its not 'going to lengths to be negative'.
Its someone going to extreme lengths to go to the other end of the spectrum.
Is this years' team better than we thought?
- Thread starter mjhavlo76
- Start date
its not 'going to lengths to be negative'.
Its someone going to extreme lengths to go to the other end of the spectrum.
Certainly an exciting year. Talent and schedule line up well. Hopefully luck favors the team in the factors that are out of their control.
ISU got things rolling last week. It's not negative to think they still really need to be pressed vs. someone really good to find out what they can do.
For the OP's original question of whether ISU is better than what maybe I personally thought, I've been impressed with, for example, the younger LBs as they get rolling and someone like Higgins can be straight dominant.
Actual information about how the game went?
The only surprise so far is Kansas. Everyone else who sucks was expected.
Yes, that Michigan was a healthy team that they should've clearly dominated and didn't.
I definitely did until all our LBs got hurt. Then I thought we would definitely give up an untimely crossing route to a TE or RB for a 80 yard score. LB play in that game definitely impressed me considering the inexperience going in.
The garbage time points isn’t the only difference. Afterall, Michigan won by 10 points and ISU won by 45 points. I would say that is quite significant considering playing second and third team players.
If we are somehow 5-0 going into the WVU game ….that is the game that will tell us if we are destined for new heights or same old same old.
WVU is the biggest key game of the season in that scenario. After that it is the best setup you could ask for….all home games and only 1 true road game left @utah and a neutral site game in Arrowhead vs KU that will pretty much be a pro ISU crowd.
That said let’s murder some Coogs this week.
WVU is the biggest key game of the season in that scenario. After that it is the best setup you could ask for….all home games and only 1 true road game left @utah and a neutral site game in Arrowhead vs KU that will pretty much be a pro ISU crowd.
That said let’s murder some Coogs this week.
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I think a flip switched in 2nd half of Iowa game for confidence. Can we ride that out? Could be a very special year if we play to our potential. Anything less than 8 wins would be disappointing at this point
I think Jalen Travis and Dylan Heysert/Trevor Buhr are going to really help us in conference play.
They were a factor in that we did whatever we wanted on offense last week.
The transitive property doesn't work in sports people.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
We sure might be. I'll allow enthused speculation, while also noting that it's all over.
The “margin of victory against Arkansas State” thing is complicated.
On the one hand, Michigan turned to ball over three times compared to one time for Arkansas State. On the other hand, Michigan actually had more points off turnovers than Arkansas State did.
On the one hand, Arkansas State missed two field goals. They ended up losing by 10, so theoretically the final margin could have been just 4 points. On the other hand, Michigan probably doesn’t take their foot off the gas if those field goals are good.
One thing that gets overlooked is that ISU was the second straight ranked opponent for Arkansas State. For a mid-level Sun Belt team, that’s tough, and you’re probably pretty worn down by the time you play the second one.
All that said, I think Iowa State and Michigan are at least comparable in quality.
On the one hand, Michigan turned to ball over three times compared to one time for Arkansas State. On the other hand, Michigan actually had more points off turnovers than Arkansas State did.
On the one hand, Arkansas State missed two field goals. They ended up losing by 10, so theoretically the final margin could have been just 4 points. On the other hand, Michigan probably doesn’t take their foot off the gas if those field goals are good.
One thing that gets overlooked is that ISU was the second straight ranked opponent for Arkansas State. For a mid-level Sun Belt team, that’s tough, and you’re probably pretty worn down by the time you play the second one.
All that said, I think Iowa State and Michigan are at least comparable in quality.
I think that's a big part of it. The OL finally has some depth. Or at least it's looking that way. Here's how I view things vs what I expected:
QB - Rocco is about what I thought he'd be. A continuation from the end of last year. Did not think that QB2 would be Moberly.
RB - I expected more out of Sama, about the same out of Hansen. Jackson has been a surprise to me. Honestly, he should probably be the starter.
WR - We knew what we had in Noel and Higgins and they have been better than at least I thought. I kind of thought that a 3rd WR would step up in Jackson's absence, but no one has yet.
TE - Would be better if Brahmer wasn't dinged up to start the year, but they are definitely rounding into shape.
OL - I thought that they would be improved and they are. Pleasantly surprised with Barrett. Seems like they are improving every game and with Travis and Hasert back, we have more depth than we've had in years.
DL - Singleton and Orange have been great. Peterson is steady. I kind of figured we'd see more from Onyedim, Snyder, Ezeogu, Same.
LB - What can you say? They've done fine given 3 of their top 6 are out. Quite possibly the 3 starters. Brezina is a beast. Ebel makes mistakes, but he also makes good plays. I never thought we'd see solid play from Ellis, but he's gotten better. Need to see more from Lovett, Sadowsky, Imming. That or pull the RS from Miller or Goodwin. It would really help if McLaughlin came back in the next few weeks.
CB - I thought it was some sort of motivational ploy having Porter over Purchase, but Porter has been that good. We have an excellent 3 man rotation. Now, things start to get tricky if one of those guys goes down, but so far so good.
S - Same as CB, but even more so. If one of our 3 gets hurt, the entire defense has fallen apart in the past. And they are all fairly injury prone. I hope that Patton, James, Surgis, Howard have picked up the defense and are ready to step up, because with the way they play, one of our starters is going down at some point.
ST - Konrardy has been great. Perkins shaky at times, but Gilbert has picked up the slack. Didn't see that coming. Return game has been really good. Coverage not so much, but it's not horrible.
I figured we'd be 3-1 right now...because we never beat iowa even if we are a better team. I thought 8-4 with losses to iowa, WV, UCF and Utah. Already ahead of that and I don't know that WV is as good as I thought they'd be. Honestly, no one on the schedule scares me. Utah is a tough place to play, but if things go well between now and then, we might just get a chance to avenge a loss in Dallas.
I think we’re a little better than I thought and on the other side of it, our schedule is starting look a little softer than we’d thought. It’s always good to beat your rival, even if they are trash- but it’s just another game for us (even though it is the toe’s Super Bowl). However, 3-0 is still 3-0, and like many great Cyclone coaches have said, ‘there’s a lot of teams that would like to be 3-0 right now’.
So what does that mean so far? Not a whole lot as far as I’m concerned. It’s exciting to predict and look down the road, but it’s a waste of time. All that matters is the next game. If we win that one, then all that matters is the next one.
Our guys need to stay level and healthy and take it one game at a time. Our fans need to show up like never before. We need 61,500 in the stands every Saturday and be loud. If we do those things, this could be a magical year for us..
So what does that mean so far? Not a whole lot as far as I’m concerned. It’s exciting to predict and look down the road, but it’s a waste of time. All that matters is the next game. If we win that one, then all that matters is the next one.
Our guys need to stay level and healthy and take it one game at a time. Our fans need to show up like never before. We need 61,500 in the stands every Saturday and be loud. If we do those things, this could be a magical year for us..
Through three games I am very pleased with the teams performance. I was expecting expecting 2-1 at this point but it is not the record for why I think ISU is better. There's some unexpected depth at LB. With all the injuries we're still seeing some good play. OL is getting better an Rocco/WRs have definitely taken a couple steps forward from last season.
Next 3 games are big IMO, two road games including one in another time zone.
Next 3 games are big IMO, two road games including one in another time zone.
If Iowa State had turned it over 3 times and lost by 10 due to 2 garbage touchdowns and Michigan had won 52-7 when the starters were out half the 3rd quarter and all of the 4th quarter, would you be saying the same thing?
No, you'd be very concerned and talking about Campbell doesn't take September seriously and how maybe we weren't all that good and comparing the two scores.
Does last Saturday mean we are going to win 11 games and make the playoffs? No. Does it mean that we are better than Michigan? No.
But it is OK to point out that the win was impressive. And performing better than Michigan did is certainly not a bad thing.
