CF Analysis: ISU vs. Northern Iowa – All about coaching, no excuses.

[Jeremy]

CF Analysis: ISU vs. Northern Iowa – All about coaching, no excuses.

CycloneFanatic.com
Jeremy Lind

While the season so far hasn’t been stellar, ISU still sits in the best position to control its own destiny as it enters arguably one of the ‘easiest’ games this season. Entering a very winnable non-conference home game at 2-2 is about all that could be asked of the Clones at this point in the season, but much more needs to be expected of them for things to improve to where we all want to see it end in January.

There is no debating that Iowa State has had some very dramatic ups and downs in each of their previous four games thus far. The question everybody in the Cyclone State is asking is a simple one; Will ISU be able to pull out a complete game and score consistently throughout the game with no dramatic trail-off after the first half?

That question has haunted us for all four games this season as there have been dramatic differences in how ISU has performed on both sides of the ball in the first half vs. the second half. Everybody seems to have different opinions as to why this dramatic drop-off in performance and success has taken place, but everybody knows that it has to change pronto if ISU hopes to make a decent bowl game or have another chance at Texas at the end of the season.

The answers to the riddle aren’t always as simple as we want them to be, but I’m sure that’s why DMac gets the $1.1million to solve them and we just argue about what we think are the causes. Let there be no confusion though, the answer to that question better be very conclusive and leave no doubt about what needs to be done to correct things before entering the meat of the conference schedule that will determine whether or not ISU gets another chance at making the Big XII Conference Championship game.

Excuses can, and often are, made about why a team doesn’t perform as expected against opponents like Iowa and Texas, but there can be no excuses against the likes of Toledo and UNLV at home. Even more important, there should not be a single reason why Iowa State would lose against UNI after playing the games and the teams ISU has so far this season. There simply cannot be any excuses, none at all, period. ISU must win vs. UNI or the season might as well be over.

Why am I so set on this being a make or break game for ISU? Simple, this game is all about coaching. If ISU’s coaching staff does what it should and gets the team more pumped up and hungry for a huge win then they’ve ever been, this is an easy blow-out. On the other hand, if the staff continues to insist that their game plan is perfect and no adjustments to play-calling need to be made, then this game will give their critics their biggest ammunition yet.

While UNI certainly isn’t terrible, they just aren’t in the same arena as ISU in terms of recruiting, experience, strength of schedule, strength, size, ability, talent, coaching, facilities, budget, etc. They just aren’t comparable and I hate that some ISU fans are building this up as a huge rivalry just to make it sound better if we lose. We should not lose and we simply cannot lose. If we lose, it’s simply all about the coaching, no excuses.

Iowa State enters the game having looked more determined and less predictable against Texas then they have in the previous games, but will that translate into success the rest of the season? What changed and what still needs to change?

One of the most evident changes during the Texas game had to be that ISU looked less predictable on most of its drives. Just by mixing up the plays that are run or the routes that are used, it not only kept Texas honest, but it kept ISU on their toes on offense and made them aware of the changing defenses. It made Iowa State look like they could do what they wanted at times, even though they were against one of the best and most storied defenses in all of college football.

Looking ahead, more improvements need to be made, particularly in the passing game. ISU ran a few different routes and tried to mix it up some against Texas, but more needs to be done to get the defenses to open up so we can exploit the running game. With a combo of Stevie, Blythe, Meyer, Flynn, and the rest all being explosive in their own way, ISU has unlimited potential for mixing things up and bringing a huge playbook into the equation.

When I look at ISU’s offense, I don’t see a team that fits the regular mold of a running or passing force. They actually have one of the most unique and under-rated offenses in all of college football. Not only do we have arguably the two best receivers in school history, we also have one of the best all-around quarterbacks in the nation, and probably the most under-appreciated running backs in all of college football.

Now the problem is this; what does ISU need to do to uncap that potential resting just under the barely-scratched surface? More passing routes, deeper passing routes, and more of the same Meyer/Hicks running threat that could easily get 200+ combined rushing yards this weekend against UNI.

What would I personally like to see against UNI? A new school record for passing yards in a single game. It can easily be done and it should be done so the staff can get everybody on the same page and help build confidence. UNI has no way of stopping our aerial bombardment and we need to exploit that and use it as a tool to refine the playbook for the rest of the season. This game can be the best playbook builder and tester that ISU has ever had, that needs to be taken advantage of to its fullest.

One more important thing for all Cyclone fans, make sure you pack the Jack this weekend. Don’t sit at home so you can watch the big game out East, pack the Jack and record that ‘other’ game. Nothing would look worse then to see the Jack half empty just because the so-called ISU faithful wanted to watch their rivals play the Buckeyes.

Pack the Jack, cheer on Mac, and watch ISU put down the smack…


Edited to add the following...

In regards to those that don't think the coaches are possibly at fault at all; I was simply stating that our players better be damn hungry for a huge win and I would really hope DMac would want to come out with guns blazing to shut up all the critics that have been hounding him about being so conservative.

Simply put, we need a big win to fire up the team and the fans. Everybody that has been to late fall games as I have knows very well that if the fans aren't fired up, barely any will show once it gets really cold and sleet/snowy.

We are in a make our break season for a portion of our fan-base that has put up with the same level of play for about five years now. Regardless of where Mac has brought us over the past 12 years, everybody wants to get a lot further and some fans are less patient than others. I'm not saying those people are right or wrong but the fact is that we need to keep every fan that we can get for our football program in order to get to that next level. A fair-weather fan is after all better than an Iowa fan (think $$$).

[Al_4_State]

Jeremy, I have loved your editorials lately, and this one is no different. You hit the nail on the head in terms of if we lose this game, its all on the coaching, no matter what ISUfan22 (I think he's really Dan McCarney, lol) says. Breaking the school passing record for a single game, and just letting the offense roll would be a great follow up to last week's definite improvement in offensive game plan, and really get the boys ready for NU. I have had bad dreams this week about Dan taking a knee as soon as we get a 2 td lead, but I hope they pull through and spank the kitties. Oh, and as far as JTS being half empty, correct me if im wrong, but we've sold over 50,000 for this one.

[Jeremy]

Originally Posted by Al_4_State

Jeremy, I have loved your editorials lately, and this one is no different. You hit the nail on the head in terms of if we lose this game, its all on the coaching, no matter what ISUfan22 (I think he's really Dan McCarney, lol) says. Breaking the school passing record for a single game, and just letting the offense roll would be a great follow up to last week's definite improvement in offensive game plan, and really get the boys ready for NU. I have had bad dreams this week about Dan taking a knee as soon as we get a 2 td lead, but I hope they pull through and spank the kitties. Oh, and as far as JTS being half empty, correct me if im wrong, but we've sold over 50,000 for this one.

Thanks!

I know it should be a sell-out crowd in attendance, but I've talked to quite a few people that are on the fence on if they'll actually go or if they'll stay home and watch the games.

[Jeremy]

By the way, I've seen 3 ISU shirts and 3 IA shirts here in Chicago so far...

[Al_4_State]

wow... Chicago's their home turf too. I figured UCIC (Univeristy of Chicago at Iowa City) fans would outnumber ISU fans drastically there. And anyone who has tickets to this game and does not attend in order to watch iowa/osu just fuels the myth that we care more about Iowa than anything else. They are also far from a true fan, in my book.

[rjslats]

Arguably the TWO best receivers in school history? That's just plain silly, Jeremy. Austin Flynn is a good player and a great guy, but come on!

[cycloneworld]

Break the school passing record AND rush for 200+ yards...those are lofty expectation. Do you really expect us to put up 650 yards? If not, will that be the coaches fault as well?

[Al_4_State]

I don't think Jeremy was saying we need to do both...

[Jeremy]

We don't need to do both. I'm not saying it's the coaches fault if we don't do either of those, I was simply stating that our players better be damn hungry for a huge win and I would really hope DMac would want to come out with guns blazing to shut up all the critics that have been hounding him about being so conservative.

Simply put, we need a big win to fire up the team and the fans. Everybody that has been to late fall games as I have knows very well that if the fans aren't fired up, barely any will show once it gets really cold and sleet/snowy.

We are in a make our break season for a portion of our fan-base that has put up with the same level of play for about five years now. Regardless of where Mac has brought us over the past 12 years, some people want to get further and are less patient that some. I'm not saying those people are right or wrong but the fact is that we need to keep every fan that we can get for our football program in order to get to that next level. A fair-weather fan is after all better than an Iowa fan (think $$$).

[ISUFan22]

Coaches coach and players play.

Wins are the result of good coaching and good execution on the field.

Conversely, losses are a result of both mistakes made by coaches and players.

[Jeremy]

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Coaches coach and players play.

Wins are the result of good coaching and good execution on the field.

Conversely, losses are a result of both mistakes made by coaches and players.

Very, very well said!

[Angie]

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Coaches coach and players play.

Wins are the result of good coaching and good execution on the field.

Conversely, losses are a result of both mistakes made by coaches and players.

Great post, ISUFan!!

[frontrangeclone]

Jeremy- thanks for the great editorials, very well thought out and well written, and I agree 100%. I appreciate that you acknowledge the varying viewpoints on the Mac regime.

I agree that we need to rock UNI thru the air, but I bet my 401k that Mac will try to establish Stevie and the running game first. I just hope this allows the air attack to open up and they take advantage of it.

Also, I don't live in Iowa so I don't have a feel for what kind of crowd UNI will bring.... 2,500? 5,000? obviously those fans are what are pushing the expected attendance of 50k.

As would be nice to see a blow-out, i do not really feel that is required. My expectations are to see control. Both offensively and defensively. Both in coaching and playing. If there is some kind of ****** going on with the play selection (which is typical in determining the pace of each game), time to make a statement! ISU is not loaded with talent, but they do have very good talent.

I will restate an earlier comment I made, "If Stevie is hot, use him, open the game for the wealth of receivers. If a particular receiver is hot, use him/them, open up Stevie and QB options".

I do not fall into the shorter timeframe of game excuse.

Get'em Clones!

ps. I was in Italy three weeks ago and noticed a ISU shirt......that rocks.

[jdoggivjc]

Speaking of finding ISU stuff in odd places, why is it that I can find better ISU merchandise in Iowa City than in Davenport?