Game Thoughts Cincinnati

[enisthemenace]

Ratings for defensive players aren't going to accurately compute their contribution.

LoL. What?

 

[t-noah]

I thought we could grind out a W, but it was shocking to see a borderline blowout yesterday. The team is playing with more confidence, cohesiveness, and has unlocked a swag that is fun to see. I did not like the crew on FS1 much. Seemed less complimentary to ISU but whatever. Here are my game thoughts in no particular order.

- The road to a bowl: if we win at Baylor in two weeks and can beat BYU there's 6. I think TX and Kansas will be difficult, but Kansas just lost to OSU. KSU is playing a freshman QB who looks very good so that could be tougher than I thought two weeks ago.
- 3-1 in league play. (this is a huge if), but IF we finish 3rd in the Big 12, this is hands down the best season Campbell has had coaching. Losing Hutchinson, Will M to the NFL, then losing 5 starters this is wild what he has done this year. He has maximized the talent on this roster.
- Stevo Klotz can be a major asset to the team moving forward. We all knew he could block, but that TD grab in the endzone was a thing of beauty and he has some hops. Love this guy, he's a better version of Sam Seonbuchner to me.
- Rocco is continuing to play "Purdy like". No I don't think his ceiling is as high as Brock but I think this guy is clearly the future. He is accurate enough, smart with the ball, he can rush it for 5 yards when he needs to. A couple of his throws to Higgins on the sideline showed me too he can rifle a ball in when appropriate.
- I continue to love to see Trent Jones and Ike Ezeguo on the d line. Ezeguo in particular had a great move at the line to get a sack with Jones towards the end of the game, the offensive tackle guarding him lost his jock strap on the move.
- Jordan Langs on special teams: I don't know what we pay him, but he's worth every single dollar. Great hire.
- The OL is starting to play more freely, with more confidence, this is credit to Scheelhaase opening up the offense and not playing like the hawks, the pass game looking better, and I'm sure Clanton is really coaching them up too.
- Ben Brahmer when all is said and done I think can be better than Charlie Kolar at TE, and that's saying something
- Will McLaughlin continues to ball out at LB and think he's our best LB'er, he is strong against the run and pass.

Great win and very meaningful. The defense played well, the offense is opening things up, the play calling is better, and we got a Big 12 road win! Winning our first game with Cincy was a great bonus as well. That helps to define the future of our place in the new big 12, where we could be, recruiting, etc.

Speaking of TE's, I thought again of Charlie Kolar and how nice it would be if the Chiefs could snap up him somehow, and he could then be an understudy to Travis Kelce. And how Kelce is a Cincinnati alum. And how the potential of Brahmer to be right up there with Kolar.

My guess is that a lot of the TE's these days are studying film on Kelce, how he has a knack of finding the open spot, and the dynamic of him and his QB, Mahomes. Brahmer is already showing the athleticism and ability to get open. He has a high ceiling. So glad he chose Iowa State (vs. kNeb)!

 

[t-noah]

[QUOTE: No I don't think his ceiling is as high as Brock…]
Going to take a bit of exception here. Perhaps this is true in terms of “49ers starting QB Brock”, but that’s not really a fair comparison. It seems more apt to compare current Rocco with “‘18 freshman Brock”, when both were closer to the same stage of development. Aside from the true freshman vs redshirt freshman difference, at this stage of his career, Brock had just finished his first start.

It’ll be interesting to compare their freshman years, when all is said and done.

That said, one clear advantage I see Rocco having right now is that he’s usually hitting open receivers right in stride, where with Brock, they often had to jump or wait for the ball.

You are not misremembering. It seems like most Iowa State quarterbacks have thrown passes off their back foot and have been late on delivering their passes.

Rocco has a quick release and is throwing off his front foot with on time passes.

Two things: Nate Scheelhaase is also QB coach this year, officially, in addition to being the new OC. Having a former QB at a high level, IL, is a big plus. I think our QB's are in better hands now than perhaps they were in the past, as far as coaches go. Their development will also improve as the OL improves. 2. I believe Iowa State has hired (or at least is actively consulting w/) the private QB coach down in FL who has greatly helped Brock in the last 2 years. I'm sure Rocco's development is being helped by this.