Cascade

Playing the top of the Big 12 has exposed the areas of the team that are the key weaknesses: The back end of the defense, and the front of the offense.

The issues on the defense are due to injury, as the team is now depending on the second, or third, or fourth option on the depth chart. There are no quick fixes, other than hoping everyone back there is a quick learner.

The line is certainly not where it needs to be. Four of the five starters on the line are transfers, and they are still struggling to pick up rushers and create running lanes against quality defenses. All of the other issues on the offenses flow from the struggles up front. 

It was good to see Moberly get extended snaps, even in garbage time. He is a capable QB, but I don't know if he would fare any better in the heat of a first half against a defensive first team.

When the line is able to generate a running game, Raynor is a productive QB. West Virginia is the data point. The problem is every other defense remaining is better. The next game against Oklahoma State has an opportunity statistically, but if the book to shut down Iowa State's offense is to simply load up on the run, the Cyclones may not win the rest of the way.

Our perceptions are distorted by the schedule being more difficult than expected. Looking at the standings as of October 25, ISU has played the three teams at the top, and will not play the three teams at the bottom. The schedule difficulty is up to #15. Ooof.

The data is clear- this team has to run in order to pass.  Improvement can't come fast enough.

 

Developing

The loss in Provo had multiple moments where the game was on the verse of getting away- and the Cyclones would make a play, and keep hanging around.

BYU is clearly a very good team, and deserve their #8 ranking. ISU has some strengths but also some glaring weaknesses. Yet we would argue they are still ahead of schedule. 

Insert your favorite “persevere” cliche here. It would be appropriate. 

Finding A Way

A wild, wild Saturday at Trice, and they good guys found a way to win. It was the classic "make one more play than the other team" kind of win.

While nobody enjoys watching their defense get sliced and diced, it was a typical game for the WVU offense. That's what they do, and they do it to everyone. Your goal is to get as many points on the board as possible.

This point was made by others: this staff is quickly adjusting the offense to what they do well, regardless of the long-term offensive philosophy. We've watched other staffs stubbornly stick with "this is what we want to be" rather than "this is what is working today". Bravo. It's going to be fun watching the offensive evolve, and Raynor grow into his role.

The win was due to the work of one player: Aiden Flora. Post-game, we struggled to put that game into context with Cyclone football history. The stat line is ridiculous:

 22 carries, 212 yards, 9.6 y/a, long of 63, 3 TDs AND 2/2 passing for 2 TDs.

It was a 1 of 1 day- no comparisons. 

It came at the perfect time, and sent Cyclone fans home happy. 

Now a tough roadie to BYU for a Friday game. On paper, BYU is on par with Utah, but hasn't looked the part. Here's hoping they remain in a funk. 

Measured

I the first half of Saturday's game against Utah, it was clear which team had brought in 95 new guys, and which team was fairly undisturbed in the off-season.

The 24-3 halftime score underplayed the domination. 

But the Cyclones pieced together 20 minutes of good football to close the game to 24-17. The crowd was bouncing and Utah looked like it might be woozy with a case of tight helmet. But ISU went 3-and-out with 7 minutes to go, Utah went 61 yards for a TD, and an admirable comeback was ended.

The CSJ staff thought the Utah looked the part of a top-15 team, and ISU a bit undersized. When they were confident in their decisions, plays were won. Indecision was fatal.

We like what the offensive scheme is building, and there will be games where it will grind out first downs and put points on the board. But we are a long way from the home winning streaks of the previous staff.

The program is now 2 for 2 in having a chance to win in the 4th quarter against a power 5 opponent.  We can see wins on the horizon. Patience. 

Specials

We had to be reminded that the Cyclone's Special Teams Coordinator has been in Ames since the 2023 season. We got used to the "Special Teams aren't special" mentality of the early Campbell years. Our bad.

The unit's production against an over-matched Bowling Green team confirms the value of the staff. Give yourselves some helmet stickers.

The road gets steeper over the next month. We are going to need any edge we can muster. Giddy up.   

Rumors

It appears that a team of 95 transfers went on the road to a stadium we're told is hard to play in, lead for most of the game, coulda, woulda, shoulda won, earning an epic win over a program with a fanbase that mocked the rebuilding team all summer, and had been predicting an obvious blowout.

We're not so fortunate to carry an all-time legendary win with us back to the office on Monday.

But many questions about this team were answered. The defense, especially the line, held a power running team to only 93 yards. They were quick to the ball and ready to tackle. The offense had moments against a Top 10 defense, but 9 first downs won't be enough going forward.  The passing game will need to advance rapidly. 

But the Jimmy Experiment looks to have potential, and the Cyclones should be in every game this season. When your program doesn't have a Playoff budget like Iowa City, that's all you can hope for. 

Onward. 

Bullies

The Cyclone defense was ready for SEMO.

The Redhawks only had two scoring drives, and they stood out on the drive chart:

3-0

3-3

4-3 Missed FG

3-5

11-75 TD

4-1 downs

2-2 INT 

7-11 

5-15

5-15 

6-15 fumble

7-53 FG

10-25 fumble

4-20 end of game 

The two scoring drives excepted, that's 56 plays for 112 yards and 3 turnovers. Yes, sir.

While a Power 4 team should dominate a good FCS team, we've witnessed plenty of white-knuckle games against FCS teams. It was nice to have a game follow the script.

On to the GoBlas.