ISU Offense

[CarolinaCy]

Are you serious?

There are NFL QBs that struggle with mechanics at times. He was also a player at a high school in Iowa and likely didn't have much coaching as far as mechanics.

At times, yes. Not consistently throughout their careers. The majority of AA's bad throws are poor mechanics, not just one or two here and there. I think he's about as accurate right now as you'll ever see him, and that's probably not good enough to really make this offense take off.

I really hope he has a breakout year and makes me eat those words, but I won't hold my breath.

[aeroclone]

I am going to have concerns about the offense until I actually see them on the field scoring points. It seems that every year since 2000 we have been going into the season expecting the offense to be the key. It seems like there are always questions on D and we feel like we need to win in a shootout to have any chance. Of course it has turned out that we have never had an explosive offense and whether or not we have a good season ends up being on the D.

So Rice blew up in year two, so what? Different players, different conference, it doesn't mean squat. McD's teams had blown up in year 3 everywhere he went. How did that turn out for us? AA was just flat out bad at times last year. Making terrible decisions and making awful throws to wide open receivers. I'm not saying that this stuff can't be fixed and that we can't have a great offense this year, but so far nobody on this board has posted any solid reasoning for why one would expect it to be so.

[BryceC]

AA has been playing QB since he was in grade school (I'm guessing), and he still has issues with mechanics? That's not a good sign.

IMO, we won't see the offense live up to its potential until there is a more accurate QB running it.

Tim Tebow anybody? Not that I am comparing Arnaud to Tebow but let's be honest, a lot of college QB's have mechanics problems. Especially when they don't get consistent coaching.

[heitclone]

This. We desperately need to be able to break some big plays. That seems to be a huge part missing from our O. You can almost watch the D inch closer and closer to the line of scrimmage as the game goes on. If we can get a few big plays on tape early in the year and also early in games, I think things will go a lot better for our offense overall. It seems to me we have a few more guys this year that can be that homerun hitter we've been lacking lately

I think you have the right idea but this offense isn't built for big plays in the passing game, its designed to lull the defense to sleep and then hit them big.So its the same thing you're saying just a different order. I agree though, we have the weapons to hit some big plays. I think Money fits really well into this scheme, he made several catches for short gains in limited time last year. I think if you carry that production over a whole season that some of those little 3-5yd grabs are going to lead to eventual big plays. I also think that the big 12 is aware that we have the best RB/QB running combo in the league, Arob and AA aren't going to sneak up on anyone this year so that should give the passing game some more space.

[jahfg]

I think you have the right idea but this offense isn't built for big plays in the passing game, its designed to lull the defense to sleep and then hit them big.So its the same thing you're saying just a different order. I agree though, we have the weapons to hit some big plays. I think Money fits really well into this scheme, he made several catches for short gains in limited time last year. I think if you carry that production over a whole season that some of those little 3-5yd grabs are going to lead to eventual big plays. I also think that the big 12 is aware that we have the best RB/QB running combo in the league, Arob and AA aren't going to sneak up on anyone this year so that should give the passing game some more space.

I bet that is news to every team in the Big XII. Most experienced? Probably. Best? I hope, but I doubt it. They are potentially a very good duo. Potentially.

[cyclones500]

Now our offense is being outplayed by our inexperienced defense in practice. I was at the spring game and the offense looked pretty good at that time. I sure hope this is not another learning year for our offense.

When I read how the defense outplayed the offense in the scrimmage, it made me uneasy. But maybe it's glass half-full/empty — I wondered if that wasn't such a bad thing, since the defense lost so many players from '09, that it could be an encouraging sign ... Assume the offense is at least as good at this stage (but has to smooth out some kinks), then if the defense did well, maybe they'll improve as well.

Most of us figured the defense would take a step back but (hopefully) the offense would be much better. If we improved on both sides, it adds up to the same thing.

Unless the defense improves again considerably, the offense needs to put up something close to 30 points per game, if we're hoping for anything more than near-.500.

[besserheimerphat]

Austen Arnaud Facts (per Cyclones.com):

• The past two years Arnaud has had 2 of the top 6 season completion percentages in ISU history (3rd at 0.616 in 2008, 6th at 0.587 in 2009; best was Seneca at 0.621 in 2001).
• The past two years Arnaud has been in the top 10 in completions for a season (1st with 247 in 2008, 9th with 178 in 2009).
• The past two years Arnaud has tied for 5th and 9th all-time in TD's thrown in a season (15 in 2008 and 14 in 2009).
• Arnaud currently holds the record for highest career completion percentage at 0.601.
• Arnaud is currently in 5th place in career passing yards, and will move up to 2nd with only 235 more yards this year.
• Arnaus is currently in 4th place in career TD passes, and will likely end the season in 2nd needing only 11 to pass Todd Bandhauer.

I'm not saying that Arnaud is an elite college quarterback. However, within the history of ISU football, he's one of the better quarterbacks we've ever had despite playing three different schemes for three different staffs. There is a lot of hate on this site for a guy who hasn't played that bad.

[Cyhart]

I'm worried that our "experienced" offense struggles against our green defense. Obviously very early but not a good sign.

"Green" doesnt necessarily mean bad. I think we have a very hardworking, smart defense. Who knows, they may come out this year and blow everyone's mind.