Schedule advantage before the game: UI or ISU?

Better without the bye, what Campbell prefers also. He believes the players get distracted and motivation is hard to hold for two weeks. What we have to deal with so it is what it is.

CMC loves the week two bye. They had it at Mt Union and he is a big fan of it.
 
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This bye week will not be a factor to anyone, unless of course someone of significance for the University of Iowa would get injured Week 2, then they would probably with they had had a bye. This is also a completely different scenario than last year, so there should not be any comparisons. We've known about this bye since the schedule was put out and nothing will come to us as a surprise.

A positive aspect of the bye would be that if anyone for us would get banged up in the first game, they would have a full two weeks to recover.
 
Perhaps CMC does like the Week 2 bye, as many have noted a reference to something similar that he had experienced at Mt. Union.

But part of me thinks there is a chance he is minimizing any possibility for any blame/rust/lack of focus from entering the players minds from an early week off. I only say this because it seems to be against logic of going through the routine and experience of facing another squad (other than avoiding a possible injury as also noted previously).

CMC also told the team during the Liberty Bowl a couple of years ago that he hoped the David Montgomery "fumble" at the goal line was upheld so the defense could overcome adversity and win the game. I'm not calling him a liar, but possibly a motivational tactic to embrace what can't be changed - control what you can control.

Or maybe he really does like it...
 
Perhaps CMC does like the Week 2 bye, as many have noted a reference to something similar that he had experienced at Mt. Union.

But part of me thinks there is a chance he is minimizing any possibility for any blame/rust/lack of focus from entering the players minds from an early week off. I only say this because it seems to be against logic of going through the routine and experience of facing another squad (other than avoiding a possible injury as also noted previously).

CMC also told the team during the Liberty Bowl a couple of years ago that he hoped the David Montgomery "fumble" at the goal line was upheld so the defense could overcome adversity and win the game. I'm not calling him a liar, but possibly a motivational tactic to embrace what can't be changed - control what you can control.

Or maybe he really does like it...

Teams tend to make their biggest jump in improvement between game 1 and 2. It's not hard to understand why CMC loves the week 2 bye. It's not just "coach speak"
 
We have to probably switch to a 4-3 for that game so its a huge advantage for ISU to have that bye week; but that advantage only levels the playing field. It would be so much better if we could play Nebraska instead of Iowa because Iowa is a terrible matchup for us. It seems like ISU has failed to make Iowa make wholesale adjustments for us.

I hope someone who understands this situation better could explain or clarify this.
 
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We have to probably switch to a 4-3 for that game so its a huge advantage for ISU to have that bye week; but that advantage only levels the playing field. It would be so much better if we could play Nebraska instead of Iowa because Iowa is a terrible matchup for us. It seems like ISU has failed to make Iowa make wholesale adjustments for us.

I hope someone who understands this situation better could explain or clarify this.
In the 2017 game against Iowa, we played outstanding football on the offensive side of the ball, however struggled on the defensive side. Joel Lanning was playing his first true test as the MLB and he got exposed quite a bit. This was all before we switched our defensive scheme, which happened in the Texas game, in which Joel had around 20 tackles.

Last year, our defense played outstanding football, however our offense had a ton of issues. Some of those issues coming from Iowa having a good defense, and some of those issues could have stemmed from it being Coach Campbell's first true game as the OC. Our offensive line sure did not help, as it put our offense constantly in 3rd down and long distances.

With Tom Manning back calling plays as the OC, and our defense having played in this system for a while, I see a lot less confusion on both sides of the ball. Brock Purdy is also an x-factor in this game in my opinion. Iowa has struggled when facing a QB that can do everything.
 
Perhaps CMC does like the Week 2 bye, as many have noted a reference to something similar that he had experienced at Mt. Union.

But part of me thinks there is a chance he is minimizing any possibility for any blame/rust/lack of focus from entering the players minds from an early week off. I only say this because it seems to be against logic of going through the routine and experience of facing another squad (other than avoiding a possible injury as also noted previously).

CMC also told the team during the Liberty Bowl a couple of years ago that he hoped the David Montgomery "fumble" at the goal line was upheld so the defense could overcome adversity and win the game. I'm not calling him a liar, but possibly a motivational tactic to embrace what can't be changed - control what you can control.

Or maybe he really does like it...

I would agree with this IF his Mount Union history didn't show them doing something similar. He said they always set up the schedule like that at Mount Union - leads me to believe he truly does like that setup.
 
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Teams tend to make their biggest jump in improvement between game 1 and 2. It's not hard to understand why CMC loves the week 2 bye. It's not just "coach speak"

I completely agree that teams make a huge leap from game 1 to game 2. But that doesn't necessarily mean that a bye would have them further ahead in progress during a week 2 than playing another game with the ability to apply what was gathered from week 1 experiences.

Just now looking up his comments about loving the bye, he also mentions sorting things out at RB with all top 5 guys available. So each guy will get (approximately) 7-8 carries if everybody gets an equal chance? I don't think they learn everything they need to learn with those limited samples (combined with the thought of how many carries and how much observation they get during practice up to this point). As I see the logic, they'd be better off having a second week to see how they apply week 1 teaching points. It's probably going to take a few games to get it honed in like it always does.

Not saying it is a big detriment to have the week 2 bye. But it isn't like he's going to say they're at a disadvantage for it.
 
We have to probably switch to a 4-3 for that game so its a huge advantage for ISU to have that bye week; but that advantage only levels the playing field. It would be so much better if we could play Nebraska instead of Iowa because Iowa is a terrible matchup for us. It seems like ISU has failed to make Iowa make wholesale adjustments for us.

I hope someone who understands this situation better could explain or clarify this.

Do you really see ISU switching defenses for 1 game?

That seems strange to me.
 
He had ample time to fill Week 2 though if he wanted to.

The Iowa/Rutgers matchup for week 2 was announced in October of 2013.

I don't remember all of the logistics behind the schedule moves but I do know it was all driven by the B1G's decision to go to a 9 game slate. I remember this being discussed on KXNO last year but I feel like Louisiana Monroe was willing to switch weeks, so Iowa State avoided the buy out. Let's not pretend like JP or Iowa State have a habit of scheduling a bye week before the annual CyHawk.
 
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I would agree with this IF his Mount Union history didn't show them doing something similar. He said they always set up the schedule like that at Mount Union - leads me to believe he truly does like that setup.

If that was very common at Mt. Union, then it certainly looks like he does prefer that. It seems unconventional in that it doesn't seem to happen very often is the only reason it gives me pause. A bye would also seem to be a nice week to heal and hit the reset button for focus mid-year typically.

But that's why he makes the big bucks and I watch from my couch/the stands :)
 
Having more tape on yourselves definitely doesn't hurt, so from the perspective I would say Iowa has the advantage. However, that also means Iowa State will have more tape on Iowa, so it works both ways.

From a preparation standpoint I think the advantages wash each other out. Iowa State having an extra week to heal up any relatively minor injuries is an advantage though.
 
Do you really see ISU switching defenses for 1 game?

That seems strange to me.

They have a 4-3 package but I don't see Iowa State going that route unless Iowa is running the ball really well, which I don't see being an issue.
 
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Having more tape on yourselves definitely doesn't hurt, so from the perspective I would say Iowa has the advantage. However, that also means Iowa State will have more tape on Iowa, so it works both ways.

From a preparation standpoint I think the advantages wash each other out. Iowa State having an extra week to heal up any relatively minor injuries is an advantage though.

Iowa will keep things VERY vanilla against Miami of Ohio and Rutgers... They shouldn't have to open things up much.
 

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