That's not what I said or meant. Beating Iowa is great, but it's not necessary for success on the whole season. It's exactly one game in September before the rest of the season unfolds. Seeing (what I was able to watch; bad streaming) ISU come out and flail around again was disappointing but not just because it was Iowa. ISU would have looked bad vs. about anyone the other day because that's pretty typical for their first two games in any of the last 5 (now 6) seasons, and really, not all that unusual in other eras.
It is certainly on the players, but if you don't think coaching has influenced how ISU has started that's kind of incredible.
Most seasons I would agree it is not 'necessary' for ISU to beat Iowa to have a great season; however this season I believe is different. Not just a majority but most all of the team back from a very successful 2020 campaign, GameDay gracing us with their pressence for a second time in 3 yrs and bringing significant national attention to the game, the ongoing problems of the Big 12's long term existence which impacts us if we don't perform, continued building of financial resources when programs are taken to the next level, and I could go on and on. This was an important game for a multitude of reasons and not just another non-conference game in any old year. If CMC and staff did not understand this then I would agree there is a coaching attitude problem.
With that being said, given what was on the line for us and the sheer number of returning players from an extremely successful campaign, our very experienced team should have been able to win this game even with a pretty vanilla game plan. The defense clearly came to play and showed that they may have even taken another step forward from what was a successful year last yr. But on offense and ST this is what we saw:
1) Punt returns still pathetic (hello Milton your job is to catch the ball - doubt the coaches told him to just watch it bounce)
2) A line that could not physically take it to Iowa. If not now with all the depth and experience, then when?? U did it to Oregon in January....
3) Wide recievers not running strong crips routes - thus no separation. Iowa's does not have a secondary full of 1st round picks, they are good but not nearly that good. Coaches are not telling them to keep the defender right by you. Your were able to get open against OU and Oregon.
4) Quarterback who simply looks lost which is almost unbelievable given he is now a 4 year starter. Someone who now seems to refuse to run when needed (and I don't want to hear the excuse the coaches are not letting him - he is a 4 yr starter, are they suddenly going to bench him if he runs a few times haha).
5) Quarterback whose arm strength has not improved in 4 years and continues to throw off his back foot. I doubt the coaches are teaching him that move. And being in a strength program at a P5 school and you can't improve arm strength just a little - amazing.
6) Quarterback who is not capable of reading the field. I refuse to believe the only routes being run (and thus having to throw the ball) are to the outside and sidelines. That is not what I am seeing on TV, but that is where the ball continually is going.
7) A running back who was absolute money last yr not seeing holes properly and losely carrying the ball? The Heisman is not only out of the question, but his pro stock is sliding as fast as the stock market did during the pandemic.
The coaching staff is not teaching these offensive players to play what I just described - at least I hope not and will given them the low bar benefit of the doubt on that.
