WTF

[isucy86]

That was one exciting game but likely lost when Baylor's QB, Shapen, was knocked out by WVU targeting. Still both defenses were pretty leaky by ISU standards.

Sharpen getting hurt didn't help Baylor. Baylor ended up scoring on the drive Shapen got hurt to put Baylor up 31-24.

So I would put the loss on Baylor defense. They play ok the last 20 minutes, Baylor wins.

The game just shows how good the Big12 is this year, there might not be a team outside the top 40.

 

[isubb79]

Northwestern went 3-9 in 2019, then won the Big Ten north the following year going 7-2 and ended ranked #10. They've also had multiple losing seasons followed by 10 win seasons.

That's the nature of the business for programs that get the level of talent that Northwestern and Iowa State get. We are still at the middle to the bottom of the Big 12 in talent. It's gotten better, but we're not talented enough to show up and win 7-8 game per year based on talent. This year I'd say we're more talented than Kansas, less talented than Texas, Oklahoma, OSU, Baylor, and pretty close with everyone else.

That means we have a lot of close games because we're playing a lot of games against teams with similar talent. So far this year we've lost all those close games. Hopefully that turns and we win a couple. In 2020 we won all the close games with the exception of @OSU and Oklahoma in the Big 12 Title game.

As it has been well documented, Campbell loses way more of the close games than he wins.

 

[surly]

And so much for preseason polling yet?

 

[isucy86]

I think your bias is showing. It was definitely a penalty, and not even close. If he dove over the top of him there wouldn’t have been flag. I’ve seen plenty of more questionable calls this year.

I would agree it was a penalty based on the hit, but Sharpen slide late. So he bears some blame. Hard for a defensive player to stop in mid-air.

 

[iastatefan1]

I am really questioning if we are going to win a game the rest of the way. I think we will look back and say we almost won 5-6 games, but lost all of them.

Usually it's never as good or bad as it seems. But history has shown that our defense will likely cost us a game somewhere in the conference (see last year wv and tt. hope not). That makes it hard to see a lot of wins left. Go cyclones.

 

[CycloneErik]

And so much for preseason polling yet?

Touche. Maybe kind of cheap, but in a way I respect. I'm sure I'd think of it if KSU were in our spot.

 

[jbhtexas]

Northwestern went 3-9 in 2019, then won the Big Ten north the following year going 7-2 and ended ranked #10. They've also had multiple losing seasons followed by 10 win seasons.

That's the nature of the business for programs that get the level of talent that Northwestern and Iowa State get. We are still at the middle to the bottom of the Big 12 in talent. It's gotten better, but we're not talented enough to show up and win 7-8 game per year based on talent. This year I'd say we're more talented than Kansas, less talented than Texas, Oklahoma, OSU, Baylor, and pretty close with everyone else.

That means we have a lot of close games because we're playing a lot of games against teams with similar talent. So far this year we've lost all those close games. Hopefully that turns and we win a couple. In 2020 we won all the close games with the exception of @OSU and Oklahoma in the Big 12 Title game.

Northwestern's 7-2 was the COVID year when the Big Ten got started late. Fitzgerald basically has pulled 3-9 in his last two "normal" seasons, and is 1-5 this year. The "nature of the business" for P5 coaches that consistently pull sub-0.500 seasons is not pleasant. Again, not new news for ISU fans.

Yes, some guys come back. Dantanio at MSU and Patterson at TCU are examples. They both pulled stinker seasons after ten years (Dantonio 3-9 and Patterson 4-8), but they also both had +0.700 winning % in the ten years prior, Rose/Cotton bowl wins, and multiple double-digit winning seasons to give them some credibility.

 

[surly]

Touche. Maybe kind of cheap, but in a way I respect. I'm sure I'd think of it if KSU were in our spot.

I was taking a shot at media "experts" who insist on publishing this crap year-after-year, then bloviate incessantly until reality sets in.

 

[CycloneErik]

I was taking a shot at media "experts" who insist on publishing this crap year-after-year, then bloviate incessantly until reality sets in.

Believe me, it's fine either way.

 

[clonehome]

Baylor guy did not lead with his head. His head was down but he lead with his shoulder into the QB’s head. Still targeting. He came in so low that he must have been anticipating a QB slide. With proper heads up tackling technique he flys a couple feet over the QB and doesn’t make contact. If not malicious intent then poor technique so he earned the penalty and ejection.

 

[isucy86]

I just don’t understand why these kids don’t understand that you need to keep your head up and see what you are tackling?

You absolutely cannot lower your head and use your helmet as a weapon. Yet they continue to do it all the time.

I’ve never agreed with ejecting kids from the game for it, but if they’re going to be that stupid, maybe they should be ejected? Ejected for being a dumb a** should be the call.

Hard to stop body momentum when running near top speed. Both for QB & defense.

What I saw was a defender breaking down (knee dips) to make a low tackle at the same time Sharpen started his slide. Could the db have not hit Sharpen with his helmet? Maybe, but the head/helmet lead where the shoulders go!

No sure if there is an alternative to the slide. It maybe silly, but could QB raise arm like fair catch signal to end forward progress.

 

[isutrevman]

Northwestern's 7-2 was the COVID year when the Big Ten got started late. Fitzgerald basically has pulled 3-9 in his last two "normal" seasons, and is 1-5 this year. The "nature of the business" for P5 coaches that consistently pull sub-0.500 seasons is not pleasant. Again, not new news for ISU fans.

Yes, some guys come back. Dantanio at MSU and Patterson at TCU are examples. They both pulled stinker seasons after ten years (Dantonio 3-9 and Patterson 4-8), but they also both had +0.700 winning % in the ten years prior, Rose/Cotton bowl wins, and multiple double-digit winning seasons to give them some credibility.

And? They played under the same circumstances as everyone else in their conference.

Maybe Northwester stays down, I don't know. But he's rebounded many times in his tenure there. Hell, Ferentz rebounded at Iowa after a 4-8 year in 2012.

 

[isutrevman]

As it has been well documented, Campbell loses way more of the close games than he wins.

How many more?

 

[cyfanatic13]

This is total bs. He had every opportunity to stop and chose to stick a shoulder in there to pop him anyway.

I promise you I'm the farthest thing from a Baylor fan, but it is extremely hard to stop when the QB has yet to begin his slide and you're five yards away. Not to mention when the opponent is getting close to scoring. I'm not arguing that it's not targeting by the rule, but they have to find a different way if they truly care about player safety. QB's waiting til the last possible second to slide is just begging for this to happen every single time

 

[Clone95]

How many more?

Since 2017 he's 15-20 in one score games. Guess it depends on your definition of way more.

 

[CyCloned]

We get WVU at home. I don't see us dropping that one. Or to OU at home. It's just finding that 3rd win that gets tricky for me.

TTU is a decent candidate. The two losses to the Kansas schools really stunk. Neither of those teams are very good.

 

[Clonehomer]

I promise you I'm the farthest thing from a Baylor fan, but it is extremely hard to stop when the QB has yet to begin his slide and you're five yards away. Not to mention when the opponent is getting close to scoring. I'm not arguing that it's not targeting by the rule, but they have to find a different way if they truly care about player safety. QB's waiting til the last possible second to slide is just begging for this to happen every single time

Don't lead with your head regardless. You'll get some leeway if you showed an effort to avoid or hold up. But when you drop your head and lead with your helmet, it's automatic.

 

[cytor]

The Baylor game is a tough pill to swallow. That one got handed to them by the zebras.

 

[drmwevr08]

I promise you I'm the farthest thing from a Baylor fan, but it is extremely hard to stop when the QB has yet to begin his slide and you're five yards away. Not to mention when the opponent is getting close to scoring. I'm not arguing that it's not targeting by the rule, but they have to find a different way if they truly care about player safety. QB's waiting til the last possible second to slide is just begging for this to happen every single time

Yes, it can be tough. Not here. After the slide began he lowered himself further to make sure he hit him while on the turf and even turned his shoulder.

 

[dafarmer]

Scoreboard comparing isn’t a great method to determine how good or bad a team is. Matchups, gameplans, etc. change.

And no, our offense would not be capable of scoring 40 against anyone right now but they won’t have to score 40+ to beat WVU.

can they score 17?