Rhoads and the diminished gutsy-play-calling

[CyLoboClone]

Is it me, or has the dramatic game-changers ceased now that Rhoads has established himself at ISU?

Hear me out. The fake punts, onside after touchdowns, double reverse pass for touch downs, and fake PATs for the win. All of them were electrifying. Now, we fail at long FG attempts and only seem to onside when we are obviously in late game situations.

Part of what enchanted me with the under dog status was the unpredictability of the man willing to hang it out there.

What the :::: happened?

 

[CyTwins]

When you get 4 first downs in a half it's hard to set up any trickery...

 

[Clones21]

He has gone all Ferentz on us.

 

[isuno1fan]

Don't agree with OP

 

[Incyte]

You can only go to gimmick stuff so many times. At some point you just need to line up and beat the other team. Of course that isn't working so hot either.

 

[wartknight]

Trick plays comes on the imagination of the offensive staff.
Over the first 2 games I just haven't seen many opportunities to fake a punt. Seems like we've been stuck on 4th and forever way too much.
We did run a reverse pass for a TD last year vs TCU. Don't know if we had any others since then though. Can't kick onside kicks unless we score...

 

[TXCyclones]

I feel like he's lost the "passion" that made the nation love him too. Where is the fiery rhetoric? Has the system sucked it out of him already? That passion is what made many recruits and supporters love him!

 

[CyLoboClone]

No1fan, I love ya (and you avatars) but when were you last amazed at a play call?

 

[IcSyU]

Because you can only go to the well so many times before people start expecting you to do fake punts/field goals/onside kicks and give up a player or two for blocking on the return to make sure we don't have a window for a fake. And didn't we fake a punt against West Virginia?

In order for reverses or anything of the sort to be effective you have to have established a running game. We haven't found a running game that's any sort of threat.

 

[Cyclone1985]

You only run fake punts and gutsy gimmick plays when you have confidence in your defense. You cant run a fake punt from your own 10 yard line and expect your D to hold them.

 

[casey1973]

I feel like he's lost the "passion" that made the nation love him too. Where is the fiery rhetoric? Has the system sucked it out of him already? That passion is what made many recruits and supporters love him!

Totally agree. I've been closely listening to him and as late as last night during the show with Jon Walters you could just sense that the hunger we once saw is all but gone. Hope I'm wrong but these are his recruits now and perhaps he knows that this year is not going like he thought. I'm sure he's starting to feel the pressure as well.

 

[Clonefan32]

I feel like he's lost the "passion" that made the nation love him too. Where is the fiery rhetoric? Has the system sucked it out of him already? That passion is what made many recruits and supporters love him!

I've also thought the same thing. You just havent seen the animated CPR we are used to. If ever there was a time to get in the face of some players/coaches/refs it would seem to be now. Lord knows we need something to get us sparked.

 

[Wesley]

He does not seem to be the seem devil may care coach this year. Inbe4 out of gas.

 

[cyclone87]

Could be that Herman was behind these plays more so than Rhoads, they seem to have dropped of after he left anyways.

 

[ISUCubswin]

They need to talk to Kirby about seeing the blitz before he punts it. Though a split second could cost us a blocked punt, he had an easy first down his first punt attempt against Iowa. They only had two guys blitzing and left the middle wide open. The rest of the team was running downfield getting ready to block.

 

[IcSyU]

I've also thought the same thing. You just havent seen the animated CPR we are used to. If ever there was a time to get in the face of some players/coaches/refs it would seem to be now. Lord knows we need something to get us sparked.

He said Saturday night that this team isn't going to be well served by screaming.

You don't have to be an *** hole to be passionate or Bo Pelini is the most passionate football coach on earth.

They need to talk to Kirby about seeing the blitz before he punts it. Though a split second could cost us a blocked punt, he had an easy first down his first punt attempt against Iowa. They only had two guys blitzing and left the middle wide open. The rest of the team was running downfield getting ready to block.

This is a ridiculously stupid idea. "Hey Kirby, before you punt it, go ahead and take inventory and see how many are releasing to help on the return and how many are watching you. Best of luck, son!"