Promoting Messingham to OC was a mistake

**clonedude** · 10-02-2012, 07:54 PM

I love Paul Rhoads, and I hope he stays at ISU for a very long time. He has made tremendous strides with this program.

However, he made a mistake IMO when he promoted Messingham to OC after the departure of Herman. Herman ended up being a mistake hire as well, but I liked it when it happened because I really thought he would be good, so Rhoads gets a pass on that one.

But... ISU was a HORRIBLE offense every single year under Tom Herman. Not just below average, we were awful offensively. Our offense under Herman was just painful to even watch.

I think a lot of fans were like me when we first heard Tom Herman was leaving.... good riddance! It was time to ditch that awful offensive scheme and bring someone in that knew how to move the football and score points. But instead, we promote Messingham and announce that the offense wouldn't really be changing much at all. And if anything, it would become even more vanilla and simpler under Messingham.... which boggled my mind because I already thought our offense was ridiculously predictable and boring.

So we are getting basically exactly what I figured we'd be getting. Yes, we are 3-1, but the offense only had one good game and that was against Tulsa. The offense nearly cost us the Iowa game, and it did cost us the TT game. It wasn't even good against Western Illinois.

So yes, Steele Jantz isn't really that good of a QB. But, as some have said, he's a square peg that we're trying to fit into a round hole. He can't run the zone read play at all. It's just ugly. And his passes are too inaccurate, so opposing defenses just stack the box. It's what Rutgers did to us in the bowl game, and I'm surprised that every team doesn't do it against us? I'd make Steele throw on every down. Barnett too. He can't throw either.

But this offense we run is pathetic IMO. When you are on the half yard line and you have your QB standing 7 yds behind the line of scrimmage handing it off to a RB who is at a complete standstill, that is a horrible offense. Sorry, it just is. And when your QB fakes the handoff to the RB up the middle, and then follows that same RB right into the hole... that is just plain stupid. You fake the ball up the middle to draw the defense to that RB, so why then follow him right into the pursuit? Steele does this all the time. It drives me insane!

The one play that has somewhat seemed to work for us this year is the WR bubble screen. But then against TT, we never run it. TT brings 8 guys up in the box and sends almost all of them up the gut at us, but we refuse to exploit the edges on them with the quick WR screen to the outside. And we refuse to exploit the area vacated by the blitzing LB's right over the middle with a quick slant to the TE.

I just can't hardly stomach watching this offense anymore. I wanted a new direction when Herman left, but no, I guess we were satisfied with his offense that was consistently one of the worst in the nation year after year.

At this point, I say start Steele this week and if he struggles early, then yank him. Bring in Barnett. And if he can't get anything going, then give Richardson a shot. I'm sick and tired of this "Richardson is just too young" BS. I've seen plenty of young QBs do well in college.

And if none of our QB's can get this awful scheme to work, then you have to replace Mess I'm afraid. The Mess Offense pretty much would perfectly describe this offense. It's a mess alright.

**Aclone** · 10-02-2012, 07:59 PM

Dude, give it up already. Your whole post shows the holes in your logic. If a change in coordinators didn't change things, then duh, it's not the coordinator who's the problem.

**CycloneYoda** · 10-02-2012, 08:00 PM

Did not read, but I'm sure I didn't miss anything.

**Clones85'** · 10-02-2012, 08:01 PM

Another shocking post by Clonedude.

**ISUAgronomist** · 10-02-2012, 08:01 PM

Cliff notes:

I love Paul Rhoads, and I hope he stays at ISU for a very long time
He made a mistake promoting Messingham to OC
Herman ended up being a mistake hire as well
Steele Jantz isn't really that good of a QB
But this offense we run is pathetic IMO
One play that has somewhat seemed to work for us this year is the WR bubble screen but didn't run it last week
I just can't hardly stomach watching this offense anymore
I say start Steele this week and if he struggles early, then yank him and bring in Barnett
And if he can't get anything going, then give Richardson a shot
And if none of our QB's can get this awful scheme to work, then you have to replace Mess I'm afraid. The Mess Offense pretty much would perfectly describe this offense. It's a mess alright.

**KezClone** · 10-02-2012, 08:01 PM

Holy ******. It's been FOUR GAMES.

**bos** · 10-02-2012, 08:01 PM

Ding dong, you're wrong.

**Rick** · 10-02-2012, 08:04 PM

I cant believe Mess isnt up for Assistant of the Year. He has been in the job all of four games, WOW. I am glad my boss has a little more patience than someone else!

**clonedude** · 10-02-2012, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by Aclone

Dude, give it up already.

Yeah, because facts hurt, right? Best to live in Cardinal and Gold Kool-Aid dreamland where everything is nice and rosy.

This offense stinks. Yes, you could point to a game or two since Rhoads has been here where the offense was really good, but those are called anomolies. Those are outliers. The statistics prove otherwise. Our offense has been, and still is, one of the worst in college football.

If you were one of the worst performers at your job, you'd be gone. Sorry to hurt your feelings. This offense is bad. Possibly it would be better with a better QB, but I'm sorry, that's also part of your job as OC. If your QB can't run your scheme, then change your scheme to suit the skill set of the QB you have.

**CyCrazy** · 10-02-2012, 08:09 PM

Awesome! clonedude came out of his cave early this week!

**chuckd4735** · 10-02-2012, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by clonedude

Yeah, because facts hurt, right? Best to live in Cardinal and Gold Kool-Aid dreamland where everything is nice and rosy.

This offense stinks. Yes, you could point to a game or two since Rhoads has been here where the offense was really good, but those are called anomolies. Those are outliers. The statistics prove otherwise. Our offense has been, and still is, one of the worst in college football.

If you were one of the worst performers at your job, you'd be gone. Sorry to hurt your feelings. This offense is bad. Possibly it would be better with a better QB, but I'm sorry, that's also part of your job as OC. If your QB can't run your scheme, then change your scheme to suit the skill set of the QB you have.

Give the guy some time. This is his first loss ever as an offensive coordinator. At least give him next week to see what adjustments he makes.

**Chizit** · 10-02-2012, 08:10 PM

Where's the dislike button?

**RING4CY** · 10-02-2012, 08:11 PM

How many 37 and 38 point games did we have under Herman?

**RING4CY** · 10-02-2012, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by clonedude

Yeah, because facts hurt, right? Best to live in Cardinal and Gold Kool-Aid dreamland where everything is nice and rosy.

This offense stinks. Yes, you could point to a game or two since Rhoads has been here where the offense was really good, but those are called anomolies. Those are outliers. The statistics prove otherwise. Our offense has been, and still is, one of the worst in college football.

If you were one of the worst performers at your job, you'd be gone. Sorry to hurt your feelings. This offense is bad. Possibly it would be better with a better QB, but I'm sorry, that's also part of your job as OC. If your QB can't run your scheme, then change your scheme to suit the skill set of the QB you have.

Since Rhoads has been here? I'll give you two games this year. Tulsa and Western Illinois.