Can ISU make a bowl in 2015?

[CyCloned]

This is an honest question, and I hope we can avoid a total flame war.

Lots of debate about Rhoads lately and I've been in the thick of it. What I want to avoid is the money talk. It definitely has a place in ISU's ability to compete as a program but is irrelevent in determining whether Rhoads will be back or not for 2016. I think most will agree 2015 will likely be make or break, and the benchmark will be bowl eligibility.

Here's what we know, we do lose some players. I think there are really only 3 guys that we lose that we don't have clear replacements for, and that is Farniok, Bibbs, and Morrissey. Bibbs IMO is mitigated by the fact that we will have a stable of good, proven WR's who can play at this level. Morrissey is maybe offset some by the emergence of some guys like Pierson or Taylor but they aren't at his level yet.

Here are areas I think we need to see significant upgrades or improvement:

OL: IMO the most difficult with the loss of Farniok. Sam unable to stay healthy again after 12 sacks in his last 3 games. Running game significantly worse than it was last season.
RB: I don't know if this is a function of the line, the scheme, or the talent but these guys just don't even seem to be factor.
DL: Enough has been said about this group.
LB: You have to hope Harris or Meeks can step into the middle. Ferch/Brackins fill needs to be identified, and although I like Knott he should have some serious competition for his spot.
CB: Suitable alternative to the spot across from Tribune would be good, and Nigel needs to improve in press coverage.

My question is, who do we have coming back from injury or coming in that we can reasonably expect these position units to compete a level that could get us to 6 wins. Non conference is UNI, Iowa, @Toledo, all winnable games and they likely need to win them all.

I think the OL might be okay next year. There are several guys coming back that have played a lot of snaps, including a couple that were lost for the season early on with injuries. Would like to see big Wendel and Williams in the OL, at least on short yardage situations.

RB: this is actually a pretty talented group, but the lack of a downfield passing attack has really limited them. Also, the OL is just not quite in sync for some reason.

LBer and DL are a huge concern. DL will have a bunch of new options with RS/injured players coming on board. This is a position that desperately needs an upgrade, but at least there is hope there with the new blood coming on board. LBers are what worry me the most, as they have been the position that has looked the worst this year, and there is no one coming back that the unit can be built around. Better DL play would certainly help the LBers. They have been trying to fill too many gaps that are more like caverns the last few games.

I think that, with a lot better luck on injuries/retention ISU will make a bowl next year, but they will need to make some changes in the defensive coaching staff to get some form of defense on the field.

 

[twojman]

We'll win a national championship in basketball before we make it to our next bowl game.

I believe this to be true as long as Rhoads is here.
WE are perpetually young and have no depth. How can very few guys get developed under Rhoads. How many guys? Morrissey? Guys like Bibbs and Lazard are no brainer stars. In the Rhoads era there have probably only been a handful. If you bank on Rhoads and company to develop players and go bowling next year, good luck.

I believe there is talent on the team but I do not trust it to be developed by this staff. The evidence has been here for years. I think the strength program is garbage. I don't care how strong the guys are, it is not translating to football strength.

 

[cycloneworld]

Yes, I think we can.

-Another year under Mangino's offense
-Sam R. as a senior QB
-A solid stable of WR - Budrage back and Lazard another year of development
-A secondary that has shown flashes this year

I'm concerned about Dline and linebacker which may be the reason we don't go to a bowl.

Either way, with offensive weapons and a senior QB we damn well better compete for or be in a bowl next year. If that doesn't happen, I'll be very vocal about Rhoads continuing to lead the program.

 

[twojman]

There are structural problems in the program that at least 2 recruiting classes need to fix along with a good S & C program.

For those that think the OL is going to be good, we have been saying that and hearing the from the coaches and even Ben Bruns for a couple of years. I am officially in the Missouri state of mind now, show me.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Not enough posters are comprehending how incredibly awful our defense is.

It doesn't matter how good our offense is when your defense is giving up 37.8 ppg. That's almost impossible to make a bowl game.

And it's not getting better next year.

 

[Al_4_State]

Yeah, we can, but we probably won't.

Our coach doesn't need to produce on-field results to keep his job (JP will make that clear), and our defense is just awful. There's talent there, but no firm grasp on how to do anything with it.

 

[Luth4Cy]

I honestly think we can, and I'd say there is about a 40% chance we will. In saying that if it weren't for the buyout I'd probably be all for cutting Rhoads lose at the end of the season.

 

[ajk4st8]

We need several more juco linebackers.

 

[InAWord]

You do realize we are on a 2 gm losing streak vs. FCS schools right?

 

[isufbcurt]

This is an honest question, and I hope we can avoid a total flame war.

Lots of debate about Rhoads lately and I've been in the thick of it. What I want to avoid is the money talk. It definitely has a place in ISU's ability to compete as a program but is irrelevent in determining whether Rhoads will be back or not for 2016. I think most will agree 2015 will likely be make or break, and the benchmark will be bowl eligibility.

Here's what we know, we do lose some players. I think there are really only 3 guys that we lose that we don't have clear replacements for, and that is Farniok, Bibbs, and Morrissey. Bibbs IMO is mitigated by the fact that we will have a stable of good, proven WR's who can play at this level. Morrissey is maybe offset some by the emergence of some guys like Pierson or Taylor but they aren't at his level yet.

Here are areas I think we need to see significant upgrades or improvement:

OL: IMO the most difficult with the loss of Farniok. Sam unable to stay healthy again after 12 sacks in his last 3 games. Running game significantly worse than it was last season.
RB: I don't know if this is a function of the line, the scheme, or the talent but these guys just don't even seem to be factor.
DL: Enough has been said about this group.
LB: You have to hope Harris or Meeks can step into the middle. Ferch/Brackins fill needs to be identified, and although I like Knott he should have some serious competition for his spot.
CB: Suitable alternative to the spot across from Tribune would be good, and Nigel needs to improve in press coverage.

My question is, who do we have coming back from injury or coming in that we can reasonably expect these position units to compete a level that could get us to 6 wins. Non conference is UNI, Iowa, @Toledo, all winnable games and they likely need to win them all.

Yes.

Offense is returning a ton of talent and with a full year under Mangino's system they will get it going.

Defense will be fine - DL - Meyers, Garcia and Cousins will be back and have another offseason to put on more strength and weight. Add Trent and Aka getting another year of strength and weight I think we will be fine here. LB hoping Harris can be the guy and MLB allowing Meeks to go back to SAM.

 

[mustangcy]

The biggest problem with sports message boards is how short a memory span they have. ISU just gets drilled in the last two games and everyone on the message board immediatly starts acting like the rest of the season didn't happen. Like this team didn't play mulitple games this year were it showed serious promise. KSU, Iowa, Texas, first half at OSU...plenty of bright spots and games that with a nats *** hair worth of luck we'd have won and the season momentum and entire discussion is different.

So yes...a bowl game is very reachable next year and we should all expect it.

 

[jblock]

Heart of Dallas Bowl vs UTEP!!!

 

[CyCy]

If we do, the halftime entertainment will be a video of pigs flying through frozen Hell.

 

[Wesley]

Been thinking about 2015 for awhile as 2014 did not go our way. The defense has no major stable of stars available, but hopefully they can play better and smarter and get the yardage down to 450-460 ypg on defense from 500 ypg. The offense has been mired at 330-360 ypg for years. In a good year, without a running game which may be expected for next year, we might get up to 380 ypg. That may get us four to five wins and no bowl. That assumes we win at Toledo. It is hard to overcome a 150 ypg deficit on the field. 70-80 ypg deficit is not quite as bad.

 

[Clonefan32]

I think we can make a bowl game, but like all years are margin of error is tiny. We just cant afford to have a few close games go against us and expect a bowl game.

 

[UNIGuy4Cy]

Our defense can't possibly get good enough from now until then. We need like 3 classes full of JUCO's to get the D up to a respectable level.

Yup just don't see a big enough jump on defense. This is one of the worst defenses I have seen in a long time. I mean can we even beat UNI next season?

 

[weR138]

This is an honest question, and I hope we can avoid a total flame war.


My question is, who do we have coming back from injury or coming in that we can reasonably expect these position units to compete a level that could get us to 6 wins. Non conference is UNI, Iowa, @Toledo, all winnable games and they likely need to win them all.

I don't want a flame war either and I agree with the points you made but let me answer a question with a question...why aren't we going to one this year?

NDSU - wtf...
KSU - had them on the ropes in the 4th quarter
Iowa - win
Toledo - win
UT - tied in the 4th quarter
KU - wtf...

Let's omit UT, just because...we could be sitting a 5 wins with a shot vs. TTU to get bowl eligible. How will it be different next year?

My answer is we can go to a bowl next years just like we could have this year but we won't. The reason? Pick one; new DC, youth, JUCOs, injuries, etc., etc.

 

[cyclonepower]

Yup just don't see a big enough jump on defense. This is one of the worst defenses I have seen in a long time. I mean can we even beat UNI next season?

correct, our defense is a trainwreck, we have an average best secondary and our front seven is one of the worst in CFB.

 

[Section110]

Yes.

Offense is returning a ton of talent and with a full year under Mangino's system they will get it going.

Defense will be fine - DL - Meyers, Garcia and Cousins will be back and have another offseason to put on more strength and weight. Add Trent and Aka getting another year of strength and weight I think we will be fine here. LB hoping Harris can be the guy and MLB allowing Meeks to go back to SAM.

I'm going to go there... For being a former player, I have to admit you've shown me in my first 6 months of posting here that you really have no clue what you're talking about. At first I thought I'd pay close attention to what you say because you probably have some legitimate information. So I did pay close attention, and very little of what you said prior to this season has actually bared fruit. I see no reason to take your prediction for next year seriously. There are a ton of posters on here who seem to have a better grasp of reality than you. Maybe your "sources" are just a little too wrapped up in the program in order to see things clearly.

Just my opinion. Let the blasting begin.

*For the record, the only prediction I've had wrong on this board was the outcome of the Iowa/ISU game and I was a grown man and ate my crow for that. My predictions on the outcome of this ISU season have shown to be very accurate.

As far as next year goes. No way a bowl game will be reached unless there's big changes this offseason.

 

[cyhiphopp]

Yeah, we can, but we probably won't.

Our coach doesn't need to produce on-field results to keep his job (JP will make that clear), and our defense is just awful. There's talent there, but no firm grasp on how to do anything with it.

Despite the extreme pessimism of most on this site after the KU loss I agree that there is potential on this team.


The offense could be very good if the OL and running game gels better next year. I don't think talent is the problem there.


The defense is going to be the big issue likely, but I think the secondary will be better and with a few addition the DL and LBers could improve to at least tolerable.

We CAN beat UNI, Iowa, Toledo, KU, TTU, WVU, KSU, and Texas if they don't turn it around. Will we? We wont know until next year. We have also pulled upsets in the past and with what could be an improved offense we could pull one next year too.



I'm an optimist, but I'm also realistic. I think there is potential to show improvement in all facets of the game next year and still not make a bowl game. That would be enough for me to stay on the CPR train but I know some others are saying bowl or bust.