We blocked at least four holes for our qb and scatbacks to hit in the game. The rest of the rushing plays looked like rugby. It that is more than our guards, you may also want to add tackles to the mix.
Bill Bleil
- Thread starter mkadl
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We blocked at least four holes for our qb and scatbacks to hit in the game. The rest of the rushing plays looked like rugby. It that is more than our guards, you may also want to add tackles to the mix.
I do not think there is any question that our running game was lousier this year after we lost KO. And our passing game did not improve. Yet our Special Teams did a great job.
I had hopes that Jarvis, Lenz, Gary, and Bundrage would have had more big plays, but our oline did not help much.
I had hopes that Jarvis, Lenz, Gary, and Bundrage would have had more big plays, but our oline did not help much.
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The opposing defense made in game changes while Messingham does not and he just does not stick to the run his play calling is so inconsistent. But then our Oline got pushed around to much to not let the run game develop, it is a combination of these I believe but I am not a coach for a D1 program.
To be fair, CPR's first OL class was only still RS sophs. One one of them (Dika) missed his second straight season.
For that matter, you could make the same logic to say that because the linebackers were still thin after four years, Wally should be replaced. How does that work for you guys?
Of course, the same argument also applies to absolutely every other position on the team. And most of those take less time to develop players than the OL does. So I'm afraid that your logic doesn't hold up--unless you want to fire the whole coaching staff.
Let's face it. It simply takes more time than most people are willing to admit. Well, when you're not scooping in the talent that some other schools do.
Good points here. It really takes 6 years before I make a judgement on some of this stuff particularly O line. You need to get your first class that is yours in, redshirt them, and then have them be fifth year seniors. And we are still thin at most positions. That became pretty evident at CB and LB late in the year.
Even so, what we saw this year is not acceptable from the offensive unit as a whole for year 4. Something is not working, and my guess is it is a combination of many things. Even PR commented that we just didnt move the chains enough this year. He was pretty clearly frustrated with the offense after a few games this year. I don't know what it is, but CPR is smart and self critical I think so I trust that he will figure it out. If he thinks Bleil and Mess are the guys then that's fine, but it has to get better and I think they know that.
So for year 4 the defense is well ahead of where I thought, the offense is behind where I would have thought, and overall I am happy with the progress in the program, but damn it is hard to watch a team get 9 first downs.
In regards to line play, we are usually the inferior team at both maintaining our blocks on offense and getting off of blocks on defense. Hand work and general physicality needs to improve.
A bigger concern I have is that the type of offense we run puts the Oline in a bad spot. It is susceptible to tackles for loss, a stacked box, and the opponent knowing what to expect.
A bigger concern I have is that the type of offense we run puts the Oline in a bad spot. It is susceptible to tackles for loss, a stacked box, and the opponent knowing what to expect.
As I stated earlier in this thread it appears to me it is more than a talent gap. ISU's oline does not appear well prepared for handling all situations and making proper reads and adjustments in a zone blocking system. That should only take 1 year to do. I don't dispute that ISU is thin in the oline right now but IMO the line has been lacking on the basic fundamentals which should be in place after one spring ball and pre season camp with proper coaching. I don't know if Bleil will or should be let go but ISU's Oline has not progressed during his tenure, lot's of mental mistakes.
To be fair, we just got pistol-whipped by Tulsa. Their incoming talent is not better than ISU's, but they did improve a lot more over the year. Neither was UNI's talent in 2011. Our lines should have done better against Rutgers too.
I would too, off the air. Either we haven't recruited as good of players as Chizik did there or the coaches aren't as good because this line has regressed each season. It may be the only position I can say that about.
I would add that we are so bad at attacking the blitz that teams are free to stack the box. That kills our running game, and we cannot exploit them in the passing game. I don't know if that is the scheme, or the players. But if you blitz Tom Brady or Drew Brees, they and their receivers know immediately what to do. In about 1 second, they hit a guy on a quick slant, or the TE sits down in the middle, they gain 8, and the defense backs right off. We have to have an answer for the stacked box, teams will keep doing it until we make them stop.
If you spend enough time listening to Bruns on the radio, you can tell that he is not a big fan of our offensive scheme. He's made enough quasi-critical comments after losses this past year to pick that up. And he never hesitates to call out the o-line if he doesn't think their performance is up to par.
He was quick to put last night's loss on the play of each offensive line.
He was quick to put last night's loss on the play of each offensive line.
I think that with Richardson, we do have a legitimate answer for the blitz, because he usually is calm and collected under pressure, but yesterday, with not feeling well, plus having the pressure of his first bowl game, he couldn't hit a downfield pass whatsoever
Wiscy canned their OL coach after 2 games this year and it worked okay for them except for the Rose Bowl. But that was BIG team in a bowl game so, thankfully, they were destined to lose.
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I have no idea how good Bill Bleil is as an Oline coach, but I know he's a wonderful person and he's very close to CPR. Bill was the first coach Paul hired when he was named ISU's head coach. I'm guessing Paul will stick with Bill. I really hope our Oline will prove him right next year.
Dan McCarney, you have a call on line one, Dan McCarney.
I haven't had the chance to listen to Bruns much on the radio but I always respect his opinion. I would love to hear him speak frankly about his thoughts on the Cyclone offense without any filter.