What is this team's ceiling?

**JUKEBOX** · 10-02-2011, 12:17 AM

What is this team capable of accomplishing without any mistakes?

**1100011CS** · 10-02-2011, 12:19 AM

Winning?

**JUKEBOX** · 10-02-2011, 12:23 AM

Originally Posted by 1100011CS

Winning?

I think eliminating mistakes could let us be an 8 win team this year.
Eliminating an some but not all mistakes would probably net us 5-6 wins.
Doing nothing 4 wins.

**bots** · 10-02-2011, 12:24 AM

Originally Posted by JUKEBOX

What is this team capable of accomplishing without any mistakes?

Given what we've seen through four games, I don't think "without any mistakes" is in the cards. At this point it would be great to get the mistakes down to "average CFB team" level. All four outings have been very poor from both a turnover and penalty standpoint.

After watching us play Iowa, Utah and Oklahoma last season I felt like we would have a hard time beating any of those teams given ten chances. Just seemed like we were phyiscally overmatched. I didn't feel that way at all watching tonight's game. They clearly can play with Texas. They clearly can't compete with Texas when playing as sloppy and undisciplined as they did tonight. Clean it up to a respectable level (never going to be perfect) and this team still has the potential to win 7-8 games.

**InCytful** · 10-02-2011, 12:33 AM

There's still four (or more) "winnable" games left if we play decent game, cutting out half of the penalties and winning the turnover margin. There are also 2 or 3 games that we'll get stomped with the same effort we showed against Texas, as we're playing top 10 caliber programs with experienced QB's and good receivers, and better running games than any we've seen.

Hugs4ISU · 10-02-2011, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by bots

Given what we've seen through four games, I don't think "without any mistakes" is in the cards. At this point it would be great to get the mistakes down to "average CFB team" level. All four outings have been very poor from both a turnover and penalty standpoint.

I think penalties and mistakes will always be a problem under Paul Rhoads' coaching. It is the natural result of stressing emotionalism the way that he appears to. He knows that we will almost always be lacking in overall athletic ability compared to many of the other teams that we play (especially most in the Big 12, such as Texas), so he tries to level the playing field by getting his players to play on emotion. I think this will always result in mistakes and penalties, though.

**Cyclonepride** · 10-02-2011, 07:04 AM

I think it's pretty high, though the injury status from last night's game is going to matter. If KO and LJ are out for significant time, the young guys are going to have to step into the gap and grow up fast.

**Fishhead** · 10-02-2011, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by JUKEBOX

I think eliminating mistakes could let us be an 8 win team this year.
Eliminating an some but not all mistakes would probably net us 5-6 wins.
Doing nothing 4 wins.

No way on 8. That would what, match the best record in the history of the program? Saying games are winnable you got to expect to win half or just over. You have to include the previous wins in the equation. Throw out uni since that should of been an automatic. I digress. 7 wins is really pushing it.

By the way, how many other major universities have less than 10 wins in a season including bowls, beside isu?

**AllBig12Drinker** · 10-02-2011, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by JUKEBOX

What is this team capable of accomplishing without any mistakes?

Originally Posted by Cyclonepride

I think it's pretty high, though the injury status from last night's game is going to matter. If KO and LJ are out for significant time, the young guys are going to have to step into the gap and grow up fast.

I think the team is capable of competing in the rest of their games with the exception of OU and OSU. Too much talent and experience on those teams.

But the injuries are the key to me. Especially the two listed above. Having LJ shutting down his side of the field is huge. KO is the anchor of the o line. Burris is gone and Farniok got dinged up. Hoping for the best...

Last night we competed and had our chances against a team that is as fast as we will see the rest of the year.

ISU will have the mistakes, they just need to cut the penalties in half and grab a few more turnovers. I still think this team can get to 6 or 7 wins. However, K State is going to be more challenging than I had originally thought. Mizzou will be a huge game, need to get the W in that one. Beat Kansas, and steal another game from one of the other opponents. We shall see.

**HandSanitizer** · 10-02-2011, 08:23 AM

Lets see....

Don't think we beat Baylor, Mizzou, A&M, OSU, OU
Probably lose to TT and KSU

Probably win against KU, but who knows after losing 5 straight games....

So 4-5 wins it is (which is what I predicted before the Texas game) Schedule is brutal and we make too many mistakes.

**Al_4_State** · 10-02-2011, 08:26 AM

If this team wins the turnover battle and commits less than 5 penalties, they could beat everyone but OU and OSU left on the schedule.

I think that we're looking at 6 wins right now, which I'm ok with.

KU
Tech
and one of Baylor/Mizzou/KState/A&M

I'm not sure Baylor and KSU are for real. Their best opponent has been each other. TCU lost to SMU and Miami lost to Maryland. Those opponents were similar to UConn, and they probably haven't played anyone as good as Iowa.

**cyclonepower** · 10-02-2011, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by Al_4_State

If this team wins the turnover battle and commits less than 5 penalties, they could beat everyone but OU and OSU left on the schedule.

I think that we're looking at 6 wins right now, which I'm ok with.

KU
Tech
and one of Baylor/Mizzou/KState/A&M

I'm not sure Baylor and KSU are for real. Their best opponent has been each other. TCU lost to SMU and Miami lost to Maryland. Those opponents were similar to UConn, and they probably haven't played anyone as good as Iowa.

Uconn is awful, gave up 38 to western Michigan at home should tell us how bad our offense is, also Iowa must wonder how bad there defense is

**CyBroncos** · 10-02-2011, 09:58 AM

I wish we could flip our remaining home/road games. I think we'd have a good chance against Baylor, Mizzou, Tech and K-State at home but those are going to be difficult road games. Hopefully we can split those four road games

**ISUAgronomist** · 10-02-2011, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by Al_4_State

KU
Tech
and one of Baylor/Mizzou/KState/A&M

A&M can't stop a passing attack combined with up tempo. With the exception of Judie (who has been banged up) their secondary is not very good. I really think we can take them down at JTS. Even if Sherman and crew learn how to coach a second half.