Williams Blog: Reacting to Phil Steele's All Big 12 Teams

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Originally Posted by FootballinTexas

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Originally Posted by RustShack

If he could have come close to any of that in more than one game, then you have a case. Triple overtime helps pad your stats just a little. But even with that great game, he still managed to not do better than SJ in any passing categories... weird.

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I agree, triple overtime does pad your stats. But that was Steeles amazing Iowa game. JB threw one pass in OT. I also agree SJ had better passing stats but he also played in more games. Your point is..SJ never bettered the Iowa game either so shut your trap.

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and the Iowa defense was one of the worst we saw all year

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Originally Posted by tazclone

and the Iowa defense was one of the worst we saw all year

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? Huh?

Worse than Kansas? Okie State? Texas Tech? Baylor?

Statistically Iowa ranked 5th out of 12 of the defenses we played this year.

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Originally Posted by ChrisMWilliams

Exactly. And that's why this is a dead heat. Each guy has different strengths and both should be better in 2012 than they were in 2011. That's a good thing!

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I hear lots of folks talking about how it is still a "dead heat," but I'm not hearing much about the improvement of each.

1. Is it a dead heat because neither one is improving much? If so, then we should also be talking about other QBs.

2. Or is it a dead heat because both have improved plenty, but neither one enough to surpass the other? If so, then we can be encouraged.

Regardless, it seems likely that both will see plenty of time this year. I don't care so much about who is the starter, but hope that both are getting much better, both in terms of ability to make positive contributions, but also to avoid making negative plays).

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Originally Posted by Clones85'

Talked to some coaches after the spring game and they said you can't judge a guy who has only been in 1 spring practice. Takes 2 for the light to click. They were talking about Jeremiah George and how much better he is this year. But the same applies for Jantz and Barnett as this is their 2nd spring practice.

People forget that despite Jantz being older, Barnett has been at Iowa State a bit longer. I completely disagree with you in regards to who has the better pocket presence and who is a better scrambler.

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This will come out sounding weird probably but, I think Steele is a better scrambler. But I also think he was very, very gun shy in the pocket and quick to make the exit. This may have been a function of his lack of comfort with the speed of the game or his comfort level with making plays on the run.

I think that JB is the better runner, though. By that I mean he is more successful on designed runs and keepers. This could be a result of his skill with the zone read or just having a knack for finding the seam. His pocket presence does seem calmer to me as well but that could also be a function of the defenses sitting back because of his zone read ability.

Now, I'm not definitely saying these are facts but more how I am perceiving things. All things the same as last year, I would pick JB to start again and am feeling that might be the case but would welcome Steele to the starting position if the game has slowed down for him.

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Originally Posted by Clones85'

? Huh?

Worse than Kansas? Okie State? Texas Tech? Baylor?

Statistically Iowa ranked 5th out of 12 of the defenses we played this year.

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That's an unrealistic comparison because the conferences are totally opposite offensive wise. The top ranked Big10 offense (Wisconsin) with 449 ypg and 3596 total yards would be ranked 6th in the Big12.....just ahead of ISU with 396 ypg and 3572 total yards. So, is it great offenses or crappy defenses? If its just crappy defenses, then none of our conference statistical leaders should ever be mentioned as top national players....let alone win a heisman.

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Originally Posted by FootballinTexas

That's an unrealistic comparison because the conferences are totally opposite offensive wise. The top ranked Big10 offense (Wisconsin) with 449 ypg and 3596 total yards would be ranked 6th in the Big12.....just ahead of ISU with 396 ypg and 3572 total yards.

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So we should be Co-Big10 Champs right?

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Originally Posted by Clones85'

Exactly. Those 13 points we scored against that vaunted Kansas Jayhawks defense shows how much he makes those around him better. Or was it the assist off the helmet 6 points against Oklahoma? :wink:

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1. He makes the RB better in the zone read as he makes better reads and draws the defense longer.
2. He is much better in the short passing/timing game putting the ball where it needs to be on time allowing the WR's a chance to utilize their skills.
3. He steps up in the pocket much better and has much better pocket awareness. This allows the OL to do their job better.

His arm strength is his biggest downfall and I agree that defenses aren't scared of the deep passing game. BTW- Jant's 45% completion rate and three INTs against UNI were pretty impressive:jimlad:

Thing is, both QBs have been impressive at times and bad at times. Both need to improve for our offense to really do anything. People stating that Jantz is hands down more talented or better are simply ignoring many facets of the game. Jantz is better in the medium- long passing game but is not good in the short/timing passing game. Barnett is good in the short/timing passing but is weker stretching the field. Both are good runners with escapability. Barnett is much better in the pocket. Jantz tends to roll into pressure and still thinks he is in JUCO and can back pedal out of pressure. Jantz completed 53% against three of the worst defense we faced. Barnett completed 50% against slightly better defenses. Neither is great.

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Originally Posted by PabloDiablo

This will come out sounding weird probably but, I think Steele is a better scrambler. But I also think he was very, very gun shy in the pocket and quick to make the exit. This may have been a function of his lack of comfort with the speed of the game or his comfort level with making plays on the run.

I think that JB is the better runner, though. By that I mean he is more successful on designed runs and keepers. This could be a result of his skill with the zone read or just having a knack for finding the seam. His pocket presence does seem calmer to me as well but that could also be a function of the defenses sitting back because of his zone read ability.

Now, I'm not definitely saying these are facts but more how I am perceiving things. All things the same as last year, I would pick JB to start again and am feeling that might be the case but would welcome Steele to the starting position if the game has slowed down for him.

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I think Jantz looks like a better runner sometimes because he spends more time running around outside the pocket looking to pass and sometimes running. And I think Barnett doesn't look so good when he is running, such as leaving the pocket too soon on draws and he sometimes seems to be lumbering along. However, I do like the results of Barnett's runs. Many times last season, I was growling at him leaving too soon . . . then gaining the yards for first down.

It is too early to be definitive about who would start. I wish we were talking more about the actual improvement that each is making.

For instance, why is Jantz so much bigger looking this year? Is it so that he has the arm strength to throw harder and longer? Or is it just part of being stronger to be able to run with more force? Have the bigger guns actually hurt his accuracy in throwing?

Yesterday, we got into this a little bit regarding Barnett. How is his accuracy? What is he working on with regard to his running (timing, following blocks, etc.)? Is he working on how to react to broken plays, calling audibles, handling blitzes, etc?

What sort of progress are these guys making in these areas?

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Originally Posted by Boxerdaddy

So we should be Co-Big10 Champs right?

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That's my thought, too. Didnt the Big12 go undefeated against the Big10? Great point.

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Originally Posted by FootballinTexas

That's an unrealistic comparison because the conferences are totally opposite offensive wise. The top ranked Big10 offense (Wisconsin) with 449 ypg and 3596 total yards would be ranked 6th in the Big12.....just ahead of ISU with 396 ypg and 3572 total yards.

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Wisconsin's offense was as good as anyone's in the Big 12 last year not named Okie State. They were 6th in scoring and they averaged more yards per play than anyone not named Okie State or Baylor.

Don't get me wrong, I agree that the Big 12's offenses are far superior to the Big 10's but Iowa wasn't one of the worst defenses we saw last year. Kansas had a historically bad defense (yet we only scored 13 points against them). Baylor's was terrible. They gave up 56 points to a mediocre Washington offense. Texas Tech's was AWFUL. They gave up 50 points a game in Big 12 play

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Originally Posted by tazclone

1. He makes the RB better in the zone read as he makes better reads and draws the defense longer.
   
2. He is much better in the short passing/timing game putting the ball where it needs to be on time allowing the WR's a chance to utilize their skills.
3. He steps up in the pocket much better and has much better pocket awareness. This allows the OL to do their job better.

His arm strength is his biggest downfall and I agree that defenses aren't scared of the deep passing game. BTW- Jant's 45% completion rate and three INTs against UNI were pretty impressive:jimlad:

Thing is, both QBs have been impressive at times and bad at times. Both need to improve for our offense to really do anything. People stating that Jantz is hands down more talented or better are simply ignoring many facets of the game. Jantz is better in the medium- long passing game but is not good in the short/timing passing game. Barnett is good in the short/timing passing but is weker stretching the field. Both are good runners with escapability. Barnett is much better in the pocket. Jantz tends to roll into pressure and still thinks he is in JUCO and can back pedal out of pressure. Jantz completed 53% against three of the worst defense we faced. Barnett completed 50% against slightly better defenses. Neither is great.

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That is factually false. He is no better at that and percentages show it.

If Barnett is so much better at these things than why won't he be the starter?

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Originally Posted by Clones85'

Talked to some coaches after the spring game and they said you can't judge a guy who has only been in 1 spring practice. Takes 2 for the light to click. They were talking about Jeremiah George and how much better he is this year. But the same applies for Jantz and Barnett as this is their 2nd spring practice.

People forget that despite Jantz being older, Barnett has been at Iowa State a bit longer. I completely disagree with you in regards to who has the better pocket presence and who is a better scrambler.

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By the bowl game, Jantz had one spring practice, one summer camp, six starts, all fall practices, and bowl practices. Bowl practices= spring camp. Not to mention more snaps than the other QBs in spring. In the bowl game, he made the exact same mistakes he made all season.

Jantz's pocket work is horrible. He rarely steps up in the pocket to complete the pass and there were many times he could. He tends to roll into pressure when trying to escape the pocket. If he doesn't roll into the pressure, he backpedals giving up yards. Jantz has slightly better escapability but Barnett can escape very well. Barnett just does a much better job stepping up in the pocket so he doesn't have to do it as much.

I don't have a dog in this hunt. Both QBs need to improve for the team to get better. I see a pretty even QB race but I tend to lean towards Barnett because I just don't trust Jantz's decision making

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Originally Posted by tazclone

By the bowl game, Jantz had one spring practice, one summer camp, six starts, all fall practices, and bowl practices. Bowl practices= spring camp. Not to mention more snaps than the other QBs in spring. In the bowl game, he made the exact same mistakes he made all season.

Jantz's pocket work is horrible. He rarely steps up in the pocket to complete the pass and there were many times he could. He tends to roll into pressure when trying to escape the pocket. If he doesn't roll into the pressure, he backpedals giving up yards. Jantz has slightly better escapability but Barnett can escape very well. Barnett just does a much better job stepping up in the pocket so he doesn't have to do it as much.

I don't have a dog in this hunt. Both QBs need to improve for the team to get better. I see a pretty even QB race but I tend to lean towards Barnett because I just don't trust Jantz's decision making

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That's not true.

Barnett and Jantz both stunk in the bowl game. They were equally pathetic. Let's throw the game out. It's a wash. As is most of the season.

I'm talking about improvement being made from one spring to another spring. This isn't my opinion, it's the one of the coaches. They flat out told me directly that players improve the most during their second spring here. Why can't the same be true for Jantz and Barnett? I don't care how many starts they had if they weren't comfortable during those starts.

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Originally Posted by Clones85'

That is factually false. He is no better at that and percentages show it.

If Barnett is so much better at these things than why won't he be the starter?

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What is factually false? I guess I have read coaches comments on all of those and am going by their statements.

Has Jantz been named the starter? I guess I thought I have read that the position is wide open. If Barnett is better at those things then he will be the starter. If Jantz improves in those areas, he will start.

I am not predicting either.

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Originally Posted by Cycsk

I think Jantz looks like a better runner sometimes because he spends more time running around outside the pocket looking to pass and sometimes running. And I think Barnett doesn't look so good when he is running, such as leaving the pocket too soon on draws and he sometimes seems to be lumbering along. However, I do like the results of Barnett's runs. Many times last season, I was growling at him leaving too soon . . . then gaining the yards for first down.

It is too early to be definitive about who would start. I wish we were talking more about the actual improvement that each is making.

For instance, why is Jantz so much bigger looking this year? Is it so that he has the arm strength to throw harder and longer? Or is it just part of being stronger to be able to run with more force? Have the bigger guns actually hurt his accuracy in throwing?

Yesterday, we got into this a little bit regarding Barnett. How is his accuracy? What is he working on with regard to his running (timing, following blocks, etc.)? Is he working on how to react to broken plays, calling audibles, handling blitzes, etc?

What sort of progress are these guys making in these areas?

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I can't speak for SJ but I do know that JB is working mostly with his receivers on route running, pass catching, timing, and accuracy. He is also continuing to master his pass drops, mechanics, and pocket awareness. All of these are important to completing an accurate pass....not jyst what the QB does. So, he's working with everyone on everything. Some talk a lot about his accuracy because if the throws he missed in the bowl game. But no one remembers all of the accurate throws that we're made that we're dropped.

As far as what to do on broken plays, see play #1 of the KU game. I thought he handle the bad snap on the 1 yard line very well.

Even though they have checks at the LOS, some plays, down and distance, etc won't allow for checks. Those are built into the gameplan based on what the defense does in certain situations.

As far as progress, I can't tell you. That will be based on what tge staff wants to see. I would assume its happening, though.