Officiating made two big mistakes

[jcf817]

I hate these ******* stupid referee discussions.

1. Someone makes a valid point that the referees made some really terrible calls that impacted the outcome.
2. Someone else says, "We played like ****. We deserved to lose."
3. Another person says, "Don't blame the refs."

1. and 2. can both be true.
3. is a non sequitur. 1. didn't blame the refs.

 

[Letterkenny]

Every offensive coach will say the same thing "give the QB some easy throws to get him into a rhythm" and our defense allows a QB to do exactly that for the first quarter. The staff makes great adjustments after the first quarter and into the 2nd half, but why not go out and blitz the QB early and often and get after him? I do not want to hear about scripted plays, its an easy excuse to use, be aggressive and do not allow the QB to get settled in and it makes the defense a lot easier. What do we have to lose here, seems like every game we are giving up a TD anyway on their first drive.

Unlike other games, I actually thought we came out too aggressive vs. TT. We blitzed like hell the first couple possessions and kept getting burned in man coverage. Then we went ultra conservative only rushing 3 most plays and TT couldn't do anything. I think the biggest problem is we're just not good against the run. With our current LB group, it is what it is. Too many plays where we give up an easy 10-15 yards untouched.

I also think we're just really bad at blitzing. Could probably also chalk that up to our deficiency at LB. There are too many plays were we bring 5-7 guys and they not only don't get home, but they fail to contain the QB giving up easy scrambles. Our current LB's are not good pass rushers, and are pretty slow. Morton is not a good running QB, and our LB's still failed to close ground on him.

On several 3rd and long plays we put in 8 defensive backs and didn't even have a LB on the field. I think that points to the struggle at LB right now. Basically had backup safeties playing the "LB" positions to spy the QB because our regular LB's aren't athletic enough.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

I'll add to that, running not with Carsen Hanson. I can't for the life of me figure out why he isn't getting more carries. He was averaging 5 yards a carry. He's a ******* work horse, RIDE HIM!!!

We were set on running long developing complicated routes while Rocco is running for his life. Just get the ball in J & J's hands and let them go to work.

He was clearly on a snap count Saturday.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Unlike other games, I actually thought we came out too aggressive vs. TT. We blitzed like hell the first couple possessions and kept getting burned in man coverage. Then we went ultra conservative only rushing 3 most plays and TT couldn't do anything. I think the biggest problem is we're just not good against the run. With our current LB group, it is what it is. Too many plays where we give up an easy 10-15 yards untouched.

I also think we're just really bad at blitzing. Could probably also chalk that up to our deficiency at LB. There are too many plays were we bring 5-7 guys and they not only don't get home, but they fail to contain the QB giving up easy scrambles. Our current LB's are not good pass rushers, and are pretty slow. Morton is not a good running QB, and our LB's still failed to close ground on him.

On several 3rd and long plays we put in 8 defensive backs and didn't even have a LB on the field. I think that points to the struggle at LB right now. Basically had backup safeties playing the "LB" positions to spy the QB because our regular LB's aren't athletic enough.

The LBers play all year has been poor because of injuries and inexperience of the kids we have on the field. Its why we are giving up so many rushing yards because they cannot come up and get the back on the ground.
But this is not a good rush unit at all, I do not see many stunts from the Dline, nor have we shifted into a 4 man front very often. The weak point of the defense is that you have to Dlineman that can get up the field and win 3 on 5, which we had in the past, but just do not have this season, throw in the injuries at the LBers and its easy to see why we are struggling. Its up to the coaches to come up with a solution to fix the problem, it very well could be there is no fix this season, and its just something we are going to have to live and die with.

 

[flycy]

I'll add to that, running not with Carsen Hanson. I can't for the life of me figure out why he isn't getting more carries. He was averaging 5 yards a carry. He's a ******* work horse, RIDE HIM!!!

We were set on running long developing complicated routes while Rocco is running for his life. Just get the ball in J & J's hands and let them go to work.

The routes did baffle me as well. I have to assume Carsen isn't healthy enough to be the workhorse. Jackson needs holes, they haven't been there lately. He needs a lesser role unless he is hot, or the line is dominating. His 6 rushes for 12 yards was a killer. Sama was good, he was at 5.7 yards/carry this game. Even if you take out his one long run, he was over 4 a carry. Best part of this period where we have struggled is the improvement in his play.

 

[HFCS]

I hate these ******* stupid referee discussions.

1. Someone makes a valid point that the referees made some really terrible calls that impacted the outcome.
2. Someone else says, "We played like ****. We deserved to lose."
3. Another person says, "Don't blame the refs."

1. and 2. can both be true.
3. is a non sequitur. 1. didn't blame the refs.

It’s every bit as much of a coping strategy as blaming the refs.

For some people blaming officials helps them cope (whether officiating was the cause of the loss or not), for others pretending as if officiating has never had an impact on any game helps them cope (they prefer to think the outcome is always perfectly fair even the rare times it was not).

 

[flycy]

We lost this game because of the offensive game plan. Texas tech was DEAD LAST in the country in pass defense and our offensive game plan was to run run run. This was absolutely inexcusable to start with and even worse to not change when it didn't work. Time after time after time we would run on first down and put ourselves in 2nd and long. When we did pass on first down it worked. When we did pass the routes were too long. Absolutely horrible gameplan and adjustments by the offense tonight.

They passed too much, and the routes were definitely too long. I'm sure the long routes were because Tech has a horrible secondary and that's what we planned to do the last two weeks. Tech consistently brought pressure and no adjustment was made. The game plan was not to run run run. We also threw an interception on first down so there's that for your passing on first down. It seems the adjustments Mouser made in the bye week and analysis of the UCF game backfired. He has been really good for a new play caller but is not good at in game adjustments at this point. I'm amazed at how critical so many internet coaches are here, every time in the Campbell error we have had a weakness it is addressed in time. That didn't happen under CPR, the Chiz, DMac or any other coach I've watched at ISU.

 

[flycy]

I just feel like our offense is stalling the last few games. Tech was a team would should’ve beaten by at least two possessions- thus removing the sting from the occasional questionable call.

I love our running game, but I don’t understand why we just insisted on running when Rocco should’ve been able to put up over 400 yards on Tech…then run the ball on occasion to keep the defense honest.

We have two of the best receivers in the conference- let them work!

We tried that, and it didn't work.

 

[jcf817]

It’s every bit as much of a coping strategy as blaming the refs.

For some people blaming officials helps them cope (whether officiating was the cause of the loss or not), for others pretending as if officiating has never had an impact on any game helps them cope (they prefer to think the outcome is always perfectly fair even the rare times it was not).

Thanks....that make sense.

 

[madguy30]

I'll add to that, running not with Carsen Hanson. I can't for the life of me figure out why he isn't getting more carries. He was averaging 5 yards a carry. He's a ******* work horse, RIDE HIM!!!

We were set on running long developing complicated routes while Rocco is running for his life. Just get the ball in J & J's hands and let them go to work.

Bolded: when those two got shorter routes even if it was a hitch or similar, were there any plays where they didn't get at least 3-5 extra yards out of it?

Especially in a game where Tech could be explosive with the ball, there's nothing wrong with chipping your way down the field and it may have led to Tech's D having to back off a bit as well.

 

[CoachHines3]

It’s every bit as much of a coping strategy as blaming the refs.

For some people blaming officials helps them cope (whether officiating was the cause of the loss or not), for others pretending as if officiating has never had an impact on any game helps them cope (they prefer to think the outcome is always perfectly fair even the rare times it was not).

i think i can cope with this loss more knowing that it was the actual team that played like hot garbage and lost themselves the game.

 

[CyHans]

The hands to face on a DT that overturned an interception - OL had hands in the face of the DT also.

Catch reviewed and upheld. Clearly he bobbled the ball and trapped it against his leg after he went out of bounds. They need a larger and better monitor for the official to look at. In a close game a couple screwups like that made a difference.

Announcers even said that we'll see that catch overturned.

 

[cycfan1]

What about that sideline catch that Tech caught on the last drive that was reviewed? Questionable at best, although was called catch on the field. Ball clearly dropped to his hip while out of bounds.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

The LBers play all year has been poor because of injuries and inexperience of the kids we have on the field. Its why we are giving up so many rushing yards because they cannot come up and get the back on the ground.
But this is not a good rush unit at all, I do not see many stunts from the Dline, nor have we shifted into a 4 man front very often. The weak point of the defense is that you have to Dlineman that can get up the field and win 3 on 5, which we had in the past, but just do not have this season, throw in the injuries at the LBers and its easy to see why we are struggling. Its up to the coaches to come up with a solution to fix the problem, it very well could be there is no fix this season, and its just something we are going to have to live and die with.

Every game Williams and Blum say that the linebackers played well, yet I keep seeing on here that they struggled. Which is it? Did they play well compared to expected for a walk on freshman?

Either way, I did see a reason to put any blame on the defense for the loss. The offense (play-calling and execution) was the problem 100% in my opinion.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Every game Williams and Blum say that the linebackers played well, yet I keep seeing on here that they struggled. Which is it? Did they play well compared to expected for a walk on freshman?

Either way, I did see a reason to put any blame on the defense for the loss. The offense (play-calling and execution) was the problem 100% in my opinion.

They play well for freshman from small schools here in the state, but are they quality linebackers at this time, I would say no, and when you are giving up as many yards as we do on the ground, it would be foolish to say otherwise.
They are what they are now, in a perfect world they would be sitting, watching and learning, instead injuries have forced them to play right now when they are just not ready.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

What about that sideline catch that Tech caught on the last drive that was reviewed? Questionable at best, although was called catch on the field. Ball clearly dropped to his hip while out of bounds.

They called it a catch on the field, and did review it. To me it looked like he caught it, lost control and stepped out of bounce and then regained it. But they thought otherwise, and the play stood as called on the field.

 

[dafarmer]

I know brahmer is out, but a TE pass in the middle for 10-15 yards doesn’t seem to be in the playbook.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

They play well for freshman from small schools here in the state, but are they quality linebackers at this time, I would say no, and when you are giving up as many yards as we do on the ground, it would be foolish to say otherwise.
They are what they are now, in a perfect world they would be sitting, watching and learning, instead injuries have forced them to play right now when they are just not ready.

If Iowa State ran the clock out instead of scoring the long TD, Taj Brooks would have been held below 100 yards for the first time all season. Not sure they were as bad as you are making it out it be.

 

[Billups06]

I know brahmer is out, but a TE pass in the middle for 10-15 yards doesn’t seem to be in the playbook.

Unfortunately, we fumbled on that exact play.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

If Iowa State ran the clock out instead of scoring the long TD, Taj Brooks would have been held below 100 yards for the first time all season. Not sure they were as bad as you are making it out it be.

In a perfect world we would have scored with as little as time left on the clock as possible. But what did you want the receiver to do, fall down to burn the clock and not score? The offense scored to take the lead, that is their job, it was up to the defense to hold them, which they did not.

I do not think anyone on this boards thinks our LBers right now are a strength, lets be honest here, these kids would be sitting and watching if not for the injuries, it is what it is, they are doing the best they can, but they are young and inexperienced and their play on the field shows that. Next year and the later in their ISU career they will be a strong group, but they are not now.