The more I've thought about this football season thus far, the more suprised I am.
Going into this season, we heard from the late practice and scrimmage reports about how our offense dominated and our defense really wasn't looking so good at all. In fact, Wally Burnham sounded downright depressed about his defense going into the regular season.
I remember most of us saying how we would need to score 40+ pts a game and try to outscore teams. I remember people saying how loaded we were at WR, and how many dangerous weapons we had at that position. Many were wondering if ARob would get very many carries in this offense, or if he would just be catching screens and so forth. Everyone was expecting HUGE numbers from Arnaud in this Herman offense.
Now.... here we are.... 4 games into the season, and if it weren't for our defense thus far, we'd be in big trouble. The defense has done enough in all 4 games for us to win IMO. You might think the defense was bad in the Iowa game by giving up 35 pts, but you'd be wrong. After the 1st qtr, I think we had a 3-0 lead? But we did an onside kick for some VERY unknown reason and Iowa got points from it. And then Arnaud started thinking he was Iowa's QB or something because he started throwing the ball to all the Hawkeye players. It put our defense in a no win situation.
As far as the offense goes... the two supposedly strongest points, Arnaud and the WRs/TEs, have done virtually nothing all year. Conversely, the questionable ability for ISU to run the ball has been our only strength thus far on this side of the ball.
I can't think Tom Herman is all too pleased with the passing output we are getting at all. I, for one, have not been impressed at all with the passing scheme I've seen so far. Mostly it has consisted of slants and WR bubble screens exclusively. Colin Franklin has basically been a non factor. Darks and Sed Johnson have been invisible. There seems to never be any receiver of any kind running a dump off short route for AA to go to if nobody else is open.... so he feels compelled to usually force something.
With all this being said, we are fortunate IMO to be 3-1 without any resemblence of a passing game whatsoever. BUT... entering Big 12 play, it is imperative that we start getting one IMO. I hope to see our defense continue to play solid this week, and our rushing attack continue to flourish. But most of all, I would like to see Herman and AA be able to get this passing game going. Right now we are a one dimensional team... and his name is ARob. That won't work in the Big 12 folks. We must get the passing game going on all cylinders. I think we have some talented WRs, but we have to be able to get them the ball in some space. Not one single bubble screen has worked to my knowledge? AA has not looked this confused since he was playing for Ames HS IMO. Something has to start clicking for him in order for us to move forward as a team and win some more games.
The defense, ARob, and special teams have done their jobs for the most part this season. It's time for AA and his corps of WRs to show what they are made of. If that can happen, we definately could go bowling. If not, we may not win again. Let's pick up the passing attack this Saturday Clones!!!
Going into this season, we heard from the late practice and scrimmage reports about how our offense dominated and our defense really wasn't looking so good at all. In fact, Wally Burnham sounded downright depressed about his defense going into the regular season.
I remember most of us saying how we would need to score 40+ pts a game and try to outscore teams. I remember people saying how loaded we were at WR, and how many dangerous weapons we had at that position. Many were wondering if ARob would get very many carries in this offense, or if he would just be catching screens and so forth. Everyone was expecting HUGE numbers from Arnaud in this Herman offense.
Now.... here we are.... 4 games into the season, and if it weren't for our defense thus far, we'd be in big trouble. The defense has done enough in all 4 games for us to win IMO. You might think the defense was bad in the Iowa game by giving up 35 pts, but you'd be wrong. After the 1st qtr, I think we had a 3-0 lead? But we did an onside kick for some VERY unknown reason and Iowa got points from it. And then Arnaud started thinking he was Iowa's QB or something because he started throwing the ball to all the Hawkeye players. It put our defense in a no win situation.
As far as the offense goes... the two supposedly strongest points, Arnaud and the WRs/TEs, have done virtually nothing all year. Conversely, the questionable ability for ISU to run the ball has been our only strength thus far on this side of the ball.
I can't think Tom Herman is all too pleased with the passing output we are getting at all. I, for one, have not been impressed at all with the passing scheme I've seen so far. Mostly it has consisted of slants and WR bubble screens exclusively. Colin Franklin has basically been a non factor. Darks and Sed Johnson have been invisible. There seems to never be any receiver of any kind running a dump off short route for AA to go to if nobody else is open.... so he feels compelled to usually force something.
With all this being said, we are fortunate IMO to be 3-1 without any resemblence of a passing game whatsoever. BUT... entering Big 12 play, it is imperative that we start getting one IMO. I hope to see our defense continue to play solid this week, and our rushing attack continue to flourish. But most of all, I would like to see Herman and AA be able to get this passing game going. Right now we are a one dimensional team... and his name is ARob. That won't work in the Big 12 folks. We must get the passing game going on all cylinders. I think we have some talented WRs, but we have to be able to get them the ball in some space. Not one single bubble screen has worked to my knowledge? AA has not looked this confused since he was playing for Ames HS IMO. Something has to start clicking for him in order for us to move forward as a team and win some more games.
The defense, ARob, and special teams have done their jobs for the most part this season. It's time for AA and his corps of WRs to show what they are made of. If that can happen, we definately could go bowling. If not, we may not win again. Let's pick up the passing attack this Saturday Clones!!!
