Steele Jantz

[besserheimerphat]

Steele is 1.5 years into running our offense and still isn't effectively running the zone read. I saw him make the wrong read several times today, which resulted in stuffed runs rather than effective gains. People want to rip on Mess, but any playcalling is going to look bad if the execution isn't there.

Defenses have figured out how to counter the zone read. It's called a "scrape-exchange" and defenses have been doing it around the NCAA for a few years now. An earlier poster already told how it works - the DE is assigned to the RB and goes for him on every play. A LB/S is assigned to the QB and goes for him every play. It eliminates the option part of the play. There has to be another run we can go to when that's not working. We need to identify when teams are/aren't using the scrape-exchange against us. In my opinion, Mess needs to move to the booth. I was a bit anxious when I heard in the preseason that Mess would be on the sidelines. You just can't see the play as well on the ground. That, or whoever is in the booth (somebody for the offense is in the booth, right???) needs to do better communicating with coaches on the sidelines.

 

[Clones85']

It's not the throws that he misses it is his decision making. He needs to decide to run quicker. He needs to stop trying to make the home run play every play. Oh yeah he also needs to stop throwing to the other team.

His last pick was inexcusable but other than that he had good decision making.

Stop trying the home run every play? Did you watch the game? He dumped down to the running backs more today than we ever have. James White had 7 catches

 

[bawbie]

Steele was quite good in the first half. He had the one stupid INT, but other than that, he had everything working. He also had all the time in the world, the O-Line played lights out in the 1st half.

I never figured out what the Iowa defense changed in the second half, but what ever it was worked. ISU just had nothing going.

I really like the shots down the field. My biggest problem is that they were almost all to Horne today, except one to Bundrage. Lenz had 2 catches, both on bubble screens. I'm not sure if Hyde just took him out of the game or what, but he's our best receiver and needs to get the ball.

The TEs also only had one catch, and that was Brun really early. They need to be more involved. Brun's dropped TD could have been very important as well, it cost us 4 points and was not Jantz' fault at all.

A couple times today, especially on the TD throw, Jantz ran through his progressions to the 3rd or 4th receiver. That's really important and a positive that can be taken away.

Oh, and Mess needs to stop calling the zone read on 3rd and 2 or 3. It doesn't work. 5-wide works much better.

 

[demoncore1031]

good to see a QB actually taking shots down the field. now he needs to connect on some of them. he also needs to stop throwing those high passes, make better decisions and figure out the zone read a little better. in the first 2 games, i have seen both james white and shontrelle getting upset at jantz because he always wants to keep the ball. against tulsa, there was a play where you could tell jantz was gonna keep it and shontrelle just took it away from him. jantz rarely gains more than a couple yards on those reads, so he needs to let the RBs do their job. jantz has far more potential than any other QB on this team though

 

[besserheimerphat]

His last pick was inexcusable but other than that he had good decision making.

Stop trying the home run every play? Did you watch the game? He dumped down to the running backs more today than we ever have. James White had 7 catches

And wasn't everyone crying for us to throw deep more often last year? Now we're throwing deep too often?

 

[CycloneWarning]

Steele was quite good in the first half. He had the one stupid INT, but other than that, he had everything working. He also had all the time in the world, the O-Line played lights out in the 1st half.

I never figured out what the Iowa defense changed in the second half, but what ever it was worked. ISU just had nothing going.

I really like the shots down the field. My biggest problem is that they were almost all to Horne today, except one to Bundrage. Lenz had 2 catches, both on bubble screens. I'm not sure if Hyde just took him out of the game or what, but he's our best receiver and needs to get the ball.

The TEs also only had one catch, and that was Brun really early. They need to be more involved. Brun's dropped TD could have been very important as well, it cost us 4 points and was not Jantz' fault at all.

A couple times today, especially on the TD throw, Jantz ran through his progressions to the 3rd or 4th receiver. That's really important and a positive that can be taken away.

Oh, and Mess needs to stop calling the zone read on 3rd and 2 or 3. It doesn't work. 5-wide works much better.

Yes, give the OL major props for pass protection.

But I was disappointed in their performance in the running game.

Overall, it is awesome that we won. Our offense played like crap the entire second half. We had amazing field position in the 3rd Q, and should have put the game away.

Defense was completely amazing.

I think mainly, people understand that our pathetic opponent, Iowa, has a cake B1G schedule. We have one gimme and a brutal schedule. So we are all looking for a team that can truly break out. We have a long ways to go.

 

[justcynn]

And wasn't everyone crying for us to throw deep more often last year? Now we're throwing deep too often?

encouraging we had open receivers deep in this game, don't recall that being the case much last year. Confidence is important, Jantz needs the confidence of the team and the stadium, if he gets that - I think he can win another 5 games this year. Barnett won the biggest game in Cyclone history, but it wasn't a better performance in terms of errors and miscues than Steel had today. It was a team win. Today was a team win.

 

[Clones85']

Yeah OL was great in pass and poor in run which was to be expected this year.

 

[bawbie]

I think mainly, people understand that our pathetic opponent, Iowa, has a cake B1G schedule. We have one gimme and a brutal schedule. So we are all looking for a team that can truly break out. We have a long ways to go.

The response of the online fan base to this game has been amazing. If you only read these threads, you'd think we lost by 20. We beat Iowa, but everyone is down on the team (it seems).

We do have a ways to go, but we are closer than we have ever been. If you thought this was a 10 win team, and today convinced you otherwise, well, you were going to be let down sooner or later. What this team is, unfortunately, is an offense that's still a couple years away, with potentially the best defense in modern ISU history.

I think the quality of this defense hasn't been truly appreciated yet. They are very very good. Keep-us-in-every-game good (potentially).

One quick question on our schedule - is the one "gimme" Kansas?

 

[CychoCyclone]

A lot of posters don't know more than the basics of football. So, when the offense is doing great it's because the QB and when the offense is struggling.... It's because of the QB.

Jantz, besides his last INT, played well today. Our play calling went conservative and we left him in some tough situations. He's getting better folks. Just chill

Defenses have figured out how to counter the zone read. It's called a "scrape-exchange" and defenses have been doing it around the NCAA for a few years now. An earlier poster already told how it works - the DE is assigned to the RB and goes for him on every play. A LB/S is assigned to the QB and goes for him every play. It eliminates the option part of the play. There has to be another run we can go to when that's not working. We need to identify when teams are/aren't using the scrape-exchange against us. In my opinion, Mess needs to move to the booth. I was a bit anxious when I heard in the preseason that Mess would be on the sidelines. You just can't see the play as well on the ground. That, or whoever is in the booth (somebody for the offense is in the booth, right???) needs to do better communicating with coaches on the sidelines.

Thank you, we need a different run option... I didnt see us run any counters or slams right up the middle... It was all read option, the whole 2nd half everything we did was just so predictable...

 

[bawbie]

encouraging we had open receivers deep in this game, don't recall that being the case much last year. Confidence is important, Jantz needs the confidence of the team and the stadium, if he gets that - I think he can win another 5 games this year. Barnett won the biggest game in Cyclone history, but it wasn't a better performance in terms of errors and miscues than Steel had today. It was a team win. Today was a team win.

Today was a DEFENSE win.

 

[CycloneErik]

The response of the online fan base to this game has been amazing. If you only read these threads, you'd think we lost by 20. We beat Iowa, but everyone is down on the team (it seems).

We do have a ways to go, but we are closer than we have ever been. If you thought this was a 10 win team, and today convinced you otherwise, well, you were going to be let down sooner or later. What this team is, unfortunately, is an offense that's still a couple years away, with potentially the best defense in modern ISU history.

I think the quality of this defense hasn't been truly appreciated yet. They are very very good. Keep-us-in-every-game good (potentially).

One quick question on our schedule - is the one "gimme" Kansas?

I'd say Western Illinois is the gimme.
Kansas should be, but we play terrible against them.

 

[kingcy]

If we dont turn the ball over 3 times in the redzone this thread wouldnt exist.

 

[Cybyassociation]

I think in the first two games ISU fan's have seen a completely different Steele Jantz. IMO he is so much more patient in the pocket and has made much better decisions than last year. I understand today was a bit frustrating from him, but I just had such a better feeling with him back there than last year. I think he's back there to stay.

 

[bdnichols2000]

Does Jantz have more redzone turnover's at ISU then starts??? It would be interesting to see the numbers. My guess is yes. That is horrible focks!! He has played againts the worst part of our schedule both years too. We have a great defense, probably one of the best defense ISU has ever had. We need a heady QB, a game manager, and we can win a bunch of games this year. Jantz is not the man!! Put Barnett in!!

 

[Clones85']

Does Jantz have more redzone turnover's at ISU then starts??? It would be interesting to see the numbers. My guess is yes. That is horrible focks!! He has played againts the worst part of our schedule both years too. We have a great defense, probably one of the best defense ISU has ever had. We need a heady QB, a game manager, and we can win a bunch of games this year. Jantz is not the man!! Put Barnett in!!

Clueless

 

[moforisu]

My problem with SJ is that his 3 turnovers today were really bad decisions. The 2 Int should never of been thrown and the zone read on the fumble was on him as well. All this from a SENIOR QB in the B12.
For me it's frustrating because of what I saw him do last week. Yeah, I didn't like the play calling in the 2nd half either but Mess didn't throw the Int's.

 

[CychoCyclone]

Does Jantz have more redzone turnover's at ISU then starts??? It would be interesting to see the numbers. My guess is yes. That is horrible focks!! He has played againts the worst part of our schedule both years too. We have a great defense, probably one of the best defense ISU has ever had. We need a heady QB, a game manager, and we can win a bunch of games this year. Jantz is not the man!! Put Barnett in!!

Wow, please leave...

 

[bosco]

His last pick was inexcusable but other than that he had good decision making.

Stop trying the home run every play? Did you watch the game? He dumped down to the running backs more today than we ever have. James White had 7 catches

There were 4 TO's. 3 of them are a result of Jantz's decisions.

I understand the check downs. I rather have him do that than force it. The home run part I was referring to is that he seems to hold the ball too long waiting for something to develop even while he is scrambling he strings the play along instead of making the decision to run when he can gain significant yardage with his feet or then decides to run too late after the defense closes in. Maybe this is what the coaches want him to do which is another topic.

 

[megamanxzero35]

Steele is now 5-4 as a starter. He played very efficient vs. Tulsa. He played good in the 1st half today.

In the 2nd half, we stuck to the same play calling tendencies that Iowa had adjusted for from what I saw. They had a the zone read snuffed out each time it seemed like. Varying up our run plays should help IMO. Some teachable moments for Jantz and Mess both.