Where are we truly at as a program.

[djkent01]

I think it's a fair question and we will lose some players on defense - in that respect we're going to have more growing pains next season on that side of the ball. Taylor being the most notable.

That said - all of the following is my opinion:

1. BOTH the OL and DL have made very significant improvement this season. Yesterday we put pressure on the QB with our standard sets. Has not happened yet this year. And the OL dominated at times and the RB's hit the holes quickly and hard at times.
2. This team is very young. There were several plays that I don't think will happen later in the season - the guys seem to have their minds made up as to what they're going to do BEFORE the play starts. Examples: The interception by Arnaud late - looked to me like he stood up to make that throw and started to throw it before he read the defense - then tried to clutch it back. Or the WR - forget which one, but am thinking Darks, didn't take the out on a blitz, ran straight down field, while Arnuad threw the out.
3. Then when we do make decisions, they're often based on inexperience. The A-Rob run on the second possession of the 3rd quarter is a good example. He had a very nice run, and just as he was about to the first down marker, tried to cut to break a long one, and was tackled short. Dropping his shoulder would have earned a first down easily. Instead, we get stopped on the next play, another 3 and out, KU gets good field position and scores to make it 20 - 14. Also, the bullet Arnaud threw on the last play of the game. The WR was quoted this morning as saying Arnaud saw him open and "got happy" and threw the bullet. A little air under that and it may have been six. It will come with more game-time.

Someone in a previous post said it is a game of inches, and yesterday that really showed. A play here, a decision there, more execution in key situations will change things dramatically. I'm still convinced we have a ton of talent, heart, and an excellent coaching staff.

All of these things are correctable through coaching and game experience. I'll obviously have a more formed opinion after the next three games, but my gut says we can win all three if we can keep up the figthing attitude we've shown and come to play. And I think we will.

[CyBobby]

Since you guys brought up Tim Brewster...heres a question...Who will make it to a bowl game first? Tim "de stud recruiter" Brewster or Gene "I wanna win now"...Chizik?


Just Wondering Boys!!!!

[jdoggivjc]

Can we honestly have neg rep back? PLEASE?

I honestly get tired of this "Woe is me, ISU's always gonna suck" bull****. Chizik is in his second year here, has his team playing better than they have at almost any time over the last 2+ years, and it's just not enough for some fans because unless we're winning now then the coach isn't doing his job.

Bull****.

am I frustrated about what went down yesterday? Yes. I wanted that win as much as anyone. Do I like losing? Not at all. But you're just blind if you can't see the drastic improvements in this team from previous years.

Anyone that thinks that a McCarney-led team comes back and fights after that third quarter yesterday is nuts. What we saw yesterday is something that we've seen almost every game since the end of the Texas game last season - the team doesn't quit, and they fight to the end. Has it translated in wins yet? Maybe not as many as we like, but this is a VERY YOUNG TEAM!!! Young teams are going to frustrate the daylights out of the fan base.

As was posted in other threads:

Year 1: Lose big
Year 2: Lose close
Year 3: Win close
Year 4: Win big

Either people who are quick to criticize Chizik on the outcome of this season so far either don't see the drastic improvement in the team so far or they don't care. But they all probably have one thing in common - they were probably the loonies that were saying earlier this year that anything short of 8 or 9 wins this season was unacceptable.

[JDDCy]

I know this isn't worth replying to but I'm going to anyway.

Istate: we are losing 2 of our top 3 RB's. - Well we are returning the best one in ARob and a highly touted transfer and a redshirt freshman that people are excited about.

Istate - we are losing our top WR. - last year RJ was so inconsistent I did not know if he would even start this season. RJ has really improved this season. Good for him

Istate - We will lose our best OL. I like Dedrick but I would put Lamaak or Stephens in front of him and Alvarez made a lot of improvement from the UNLV game. BTW I believe we will return 9 of the 10 guys in the 2-deep

Istate - We will lose our two top DL. Agree on Taylor but Tate is no better than Lyle, Parker, or Frere.

Istate - We will lose 3 of our back 7. Bibbs hasn't played in 2 games so we are actually only losing 2 of 7 and Singleton will be lucky to still be starting if the young guys keep progressing and Banks gets healthy.

We started 5 Seniors yesterday. 5!! That is probably fewer than 90% of the teams in America. Jon Miller talks about how young the Hawks are and I believe they start 8 seniors. I'm done.

[LindenCy]

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Can we honestly have neg rep back? PLEASE?

I honestly get tired of this "Woe is me, ISU's always gonna suck" bull****. Chizik is in his second year here, has his team playing better than they have at almost any time over the last 2+ years, and it's just not enough for some fans because unless we're winning now then the coach isn't doing his job.

Bull****.

am I frustrated about what went down yesterday? Yes. I wanted that win as much as anyone. Do I like losing? Not at all. But you're just blind if you can't see the drastic improvements in this team from previous years.

Anyone that thinks that a McCarney-led team comes back and fights after that third quarter yesterday is nuts. What we saw yesterday is something that we've seen almost every game since the end of the Texas game last season - the team doesn't quit, and they fight to the end. Has it translated in wins yet? Maybe not as many as we like, but this is a VERY YOUNG TEAM!!! Young teams are going to frustrate the daylights out of the fan base.

As was posted in other threads:

Year 1: Lose big
Year 2: Lose close
Year 3: Win close
Year 4: Win big

Either people who are quick to criticize Chizik on the outcome of this season so far either don't see the drastic improvement in the team so far or they don't care. But they all probably have one thing in common - they were probably the loonies that were saying earlier this year that anything short of 8 or 9 wins this season was unacceptable.

I thought we could have 6-7 wins this year, and clearly with a couple breaks we could be 4-1 right now (even 5-0, but the Iowa game in many ways was just a product of the weather I think).

Losing the close ones as you say is heartbreaking, but next year we will know if we really have made that next step. I really hope we get to 5 wins this year still, that would be solid improvement. The next few weeks will tell us.

[EggMcClone]

Originally Posted by jaretac

The difference between Kansas of this year and Kansas of last year is that this year they are a conference contender, last year they were a national contender. The difference between the conference contenders and national contenders, is that conference contenders will loss some games that they probably should of won.

Who does not believe that Kansas is going to have at least a 9 wins this season? I know some say "a loss is a loss", but I would whether lose a close game against good teams then to lose big, because it shows we are improving.

Kind of a minor point but I don't think KU gets 9 wins. They have 1 loss already so they have to beat either OU, UT, Tech, or Mizzou and win their bowl game. I think all of those teams will "drink their milkshake" as the saying goes. They're good but not as good as last year.

[Aclone]

Originally Posted by Istate

Finally, a peak ahead to next year. Convince me that we don't lose more off of this year's team than we did last year. We lose 2 of our best 3 RB's. Maybe Bo Williams is for real. Maybe there's a reason why he wasn't more heavily pursued after leaving Florda. We lose our most consistent and long-term contributor at WR. We lose our best offensive lineman and our two best defensive linemen. Then we lose 3 of our starting back 7, including the LB that is playing the best this year. That's alot of talent to replace.

All right. After some caffeine, I'm going to assume you're not just trolling, and treat this seriously.

Sure, the defense takes some hits. Kurtis Taylor is the only one that really hurts, and that's why the staff has a commit from Taylor Martin, is still looking for end help, and is grooming Cleyon Laing as fast as they can. Calling Mike Tate one of our "two best" linemen might or might not be an exageration, but there is an awful lot of young talent behind him, from Bailey Johnson to Austen Alburtis to Jerrod Black to Stephon Ruempolhamer, Nate Frere will be back, and Jake McDonough coming off a redshirt.

Losing Mike Bibbs will hurt, sure, but by then Cameron Bell will be ready to step in (A year ago he was just converting from running back), and Kevin hamlin will be coming off a redshirt. The safeties? That's a problem anyway--and a reason the staff is recruiting that position so hard (Troy Butler, for starters). And as far as losing Singleton--are you joking? Sure, he's a three year starter, but we return everyone else--and get Kennard Banks back, and Judah Linder off a redshirt.

The offense? Calling Dedrick our "best" linemen is, again, arguable. When I read that, i wondered where Ben Lamaak (or Reggie Stephens) was going. And the other nine guys in the two deep return. Running Back? Alexander Robinson returns, and he'll have holes to run through next time around. Arnaud will be an experienced quarterback, Marquis and Houston are back, Sed Johnson and Darius Darks have the benefit of an off season of conditioning (and muscle), and Collin Franklin is finally broken in. I'm figuring that if we land, say, James Carpenter to secure left tackle, this is an incredibly explosive offense.

Plus, maybe Chase Harper. And Money Reynolds. And others.

But for now, the game starts here. With Baylor. Each week this team has improved, and it's time to show another progression, on the road, against the Bears. No defensive lapses, no momentum swings. One game at a time, baybee.

[Bobber]

Originally Posted by Aclone

But for now, the game starts here. With Baylor. Each week this team has improved, and it's time to show another progression, on the road, against the Bears. No defensive lapses, no momentum swings. One game at a time, baybee.

I agree. We're not seeing it in the win column yet, but they are playing more as a team and look better to me each week.

[isuno1fan]

As I stated in the post game thread, this team is a running game away from being in a bowl game.

We are getting there folks. This team is fun to watch...hopefully their hardwork will pay of in 2-3 more wins.

Go Clones!

[MontyBurns]

Originally Posted by CyBobby

Since you guys brought up Tim Brewster...heres a question...Who will make it to a bowl game first? Tim "de stud recruiter" Brewster or Gene "I wanna win now"...Chizik?

Just Wondering Boys!!!!

Brewster will go to a bowl game first. He is 5-1 now and has home games against Northwestern & Iowa still to come which means he is almost guaranteed a bowl in 2008.

[Aclone]

Originally Posted by MontyBurns

Brewster will go to a bowl game first. He is 5-1 now and has home games against Northwestern & Iowa still to come which means he is almost guaranteed a bowl in 2008.

You do realize that Northwestern is 5-0 and atop the Big Ten standings, right?

[ajk4st8]

Originally Posted by Aclone

All right. After some caffeine, I'm going to assume you're not just trolling, and treat this seriously.

Sure, the defense takes some hits. Kurtis Taylor is the only one that really hurts, and that's why the staff has a commit from Taylor Martin, is still looking for end help, and is grooming Cleyon Laing as fast as they can. Calling Mike Tate one of our "two best" linemen might or might not be an exageration, but there is an awful lot of young talent behind him, from Bailey Johnson to Austen Alburtis to Jerrod Black to Stephon Ruempolhamer, Nate Frere will be back, and Jake McDonough coming off a redshirt.

Losing Mike Bibbs will hurt, sure, but by then Cameron Bell will be ready to step in (A year ago he was just converting from running back), and Kevin hamlin will be coming off a redshirt. The safeties? That's a problem anyway--and a reason the staff is recruiting that position so hard (Troy Butler, for starters). And as far as losing Singleton--are you joking? Sure, he's a three year starter, but we return everyone else--and get Kennard Banks back, and Judah Linder off a redshirt.

The offense? Calling Dedrick our "best" linemen is, again, arguable. When I read that, i wondered where Ben Lamaak (or Reggie Stephens) was going. And the other nine guys in the two deep return. Running Back? Alexander Robinson returns, and he'll have holes to run through next time around. Arnaud will be an experienced quarterback, Marquis and Houston are back, Sed Johnson and Darius Darks have the benefit of an off season of conditioning (and muscle), and Collin Franklin is finally broken in. I'm figuring that if we land, say, James Carpenter to secure left tackle, this is an incredibly explosive offense.

Plus, maybe Chase Harper. And Money Reynolds. And others.

But for now, the game starts here. With Baylor. Each week this team has improved, and it's time to show another progression, on the road, against the Bears. No defensive lapses, no momentum swings. One game at a time, baybee.

What have you heard regarding Hamlin? I haven't heard anything yet. Hopefully this kid is a stud.

[wright4cy]

wow some people really think the sky is falling? I see the sunshine brighter than ever! Fans screaming not yelling screaming on all downs , yeah I got emotional and frustrated and mad and happy yesterday we played a good team yesterday ! I was very disappointed at how we went about the last opp we had to win!But very excited to see these young men NEVER DIE NEVER JUST GIVE UP. Which inspires me to want to never die down as a fan! But this is just what I saw. oh and way to yell section N, I love sitting there!

[Clonefan94]

I look at where we were this time last year. I look at how we played up to this point. If you don't see a different, improved team out there and can look positively to the future, well, someone else said it better, but you might want to start looking for a rope. I'm not into moral victories in the least bit and that's not what I'm claiming we had out there. Watching the way this team hits and plays over all though, I get the feeling I'm seeing one of the best teams to ever grace the field at Jack Trice Stadium. We look like we belong out there.

[Aclone]

Originally Posted by ajk4st8

What have you heard regarding Hamlin? I haven't heard anything yet. Hopefully this kid is a stud.

I won't say I've "heard" anything about him--but if you read the preseason reports carefully, he was doing very well in coverage drops, with plenty of pass breakups and an interception or two. Not what you'd expect from a true freshman.

He needs muscle, and he's not who I'd call a potential "stud" (that would be Bell), but I think he can be a contributor next fall.