Nine observations from tonight

[hawkfan]

How the hell do you even know Stanzi plays in the game? How do you know how he plays tomorrow? Iowa has not even step foot on the field and you are already this stuff. Iowa may come out tomorrow and not keep Stanzi upright long enough to throw. Let Iowa play a damn game before you start trash talking, remember UNI?

And again...this is why I said in the OP I won't make an actual prediction until I see Stanzi play.

If he plays like I think he will...ISU will have a tough time covering Iowa's WR's all game....if he plays poorly tomorrow...I'll revise my prediction.

 

[MNCyGuy]

Arnuad had a td called back I believe the 5th play of the game. I only know one drive where NIU should have scored a TD. ISU left at least 14 points on the field.

Gotta stop leaving points out there though. That was the story last year as well, and the reason we lost to KSU and KU, which can't happen this year.

 

[Cyclone1985]

For those of you complaining about "taking away Arob's one big run" - obviously you don't follow statistics.

If Arob had 1 big run and 19 bad ones....do you know what that 1 big run is called? It's called an outlier...the 19 bad ones are the more statistically relevant runs.

Obviously you dont follow statistics... 97/20=??? Exactly, 4.8 yds/carry. End of Story.

 

[clonedude]

For those of you complaining about "taking away Arob's one big run" - obviously you don't follow statistics.

If Arob had 1 big run and 19 bad ones....do you know what that 1 big run is called? It's called an outlier...the 19 bad ones are the more statistically relevant runs.

I agree somewhat... but it's nice to know that if the defense lapses for one play, ARob can take it to the house. One or two plays like that in a game can win it for you. It's still better to have one or two plays like that a game than none.

ARob and AA both broke off 50+ yd TD runs last night. Had our tackle lined up one step closer to the line of scrimmage on AA's run, it counts. That would have been 2 runs totalling nearly 120 yds. I will take that every game... even if they are "outliers".

 

[The_Architect]

I completely disagree with people in this thread regarding the Oline "poor performance." NIU was selling out to stuff the LOS. If you watch again, you'll see the reason A-Rob busted that huge run was because we caught them going to wrong way slanting into the LOS. It's pretty hard to block 6-8 defenders with 5 lineman.

My biggest concern, is the punter. We know we're going to have to punt several times next week in Kinnick. How horrible of a start to a new punter was an 18 yard shank at a pressure situation, not good at all.

 

[bawbie]

You're giving the NIU front 4 way to much credit, they will be at most the 5th best DL the ISU OL will face this year behind, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.

If NIU's front four are better than Nebraska's, I feel much better about the game last night. That is a HUGE compliment.

 

[UNIGuy4Cy]

Dude, I have no problem trash talking and I am one of the best of them, BUT PLAY A DAMN GAME FIRST. Iowa has 2 returning starters up front, you got a guy with a high ankle sprain and a guy that went face to face with a truck on a moped. A rb who just leaves the team and one who has not played in like a year and a half. A starting WR who has nagging injuries.

 

[dtclones]

Obviously you dont follow statistics... 97/20=??? Exactly, 4.8 yds/carry. End of Story.

Nah, you can't use real math and statistics with this guy. He'd rather hold it againt ARob and the OL that he broke off a 63 TD run. I'm sure if ARob would have realized his 63 yard TD run would be seen as an "outlier" on his stat sheet, he would have run out of bounds after 15 yards.

 

[UNIGuy4Cy]

I can think of two times NIU was in the redzone and did not score. That is our defense.....what can you say. We played a good game against a quality team. At least you can guage something with a win against a team like this. Iowa beating Eastern Illinios Assumption, not so much.

 

[jburke]

The Iowa O won't light the world on fire, but Stanzi won't miss the wide open WR's either like the NIU QB did last night. Also didn't NIU have 3 missed FG's? I know they had a 1st and goal and came away with 0 points, you can't count on the ISU D to stuff Iowa like that. Iowa can put up points and I think they will, IMO ISU needs to make more improvement on their D next week to have a chance, the O is going to be just fine.

Iowa fans need to stop dreaming, you have a great Defense and average offense that is national overrated and always gets bailedout by the Defense....

 

[Cyclone1985]

I agree somewhat... but it's nice to know that if the defense lapses for one play, ARob can take it to the house. One or two plays like that in a game can win it for you. It's still better to have one or two plays like that a game than none.

ARob and AA both broke off 50+ yd TD runs last night. Had our tackle lined up one step closer to the line of scrimmage on AA's run, it counts. That would have been 2 runs totalling nearly 120 yds. I will take that every game... even if they are "outliers".

And the fact that the corner, #5 who is extremely quick, had an angle on him and he outran him. The announcers were just astonished from that play on, with the speed and agility of ARob.

 

[hawkfan]

Obviously you dont follow statistics... 97/20=??? Exactly, 4.8 yds/carry. End of Story.

What is a more accurate representation of Arob's night...his one run, or his 19? You can't seriously be this misguided....he had a good run....but the majority of the night he struggled to run the ball.

 

[MNCyGuy]

And the fact that the corner, #5 who is extremely quick, had an angle on him and he outran him. The announcers were just astonished from that play on, with the speed and agility of ARob.

Does he also look flat-out stronger to anyone else this year?

 

[Cyclone1985]

Does he also look flat-out stronger to anyone else this year?

He seems to have a huge burst right before contact, I didn't notice it as much last year, but this game I could tell a difference. Always falling forward.

 

[ahaselhu]

The Iowa O won't light the world on fire, but Stanzi won't miss the wide open WR's either like the NIU QB did last night. Also didn't NIU have 3 missed FG's? I know they had a 1st and goal and came away with 0 points, you can't count on the ISU D to stuff Iowa like that. Iowa can put up points and I think they will, IMO ISU needs to make more improvement on their D next week to have a chance, the O is going to be just fine.

I may be forgetting one, but I remember 2 times when our CB got burnt deep and the ball was just overthrown. They were both on the same drive, and the first time our second string CB was in. I doubt he'll play much against Iowa, and occurring on the same drive means that only accounts for one touchdown.

It was the first game of the season with several new faces on defense. I think we'll improve a lot as the season goes on, and as such I thought we played really good defense. Will the defense be good enough to limit Iowa? Maybe not, but I'd bet we hold them below 30, which I'd be content with at this point in the season. Below 20 is probably hoping for too much, but we'll see.

 

[hawkeyescott]

Thats fine, 1st game of the season not bad EXPERIENCE. I would rather play the 5th best DLine we will face all year than not even a D1 caliber team (EIU) in week 1, ISU will be ready next Saturday, you can bank on it.

I'm not taking anything away for ISU's OL play, but what does going against EIU tomorrow have to do with anything? Iowa's OL goes against one of if not the best DL everyday in practice, that will get them ready more so then playing EIU or NIU.

 

[hawkeyeguy85]

And the fact that the corner, #5 who is extremely quick, had an angle on him and he outran him. The announcers were just astonished from that play on, with the speed and agility of ARob.

It was a great run, great play. But I think a few of you are letting the "iowa" usernames get the better of you and throwing the logic out the window.

Nobody is "holding the run against him". It was a great play and they need to have that threat throughout the year. But, by the same token, it seemed like the rest of the night, that ISU is not going to be able to rely on Arob to consistently move the chains on the ground. That's all.

The consistency just wasn't there, and I don't think anyone can deny that. Now, it was the first game, and the great thing about first games are, that's typically when you're at your worst.

And consistency was the main thing that stuck out to me watching the game last night. I think for the most part the OP's points were generally on target and taking away what I saw from the game as a whole is that I think ISU is on target about where they have been targeted (5-7 wins).

But I also saw flashes in segments of the game where if they can put it all together consistently and play 4 quarters, I think they could surprise people and go 8 wins...maybe 9 with all the bounces and then some? Depth may be what ultimately keeps things a little more consistent from what I saw though.

 

[Cyclone1985]

I'm not taking anything away for ISU's OL play, but what does going against EIU tomorrow have to do with anything? Iowa's OL goes against one of if not the best DL everyday in practice, that will get them ready more so then playing EIU or NIU.

Your scout team d-line is pretty darn good man!

 

[oldman]

I think that you won't see as many receivers getting behind the defense with Sims playing.

Also, as far as the D line not being able to pressure the QB, I think they were playing more of a run-stopping defense, and most of the pass plays by NIU were short, allowing the QB to get rid of the ball quickly.

 

[The_Architect]

I may be forgetting one, but I remember 2 times when our CB got burnt deep and the ball was just overthrown. They were both on the same drive, and the first time our second string CB was in. I doubt he'll play much against Iowa, and occurring on the same drive means that only accounts for one touchdown.

Actually it was Te'ran Benton that got burned twice. Then Anthony Young (Juco) came in and almost got burned when he tripped and fell over.