Observations from the 1st 2 games.

[Hayes30]

Just some small things I have noticed that need to be changed before BIG 12 play. DB play has been well below expectations so far this season. For a group that was slated to be the best position group on defense they have been getting burned alot so far. LB play has been better than expected imo expecially with how Spears has been playing. Joel has been hit or miss so far you can tell he is fairly new to the LB spot still but I believe he will be better. OL play has been above what I thought it would be especially when pass blocking but they still leave some things desired when run blocking. The DL has been almost exactly what I thought they would be. They have played well against the run but i would like them to get to the QB a bit more. WR's need to stop with the drops big time that killed them in the Iowa game. Last thing is kick returning. For some reason Mike Warren is struggling with it and there needs to be a change.

 

[CloneGuy8]

I'm very annoyed we lost, just because we had it. However, I think back to one of the interviews Chris did during big 12 media days, I believe it was with Joel Klatt. He basically said when rebuilding a program you first lose big, then you lose close, then you start to win. Hopefully we can take the next step and start to win these close games.

 

[jbindm]

Lanning has been OK given the circumstances. There are times when it's clear he has a long way to go, but it's to be expected.

Overall talent is better, but depth remains an issue. I thought Iowa wore them down in the trenches late in the fourth quarter.

 

[jay moe]

The line play on both sides has been better than I expected. DB play, especially tackling has been below what I expected. I am happy with how the run game has progressed, and not so happy with the drops in the passing game. Overall, the team is much better than a year ago, now I'm hoping there isn't a hangover from yesterdays loss that carries over into next weekend.

 

[tyler24]

I'm very annoyed we lost, just because we had it. However, I think back to one of the interviews Chris did during big 12 media days, I believe it was with Joel Klatt. He basically said when rebuilding a program you first lose big, then you lose close, then you start to win. Hopefully we can take the next step and start to win these close games.

Except we lost close last year! I wanna see this staff be aggressive towards the end of the game. Go for the jugular instead of playing to not lose at the end. We play pretty aggressive most the game. You gotta keep playing what works and I have not seen this staff do that to end games.

 

[every_yard]

Trust the Process.

 

[MeowingCows]

The wide-outs are hurting me the most right now. Our guys are way, way too good to be dropping some of the balls that they do. It feels like they can go straight from making an insane catch to dropping a routine ball on their very next target... Gotta get that straightened out.

I think the defense will slowly improve throughout the season, but in many games, we will still be depending on our offense putting up lots of points to make up for giving up just as many. I'm not really sure what that group's ceiling is.

Offensively, we are miles ahead of where we were two years ago and at this point last year. Montgomery is nuts right now, Park is somewhere between meets and exceeds expectations, o-line has been mostly serviceable. Downing and Owens have kicked well thus far (although Francis sent a KO out of bounds at an inopportune time). Overall this unit is playing well. Special teams has been okay, but I think a change needs made for KR.

I think that we need to keep the gas pedal down late-game instead of going for clock-killing. We hung 28 points in the second half -- things were obviously working. Just keep doing what you're doing.

 

[CycloneErik]

We've figured out how to find the endzone. It's nice that scoring shouldn't be a big issue this year.

 

[jsb]

I have no idea what it means, but our defense is either really, really good or really, really bad. I bet Iowa didn't have more than a couple of possessions where they got a first down or two before having to punt. Either they were 3 and out or they scored a TD. Same thing happened in the UNI game.

We need to figure out a way to stop a team after they get a couple of first downs. Yesterday you knew Iowa would score when they got that first first down.

 

[MeowingCows]

We've figured out how to find the endzone. It's nice that scoring shouldn't be a big issue this year.

Punter U is starting to punt less.

Our legacy is in jeopardy.

 

[CycloneErik]

Punter U is starting to punt less.

Our legacy is in jeopardy.

I'm just as OK with that as I was with my Cubbies shaking the "Lovable Losers" title.
New identity, but it's a good thing.

 

[SCarolinaCy]

Just some small things I have noticed that need to be changed before BIG 12 play. DB play has been well below expectations so far this season. For a group that was slated to be the best position group on defense they have been getting burned alot so far. LB play has been better than expected imo expecially with how Spears has been playing. Joel has been hit or miss so far you can tell he is fairly new to the LB spot still but I believe he will be better. OL play has been above what I thought it would be especially when pass blocking but they still leave some things desired when run blocking. The DL has been almost exactly what I thought they would be. They have played well against the run but i would like them to get to the QB a bit more. WR's need to stop with the drops big time that killed them in the Iowa game. Last thing is kick returning. For some reason Mike Warren is struggling with it and there needs to be a change.

Agree. There should have been a change as the game progressed, not waiting for next week. Where is Ryen? First-Team All-Big 12 by ESPN and Athlon Sports as a punt returner

 

[SolarGarlic]

I like Lima and Trent. They're getting good push off the LOS. Throw Tongamoa in there and it's a good start. I was happy to see him playing meaningful snaps yesterday.

The defensive ends have been underwhelming. Bailey has made some nice plays against the run, but we'll need more pressure out of them.

Spears is a nice surprise, but our LBs are still well below average. I'm OK with Lanning, but wouldn't mind seeing Sutton get a series here and there. Harvey is still inconsistent.

Echo the OP's thoughts on the secondary. Cotton-Moya is great against the run, but how did we let Iowa's guys get behind us 3-4 times? I also expect Peavy to handle a true freshman that looked like he weighed 160 pounds. Payne is not as good as I expected. Our tackling was Chizik-era bad yesterday.

I was surprised we didn't bring more blitzing on the outside. Iowa handled our blitzes easily, and we seemed to be coming right up the middle.

Our offense is legitimately good. Park will be one of the best QBs in the Big 12. Montgomery looks like he's going to be a monster. Butler has lived up to the hype, but he and Lazard have to hold on to the ball. Very frustrating. I'm still confused why we're not getting Jones involved. Get him a jet sweep or a screen. He's a playmaker. Offensive line has been pretty good. They could be a strength of the team by the end of the season as opposed to just holing their own.

All in all, it's impossible to not be encouraged compared to where we were at this point last season. If we can force some turnovers, we're going to win some games. Razor thin margin that separates 5 and 6 wins.

 

[oldwiseman]

We have a good team. I rewatched the game on DVR today after being there yesterday. Any reasonable person watching that game would say that Iowa stole one. Montgomery was the best player on the field. Our WR's are miles ahead of Iowa's WR's. Our line play was solid on both sides of the ball. Iowa's strengths of O-Line and D front 7 were not overwhelming for us in any way.

The biggest thing I noticed rewatching the game, other than how fantastic that run was by Montgomery when he Bo Jackson'd Jewell, was that we let them get way too many 3rd down and long conversions. But on a positive note, we made them convert 3rd and long. Last year I don't think people had to sweat 3rd and long too much against us. They'd have to convert 3rd and 2 or 3.

The only thing disappointing about this game was the scoreboard and had we won, the post game assessment wouldn't have been about disappointing receivers or DB's. Win or lose, this is the best ISU team we've had in years and it's not close. It's a rivalry game and it was a great one. We were just a play away.

 

[Bryce7]

DBs look extremely inept.
No rush when you need it.
Wide receivers dropping a ton of balls.
Lack of energy in last five minutes.
Too conservative at end of game in a tight one.
Still a waysto go to win six.
Did i say DBs are not making plays on third down?

 

[VeloClone]

DBs look extremely inept.
No rush when you need it.
Wide receivers dropping a ton of balls.
Lack of energy in last five minutes.
Too conservative at end of game in a tight one.
Still a waysto go to win six.
Did i say DBs are not making plays on third down?

How did this team ever get the game to overtime if they only did negative things in this game?

 

[bostrem00]

This is the same team as last year, yesterday's game was very similar to the Baylor and Oklahoma State, in that Iowa State just cannot close. For as much progress as claimed to have taken place, the more it's just like the last few years.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I think those criticizing the db's are misunderstanding our game plan against Iowa. We sold out on stopping the run and dared them to beat us through the air with a young qb. To his credit, he did just that. But if we line up in a prototypical set for them, Iowa is probably struggling a bit through the air (but running all over us on the ground).

 

[Malone]

If you told me we'd be averaging 41.5 points though the first two games before the season started, I'd say A) you're crazy and B) we're 2-0.

It's a depth and cornerback problem. Until our linemen start coming of age and getting qb pressure, corners need to buck up. No way we should be giving up 5 tds to Stanley at this point in his career.

With that said, I think we win if KCM plays that whole game.

 

[madguy30]

Had to pick poison on defense and most even decent DBs are going to struggle on an island.

Tackling was an issue and can be a difference maker. That's the kind of thing that can be fixed a bit but it's also something that starts in August.