Am I the Only One?

[Tre4ISU]

There are several reasons CPR will be the coach next year but that senior class will be one of the big ones. You run a very high risk of wasting that class bringing in another coach. You add that to the number of open P5 jobs, the buyout, the obvious improvement over last year as well as the 2nd half of the season and it all adds up to CPR in 2016.

As if it's not hard enough to get a quality coach to Ames you are basically selling a coach on a talented senior class that will not know your system and an almost guarantee you take a step back in year 2. Most coaches I think want talented youth, not talented seniors. They want to show sustained improvement, not a "decent" first year followed by a marked regression in wins.

That senior class is fine and all but that's not where the talent on this team lies. I'm doing this blindly but I'm going to list the top 10 most talented/important guys coming back and let's see how many are seniors

Warren
KCM
Peavy
AL
Jones
Tucker
Campos
Tribune
Harris
Ruth
Harvey
Lanning

Four of those guys are seniors. Your talent is in that Sophmore/Freshman class. We can debate the names there but my point is that the starting lineup won't be dominated by Seniors. There will be a lot of young guys playing.

 

[CyCloned]

Am I the only one that has seen improvement since Lanning became the starting quarterback and Mangino was let go? I see improvement on both sides of the ball. We have the first 1,000 yard rusher since ARob. We have a mobile quarterback that rushed for over 100 yards last game. We held the 8th ranked team in the nation to 34 points, and oh did I forget, we led the game except for the last 5 minutes. All I see are people bad mouthing a coaching staff that is trying to get things going in a positive direction. I see people bad mouthing our players and saying they are not good enough to get wins. This is Iowa State, we are not Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, or even this year (I hate to say it) Iowa. We are a work in progress and I am satisfied that things are moving in the right direction. If we pick up a few good JUCO players to fill a few holes for next year, we have a good core of returning players that can win.

There are definitely signs of improvement on both sides of the ball. Not sure if it is Mangino or the fact that there are so many new players on the field this year, and it has taken this long to get them in sync. One thing is for sure, I would like to have do over games against Toledo, Iowa and even Baylor and TCU with Lanning at QB and Study as OC.

 

[chuckd4735]

Or the coaches who helped us be in such a great position on Saturday may be "this close" to a great season next year. That is not a moral victory. That is paying attention to the fact that we had an undefeated team on the ropes!

How many times do you need to be feed this line before you stop believing it?

 

[Tre4ISU]

FWIW, I would have thrown it on third down anyway. I probably would have put Bundrage 1-on-1 and went deep but I would have thrown it. If I can't pick up half a yard on 4th down, we didn't deserve to win anyway. It just baffles me we have no set where you have Lanning taking the snap behind Boesen and Thomas with two lead blockers.

 

[DurangoCy]

DuangoCy, are you sure that is what the players want? Players and coaches can have a connection and that may be gone if coaches are changed. I sure wouldn't want to loose any of the players we have for next season if we changed coaches.

I knew this would be the first response, but didn't have time to address... No I'm 100% sure many will be sad/******/upset. They're going to be way to close to this to make an objective decision, but I guess that's why JP won't take a vote after the last game.

IMHO there are lots of better coaches out there, as ours continues to make pretty basic mistakes.

 

[tejasclone]

I'm beginning to feel pretty defeatist about this entire program. Blowing late leads to superior opponents and not making easy football plays to secure a victory are not problems that are unique to Paul Rhoads. They've plagued every football staff we've had for the last 30 years.

In the end it all goes down as just another loss for ISU football. Whether it's by 60, 50, 40, or 4 points, they're all the same anymore. The good teams keep winning, and ISU keeps losing. And next year, even if we retain what talent we do have, we'll still have 6-7 ranked opponents on the schedule, and will still be playing offenses that average 50+ points and 500+ yards a game. Maybe we get enough breaks to win 6+... but getting any breaks at all seems unlikely given our long, sordid history with misery.

There's got to be someone out there who is capable of establishing some positive mojo for a change. It really looked like Rhoads was that guy early on... but it seems that the extreme ISU-ness of his position broke him, too. I absolutely want the best for ISU. Cyclone fans deserve a winner. But more and more it just seems like nothing we try will change any of our circumstances.

 

[DurangoCy]

Do do you also give Rhoads credit for getting us a big lead? Or does he only get credit for the bad stuff?

We lost, I'll let you figure that one out.

 

[Land Grant]

Sure. And its almost certain that if we wait til next year, no one will be searching. ISU will have the pool all to itself, right?

One giant thing, sorry if previously mentioned, is there are so many better jobs already opened (USC, South Carolina, Miami, Virginia Tech, Missouri). We don't want to hire against all of those.

 

[Stormin]

I guess I'm just confused on the reasons people are in support of Rhoads here. A lot of people are acting like we are in the third year of his tenure. Like somehow he took over this loser team and is working to improve it. It's year 7. His best year was his first year. Every year since then has been a regression from that year. There is no such thing as "improvement" when we are talking about a coach winning 3 games in his 7th season. I mean heck, hopefully by year 14 he can get us back to that 6-6 mark and losing bowl games.

He's been here long enough that we can establish a pattern now. He's working with his guys and has been for a few years now. Since having his own guys, the team has gone down hill significantly since his first year, he has yet to show that he and his staff can in any way develop a player beyond what they are when they get here, and worst of all, he still finds ways to get absolutely smoked by more than a couple of teams a year.

I'm sorry, I just don't see improvement, I see more of the same.

And about the bolded part, are we blocking out the OU loss this year or did I dream that game?

The last few years have been tough. Some tough losses this year. Fact remains that we have 5 Top 15 teams on our schedule. And yes, it does make a difference who you play.

Things I like about CPR is that he has led us to some epic wins that we have never had before. Those type of wins rarely ever happened before CPR. We have 2 wins over Texas. And have had several big wins over highly ranked opponents.

Most of the time we have been pretty competitive even when losing. IMO, the team is much improved. In 2014 CPR kicked off our two starting Defensive Tackles for disciplinary issues. Pretty much screwed us on defense. Should CPR get credit for having the integrity to do that despite the fact that it made our defense weak?? Or should he be blamed for having that integrity and not looking the other way?

We have had a tumultuous period in the Big 12 Conference during CPR's tenure. Should it be ignored that the Big 12 nearly disbanded and that Iowa State was very close to being shut out of a major conference?

CPR should get blamed for losing some close games and for his assistants not making good enough adjustments to win some of these close games. At the same time should CPR be blamed for Cole Netten missing a chip shot FG against Toledo?? Or Joel Lanning missing a wide open receiver against Okie State for a likely TD in our last game?? In both those cases the coaches had put the players in the correct position to win the games. And the players failed to execute and get those wins.

I have been in the stands for a long, long time. Things are much different now than just a month ago. I can see both sides of the issue. I can see CPR being fired and replaced. But it that replacement is not an improvement over CPR then I would not do so. I do not want an assistant coach at some school. And I do not want some coach with little experience. I would consider a Doc Holliday or a Dino Babers that is in his 50's and has been around and has had some success.

The 'having his own guys" argument is really stupid. Iowa State won 3 games and 2 games in the previous 2 years before CPR when they were coached by Gene Chizik. Sounds like you are making the argument that CPR is one helluva coach to coach those players up and win when they really sucked before. And what happens if we get a new coach next year that wins 7 or 8 games and then falls on some hard times the next few years. Do we suddenly praise CPR for being such a great recruiter and then dump on the new coach for "not being able to win with his own players"?????

 

[DurangoCy]

Changing the staff now would be a huge disservice to the ENORMOUS senior class this program will have next fall. A staff change will almost certainly guarantee another losing season. ISU isn't equipped to turn things around quickly like the Michigans and Auburns of the world. The players deserve one more shot with this staff barring a complete meltdown against KSU & WVU.

Disagree, I think the right coach could mean 1-2 more wins.

 

[CycloneErik]

And yet those epic wins happened with inherited players......

Stormin skips that every single time.
He got the wins and failed to turn those into a good program. Instead, Rhoads bottomed out and may or may not be showing improvement now.

 

[Wesley]

Am I the only one that has seen improvement since Lanning became the starting quarterback and Mangino was let go? I see improvement on both sides of the ball. We have the first 1,000 yard rusher since ARob. We have a mobile quarterback that rushed for over 100 yards last game. We held the 8th ranked team in the nation to 34 points, and oh did I forget, we led the game except for the last 5 minutes. All I see are people bad mouthing a coaching staff that is trying to get things going in a positive direction. I see people bad mouthing our players and saying they are not good enough to get wins. This is Iowa State, we are not Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, or even this year (I hate to say it) Iowa. We are a work in progress and I am satisfied that things are moving in the right direction. If we pick up a few good JUCO players to fill a few holes for next year, we have a good core of returning players that can win.

Hope the work in progress does not take till the contract runs out.

 

[Ficklone02]

Rhoads shouldn't get another chance. But I think he will.

This thread is another reminder that people will try anything to make excuses for a losing coach.

 

[Stormin]

I knew this would be the first response, but didn't have time to address... No I'm 100% sure many will be sad/******/upset. They're going to be way to close to this to make an objective decision, but I guess that's why JP won't take a vote after the last game.

IMHO there are lots of better coaches out there, as ours continues to make pretty basic mistakes.

Craig Bohl was a great coach out there who was a sure thing after winning 3 straight FCS Championships at NDSU. He could be available after failing at Wyoming.

Wyoming Cowboys

1-10, 6th in Mountain Division
Saturday, November 14, 9:30 PM
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
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[TD="class: _JX _WMb _aeb _KYh"]Wyoming
Cowboys
[COLOR=#878787 !important](1-10)

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[/TR]
[/TABLE]

3 - 38
[COLOR=#878787 !important]Final[/COLOR]

​

[TABLE="class: _zD, width: 205"]
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[TD="class: _JX _WMb _beb _KYh, align: right"]San Diego State
Aztecs
[COLOR=#878787 !important](7-3)[/COLOR]

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[TD="align: center"]Total[/TD]
[/TR]
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[TD="class: lr_etc vk_gy"]Wyoming[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]3[/TD]
[TD="class: _Sc, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"]3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vk_bk"]
[TD="class: vk_gy"]San Diego State[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]14[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]7[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]3[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]14[/TD]
[TD="class: _Sc, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"]38[/TD]
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Scores & Schedule

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[TD="class: _xh vk_gy _Vi"]Sat, Sep 5
[/TD]
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North Dakota
[/TD]
[TD="class: ellip _hZc"]L 24 - 13
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[TD="class: _xh vk_gy _Vi"]Sat, Sep 12
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[TD="class: _wh vk_gy, align: center"]vs
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Eastern Michigan
[/TD]
[TD="class: ellip _hZc"]L 48 - 29
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[TD="class: _xh vk_gy _Vi"]Sat, Sep 19
[/TD]
[TD="class: _wh vk_gy, align: center"]@
[/TD]
[TD="class: lr_etc _Wc"]

Washington State
[/TD]
[TD="class: ellip _hZc"]L 14 - 31
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[TD="class: _xh vk_gy _Vi"]Sat, Sep 26
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New Mexico
[/TD]
[TD="class: ellip _hZc"]L 38 - 28
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[TD="class: _xh vk_gy _Vi"]Sat, Oct 3
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Appalachian State
[/TD]
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[TD="class: _xh vk_gy _Vi"]Sat, Oct 10
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[/TD]
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Air Force
[/TD]
[TD="class: ellip _hZc"]L 17 - 31
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[TD="class: _xh vk_gy _Vi"]Sat, Oct 17
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Nevada
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[TD="class: ellip _hZc"]W 21 - 28
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Boise State
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Utah State
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Colorado State
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[TD="class: ellip _hZc"]L 26 - 7
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San Diego State
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UNLV[/TD]
[TD="class: ellip _hZc"][/TD]
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[COLOR=#878787 !important]All times are in Central Time[/COLOR]​

 

[Stormin]

And yet those epic wins happened with inherited players......

Stormin skips that every single time.
He got the wins and failed to turn those into a good program. Instead, Rhoads bottomed out and may or may not be showing improvement now.

So are you arguing that CPR is a great coach who actually won with those players that his predecessors coached and were losing games?

Do you think the turmoil in the Big 12 Conference had any impact on Iowa State Football? Or did it make no difference?

 

[BBHMagic]

The problem is that I look around at some of the talent sprinkled in this team (Tucker, Pierson, Jones, Peavy, Floyd, all the WRs, Warren, Lalk, usually the guards) and I believe it's probably one of, if not the most talented teams we have had and we will win 5 games at best. That's unacceptable. This roster should be no worse than a seven win team and I would argue 8 or 9 wins should be very possible. I truly believe there are only 4 teams on our schedule with more raw talent and we beat the one that can't put it together. We got smoked by the other three. Then we lost to two others that I don't believe are as talented and two more remain. If those are my beliefs, why should I believe that will change next year when our best pieces of the Oline are gone? It's hard for me to think that we all of a sudden just start winning some of these games. Second half letdowns, to me are indicative of coaching failure at some level. We have lost every game that's been a game at half time and lost one that we were dominating. Hell maybe two we were dominating depending on how you look at Iowa. Oklahoma was a game and we laid down. We got Baylor to a point where a big play changes how that game looks and then did nothing with it.

We've been competitive for the most part and that's an improvement. The problem is that when we are in a spot to go ahead and win games against quality teams, we can't. We can't score and we can't get stops in those scenarios.

This is a bad argument that is continually made on this site. Elite teams always bury teams, good or bad, in the 2nd half. It happens in all sports. We just happen to have the pleasure of playing loads of elite teams. Also what about the UNI, Toledo, and Baylor games? Let alone not being 2nd half letdowns, those were 2nd half major improvements.

 

[Wesley]

Report Card or what I think I see out there

QB (B) - Improved, more run threat, more arm speed, more resiliency
RB (B+) - improved just in time and a strong point
OLINE (C+) - adequate, better than last year
TE (C)- not involved for passing
WR (B+)- lots of potential, can make catches better with more accurate poasser
PR (B+)- good to abovegrade
K (C+)- short kicks and explained away that it is on purpose, goiod coverage group
KR (B)- shows potential
LS (A-)- consistent
H (B-)- flamboyant
P(2) (C+) - servicable
KO (C+)- short
Dline (B) - getting the job done, can be up and down depending on opponent
LB (C+)- okay with some decent tackling
CB (D+) - wish they could knock a pass down
SS (D+) - hope they can keep closer to WRs

 

[Wesley]

This is a bad argument that is continually made on this site. Elite teams always bury teams, good or bad, in the 2nd half. It happens in all sports. We just happen to have the pleasure of playing loads of elite teams. Also what about the UNI, Toledo, and Baylor games? Let alone not being 2nd half letdowns, those were 2nd half major improvements.

If we cannot play the second half better, we will not win games. The offense needs to uncork a few in the next second half. Hundred yard offensives the second half that are 100 yard efforts are losers.

 

[CycloneErik]

So are you arguing that CPR is a great coach who actually won with those players that his predecessors coached and were losing games?

Do you think the turmoil in the Big 12 Conference had any impact on Iowa State Football? Or did it make no difference?

He's a poor coach who inherited a roster ready to win and managed roughly .500 seasons.
Realignment only hinders a very poor coach.

 

[Cycsk]

We lost, I'll let you figure that one out.

I wont argue against the fact that some bad coaching may have cost us the game. But I will argue that good coaching put us in a position to win. I would prefer to fix the small problems rather than try to start over, especially with the quality of players we have coming back. Im not convinced that a phantom new coach is the answer. And I'm concerned that it will make things worse. If we make the strides next year that we did this year, we will have one of the best teams ever for Iowa State.