jacked for this game. Win or lose, i hope ISU plays a good clean game that is reflected in the scoreboard. We cannot give a team like this extra opportunities. We need our defense to keep everything in front of them, slow the game down, make it boring and then strike. I think they will really be pushing us to pass, their dbacks are 20th in the nation in interceptions for a reason. Either their line has been getting a great push and thus forcing bad throws or their defense just has good dbacks!

I would love to see ISU dominate this team on national tv - that would get people talking!

[heitclone]

Again, like I said in another thread, INT's come when you have a gunslinger at QB. Steele is a gunslinger. He will throw into coverage sometimes. He will go deep when the person isn't open. In his career Steele will probably throw alot of TD's, but alot of INT's too. Just like Brett Favre.

Gunslinger is a nice way of saying very bad decision maker, but I don't think this is how Jantz has played, his mistakes have been the result of just some bad throws. I think they have had more to do with the speed of the game or him being used to fit throws in against juco competition than him being a "gunslinger". Most have been when a play broke down, either to pressure or good coverage. When he's just reacted and the offense has played a fast pace he has shown much better decision making (like any other QB would). The Iowa game was a night and day difference from the other 2 games, not only in his stats but just the playcalling and the attitude the offense came out with. Maybe that's the result of a QB much more focused after struggling against UNI, or maybe its Herman being more in sync with Steele's strengths. Either way, I dont think the INT's against UCONN were the result of a gunslinger mentality. They were result of a Steele being a step slow on his throws, probably due to a UCONN defense that was VERY quick, probably quicker than any had been expected.

[cyhiphopp]

Gunslinger is a nice way of saying very bad decision maker, but I don't think this is how Jantz has played, his mistakes have been the result of just some bad throws. I think they have had more to do with the speed of the game or him being used to fit throws in against juco competition than him being a "gunslinger". Most have been when a play broke down, either to pressure or good coverage. When he's just reacted and the offense has played a fast pace he has shown much better decision making (like any other QB would). The Iowa game was a night and day difference from the other 2 games, not only in his stats but just the playcalling and the attitude the offense came out with. Maybe that's the result of a QB much more focused after struggling against UNI, or maybe its Herman being more in sync with Steele's strengths. Either way, I dont think the INT's against UCONN were the result of a gunslinger mentality. They were result of a Steele being a step slow on his throws, probably due to a UCONN defense that was VERY quick, probably quicker than any had been expected.

In general, I've always thought of a gunslinger as a high risk, high reward type of QB. Brett Farve has been called a gunslinger his whole career.
A gunslinger would be the opposite of a game manager. He can throw a pick and then turn around and make a spectacular TD pass.