Monday, October 14, 2024
Steady Trip to Morgantown
Monday, October 07, 2024
Patience
Friday, October 04, 2024
Don’t step on the rakes
Looking forward, the Cyclones have lots of potential losses ahead if anything other than an A Game is played.
Baylor has a solid defense, but their offense has been unremarkable. Can ISU keep them off the board? Will the Bears rally around their coach? Or will they fall apart if they fall behind by 14?
Here are the defensive/offensive rankings for the rest of the year:
BU 28/87
WV 106/59
UCF 53/4
TT 124/15
KU 57/68
CN 104/16
UT 20/57
KS 55/43
These numbers will change as we move forward, but if our Cyclones have a memorable season it come from the performance of the defense.
Here’s hoping.
Sunday, September 29, 2024
Changes
Four games, four scenarios that Cyclone football often messes up, yet four wins on the board.
This team has made winning plays in each game, but has also avoided the deadly mistake. This is- fun? Yes, fun.
This week ISU welcomes a struggling Baylor program. Two years ago, Baylor was the defending league champs, who pushed the Cyclones around in a wasn’t-as-close-as-the-margin 7 point win.
Winning plays while avoiding killer mistakes is a great combination. A win will mean 5-0 for the first time since 1980. According to this site that team finished 6-5. Ooof.
If you are dreaming big, the best start ever was 1938 at 7-0, but Denver, Luther, Marquette and Drake were on the schedule.
Enjoy the ride, friends.
Monday, September 23, 2024
Struggles
A walk through Houston's box scores is a head scratcher.
The Cougars had every opportunity to win in Norman, but couldn't. Run. The. Ball. Their drive chart?
12-63 FG
3-8 Punt
3-1 Punt
5-17 Punt
3-9 Punt
6-55 FG
4-75 TD
12-20 Punt
4 (-4) INT
7-24 Punt
1 (-1) Safety
5-42 End of game
Houston turns around and blows out Rice. Nice rebound.
They then go to Cincinnati has does this:
3-0 INT
9-13 Punt
10-77 FGA
3 (-2) Punt
6-21 Punt
5-64 Fumble
10-30 Downs
6-45 Fumble
3-0 Punt
Ouch.
On the flip side, the 'Natti was the picture of efficiency:
3-7 Punt
3-45 TD
4-80 TD
12-80 TD
6-25 FG
1-0 Half
8-89 TD
3 (-3) Punt
15-52 FG
4-11 Punt
I don't know which Houston defense we will see Saturday- the one from Norman and Rice, or the one from UNLV and Cincy- but I suspect the Iowa State defense will be able to disrupt the Houston offense. Just do your jobs, get some points on the board, and win a football game.
Sunday, September 22, 2024
The surprise was the lack of a surprise
Saturday was a fun day at Trice, but it was also a touch disorienting.
We have all seen Cyclone teams find ways to keep a September game against a Mid-Major opponent close, and even gift-wrap a loss for the fan base. We expect white-knuckle afternoons.
The win over Arkansas State was anything but dramatic. Advantages were pressed, bench players got extra reps, and the game was clearly in hand at 14-0 in the first quarter.
Watching an efficient blowout win was fun, especially against an opponent that has given other teams difficulties (cough*Michigan*cough). Now that we have entered the Could Win Any Game/Could Lose Any Game portion of the schedule, it was exciting to watch a game that could have been a roller coaster turn into a entertaining show instead.