Heacock

[Cyinthenorth]

We were never down 31-7. Unfortunately the defense is banged up. Heacock has nothing to be embarrassed about.

He absolutely does. If players are out or banged up, you adapt. Playing with 3 down lineman for example, when 2 of your regular 3 are out or playing <100% and you clearly aren't getting enough pressure, you change it up. As someone else in this thread also noted, if you are dropping 8 in coverage and still can't stop a runny nose, maybe you need to try something else. They have been a sieve to the other teams passing attack since the Baylor game. If not having the right personnel is the issue then find something that you do have the personnel for. Heacock did in 2017, maybe he's out of tricks.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

Good take and I'll expand on it a little. There are some definite pro prospects on the defense, but there are also some very average players. These are not 5-star guys and if things don't go perfectly all the time, it really shows. The secondary is the biggest example of this and probably the easiest to comprehend. A decent DB with decent speed is eventually going to get beat by a decent receiver with the same or better speed. 5-star, future pro DB's don't start with 8 yard cushions and still struggle. The fact is, is that this team really isn't as talented as some of us on here hoped or wanted to believe. For an ISU team, they are stacked, but just like some of our best basketball teams, as fanatics we tend to think a little bit higher of them than historical results do.

It is sad to come the realization that so much of what happened last year was likely the result of a covid year. But you are right. We are average to below average in the secondary and at LB minus Rose.

 

[Dopey]

How do you make this statement knowing that we have 2 guys on our d line right now who will be playing in the NFL next year, plus a linebacker who will be too and our defense looks like complete dump when he's not out there? If we had better players on the current roster, they'd be getting game reps.

You just told me how good our edge rushers and linebackers are. I'm not disagreeing.

I'm saying we need a stronger secondary and NT.

We have multiple underclassmen getting reps in the secondary & NT. They'll get better.

 

[Christopher C]

No. Kolar made some great catches and Brock made some great throws in the 2nd half honestly. #11 was draped all over Charlie the whole time. Charlie was really having to work.

Both can be true…

 

[SolarGarlic]

Maybe, but it isn't exactly rare for a young QB to come in with no tape out on him and light up and unsuspecting opponent. Kind of reminds me of Purdys first game. He could end up being a really good one. Really good size, good arm, and when he runs he becomes a running back. Definitely appears to have the physical tools

Their QB dropping a perfect dime under pressure and the WR holding on to the ball after getting licked by Young was a sign we weren't going to win yesterday. We talked about having a target on our backs before the season, and I didn't give it much credence, but watching how the opposing sidelines act ahen facing us, it's clear teams have no issue getting motivated to beat us.

 

[Frak]

Alex, I'll take stupid hot takes for $1,000.

Every defensive scheme has its weaknesses. Ours always seems to struggle againts big mobile QBs not afraid to run and can throw an accurate deep ball. We ran into one of those today.

No film on the new QB. New head coach with an interim head coach auditioning for an OC position. So unknown change of philosophy on how they will call a game. Add in coming off of a bye week to get some things changed and installed. It's going to take a few possessions to come up with a counter.

Cumbie was playing with house money and it paid off this time.

Now tech need to do this against Baylor.

I just find it funny that ISU just had the same first half against TT that they did against Baylor and WV. Possibly worse because there were zero stops outside of the pick. Yet, Heacock is above reproach. How dare anyone criticize Heacock even though his defense gave up 31 freaking points in the first half.

ISU fans have no problem crapping all over Manning, though. Even though his offense has been much more consistent than Heacocks defense.

 

[AuH2O]

People keep calling me out for this.

Sorry, I should have said 3 games this year. Beating Texas who's getting spanked by KU in Austin doesn't count.

Holding Texas to 7 is one hell of an accomplishment. Scoring 30 not so much.

 

[Newell]

One thing I would suggest for next season is to go away from the 3-3-5 inside the red zone. Teams are running the football successfully against that set and as coached watch video I expect that to continue until ISU adjusts.