Monday, September 28, 2009
Watchout Kansas City, you're under a CYCLONE WARNING
When ISU traveled to KC for their last game in Arrowhead, it was to meet a highly touted Florida State team. After winning that game, it put ISU on a prominent stage (Seneca was in and I have the photo to prove it). ISU showed up in droves and I expect us to travel just as well this time.
As for the numbers, KSU is 2-2 winning only at home against D1-AA schools, so if they want to go bowling, they have to go atleast 5-3 in conf play!
ISU faces a fairly run heavy KSU offense.
Rashawn Parker is done (as Rhoads said to assume the worst)
All time ISU has 49 wins against KSU (49-39 series)
ISU is 49-39 all time vs. KSU
As for the numbers, KSU is 2-2 winning only at home against D1-AA schools, so if they want to go bowling, they have to go atleast 5-3 in conf play!
ISU faces a fairly run heavy KSU offense.
| RUSHING | GP | Att | Gain | Loss | Net | Avg | TD | Long | Avg/G |
| Thomas, Daniel | 4 | 91 | 451 | 18 | 433 | 4.8 | 4 | 23 | 108.2 |
| Valentine, K. | 4 | 22 | 169 | 0 | 169 | 7.7 | 1 | 34 | 42.2 |
| PASSING | GP | Effic | Cmp-Att-Int | Pct | Yards | TD | Long | Avg/G |
| Coffman, Carson | 4 | 116.9 | 55-95-4 | 57.9 | 684 | 2 | 64 | 171.0 |
| Gregory, Grant | 3 | 62.7 | 2-6-0 | 33.3 | 21 | 0 | 16 | 7.0 |
Rashawn Parker is done (as Rhoads said to assume the worst)
All time ISU has 49 wins against KSU (49-39 series)
ISU is 49-39 all time vs. KSU
Monday, September 21, 2009
27-7 at halftime? Yes we did!
Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWku-wsNSuk for ISU vs. Kent State highlights.
ISU jumped out to a 27-7 lead in the first half, and ended the game with 404 yards of total offense 234 came from rushing.
Let me repeat that, 234 came from rushing. ISU is a running team, who also happens to be running the spread offense. The huge O-line splits and 3-4 WR are making the opposing defense cover too much field to stop the rushing attack.
Alexander Robinson had 143 yards on the ground, and 1 td, with a long of 26. That is the second game in a row ARob has been over 100 yds.
AA was 13-21 for 144 yds and 1 TD (0 INT), and still looked a little "off" in timing. ISU's second stringers saw a lot of action in the second half. RB Jeremiah Schwartz and Beau Blankenship had 4 and 5 carries respectively.
ISU looks ahead to Army this week, a team who has thrown for 185 passing yards total so far this year.
ISU jumped out to a 27-7 lead in the first half, and ended the game with 404 yards of total offense 234 came from rushing.
Let me repeat that, 234 came from rushing. ISU is a running team, who also happens to be running the spread offense. The huge O-line splits and 3-4 WR are making the opposing defense cover too much field to stop the rushing attack.
Alexander Robinson had 143 yards on the ground, and 1 td, with a long of 26. That is the second game in a row ARob has been over 100 yds.
AA was 13-21 for 144 yds and 1 TD (0 INT), and still looked a little "off" in timing. ISU's second stringers saw a lot of action in the second half. RB Jeremiah Schwartz and Beau Blankenship had 4 and 5 carries respectively.
ISU looks ahead to Army this week, a team who has thrown for 185 passing yards total so far this year.
Monday, September 14, 2009
I was wrong
Wow....
Honestly the defense did what it needed to do before the offense gave up 6 turnovers. You do not win games that you have a -4 on turnovers.
Arnaud had 4 picks, Tiller 1 pick and I'll give ARob the fumble.
ISU is still favored by 1 over Kent State this weekend, but I don't know. Boston college beat up on them about the same margin that ISU got beat by.....
ISU has a lot to fix going into Saturday's contest on the road...
The Offense did show promise in the running game, but the inability to throw after getting down killed us.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Time for my Prediction
It's hard to be objective this week, HOWEVER:
Iowa's offense
Good lord was that bad. Running game is non-existent. I really don't expect to see it much better against ISU. BUT, Tony Moeaki more than made up for the lack of rushing adding 10 catches for 83 yards. ISU's LB can't run with him. What to expect? ISU puts a nickelback on Moeaki instead of a LB, look for ISU to run a 4-2-5 defense. ISU won't stop the Iowa machine, hopefully it can slow it down just enough for this......
ISU's offense
ISU's receivers have a distinct advantage against a CB and Safety that UNI exploited for 2 big gainers last weekend....ISU has 4 WR that are ready to go, I just don't see that Iowa has an answer to that. Sure they have Spivey (sp?), so AA won't throw to that side, but with Marquis Hamilton, Sederick Johnson , Darius Reynolds and a supposedly healthy Darius Darks, should be able to run all over the Iowa secondary. Iowa will use it's front 6-7 to disrupt AA's timing and comfort in the pocket. However, as I said last week, ISU ran more than I expected so I look to ISU to mix in that halfback option enough to keep the d line honest. I think ISU has more tools on Offense.
Special teams
As Steve Deace said this morning, if Dan McCarney had the special teams that this team has, he'd still be coach. Grant Mahoney solidly hit a 50 yd field goal in 0 wind. Leonard Johnson is such a threat people kick away from him, but David Sims still runs it back to the 40. Advantage ISU. Iowa has a 'pro-style' punter, which will help them in field position, but ISU used several long drives against NDSU to march the distance.
Intangibles
It's in Ames, before a theoretically sold out crowd, and Iowa returned some of their ticket allotment for the game, so more ISU fans got tix. ISU is VERY tired of being little brother and UNI showed that Iowa is not world beaters. That is good for both teams, but I think it helps the young and impressionable ISU team more than Iowa. Gameday weather is going to either be rainy or extremely humid. Iowa obviously tired in the second half against UNI. ISU will run 10-15 more plays than UNI did, making conditioning a bigger issue. If it's wet or humid, I give advantage to ISU's offense vs. Iowa's D.
I honestly look for a 34-27 score type game, and ISU winning.
For Iowa to win, they have to come out and hang something on the board early and stop ISU's early drives. A young team will cannibalize itself, if it feels stagnation. If Iowa lets ISU keep it close (or if ISU runs away out of the gate), ISU will win this game. All that ISU needs is a chance to win in the second half. I don't look for this ISU squad to be a come from 21 down to win kind of team.
How's that?
Iowa's offense
Good lord was that bad. Running game is non-existent. I really don't expect to see it much better against ISU. BUT, Tony Moeaki more than made up for the lack of rushing adding 10 catches for 83 yards. ISU's LB can't run with him. What to expect? ISU puts a nickelback on Moeaki instead of a LB, look for ISU to run a 4-2-5 defense. ISU won't stop the Iowa machine, hopefully it can slow it down just enough for this......
ISU's offense
ISU's receivers have a distinct advantage against a CB and Safety that UNI exploited for 2 big gainers last weekend....ISU has 4 WR that are ready to go, I just don't see that Iowa has an answer to that. Sure they have Spivey (sp?), so AA won't throw to that side, but with Marquis Hamilton, Sederick Johnson , Darius Reynolds and a supposedly healthy Darius Darks, should be able to run all over the Iowa secondary. Iowa will use it's front 6-7 to disrupt AA's timing and comfort in the pocket. However, as I said last week, ISU ran more than I expected so I look to ISU to mix in that halfback option enough to keep the d line honest. I think ISU has more tools on Offense.
Special teams
As Steve Deace said this morning, if Dan McCarney had the special teams that this team has, he'd still be coach. Grant Mahoney solidly hit a 50 yd field goal in 0 wind. Leonard Johnson is such a threat people kick away from him, but David Sims still runs it back to the 40. Advantage ISU. Iowa has a 'pro-style' punter, which will help them in field position, but ISU used several long drives against NDSU to march the distance.
Intangibles
It's in Ames, before a theoretically sold out crowd, and Iowa returned some of their ticket allotment for the game, so more ISU fans got tix. ISU is VERY tired of being little brother and UNI showed that Iowa is not world beaters. That is good for both teams, but I think it helps the young and impressionable ISU team more than Iowa. Gameday weather is going to either be rainy or extremely humid. Iowa obviously tired in the second half against UNI. ISU will run 10-15 more plays than UNI did, making conditioning a bigger issue. If it's wet or humid, I give advantage to ISU's offense vs. Iowa's D.
I honestly look for a 34-27 score type game, and ISU winning.
For Iowa to win, they have to come out and hang something on the board early and stop ISU's early drives. A young team will cannibalize itself, if it feels stagnation. If Iowa lets ISU keep it close (or if ISU runs away out of the gate), ISU will win this game. All that ISU needs is a chance to win in the second half. I don't look for this ISU squad to be a come from 21 down to win kind of team.
How's that?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
In Honor of BEAT IOWA week
A good friend of mine from College is one of the driving forces for BeatCancerToday.org, check it out for great gear for the game this weekend. Far more PC than your average beat something t shirt ;-)
http://www.beatcancertoday.org/
http://www.beatcancertoday.org/
Sunday, September 6, 2009
I am not Afraid of The Hawkeyes
After their punishing defeat of UNI on Saturday, the Hawks travel to Ames for their next helping of crow pie.
A really funny read from a Hawk blogger can be found here
Iowa's offense was embarrassing bad. All I heard all week was how Stanzi would "light up" the in experienced UNI defensive backfield. "It doesn't matter who starts at RB, Iowa will run all over UNI." And you know what? I believed it.
I tell you now, I believe it no longer. 8-4 is the absolute best possible record for the Hawks in a down year for the Big 11 (more on that later).
UNI dominated both Offensive and Defensive lines, and basically played to a stalemate. It can and will be argued that UNI's lines are also very well coached and prepared, so ISU should not EXPECT the same results without preparing in a similar fashion.
Either way, if you didn't catch the game, UNI lead for most of the game, with Iowa scoring a couple of second half touchdowns to pull ahead by one. And UNI was 2 blocked field goals from winning this.
A really funny read from a Hawk blogger can be found here
Iowa's offense was embarrassing bad. All I heard all week was how Stanzi would "light up" the in experienced UNI defensive backfield. "It doesn't matter who starts at RB, Iowa will run all over UNI." And you know what? I believed it.
I tell you now, I believe it no longer. 8-4 is the absolute best possible record for the Hawks in a down year for the Big 11 (more on that later).
UNI dominated both Offensive and Defensive lines, and basically played to a stalemate. It can and will be argued that UNI's lines are also very well coached and prepared, so ISU should not EXPECT the same results without preparing in a similar fashion.
Either way, if you didn't catch the game, UNI lead for most of the game, with Iowa scoring a couple of second half touchdowns to pull ahead by one. And UNI was 2 blocked field goals from winning this.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Things that scared me
Defensive front 7 were abysmal, and that's being nice. We gave up 200 rushing yards to D-1AA NDSU. Unacceptable. If Iowa, and I do mean if, has any kind of running game, we may not be able to control the tempo of this game.
Too many dropped passes. I seriously believe we'd have had 2 more TD's if our WR's caught the ball. Austen was at fault on a couple, but I can remember 2 (MARQUIS HAMILTON) that should have been caught, one in the end zone.
Too many dropped passes. I seriously believe we'd have had 2 more TD's if our WR's caught the ball. Austen was at fault on a couple, but I can remember 2 (MARQUIS HAMILTON) that should have been caught, one in the end zone.
Things I liked last night
End around pass play. Money Reynolds CAN throw the ball, just catch it next time Marquis.
No delay of game penalties even while the coaching head sets went down. I can't say I liked keeping the playbook as closed as Herman did, but they showed flashes of brilliance. We need to work on Austen's timing, but hopefully that get's ironed out before next saturday.
We caught almost all punts. It seems trivial and minor, but we didn't start a drive inside our own 5 all night.
Defensive Backs played like they were 10 ft tall. We didn't give up any huge gainers through the air, and kept NDSU under 200 yds passing.
ISU's kicking game. As I said before 57 yards was funny, but hitting at 50 was FUN.
No delay of game penalties even while the coaching head sets went down. I can't say I liked keeping the playbook as closed as Herman did, but they showed flashes of brilliance. We need to work on Austen's timing, but hopefully that get's ironed out before next saturday.
We caught almost all punts. It seems trivial and minor, but we didn't start a drive inside our own 5 all night.
Defensive Backs played like they were 10 ft tall. We didn't give up any huge gainers through the air, and kept NDSU under 200 yds passing.
ISU's kicking game. As I said before 57 yards was funny, but hitting at 50 was FUN.
5 Reasons ISU Did Beat NDSU
1. Offense, all 450+ yards of it. Arnaud looked a little 'off', as was his timing, but he still threw for near 230 yards. Robinson’s final stat line totaled 85 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, and 36 receiving yards.
It’s also noteworthy that the man they call “Money,” Darius Reynolds caught six passes for 53 yards, seems to be the 'go to' guy on out routes. I love the depth that this team has at the wide receiver position.
2. No penalties, save 1 with 1:00 left on a punt return. Much more disciplined team this year, which was awesome to see.
3. New coaching staff. Coach Rhoads summed it up best after the game. He even got a little bit emotional when he said, “It’s special. To win a football game, as a head coach, and to do it here, it’s special.”
4. Special teams. Yes, we missed the 57 yarder, but we hit the 50 yarder, with a little to spare. That made the perverbial roof come off Jack Trice.
5. Fans. All 48.,000 of my closest friends showed up last night. The biggest home opening crowd since 1987, vs. Iowa. Now, the crowd was not deafening or all that fired up, but they were there. I think we'll set some kind of record next week!
It’s also noteworthy that the man they call “Money,” Darius Reynolds caught six passes for 53 yards, seems to be the 'go to' guy on out routes. I love the depth that this team has at the wide receiver position.
2. No penalties, save 1 with 1:00 left on a punt return. Much more disciplined team this year, which was awesome to see.
3. New coaching staff. Coach Rhoads summed it up best after the game. He even got a little bit emotional when he said, “It’s special. To win a football game, as a head coach, and to do it here, it’s special.”
4. Special teams. Yes, we missed the 57 yarder, but we hit the 50 yarder, with a little to spare. That made the perverbial roof come off Jack Trice.
5. Fans. All 48.,000 of my closest friends showed up last night. The biggest home opening crowd since 1987, vs. Iowa. Now, the crowd was not deafening or all that fired up, but they were there. I think we'll set some kind of record next week!
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