Phil Steele

[woodie]

colt mccoy stuck around for another year-this will be texas's best year for along time and colt will finally win the heisman and texas will win the national championship. do you want to know texas will win the national championship???BECAUSE CHIZZLEDICK IS NO LONGER THEIR DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Omaha Cy]

anyone else suffering from a cronic case of brain hurt? Cripes.

I found Phil Steele's mag to be overbearing. 1st time to acquire that sucker for me. I do like the stupid amount of info but snooping thru there is like going to the mall of america while not being familiar with the place and not having a shopping game plan.

Plus I'd already bought Athlons B12 preview, and sporting news CFB preview.

 

[Illiniclone]

Pot meet kettle.

Right back at ya.

 

[Al_4_State]

You're probably right, and I would imagine that most (if not all) of the pre-season mags will pick OSU to win it, mainly out of habit. I'm of the opinion that the Big 10 is pretty much up for grabs this year.

Ohio State loses a lot on defense, namely Laurinaitis, and both of their starting receivers from last season.

Penn State lost their entire receiving corps and 3/5 of their o-line, including AQ Shipley, but they bring back quite a bit on d.

If Iowa didn't go to Columbus I might almost buy that. No offense to the Hawks, but I just don't see them beating the Bucks at the Shoe. Norm Parker is probably losing sleep over Tyrel Pryor (sp?) as we speak. If they take care of business against Iowa and Penn State, tOSU should be fine. Hell, they might even get the honor of being beaten by 3-5 tds in the national title game again.

 

[cmhawks99]

If Iowa didn't go to Columbus I might almost buy that. No offense to the Hawks, but I just don't see them beating the Bucks at the Shoe. Norm Parker is probably losing sleep over Tyrel Pryor (sp?) as we speak. If they take care of business against Iowa and Penn State, tOSU should be fine. Hell, they might even get the honor of being beaten by 3-5 tds in the national title game again.

None taken, in fact it will be a minor miracle for us to beat them at all.We can pretty routinely beat ANYONE in the Big 10 (except Indiana…..LOL) even UM with some regularity but we suck against tOSU. IMO because they play the same kind of game we do only better.

All the same the Ohio State game withstanding if Iowa has their head on this will still be a spectacular year. It all starts in their head. In years past, even with future NFL talent if they dogged it or had chemistry problems we blew. The talent is there………………….but we shall see!?

Chad

 

[Al_4_State]

None taken, in fact it will be a minor miracle for us to beat them at all.We can pretty routinely beat ANYONE in the Big 10 (except Indiana…..LOL) even UM with some regularity but we suck against tOSU. IMO because they play the same kind of game we do only better.

All the same the Ohio State game withstanding if Iowa has their head on this will still be a spectacular year. It all starts in their head. In years past, even with future NFL talent if they dogged it or had chemistry problems we blew. The talent is there………………….but we shall see!?

Chad

I think their offense has adapted more than yours has, imo. Ferentz is content with having average QBs who are smart and take care of the ball, but aren't really going to kill you one way or another. tOSU seems to be moving towards more of a spread, and has been burning people w/athletic playmaking QBs like Smith and Pryor. I think, from a game plan perspective, that is the biggest difference. Then there is the fact that they will always always have more talent, like us going up against UT or OU.

 

[Cyclonestate78]

Read UNLV's write up in Steele's mag. Good stuff--ISU gets mention for the cheap shot on their QB. Good job Clones!

He deserved it.

 

[cmhawks99]

I think their offense has adapted more than yours has, imo. Ferentz is content with having average QBs who are smart and take care of the ball, but aren't really going to kill you one way or another. tOSU seems to be moving towards more of a spread, and has been burning people w/athletic playmaking QBs like Smith and Pryor. I think, from a game plan perspective, that is the biggest difference. Then there is the fact that they will always always have more talent, like us going up against UT or OU.

I suppose but really I was honestly thinking more on defense. They play very similarly on defense. For the record I hate the spread and I hope Iowa never plays it. Too me it isn’t conducive to winning big games against teams with similar talent and athleticism. Unless of course your ok with the one with the ball last wins type football. More to the point I hate the spread if you can’t somehow control the ball, and play smash mouth football on D as well.

Look at all the recent National Champions………………….they may have run some spread, see UF, but they could also dominate on the ground and played stellar D. The spread is about as wide spread as it will ever get. The NFL still prefers a QB who can get the ball from under center as well as in the gun and frankly there are other ways to spread teams out. OSU for their part actually adapts to their personnel about as well as any team in the land.

My whole point though was they are a blue collar, punch you in the mouth kind of team like Iowa with NFL caliber lineman and active Lbers and safeties.

Only they have even more of them than we do.

Chad

 

[Cyrocks]

So, I was reading through the Phil Steele mag tonight, and ran across his Close Win/Close Loss page near the back. His basic theory that teams with a lot of close wins do worse the following year, and teams with a lot of close losses do a lot better the next year.

I remember this being true about ISU after Chizik's first year, with a total of 4 close losses, 5 if you include the OU game which was close until late. This stat made me cautiously optimistic the past season, until the bottom literally just dropped out during the Baylor game. I sincerely believe that Bates' departure had to do with whatever made the team lose faith in Chizik, because they were just not the same team after that game. Up to that point, had a few things gone differently, we would have been 5-0.

That stat remains true this year as well. Last season, we had a total of 4 close losses according to Phil Steele's definition (behind by a touchdown or less until around the 4th quarter, or loss by a touchdown). This is Iowa, UNLV, Kansas, and Colorado in a nutshell.

And according to his stats, teams with 4 close losses or more have an 85% chance of improving that record the following year.

I know, all we'd have to do is get a 3-9 record to count towards that 85%... but some very big jumps have occurred to teams falling under this stat, including last year's Minnesota team, and other teams from recent history including Illinois, Arkansas, BYU, etc.

Granted, Phil Steele has us finishing last in the Big 12 North, but considering the toughness of the conference last year, that could be a 5-7 last place finish. Much better than 5-19.

I read that too, and also heard Miller talking about this same thing in relation to Iowa.

That's why I have some hope that ISU will finish a lot better than what people think. Had chances to win the Iowa, UNLV, Kansas and Colorado games last year. Also put up great offensive numbers against A&M but lost by two TDs.

I have a better feeling about this year's squad to win some of the close games ISU lost last year.

 

[Frak]

I suppose but really I was honestly thinking more on defense. They play very similarly on defense. For the record I hate the spread and I hope Iowa never plays it. Too me it isn’t conducive to winning big games against teams with similar talent and athleticism. Unless of course your ok with the one with the ball last wins type football. More to the point I hate the spread if you can’t somehow control the ball, and play smash mouth football on D as well.

Look at all the recent National Champions………………….they may have run some spread, see UF, but they could also dominate on the ground and played stellar D. The spread is about as wide spread as it will ever get. The NFL still prefers a QB who can get the ball from under center as well as in the gun and frankly there are other ways to spread teams out. OSU for their part actually adapts to their personnel about as well as any team in the land.

My whole point though was they are a blue collar, punch you in the mouth kind of team like Iowa with NFL caliber lineman and active Lbers and safeties.

Only they have even more of them than we do.

Chad

I guess that the spread has its plusses and minusses. IF you can grow dominating OLs, it's probably better to run the pro set and grind it out. Unfortunately, ISU has not been able to field a good OL in many years. In fact, DMac had all of two OLs drafted his entire tenure. The pro set allows for a better red zone O and a better ability to run out the clock with a lead. On the other hand, the spread lets you score more quickly. Who would you rather have if you were down 2 Tds going into the 4th, iowa's O or ISU's O? To me, that one is obvious. I don't like iowa's chances of coming from behind (more than a TD) on many teams. Bottom line is it's all about Ws and Ls. Texas Tech's Ws aren't worth any less than iowa's just because they run the spread.

 

[egami]

I think USC loses at least 3 games this year.

 

[cmhawks99]

I guess that the spread has its plusses and minusses. IF you can grow dominating OLs, it's probably better to run the pro set and grind it out. Unfortunately, ISU has not been able to field a good OL in many years. In fact, DMac had all of two OLs drafted his entire tenure. The pro set allows for a better red zone O and a better ability to run out the clock with a lead. On the other hand, the spread lets you score more quickly. Who would you rather have if you were down 2 Tds going into the 4th, iowa's O or ISU's O? To me, that one is obvious. I don't like iowa's chances of coming from behind (more than a TD) on many teams. Bottom line is it's all about Ws and Ls. Texas Tech's Ws aren't worth any less than iowa's just because they run the spread.

1) True to a degree, but Iowa did indeed come back from a two TD deficit a couple times last year, and have done it multiple times before. Either you can score or you can't.

2) Most definitely true, but that wasn't my premise. I never said they counted less and I liked TT way before anyone gave them credit for anything. All the same I don't want their offense in Iowa City. I prefer multi set offense with a strong ground game, TE and the ability to air it out or control the clock. Throw in a strong D and good to great special teams and you have a formula that can win in almost any condition and any kind of game.

Chad

 

[cmhawks99]

I think USC loses at least 3 games this year.

I feel that as well........

Chad