ISU PFF Offensive Line Grade Analysis

IsUaClone2

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
May 12, 2006
2,808
1,756
113
81
Northville, MI
Maybe that is the philosophical change that is needed?

I hate to even ask the question, but what does ToE do? They DO have a good track record with OL. Do they flop the lines around for "best group" or do they just sub one guy in and leave the rest?
My guess is they cut the play book in half and never change it.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: tzjung

CyPhallus

Well-Known Member
Oct 19, 2021
610
625
93
One thing to add - I am hopeful that CMC will get this turned around.

His last two years at Toledo their Avg OL grades were 82.1 (2014) and 84.8 (2015). I understand that was at the MAC level. But I do think they will get it done.

They really kind of struck out the first few classes on the HS OL they brought in. I think they are doing better now, but it takes a few years before they can contribute.
Your "stats" say the guys we have had the past few years are much much worse players than years prior to that. Most of those guys sucked, these numbers aren't even remotely ballpark.
 

t-noah

Well-Known Member
Feb 2, 2007
19,770
13,410
113
I can't believe you thought you needed that much data to prove a point that every Clone fan that even casually follows this team knows.
I appreciated the additional information. I can' believe you thought otherwise.

On the other hand.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: 1100011CS

AuH2O

Well-Known Member
Sep 7, 2013
12,999
20,962
113
Maybe that is the philosophical change that is needed?

I hate to even ask the question, but what does ToE do? They DO have a good track record with OL. Do they flop the lines around for "best group" or do they just sub one guy in and leave the rest?
A few years ago I know they did a G/C flop when one got hurt and the best backup was in the other position. But I don’t think they tend to as much. I really don’t like moving G to T.

Last year they thought flopping guys all over was better than just plugging Miller in at T. They ran out of options and had to play him against the most athletic front ISU faced all year, and after getting settled in he was great in the second half. By the 4th quarter they were leaving him on an island without TE help.

And yes, Purdy was a terrific player and was tough as nails, but he was not good at climbing the pocket. There was a good example on a sack vs Clemson in the 4th.
 

isutrevman

Well-Known Member
Jan 30, 2007
7,372
9,952
113
38
Ames, IA
The O-Line has definitely been the one weakness under Campbell. It was arguably better most seasons under Rhoads (other than the end of his tenure). When was the last time we even had a guy sniff the NFL from the O-line?
 

BillBrasky4Cy

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Dec 10, 2013
17,479
31,791
113
I believe we really need to go to a 4 man front on the defensive line. Force Iowa to be one dimensional and to beat you through the air. Occasionally sending an extra man from varying positions.
Iowa's offense hasn't done jack sh!t against us in like 4 years... TO's and special teams have killed us.
 

BillBrasky4Cy

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Dec 10, 2013
17,479
31,791
113
I don't feel these are ludicrous at all. We've talked for years how bad the OL has been. Wonder how many more wins between 19&21 ISU would have had with a grade of say 68. Picking up a first down here or there can really change a drive/game/season.

I've been firmly in the it's not as good or as bad as you think when it comes to our offensive line. No, they aren't dominant but they have been serviceable. I do think the 3 TE set made things incredibly tough for our o-line because teams were stacking the box on us. Couple that with Purdy's inability to step up in the pocket and push the ball down the field and yeah our line looked terrible at times. I agree with what others have said though, we can't keep shuffling guys between tackle and guard, that has been a problem.
 

BillBrasky4Cy

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Dec 10, 2013
17,479
31,791
113
Maybe that is the philosophical change that is needed?

I hate to even ask the question, but what does ToE do? They DO have a good track record with OL. Do they flop the lines around for "best group" or do they just sub one guy in and leave the rest?

Iowa hasn't had what I would call a really good o-line in years. Yes, they always have a couple nice pieces but across the board they haven't been all that great. Iowa lineman are always going to get a sniff at the NFL just based off of relationships Kirk has with the NFL. Say what you want up that vanilla cone but he is highly respected among the NFL folks.
 

CYCLNST8

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2008
11,368
13,516
113
Urbandale
www.gimikk.com
I thought the line was really starting to gel at the end of 2020. They made mince meat out of Oregon's defense. Darrell Simmons & Jake Remsburg were quite the team on the right side of the line. They had some beautiful seal blocks together. We didn't have that pairing last year. Hopefully they can stay healthy.
 

CascadeClone

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2009
10,878
13,959
113
I thought the line was really starting to gel at the end of 2020. They made mince meat out of Oregon's defense. Darrell Simmons & Jake Remsburg were quite the team on the right side of the line. They had some beautiful seal blocks together. We didn't have that pairing last year. Hopefully they can stay healthy.
I thought same of Simmons and Remsberg, and I was really excited about what they could do last year. Then they got dinged up and it all went to pot.

So this year, the glass half full is those two are great, Downing is great at C, and Miller is great at T. That's 4 of 5 quality players. Assuming they are great, and assuming they stay healthy. Hope springs eternal.

And it is so important, especially this year with a new starting QB.
 

Frak

Well-Known Member
Apr 27, 2009
11,426
7,012
113
It's just incredibly frustrating when the staff can find and get undervalued guys at every other position. Well, maybe CB not so much. They can evaluate and project so well that they don't have to battle the blue bloods very often to get good B12 players and even all-conference players. OL has not been that...I don't know if scouting is easier there or what. But we're getting (for the most part) iowa's leftovers, Minnesota's leftovers, Mizzou's leftovers, Wisconsin's leftovers. Yes, there are exceptions like Hasert and Downing, but mostly, our OLs are living up to their recruiting rankings, which isn't great. Other positions, they perform above their rankings. Something needs to change there for us to take the next step.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: hlb76

clonehome

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2006
1,634
3,056
113
I believe we really need to go to a 4 man front on the defensive line. Force Iowa to be one dimensional and to beat you through the air. Occasionally sending an extra man from varying positions.
Iowa has struggled against our 3-3-5 defense since we switched to it. Our problem has been offense and special teams in the last 3 losses. We held them to 148 yards last year, including negative yardage in the 3rd quarter even though they scored 13 points off 3 turnovers. I thought I saw a crazy stat a few weeks ago that said Iowa has won the turnover battle 20-0 during their current 6 game winning streak. If it’s even close to that it’s insane.
 

clonehome

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2006
1,634
3,056
113
A few years ago I know they did a G/C flop when one got hurt and the best backup was in the other position. But I don’t think they tend to as much. I really don’t like moving G to T.

Last year they thought flopping guys all over was better than just plugging Miller in at T. They ran out of options and had to play him against the most athletic front ISU faced all year, and after getting settled in he was great in the second half. By the 4th quarter they were leaving him on an island without TE help.

And yes, Purdy was a terrific player and was tough as nails, but he was not good at climbing the pocket. There was a good example on a sack vs Clemson in the 4th.
I went to the OU game in Norman and it was brutal to watch OU’s athletic DEs blow by the two guards we had playing tackle. Hope we never have to see that again. I don’t think there was anything to lose putting Miller in at tackle as soon as a spot became available due to injury.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: t-noah

madguy30

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Nov 15, 2011
57,270
55,164
113
I thought the Oline looked pretty dominant late in 2020.

The Fiesta Bowl was the best I can remember in the CMC era of the team finding something, sticking to it, and playing off of it.

Hopefully there's some inklings of progress in 4 weeks.
 

stewart092284

Well-Known Member
Sep 22, 2021
2,452
2,300
113
40
I don't want to put it all on one thing but I think looking back - not having Remsburg was massive. When the offense really started to click in 2020, I think was about the time he started playing more and more.

I think if nothing else we might be a tad deeper on the line where we don't have to have too many guys being rushed or played out of position now that Bonifas, Peterson, etc. have all had a redshirt year or two and in theory, should be more ready to challenge or at least contribute if needed.
 

NorthCyd

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Aug 22, 2011
21,146
35,691
113
That was mean cyforce
The Cyforce creed:
blog_asshole_manly.jpg
 

madguy30

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Nov 15, 2011
57,270
55,164
113
Iowa has struggled against our 3-3-5 defense since we switched to it. Our problem has been offense and special teams in the last 3 losses. We held them to 148 yards last year, including negative yardage in the 3rd quarter even though they scored 13 points off 3 turnovers. I thought I saw a crazy stat a few weeks ago that said Iowa has won the turnover battle 20-0 during their current 6 game winning streak. If it’s even close to that it’s insane.

I saw WI hold Iowa once to like 60 yards TO with a 3 man front.

ISU hasn't made basic plays in that game and that's been a bigger deal than the defensive alignment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: isutrevman

BillBrasky4Cy

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Dec 10, 2013
17,479
31,791
113
I thought the Oline looked pretty dominant late in 2020.

The Fiesta Bowl was the best I can remember in the CMC era of the team finding something, sticking to it, and playing off of it.

Hopefully there's some inklings of progress in 4 weeks.
IMO one thing that doesn't get talked about enough is that a lot of teams have switched to our 3 man front and that has given us fits.
 

BillBrasky4Cy

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Dec 10, 2013
17,479
31,791
113
I saw WI hold Iowa once to like 60 yards TO with a 3 man front.

ISU hasn't made basic plays in that game and that's been a bigger deal than the defensive alignment.
JFC, the defense has done their job against Iowa but way to pick an extreme outlier....
 

Latest posts

Help Support Us

Become a patron