Playcalling Isn't That Bad

[istater7]

Playcalling is pretty bad. When something works, you at least go with it once in the next 3 plays.

Today, we were able to run block and run the ball. You find a way to emphasize that.

Not the only reason we lose today. There's nothing in this effort to defend.

Completely true.

[psychlone99]

Sure, but make them step up and stop it first. When we're driving down on run after run and then go to 3 straight pass plays? Thats awful.

That's my biggest beef. Of course you need to mix it up a bit. But when the run is extremely effective and you have a set of downs where you don't run it on either first or second down, that's bad play calling. Period.

This offseason Messingham preached that one of his core philosophies was going to be sticking with something until they stop it. That really caught my attention because that was my biggest problems with Herman. Well, it turns out Messingham has been just as schizophrenic with his playcalling at times.

[Luth4Cy]

I would like to see a few more reverse or flea flicker type plays. Keep them guessing like we did against TCU. Nothing like that today.

So if we run any trick plays you'll be happy?

[atlantacyclone]

Yes, the playcalling IS that bad.

[BigCojones]

Look at what Texas is doing offensively vs what we do. It's just a differnet league, a lot like Loney did when he was here (Bruns made that point on the radio and I think he is right) Texas has us completely off balance, no clue what is coming, motion, misdirection. Clearly bettter players, but we just don't do anything to keep people off balance or guessing at all.

Texas OC is from Boise St. We could use some of that creativity in our offense. Our offense couldn't keep Ankeny Highschool off balance.

[MJ271]

I am officially retiring from trying to keep people from melting down. This is absolutely ridiculous

[MilehighClone]

We have no identity on offense. What plays do we consistently run well? If you are the opposing team's DC, what do you have to stop to beat ISU? The reality is right now we don't do anything particularly well offensively.

[Knownothing]

Texas has us off balance because they have 6'5 inch olympians at wide reciever. Not be cause they have steller play calling. They had the same guy calling plays they did against oklahoma. We had the same guy that called plays against baylor. Meltdown people every week.

[atlantacyclone]

This is clearly not a meltdown. Holding them to 33 I would say is a sort of victory for the D that was getting lit up all day. It is frustrating when we are running the ball well, yet trying to make the passing game work when its not...

[CydeOut]

I believe we are way below average in the offensive play-calling department. I realize that Mess has done this for a living and could probably X and O everyone here under the table, but I just don't see the imagination or the understanding that when something works, you gotta keep using it. I don't know if it's an ego thing or what.

It certainly isn't all his fault, the mistakes in play-calling get amplified by below-average offensive line play, dropped passes, and inaccuracies at QB, but there is certainly vast room for improvement with the OC.

[BigCojones]

Texas has us off balance because they have 6'5 inch olympians at wide reciever. Not be cause they have steller play calling. They had the same guy calling plays they did against oklahoma. We had the same guy that called plays against baylor. Meltdown people every week.

So the 1st play of the game from Texas wasn't creative?

The play where Texas has the guy in motion and looks like they are going to pass to him and turn and pass the other way for a screen (even the announcers commented on) wasn't creative.

The statue of Liberty type play they ran wasn't creative?


ECT.......

[WhatchaGonnaDo]

Play calling looks bad when it isn't being executed. It's pretty simple.

[simply1]

This is clearly not a meltdown. Holding them to 33 I would say is a sort of victory for the D that was getting lit up all day. It is frustrating when we are running the ball well, yet trying to make the passing game work when its not...

I guess, who knows how many points texas would have put up if our offense was scoring forcing them to keep the pedal down.

[PhillipJCY]

The thing I am frustrated with is when we are getting the run game going and getting a couple first downs and big gains; Mess calls a pass play on 1st down and thrown incomplete. Then we go back to the run on 2nd and end up with 3rd and 5 or worse. That pretty much puts the team in a position to pass which was not the strong suit and will not be the strong suit until next year. I told my friends that we should go deep as a joke right before Jantz threw that INT in the second quarter. I said it jokingly because we were moving the ball so well on the ground that the thought of going deep with Jantz was farcical.

[Wesley]

The thing I am frustrated with is when we are getting the run game going and getting a couple first downs and big gains; Mess calls a pass play on 1st down and thrown incomplete. Then we go back to the run on 2nd and end up with 3rd and 5 or worse. That pretty much puts the team in a position to pass which was not the strong suit and will not be the strong suit until next year. I told my friends that we should go deep as a joke right before Jantz threw that INT in the second quarter. I said it jokingly because we were moving the ball so well on the ground that the thought of going deep with Jantz was farcical.

It may take till next year to get the run game going.