Not a flame, but one thing I hear from almost all ISU fans is the need to get Blythe the ball more. Is this the fault of the scheme or is Blythe an explosive but limited player? By that I mean are there only certain routes he runs well and most of those are down the field where he can use his size and strength to get a jump on the ball. It is really hard to tell much on tv but is Blythe's route running ability part of the reason he doesn't get as many touches as you would think.
How to get Blythe the ball?
- Thread starter HoosierinIowa
- Start date
How to get Blythe the ball?
Lineup at the line.
Snap the ball.
Drop back (3 or 5 steps, I don't care).
Throw ball to Blythe.
It is completely unfathomable that it would take us just over 28 minutes in the game to even throw a pass his way.
But, that's what happened last night.
Lineup at the line.
Snap the ball.
Drop back (3 or 5 steps, I don't care).
Throw ball to Blythe.
It is completely unfathomable that it would take us just over 28 minutes in the game to even throw a pass his way.
But, that's what happened last night.
If he's not the primary receiver in the play - not the first look, he doesn't get the ball. It's that simple. And that seems to be true of every receiver on the team. We don't seem to check through progressions. Why he isn't the first look more often - that's a legit question.
Hard to say why. Last year it was easy - "one-one-thousand, two-one-thous.." and Bret was running for his life. Last night, there was pressure, but not nearly as much. I'm guessing that Bret is just still in a rut of zeroing in on a receiver and that's his guy come hell or high water. It led to a couple of poor passes and two picks.
IMO, you rarely see him drop back and progress across the field. Last year was last year, and he didn't have time. Perhaps he isn't comforable with protection. Maybe he had more reason than I could see from my seat. Last night was just one game.
We'll see.
Hard to say why. Last year it was easy - "one-one-thousand, two-one-thous.." and Bret was running for his life. Last night, there was pressure, but not nearly as much. I'm guessing that Bret is just still in a rut of zeroing in on a receiver and that's his guy come hell or high water. It led to a couple of poor passes and two picks.
IMO, you rarely see him drop back and progress across the field. Last year was last year, and he didn't have time. Perhaps he isn't comforable with protection. Maybe he had more reason than I could see from my seat. Last night was just one game.
We'll see.
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I could see from my computer chair that Meyer was looking one way. He doesnt scan the field well. I know I know, beating a dead horse. I just think he is so used to doing it this way that its hard for him to break it. There are plenty of recievers willing to catch it.
It seemed to work very well the first drive of the second half. Throw it high to him, and if the defender somehow outjumps Blythe for it, nod your head and keep going. Odds are the DB isn't going to outjump him...
Blythe ran a long fade route last night in which he caught the ball out of bounds. It looked to me like Blythe could have come down with the ball against that guy more times than not, but we didnt give him a chance to catch the ball in bounds.
Granted, that corner was an all conferece player last year, but he isnt in Blythe's class
Granted, that corner was an all conferece player last year, but he isnt in Blythe's class
Yeah, as if Meyer has never overthrown someone. When you have a guy who is that tall and fast with that much body control give him a chance. If it was picked, then we punted.
There is a lack of a downfield threat from hte offense when we have a guy who could be a dangerous weapon.
There is a lack of a downfield threat from hte offense when we have a guy who could be a dangerous weapon.
Blythe is VERY limited in the routes he can run. It taked him 3-4 seconds to get any separation from his man. Unless he's the #1 option on the play and Meyer has a good 5 seconds to throw, it's not going to work.
Blythe should have learned how to stride a long time ago -he's too slow in the short routes, and Meyer can't seem to find time to throw the deep routes.
Damned either way. I think we should do more slants to Blythe and all of them, but I don't think Meyer excels at hitting a moving target. His fade route has a huge (golf) fade on it that always sends the receiver out of bounds...
Go Cyclones!
Blythe should have learned how to stride a long time ago -he's too slow in the short routes, and Meyer can't seem to find time to throw the deep routes.
Damned either way. I think we should do more slants to Blythe and all of them, but I don't think Meyer excels at hitting a moving target. His fade route has a huge (golf) fade on it that always sends the receiver out of bounds...
Go Cyclones!
Gotcha steel, I still think that when a guy is 6-5 throw him a few jump balls. He made a spactacular catch (out of bounds) maybe (nothing ever goes right for ISU) he could come down with one in bounds if we give him a shot.
Precisely. I'll guarantee you that if we fans can see it, every one of our opponents' coaching staffs knows that BM has a habit of locking in on one receiver.
Because if the same guy is always the primary receiver, the defense double or triple covers him, and the show is over. In the case of TB, his reputation probably garners him double or triple coverage anyway. The offense can't continually call plays for a double/triple covered receiver when the QB is not able to check off routes.
I think our offense is trying to establish other receivers in order to free up Blythe. BM has to start checking off receivers, or the offense will flounder...until Chizik sits him on the bench...
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True. But if Bret recognizes a DC defense, we can always audible to another play.
Anybody notice a single audible last night? I didn't although it's hard to tell sometimes. He certainly doesn't have that Peyton Manning walk to the line, look things over and start calling out the alphabet three times over, kind of audible-ization.
I'm going to post my opinion, you can beat me up on it if you want to. I thought this most of last year but never said anything because i didn't want to sound negative. I'm not a negative fan at all, i always stay positive. with that....
I think that Todd Blythe is overrated. I'm sick and tired of everyone in the stands whining all game that we need to throw it to blythe. He simply does not get open that much. people say we need to throw it to him anyways, he'll win the jump ball. what if he trips or something else happens and its picked off. then we all call for bret meyer's head because he threw a pick. I think blythe is a great talent that can go get balls. I don't think he is much of a deep threat, and i doubt his route running just based on the fact that he seldom gets separation and is open. That is my opinion, i think blythe is overrated, but is still a good reciever. And to everyone who wants the ball thrown his way every other play, you have no idea how bad that would work.
another thing that peeves me is everyone going nuts when we run the ball on 3rd down and 7 like one or two times. you can't pass on every single passing down. you can't score on every single drive. it is a game of field position. Yet another thing that peeves me is complaining about bates being in on that one play. It was very obvious to me that the problem was execution. if he would have broke a 60 yard touchdown everyone would be praising the call and loving bates being in the game. so what, it didn't work this time, but he must have something special, and i don't think they ever intended to redshirt him.
With all that said, it is pry best to temper the expectations. This rebuilding process is a marathon not a sprint, and i am still happy with most of the things i saw last night. Lets be patient cyclones and trust in the coaches for now. it is just execution, and that will get better. As for Meyer, i think he'll figure it out... and if he doesn't he'll get some time to think about it. Lets not throw him under the bus, he's been a great player and even better person. butcher my post now...
I think that Todd Blythe is overrated. I'm sick and tired of everyone in the stands whining all game that we need to throw it to blythe. He simply does not get open that much. people say we need to throw it to him anyways, he'll win the jump ball. what if he trips or something else happens and its picked off. then we all call for bret meyer's head because he threw a pick. I think blythe is a great talent that can go get balls. I don't think he is much of a deep threat, and i doubt his route running just based on the fact that he seldom gets separation and is open. That is my opinion, i think blythe is overrated, but is still a good reciever. And to everyone who wants the ball thrown his way every other play, you have no idea how bad that would work.
another thing that peeves me is everyone going nuts when we run the ball on 3rd down and 7 like one or two times. you can't pass on every single passing down. you can't score on every single drive. it is a game of field position. Yet another thing that peeves me is complaining about bates being in on that one play. It was very obvious to me that the problem was execution. if he would have broke a 60 yard touchdown everyone would be praising the call and loving bates being in the game. so what, it didn't work this time, but he must have something special, and i don't think they ever intended to redshirt him.
With all that said, it is pry best to temper the expectations. This rebuilding process is a marathon not a sprint, and i am still happy with most of the things i saw last night. Lets be patient cyclones and trust in the coaches for now. it is just execution, and that will get better. As for Meyer, i think he'll figure it out... and if he doesn't he'll get some time to think about it. Lets not throw him under the bus, he's been a great player and even better person. butcher my post now...
I think we will see more of Blythe in the coming weeks.
The KSU game was a real feeling-out process by the new Staff. They had a lot of questions that needed to be answered, especially in the running game. Obviously, last night was used to try and answer some of those questions.
We knew going in that Blythe is a great player, but we had other questions on Offense. Now that Bass has established himself as the starting RB and the new OL has shown what they can and can't do, I think the playbook will get a little tighter, a little less scatter-brain, and we can start focusing on our strengths.
I am really looking forward to our "lessons learned" offense against UNI next week.
The KSU game was a real feeling-out process by the new Staff. They had a lot of questions that needed to be answered, especially in the running game. Obviously, last night was used to try and answer some of those questions.
We knew going in that Blythe is a great player, but we had other questions on Offense. Now that Bass has established himself as the starting RB and the new OL has shown what they can and can't do, I think the playbook will get a little tighter, a little less scatter-brain, and we can start focusing on our strengths.
I am really looking forward to our "lessons learned" offense against UNI next week.
I don't think there's a single thing to get blasted over. It's a pretty good post IMO.
Although I don't think Blythe is overrated. To me rated is synonomous with talent. And I think we all realize Todd has talent. What I do see is that plenty think TOO MUCH of Todd. That he's a savior and the only thing we have going for us.
But on the whole, I think you're spot on with your post.
Although I don't think Blythe is overrated. To me rated is synonomous with talent. And I think we all realize Todd has talent. What I do see is that plenty think TOO MUCH of Todd. That he's a savior and the only thing we have going for us.
But on the whole, I think you're spot on with your post.
He was the target on 10 of the 24 pass attempts. Thats certainly not ignoring him. Take out the 3 or 4 screen passes that were defined for a specific player and half the passes went to Blythe.
Also, its not like our running game was having problems. We were running at will. Just had too many penalties and turnovers.
Exactly, i was very happy to see a running game...there's nothing wrong with running the ball. that is how you control the clock and win ball games.
My buddies and i kept running up and down the isle in the student section yelling, "we have ourselves a runningback, we have a runningback!" that was very exciting for me.
My buddies and i kept running up and down the isle in the student section yelling, "we have ourselves a runningback, we have a runningback!" that was very exciting for me.
Not going to blast you, but I do have a different opinion. I strongly disagree that Todd is overrated. He is a very talented kid. However, he may have speed and not quickness. That's ok, he has size. If he doesn't have quickness, then you can still mix up his routes by using his size. He may just need to drop into his spots and "get wide" to keep the DB on his back. Those types of routes would probably require some great timing on the throws from Bret.
good point on the timing routes. I actually expected to see a lot more quick slants and those types of 3 step drop timing routes, with our questionable Oline. I don't know if bret has the accuracy to throw those types of routes, because if you are off, it very well could be a pick.
with that said i was actually pleasantly surprised by the Oline. I thought that they were functional (although inconsistent) but by no means were they dominant. i didn't think they looked any worse than last years, but we were playing kent state, not texas.
with that said i was actually pleasantly surprised by the Oline. I thought that they were functional (although inconsistent) but by no means were they dominant. i didn't think they looked any worse than last years, but we were playing kent state, not texas.
When I evaluate a WR, I don't think it stops at his ability to get open and catch or not catch a ball. Plenty of players do that; Blythe does it very well. However, Blythe does not block like a good receiver, or even a mediocre receiver. JJ Bass scores on two long runs last night if Blythe throws anything more than a wet noodle attempt at a block. Even on Bass's score, Blythe's weak block that went very unfinished would have prevented a score if the goal was 5 yards further. Blythe can catch the ball--we all give him credit for that, but so can many other receivers on that team. Having Blythe out there on a running down is like playing 10 on 11, we'll always come up short and leave plays yards short of what they could be with the OL catching blame. Blame falls beyond the OL and a receivers' duties do not start and stop with a simple fade route acrobatic catch in the endzone.