OK I drank the kool aid, but next years schedule..

[Aclone]

Seriously people, get a grip on reality; we got beat at home by Kent - even Toledo and Nebraska beat us convincingly.

There's no reason not to be hopefully optimistic. Plus, those losses occured when the team was still adapting to a new system, and we get NU at home. If everything shakes out, I'd be happy with six, but eight is a possibility--and ten is worth at least dreaming about.

 

[clonomaniac]

There's no reason not to be hopefully optimistic. Plus, those losses occured when the team was still adapting to a new system, and we get NU at home. If everything shakes out, I'd be happy with six, but eight is a possibility--and ten is worth at least dreaming about.

I have to agree.

We have to be hopeful. We paid a lot to get rid of DMac and get the new coaching staff in. We have to produce more and real soon to get the new projects at JTS rolling. Unless the coaches start producing, it will be the fans alone paying so much more and not be satisfied without winning records for years to come.

That's why I don't see any reason why we should NOT expect more and be optimistic.

 

[jdoggivjc]

There's no reason not to be hopefully optimistic. Plus, those losses occured when the team was still adapting to a new system, and we get NU at home. If everything shakes out, I'd be happy with six, but eight is a possibility--and ten is worth at least dreaming about.

There's hopefully optimistic and unrealistically optimistic. 8-4 to me is hopefully optimistic. 10-2 is unrealistically optimistic. Unrealistically optimistic is what leads to the kind of meltdown we've seen here on CF after some on this site were convinced ISU was going to win 20+ games, finish in the top half of the Big XII, and make the NCAA tournament. Then we lost to Bradley. Then we lost to Minnesota. Then we lost to Northern Iowa. Then we lost to Drake. Then a couple of players left the team. Now those same people who were convinced we were going to have an outstanding season are the same ones that are sharpening their axes in preparation of calling for G-Mac's head. Unrealistically optimistic leads to goals we can't expect the team to realistically achieve and then when the team goes and fails our expectations we get pissed as a fanbase. That's why the "I think the team can go 10-2" is getting ripped by a lot of us here, especially when nothing we've done as a football team over the last several years shows that we're capable of doing something like that.

 

[clonomaniac]

There's hopefully optimistic and unrealistically optimistic. 8-4 to me is hopefully optimistic. 10-2 is unrealistically optimistic. Unrealistically optimistic is what leads to the kind of meltdown we've seen here on CF after some on this site were convinced ISU was going to win 20+ games, finish in the top half of the Big XII, and make the NCAA tournament. Then we lost to Bradley. Then we lost to Minnesota. Then we lost to Northern Iowa. Then we lost to Drake. Then a couple of players left the team. Now those same people who were convinced we were going to have an outstanding season are the same ones that are sharpening their axes in preparation of calling for G-Mac's head. Unrealistically optimistic leads to goals we can't expect the team to realistically achieve and then when the team goes and fails our expectations we get pissed as a fanbase. That's why the "I think the team can go 10-2" is getting ripped by a lot of us here, especially when nothing we've done as a football team over the last several years shows that we're capable of doing something like that.

I thought this thread was for ISU football????

 

[RedStorm]

At first we laughed at any Hawk Fan that predicted 10-2 in '07 and then we served them Crow when they went 6-6.

Seriously people, get a grip on reality; we got beat at home by Kent - even Toledo and Nebraska beat us convincingly. We're going to have an inexperienced QB and some big holes on defense to fill. I'll take 5, maybe 6 wins. Also, isn't K-State away - this list seems like we play them at home.

I agree 10 - 2 is not going to happen, however, I disagree with you telling people to "get a grip" and useing last season as a measureing stick. Last year is done and we will be a different team next year and there is no reason to not be optimistic....it is just how optimistic should we be? I say a 7 a win season is not crazy thinking. But we have a tough stretch with NU, TAM, Okie St, CU, and MU....I will be happy if we can win one of those games. I don't see NU slideing with the coaching change. In fact I think they will get better. The cupboard is not bare at NU by a long shot.....

 

[jdoggivjc]

I thought this thread was for ISU football????

It is - I'm using the situation with the basketball team as an example of the fanbase placing unrealistic expectations on a team and the meltdown that ensues when the team is incapable of meeting them.

Expecting the team to win 10 games next year is just setting us up to do the same thing to Chizik that some fans have been doing to McDermott over the last month.

 

[wonkadog]

Last year is done and we will be a different team next year

I'm sorry but I don't know how anyone can use that sort of logic. We are banking on returning players from last year contributing to next year's team, correct? It's not like teams start off brand new every year and no one knows how they're going to do. There are trends to go off of from the previous year and our trend from this past year is that we were below-average (and downright awful at times). I would hope that we can upgrade to around the "average" team level this next year.

 

[hall4cy]

You are drinking the Kool-aid, but that is ok. I see us winning 7 probably. I don't think we will beat KU, or MIZZOU, Nebraska is reloading with a new coaching staff taht will be much better, and havethe talent to do some damage. And I don't see us beating iowa at Kinnick either. I would project 7-5, 8-4 at best. I wish I could say 10-2 but we are talking about Iowa State. Something big will happen at the beginning of the year with a suspension or injury that will keep us from doing any better.

 

[CYdTracked]

Fun to look at how we stack up
QB: Should be improved, with Arnaud, strong arm and he knows the system (Grade B)
RB: We know who we have, and help is coming. (Grade B)
OL: The biggest question mark last year will be our strength this coming year(Grade A)
WR: No Blythe, but plenty still there with Hamilton a big time player(Grade C+)

DB: Needed first aid to start last year, but with returning vets and incoming help, we should be decent (Grade B-)
LB: Minus our best guy, but good returnees and help coming in (Grade C)
DL: Need a couple of fat guys in the middle, otherwise we look decent. Hopefully a JUCO or two will come in to shore that up (Grade C-)

Special teams: We improved 1000 percent in the last 4 games, and with a REAL returner coming in, more depth with RS frosh and JUCOs, this should be a serviceable unit.(Grade C+)

Overall, greatly improved over 2007 in my view.

I'm going to disagree with some of this. DB is way worse than a B-. Teams threw the ball against our D with ease this year. Our completion percentage on defense was nearly 70%! That is not a good stat for a secondary! Only had 10 picks this year too which is less than 1 a game.

DL probably more of a D, they didn't get much of a pass rush and we had only 17 sacks on the year which if I counted right only 13 came from the DL. We were undersized and lose our biggest player on the line to graduation although Tuba was not much of a pass rusher.

Special teams other than Brandtner was terrible I think so this is a big area to improve on. We got better in coverage and Shaggy and his 53% FG% is gone now but our kick and punt returns were about average but nothing special.

I think year 3 is the year we get back into the bowl hunt but next year is going to be key to develop some guys and see what we have. The schedule is better but I still think 6 wins is the most optimistic I can get right now. Arnaud is going to have some rough games due to lack of experience so don't be surprised if just like this year we lose to a team early in the schedule that everyone thinks will be a win.

 

[ISUFan22]

Some mentioned if Chizik is a good coach, he'll start producing next year and not the year after.

IMO, a 6ish win season would be producing, following 4 and 3 win seasons - both very ugly.

I have high expectations for this program, IMO we should win at least the North by 2010 if we're going to get somewhere and a Big 12 title not long after.

But to expect some sort of 10ish win season next year is a stretch. We still lack the athletes required to get it done. Everyone mentions Kansas and we should be able to do that. Mangino has been there how long now? Not forever, but far longer than Chizik. He's got the horses down there...a lot more than we do.

Chizik will get us there, I think we just need another year to be thinking of 10 wins. Could it happen in '08? Certainly. Just a bit premature I think.

 

[BryceC]

There's hopefully optimistic and unrealistically optimistic. 8-4 to me is hopefully optimistic. 10-2 is unrealistically optimistic. Unrealistically optimistic is what leads to the kind of meltdown we've seen here on CF after some on this site were convinced ISU was going to win 20+ games, finish in the top half of the Big XII, and make the NCAA tournament. Then we lost to Bradley. Then we lost to Minnesota. Then we lost to Northern Iowa. Then we lost to Drake. Then a couple of players left the team. Now those same people who were convinced we were going to have an outstanding season are the same ones that are sharpening their axes in preparation of calling for G-Mac's head. Unrealistically optimistic leads to goals we can't expect the team to realistically achieve and then when the team goes and fails our expectations we get pissed as a fanbase. That's why the "I think the team can go 10-2" is getting ripped by a lot of us here, especially when nothing we've done as a football team over the last several years shows that we're capable of doing something like that.

Awesome post. A few more like this and people will be telling you you're what's wrong with ISU's athletic department.

 

[Aclone]

Fun to look at how we stack up
QB: Should be improved, with Arnaud, strong arm and he knows the system (Grade B)
RB: We know who we have, and help is coming. (Grade B)
OL: The biggest question mark last year will be our strength this coming year(Grade A)
WR: No Blythe, but plenty still there with Hamilton a big time player(Grade C+)

DB: Needed first aid to start last year, but with returning vets and incoming help, we should be decent (Grade B-)
LB: Minus our best guy, but good returnees and help coming in (Grade C)
DL: Need a couple of fat guys in the middle, otherwise we look decent. Hopefully a JUCO or two will come in to shore that up (Grade C-)

Special teams: We improved 1000 percent in the last 4 games, and with a REAL returner coming in, more depth with RS frosh and JUCOs, this should be a serviceable unit.(Grade C+)

Overall, greatly improved over 2007 in my view.

Hmm...interesting analysis. My thoughts...

QB: I think will be more up in the air than most people think. I'm really impressed with Josh Jordan, and Bates and Tiller are phenomenal athletes.

OL: I can't give it an A, because Tibbs was a road grader who solidified the unit. Dedrick and Lamaak need to get much stronger...Baysinger being in the two-deep while redshirting intrigued me, perhaps one of the starting tackles will move inside. Despite being a huge upgrade, Dedrick struggled against speed sometimes. Johnson was okay at best. This group has a long way to go.

RB: A healthy Bass could give us a nice one-two punch if his shoulder is healed. I'm not sure what you mean by "help is on the way"--I am unimpressed with Schwartz's 4.89 40 time when everywhere else Chizik is attempting to upgrade speed.

TE: You didn't mention it, but a question with the cupboard next to bare. Unless a juco materializes, there will be a lot of pressure on Collin Franklin to join Catlett in the rotation.

WR: The receiving corps wasn't as bad in '07 as it looked, but calling Hamilton a "playmaker" seems a stretch. He's a good possession receiver. Graham and Carlson seem important. Do Derron Montgomery or Houston Jones finally appear?

DL: I'm looking forward to seeing something out of guys like Jerrod Black, Weir, Tate and Chris Lyle. Frere and Johnson offer hope inside, I really liked Alburtis when he signed. Parker made a couple of plays very late, but otherwise was invisible. Taylor was solid to good. This is a major question mark.

LB: Jesse Smith might have been tough and solid, but he had a lot of shortcomings--and he's the only returnee. The redshirts and returnees are such mysteries that I wouldn't know where to begin. Mathews and Mathis? Who knows. Another mystery slot.

DB: For all of the complaining, this is the most stable position returning on the defense. Bell and Singleton are experienced, and have two decent players behind them--McDowell might finally be ready. At safety, Smith and Brown were undersized, but at least had some speed and athleticism. Johnson and Hunley are all else there is.

Special Teams: To call them abysmal would be an insult to a hole--aside from Brandtner, whose average was hampered by continually punting to a short field. He could be a major weapon. I had to look at the coaching staff to see if the fat man was back on the sidelines--but no, the offensive line was improved. I'm guessing I know a priority for Spring practice.