CW says team could be 8-4

[Cycsk]

Take away the long run and Austin was held in check, we did better against him than almost everyone else on their schedule.

It pains me to wonder if Knott would have been able to make a stop on the big play by Austin. And/or Watson. And/or Givens. On the replay, it looks like we have three guys around him, so it wasn't so much about being in position, just making the play.

[mikem]

How about we make a defensive stop against KSU and WVU. We had the lead 3 times against KSU and gave it up. We were in a better spot to win the WVU game and gave up a huge play defensively. I'm not saying the QB position was steller but we were in the position to win those games without QB heroics. It's a team sport.

I don't want to interrupt your argument, but I do agree the defense got off way too easy the last half of the season.

Look at the OU game, we wasted an all american punting performance. We trapped them inside their 10 three different times, and the first play was the same out pattern for 14 yards. Same against UT, sat in the base d all day, when you have a QB that can be rattled is insanity. The defense allowed the guy to stand in the pocket and play madden against us.

I love Wally, and you have to be impressed with the upgrade in talent on that side of the ball. But starting with Tech, and the d standing back and letting them drive down the field unimpeded after we get the lead, was not a good moment on his resume.

Oh, well, I am sure that it was all Steele Jantz's fault.

[00clone]

Oh, I apologize. I thought this was a thread about how the TEAM could have been 8-4.

To answer your question:
Tulsa - 38 points
WI - 37 Points
TCU - 30 points (I gave the defense the other 7)
BU - 35 points

Oh, hey, look, there's a strong correllation between when the offense holds up it's end of the deal and when the TEAM wins.

Thanks for making everyone else's point. And based on the season results, it's clear that the Iowa game was the result of an inept offense beating an even more inept offense.

[StPaulCyclone]

I don't want to interrupt your argument, but I do agree the defense got off way too easy the last half of the season.

Look at the OU game, we wasted an all american punting performance. We trapped them inside their 10 three different times, and the first play was the same out pattern for 14 yards. Same against UT, sat in the base d all day, when you have a QB that can be rattled is insanity. The defense allowed the guy to stand in the pocket and play madden against us.

I love Wally, and you have to be impressed with the upgrade in talent on that side of the ball. But starting with Tech, and the d standing back and letting them drive down the field unimpeded after we get the lead, was not a good moment on his resume.

Oh, well, I am sure that it was all Steele Jantz's fault.

The same defense that was playing without their star LB? The same one that was playing without a starting CB? The same one that was playing with their best DL playing hurt? The same defense that had their starting NB/S playing with a cast? ISU's defense was the only B12 D to keep teams under there average. The only B12 defense to not allow more that 50 points...hell 40 points. The most given up was to OU, at 35 points. Go see with their season average was. The defense did what it could be eventually wore done, due to playing 2/3 of every game. Yet, they still played well enough to win.

[ISUFB]

Still think we coulda went 9-3
Tech
K-State
West Virginia

[CapnCy]

WVU is the only game I really feel is a "coulda/shoulda" game. Really had so many chances down the stretch. Tech and KState were just the better team that day. In KState's case clearly the better team on the year. With WVU it was really there for the taking and ISU would have had the better season if it goes in their win column.

One interesting thing is in the six wins, ISU was clearly the better team head to head, even against Baylor and TCU who won some big games this year. The Iowa game was probably ISU's worst game of the year (at least OK State and Texas have firepower) and they still won on the road.

Agreed...very well said.

I always have to temper my excitement when I think of the "what if's" because it is true.....Iowa could have beat us without the INT from Knott, etc. Even this past weekend, that final drive we had two 3rd downs not converted which were kept alive by WVU penalties.

So many variables. One week we have no problem with Baylor....then another week they make KSU look REAL bad. The law of averages always says the BEST way to get to 8-4 (or better) is to not ever let it come down to one or two plays.

[jaretac]

I don't really see how saying we could have been 8-4 is a moral victory. I personally think it is more aggravating and shameful that we could have been 8-4 but instead we are 6-6. To me it is not a moral victory, it is saying that we should have done better.

Like a parent saying to their child, "you could have got an B instead of D". How is that a moral victory?

[UNIGuy4Cy]

Oh, I apologize. I thought this was a thread about how the TEAM could have been 8-4.

To answer your question:
Tulsa - 38 points
WI - 37 Points
TCU - 30 points (I gave the defense the other 7)
BU - 35 points

Ill give you those although the JV team could put up 30 against WI and Baylor.

[IcSyU]

But starting with Tech, and the d standing back and letting them drive down the field unimpeded after we get the lead, was not a good moment on his resume.

Unfortunately that's our plan on defense. We're going to spend awhile on the field each possession because we play glorified prevent until you get into the redzone. We aren't going to give up very many 60+ yard TD passes but we're going to give up 5-7 yard outs at a rate that makes your blood boil.

Unfortunately it doesn't bother me all that much when we turn it over at our own 30 because we're just speeding up the inevitable...the opposing offense being in the red zone.

[Boxerdaddy]

An offense not going 3 and out consistently helps the defense tremendously. Even if they don't score.

Wait what's going on in here.

[IcSyU]

Ill give you those although the JV team could put up 30 against WI and Baylor.

Ironically everybody and their mom was putting up 40+ (50+ in conference play) against WVU until they played against us.

[2XaDime]

So, now it's a problem for CW to say that the defense was good enough for 8-4? Is he supposed to be more pessimistic? Are you blaming him for seeing and believing?

That thread I have sitting in wait is getting closer.................

I'm curious about this "Thread X". Tell me more. Or better yet, just start it and I can discuss it further with you there!

[docholihawk]

Saying you could be 2 or 3 games better this year doesn't do much for me. Most teams have a couple of close losses or wins that could flip their record drastically. What it DOES say to me is for next year, the continued development of the program and everyone getting better that those 2 or 3 losses could very well be wins next year. That's how the next step is taken. Do that next year and the bowl invite is a significant one.

[FootballinTexas]

Oh, hey, look, there's a strong correllation between when the offense holds up it's end of the deal and when the TEAM wins.

Thanks for making everyone else's point. And based on the season results, it's clear that the Iowa game was the result of an inept offense beating an even more inept offense.

There is also a correlation when the defense holds up its end the team wins. You are overlooking that we were 7th in total defense in the conference. The three teams below us are BU, KU, WVU all have 6 wins or less. Our two best losses, if I can say that are TT (7 win team) and KSU (6 point loss but we scored the 3rd most points they gave up in any game). TT and KSU are 2 and 3 respectively in the conference in total defense. TCU has the leagues #1 defense and we scored 3rd most points they gave up in any game and won the game. Did the defense do it's job in that game or did the offense do its job? The correct answer is both.

Once again, I'm not saying the offense was stellar, but a completion here and there OR stop here or there makes a huge difference in our season. It's a team sport.

[FootballinTexas]

Agreed...very well said.

I always have to temper my excitement when I think of the "what if's" because it is true.....Iowa could have beat us without the INT from Knott, etc. Even this past weekend, that final drive we had two 3rd downs not converted which were kept alive by WVU penalties.

So many variables. One week we have no problem with Baylor....then another week they make KSU look REAL bad. The law of averages always says the BEST way to get to 8-4 (or better) is to not ever let it come down to one or two plays.

This was very well said and my sentiments exactly. Unfortunately for most posters, they only remember those one or two plays that went wrong.