Perspective and Reality Check

rochclone

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Wow - gross overreactions to the inept offensive play? Have you watched this team for last several years? We got nothing. My fear is Tampa is in portal at end of year. Along with Kohl - possibly Norton. With the moribund offense, zero improvement on OLINE and inept ST - another 4-5 win season next year? NIL won’t even factor - these guys want to be on a winner not the bottom of the barrel. Our trajectory is spiraling so pull your heads out and be realistic. Your thinking we will win 3/4 more games is not reality. They still have to play like they want to win - the number of dropped passes - some bad throws as well - show me a lack of desire. Has the rah rah stay with process, win in the margins blah blah fallen on deaf ears? I don’t know but the mistakes are evident that basics and fundamentals are out the window!

Trajectory is “Spiraling” and Kohl, Norton and Tampa won’t be here next year. I’ve bookmarked this. But I’m guessing you won’t be here next year either.
 

rochclone

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That's exactly the thing, you haven't seen the talent gap yet.... and yet we are 0-3 in conference. We will start seeing the talent gap starting on Saturday, then again with OK State, and TCU coming up, and things may get very ugly.

Wait. I was told that the Kansas State team was going to run us off the field and win by 2TD’s+. Now things will get “very ugly” this weekend. What exactly does that mean? Texas going to win by 21+ or if we lose by 3 is that still “really ugly.”
 
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jctisu

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Of course its all about wins and losses. Acknowledged. But we've lost 3 games by 11 points total. We're a play or two in every game away from a win. I dont ever expect us to be blowing teams out. Sometimes we'll make that play, sometimes we won't, but let's not act like we're miles off from where we want to be.
Again this is all true, and had we pulled those games out, especially the last two, most people would be happier because we did indeed win. But that still doesn’t change the fact the offense is struggling mightily.

We got a win against Iowa where we barely scored, and a lot of that was due to turnovers. KU and K State we scored 11 and 9 points and lost by a combined 4 points. That doesn’t make me feel good other than our defense is really freaking good.

In football if you give up 14 or fewer you expect and should win that game. This team scoring even only 20 at least every single game, which is not great by any means, but would be a massive improvement. Taking out SEMO and Ohio, we are really struggling against P5 teams. And that’s who we play in all but two games a year.
 
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CyJack13

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May 21, 2010
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I've always believed adversity doesn't build character, it reveals character. That doesn't only apply to players and coaches. It also applies to fans.

The kind of fans who immediately after a disappointing loss begin pointing fingers and demanding certain coaches be fired are no different to me than the players who respond by blaming everyone but themselves. I could do without either.

Any thoughts on hard work vs talent who doesn’t work hard?
 

NENick

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Discussion boards are fun. For instance, this one includes a post saying Dekkers doesn't have any touch, everything is a fastball. While another says he throws soft and needs to let it rip.

My bottom line is players are playing hard. I've seen no evidence otherwise. I'll keep watching (well, mostly listening!) and hoping for better results.
 

cyclone1209

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Nov 5, 2010
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How do you know “that will change” and ISU goes heavy in next season’s portal? Honest question, not trying to be a wise guy here. Campbell has gone very light so far in the portal…a position of need here and there. I agree with you though…we NEED to go heavy into it to ensure future success
I don't know, and you are right we have not had many players transfer out from 2016 to now.

But at this moment, with an offense scoring 10 ppg in big 12 play, if we happen to lay an egg and stink on offense the rest of the way - I could totally see some unhappy skill players leave. Daniel Jackson, Aidan Bitter, other TE's buried on the depth chart, O lineman buried on the depth chart. There could be some guys leave. If they do I think we need to look at some upgrades along the OL, find a DE perhaps, and maybe even find a running back if Sanders or Silas goes. I would love to see what we have in Norton the last few games, if he is cool with burning his shirt I say do it. I'll take Cartevious Norton over an 80% Jihrehl Brock, I just will. Brock can come back next year and is dependable and productive.
 

AlaCyclone

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As much of a bummer as it is for ISU to lose 3 in a row with the last two being particularly nut crunchy, this team would probably be 5-1 with Breece Hall. Point is one player can make a huge difference, and Breece Hall types don't show up in camp every day at Iowa State. The program is SOLID, just having an OFF year. I can live with that. I still think this team can finish 6-6 and go to a Bowl.
 

madguy30

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As much of a bummer as it is for ISU to lose 3 in a row with the last two being particularly nut crunchy, this team would probably be 5-1 with Breece Hall. Point is one player can make a huge difference, and Breece Hall types don't show up in camp every day at Iowa State. The program is SOLID, just having an OFF year. I can live with that. I still think this team can finish 6-6 and go to a Bowl.

Breece would have gotten some good gains with direct outsideish runs throughout the games and then in key moments there would be some weird delayed handoff to get nowhere.

Probably.
 

CyBobby

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I am most disappointed in the OL and their lack of development. I think much of this is created in the weight room and I thought our new strength and conditioning coach would create that. I don't think we've had an OL drafted or playing in the NFL for a long time. EVERYTHING on offense (and defense) starts up front!!
Lenny Dawson, while being an analyst for the KC Chiefs on the radio, flatly stated......"That the Offense IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS OFFENSIVE LINE!"

Our offensive line hasn't been able to give our running backs enough of a hole to gain the needed yardage!!

If Dekkers would just run instead of these dump off passes we could probably win 3 or 4 more games!
 
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CyBobby

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Is that you, Scott Frost?

In all seriousness, outside of 2020 which probably isn't representative of a normal year, we're a team that averages between .500 and .600 thanks to CMC. That's way better than my days as a student.
Were you a student during the Cry More Criner and Jimmy Dean Walden Years?
 

CyBobby

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Again this is all true, and had we pulled those games out, especially the last two, most people would be happier because we did indeed win. But that still doesn’t change the fact the offense is struggling mightily.

We got a win against Iowa where we barely scored, and a lot of that was due to turnovers. KU and K State we scored 11 and 9 points and lost by a combined 4 points. That doesn’t make me feel good other than our defense is really freaking good.

In football if you give up 14 or fewer you expect and should win that game. This team scoring even only 20 at least every single game, which is not great by any means, but would be a massive improvement. Taking out SEMO and Ohio, we are really struggling against P5 teams. And that’s who we play in all but two games a year.
How about we get a quarterback like Adrian Martinez who can run instead of just a drop back passer who throws the ball in the ground short of the receivers!
 
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BigDH01

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Oct 17, 2011
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Were you a student during the Cry More Criner and Jimmy Dean Walden Years?
McCarney. I just looked up the years I was there and I guess we actually, mostly, did ok. All 7 win seasons except for an absolutely brutal 2003 season. Only Big 12 team without a conference win that year... ouch.
 
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stewart092284

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Doesn’t really matter if you keep every game close but loose 15 of the past 20 one score games.
Exactly. And honestly, I'm okay with losses. Heck, I'm an Iowa State, Tigers / Cubs fan, Detroit Lions fan, and Leeds United soccer fan. Losing is kind of my thing as a fandom apparently. Misery loves company and all that mess.

But its HOW we lose.

The penalties - yes, yes, some are and were atrocious calls by the zebras. By some were just a lack of discipline.
Failing to be able to competently catch and return kick offs and punts.
The lack of awareness on offense schematically to what the defense is doing and taking away or conversely, giving us.


Basically, if we were losing 28-10 but man, we were playing clean football with minimal turnovers and penalties - I would be able to handle that better. Happy? No. But happier.

But its almost more frustrating watching us lose when we make the same or similar mental errors over and over again. That's what gets me more than anything. There are fundamental things we're doing wrong consistently the last year and a half that have contributed as much if not more to losses than a lack of talent.