For anyone interested here's a look @ the efficiency #s & national ranks since 05 broken down between Campbell, Rhoads, Chizik, & Mac (obviously only Mac's last 2 years are on here)
ISU Football efficiency since 05
- Thread starter Postel16
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The offensive efficiency of 2020 was just damn impressive. We had a top 3 O-line in the league, very accurate quarterback, and just a stable of NFL backs (Kene/Breece).
A ground and pound style worked in that year. Until we get NFL backs and an above avg line again, we shouldn't be playing that style. That's where fans have a gripe to be upset. Manning was great in 2020, but you have to adapt to your current roster talents and strengths.
That and of course it doesn't help with our ST play being downright abysmal (like many on this site gripe about alot, which is pretty understandable)
Our special teams was abysmal in 2020 also. 2 of our losses that year could be chalked up to special teams play.
Campbell has to hire a special teams coach this off season, it's just important phase of the game to keep doing what we have been, these past seven years.
Blocked punts, missed field goals and poor returns on receiving teams have put the team at a disadvantage under this coaching staff.
A team either moves forward or starts falling back to the pack, and without change, we are in danger of being worse off than where we are now, and currently we are last in the conference.
Blocked punts, missed field goals and poor returns on receiving teams have put the team at a disadvantage under this coaching staff.
A team either moves forward or starts falling back to the pack, and without change, we are in danger of being worse off than where we are now, and currently we are last in the conference.
That's true but I believe we are much better positioned than alot would assume I mean look @ our last 4 games each of which we were right there in the end, you could easily chalk that up to inexperience or certain fixable aspects (such as ST/line play) I have faith in Campbell. I know the last 4 weeks have sucked but the sky is not falling ppl
I trust Campbell will make the necessary changes in the staff to keep moving the program forward. That change starts with hiring a full time special teams coach. We have to turn a weakness into a strength, give the guy 4 total scholarships, to bring in his players to improve the team.
You cannot "win in the margins" with this type of special team play and it's been going on for years.
Top-of-head -- Louisiana obviously is 1 of the 2 ... which of the others was special-teams?
Big 12 Championship. OU was getting massive yards in kick return because we couldn't kick it near the end zone. Think we also missed field goals in the OSU game.
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At Baylor, 2021.
Bad/blocked punt gives them the ball at midfield for a first half TD.
Huge punt return in the 4th quarter given up. Defense holds them to a negative yard and Baylor makes the FG.
We lose by 2.
The pooch kicks in the Fiesta Bowl were finally a smart move and I wouldn't care if they continued with it if it meant lowering the risk for a long return given up.
Even just ho-hum average special teams and an offense sticking with strengths probably flips at least half of these games.
I feel like our system makes it too hard for some players. They need to streamline everything on offense and actually address special teams.
Missed two, from what I see in play-by-play. One was 48-yarder, other from 33. OSU also missed a 37-yard FG. ... 48-yd miss somewhat forgivable; others would cancel. Every little bit helps, but that might not have been a major difference-maker, in big picture.
Don't forget what Campbell said about the defense - something along the lines of you can't minor in what they do. To do the defense right, and frankly without top shelf talent, it takes a ton of time from coaches and a lot of players that are also playing ST. I'm sure this is at least a contributing factor in ST not getting the attention it probably needs. But clearly for some of these seasons it should've been expected to have at least just below average ST.
That Louisiana game was the worst job in coverage I've ever seen. That punt TD in particular. If you just grabbed 10 guys off your sideline on the first day of practice, told them to go cover a punt, they should be able to do better than that. And our punt protection has been shockingly bad. It just makes no sense.
