Neal Brown postgame on Iowa State ... well worth your time

[isucy86]

This seems like you are just picking and choosing to be miserable. We literally had 3 games in a row where we had great rhythm.

We played well against OSU. But great rhythm against KSU or KU should be expected for a team with ISU's experience and talent.

There is something a little off with this team. With college sports and 18-22 year old athletes, it's easy to assume that having a lot of returning players means a much improved team. But it is possible for athletes to peak during their collegiate careers.

 

[TClone99]

We played well against OSU. But great rhythm against KSU or KU should be expected for a team with ISU's experience and talent.

There is something a little off with this team. With college sports and 18-22 year old athletes, it's easy to assume that having a lot of returning players means a much improved team. But it is possible for athletes to peak during their collegiate careers.

One factor is that there is a lot of “tape” out there on these guys by now. Their tendencies have been exposed. Some are talented enough to make adjustments, others start to struggle.

 

[t-noah]

Always liked him but I don't know that it changes much of how I feel about Saturday. We blew a team out and they remembered... I feel like more or less that's not uncommon.

Aside from the officiating, what frustrates me the most is that our guys aren't going to get any credit in the regard that West Virgina played an A game, possibly an A+ game at home. The best I can give ISU all the way around is a B probably more like a C+ or a B- and only that high considering we got big plays and answered on offense when we were against the ropes all game.

Both teams got some breaks, but WVU got the more important ones, and they needed every one of them to beat ISU in their building playing their best ball against a flat-footed ISU that was caught completely off guard and unprepared. That's how good this group at ISU is. The better team took the loss, period. And nobody is gonna say it, and even less people are going to listen or care. For our guys sake, I just wish I'd hear it stated plainly from the WVU side, that's all.

Maybe it's too much to ask after a big win from them, but I think it would really mean a lot considering this class will likely close out their careers quietly in relative obscurity now after that loss, and they deserve better than that. It hurts. It really hurts.

My quote from here:
*** Official #22 IOWA STATE vs West Virginia Game(Day) THREAD *** | CycloneFanatic: The Internet's most popular site for fans of the Iowa State Cyclones
"Keep in mind we played a not very good game, while WV played extremely well. Yes we (and the officials) might have made them look better. doesn't matter now.

Also, WV fans might not know it now, but Neil Brown is a good coach IMO. He outcoached us Saturday for sure."

 

[CyBobby]

You inadvertently just made my point. 8 game week in, you say we had great rhythm for 3 weeks.

I'm no math major but that would seem to be slightly less than 40%. Even if you say the UNLV game, that puts us directly at 50%. Which would indicate that the team has not been able to sustain a rhythm over the course of the season ( too date). Which is more or less exactly what I said.

That things have not clicked the way they did last year for a team that returns the vast majority of the same players and coaching staff. 50% points to inconsistencies which for as veteran a team as this is a bit of a head scratcher to me.

Hopefully they can right the ship, take down Texas and have a great month of November moving forward. But 2/3 of the way through the season - I think the best way to describe this team has been somewhat inconsistent. Opponents, injuries and a lot else goes into it but saying that because we played 3 straight good games in a year where we've played 8 - is not a sign that we have a great rythm or we're all systems go.

Its a sign of a bowl bound football team that is riding a wave more than it did last year.

I said the same thing during the 1978 season ....that team also had a bunch of seniors on it ...THAT PEAKED AS JUNIORS IN 1977....That team came close to a big eight title but lost down at Oklahoma ......

 

[stewart092284]

Our guys played well enough to win the game. They weren't great, but serviceable. Those calls you reference are a 21-point swing. Give one of those away and it's still a 14-point swing. The refs handed this one to WVU.

the refs helped WVU out - there is no doubt there.

I don't think we played well enough or serviceable though outside of explosive plays. If you look offensively, defensively, special teams and even coaching adjustments in game - being perfectly honest the check marks probably all go to West Virginia outside of the run game and turnovers... but sustained drives, TOP, # of plays, 3rd downs, etc... all of that did not favor us. We won in a couple big areas - but did not do well in any of the other most notably getting off the field or staying on the field respectively.

 

[stewart092284]

I said the same thing during the 1978 season ....that team also had a bunch of seniors on it ...THAT PEAKED AS JUNIORS IN 1977....That team came close to a big eight title but lost down at Oklahoma ......

yep... and and I'm not sure if its a case of peaking or missing some of the leadership the departed provided or key plays, not being able to respond to being a little more of the hunted instead of the hunter due to the high expectations, a little falling back to the norm, the slight change in how we practiced in fall camp, and the little tinkering back and forth that generally goes on during a season or what. So I don't want to say they peaked but I do get in general a different feeling than last year.

Doesn't mean this year's team isn't good, that these kids aren't trying their hardest and that it won't be neat being in a bowl game - just means that from the outside looking in, it doesn't feel like we've got 100% of the puzzle put together.

 

[ClonesInDallas]

I said the same thing during the 1978 season ....that team also had a bunch of seniors on it ...THAT PEAKED AS JUNIORS IN 1977....That team came close to a big eight title but lost down at Oklahoma ......

You have been a cyclone fan a long ass time. Respect

 

[cayin]

I can agree with most of that, especially the last statement, But I will add a grain of salt. WVU's offense is rated average AT WORST by most ranking systems. NCAA was the only one by yards that I saw they are ranked slightly below average. By sports books and by teamrankings they are slightly above average. Odds shark has them as far as the top 40th percentile.

They played 2 power 5's non conference and while VT is an average team their defense is well above average.

There is room to not freak out after a subpar (but not terrible) performance from our defense.

That was not bad coverage on the "catch" at the back of the endzone. and we stretched our D thin in a number of ways. Some of those big gains were great throws. Some should have been picked, but nearly everything that could go wrong went wrong. We still have a very good defense even without Rose. If we find a non-Rose Option to increase pressure on the QB our guys will be in good shape if not great shape.

We're gonna get Texas. Lets go STATE! Whorns down.

I notice our d-backs do not turn their heads very much. This is especially important when running out of real-estate in the endzone. A fade route in the corner, there is no reason to not turn your head as the WR is nearing the corner. Can't make a play on the ball if you can't see it coming.