Wrote some stuff on Iowa State's turnover issues and what it means moving forward.
https://cyclonefanatic.com/2019/09/blum-turnover-troubles/
https://cyclonefanatic.com/2019/09/blum-turnover-troubles/
Turnover Troubles
- Thread starter brentblum
- Start date
It’s not like the defense hasn’t had opportunities. We had 2 very good chances to seal the game on Iowa’s final drive of the game and just missed on interceptions. On the offensive side it seems like we are kind of due for turnovers as spoiled as we were with Montgomery
At least our stellar special teams make up for the lack of forced turnovers.
I think we've paid our dues now.
The opposing kicker over the last couple years has to lead the NCAA in FG percentage.
Man that 498-2 stat is sobering.
I'm still not sure how we couldn't catch one of those two SHOULD HAVE BEEN interceptions. Like someone greased the ball.
I'm still not sure how we couldn't catch one of those two SHOULD HAVE BEEN interceptions. Like someone greased the ball.
Iowa State being in the top 30 for both yards per play and yards allowed per play is a nice statistic to reference. However, the more important statistic is (excluding overtime points) ISU is averaging 15 points per game. Biggest reason for this is penalties and turnovers (mistakes). Mistakes and turnovers have been a problem through two games. To use the saying, " Once is a Fluke, Twice is a Coincidence, Three Times is a Trend". I'm betting that we'll be seeing a trend in the third game this year. Hard to win games when you don't put points on the board.
More Stats (excluding the 3 overtimes) through 2 games:
Total Possessions: 19
Possessions ending in a TD: 3 = 16% of total possessions
Possessions ending in points: 8 = 42% of total possessions
Possessions ending in fumbles: 3 = 16% of total possessions
More Stats (excluding the 3 overtimes) through 2 games:
Total Possessions: 19
Possessions ending in a TD: 3 = 16% of total possessions
Possessions ending in points: 8 = 42% of total possessions
Possessions ending in fumbles: 3 = 16% of total possessions
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I'm sure they do tip drills in practice, but they need to do some freaking tip drills in practice. 
You can make your own luck with sound fundamentals and pressuring the quarterback.
We're gonna get ours; it's just a matter of time.
Interesting comparison between seasons. What were the TO/possession numbers though?
I guess I don’t find it surprising that a bad defense had more TOs. They weren’t as risk averse (disciplined) and likely had more possessions over the season.
Most of the focus in the article and thread appears to be on the ISU D not generating TOs / snagging the INTs but the fact is that the defense did its job holding Iowa to just 18 points considering how many times the Hawks visited the red zone. The vaunted Purdy led O delivered a couple brief Os but sputtered when it counted.
Hey, they scored 5 more than what they scored in regulation against UNI. I don’t know if it’s improvement or the opponent, but given we were starting a center that had never play the position and a freshman guard in his first game, it was to be expected.
Perhaps we need to understand that we improve on offense in games by running our offense in games. Referring to the partial play book used in the UNI game. Had we used a lot more of our play book, and knocked the rust off, perhaps we would have had a couple of different results. One, we likely would have avoided overtime in the UNI game and won it in regulation. Similar to TOE who opened up its play book in the second half of its first game to gain an easy win. Second, thought the TOE may have seen more of our offensive options, we likely would have executed better and perhaps avoided some penalties as coaches would have had game film of more of our offense to coach about during the bye week. These slow starts of the seasons really are about the only thing I question about our coaching staff. This is year 4. The coaches on our schedule have enough on film to understand about 80% of what we will do. It is a mystery why in the first game we use only about 40% of our play book and then wonder why we do not execute the rest at a high rate the next game.
I also think not having a week 2 game hurt. I wish we got to play 2 cupcakes like TOE did before the game.
Also: "Oh, and maybe the opposing kicker could miss for once." -- LOL!
Also: "Oh, and maybe the opposing kicker could miss for once." -- LOL!
IMO, not playing two games is absolutely huge. All of those reps is an opportunity for our guys to get more film work and coaching and hone in on what we are doing. Playing an FCS school and taking two weeks off does not get you ready. Need reps!!!!!! Especially early in the season and especially when your rival is getting twice the live game reps as you. I know CMC said he liked the bye week, it's what they did at Mt Union. I think comparing our situation to Mt Union is apples to oranges. They are the Bama of D3 football, they had better players than everyone else, a bye is not going to affect them that much. Plus, Mt Union wasn't going to play a hated rival in their second game. ISU does not have Bama talent, so our guys need the coaching to get ready. If we ever have a situation where Iowa has a rep advantage over us again I am going to be pissed, it has hurt us the last two times we have played them.
Its not that big of a deal. Make less mistakes and make turnovers happen and we won that game by 20.
Sure, but it's not a talent deficiency. We have some young players still getting their reps. A game or an extra week of practice are going to do about the same for preparation.
