Neal Brown postgame on Iowa State ... well worth your time
- Thread starter ChrisMWilliams
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My biggest disappointment was the defense. Couldn't get off the field, and then Leddie Brown wore them down.
The strategy seemed to be make Doege make plays. Well, from what I've seen of him, he looks pretty good with his feet set - accurate. Can pick you apart. But once he has to move around he goes from good to bad really fast. And we got zero pressure on him. He looked great all day, completing outs for 8 yards like a machine.
Our plan seemed to be to cover, but they flat out couldn't. Whether that's cause the DBs suck in coverage, or it was wet, or no one can cover for 12 seconds... probably some of all of that. But I think the plan should have been to press him much more and make him make mistakes. Yes you give up a few big plays, but they were scoring in 9 plays, what's the harm if they score in 4? I think JH was afraid to try too much pressure with Rose out. But he's 100000x smarter than me, so maybe that was the right plan and it just wasn't executed worth a damn. IDK.
Anyway, the defense sucked. It happens. No Rose, tackling in the rain was poor, they got wore out on the road after a physical game.
The strategy seemed to be make Doege make plays. Well, from what I've seen of him, he looks pretty good with his feet set - accurate. Can pick you apart. But once he has to move around he goes from good to bad really fast. And we got zero pressure on him. He looked great all day, completing outs for 8 yards like a machine.
Our plan seemed to be to cover, but they flat out couldn't. Whether that's cause the DBs suck in coverage, or it was wet, or no one can cover for 12 seconds... probably some of all of that. But I think the plan should have been to press him much more and make him make mistakes. Yes you give up a few big plays, but they were scoring in 9 plays, what's the harm if they score in 4? I think JH was afraid to try too much pressure with Rose out. But he's 100000x smarter than me, so maybe that was the right plan and it just wasn't executed worth a damn. IDK.
Anyway, the defense sucked. It happens. No Rose, tackling in the rain was poor, they got wore out on the road after a physical game.
Brown never says this but to me it's stuck out as the year goes on, we just aren't as good in the trenches this year on defense as we were last year. I think we have guys that are as or maybe more talented but we simply don't have the DL depth we had last year. We aren't as a fresh and it shows. WV dropped back 46 times and was not sacked once (only hurried twice) and they had their way in the running game most of the day. That stuff just didn't happen last year.
We still have tons of talent there, it's like going from an A to A- for that group but across the board, there is a lot less experience. I don't think it's been as big an issue with Rose playing behind them but with him out, it was magnified a bit.
We still have tons of talent there, it's like going from an A to A- for that group but across the board, there is a lot less experience. I don't think it's been as big an issue with Rose playing behind them but with him out, it was magnified a bit.
Not sure. He did cough it up is my point. Hang onto the ball and we are still in the game for OT.
Doege had a great day, which made it even more bizarre when they'd put in the backup. We couldn't stop their passing game.
So are you saying that if Breece hadn’t lost the ball after he was down then it would have been a touchdown? That doesn’t seem to be the opinion of the referees.
And furthermore is it safe to let go of the ball at any point in time on the field? Or after every first down run should Breece hold on to the ball until he asks the ref if it’s okay to put down?
There is no doubt WV played their best game, and ISU was about a B-. ISU put themselves in a position that a controversial call could decide it. Turns out several bad calls happened and it was just enough to beat us. Straight up, isu is far better than WV.
Moral to the story: Don't put yourself in a position to allow the refs to decide it. Go out and impose your will.
Moral to the story: Don't put yourself in a position to allow the refs to decide it. Go out and impose your will.
Yeah, after i got done being mad Saturday i did have to give credit to WVU for being aggressive on defense and putting us in a position that a play or two could lose it...and it did.
Breece's long run and Milton's deep catch were GREAT....but certainly masked not getting much ball movement otherwise which kept our defense on the field a lot.
As another poster stated, not sure if missing Rose showed how important he is or if it was just a bad game, too. I did notice the first half seems like LOTS of missed tackles on the edge.
I have only watched one WVU game this season. And I was very surprised.
It sure seems like they played lights out and were super motivated and this kinda explains why. I mean, Heacocks defense hasn't hardly given up that many points this whole B12 season combined.
I don't think it exposed a bad unit, maybe a slightly shocked/surpirsed one. And usually one that can be adjusted and corrected.
It sure seems like they played lights out and were super motivated and this kinda explains why. I mean, Heacocks defense hasn't hardly given up that many points this whole B12 season combined.
I don't think it exposed a bad unit, maybe a slightly shocked/surpirsed one. And usually one that can be adjusted and corrected.
I'd say it's better to have better fundamentals with carrying a football.
He lost the ball vs. Iowa due to being loose with it and the same Saturday.
Speaking of poor fundamentals, and it probably wouldn't have mattered since ISU's defense was in 2014 mode, but I have to wonder if Isheem keeps the ball carrier held up a bit on WV's last TD by wrapping up instead of the shoulder tackle. He was there for the play.
If we have that same crew ever again, I am ok with Breece holding on to the ball until he shoves it up that refs ass.
If he hangs onto the ball the worst case is it is 2nd and goal from about a foot.
Was scouting report on Doege botched? Just letting him stand there and pick the defense apart was rather baffling. Usually ISU's defense makes adjustments.
WVU played to Doege's strengths. They got the ball out quick and/or gave him a clean pocket. When we did try to blitz, they picked it up well, and I thought where we missed Rose the most. He blows up plays back there. Vance was decent, but telegraphed his rush and angle. Doege was able to step up or slide without much stress. Our adjustment is usually to bring more pressure, but it didn't look like we were confident in it. It would've been nice to see Heacock give some of the other CBs a chance because Young wasn't cutting it.
This Iowa State team is good but while that means they are typically the favorite, they're probably only at about a 75% chance to beat most teams on the schedule. Winning 75% leaves you 9-3 +/- a couple games depending on breaks. Plus, being a top team, you also are going to get more specific game plans and a little extra effort from the teams you play.
To be great, Iowa State is going to need to move into the 90-95% chance to win from the 75%. You've got to take it out of the officials hands and not let it come down to special teams or turnovers. And realistically, I think that can only be done with more talent. And maybe an adjustment in game plan to be more aggressive while taking on a few more risks.
To be great, Iowa State is going to need to move into the 90-95% chance to win from the 75%. You've got to take it out of the officials hands and not let it come down to special teams or turnovers. And realistically, I think that can only be done with more talent. And maybe an adjustment in game plan to be more aggressive while taking on a few more risks.
Are those of you saying it was clear that Breece fumbled basing that on a clear camera angle that shows that? With the few angles I saw, it was completely unclear, so I wasn't surprised at all when they upheld the call on the field. I'd say it was clear from the end-zone camera that Breece's knee had hit, but I couldn't tell if he had the ball at that point or not.
I don't see how some are throwing this in with the many screw jobs we've gotten from refs over the years. Whatever the call was on Purdy's run late in the game - I can't understand how he either wasn't out of bounds short of the 1st down or had the 1st down (also stopping the clock, til markers set). But, the PIs that went in our favor seemed a bit favorable to us. So, I don't get the "we got screwed" angle. We got beat in many phases, including clock management - we burn t/o's early in halves quite often. Great leadership of our program, but lots of "margins" to clean up by our coaches. At least Special Teams wasn't the issue this time...
I don't see how some are throwing this in with the many screw jobs we've gotten from refs over the years. Whatever the call was on Purdy's run late in the game - I can't understand how he either wasn't out of bounds short of the 1st down or had the 1st down (also stopping the clock, til markers set). But, the PIs that went in our favor seemed a bit favorable to us. So, I don't get the "we got screwed" angle. We got beat in many phases, including clock management - we burn t/o's early in halves quite often. Great leadership of our program, but lots of "margins" to clean up by our coaches. At least Special Teams wasn't the issue this time...
I agree with this. The missed tackles were head-scratchers. Guys who are normally sure tacklers were repeatedly missing tackles. It almost seemed like every WVU ball carrier had sprayed their uniform with teflon spray.
