Looking Back: What went wrong? Will ISU ever surprise us?

Kyle · 09-19-2006, 11:47 AM

I agree with Jeremy, although I'm not sure I want to give Mac another year if this one goes in the crapper. The fact that the founder of this board is criticizing the coach has kept some of those with the "with us or against us" mentality from reacting too harshly.

SlyCy · 09-19-2006, 12:06 PM

I don't buy the holding back the play book until the Big 12. DMac put his best defensive players on kick returns for the Iowa game. Believe me you've seen it all.

If we pan back a minute, the time for developing, learning and implementing new and diverse plays was long before 3 games into the season. There is no time to develop and learn new plays now.

Pollard has uped the anti in all atheltics departments and DMac has proven that he can not rise to the level of other programs. He must go. There has been too much talent that hasn't been utilized efficiently due to poor coaching this year and in the past.

rlegg928 · 09-19-2006, 12:39 PM

I'm amazed with all of these posts, and I agree with what's being said here. I find it interesting that 2 weeks ago when people began to question playcalling, Blythe's lack of catches, and the "gameday" coaching decisions of DMac and his staff, those bringing up the points were often referred to as fairweather fans, bandwagon jumpers, and Mac-haters. Now that everyone's had a chance to have 3 games sink in, we're beginning to see the patterns that have been repeated many times previously:

9/7/1996- The Cyclones opened the 1996 football season by hosting Wyoming. The Cowboys rallied to score 18 points in the fourth quarter to send the game into OT. Dan McCarney opted to go on offense. ISU kicker Jamie Kohl missed his field and Wyoming converted a 41 yard kick to win 41-38.

10/19/1996- The Cyclones led Oklahoma State 24-7 in Stillwater after a Todd Doxzon to Dennis Dibiase TD pass with 8 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. The Cowboys outscored ISU 21-3 to win by a point.

10/26/1996- ISU got off to a 21-7 start in Waco against Baylor. The Cyclones gave up 624 yards and 42 unanswered points to the Bears and lost the game 49-21. It was Baylor’s first win in the Big 12 conference.

11/2/1996- ISU led Kansas 31-27 with 6 minutes remaining, but faltered late, as the Jayhawks won 34-31.

11/9/1996- Iowa State lead 7th ranked Colorado 28-21 in the third quarter. CU retaliated with 28 unanswered points, before holding off the Cyclones 49-42.

Now it seems we are all beginning to realize this is a trend that may be one of the core reasons that have brought us to this point as a football program, and may/may not take us forward from this point.

To that end, I'll go back to Jeremy's original post, I'll add the following:
I've watched Seneca's "Play" many times online in the last few days and I've realized just how special he was. He made plays, no, he CREATED plays and, often, was put in a position to do so (bootlegs, options, roll-outs, etc). It seems like we aren't giving our stars enough opportunity to be creative, especially in the open field: screens to Scales, Hicks, Blythe would widen the field. Crossing routes in the secondary could create options for a pass, especially with RB's running short routes. I love a good shovel pass to get 8-10, or more, if LB's drop off into coverage....space for our players to make plays, ahem CREATE plays, would bring excitement back to the game and allow us all to see the individual talent our current team DOES pocess.

DMac needs to trust our players enough to give them the ball and allow them to be magical. At this point I don't see that trust, and that is what scares me the most about this season. But, I am hopeful, and I believe that the trust will come and bring back the ability for our Cyclones to create plays. A creative, trusting team will make each play exciting, fun to watch, and, ultimately will make our team more competitive.

<<stepping off of my soap box>>

cycloneworld · 09-19-2006, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by SlyCy

Pollard has uped the anti in all atheltics departments and DMac has proven that he can not rise to the level of other programs. He must go. There has been too much talent that hasn't been utilized efficiently due to poor coaching this year and in the past.

Jesus Christ...let the man (and team) get more than 3 games into the season before you demand for his head. We are 2-1, right were I thought we would be. It hasn't been pretty but that doesn't matter. I am frustrated with the play calling just like everyone else. And Cotton calls the plays with Mac having the opportunity to overrule.

I for one feel much better about our team after last weekend. We had a chance to win and our receivers dropped 2 balls on our last drive that would have given us first downs that could have led to a game-tying touchdown. I loved Mac's call to go for it on 4th and 10.

These are real games and not NCAA 2007 where you can bomb it downfield every play and Blythe catches 3 out of 4. Iowa was playing over the top of our guys as well.

Once the season is over, we should evaluate Mac and decide if he is the best person to continue to lead our program. IMO, it is pointless to do it now because we aren't going to change coaches mid-season.

CLONE2THEBONE · 09-19-2006, 02:07 PM

"our receivers dropped 2 balls on our last drive that would have given us first downs that could have led to a game-tying touchdown."

If we're going to play the "what if" game, then it should also be pointed out that Iowa dropped two gimmee interceptions as well.

Once the season is over, everyone will start saying, but look what we have coming back. If it ain't high powered now, it won't be then.

cycloneworld · 09-19-2006, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by CLONE2THEBONE

Once the season is over, everyone will start saying, but look what we have coming back. If it ain't high powered now, it won't be then.

Not true...we returned 11 of 12 offensive starters this year. Next year won't we lose 4 of our 5 O-Line starters? This is the year to determine what we can do with talent...not next year.

fonz4cy · 09-19-2006, 02:57 PM

this is extreme NEG for a person that has never coached in his life. After rewatching the gm last night, there were missed tackles, blocks, QB reads and blocks that would have totally turned that game around - overall if anyone would have told me we would be able to play that well before the game with what I had seen prior to this or run the ball , I wouldn't have believed it. And In particular the tackle on Chandler the 1st haf. Banks was great on him at times and lousy at other times. The ESPN commentator(who use to be a coach) and Zipper on "Two Guys name Jim and Miller on Sound Off" both said they thought the game plans were very good. Thanks Jeremy, for taking over Pollards Job - he's the one who evaluates the coaching job. Nice to know we clones eat on our own team. I'm sure your support will lead other to support this team even more. Pretty soon we all can wear our cry baby suits and carry a pacifier.
How about better leadership, execution and reads by our players. It was all there to be had. I saw several missed wide open receivers that would have been easy touch downs that would have blown the game wide open. If the QB makes the read Mac looks like a genious. Meyer is great, however, Wallace was AWESOME at the reads and acting on them. How about some Positive Fan support by our Fan's, and your suppose to be a leader Jeremy.

jay moe · 09-19-2006, 03:07 PM

I agree with you Jeremy 100%. I sat there and watched the game Saturday and was baffled at what happened in the second half. We need to be imaginative and unpredictable offensively, our defense gave us ample opportunity in the fourth quarter to do something and we did nothing with the ball. Starting to sound like a broken record when the 4th quarter rolls around.

SlyCy · 09-19-2006, 03:19 PM

Whoa fonz4cy....don't hate on Jeremy for saying what obviosly a lot of people feel.

Cycloneworld, it's not just this season any of us are looking at. This season is just more of the same from Mac. We should be a the next level by now with Mac, which to me means winning championships, beating ranked teams consistently, etc. Mac has proven that he can't do that. It's time to expect more than mediocore seasons from him.

kentkel · 09-19-2006, 03:27 PM

In regards to play calling, I remember one of the most "pleasantly surprising" play calls that I have ever witnessed from a McCarney coached team.It was the year that the Insight.Com team went up against Neb (in Ames), and the first play call was on the kick off. We did an onside kick and recovered it. I remember that the JACK just went nuts!! The fans in my section started conversing about the fact that since Mac was now getting some high quality players, he could execute those types of plays and that they could actually work and surprise some teams. We were excited that, just perhaps, we were seeing a new & improved Dan McCarney (in regards to play calling).

Alas, we were wrong. Now, I am not suggesting that we RELY on trick plays or that we attempt an onside kick to start the game in Texas, but we need to be aggressive and more risky than we have been. Heck, Austin Flynn is a former QB - line him up in the backfield sometime and see if this confuses the Defense / keeps them guessing. It doesn't mean that we even have to give him the ball to throw - but it would be a change from the same old same old! It would give the scouts another factor to ponder, another thing to have to prepare for.

That being said, I really was impressed by our running attack against EIU. Go Stevie, Go Jason - thanks for proving this skeptic wrong (I shamefully admit that I agreed with some of my Hawkeye co-workers that Stevie would be lucky to gain 25 yards. However, I also stated that this would be a huge game for Meyer and Blythe.)

cycloneworld · 09-19-2006, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by SlyCy

Cycloneworld, it's not just this season any of us are looking at. This season is just more of the same from Mac. We should be a the next level by now with Mac, which to me means winning championships, beating ranked teams consistently, etc. Mac has proven that he can't do that. It's time to expect more than mediocore seasons from him.

Ok, let's fire him today and bring in Bill Parcells so we can get to the next level. :Smoking:

Many people are turning into the stereotypical Hawkeye fan with their impatience, demanding comments. That's fine for you but I'm not going there. Are you also the fan that will stop going to games (ie. Iowa BB games) because you want Mac fired???

SlyCy · 09-19-2006, 03:52 PM

Hawkeye fans? .....dang, that's harsh.

I didn't like Morgan as the coach and still went to the games....

I don't like McCarney and still go to the games.....

Ease up dude...I'm out.

CY ST8T · 09-19-2006, 04:27 PM

I totally agree with Fonz and with Cycloneworld. Who are you all to question every call? Sure you can talk about things you would rather do. Do you have some inside information as to everything that is going on? Of course not. Instead you all make assumptions looking at it blindly from the outside and talk about how you would play it as if you are playing PS2 or something. Let's leave the criticism to the guy that gets paid big money to be the A.D. of our department. Players are not executing and the questions you have on Mac are based on assumptions which I hate to watch people go off of. The one thing ISU has never had is loyalty. I'm not trying to attack Jeremy personally or anything with this. Everyone gets frustrated. I just think that if you have the impact you do in the program Jeremy that you would direct it toward positive. Especially considering we are 3 weeks into the season and 2-1 which is what was expected by most before the year began anyway.

cycloneworld · 09-19-2006, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by CY ST8T

I totally agree with Fonz and with Cycloneworld. Who are you all to question every call? Sure you can talk about things you would rather do. Do you have some inside information as to everything that is going on? Of course not. Instead you all make assumptions looking at it blindly from the outside and talk about how you would play it as if you are playing PS2 or something. Let's leave the criticism to the guy that gets paid big money to be the A.D. of our department. Players are not executing and the questions you have on Mac are based on assumptions which I hate to watch people go off of. The one thing ISU has never had is loyalty. I'm not trying to attack Jeremy personally or anything with this. Everyone gets frustrated. I just think that if you have the impact you do in the program Jeremy that you would direct it toward positive. Especially considering we are 3 weeks into the season and 2-1 which is what was expected by most before the year began anyway.

Who are you to question all of the other Division 1 head football coaches and Division 1 Athletic Directors on this site???

On a serious note...A-FRICKIN-MEN!

cycloneworld · 09-19-2006, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by SlyCy

Hawkeye fans? .....dang, that's harsh.

I didn't like Morgan as the coach and still went to the games....

I don't like McCarney and still go to the games.....

Ease up dude...I'm out.

It was a question, not an accusation...That's what the question mark after a statement is used for.