Can we talk about blown leads?

[Mesaclone1]

Some of it is simply that we are IN more close games....games which we were getting blown out of in the recent past. Teams like Baylor, OSU, and OU would simply crush us due to vast talent discrepancy. NOW we stay close, often taking the lead into the late stages of the game...but we are still developing the mentality AND the talent level to close out more of these games.

What took control of yesterday's game was the Iowa OL. We aren't there yet with our own OL but they ARE steadily improving. Last year early they were horrific. Now they are solid but nothing to brag about. By next season they will be one of the better units in the Big 12. Heck, they may get there by mid season THIS year. So focus on the trajectory as well as the final results....both are indicative of where we are headed as a program.

 

[clonedude]

When we got it back with 3:30 reaminaing people around me were screaming saying we're gonna win. Several dozen hawkeye fans left my section. I told my wife they'll get it back, score quick, and we'll lose. I was told to stop being so negative, and look, all the hawks even know it's over.

I told my wife theyre leaving because when iowa gets the ball with 3:30 left they win. When we do we lose. Always.

And it sucks. It just sucks.

Hawkeye fans in our section were also leaving the game early. They thought it was over. I just thought to myself... "they must not have ever been to an ISU game before".

 

[Yellow Snow]

TOP is such a bull **** stat. Iowa had the ball for 15 more minutes but only ran 10 more plays.

If the defense wants to spend less time on the field, finish 3rd downs. How many 3rd and 10+ did they give up yesterday? I can think of at least 3. Opposing teams converting to 50% of their third downs won't lead to success for the defense.

Bottom line: The offense threw 38 on the board yesterday in regulation. That should be more than enough to beat a very average Iowa offense.

This is exactly right! The defense lost that game yesterday. Not conservative play calling, not offensive line play, not dropped balls, not the pick... the defense.

 

[awd4cy]

Bottom line: The offense threw 38 on the board yesterday in regulation. That should be more than enough to beat a very average Iowa offense.

Yep, couldn't agree more with this. I haven't seen any reason to think our defense has improved at all yet.

 

[BoxsterCy]

During the first half of the Rhoads era, this program won quite a few close games including the 2 OT thrillers in 2011.

Since the end of the 2012 season, we've surrendered second half leads, or blew opportunities to win late in at least the following:

'13: UNI, Texas, TCU, Tech
'14: Texas, KSU, Tech, WVU
'15: Iowa, KSU, Toledo, OSU
'16: UNI, Baylor, OSU, KSU
'17: Iowa

Obviously Rhoads' results shouldn't be held against Campbell, but it doesn't seem like this is getting any better. Now, Campbell is young and is doing a lot of things right, but what needs to change to get this
program closing? The reason Paul Rhoads is gone is because those last three teams couldn't close. For all Campbell is doing right, this is starting to feel like a glaring trend. We won't get over the hump until we start winning these games.

Obviously execution is an issue. Butler's drop sealed the game, as did maybe the INT to Hesse. Was running the ball prior to Iowa's last regulation possession the right call? I'm not sure, but in terms of what Campbell has direct control over, I think we need to stay aggressive in those situations. There are situations where it will backfire, but more often than not I think dancing with who brought ya will lead to the optimal chances of victory.

I hope we can get this figured out, because at this point a 10-14 point lead in the 4th vs a team at or above our talent level is a guaranteed nut kick. We're obviously much improved, and have a great chance at a bowl, but the story of this program continues to be snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

This is what mediocre teams do, blow leads when they do get them. We have not been a bad team over the last 10 plus years because we blow leads, we blow leads because we are a bad team. Most of those were to teams better than we were.

We will know when we are at least average when we stop seeing the leads blown late. So far it does not look like it will be this year. We just gave up a ton of points to defense base grind it out team.

 

[BoxsterCy]

That's where id advocate a more aggressive offensive approach late.

That more aggressive approach and bad interception started the collapse. Some time off the clock and a punt there and I'd say our chances of winning at that point were 90% plus. I think that clusterfuck play likely impacted the thinking on the next possession although I wish they could have still run with something that didn't look just like line dives to kill clock.....you can still try for yards and first down on the ground.

 

[HFCS]

I think it's as simple as that we get a lead with a balanced offense or passing offense, then switch exclusively to a running offense.

Oklahoma kept throwing the ball last night after they started dominating #2 Ohio State on the road. The result? They continued to get further and further away from the Buckeyes (other than a blown interception call that cost them 3 points). They only gained by continuing the same offense that was dominating OSU rather than start only running the ball with the lead.

 

[Jayshellberg]

When they get teams in third and long or are ahead late in games, they tighten up and play passively instead of aggressively. They give up late leads or long third downs so often that it is the expectation rather than the exception. Fortunately, this can change. I witnessed ISU basketball go through the same thing playing on the road for years, and as soon as they closed out a few of those games, the culture changed and they had more road success. Keep the faith and good things will come.

 

[SolarGarlic]

Not going to lie, at the time, I was OK with the late playcalling. And it worked pretty well. Iowa had 0 timeouts with 89 yards to go. But I think you guys are right. Our best offense was protecting Park and letting a receiver break open. We should've run once and then let it fly.

 

[BigLame]

Last scoring drive in regulation we went to a nickel or dime package & had 3 DEs as our 3 DL. While our D was not good all day, I think that package proved even worse on that series. Lima was about only interior DL getting into the backfield with some consistency & neither he nor Uzawarike, Trent, Tongamoa, or other interior DL was out there. Think it's over coaching sometimes to go to packages & insert players who hadn't played much during the game.

 

[Boxerdaddy]

We just need to understand its the little mundane details that win you those games. We don't need the spectacular play, just do your job. Their RB needed to make a spectacular play and did to get them back in the game, but had any one of 7 people on our team just made a solid play...maybe different results. Catch a pass to get a first down....nope drop it and our drive is done. We don't need spectacular, just consistency. No one is exempt from that. How many "easy" passes did Lazard drop?

 

[spitfyr36]

ISU gave up a 46 yd TD on a 5 yd dump off pass with a minute and a half left in the game.

This right here, how many missed tackles were on this very play?

 

[SCarolinaCy]

When we got it back with 3:30 reaminaing people around me were screaming saying we're gonna win. Several dozen hawkeye fans left my section. I told my wife they'll get it back, score quick, and we'll lose. I was told to stop being so negative, and look, all the hawks even know it's over.

I told my wife theyre leaving because when iowa gets the ball with 3:30 left they win. When we do we lose. Always.

And it sucks. It just sucks.

AM I the only person that thinks ISU maybe should have gone for the TD on 4th down in OT. I knew as soon as we kicked the FG, the game was over.

 

[Bryce7]

Need much more aggressive effort in last five minutes....kick it up a notch. Looked like more of the past. Where is the fire from the sideline coaches. W#e seem unable to rise to the occasion.

 

[CyBobby]

I think it's as simple as that we get a lead with a balanced offense or passing offense, then switch exclusively to a running offense.

Oklahoma kept throwing the ball last night after they started dominating #2 Ohio State on the road. The result? They continued to get further and further away from the Buckeyes (other than a blown interception call that cost them 3 points). They only gained by continuing the same offense that was dominating OSU rather than start only running the ball with the lead.

Yes you are right on, and if we had Oklahoma's talent with baker mayfield, we would have beaten the choke-eyes by 4 touchdowns........

 

[CyBobby]

Last scoring drive in regulation we went to a nickel or dime package & had 3 DEs as our 3 DL. While our D was not good all day, I think that package proved even worse on that series. Lima was about only interior DL getting into the backfield with some consistency & neither he nor Uzawarike, Trent, Tongamoa, or other interior DL was out there. Think it's over coaching sometimes to go to packages & insert players who hadn't played much during the game.

I hate those nickel and dime packages because they prevent nothing ... and its esp bad against the choke-eyes because they like to throw underneath to wadley anyway....great coaching heacock.....

 

[clonedude]

AM I the only person that thinks ISU maybe should have gone for the TD on 4th down in OT. I knew as soon as we kicked the FG, the game was over.

I thought the exact same thing, and I'm sure a lot of Clone fans did, but had we gone for it and not gotten it, and Iowa comes in and just kicks a FG to win it, everyone would have been TICKED OFF.

It's obviously the right call, but I just didn't think we'd stop them at that point. Our guys had the game won, even Hawk fans were leaving already late in the 4th, and to allow them to tie it at the end just took all the wind out of our sails.

 

[SolarGarlic]

AM I the only person that thinks ISU maybe should have gone for the TD on 4th down in OT. I knew as soon as we kicked the FG, the game was over.

Yes, you are. If we don't get it, Campbell would've been burned at the stake. I think every Cyclone fan in JTS knew we were in trouble, but you have to give your D a chance.

Oh sorry, I see clonedude agrees.

 

[chuckd4735]

What really chaps me is 12 of those 17 games (over 70%) Al posted were at home. Ive been saying for years that there is no such thing as home field advantage for ISU, and Im not sure the last time we truly had it. Not sure what it is, but with the fan support and atmosphere, in inexcusable.

 

[SCarolinaCy]

We just need to understand its the little mundane details that win you those games. We don't need the spectacular play, just do your job. Their RB needed to make a spectacular play and did to get them back in the game, but had any one of 7 people on our team just made a solid play...maybe different results. Catch a pass to get a first down....nope drop it and our drive is done. We don't need spectacular, just consistency. No one is exempt from that. How many "easy" passes did Lazard drop?

I agree with all of this. BUT, Iowa played a flawless game. We needed a break, a turnover or a penalty and they didn't give it to us. Disappointing that we had them on many third and long situations and we couldn't get them off the field or get a turnover.