Now that I've calmed down...
- Thread starter Yellow Snow
- Start date
perhaps "below average" is too harsh; he definitely had one great booming punt, but Iowa also had 4 punt returns averaging 13 yards a piece. essentially, when he kicked it far, they got 10 yards back on a return. when he didn't punt it well, it went 30 yards.
I suppose we can argue about whether that's punt coverage or punting itself, but it sure felt like there were a lot of line drives leading to returns.
I'm gonna go with both. But place more blame on punt coverage. There was one where the Iowa returner was dead to rights, and we didn't tackle him.
Agree. If memory serves me, they tried him back on punts in 2018 and he dropped one against K State. He was nowhere close to comfortable yesterday. That mid-field fiasco was a back breaker. He fielded two inside the ten that should have been allowed to bounce. Somebody on that roster can do this job.
Milton can be a big contributor to the offense. Love his game. Play calling needs to get him more involved.
We should try to nab UTSA’s special teams coordinator. Apparently they have the best kicking/punting duo in all of FBS and I’m sure their coordinator will happily make the jump to P5.
Iowa played a very clean game. We didn't. When the talent level between teams is close, whoever makes the most mistakes loses every time. We made the mistakes with turnover, Iowa didn't. That happens and doesn't bother me that much since we're not normally a turnover prone team.
What does bother me is another terrible performance by our special teams. Iowa owned field position the entire first half off the punting game alone.
Iowa's offense is terrible. They are going to win a ton of games anyway with their defense, punting game and they have a phenomenal kicker. We could do the same, and I think our offense is better than theirs, but our special teams is still atrocious by P5 standards.
What does bother me is another terrible performance by our special teams. Iowa owned field position the entire first half off the punting game alone.
Iowa's offense is terrible. They are going to win a ton of games anyway with their defense, punting game and they have a phenomenal kicker. We could do the same, and I think our offense is better than theirs, but our special teams is still atrocious by P5 standards.
This. When we were backed up in our own territory and he line drives it to a good returner. That can’t happen
I heard Alabama has a pretty good special teams coach too. Maybe we can get him.
But just as important was it was the type of loss that we have seen way to often. Special team break downs, turnovers and lack of offense.
Losing to EIU is just the continued kick in the nuts on top of all the rest of it.
That 23-0 game in (I think) 2005 was pretty dominant. I don’t believe we allowed Iowa to cross the 50 year line all game or something crazy like that.
He didn't lose the ball. He's scared to catch it. It's a pattern.
Iowa crossed midfield a few times. ISU forced a lot of turnovers, some in Iowa territory and including a pick-6.
Looking at stats and game flow, in some ways it was like yesterday's game, but in ISU's favor ... Iowa slight advantage in yardage, TOP about even ... ISU advantage in field position, major advantage in turnover margin (5 to 1).
Play-by-play
Iowa State 23-3 Iowa (Sep 10, 2005) Play-by-Play - ESPN
Play-by-play action for the Iowa State Cyclones vs. Iowa Hawkeyes NCAAF game from September 10, 2005 on ESPN.
Box score
Iowa State 23-3 Iowa (Sep 10, 2005) Box Score - ESPN
Box score for the Iowa State Cyclones vs. Iowa Hawkeyes NCAAF game from September 10, 2005 on ESPN. Includes all passing, rushing and receiving stats.
Team stats
Iowa State 23-3 Iowa (Sep 10, 2005) Game Stats - ESPN
Complete team stats and game leaders for the Iowa State Cyclones vs. Iowa Hawkeyes NCAAF game from September 10, 2005 on ESPN.
OF play calling helped lead to INT's. When you are backed up in your own goal against a stout D, you never call a play that requires your QB to be a pocket passer. He cannot see the field very well. If no one is open it is hard to throw the ball away, which he must, or risk a sack, which is most often a safety. Roll him to the side, where he can see what is in front of him, and always leaves the option of throwing the ball out of bounds.
On the first pick? That play worked really well, getting one of your best receivers 1 on 1 deep is a win. The throw being off isn’t even that big of a deal. It’s the WR’s job to win those, and he just got dominated.
Coming in at 9 to play 10 at home hosting GameDay in front of a national audience to regress in our execution as we always do in September? Iowa or not, there was going to be a meltdown. We might go on to beat the crap out of some really crappy big 12 teams now but all that non-isu fans will remember is this crappy performance.
Thats a margin and details deal and we don’t even have a game plan or any effort on punt returns.
Exactly. That was kind of my initial point. Play calling wasn't the issues as evidenced by the stats. The real issue is turning the ball over left and right. That's on the players.