Where is the Offensive Creativity?

[swarthmoreCY]

Remember all that off-season talk about simplifying the playbook? They were not kidding.

[swarthmoreCY]

I don't think it's a problem with predictability as much as it is with execution. When you have linemen coming free up the middle hitting Jantz, you have execution problems. When you have blitzing players hurdling James White as they did on that last interception, you have execution problems. When your QB drops the ball with no one around, you have execution problems. I do believe that Messingham sucked on play calling today, as he never seemed to adjust to Tech's schemes, but the execution of those plays he did call was poor at best. I vote for eliminating bye weeks from ISU's schedule, as we suck after the bye...

When a majority of your plays are not being executed, you probably have a scheme/playcalling problem.
Recall the safety against Tulsa. Yeah, it was designed to have Litch block the Dlineman. In reality it was a poorly designed play for the context of that situation.

[Cyclonefan89]

Lets nominate BloodyBuddy for OC assistant. Just don't vote too soon because he probably would have said the offensive play calling was eccentric if ISU had won.

[Althetuna]

I usually listen to the game on the radio but the last time I watched a game (Iowa Game) I noticed ISU doesn't make adjustments at the lOS anymore. Was this eliminated under Messingham or was I just slow to notice?

[BloodyBuddy]

Lets nominate BloodyBuddy for OC assistant. Just don't vote too soon because he probably would have said the offensive play calling was eccentric if ISU had won.

I accept your nomination.

[2forISU]

I can't believe how bad ISU is on O. The play calling was bad, line was bad, qb was bad and receivers are bad. I look around college football and I can't believe we can't find a qb.

[CYme]

What happened to some of the quick hitters to Lenz across the middle or on slants? TTU was putting 7 guys in the box, bringing all kinds of pressure. Don't know if anyone noticed, but their linebackers seemed to be at the line all night. Lenz getting hit on a slant short crossing route would have pulled those guys off the line a bit, opening up the run game a bit.

Furthermore, it seemed if we did line up and run right at them without getting too cute, we could do it. The first drive in the 3rd quarter showed that.

I don't know how the last two weeks were not spent teaching Steele how to read the defensive end in the zone read. If the kid can't run the ZR offense and they are going to continue running the ZR offense, put someone in who can. I have not and am not calling for a QB controversy, but it would be kind of like putting Peyton Manning in the triple option offense, square peg-round hole (NOT comparing Steele and Peyton, let's be clear).

[Rural]

How about a trick play, mix it up a little. Maybe some QB under center.

Herman had a knack for knowing just when to run a trick play, or change things up.

So far Messingham hasn't showed that at all. Looks to be as conservative as EIU out there.

These words were never spoken here.......till now.

[ISUCubswin]

It makes me curious if we practice many plays in practice other than the QB read and the screen. 2 of Jantz's interceptions were off of miscues with receivers.

[CTTB78]

Our problem is we have a Big 10 type QB. It is very telling when our coaching staff calls only 15 pass plays mid way through the 4th quarter before the game was lost.
Our coaches don't think Steele can throw the ball in tight coverage. Or they don't think our WRs can get in the right position quickly enough.
Fifteen pass plays will not win many Big 12 games. This isn't the Big 10.

[Wesley]

Maybe we should hire Ken O'Keefe?

Throwing in a random flea-flicker, wildcat, reverse, etc. is NOT creative. Anybody can do it. To be really creative, you need to mess with your blocking schemes, routes, etc. Hardly anybody on this board, including me, will know if we're really being creative or not.

Something needs to change. We will become a doormat in the B12 if the offense continues to discombubulate.

[scyclonekid]

I'm telling you start the defense on offense and the offense on defense!! Be in punt formation, but have the QB back there or play the throw the ball into the air and yell how many points you get if you catch it, is it called 500?

[Senolcyc]

Herman had a knack for knowing just when to run a trick play, or change things up.

Thank you, Mrs. Herman. But no he didn't. The offense has looked like a monkey humping a coconut for several years now.

[BigCojones]

Something needs to change. We will become a doormat in the B12 if the offense continues to discombubulate.

Be prepared for a long year then. Unless Mess learns to ride a bike quick we are in deep crap. PR's gamble to make him the OC appears to be a HUGE bust.

[tyler24]

I was very interested in how Coach Mess handled that split back formation. It was obvious we were going to run out of it every time. He needed to through it a play action with that set to keep them honest. When you have success with a play during a drive is when you keep with the play. The coaches cannot get in there and adjust for that, but the next offensive series they can. Thats when you mess with it a little to keep them honest. Another thing I noticed is Jantz truly doesn't even try to read a defense. On that pick when threw it right at a defender he was looking left then just turned and threw it expecting to have a guy over there to go up and get it. Jantz rotates this offense around him when it needs to rotate around smart, quick decisions that can lead to big plays. I understand we want an offense that can generate big plays but that doesnt wear down a defense, the short stuff does and then when you have them tired is when you go for the kill shot.