Lenz, young WR's ready to shine

[ISU1294]

The biggest part about our passing game and qb play struggling is the fact that we have two (three if you count Richardson, who I think could surprise people this fall) quarterbacks. In order to have a good passing game both the receivers and qb's need to be on the same page. Thats hard to do when your taking reps with two different quarterbacks. Just my opinion on things.

[Doc]

I just have to say this. Given that Reynolds and Darks are gone, AND the fact that both of them made key catches against OSU--without their contributions we never would have won--I wish that people would stop bashing them. That's all.

Darks was horrific at catching the ball last year and you're pulling a kg-cyclone to say otherwise. that is all.

[Tre4ISU]

Darks was horrific at catching the ball last year and you're pulling a kg-cyclone to say otherwise. that is all.

I like how no one mentions Hornes drops or Lenzs' drops. Darks was not that bad. Thats not to mention he made huge tough catches in big moments.

[Tre4ISU]

. The position is handicapped with too many routes that congest the field and call for the WR to catch the ball standing still or to come back to the QB.

The key is how do you uncompress the field when everyone wants to but their defense on the line against ISU? For the past few years ISU has not had the time or talent to stretch the field with vertical routes. At times Jantz at least seemed to be able to buy time and get a pass off down field last year. Unfortunately, the results were not always what we wanted.[/QUOTE]

Yes he was and Gary was our second best late in the year. Yeah Lenz made a play against UNI but did nothing compared to Reynolds

[swarthmoreCY]

For the past few years ISU has not had the time or talent to stretch the field with vertical routes.

Not by further compressing the field.
The pass protection has not been that bad, especially considering they are often facing defenses that know there is little risk (due to play calling) to them bringing pressure. We should have witnessed more big plays on offense simply because of mistakes by the opposition than what we have the past few years. Better utilization of the play action would be a start.

[mikem]

I just hope for a lot fewer drops.

Holy cow, I actually agree with something you posted. I got really tired of watching drops, especially from the two Darius's.


There are two additional things that I want to see from this group.

First, I want to see a WR corps that is strong enough to get off the line of scrimmage. How many times did the WR routes get messed up because we couldn't establish our physicality, and gain some space to make the throws easier. We have to have a group that can knock a cb off the line, and get into their routes.

Second, we have to have more than one WR on the field at a time that has plus speed. We are going to dink and dunk the ball down the field, I get that. But for that to work, you have to at least have the threat of beating a cb deep on the field to make it easier to run what we want.

We may take zero shots down the field all day long, but the threat has to be there.

[Sammy11]

Which guys seen to be the most likely deep threats? West, Horne, & Lenz struck me more as possession guys when I saw ISU play last year. All three are great YAC but I haven't seen them pull away from cover guys getting vertical in their routes.

[swarthmoreCY]

but I haven't seen them pull away from cover guys getting vertical in their routes.

probably just out of practice at running more than 15 yards.

[UNIGuy4Cy]

I like how no one mentions Hornes drops or Lenzs' drops. Darks was not that bad. Thats not to mention he made huge tough catches in big moments.

When does Lenz drop a ball? He has made some of the best catches in the some of the biggest moments in the Rhoads era.

[ajk4st8]

I like how no one mentions Hornes drops or Lenzs' drops. Darks was not that bad. Thats not to mention he made huge tough catches in big moments.

Darks made amazing catches late in the Iowa and OSU games. He was critical in both wins.

[cy4prez7]

I like how no one mentions Hornes drops or Lenzs' drops. Darks was not that bad. Thats not to mention he made huge tough catches in big moments.

You serious? Lenz hardly dropped any balls! Darks dropped the ball all of the time. He had some great catches and great moments but there was no in between. He was either making big plays or dropping the ball!

[CLONECONES]

The biggest part about our passing game and qb play struggling is the fact that we have two (three if you count Richardson, who I think could surprise people this fall) quarterbacks. In order to have a good passing game both the receivers and qb's need to be on the same page. Thats hard to do when your taking reps with two different quarterbacks. Just my opinion on things.

this. real bad - hopefully a couple people have enough rhythm with a QB to make some plays... guess we'll see soon

[Tre4ISU]

When does Lenz drop a ball? He has made some of the best catches in the some of the biggest moments in the Rhoads era.

I count one against UNI. Meanwhile Reynolds was catching back shoulder fades like a boss against Iowa and OSU. Darks made HUGE catches against Iowa and OSU and Gary had a huge game including some very difficult catches against OSU. Lenz also messed up the play Steele got benched on. My point is just that Im not sure why we can hammer away at Darks and Reynold but ignore mess ups by Horne and Lenz. Lenz may be our most consistent receiver but consistent and best are not the same thing to me.

[Tre4ISU]

You serious? Lenz hardly dropped any balls! Darks dropped the ball all of the time. He had some great catches and great moments but there was no in between. He was either making big plays or dropping the ball!

How many drops did Darks have?

[cy4prez7]

How many drops did Darks have?

Did you not watch this season?