Williams Blog: 8-6 Cyclone Notebook

**ChrisMWilliams** · 08-06-2010, 02:34 PM

Notes from yesterday's practice included...

Chris Williams' Blog on Iowa State Football: 8-6 Cyclone Notebook | Cyclone Fanatic

**CloneIce** · 08-06-2010, 02:40 PM

I am impressed, I haven't seen a Buff Bagwell reference in years! Nicely done.

**VeloClone** · 08-06-2010, 02:45 PM

Any bets that Iowa will try some sort of double move or misdirection on Sims early to take advantage of his exuberance at getting in the game?

**ISUFan22** · 08-06-2010, 02:45 PM

I sure hope you are right about the receivers. If so, as long as AA can be the smart leader on the field, this offense is gonna impress. A passing game with a pulse can not only help ARob pick up yards - but lessen the risk of him being injured as well.

If the first game was tonight at 7, it still wouldn't be soon enough.

**Bipolarcy** · 08-06-2010, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by ChrisMWilliams

Notes from yesterday's practice included...

Chris Williams' Blog on Iowa State Football: 8-6 Cyclone Notebook | Cyclone Fanatic

You said you were surprised that Caspers is redshirting, but should we be? When he was recruited, he looked for a school that didn't need him right away because he WANTED to redshirt. Apparently, he thinks he has some work to do in the weight room before he's ready for the step up in competition. That's the only thing I can figure.

What I'm wondering is if Rhoads was counting Caspers when he said he has a true 2-deep on the offensive line, or if he was counting someone else. If he's counting someone else, then we have a lot of offensive linemen, both now and in the future with the four frosh and Caspers. Because I'm as sure as I can be without insider knowledge that none of the frosh were counted in the 2-deeps before the first day of practice.

**VeloClone** · 08-06-2010, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Bipolarcy

You said you were surprised that Caspers is redshirting, but should we be? When he was recruited, he looked for a school that didn't need him right away because he WANTED to redshirt. Apparently, he thinks he has some work to do in the weight room before he's ready for the step up in competition. That's the only thing I can figure.

What I'm wondering is if Rhoads was counting Caspers when he said he has a true 2-deep on the offensive line, or if he was counting someone else. If he's counting someone else, then we have a lot of offensive linemen, both now and in the future with the four frosh and Caspers. Because I'm as sure as I can be without insider knowledge that none of the frosh were counted in the 2-deeps before the first day of practice.

Reread it:

"I’m not surprised that Jon Caspers is going to redshirt this season."

**Bipolarcy** · 08-06-2010, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by VeloClone

Reread it:

"I’m not surprised that Jon Caspers is going to redshirt this season."

My bad. Never mind, as Emily Litella would say.

**Steve** · 08-06-2010, 03:30 PM

Slight correction - I would add Bailey Johnson to the list of DL 2-deep that the program will lose after this year. The point about about a potential solid group returning remains valid.

**cyfan15** · 08-06-2010, 03:38 PM

You mentioned the 2011 defensive line, but I think the entire defense has a chance to be a strength. At defensive end, we should be able to find a nice rotation with Neal, Maggitt, Nelson, Lattimer, Moore, and Laing, all of whom will be upperclassmen except Moore. Defensive tackle won't be deep (probably should add a JUCO), but will have some experience. Linebacker should be pretty good with an extra year of experience for Knott, Klein, Tau'fo'ou, and George. Corner should be excellent with everyone back. Only safety is of much concern to me.

**Cyhart** · 08-06-2010, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by cyfan15

You mentioned the 2011 defensive line, but I think the entire defense has a chance to be a strength. At defensive end, we should be able to find a nice rotation with Neal, Maggitt, Nelson, Lattimer, Moore, and Laing, all of whom will be upperclassmen except Moore. Defensive tackle won't be deep (probably should add a JUCO), but will have some experience. Linebacker should be pretty good with an extra year of experience for Knott, Klein, Tau'fo'ou, and George. Corner should be excellent with everyone back. Only safety is of much concern to me.

Its very possible that LJ plays his way into the NFL this year. I think he has the talent, and it appears that he has the necessary focus this year.
So we would lose Sims and Johnson. Our #1 and #2 defenders. Tough losses.

**ChrisMWilliams** · 08-06-2010, 04:10 PM

Still, I think that there are some guys we haven't seen yet that will be able to step in and be respectable. I'm talking about the Jeremy Reeves' of the world. Those boys can play. We just haven't seen much of them yet.

**cyclonestate** · 08-06-2010, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by VeloClone

Any bets that Iowa will try some sort of double move or misdirection on Sims early to take advantage of his exuberance at getting in the game?

I could see Iowa trying that for sure. That's exactly what we did several years ago when we beat them in Iowa City. JJ Moses scored a long touchdown on the first play of the game when we ran a reverse against their fired up defense. Not a bad strategy at all.

**CyForPresident** · 08-06-2010, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by ChrisMWilliams

Still, I think that there are some guys we haven't seen yet that will be able to step in and be respectable. I'm talking about the Jeremy Reeves' of the world. Those boys can play. We just haven't seen much of them yet.

Jacques Washington. The guy was on the depth chart all of last season as a true freshman even though he was redshirting.

**clonedude** · 08-06-2010, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Steve

Slight correction - I would add Bailey Johnson to the list of DL 2-deep that the program will lose after this year. The point about about a potential solid group returning remains valid.

The starting front four might be decent in 2011, but we will still have a very serious depth problem at DL and LB for quite some time IMO. And if you don't have depth, you don't have much. You can't afford ANY injuries, which is nearly impossible.

We have 7 quality guys fighting for one RB spot right now. As I've said before... we'd need 28 quality DL fighting for 4 DL spots to equal what we have at RB. We'd need 21 quality LBs fighting for 3 LB spots to equal what we have at RB. We have a ton of WRs as well. That's all good, but I'm afraid its been at the expense of DL and LB. We have MAYBE one guy that MIGHT be able to play LB if any one of the starting 3 go down... and he's a true freshman in George. That is it, now that Lattimer is at DE.

It will take several years of recruiting to get the DL and LB numbers up to where they need to be.