State of the Football Program

[Aclone]

OK Guys. Let's cut to the chase. I'm a small businessman that is finally seeing the light heading into year 3 of my business - which just happens to concide with year 3 of the Chizik era.

I'd like to be able to make a sizable contribution (for me) and buy a section of season tickets to use to entertain clients. Put aisde all the personal agendas, and tell me what you think this team will look like next season. I don't care if we give up 45 points as long as we score 50. I want to truly entertain and provide a good time.

What are your predictions and why?

First off, ask me after Signing Day, let alone the Spring Football Scrimmage.

Tentatively, I'd say that we'll have a much improved offense. Talent and experience tends to do that.

As far as the defense is concerned, I think they will be much improved if someone like Troy Butler can approximate (a healthy) Chris Brown's contributions. That would stop the worst of the bleeding. Strongside defensive end, where three seniors graduate, is the next worst (IMHO) concern--and redshirt Cleyon Laing and current commit Taylor Martin will be the first into the gap--but probably not the last. If we happened to sign someone like this, I'd feel much better.

On the other hand, we will have some talented players stepping up for their senior seasons. Rashawn Parker, Chris Lyle and Nate Frere on the defensive line. Fred Garrin and Josh Raven, speedy guys outside. And Jesse Smith is scrappy, while Schmidgall has shown flashes. Allen Bell seems to be out of the doghouse, and James Smith will be a senior. That's a lot of leadership.

It just remains to be seen whether, say, Cameron Bell is ready outside. How the freshman corners improve. And what defensive tackles step up their game--or, for that matter, are healthy.

On offense, I'm concerned about left tackle. Pass protection is huge, and we lose Doug Dedrick. If we sign James Carpenter, I would breath easier. The rest of the "questions" have to do with potential. Sure, Austen, Marquis, A Rob, Houston and the tight ends will be good, but how much will some of the young offensive linemen step up? Will Scott Haughton be a beast? How much will a year of Strength and Conditioning beneift Sedrick and Darius? Just how good are guys like Bo and Jeremiah? Will Chase Harper make it into school in January? Potentially, this is a very explosive offense--especially if we manage to sign both Carpenter and Money Reynolds.

Of course, both placekicking and punting will be in good hands.

Sorry if this isn't helping at all. The potential is there. Most especially, for an explosive offense. I just can't tell you, right now, how it will all come together. Two years? Well, heck yes. But we gotta get there first.

[ISUFan22]

I love Chris Brown. His play against Iowa last year was huge - among a few other games. But our defense was just as bad with him in there as it was with him on the sidelines. Period.

[Rogue52]

The defensive play is beyond horrible. There were so many times last night where our secondary actually had done a decent job, but there was not a single defensive lineman near Daniels. Then there were times where a d-lineman actually got to the quarterback, but there was blown coverage and it was all over.

I actually think our offense is on pace to compete in the Big 12. All we need is a better performing line and I think that is coming. Defense on the other hand is nowhere near ready. I'm concerned that it won't be ready until 2010. Which is not good, because if this fan base takes on another 2-3 win season in 2009, Chizik will be on the hot seat to begin 2010.

Pollard's true job starts now. No more coaches to fire. No more hope to sell. No more logos to change. What gimmicks will he come up with?

[dmclone]

Our defense has mad some very poor QB's look awesome. You see multiple receivers with no one within 5 yards of them and QB's that get over 5 seconds to throw the ball without even moving.

[Aclone]

If these players are not getting better as the year goes along what makes people think that these same players will all of a sudden be good after 8 months?

Easy question to answer. Because it won't be the same players.

Safety was probably the biggest problem. Those gaping holes downfield. Between graduation and new players, it'll see a facelift similar to that which corner received this year. Is that a good enough beginning for you?

[Aclone]

I love Chris Brown. His play against Iowa last year was huge - among a few other games. But our defense was just as bad with him in there as it was with him on the sidelines. Period.

You're right. I guess that in his first start back, we didn't shut out Colorado in the first half before he was hurt again. No, no improved play at all.

[mwitt]

I like Nate Frere in the middle. Leonard Johnson has shown some flashes, and it appears he is the only one of our CBs who can close fast enough to really try to break up a pass, but he's got a long ways to go before he's all conference.

That's about all I've got for defensive positives.

[twojman]

Easy question to answer. Because it won't be the same players.

Safety was probably the biggest problem. Those gaping holes downfield. Between graduation and new players, it'll see a facelift similar to that which corner received this year. Is that a good enough beginning for you?

You are nuts if you think safety is the biggest problem...

[mwitt]

You're right. I guess that in his first start back, we didn't shut out Colorado in the first half before he was hurt again. No, no improved play at all.

In all fairness, Chris Brown didn't miss two easy FGs for Colorado, and Chris Brown or not, no one in their right mind should think that we shut CU out in the first half if Cody Hawkins starts.

[Aclone]

You are nuts if you think safety is the biggest problem...

I didn't say it was the only problem, far from it, but I saw the continual misplays, the poor tackling, poor agility, the safety out of position, outright blown coverages. Let alone a lack of recovery speed. Didn't you see that 52 yard touchdown run last night? A perfect example. I'm also not saying that James Smith was bad, but a team has two safeties. Get another decent safety back there, the last line of defense, and it stops a lot of bleeding.

[ISUFan22]

LMAO.

I know, Chris Brown was causing all that pressure we were getting in the first half on their QB.

Just lunacy man...

[ISUFan22]

In all fairness, Chris Brown didn't miss two easy FGs for Colorado, and Chris Brown or not, no one in their right mind should think that we shut CU out in the first half if Cody Hawkins starts.

Right. I knew we were in trouble when they made the QB change. That's twice this year a QB change beat us.

[ajk4st8]

Picking out a position on defense that is worse than another for ISU is kind of pointless.

[MaxPower57]

The thing that really bothers me about the defense is that the guys that are out there are for the most part, upperclassmen.

DL-2Sr2Jr I don't understand why Lyle doesn't start over Parker as Rashawn just doesn't seem to do anything. We have to hope Maggitt is some sort of pass rushing monster, but he is undersized and hasn't played a snap. It seems that a JC DE would help here, but Taylor Martin is playing like an average JC player, I doubt he would come in and be anymore of an upgrade over what we already have. Laing is another name to throw in there. Frere seems solid, then we have Black and Johnson, who were supposed to play a lot but have been hurt, so who knows with them. Rumpeolhamer has played well, and we have McDonough coming off redshirt. These, hopes for the future, however, will just have to go through their own growing pains next year as they really are not playing at all now.

LB (with Bibbs)-1Sr2Jr

In the Tampa 2 you have to have a great athlete to help cover the middle of the field. I know people rag on the safeties for giving it all up, but a lot of it goes on Smith. He's smart, plays hard and is alright against the run, but he is physically limited and can't really succeed in pass coverage. A guy who runs a 5.0 forty isn't going to be able to cover anyone in the Big XII. Bell, the guy with all the physical attributes, just doesn't seem comfortable out there. He probably should have stayed at RB and been the powerback we needed the last two years, but hopefully he can get it together since he has all the tools. Yet, even with some starting experience with Bibbs being hurt, his stats are pretty even with the likes of Ernest Ferguson who may end up being a decent player for us. With Garrin and Raven you get two average guys who don't really help or hurt.

DB- It changes every week so who knows.

There is a logjam at CB with Johnson, Benton, Bell, Banks, and McDowell coming back. Someone should move to safety, and I think it should be LJ. He seems to have the best feel for the game as he is often in the right place at the right time. That would fit him well at safety as it deals with playing in space and he isn't afraid to lay the wood. At CB his impact can be limited as a team can ignore the half of the field he controls, at safety he can be more of an impact player on the whole field and help out stopping the run. Out of the remaining corners we should be able to find 2-3 guys to do a decent job.

At safety, James Smith is alright, a pretty sure tackler, but those tackles are usually 15+ yards down the field. Then we got guys like Sandvig and O'Connell who seem like primarily special teams guys. Hopefully Butler can step in and contribute.

The offense seems to be making progress, but the D has just kind of played at the same low quality all year....even against SDSU and KSU outside of the TOs. You can score all the points you want but if you can't stop anybody you wont win any.

Yet I'm cautiously optimistic this will all get better as it can't get any worse. I'm in it for the long haul with Cyclone athletics, as I'm sure you all are too, so lets beat Kansas State and go Cyclones!

[isucy86]

This is a tale of 2 teams.

I am very optimistic about our offense. We lose 2 guys who played considerable minutes in Sumrall/Dedrick and only lose 2 other guys who are in the 2 deeps Scales/Johnson. I don't want to minimize those guys abilities, but I think their replacements will be as good or better- considering Darks & Johnson will be sophs and Jones & Hamilton will both be seniors. At OT we should be able to fill the 2 slots among Hulburt, Haughton and Hicks. That assumes Lamaak moves over to guard.

Add to the mix guys like Tiller(QB), Swartz(RB) and Williams(RB) we should have competition at each position and hopefully it will be stiff.

On defense- we need a talent infusion. Leonard Johnson might be the only difference maker. I thought Nate Frere played well, but he is basically a hole plugger. I also thought Lyle played well at times and would like to see if he could get upto 265-270lbs and play strong side DE. Otherwise we need a dynamic DT that can stuff the run & put pressure on the QB. We also need a huge upgrade at Weak End- hopefully the JUCO kid can hold the edge and get to the QB.

LB was a disappointment, especially on the outside. These guys didn't provide much in run support or in pass coverage. Jesse Smith gets the most out of his ability, but he is a liability in pass coverage.

As bad as our pass coverage was this year- DB's might be our strength with Johnson, Benton, Bell, McDowell and Banks returning. I'd like to see if Banks or Bell can't be moved to safety if they can get up to 200lbs.

The coaches also needs to do some self evaluation. If Chizik is serious about establishing the run- he needs to consider using the spread offense less. Running plays take too long to develop. There is a reason why good running teams typically have a QB take the snap under center. Additionally, although Austin is a strong runner, he doesn't have the quickness or didn't show the decisionmaking be even an average option QB in the spread. Maybe Tiller is the answer if ISU is determined to be a spread team, running the option and short passes. However, I really like what I saw of Austin when he threw the ball down field. If he can improve his accuracy, I think we might have one of the better passing QB's at ISU since David Archer.