The Coaching Turnaround Has Been Drastic

[acoustimac]

I’m one that thought we had a bad train wreck…well, we sort of did, after the Ohio game. I’ve been impressed with what has transpired since (well, the OU game was a mess). Today was the first game I’ve seen this season where every aspect of the team looked locked in. One game at a time is the usual mantra…a week off to prepare and then Baylor.

 

[Kinch]

Fourth quarter touchdown pass, Rocco put the ball where he needed to to give the receiver a chance to make the play. He doesn’t do that earlier in the season.
Teams that win typically score their points in the second quarter. Two TDS in the second quarter put Cinci in a corner. That’s where we won the game.

 

[CoKane]

Watching a recording of the game and almost spit out my water when we faked that FG.

Glad to see that the coaching staff is actually playing to win now.

Yeah not gonna lie, I was a bit annoyed and was fast forwarding. I thought we missed it or got it blocked so I backed it up, swearing under my breath when I saw that we went for the FG and didn't see our points change.

I was certainly surprised when I found out why the points didnt change

 

[Urbandale2013]

Biggest change is no longer playing not to lose. It’s been really important to play more loose and we’ve actually seen fewer mistakes IMO because people were playing tight the past few years.

 

[Didley]

Yeah not gonna lie, I was a bit annoyed and was fast forwarding. I thought we missed it or got it blocked so I backed it up, swearing under my breath when I saw that we went for the FG and didn't see our points change.

I was certainly surprised when I found out why the points didnt change

Yeah and that was the same drive that Dean got in the way of Nortons TD run. So we really needed to finish that one to avoid not feeling like we left points on the table.

 

[Cyrealist]

The coaches knew what they had and had to make choices on how to go about it.

The way I look at it is running a base offense and a base defense allows the coaches to assess our capabilities. Then they are able to design the offense and defense for the best performance using those capabilities. That's true for the season, bu also for games. And, as has been said in basketball, when the ball goes through the hoop, the coach is a genius.

 

[Jayshellberg]

The biggest thing I’ve noticed is that the coaches and players are no longer playing not to lose. Instead, they are playing to win. They just have a different mindset. Plus, the team is playing with much more confidence than they were earlier in the year.

 

[cyclo120]

This is the type of situation where Campbell tends to excel as coach. Young team, low expectations and can really coach to see growth.

 

[Cyrealist]

Yeah not gonna lie, I was a bit annoyed and was fast forwarding. I thought we missed it or got it blocked so I backed it up, swearing under my breath when I saw that we went for the FG and didn't see our points change.

It's kind of funny but as we were lining up for that play, I was thinking "We really ought to fake one of these every once in a while."

 

[NebrClone]

This statement by the OP was literally wrong:

They owned up to it. That’s the meaning of “eating crow”.

CMC made a comment after the Ohio game that he was playing not to lose and should play to win. Or close to that. Big change in attitude.

 

[CyCloned]

Special team change is the most amazing. In general they have been better all year, but now we are seeing the special team win games, while for the last few years they lost them.

Holding my breath on the OL, but they are showing signs of life in the last couple games. They were horrible in the first 3 games. I know it takes time to make the change in coaches, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating.

 

[Dr.bannedman]

The biggest thing I’ve noticed is that the coaches and players are no longer playing not to lose. Instead, they are playing to win. They just have a different mindset. Plus, the team is playing with much more confidence than they were earlier in the year.

Every year. Start by playing scared. Oct we start growing some balls. Nov either continue or are pretty banged up and get smoked.

 

[CyCloned]

CMC made a comment after the Ohio game that he was playing not to lose and should play to win. Or close to that. Big change in attitude.

Loved the fake FG, lining up to go for it on 4th and 1, ect. In the Ohio game there was at least 2 times when ISU punted on 4th and a yard or less. Got to go for stuff like that when the game is not going your way, which that one certainly was.

 

[madguy30]

The way I look at it is running a base offense and a base defense allows the coaches to assess our capabilities. Then they are able to design the offense and defense for the best performance using those capabilities. That's true for the season, bu also for games. And, as has been said in basketball, when the ball goes through the hoop, the coach is a genius.

Someone said Rocco wasn't great in camp so I'm not sure how he'd be ready to just open things up.

Again, I'd like to see ISU ore succinct even as a 'base' look which imo isn't the case but they're coming along.

 

[pulse]

I am not stunned.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

I believe that it's also the case of a lot of inexperienced underclassmen getting a lot of gametime and growing up as a result. Becht didn't come in with Brock-level moxie - who does? - but has looked confident and poised in the pocket of late.

 

[cyowa]

Anyone who said "hot seat" please go kick yourself in the nuts

W0W. THAT WOULD BE A PRETTY FLEXIBLE ANYONE!

 

[madguy30]

I believe that it's also the case of a lot of inecperienced underclassmen getting a lot of gametime and growing up as a result. Becht didn't come in with Brock-level moxie - who does? - but has looked confident and poised in the pocket of late.

He looked as sure as he's been all season today imo.

These things take time.

 

[AirWalke]

Something that caught my eye is that the three teams that have beaten us have only two losses between them. Rocco taking care of the ball is big.

Three losses now, Ohio just lost on the road to Northern Illinois. Otherwise, I agree. Iowa just had a big win in Madison and Oklahoma has been taking care of business with every game they’ve played.

 

[flycy]

The title of this post is humorous. No, the coaching they were doing all along and philosophies they push are slowly paying off. They didn't suddenly learn to coach, and they certainly didn't adjust play calling as a few on here think because of fan grumbling.