Recruiting and Improving Athleticism

ripvdub · 06-12-2008, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by LifetimeHawk

So, why didn't they start last year? They both appear to be great athletes, but they are both pretty green while Meyer was a four year starter. You guys always blast Hawk fans for these types of comments.

IMO, Arnaud looked much better than Meyer in his spot duty. There were a couple games where he would lead the team on 80 yard drives and be taken right out.

My only real knock on Meyer was his ability to read defense and staring down receivers. We've heard a lot about how Austin and Phillip are are already better than Meyer at reading D, and I only assume they dont stare at their WR's for 4 seconds.

Cyclone711 · 06-12-2008, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by LifetimeHawk

So, why didn't they start last year? They both appear to be great athletes, but they are both pretty green while Meyer was a four year starter. You guys always blast Hawk fans for these types of comments.

We blast hawk fans for saying that there are better people on our team who should be starting? Heck, news to me. In fact I don't think I've ever heard a hawk fan say that, usually it has something to do with us not being important to them or that we somehow suck. Me thinks you were just trying to find something to be offended at.

KMAC_ATTACK · 06-13-2008, 11:59 AM

Picture speaks loudly - this guy is a physical specimen....and from everything we've heard, he's qualified and ready to go for fall - right.....

WOW!!!!!!

http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/Camp...HTON1NA200.JPG

StLouisClone · 06-13-2008, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by KMAC_ATTACK

Picture speaks loudly - this guy is a physical specimen....and from everything we've heard, he's qualified and ready to go for fall - right.....

WOW!!!!!!

http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/Camp...HTON1NA200.JPG

I noticed that all of the incoming freshmen have been added to the roster at cyclones.com including Scott "Adrin" Haughton. The guy had 77 tackles and 11 sacks as a junior DT in high school. I wonder if Chizik will move him to the DL. If he is as good as advertised, maybe they will find a way to get him on the field right away.

Adrin Haughton - Iowa State University Athletics Official Web Site - www.CYCLONES.com - Iowa State Cyclones Sports

Jbone4State10' · 06-13-2008, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by LifetimeHawk

So, why didn't they start last year? They both appear to be great athletes, but they are both pretty green while Meyer was a four year starter. You guys always blast Hawk fans for these types of comments.

The reason Arnaud didnt start earlier was because he was injured part of the season.

LifetimeHawk · 06-13-2008, 12:52 PM

We blast hawk fans for saying that there are better people on our team who should be starting? Heck, news to me. In fact I don't think I've ever heard a hawk fan say that, usually it has something to do with us not being important to them or that we somehow suck. Me thinks you were just trying to find something to be offended at.

I guess I was referring to the whole backup quarterback smack ISU fans love to bring up. Clone fans love to stereotype Hawk fans by saying that we always over hype the back up quarterback and think he should be starting. Sounds pretty similar to what a couple of you are saying about Arnaud and Bates. Not saying they won't be better than Meyer, but it is a huge stretch to say that they are currently better.

bmuff · 06-13-2008, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by LifetimeHawk

I guess I was referring to the whole backup quarterback smack ISU fans love to bring up. Clone fans love to stereotype Hawk fans by saying that we always over hype the back up quarterback and think he should be starting. Sounds pretty similar to what a couple of you are saying about Arnaud and Bates. Not saying they won't be better than Meyer, but it is a huge stretch to say that they are currently better.

I'd somewhat agree with that. Hawk fans do get blasted by Clone fans for always thinking that the backup is better. And in general, a lot of fanbases seem to think that the backup QB is better than he really is. Bottom line is that the coaching staff knows who will help the team most, whether it is Meyer/Arnaud or McCann/Banks and they play that guy. I personally think that Arnaud and Bates have a higher upside than Meyer did, and they might be better by the end of the season, but to say they will be better right off the bat is pure hope.

The one thing that AA and PB have over Meyer (other than physical talent) is that they are not in the first year of a new system. What they don't have is Meyer's experience as a four year starter. Arnaud definitely would be further along and would have played a lot more last year if he wasn't hurt half the year, though.

chrishull14 · 06-13-2008, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by LifetimeHawk

I guess I was referring to the whole backup quarterback smack ISU fans love to bring up. Clone fans love to stereotype Hawk fans by saying that we always over hype the back up quarterback and think he should be starting. Sounds pretty similar to what a couple of you are saying about Arnaud and Bates. Not saying they won't be better than Meyer, but it is a huge stretch to say that they are currently better.

I think it is important to remember that Meyer was okay his RFr year. Then improved to become a good QB his RSo year. He never improved after that. Some may argue that he was actually worse the last two years. Meyer was a decent QB and holds several Cyclone records. He was also part of a small % of QBs to play four years of games at the college level. I don't think it is that much of a stretch to say Arnaud and Bates may be as good as Meyer.

CyValley · 06-13-2008, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by StLouisClone

I noticed that all of the incoming freshmen have been added to the roster at cyclones.com including Scott "Adrin" Haughton. The guy had 77 tackles and 11 sacks as a junior DT in high school. I wonder if Chizik will move him to the DL. If he is as good as advertised, maybe they will find a way to get him on the field right away.

Hey, StLouisClone,

I have a specific recollection of Coach McFarland saying that AH will play this fall . . . on the OLine. I'm thinkin' it might be difficult for another coach to wrestle AH away from Coach Mac.

I think the reason I vividly recall Coach Mac's comment is that I thought it odd that a high school player would be counted on to make an immediate impact on the OLine, what with unit cohesion requiring tons of reps and with all the young OLine guys we have.

AH must be special for the ISU offensive coordinator and assistant head coach (right?) to say that AH will play Big 12 football at a time that the kid was still in high school.

So that's two rookies -- AH and SJ -- who will play this fall, according to Coach Mac. And a lot of the DB newcomers will play this fall, and rookie JUCO WR/KR Jason Carlson will play . . . I wonder how many total newcomers will see the field this fall?

Just thought I'd chip in a comment about AH, since Coach Mac seems to have a tight clamp on AH's services. Maybe that'll change during fall ball. Or, maybe the coaches are pretty happy with the guys we have on the DL? It'll be interesting to find out. . . .

KMAC_ATTACK · 06-13-2008, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by CyValley

Hey, StLouisClone,
Or, maybe the coaches are pretty happy with the guys we have on the DL?

What i will find curious is to see how this Dline comes together, i'm far more worried about the Dline then the Oline. I think our depth and experience on the Oline will be a strength not only this year but for years to come. I see our coaches really have built this team from the OL out....I love that approach. However, i think with the defections we had last year in the recruiting wars we lost some seriously quality players on the DL side of things. K Taylor should be a solid player, however, losing two starters and replacing them with redshirt freshman or other inexperienced players leads me to waiting to see how this group elevates their game to make plays.

IMO taking two quality players off our line that ranked as badly as we did against the run, only leads me to believe that it will not be improved, in fact, may be worse!!!!

Hope i'm wrong......Agree with previous poster about Haughton, he was a very talented DT but everything points to him being on the OL......i would love an interjection of talent on the DL similar to our OL......Hope it comes this recruiting season, i see the emphasis so far has been on OL and DL so hopefully they will get some talent on that DL....Hopefully i'm way wrong in my pessimistic belief in this DL....I just don't see any proven playmakers beyond KT......maybe black can be the guy that everyone thinks he will be, that would be a huge plus!!!!!

Bader · 06-13-2008, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by KMAC_ATTACK

IMO taking two quality players off our line that ranked as badly as we did against the run, only leads me to believe that it will not be improved, in fact, may be worse!!!!

Our defense allowed 136.1 Rushing yards a game which puts us at 78th in the NCAA and 7th in the conference. Not anything to go bananas over but I really don't think it was all that terrible.

And while Tuba was an absolute beast, esp. with his lateral speed, remember that Braaksma was a converted DE who was pretty undersized for a Big XII DT

I agree that the DL is a major concern and its improvement is an integral part of our success next season but I'm optimistic about the guys we have coming in, since they'll be playing their natural positions

zdorr40 · 06-13-2008, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by KMAC_ATTACK

IMO taking two quality players off our line that ranked as badly as we did against the run, only leads me to believe that it will not be improved, in fact, may be worse!!!!

I'm concerned about this as well. Perhaps Coach Bolt will take someone other than Adrin Houghton from the offensive line and try to make a DT out of him.

CyValley · 06-13-2008, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by KMAC_ATTACK

What i will find curious is to see how this Dline comes together, i'm far more worried about the Dline then the Oline.

Me, too, although the OLine seems to have had a poor spring game showing, which is a concern at some level. . . .

Did you see video of (or attend) the spring game? Wonder if anyone else shares my impression. Between snaps, when our interior DLs were standing at the line, waiting for the OLine to line up, I thought they looked pretty studly. Well built. Doesn't mean a thing if they don't perform, of course. But we've got a few big, lean "machines," it looks like.

Originally Posted by KMAC_ATTACK

I see our coaches really have built this team from the OL out....I love that approach.

Highly interesting point of view, if you don't mind me saying so. This comment tickled my instincts, caused me to think, "Yeah, this is accurate." Sure seems to be happening this way.

Originally Posted by KMAC_ATTACK

However, i think with the defections we had last year in the recruiting wars we lost some seriously quality players on the DL side of things. K Taylor should be a solid player

The pass rush (the lack of, actually) is the number one concern that many of us have, it appears from comments here on the board. I wonder. . . .

In February, Coach McFarland made the comment that our linebackers aren't deep in experience but they're going to be fast. What are the chances Coach Bolt might make use of linebacker speed and a fortified secondary -- the back seven, in other words -- to achieve an improved pass rush this fall with blitzing tactics? Just speculatin'. . . .

Aclone · 06-14-2008, 01:32 PM

I have a feeling that Chris Lyle, Jerrod Black, Austin Alburtis and walkon Kyle Slifka will do a good job complementing Kurts Taylor's pass rush this fall--all showed at least flashes this Spring. I don't think they'll need to add a great deal of blitzing.