Realistic/Objective view of 2008 ISU Football season

cardinal&gold · 07-11-2008, 11:30 AM

SDSU (1), Kent State (1), either Iowa or UNLV (1), Baylor (1), either Nebraska or A&M (1), KSU (1) for a final tally of 6-6. It would be a shame to finish 5-7 and one game short of bowl qualification, so I like to predict 6 wins. I also think we have a terrific shot at taking out either KU or Missouri. Then another trip to Shreveport (hey, it's better than nothing).

travman23 · 07-11-2008, 11:56 AM

4 to 5 wins this year. I think people are really underestimating just how many key players we lost from last season.

4 year starting QB (although I think in a way this may be addition by subtraction)
4 year starting WR who led the team in receiving yards and TD
FG kicker (he may not have been good but we have 2 inexpirienced freshman fighting for the job right now)
2 starting interior defensive linemen
2 LB who were our leading tacklers

Thats a lot of expirience and offensive/defensive stats we lost. the schedule is easier but until these newcomers and guys stepping into new roles get some expirience I think its premature to be thinking about anything at or over .500 right now. I would love for that to happen but realistically we had a fair ammount of turnover at some key positions.

aeroclone · 07-11-2008, 12:05 PM

I agree that losing Meyer may be addition by subtraction, or at least about an even trade

Blythe was a spectacular player, but he really didn't put up much last season. I don't know if that was really him or that offense as a whole being pretty bad, but overall I think we have enough talent in the receiving corps that we shouldn't lose much at this position.

Kicking, who knows. Could be better, could be worse.

We did have some losses on D, but with what I saw on the field last year and with Chiziks history, I'm not worried about the D.

TedKumsher · 07-11-2008, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by usedcarguy

. . . had we not knocked Brad Smith out of the game and got beat by some then unknown sophmore a few years back.

Thanks for that painful memory.

TedKumsher · 07-11-2008, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by travman23

I think people are really underestimating just how many key players we lost from last season.

And that happens most seasons to most teams. You lose people -- you gain people -- and the people that come back are more experienced. Plus or minus on injuries and -- well -- for my money I expect us to be no worse than we were at the end of last season (the team that won 2 conference games) and the beginning of last season to be a shadow of a memory.

Anything's possible. 4 wins just seems too few (at the end of last year we never would have lost to Kent State and UNI -- and that would have given us 5 wins last year). 5 seems like the same as last year (I know it's technically an improvement as 5 is greater than 3 but realistically . . .). 6 is improvement (and a big jump to bowl eligible).

trevn · 07-11-2008, 12:35 PM

I voted 3-6 wins. Realistically I see us winning 4 or 5 games. Our wins are probably against SDSU, Kent State, and two or three of the following games: @Kansas State, @ Iowa, @ UNLV, @ Baylor, Nebraska, Texas A&M. I just don't see us beating Kansas, Missouri, @ Oklahoma State, or @ Colorado.

Who am I kidding...13-0!!

superfan · 07-11-2008, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by TedKumsher

Thanks for that painful memory.

Hold on, let me make it worse.

That "unknown sophomore" wasn't a sophomore. That was 3 years ago. He was a true freshman.

Palmer · 07-11-2008, 12:43 PM

6 to 7 wins.

CycloneWarrior · 07-11-2008, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Bader

Boy, clever of you.

In conference, the OU and MU games last season showed me that this team can stay with anybody in the conference. BTW the major contributors in both of those games are all back (the RBs, Hamilton, the DBs, the DEs, the crazy winds in Jack Trice....oh come on, Sam Bradford isn't that bad of a QB)

but then remember the texas game

Clonefan94 · 07-11-2008, 12:46 PM

With less than 5 wins this season, I will be very disappointed. There are just too many games on our schedule that there is no reason why we shouldn't have a shot at winning it. If we only get 4, I'm not going to go all doom and gloom, I know it's early in Chiz's reign, but, I think a solid improvement over last year would be 5 wins. Looking at last years schedule compared to this years, it's just tough not to expect 2 more wins.

Bader · 07-11-2008, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by cyclonedefender

but then remember the texas game

Both of those games came immediately after the UT debacle

I wish I could have been in the locker room to hear Chizik's speech after that one....

cstrunk · 07-11-2008, 01:08 PM

I'm not so scared about Missouri coming to JTS. It seems like we always play Missouri tough, especially at home. Remember, we (good ol' Dan) were able to beat Missouri just two shameful seasons ago. We also played the "Tough as Rain" Tigers last year quite well at home for how good they were compared to us.

I would call this game our "Upset of the Year" possibility out of any other potential upsets.

CY ST8T · 07-11-2008, 01:17 PM

I think that this defense is going to be way ahead of where people thought we would be and 6 - 9 wins will be very possible and after seeing the team Chizik fields we will have a lot more positive posters!!!

ktoddcyclones · 07-11-2008, 01:17 PM

I'm going with wins over South Dakota State, Kent State, Iowa, UNLV,Baylor, Nebraska, Colorado, and K-State.

clone99 · 07-11-2008, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by CyForPresident

5-7

My dream is for Mizzou to be ranked #1 and undefeated when they come to JTS. Then beat the living crap out of 'em. They ruined 2004 for us, lets ruin 2008 for them. It can be the second team ISU has kept from playing for the national championship....cough...2002...cough