Its recruiting

[rhillary]

I wouldn't say it has "zero" to do with it, but I think it is pretty small. A few of the things that I would think are more to blame:
- Line Blocking (or lack there of)
- OC play calling
- Overall game plan
- Half time adjustments (what adjustments?!)
- Settling for 3 in the redzone....twice
- Kicking 45+ yard FG's with poor place-kickers. The probability of making them is low with our kicker, and our D couldn't stop them anyway, much less giving them a short field to work with.
- Run stopping / Gap assignment and execution
- Tackling (whoa, just awful)
- Corners playing 10+ yards from the line of scrimmage

These are just off the top of my head. After those, then maybe I'd throw overall recruiting in there...

 

[Go2Guy]

Michigan went out today and played 10 true freshman and handed a MAC team their ***. We lost to a team that has 30 less scholarships than we do. This is real life, not sunshine and rainbows. "

Wow; I'll take it your info is accurate and if so I have even more respect for UNI and their coaching staff

 

[kcdc4isu]

Maybe some of our players believed, like many posters on here, all they had to do was show up to win. We have to play our best EVERYTIME we step on the field as the other team always wants to win. What has to happen now is our players have to decide who is going to be the best when the game starts. We start 0-1 so where do we go from here.

 

[clonedog]

Reality: Paul Rhodes was hired to take ISU to the next level. We are not at the next level. ISU lost to a team with a better coach. UNI was prepared, UNI had better talent on the field, UNI had a better game plan and UNI play calling was superior. UNI is doing more with less compared to ISU. Big picture--ISU was "out-coached".

 

[Rabbuk]

Maybe some of our players believed, like many posters on here, all they had to do was show up to win. We have to play our best EVERYTIME we step on the field as the other team always wants to win. What has to happen now is our players have to decide who is going to be the best when the game starts. We start 0-1 so where do we go from here.

Probably 0-2,maybe beat tulsa,1-3,....

 

[cytown]

The talent gap between an ISU and a UNI is a lot smaller than it should be right now. But, that comes with the territory (small athletic budget, low population state, 2nd team in the state, etc....). Agree with the OP though - recruiting has to pick up or this will keep happening.

 

[deadeyededric]

I've never in my life seen a five year period of offense this bad out of a football team. Even when DMAC first got here the offenses seemed better. We just couldn't stop anyone on defense. Herman's time here wasn't any good either. So we went out and promoted Mess like we had been putting up 500ypg. with this staff. The offense has been one big swing and a miss under CPR!

 

[acgclone]

I've never in my life seen a five year period of offense this bad out of a football team. Even when DMAC first got here the offenses seemed better. We just couldn't stop anyone on defense. Herman's time here wasn't any good either. So we went out and promoted Mess like we had been putting up 500ypg. with this staff. The offense has been one big swing and a miss under CPR!

We had great offenses in Dmac's first few years with Troy and Darren then Sage and Seneca.

His first few years though, our defenses were really bad. We had small, slow players at nearly every position on defense.

I hope this D doesn't turn into that for us.

 

[clonedude]

I've never in my life seen a five year period of offense this bad out of a football team. Even when DMAC first got here the offenses seemed better. We just couldn't stop anyone on defense. Herman's time here wasn't any good either. So we went out and promoted Mess like we had been putting up 500ypg. with this staff. The offense has been one big swing and a miss under CPR!

Yeah, when Herman left, after doing nothing for us offensively, I didn't understand why we promoted his understudy from within? Made absolutely no sense whatsoever. When Herman left, it gave Rhoads a great opportunity to go out and make an impact hire here, and he didn't. He stuck with mediocrity. Heck, he stuck with below mediocrity. Makes sense, doesn't it?

 

[kingcy]

I've never in my life seen a five year period of offense this bad out of a football team. Even when DMAC first got here the offenses seemed better. We just couldn't stop anyone on defense. Herman's time here wasn't any good either. So we went out and promoted Mess like we had been putting up 500ypg. with this staff. The offense has been one big swing and a miss under CPR!

They had a good line too. They also knew they wanted to run the ball they lined up didn't do anything fancy and ran the ball. Teams knew what was coming yet ISU put a body on guys, ran the ball at them, and did it well.

 

[kingcy]

Yeah, when Herman left, after doing nothing for us offensively, I didn't understand why we promoted his understudy from within? Made absolutely no sense whatsoever. When Herman left, it gave Rhoads a great opportunity to go out and make an impact hire here, and he didn't. He stuck with mediocrity. Heck, he stuck with below mediocrity. Makes sense, doesn't it?

I thought bring in Coach K would help the offence out a lot. Yet nothing seems to have changed. Mess is just another case of a coach stuck in his ways not willing to change. The off season shake up wasn't enough I guess.

 

[im4cyclones]

Reality: Paul Rhodes was hired to take ISU to the next level. We are not at the next level. ISU lost to a team with a better coach. UNI was prepared, UNI had better talent on the field, UNI had a better game plan and UNI play calling was superior. UNI is doing more with less compared to ISU. Big picture--ISU was "out-coached".

Um, actually he did. How quickly we forget the Chiz. Going to bowls is our next level. What did you expect?

 

[clonedog]

The AD gave Coach Dan the boot because just going to bowl games was not enough. Chiz was brought in to take ISU to the next level--BCS bowl games. I see an AD and possibly a fan base who now would be quite satisfied with a Coach Dan "run" of bowl games. I don't forget the Chiz--that is my point; the AD took ISU backwards and lost years of progress--for what; a loss to UNI. The AD took a heck of a risk with a fragile ISU FB program and the AD now settling for the bowls and the season records we were having when the AD was showing to the door to Coach Dan. Going to bowls was not the "next level" contemplated at the time of the Chiz experiment. I am suggesting that in the grand scheme of ISU FB; JP is a master of marketing and spin; but the man has not come close to accomplishing our purported goals for the football program. This was to be a year when the program takes a step up--I fear it may be a step down. Can CPR take ISU to the next level or are we now willing to settle for the season records and bowls of the Coach Dan era?

 

[Luth4Cy]

The AD gave Coach Dan the boot because just going to bowl games was not enough. Chiz was brought in to take ISU to the next level--BCS bowl games. I see an AD and possibly a fan base who now would be quite satisfied with a Coach Dan "run" of bowl games. I don't forget the Chiz--that is my point; the AD took ISU backwards and lost years of progress--for what; a loss to UNI. The AD took a heck of a risk with a fragile ISU FB program and the AD now settling for the bowls and the season records we were having when the AD was showing to the door to Coach Dan. Going to bowls was not the "next level" contemplated at the time of the Chiz experiment. I am suggesting that in the grand scheme of ISU FB; JP is a master of marketing and spin; but the man has not come close to accomplishing our purported goals for the football program. This was to be a year when the program takes a step up--I fear it may be a step down. Can CPR take ISU to the next level or are we now willing to settle for the season records and bowls of the Coach Dan era?

It's worth pointing out that when McCarney went to bowl games he faced a schedule not even comparable to what Rhoads will face this season and the previous two. McCarney had four non-conference games, and he with the Big 12 in two divisions he didn't have to face Oklahoma and Texas every year. Rhoads has actually gone to more bowls in years when he's had to play Oklahoma and Texas (2) then McCarney did in all his years as head coach (1).

 

[Aclone]

The AD gave Coach Dan the boot because just going to bowl games was not enough.

You're joking, right? McCarney wasn't even close to going to bowl games when he got the boot, and the program was in a downward spiral.

 

[Cyclophile1]

What you saw Saturday night wasn't about talent in my opinion. I saw an unprepared, confused and tight football team, rather than a loose, confident, fired-up and well-coached team. We had a bunch of guys with 'deer in the headlights' and we were so keyed up and tight it wasn't funny.

Give credit to UNI. Man for man, they were good and they played with a chip on their shoulder. I loved their game plan - they had us looking like bobble-head dolls out there on defense. They KILLED us on the edge and Johnson was the best running back on the field (how a guy like that doesn't get an offer seems odd, but hey, recruiting as we all well know, is about more than mere measureables). They were really good in the trenches and their QB was comfortable passing ALL night.

You can't just roll over like we did on those first three drives and expect to win games. Wally's adjustments largely worked on the defensive side after the abysmal first 20 minutes. In a recurring pattern we have seen going back many, many games, the offensive game plan was predictable, inexplicably went away from what was working, couldn't make adjustments and ultimately bogged down. I think the OL really looked tired and gassed in the fourth quarter and that caused a lot of breakdowns. The QB also made a handful of poor decisions (held the ball too long, didn't throw it away, didn't find the outlet) in an otherwise well-played game. He was under increasing duress, so it's not all on him. I thought, overall he was very good. It's unfortunate, but it goes to show you how razor-thin the line between winning and losing is. I thought Lalk did an admirable job replacing Farniok in the fire drill, which is a nightmare scenario for the OL. How much production can you expect to lose when the leader of the OL and arguably our best guy goes down?

We got outplayed, plain and simple. We weren't ready to go and UNI was and then some. I tip my hat to the purple ones and move on, with hope that this team can improve. I think there is upside, and the two bye weeks actually may help this young team. It certainly helps with an injury like Farniok. I don't want him rushed back. We need him healthy for the conference season. If he can have the knee scoped and be back for week #5, I would be very happy and thankful.

 

[Tornado man]

Um, actually he did. How quickly we forget the Chiz. Going to bowls is our next level. What did you expect?

You're saying the justified ceiling for ISU football is a (1) losing conference record, (2) going 6-6 overall, (3) then going to a minor bowl? Oh geez. The only "next level" currently attained by ISU football is the tremendous Cyclone fan support. This "level" of football at Indiana draws 25-30,000 fans, tops. At ISU, it's almost 58,000. Both Rhoads and Pollard are lucky to be here with this level of support.

 

[heitclone]

Lots of FBS teams lost to FCS teams this weekend, the bottom line is ALL FCS teams are getting more competitive. When FBS teams added a 12th game a few years back, that 12th game is almost always an FCS team. The $ and exposure from those games has strengthened the level of play in the FCS division. Combine that with the fact that many of these teams are proud, successful programs, that success breeds expectations and a culture of winning. UNI is an prime example of that. A winning culture and good coaching can overcome the gap in talent (which is getting closer every year).

 

[Cyclophile1]

You're saying the justified ceiling for ISU football is a (1) losing conference record, (2) going 6-6 overall, (3) then going to a minor bowl? Oh geez. The only "next level" currently attained by ISU football is the tremendous Cyclone fan support. This "level" of football at Indiana draws 25-30,000 fans, tops. At ISU, it's almost 58,000. Both Rhoads and Pollard are lucky to be here with this level of support.

Everyone except those responsible for the product on the field are doing their part to make ISU football a success. When that's the case and it persists, changes are inevitable. The only real question is about the degree/magnitude of the changes. I think CPR is the right guy for the CEO spot, but he's got a problem he needs to deal with given the level of production. If we see the same level of production with the offense throughout the season, he'll be forced to do some level of house cleaning. Everyone knows this - it's the nature of the business they are in. They're all nomadic mercenaries (with some exceptions) to a degree. Some Iowa natives likely see this as an ideal situation, so you know they want to be here. No one is trying to fail here. That said, I think we have someone who has been given the chance to provide continuity and stability in the program and step up his game. It's not working, and we can all see it. If the changes aren't made, then ultimately CPR knows he's putting his own job at increasing risk to some degree. He's a big boy and knows the consequences. If he's done the calculus and feels that this offensive staff can learn and adjust quickly enough, then that's his call. He gets paid to make those decisions.

More performances like those of Saturday will hurt the program and create negative momentum from the fans, donors, students, alumni. These groups will stop believing (and buying, donating, attending) over time and we'll be back to 2006 all over again, with a Danny Mac 2.0. We may recover and play decent again, but the air is out of the balloon. We simply MUST recover now and win some games this year. There's too much at stake and CPR knows it. I think we can do it - these young guys on offense have more upside than what we had last year. They need to grow up in a hurry. I think the Big12 is actually a little down this year outside the top 4 teams. I don't think the season is necessarily lost, because KU, KSU, WVU and Tech all look beatable to me, as do Iowa and Tulsa. We definitely need to play better, but I think we have some decent young talent.

 

[awd4cy]

You're joking, right? McCarney wasn't even close to going to bowl games when he got the boot, and the program was in a downward spiral.

Well to be fair he was 1 year removed from a bowl game and went to a bowl game 5 out of his last 7 seasons.