View from the Cheap Seats-Halloween in Ames

[echeese]

View from the Cheap Seats-Halloween in Ames

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Iowa State did to us what we did to OU

We'll open by discussing the offense. . . while our defense was not good. . it was not putrid either though not without it's own problems.    Our offense could not move the chains registering 7 drives of 4 plays or less and punt . ..2 of 13 on 3rd down.   The defense played poor fundamental football and could not stop a dual threat QB and a shifty runner.  The D would give up 15 of 24 3rd downs. . . 6 of those 3rd and 7 or longer, 28 1st downs overall.

This team looked and played liked it did early in the season.  . .but let's make it worse, this game was played against the 2nd worst team in the BigXII.   This game was played against a team we seriously out-talented.   Now "give them credit". . .their QB, RB and WR would be easy starters for us. .  .if our staff was smart enough to play the best players .. . given J Gray had 9 carries and Chris Warren only two . . .not sure we are seeing evidence our staff knows what it has.

To make matters worse, CFS seems to want a QB controversy. . . . not that Heard was having a very good night.     Clearly it is not hard to scheme him. . .ISU certainly outcoached us there.   Tyrone is great in the 18 Wheeler package.  . .but showed why he is not remotely close to being a D 1 QB.   He's the Nuke LaLush of D 1 QBs. . . .99 mph fastball but he frequently cannot find the plate.    Ball was seldom where a WR could make a play on it.   So not sure what was accomplished by benching Heard other than he wasn't getting it done. . .at least part of that I blame on an OC who did not put him in a position to succeed.   To say the Cheap Seats hated the offensive game plan would be an understatement.

Riddle me this Batman, where were the counter plays that we ran so well.. . .where was the misdirection?   ISU played a 'soft' defense in that they seemed to have 2 LBs spying Heard at all times, playing 4-5 yards off the LOS.   Good strategy so why did we not make adjustments to take advantage of that D?   Why were they able to execute a WR screen when we couldn't?  Granted it was late in the game but we finally went 5 wides . ..with Andrew Beck as one of our wide outs????    What in the world?  Where is Deandre McNeil. . . a guy who was supposed to start vs ND . . .by all accounts a very real size and speed mismatch?   One thing J Gray does well, he catches the ball out of the backfield. . . .we did not seem to run plays to get playmakers the ball in space . . .and that can be a very easy throw for a young QB.

It has been a common theme from week 1 in the Cheap Seats but the scheme of our passing attack is horrid.   We do not use crossing routes, of course there is not often time.   We never used a combination route  to open up a WR . .but we've failed to do that all year.

Hate to say it as it might affect recruiting but this offensive staff is pretty woeful.  No wet ball excuses tonight.  Simple a poor game plan with even worse or non existent adjustments.    

ISU simply outplayed us on both sides of the ball.  ISU would score once in each quarter though it was only the 1st score that they needed as CFS was shut out for the 2nd time in his 2 years.    ISU would also pile up a 15 minute (37 to 22) time of possession, often a misleading stat but not in this case.  They wore the D out and played "keep away" with the ball.   Not sure they needed it, we could have doubled our possessions and the Cheap Seats is still not sure we score.  

Football is a game of matchups and of individual battles.    Not sure how many we won.

We lost field position with 6 of our drives starting inside our 20.

We lost Time of possession

We Lost the LOS

We certainly lost the coaching battle

We lost the turnover battle . .though only by 1. . .still, the D had 2 or 3 opportunities to take balls away and couldn't come up with them.

Clearly we lost the game. . .duh

At the end of the day, no idea what to take from this game.   We lost a game vs a very good OSU team we should have won, we physically whipped OU and seriously outcoached them but we also spit the bit against an ISU team that basically had Halloween, some quality skill players and good coaching going for them.   The road to a bowl game just got REALLY challanging.   CFS now has to find 3 wins from KU, WVU, TT and Baylor. . . .if we're betting today. . .we're betting 2-2 at best.  Not many positives to take away from the game.

If I had a playoff vote based on what has happened this season up till now . .. not projecting future games.

CFB Playoffs

Clemson

LSU

TCU

Mich St

Next 4

tOSU

Baylor (lost their QB and have played no one to date)

Stanford

Bama

Ranking the BigXII

TCU

Baylor

OSU

OU

ISU

TEXAS

TT

WVU

KSU

KU

 

[bcherry168]

"Hate to say it as it might affect recruiting but this offensive staff is pretty woeful.  No wet ball excuses tonight.  Simple a poor game plan with even worse or non existent adjustments."

This is a big problem. I would fire the entire offensive staff except for Traylor, and put in an offense that our kids have the ability to execute. And until that happens, I would instruct the play caller to go to our strengths instead of trying to do other things. Norvell's play calling was atrocious, IMO.

The other problem was that our kids played like all they really had to do was show up and they would win. They were very uninspired, it appeared. This is partly coaching, but mainly a question of team leadership. Pretty sad exhibition.

Maybe we can beat Kansas, but the rest of the season looks bad from my seat.  :angry:

 

[tejasrulz]

Heard had a bad night, no doubt but Swoopes showed us last night why he was benched in the first place.

I'm an optimist but there's no way to see any positives from last night's game from the offensive side of the ball. The D held their own for awhile but even they gave up big plays on 3rd and long too many times.

Bad night for Texas football and I believe it's official now, Charlie is on the hot seat.

 

[java]

I would keep Norvell as a wide receivers coach and Traylor. I like Wick and would keep him based on input from new offensive coordinator.

 

[bcherry168]

I would keep Norvell as a wide receivers coach and Traylor. I like Wick and would keep him based on input from new offensive coordinator.

That would be fine with me. I was thinking in terms of letting a new OC be able to pick people he trusts. If Wick and Norvell can stay and be position coaches, that is fine. Same for Watson being a quarterback coach.

It is clear, however that we need a new scheme and a play caller who can emphasize the strengths of our players rather than the weaknesses. I thought the play calling yesterday stunk.

 

[DMAC]

I think Norvel and Traylor are the only ones we keep as position coaches, both recruit well and are good coaches.  I wouldnt be surprised though if a new outside OC cleaned house completely on the offensive side of the ball.

 

[Principal]

Chuck, Texas shouldn't be ranked any higher than Kansas.

Texas is a bad football team.

 

[Bear19]

Frankly, I would not keep Watson around to wash dishes.

 

[texasdalton]

You know i have defended Wickline and even Norvel at times. While he may be a good WR Coach and Wickline maybe a good OL Coach, i find it unacceptable to play someone that everyone at home can see doesnt deserve to have 1st team reps. Marcus Johnson, Doyle, Flowers, are waste of space and are taking away valuable reps from the underclassmen that need them. If something is broken, FIX IT. If we are going to fail i want to see that we exahusted all of our options instead of sticking with the safe bet.

 

[Danny Hale]

I have stated over and over that every play Flowers and Doyle play sets the rebuild back neither are good enough talent wise to continue playing.

Norvell`s game plan to throw passes to Daje are mind boggling it is one thing on jet sweeps but Daje has no receiver skills. Why is Armanti Foreman not getting reps and targets he is much better than either Johnson.

Why J.Gray gets more carries every week than Warren and D`Onta combined is puzzling because Gray is averaging 3 yards a carry mainly because he doesn`t see were the hole is.

Chris Vaughn needs to just roll with the true freshmen DB`s let them get experience because Haines and Hall have severe limitations in pass defense and play recognition. Kris Boyd should get shot at free safety his kick covering skills translate well there and DeShon Elliott needs to play strong safety.

Ultimately none of this matters because this staff is going to keep running same players out there so they can make same mistakes again and again and again.

I have supported Charlie and have thought if he can sign another really good class in 2016 that Texas will be competing quickly but his coaching staff has shit the bed far to often. 10 points in 3 road games is beyond unacceptable , hell even Augie has more offense in 3 games than that.

 

[LHornjack]

Cheese, thanks for the post, and you too BCherry....I am totally speechless after this game...