gage shafer over jared brackens?

[swarthmoreCY]

Honestly, I can't think of another position that doesn't have a scholarship backup. I truly can not believe the coaches trotted a walk on out against Tavon Austin, Geno Smith, and Stephon Bailey.

I agree in general with your previous post, but sans the OU game, singling out Stokes as getting torched is a bit strong. He is not that far off from the average abuse felt by Big 12 CBs. His main issue looked to be related to lack of reps.

Being in the position of having a walk-on starter against WVU is on the coaches. There are no quality back-ups at safety, or alternatively, there are no LB's ready enough to move Broom to safety (especially after WVU made it clear they were going with the power running of Alston)? We need Brackens so badly last year we burn his redshirt, yet he cannot beat out Gage? Although I think Stokes will be okay, Richardson did well early in the year. Is he injured?

 

[cycfan1]

Us spotting the offense 10 yards on every throw because we're afraid of the big play really doesn't help either.

And how many big plays did we give up? Strategy worked great , bend don't break and held to several field goals. Did you see what happened to the best defense in the big 12 when they played tight coverage last week?

 

[Wesley]

*Negative nancy post warning*

He was targeted all game, missed the tackle on the 75 yard TD, isn't big enough to tackle in the Big 12, isn't fast enough to play safety in the Big 12.

This loss is squarely on the shoulders of whoever is responsible for not having a scholarship player to back up Givens. Why the hell don't we just play CJ Morgan at the hybrid spot and put Broomfield back there? Are our safeties that incredibly unique from each other?

Also, Cliff Stokes is getting absolutely torched. I understand that we allow a cushion, but I doubt it is supposed to be 10 yards. His closing speed is atrocious and he is not a good tackler. Again, I thought Sam Richardson was playing well earlier this year, but he is the opposite corner's backup. I really believe SR would be a much better solution than Stokes.

The injuries to Givens and Watson are much bigger than people were talking and it showed. (Obviously Knott hurt as well but nobody is overlooking that.)

Yeah, Stokes needs to pick it up out there.

 

[UNIGuy4Cy]

*Negative nancy post warning*

He was targeted all game, missed the tackle on the 75 yard TD, isn't big enough to tackle in the Big 12, isn't fast enough to play safety in the Big 12.

This loss is squarely on the shoulders of whoever is responsible for not having a scholarship player to back up Givens. Why the hell don't we just play CJ Morgan at the hybrid spot and put Broomfield back there? Are our safeties that incredibly unique from each other?

Also, Cliff Stokes is getting absolutely torched. I understand that we allow a cushion, but I doubt it is supposed to be 10 yards. His closing speed is atrocious and he is not a good tackler. Again, I thought Sam Richardson was playing well earlier this year, but he is the opposite corner's backup. I really believe SR would be a much better solution than Stokes.

The injuries to Givens and Watson are much bigger than people were talking and it showed. (Obviously Knott hurt as well but nobody is overlooking that.)

Ya Stokes is not the answer.

 

[Wesley]

I agree in general with your previous post, but sans the OU game, singling out Stokes as getting torched is a bit strong. He is not that far off from the average abuse felt by Big 12 CBs. His main issue looked to be related to lack of reps.

Being in the position of having a walk-on starter against WVU is on the coaches. There are no quality back-ups at safety, or alternatively, there are no LB's ready enough to move Broom to safety (especially after WVU made it clear they were going with the power running of Alston)? We need Brackens so badly last year we burn his redshirt, yet he cannot beat out Gage? Although I think Stokes will be okay, Richardson did well early in the year. Is he injured?

Now that the regular season is over, maybe CW or someone can recap the injuries and prognosis for a 27 Dec-1 Jan bowl game.

 

[UNIGuy4Cy]

So what is the truth on Jared Brackens?

 

[CyValley]

So what is the truth on Jared Brackens?

Until we learn differently, I'm gonna assume he's dinged. Gonna assume, anyway, it's something other than an athleticism issue. Gonna assume he would have played if he could have played.

And, I'm gonna assume the coaches covered our weaknesses as best they could with who was available. Which leads me back to the first point: I'm gonna assume Brackens wasn't available until we learn differently.

Givens goes down, Brackens, a scholarship player, plays. Unless he's dinged, too. At ISU, three deep, at this point in program development, is difficult. We haven't arrived as a program. We're scratching and clawing to get there. But, we ain't there. Not yet.

 

[Aclone]

\

So what is the truth on Jared Brackens?

I'm pretty sure that Brackens is dinged up as well, especially considering that he was doing really well on special teams most of the season, but hasn't been listed on the participation reports the last few games.

For those of you upset about "team depth", note that not only are there a couple of safeties committed, T.J. Mutcherson redshirted, and as I said, I'm pretty sure that Brackens must be hurt.

 

[Doc]

FWIW -- Brackens didn't play SS in the WIU game with the 2nd team either.

 

[Luth4Cy]

Great? You cannot be serious. He was out of position in coverage and missed several important tackles, which is huge at the safety spot. Good tackling is judge more on how many missed tackles you have, not how many you got credit for.

He is not the problem, he played hard and is young and a walk-on. That is on the coaches not having better depth.

I'm not a great football mind, but I didn't notice him being out of position in coverage. Also, we have more depth at that position, but the coaches choose to red shirt Mutcherson even though he was on campus for spring practice. Other guys missed tackles too, that's why I'm saying he played so well. Even Klein missed a couple.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

I'm not a great football mind, but I didn't notice him being out of position in coverage. Also, we have more depth at that position, but the coaches choose to red shirt Mutcherson even though he was on campus for spring practice. Other guys missed tackles too, that's why I'm saying he played so well. Even Klein missed a couple.

So well? He gave great effort, but he did not play great.

 

[justcynn]

Injuries expose inexperience. Everyone seems to forget the early Mac years when freshmen played all over the field, Rhoads has built up some experience which has increased expectations for the next man in. Next man in rarely is as good as the starter but Schaefer played ok I thought. A lot of players get crossed up by Tavon.

 

[Wesley]

Injuries expose inexperience. Everyone seems to forget the early Mac years when freshmen played all over the field, Rhoads has built up some experience which has increased expectations for the next man in. Next man in rarely is as good as the starter but Schaefer played ok I thought. A lot of players get crossed up by Tavon.

Like the whole OU defense? They looked like they were chasing a rat that got away in their game. Comparing OU and our game, we clamped down much better for what it's worth. Like chasing a little Barry Sanders.

 

[eddiepishammerd]

Us spotting the offense 10 yards on every throw because we're afraid of the big play really doesn't help either.

Yes, but you can't stop them at our 20 and force a field goal if they score from their 20. It's the way we have to play defense right now. Make them work their way down the field. Giving up 600 yards isn't the end of the world if you only give up 30 points.

I also think we are missing givens more than knott.

 

[D UP Clones]

Great? You cannot be serious. He was out of position in coverage and missed several important tackles, which is huge at the safety spot. Good tackling is judge more on how many missed tackles you have, not how many you got credit for.

He is not the problem, he played hard and is young and a walk-on. That is on the coaches not having better depth.

No offense fellas, but if any of you really were paying attention through the season, you would know that the worst tackler on the team is Jacques Washington. He was unblocked at free safety on the two long runs the defense gave up this year and he didn't touch the running back that ran right at him. He runs away from having to tackle people and is the definition of soft. Evidently, the coaches like that he gets everyone lined up correctly and is smart.

That's nice but he is a huge liability against the run and against completed passes where he should be making a hard tackle.

Schaeffer actually showed up in the run game the other day at close to the line of scrimmage. He did miss a couple of tackles, but I will take aggressive play over what Washington does every day which is run to not get to tackles. (Washington did have two tackles on screens the other day that were clearly something they saw on tape because he was coming up before the play even started. Nice plays, but don't make up for all the other problems.)

In the end ISU has been good at Givens spot and bad at Washingtons. Schaeffer wasn't great, but he was better than the other safety spot. You guys should go back and rewind some plays and just watch the two safeties. If you know anything about football, it will be incredible what Washington doesn't do while not being blocked by anyone.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

No offense fellas, but if any of you really were paying attention through the season, you would know that the worst tackler on the team is Jacques Washington. He was unblocked at free safety on the two long runs the defense gave up this year and he didn't touch the running back that ran right at him. He runs away from having to tackle people and is the definition of soft. Evidently, the coaches like that he gets everyone lined up correctly and is smart.

That's nice but he is a huge liability against the run and against completed passes where he should be making a hard tackle.

Schaeffer actually showed up in the run game the other day at close to the line of scrimmage. He did miss a couple of tackles, but I will take aggressive play over what Washington does every day which is run to not get to tackles. (Washington did have two tackles on screens the other day that were clearly something they saw on tape because he was coming up before the play even started. Nice plays, but don't make up for all the other problems.)

In the end ISU has been good at Givens spot and bad at Washingtons. Schaeffer wasn't great, but he was better than the other safety spot. You guys should go back and rewind some plays and just watch the two safeties. If you know anything about football, it will be incredible what Washington doesn't do while not being blocked by anyone.

Good laugh.
Washington's play, even if poor, does not change Schaeffer's performance. That said, Schaeffer is a step below Washington is every aspect of being a safety.

 

[D UP Clones]

Good laugh.
Washington's play, even if poor, does not change Schaeffer's performance. That said, Schaeffer is a step below Washington is every aspect of being a safety.

Like I said, you need to actually go back and watch a game and focus on what he doesn't do. I can tell you really don't pay attention or you would not be busting on schaeffer who made a few stops in the run game that Washington never makes.

I am amazed Washington is still playing safety for ISU. He doesn't do anything but get people lined up correctly evidently. Oh wait, he hops on backs after players run by him. There you go.

Like I said, easy to tell many of you really don't watch what goes on. You see a white walk on and think he is terrible without actually watching what he did or didn't do. Sad, really.

 

[Jambalaya]

*Negative nancy post warning*

He was targeted all game, missed the tackle on the 75 yard TD, isn't big enough to tackle in the Big 12, isn't fast enough to play safety in the Big 12.

<< This is exactly what I saw saturday. The kid got outmuscled constantly

 

[swarthmoreCY]

Like I said, you need to actually go back and watch a game and focus on what he doesn't do. .

When you get around to your first viewing of the game, this is exactly what you should do with Schaeffer. It was obvious when he played against KU that we really needed Givens back. He is good at being the 3rd guy on the scene- good effort guy, which will get stats that posters like D Up like.

In the meantime, work on constructing an actual rebuttal. Your disappointment in a player at a different position does not refute the comments on Gage at SS.

 

[cycloneNATEion]

As much as I'd like to be positive, 13 tackles for him is not really a good thing. He did what he could, but there was obviously a biggggg hole.