What’s wrong with the offense?

[acoustimac]

Agree. It seems like our OL consistently struggles at time with opposing blitzes. And conversely, we struggle to get consistent pressure when we bring 5 or 6. Yesterday, we had a few possessions in the 2nd quarter when we got the 3 sacks on Morton. But in 2nd half, we didn't get the sacks/pressures.

I have a theory on why our OL struggles with pressure and that is the Cyclone defense uses a 3-3 front and our defenses forte isn't about being physical and disruptive along the line. IMO that has an impact in practice in prepping our OL against blitzes or strong defensive fronts.

Guess what...EVERY team we play the rest of the way is going to bring pressure. They would be stupid not to...or until we show some competence in slowing it down. There were numerous plays yesterday where our QB was a split second from being leveled when he released the ball. Things could have been much worse.

 

[demoncore1031]

And that's where I don't understand where we went from earlier in the season... cause we had that.

Heck, Eli Green looked great - yes, against North Dakota - but the passing game was fluid. You need a 3rd guy. And since Brahmer has been banged up most the year - we've struggled there.

Because its that 3rd guy that really occupies the safeties and LB's. AN offensive line's biggest advantage is that in most pass pro's, they are playing 6 on 4. Sometimes 6 or 5 on 3.

That 3rd receiver, be it a RB, TE, or actual WR - is responsible for pulling the safety and LB out of the pressure package. Or, if you have a QB whose crazy athletic, then has to become a spy, although in theory, can still rush.

Cause the corners, whether they actually can cover Noel and Higgins are already on them. So now it becomes 9 on 3 (Discounting the 5 OL and QB). Even if you take off say, 3 DL its still 6 on 3. Or 5 on 3, and 6 on 2 or 5 vs. 2 if you have RB in to block.

So its incredibly hard for Rocco or any QB to look super great with those closed windows. Or for any OL to look great.

Because if you say double cover Noel and Higgins, its still 3 vs. 2 presuming the back is blocking or 4 vs. 2. That's where pressure comes from.

That 3rd receiver as a threat, whoever it is, makes it 2 vs 2 or 3 vs 3, etc. It opens everything up a lot more.

Mouser is 100x smarter than me. But against Kansas, what I'd do is design a couple plays early to Brown, Burkle, Brahmer, Green. Not crazy like but a little curl, arrow into the flat, whatever. Just enough to make Kansas think - huh.


Right now, we're simply beating ourselves by making everything so hard.

We're making it hard for Jaylin and Jayden, Rocco and the OL and the RB's.

Earlier in the season we were making it easier with some of the motions, the checks and counters. But it seems like we've slowly become more and more conservative.

And I don't mean conservative in terms of running the ball. I just mean, it seems like we've gotten away from utilizing some of those motions and checks that allowed us to punish Iowa in the 2nd half, or even Baylor and West Virginia at times. We've got back into trying to play everything in a phone booth and man, that's hard to do consistently week in , week out.



Sorry, I know its another long one. Its just.. like I said, trying to provide context to what my analysis is is all.

Even when Brahmer is healthy, he isn't being used a lot. He only has 10 catches on the season, which I don't understand.

 

[OscarBerkshire]

If Texas tech can scheme for us and shut it down then the rest of the teams on the schedule will do the same.

We can expect about 21 points a game IF we can get 2 turnovers that give us a short field. So defense will need to hold teams to less than that. Only game I even think that’s remotely possible is Utah. Probably going 1-3 down the stretch and a Utah loss is also possible.

 

[t-noah]

OK, this is one thread to stay away from.

The sky is falling, oh no.

 

[Daserop]

TL/DR. Lots of things

 

[SolarGarlic]

Been a lot of comments about the offensive play calling. Three critical play calls that concerned me. 1. 4th and 2 and we try a difficult pass in the flat instead going stacked I or qb sneak or doing something with options. 2. After the false start on the goal line. We have 3rd and goal with about 7 to go. A QB keeper to the outside with minimal blocking? 3. Two point conversion...what was that mess of a call? All three critical moments and those hurt.

I think you're confusing a couple plays. The QB keeper was out by the 35 yard line. We got into position for a 50+ yard FG in the rain. After the false start by the goal line, we got down to the 2 or 3 and then ran an awful pass with only one receiver.

The two point conversion was wide open. Rocco just didn't pull the trigger. That play was a headscratcher from Rocco.

The false start at the 1 was the most pivotal play of the game, but it feels like people are forgetting about Burkle's fumble. We finally had some rhythm and momentum, and we were potentially going to go up 20-10. Once TT scored again, our ******** puckered up.

 

[CloneLawman]

If Texas tech can scheme for us and shut it down then the rest of the teams on the schedule will do the same.

We can expect about 21 points a game IF we can get 2 turnovers that give us a short field. So defense will need to hold teams to less than that. Only game I even think that’s remotely possible is Utah. Probably going 1-3 down the stretch and a Utah loss is also possible.

Unless of course...gasp...ISU adapts.

 

[Daserop]

Unless of course...gasp...ISU adapts.

They haven't yet.

 

[CloneLawman]

They haven't yet.

Which has predictive value, but which is NOT a certain thing.

 

[Dgilbertson]

OC’s in the past didn’t have the talent we have now.

Butler Lazard Deshaunte Montgomery Breece Purdy

Who from the past would you rather have?

 

[Daserop]

Which has predictive value, but which is NOT a certain thing.

What's your probability of the offense developing meaningful and positive adaptations?

 

[KCyclone2010]

Someone said that we ran it on 22 of 32 first downs. We should be passing it on first down. The idea that the pass can open up the run seems to be foreign to Campbell. He’s so set on running the ball even when it doesn’t work. Heck id actually be fine running the ball that much if we ran some sweeps, options, or reverses. It’s up the middle every damn time.

 

[SolarGarlic]

I really think Rocco has regressed since the start of the season.

Lots of overthrows, bad timing.

Lots of WR drops today as well

Pretty close correlation to the OL play. THe last two games reminded me of Purdy's last two seasons. A lot of times they aren't even to the end of their drop and already have a guy coming unblocked. Rocco gets happy feet and I don't blame him. We're blocking very poorly, and our RG especially seems to whiff a couple times a game.

 

[FarminCy]

Umm... they didn't? Their LB came a ton and they brought pressure off the edge.

I’d have to go watch again but it looked to me their LBs mostly shadowed and came after Rocco was flushed out of pocket by front 4, which was pretty much right away the whole game.

Agree they brought pressure but it was routinely their front 4 that was getting to Rocco early.

 

[SolarGarlic]

The hard truth is Rocco isn't as good as we made him out to be. Huge heart, middle of the road skills.

Disagree. Rocco makes some incredible throws. He has a good handle of the offense and is a good leader. But his confidence goes in and out. And right now, he's not feeling secure in the pocket because he isn't. When he has time, there are few QBs in the country as good as Rocco.

 

[clonedude]

Even when Brahmer is healthy, he isn't being used a lot. He only has 10 catches on the season, which I don't understand.

Agree. Not sure how much we miss Brahmer when we weren’t really using him before? Seems to be one of those injury prone players too.

 

[madguy30]

Disagree. Rocco makes some incredible throws. He has a good handle of the offense and is a good leader. But his confidence goes in and out. And right now, he's not feeling secure in the pocket because he isn't. When he has time, there are few QBs in the country as good as Rocco.

Considering he was 1/2 second from an 80's era NFL highlight hit from behind several times in the first half I thought he still hung in there.

 

[madguy30]

Agree. Not sure how much we miss Brahmer when we weren’t really using him before? Seems to be one of those injury prone players too.

He's still a threat that needs to be accounted for due to capabilities.

 

[SolarGarlic]

Considering he was 1/2 second from an 80's era NFL highlight hit from behind several times in the first half I thought he still hung in there.

He's taken a lot of big hits this year. He looks frustrated and a little confused out there right now. We need him to find some swagger again.

 

[isufanz1]

Someone HAS to ask CMC about the Rocco run play on 3rd and 10 in the presser... or there's no need to even have press conferences anymore.

One reporter did - asking if he would like that play back and he said they simply didn’t execute but like the theory/thought behind the call. Unbelievable.