*** Official IOWA STATE vs #19 Kansas State Game(Day) Thread ***

[HFCS]

Just to add, the Texas game is the only game where Iowa State averaged anything around 0.6 yards per carry (0.4 ypc). Against Iowa, they averaged 2.8, Ohio was 1.7. Not that those numbers are good (and I thought they ran way too much against Ohio until I learned how sick Rocco apparently was), but to repeat numbers over and over again that aren't close to accurate is pretty dishonest (even if you think it's hyperbole).

No our running backs averaged well under a yard a carry in those games. It was well covered in the Cyclone podcast sphere. Rocco scrambling on broken pass plays was the only non-crap running in those games because the opponent stacked against very predictable runs.

Watch them again if you must torture yourself but I’d rather rewatch better called games like last night.

 

[HFCS]

This is over simplifying things greatly. Let’s just forget that Iowa has an outstanding defense and we had sickness running through the team at Ohio. The coaching job done with this very young team this season is truly remarkable. If you choose to be negative rather than celebrate the success, I feel sorry for you.

I’m not being negative.

You’re being negative about the coaches by irrationally insisting they never changed up the play calling. They obviously did and it’s fantastic happy positive that they did.

 

[Cyforce]

That made me wonder about what might have been if K-State had played its freshman running QB. But they didn't. Too bad.

Going in I thought Howard would be a big advantage in the elements. He's 6'5 assuming big hands. Carve us up in short passing game as it's so tough to lock down with rough footing.

 

[AlCyJim]

Just watching KCCI news this morning. They don’t show a single highlight of the win last night. They talk about it, and show some stats. BUT….we got highlights of the Michigan game and video of an interview of Kirk Ferentz. Man does out local news suck. Oh, also as i type this, we get video of Drake and also Grandview. But no video of ISU.

sounds about right for channel 8 coverage

 

[MJ271]

No our running backs averaged well under a yard a carry in those games. It was well covered in the Cyclone podcast sphere. Rocco scrambling on broken pass plays was the only non-crap running in those games because the opponent stacked against very predictable runs.

Watch them again if you must torture yourself but I’d rather rewatch better called games like last night.

The Ohio game is the only one where that statement is accurate, when the RBs combined for 13 carries for 11 yards (0.84 ypc).

Against Iowa, RBs had 29 carries for 83 yards (2.86 ypc). Against OSU, 29 carries for 78 yards (2.69 ypc). Let's throw Kansas in, too, when the RBs had 21 carries for 80 yards (3.8 ypc). Even against Texas, the RBs actually had 16 carries for 23 yards (1.43 ypc).

 

[t-noah]

Really nice blocking on that run. Who's leading out of the backfield destroying that kstate defender? Knocks him on his ass like he got hit by a truck.

Stevo Klotz I think

Damn, I was too focused on the run. That block is almost prettier. That kstate defenders head snaps back when he gets planted ten yards down field.

Yes! Great block by Stevo!!! Road grader stuff there!

 

[HFCS]

sounds about right for channel 8 coverage

I was calling random people around the country to tune them into how awesome the game was (not Iowa people) and they all loved it. Sometimes the ISU love is greater the further away you get.

 

[NENick]

Ok we kept the same offensive game plan the entire year never changing anything and our players just got older while all opposing players stayed the same age in a stasis chamber. Come on. We clearly changed it up on offense or the season would have been toast, it’s a very good thing! Something to be happy about! Not something to write off as humans getting two weeks older while not making other changes.

I absolutely agree that there was adjustment in the playcalling, but I would also add that another element has been game experience by inexperienced players. They didn't just get 2 weeks older, they were learning, developing, and being coached up. And I understand that you agree that it's been fun to watch.

 

[AlaCyclone]

I was calling random people around the country to tune them into how awesome the game was (not Iowa people) and they all loved it. Sometimes the ISU love is greater the further away you get.

My Cal buddy was watching and loved it in the Bay Area! Especially, when they started talking about him approaching Troy Davis single game rushing yards. Even after the Cal game started on ESPN, he was flipping back and forth and gave up a Cal first half FG to catch the Noel TD scamper down the sidelines. I love the fact that game was on Fox last night. I will be curious about the ratings for it when they come out? Iowa State vs. Cal in the Independence Bowl would be a blast.

 

[AlCyJim]

Game highlights, 100% shot from field level, interesting perspective for this snow game

interesting view but all it showed was ksu and very few ISU highlights on offense only about 6 plays. lol

 

[inCyteful]

Approx. 10% of our offensive plays were kneel downs (half and end of game).

CPR does not approve

 

[besserheimerphat]

Arrogant but correct.

Campbell was coaching himself out of a job at the beginning of the year because of his fear of just trusting the players and assistants and letting them do their jobs.

Once he turned things loose, team had more fun, and wins followed.

This team should have easily won the Ohio, Iowa, and KU games.

I am amazed at how personal so many take any criticism, however valid, of Matt Campbell.

Half the team was puking and shitting their pants during the Ohio game, but playcalling was the problem...

 

[carvers4math]

sounds about right for channel 8 coverage

Pretty sad that the channel that brought us Pete Taylor is just a bunch of Hawk tools like WHO.

I rarely watch TV news at all any more, but when internet is down or I don’t want to use data I go to WOI. Their weather guy is a Cyclone and long time CF poster.

 

[besserheimerphat]

What we’re the plays that sprung against KSU? We’re the play calls different or was there better execution?

When they plays work, they are brilliantly designed, creative and perfectly timed.

When the exact same plays don't work, they are predictable, boring and deserving of firing coaches.

 

[inCyteful]

Running the ball up the middle 50 times for a 0.6 yard average is just as bad as turning it over on purpose. That was Ohio/Iowa game strategy. Nothing “safe” about putting young players in that position.

I’m glad they turned it around but there’s no disguising the game plan in those games was crap. We even flirted with it for first half of KU game.

I get the frustration but let's not over analyze 3 games that all could have turned on one play.

Pick 6 against hoks and boo birds and missed fg that wasn't missed against Ohio and you could have 10 wins

Do those plays, matter? Absolutely. But when over half your starters are underclassmen you can't be shocked.

But 3 plays over course of 3 games doesn't indict a system or staff.

 

[Cloned4Life]

I think in any game, or any three game stretch, if half of your plays are running up the middle for a 0.6 average, that the clearly most risky dangerous thing you can possibly do is keep running it up the middle. I’m 100% certain of that.

It was stubbornness, thankfully stubbornness they got over in time to salvage a very good season. The team wasn’t too young against Ohio and suddenly not too young against OKSt a week later. They stopped banging their heads against a wall, they didn’t suddenly gain years of experience in a few weeks.

Well said.

It’s fascinating the lengths people will go to to try to justify and defend every single decision made or strategy deployed by our coaching staff. It makes no sense to get SO personally offended when people offer invalid criticisms.

Even the BEST staffs in football struggle, and deploy strategies and game plans, or make decisions in game that literally harm/cost their own team dearly. Sometimes the staff does cost games. The Ohio game and the KU game are absolutely bad games for our staff. Really, really bad games. On the inverse - they do get credit for the good games too! It’s how this thing works. The coaches and coordinators get paid a lot of money, trust me - they can handle the criticism.

Oh yeah, and it’s OK to be absolutely pumped with the win last night and simultaneously be frustrated with the turd fests Ohio, Iowa, and KU.

 

[MeowingCows]

Not sure if it’s been shared yet, but we’ve arrived

Fast as a Bronco!

 

[2122]

interesting view but all it showed was ksu and very few ISU highlights on offense only about 6 plays. lol

Yeah. But we only ran about six plays.

 

[Stormin]

Well said.

It’s fascinating the lengths people will go to to try to justify and defend every single decision made or strategy deployed by our coaching staff. It makes no sense to get SO personally offended when people offer invalid criticisms.

Even the BEST staffs in football struggle, and deploy strategies and game plans, or make decisions in game that literally harm/cost their own team dearly. Sometimes the staff does cost games. The Ohio game and the KU game are absolutely bad games for our staff. Really, really bad games. On the inverse - they do get credit for the good games too! It’s how this thing works. The coaches and coordinators get paid a lot of money, trust me - they can handle the criticism.

Oh yeah, and it’s OK to be absolutely pumped with the win last night and simultaneously be frustrated with the turd fests Ohio, Iowa, and KU.

Sure fans can be frustrated. But when you start calling for coaches to be fired that is different. Constructive criticism fine. But @Gunnerclone and @joefrog are just mindless negative bashers. Idiots.

 

[Cloned4Life]

When they plays work, they are brilliantly designed, creative and perfectly timed.

When the exact same plays don't work, they are predictable, boring and deserving of firing coaches.

The art of a play caller is calling the right play at the right time, and the prerequisite is that the play can be executed successfully against the defense it’s going against, i.e. within the potential range of outcomes, the majority of those are positive against that specific defensive set/scheme in that moment.

No 2 play calls are literally ever the same.