1st Quarter Blues

**Cyclonestate78** · 10-07-2011, 10:23 AM

In 4 games this year ISU has scored exactly 0 points in the 1st quarter. How do we snap this 1st quarter skid and start getting better production early on in our remaining games?

**chuckd4735** · 10-07-2011, 10:25 AM

Easy...stop playing stupid.

**Doc** · 10-07-2011, 10:27 AM

Steele needs to rub one out in the locker room before the game so he doesn't overthrow his first 3 passes.
Or we could just try to get him a couple of really easy throws right away.

**CloneFan4** · 10-07-2011, 10:28 AM

We tell Steele and the rest of the guys that we're starting off with the 4th quarter.

**cyfanatic** · 10-07-2011, 10:28 AM

Off the top of my head...should have had points against Iowa for sure...but then made unforced errors (bad snap)! Although with our kicking game...even 3 points wasn't a sure thing at that point!

Just need to quit turning the ball over...easier said than done though.

**Cyclonestate78** · 10-07-2011, 10:35 AM

I guess I got caught up in the overall results of the games but hadn't realized that we haven't scored yet this year in the first quarter. Pretty amazing stat considering we are sitting at 3-1. It just makes me wonder why the offense starts off so slow. We have had some good drives in the 1st quarter of games but the majority of our turnovers for some reason have come in the first half of games and mainly in the 1st quarter. I just don't get how the team can come out game after game after game so tight in the 1st quarter.

**CykoAGR** · 10-07-2011, 10:45 AM

It is pretty amazing that we are 3-1 with 0 pts in the 1st qtr.

The simple answer (although I am beginning to question how "simple" it is) is to protect the ball early. We moved the ball against IA into the redzone twice early in the game. Once on our first drive and then again after we were down 10-0 only to fumble 2 times inside the 10. UCONN we were able to move the ball once Steele settled.

The UNI game was just awful to start because our Oline and QB were young and playing in their first real game action.

I am trying to forget the TX game for my own sanity but if I remember we had started to move the ball and had a couple of 1st downs until the fumbled exchange between QB/RB.

I honestly think we can score enough pts against Baylor to keep us in the game IF we dont make mistakes. Their D is less than average so I dont think moving the ball is the real problem it will be not hurting ourselves and making good decisions even if that means throwing the ball away or checking down to a RB or TE.

We spot BU 14 pts before our offense gets their heads in the game its highly unlikely we can dig out.

**HILLCYD** · 10-07-2011, 10:51 AM

Shotgun start?

**weR138** · 10-07-2011, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by CykoAGR

It is pretty amazing that we are 3-1 with 0 pts in the 1st qtr.

The simple answer (although I am beginning to question how "simple" it is) is to protect the ball early. We moved the ball against IA into the redzone twice early in the game. Once on our first drive and then again after we were down 10-0 only to fumble 2 times inside the 10. UCONN we were able to move the ball once Steele settled.

In addition to this we have to stop w/ the personal fouls on 3rd down.

**Doc** · 10-07-2011, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by CykoAGR

It is pretty amazing that we are 3-1 with 0 pts in the 1st qtr.

The simple answer (although I am beginning to question how "simple" it is) is to protect the ball early. We moved the ball against IA into the redzone twice early in the game. Once on our first drive and then again after we were down 10-0 only to fumble 2 times inside the 10. UCONN we were able to move the ball once Steele settled.

The UNI game was just awful to start because our Oline and QB were young and playing in their first real game action.

I am trying to forget the TX game for my own sanity but if I remember we had started to move the ball and had a couple of 1st downs until the fumbled exchange between QB/RB.

I honestly think we can score enough pts against Baylor to keep us in the game IF we dont make mistakes. Their D is less than average so I dont think moving the ball is the real problem it will be not hurting ourselves and making good decisions even if that means throwing the ball away or checking down to a RB or TE.

We spot BU 14 pts before our offense gets their heads in the game its highly unlikely we can dig out.

The question is how do you protect the ball. The coaches can emphasize protecting the ball all they want, but I don't think it would really change how the players perform.

I think we should play James White the first drive. Also, try to get Steele a couple of runs early to possibly settle down the nerves. The coaches act like he never gets too excited, but he is always overthrowing guys early. Throw a bubble screen early or a short swing pass to Jarvis or Lenz early. That's all I got.

Oh, and defer if we win the toss. Let the defense have at least one shot in the 1st half with some field position.

**Cycsk** · 10-07-2011, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Cyclonestate78

In 4 games this year ISU has scored exactly 0 points in the 1st quarter. How do we snap this 1st quarter skid and start getting better production early on in our remaining games?

How about our defense scores in the 1st Q?

**Cyclonestate78** · 10-07-2011, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Doc

The question is how do you protect the ball. The coaches can emphasize protecting the ball all they want, but I don't think it would really change how the players perform.

I think we should play James White the first drive. Also, try to get Steele a couple of runs early to possibly settle down the nerves. The coaches act like he never gets too excited, but he is always overthrowing guys early. Throw a bubble screen early or a short swing pass to Jarvis or Lenz early. That's all I got.

Oh, and defer if we win the toss. Let the defense have at least one shot in the 1st half with some field position.

This is a pretty good idea. No reason to send the offense out right away when they have proven time and time again that they will self destruct early in the game. Might as well let the defense take a shot at getting good field position for the offense if they can get a quick stop.

**CYVADER** · 10-07-2011, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Doc

Steele needs to rub one out in the locker room before the game so he doesn't overthrow his first 3 passes.
Or we could just try to get him a couple of really easy throws right away.

we did that against texas. money missed a catch, and steele missed a wr-not sure i remember who though, maybe horne on a slant coming from the texas side.

**TedKumsher** · 10-07-2011, 01:02 PM

Don't bother. Work on the other side of the 0-33 (or is it 0-30).

Run the ball up the gut with Woody. Who cares if we go 3-and-out 5 times in the first quarter. We've got Kirby and we don't need to spot our opponent 7, 10, 14 points. Don't give up a short field and let the D get us through the 1st quarter.