ISU game

[cyguy]

Iowa state fan here in peace. I was wondering if you gusy could clear something up for me...who exactly is suspended for the opening game this season, what was their role on the team last season, and what is their role expected to be this season if/when available?

Thanks.

[NDSUstudent]

Shamen Washington- Return specialist, missed most of last year with a knee injury.
Garrett Johnson- Probably starting DE, second string DE last year.
Jose Mohler- Backup QB, back up last year.

I don't know what is going on with last player that got a DUI but he was a scout team player and is no longer on the roster.

[RunDMc34]

we also had a probable starter at WR kicked off the team early in the summer.

[bisonhusker]

Losing our DE will be tough. He was/is ready for a breakout year.

[Bison Dan]

Losing our DE will be tough. He was/is ready for a breakout year.

yes he was, but that's what Bison FB is all about when someone can't go someone has to or will step up.

[cyguy]

Thanks guys.

Another question. I've seen some talk on here with a lot of optimism around your offensive line. Can you give me a rundown of the experience you have there with how well the rush game and pass protection was last season?

[GradBison]

IMHO, last year's rushing and passing protection are not a good indication of what the OL group is capable of this season.

We return most starters at that unit, and they've been moved around to capitalize on their abilities under a new coach. I'd say that's where the optimism stems from, they've looked good in practice so far as well.

[cyguy]

What kind of size are they bringing? Sounds like a fair amount of experience and cohesiveness?

[GradBison]

52 Arndt, Michael LT 6-6 315 Jr.
76 Buckman, Keith LG 6-5 320 Sr.
63 Richard, Austin C 6-2 319 So.
65 Foster, Ryan RG 6-2 304 Sr.
75 Ebel, Gerry RT 6-6 316 Sr.

The roster and 2-deep is available here:
http://www.gobison.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=2400&KEY=&SPID=695&SPSID=11845

[cyguy]

Cool. Thanks for the 2-deep link. What's the story with QB? You have a returning starter but I thought I also heard about a JUCO transfer at QB that was supposed to compete. Was he the one suspended?

[GradBison]

Negative, the one suspended is RFr. who became backup QB towards the end of last season as true Fr., the JUCO joined the team this Fall and currently listed as backup on the 2-deep.

[Kermit]

Cool. Thanks for the 2-deep link. What's the story with QB? You have a returning starter but I thought I also heard about a JUCO transfer at QB that was supposed to compete. Was he the one suspended?

This guy (http://www.gobison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=11901&SPID=697&DB_OEM_ID=2400&ATCLID=657289&Q_SEASON=2009 ) is probably the best QB on campus. Unfortunately, he's not on the football team..

[tony]

Bohl interview on the upcoming game.

http://iowastate.scout.com/2/890350.html

[SDbison]

This guy (http://www.gobison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=11901&SPID=697&DB_OEM_ID=2400&ATCLID=657289&Q_SEASON=2009) is probably the best QB on campus. Unfortunately, he's not on the football team..
You have a point there.........

[cyguy]

Man, the other ISU thread has devolved into a waste of time...

So, with an inexperienced bundh of receivers what are you expecting from your QB and the passing game on opening night?

Do you guys mostly run a pro-style offense? Fullback, shotgun, what should I expect?

[tony]

Heck, cyguy, we don't know what to expect from the passing game since the top returning receiver has two catches. NDSU runs the West Coast Offense with a fullback. My limited understanding of the WCO is that there are a lot of short timing routes - meaning there are defenders right around the receiver and that there has to be a lot of trust between QB and WR. That doesn't seem to bode well for NDSU's passing game against ISU.

Sidenote: NDSU likes to physically pound on the other team, especially FBS teams, and struggles with more physical defenses.

[cyguy]

ISU's run defense should be okay at best, I certainly doubt that the NDSU running game is shutdown completely, not even close to that. But hopefully the run defense can control the run game and get stops when needed.

How are you guys looking on defense? Do you blitz a lot, play the "bend-don't-break" and then clamp down in the redzone? Generate a lot of turnovers? What kind of experience coming back, especially in the secondar and LB?

[tony]

ISU's run defense should be okay at best, I certainly doubt that the NDSU running game is shutdown completely, not even close to that. But hopefully the run defense can control the run game and get stops when needed.

How are you guys looking on defense? Do you blitz a lot, play the "bend-don't-break" and then clamp down in the redzone? Generate a lot of turnovers? What kind of experience coming back, especially in the secondar and LB?

Well, there are about 100 people on the board who can better answer your questions - I'm responding so that you'll get some sort of answer.

The defense's identity is that they want to shut down the run and make you earn every yard.

Defensive line: the interior two guys are very good. Last year I thought the ends were getting pushed all over the place. Our best end graduated and one of the guys I thought would help this year is suspended. They have to improve.

Linebackers: Mays-Maresh-Humber, they started together for three years and are gone (Mays to the Eagles, Humber to the Colts, and Maresh got a try-out with the Vikes). They're all gone. What we've got is Preston Evans who has shown promise. Tyler Henry, a senior who seems to have been injured since the day he stepped on campus, but who, I thought, had a fantastic game the last time he played. On the other side, and this might be out of date, we have Anderson and Kittleson battling it out. I think they are both solid.

Secondary: Short but solid.

IIRC, the defense rarely forced turnovers and, in a bizarre stat, it's been over a year since a team missed a field goal against the Bison.

[Scooter1]

From the ISU defensive coordinator about the Aug 17th scrimmage....

Q. How did you think you guys did today? "We struggled in the red zone."

Q. What is holding team back? Some of my scheme. We focus on stopping one thing and get hurt in other areas...The inside run is hurting us right now. DT, DE and ILB are concerning us right now. It's really a big concern.

Q. You are pretty candid about how good you are. Can't hid under a rock forever.

Q. How much of the defense is installed? 3/4 of it. We've had to scale way back, we aren't going to be able to do as much as we thought we were going to be able to do. We have most of what we are going to use the first game installed with a few little adjustments.


I know that there is time left but the defensive coordinator sounds like he is getting the fans ready for another long year. Also he indicated that quite a few defensive guys are banged up. Not seriously, but banged up.

[OldBison]

From the ISU defensive coordinator about the Aug 17th scrimmage....

Q. How did you think you guys did today? "We struggled in the red zone."

Q. What is holding team back? Some of my scheme. We focus on stopping one thing and get hurt in other areas...The inside run is hurting us right now. DT, DE and ILB are concerning us right now. It's really a big concern.

Q. You are pretty candid about how good you are. Can't hid under a rock forever.

Q. How much of the defense is installed? 3/4 of it. We've had to scale way back, we aren't going to be able to do as much as we thought we were going to be able to do. We have most of what we are going to use the first game installed with a few little adjustments.


I know that there is time left but the defensive coordinator sounds like he is getting the fans ready for another long year. Also he indicated that quite a few defensive guys are banged up. Not seriously, but banged up.

Interesting stuff, gotta link?

Sounds like his D is complex, I like to see stuff like that. Complex defenses make players think rather than react which makes them slow.

A similar situtation with MN in 2007. Withers installed a complex D that was too much for the players to absorb in short time. Maybe our O has a chance to make some plays.

[Scooter1]

Interesting stuff, gotta link?

Sounds like his D is complex, I like to see stuff like that. Complex defenses make players think rather than react which makes them slow.

A similar situtation with MN in 2007. Withers installed a complex D that was too much for the players to absorb in short time. Maybe our O has a chance to make some plays.

http://www.cyclones.com/newMediaPlayer/consolewmp.htm?id=641689&SPID=4653&SPSID=48323&CLIP_ID=631048&CLIP_FILE_ID=641689&type=vod&DB_MENU_ID=&DB_OEM_ID=10700&oemid=10700

[cyguy]

I don't have the link handy, but saw that interview and it is 100% accurate to what Wally said.

Wally is an experienced coordinator, I think he'll do well to best fit his scheme to the talent and the opponent's offense.

I'm not much worried about the injured guys. As said, I think it's more that they were just banged up from fall camp and given a rest, they would've played and probably been fine it it were game day.

I'm not expecting a huge jump in defensive performance. ISU gave up 35 ppg last season...get that down to 30 for the season and decent things could happen.

Our DL has a lot of parts with a couple of solid DE's but lacks a lot of standout guys inside. The good news is there is lots of depth, it's all average ability wise, but at least rotation can keep legs fresh late in games.

LB is a concern, especially if anyone is hurt. A couple of Juco's are new and we'll see what the bring to the table.

The secondary has a couple of guys that should be pretty solid...above average at this exact moment. Last year the secondary blew so many coverages it became laughable. If there is a pass rush that doesn't allow the QB to stand around all day, the pass defense should improve.

Historically, ISU has done better against pro-style type offenses that look to run the ball first as opposed to spread 'em out pass happy offenses.

I think you guys will have your moments running the ball, but I don't think it will be controlled by NDSU. If anything an even matchup and maybe slight advantage to ISU.

[99Bison]

fyi
http://cyclonereport.blogspot.com/2009/08/5-reasons-isu-will-beat-ndsunot-that-it.html

[Mr. Burgundy]

That report bugs me. Don't act all tough when playing a 1AA school....you are a below everage Big 12 team with alot of questions marks. Yeah, you should roll us up, but how about you do it before you talk about it. You are a joke in the Big 12 North, and we do have a pretty solid track record against 1A schools. We will run the ball effectively. If we play a great game, and control the clock....we have a shot.

....and yes, we have done well playing in front of 40,000 fans before...

[IzzyFlexion]

fyi
http://cyclonereport.blogspot.com/2009/08/5-reasons-isu-will-beat-ndsunot-that-it.html

As much as reading this gets me fuming, I remind myself that this is the type of pre-game "expertise" that often plays right into the hands of the underdog.

The level of disrespect and unwarranted confidence just makes my skin crawl.

He writes:
1. this game should and will be a "non-event".
this puts the disrespect meter off of the charts.

2. Our guys come out and roll NDSU.
He could be right, or he could be wrong. One thing is for sure, this type of prediction can sure make one look foolish come Friday morning.

3. The Bison lost their "star" safety from last year.
Putting quotation marks around the word star mocks the Tennesee Titans and their player evaluation process.

4. ISU has way more depth, and can turn it into a foot race, every down.
Finally, he's at least showing some objectivity.

5. I'll be in the stands September 3rd, but I won't be holding my breath, I'll be screaming along with 40 thousand of my closest friends. Another thing NDSU has no experience with.
We learn 3 things here. He has a lot of close friends, there will be 40,001 ISU fans at the game (this leaves room for 14,999 NDSU fans), and he didn't do his homework regarding NDSU's exposure to large crowds.

[NWNDBison]

Reality check:

I do agree with everything above, but in defense of the blog author, he does say:

"5) Head Coach Paul Rhoads. ... He knows what it takes to win at ISU and knows he cannot overlook or even come out flat against NDSU"

[Tatanka]

fyi
http://cyclonereport.blogspot.com/2009/08/5-reasons-isu-will-beat-ndsunot-that-it.html

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/rjparana/Fart.gif

[westnodak93bison]

Contradiction? says ISU will roll NDSU but then in point#5 says they cant come out flat? Sagarin has them by 6 and I'd say that is a realistic prediction.

Teams with new coaching staffs and new systems historically struggle early imho. Also, human nature dictates that most of the ISU players will be overlooking NDSU and looking forward to their next game.

[westnodak93bison]

looking at their roster

http://www.cyclones.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=48388&SPID=4653&DB_OEM_ID=10700&SORT_ORDER=4&Q_SEASON=2009&PRINTABLE_PAGE=

only 3 of their 11 OL are from IA? I would have guessed more than half.

[bisoneer]

ISU offense struggles, has 4 turnovers and Bison win by 10!! Ha!