2011 Texas-Iowa State Football Preview

Yep.

I hope you’re ready for the torrent of abuse you’ve just opened yourself to from (not) Steele Jantz’s twitter account!

You should also note one of ISU’s major strengths, their master blogger, widerightnattylite!

I just read that Jamie Pollard article again and laughed till I cried, again.

I feel confident in Diaz scheming correctly to stop Jantz – lots of inside blitzes/stunts and DE contain. If he has to make plays from the pocket Iowa State could be in for an ugly afternoon. You can only play the game he plays for so long before getting burned, badly.

I guess we’ll gave Cobbs and Scott back this weekend?

I think we establish the run early and force Jantz into enough bad decisions to put the game away relatively comfortably. Revenge Campaign 2011 keeps rolling.

Good stuff Tex. I’d love to see HarsinWhite implement some timing routes (quick slants, seams, outs) in this game, to keep the defense honest and to open up the deep stuff for McAsh.

A 6 point win wouldn’t surprise me and a 20 point win wouldn’t surprise me.

If he holds true to form, Rhoads is holding a couple gadget plays just for us. I hope the Manny has the boys ready for Cyclone trickeration.

Thinking about Ames as “hostile” brings a smile to my face. In Ames they’re hostile to the idea that green leafy vegetables form part of a balanced diet, but the stadium is a fairly normal place to play.

Iowa coach Ferentz mis-managed the ISU game or else Iowa would have beaten ISU rather handily. Assuming no large turnover differential, I expect this game to be a relatively easy Texas win.

Our use of the DE’s in contain while blitzing Acho and Robinson inside is an interesting strategy that seems like a potential back breaker for some of the spread/QB running teams on the schedule.
Guys that love to be flushed out of the pocket don’t love it so much if the defensive ends are lying in wait for them. That’s how DKR handled Staubach.

Thanks for the update Scip. Thoughts on the Ash/McCoy distribution?

Actually, A&M did that successfully against Vince in 2005, his worst game.

I agree with Tom above: if we limit our turnovers to one or two we win this game by two touchdowns.

 Texas is playing smart, tough and with an edge. No reason that doesn’t translate into 4-0 for the horns.

They are a straight ahead running team that likes to out number you up front and establish the run? This is like the 4th team in a row view that offensive strategy.

Will we still have issues closing down all of the gaps like we did against UCLA? All of these progressive fronts and blitzes are fine but when a team goes two tight ends and runs from the pistol up the middle we need to be able to play old school defense.

If Texas wins it will be a close one.

You had me laughing at the sleep apnea line, but then I felt bad because it is probably true.

Good analysis-

It truly is a coin flip regarding Iowa State’s ability. On one side, the skin of the teeth wins against decent competition could be complete luck and the bounce of the ball. On the other side, it could be an indicator of a gritty team that doesn’t crumble in the face of adversity and plays balls to the wall.

They are something crazy like 6-6 on 4th down conversions. Also, there have been at least 3 or 4 key 3rd and 15ish plays late in games that were make or break for the 3 and 0 record. Somehow Steely Jantz came through.

The Iowa comment is incorrect. ISU’s offense pushed Iowa’s D up and down the field all day. They gave up 2 idiotic turnovers inside the Hawkeye 20 on two early drives which put them in a hole. The ISU Dline held up well against a very solid Iowa Oline. Iowa rammed “insert cock jock” Coker between the Ends all day without much consistent success. 40+ carries I believe. At the end of the day he got his yards but with that many carries over 4Qs and 3OTs it would be hard not too.

Best of Luck to the Horns. For those of you heading up to ol’ Ioway, have a good time-

There aint no creampuffs in the SEC like Iowa State. Whoop!

Nice breakdown.

And thanks for the direct link to the Jamie Pollard piece.

When I have wanted to access it in the past, I have had to resort to Googling for “Iowa State Gargamel Skeletor Meat Curtain Chocula.”

Your webmaster must do an amazing job to ensure that you show up on the first page of results for that query.

Thankfully I was completely wrong about the UCLA game. My fear/curiosity in this one has less to do with the opponents talent and everything to do with the coaching. Skippy has lost that UCLA team completely. Rhoads knows what he’s doing.

ISU will try to scheme around Case’s arm strength. They may have the personnel to pull it off. This will be a telling game for the remainder of the season. How does Case respond if he has to make a 15 yard throw into a even a large window? Can he throw anything other than a punt over 25 yards? How will Harsin counter a D that takes away the short stuff and dares you to throw downfield?

My feeling is that Case struggles in this one and we have to go to Ash a lot. I hope I am wrong. Case sure looked better than he ever has before against UCLA. Maybe he will surprise me again and prove to us all that he really is a legit D1 QB.

27-20 Horns, with a two headed QB going into OU.

Yes there is. A&M

Pressure Jantz and he’ll turn the ball over time and time again. I could see ISU doing a pretty good job on defense for the first half or so, but eventually they’ll eventually be worn down by lack of depth. 35-17.

Seems offensively they are Baylor lite (god, I never imagined 3 years ago I would be saying that). I get that we need to bottle Jantz up, and make him throw from the pocket. But, what do we do against Baylor? If we do that against Baylor, RG3 is just going to houdini that shit right between zones, or get leverage in man-coverage (quick slants and the like). That’s his bread and butter, unlike fancy-pants-Jantz, and I have nightmares about him carving our secondary to shreds. Fewer incompletions than touchdowns. That shit is scary son.

Rick don’t worry Aggie will fill that role just fine.

Good thoughts BartonCreek, but how do you foresee Iowa St. getting to 20?

Also, I wonder if we run some fly-route play-action with Ash this week. See if he can connect to Mike Davis and give Stoops something else to worry about in the Ash package.

If Iowa St. can play our run honestly, which they have in the past, obviously we could be screwed. I doubt that happens though and I think we control the game unless they get turnovers. Their OL is miscast for dealing with our fronts and I think Diaz is going to prey on QB’s who are comfortable running around in the backfield trying to make things happen with his pressures and zone.

Definitely off-topic, but too good not to share.

Some Boom humor from EDSBS:
http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2011/9/26/2450991/star-wars-will-muschamp

I actually know somebody that went to Iowa State. Proud Cyclone fan to boot. It’s always a little disconcerting when he comes over for a beer and talks some smack. Kind of like meeting somebody from Absurdsvanj or Latveria. “Wait, that place actually exists? Come on man, where’d you really go to school?”

This has got turnover filled, looking ahead to OU, 4 point Texas loss or 4-5 touchdown, get out the bandwagon, UT victory written all over it.

Texas 35 – ISU 10

We have a chip on our shuolder that is growing each week… a little f**k you and a little vindication from last years anomaly of a GDGD collapse..

Hadn’t seen a picture of Steele yet, and all I have to say is what the heck is up with the over-abundance of campy mohawks in CFB? We seriously are going 3 for 3 over the next few games facing teams with a marquee player having a fugly mohawk. Here’s hoping we can come away victorious in at least 2 of the 3.
Steele:
http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Steele-Jantz-3-Media-Day-20111.jpg
Stills:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/newsok-photos/1484198/medium.jpg
Blackmon:
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/597/078/90415384_display_image.jpg?1293558006

Bingo Fred,

I wonder how long until the Ags realize they were brought into the league to be the cream puff.

@ Kram

“Revenge Campaign 2011 keeps rolling.”

Agreed, and I just want to point out how awesome it is that we get to be on a revenge campaign this year.

@SlowSand

It’s like a racing stripe. It makes them go faster, duh.

“Color Me Badd haircut” and “just enough 6s to suggest some degree of Satanic worship” Funny stuff. But, seriously, the crowd will be rowdy, but if the Horns stay focused and determined, they should win this one. Hook’em

Nickel, mostly I see the 20 coming off of short fields from special teams and a couple of ints. that don’t bounce off dbs hands to our WRs. Running QBs are always good for a few big plays a game no matter how good your D is. Sometimes they just run around and pull something out of their ass. Janz can definitely do that and their WR group is good enough to make a few plays when he is scrambling.

If ISU were smart, they would take advantage of Jantz’ wheels in the run-game through misdirection or option, as UCLA’s misdirection in their run game really befuddled us, as we didn’t make any real meaningful adjustments to slow it down. I would love for them to get aggressive in the passing game, because it will only translate to more TOs.

Barton, they haven’t broken 24 points within 4 quarters of any of their games and they haven’t faced team speed like ours or pressure like ours.

If we gift them a few INT’s maybe they pile up some points (even then, I would expect mostly field goals) but sometimes a scrambling QB brings disaster upon his team. And our defense is designed to absorb a big hit now and then before clamping down on the next set of downs.

Lattimer made starting defense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsFBYq_h_J0

and is Ruempolhamer’s name pronounced “Rume-pull-hammer”? if so, thats a pretty badass name. King of the vikings or some shit

Ruempolhammer is actually Danish for butt-pounder.

Biggest let down in last year’s game wasn’t GDGD, but rather how poorly our defense performed against the Cyclone offense. I know it’s sacrilege in some parts to question Boom, but last year the D just plain got out-played.

There aint no creampuffs in the SEC like Iowa State. Whoop!"

Come July the average IQ will go up in both conferences thanks to the Aggy move.

At least Aggies won’t have to worry about choking up 17 point half-time leads, cause they won’t ever have a half-time lead.

Gag ’em!

20-18, Texas. I hope we get out of town with a win while still keeping some of the David Ash options under wraps for next week.

Watched the Iowa game and Steele was pretty damn good down the stretch. He made several plays with his feet and bought enough time to make big throws. That team fed off the home crowd and will do so again.

I think those expecting a cakewalk need to think again.

If last year’s game didn’t happen, I would be more worried that the team won’t be taking ISU seriously & look ahead to OU.

I think they’ll be focused for revenge, unless the team has a big 3rd quarter lead. Then they might lollygag through the 4th quarter & make the game more anxiety-filled than it should be.

running around making things happen that range from amazing to awful.

Coincidentally, this is also a pithy encapsulation of my 20’s.

Am I the only one who thinks of shiny metallic jean pants when I hear Steele Jantz?

My thoughts on this game for our offense go something like this:

Iowa St. is probably going to try to play man defense against us and that means a couple things:

1) They want to get their safeties involved in the run game which means we should be able to get some over-the-top opportunities in the passing game.
2) The dbs having their back to the play means that we can create some opportunities with inside/outside pressure on their outside linebackers with the read game and the jet sweeps/power/iz plays. I expect us to get some key big plays on HB and QB draws as a result.
3) We should enjoy some success with the triangle screen concepts since in a man defense, the numbers reads on those plays lead to some really simple advantages for us.
4) The crossing routes with our slot and tight ends should also produce good results.

Scipio, DE Neal is undersized but was the defensive player of the game in the UConn win; created pressure nearly every passing play. He has improved in the last few games…

ISU’s other CB is 5’7" Reeves – he’s been plundered a few times on deep balls. Definitely a source of concern, especially as I imagine Rhoads will walk his safeties close to the line and make Ash/McCoy beat him. A shame for ISU that GIlbert wasn’t benched until after this game – I had hoped an ISU upset win would be the spark for that, not a close shave against BYU.

When you look at the your schedule (or conference) and don’t see any bad teams, then you are likely the bad team.

The benefits of reading this well researched and humorous preview are competing with one glaringly obvious downside- that for the rest of the day I will be humming:

Tick tock you don’t stop stop.
To the heart.

Longhorn Scott… I think you are thinking of Steele Jortz….

Steele Jortz is Jantz’s blonde twin that only hangs out in the summer months. Races boats and huffs diesel.

The Iowa State Clipper Cooper.

Whither Logan Steelcock?

Whither Logan Steelcock?

Changed name to “Charlie Sheen” and begin practicing Power Septum Lifts, not without a certain amount of grudging respect.

After reading that Jamie Pollard again it occurs to me how much Bill Little could learn about writing.

If we can shut down their running game this game will be a blowout. If we can’t, we could easily lose.

Does the broader threat of their good receivers make their inside running game more of a threat than UCLA’s? UCLA has good backs and a good OL. I just have trouble believing that the running element of ISU’s game is much superior to UCLA’s.

I think Nickel’s point is a good one. Unless we turn it over excessively on our part of the field or blow up special teams, ISU is going to have trouble getting past 13 or 14 points. That means the game hinges on our offense not screwing the D and getting theirs as well.
 
The game feels 27-13-ish to me.
 
Longhorn Scott’s assertion concerning the Clones on D is also what I think will happen.
 
Ojnab Bob -
 
Thanks for the heads up on Neal’s improved play. I know a lot more about UCLA and BYU than I do the Cyclones – it’s just hard to find them on the television.
 
BTW, I didn’t cover special teams which tells you something about what I’ve done to block them out from my mind. I assume we’ll lose this battle every week until the team proves otherwise.

Please explain Power Septum Lifts with pictures.

Roma -
 
ISU doesn’t run the ball like UCLA can.
 
We’ll have trouble with teams that run the ball from the Pistol and have some misdirection elements, irrespective of opponent. It’s just how we’re built and how our LBs are wired.
 
I do expect to handle traditional spread running games without an athletic QB much more adeptly (OU, OSU).

Thanks.

Steele Jantz sounds like a kosher metal band.

nickel- “Butt pounder” is equally intimidating

They win the close ones by continually saying “There’s Steele a Jantz.” Sorry.

My hope is we get up early as we did in LA and can throw some true trash in offensively for Oklahoma to have to fret over for a week.

Bates- I too know a die hard ISU fan.

The poor guy has lived through hell and never faltered- think about being a Texas fan last year but for your whole damn life. I couldn’t even get mad at him when they beat us last year. A lifetime of emotional investment and he’s gotten the Davis years (not Greg but Troy and Darren, both of whom would outscore GD on the wunderlich), a couple of wins over NU, a win over Texas and the occassional win over Iowa. He’s a better fan than me.

LHS:
I do agree that UT foes will get their safeties providing run support (predicted this a few days ago), but I disagree that the CBs are going to be turning their backs to the LOS (at least not initially). The CBs will give UT WRs a big buffer and dare Case to make that throw. The big buffer permits the CBs to glance into the backfield (zone concept) and see if a wide run is coming their way. When you run 50 times and only pass 20 times in the previous game, you guarantee that the next foe will stop the run as the highest priority.

It would not surprise me if ISU plays a sparse zone quite a bit to free up a safety for run support and to provide better run support by the rest of the DBs (and to cut down on the big play). There are going to be lots of opportunities for Case in this game to show how well or poorly he throws because ISU will try to make Case throw the ball a bunch.

CBs will shade horn WRs (by a lot) to the inside and dare Case to make the out throw. I’ll be very interested to see if Case tries to fire it in, loops it over the CB head, or declines to make the throw.

ISU will tend to have 1 safety involved in run support and keep one back. I am assuming UT is able to run efficiently on ISU when ISU has 7 in the box and will force ISU to frequently put 8 in the box (disguising it as late as possible) when the horns are on schedule wrt down vs distance. Expect to see a lot of run blitzes to get the horns behind on down vs distance.

If UT is not able to force ISU to put 8 in the box to reliably stop the run then it may be a long day for UT.

Light ISU DEs should improve the efficiency of blocking by Irby and Grant. If so, look for a big day for both the TEs receiving and the run game. Win win.
.
“We should enjoy some success with the triangle screen”

Aren’t screens normally used against teams that are blitzing a lot? ISU’s blitzing is going to be mostly run blitzing, they probably won’t blitz Case much because they are going to want to encourage him to throw, especially longer passes. The ISU front 7 will focus first on stopping the run and then the DL get their hands up if Cases passes short a lot.

“The crossing routes with our slot and tight ends should also produce good results.”

Agreed. I also see a lot of short looping throws to TEs and backs just past the front 8 of ISU.

It is often windy on the Iowa plains. If it is windy this Saturday, that puts a lot more stress on Case as a passer since he will have to rifle the ball through the wind. Ash probably plays more if it is windy.

I also expect to see loads of play action passes to draw in the ISU LBs to the LOS and then pass to the TE in the flat (vacated because the WR has pulled the DB on that side deep). The TE will fake blocking the DE and then leak out to the flat. Expect to see the ISU LBs having to do beaucoup pass coverage.

Kafka,

The triangle screen is a horizontal concept designed to create a dilemma for the wide side contain and force players. The defense either has to move a man out of the box or try to track down the speed player in space. An blitz puts the defense down another man and creates a serious problem for the defense (hence it works as a blitz deterrent as well) but the primary intention is to create an alignment dilemma. Man coverage makes the defense especially easy to diagnose in the concept (so we can tell whether we should throw the screen or run whatever the backside concept is).

“A screen pass is a type of play in American football. During a screen pass, many things are going on at the same time in order to fool the defense into thinking a long pass is being thrown, when in fact the pass is merely a short one, just beyond the defensive linemen. Screens are usually deployed against aggressive defenses that rush the passer. Because screens invite the defense to rush the quarterback, they are designed to leave fewer defenders behind the rushers to stop the play.” (some conventional wisdom from wikipedia)

I doubt a screen will be very effective against a team focused on stopping the run. It is tough to make a screen work when everybody is staying home. ISU is already very aware of UT outside speed and will be scheming accordingly (way, way more than blitzing a QB). If the ISU DBs are giving their man a big buffer, they are still going to be able to provide run or screen support. Plus, if ISU frequently puts 8 in the box, they can widen the box, which will make it tough for a screen or wide run to work. A screen is slow developing which helps the ISU defense overcome speed disadvantage and get to the ball. Screens are great against very aggressive, stupid defenses. I doubt that ISU is going to be either stupid or overly aggressive. More likely they will be very aware of their speed deficiency and very focused on not getting out of position.

More likely when UT wants to attack wide, UT fakes runs into the line and either jet sweeps or throws a quick pass to a receiver in space (with maybe a TE or WR blocking). UT runs much, much more than it passes long so a run fake will tend to be much more effective than a long pass fake.

I don’t care what any snobs say, I’m enjoying looking forward to the ISU game. Always have been a fan of underdogs, and since ultimately ISU may end up being thrown under the cfb bus, I wish them all the luck the rest of the way (outside of our game.)

Barring multiple turnovers ,Texas will win by 20. I have become a believer in the Harsin/Applewhite offense.

Music Man -
 
I think most fans have a fondness for Iowa St and Rhoads.

Kafka,

Did you really just drop the definition of screen pass? Awesome.

I think we had similar disagreements about the approach to the BYU game. You argued we should use the quick passing game from the spread, I argued that we should use power concepts in conjunction with horizontal stretches (like the triangle). Do you know what I’m referring to when I refer to the triangle screen? Your response to my post makes me think that you are thinking of a traditional screen instead (which we sometimes pair with a triangle concept).

Seen 2 isu games this year. Dont sleep on them. They can win. But won’t. Texas D needs to take out steele’ s field of vision, and collapse the pocket. They will be gassed in the second half. Texas 35 cyclone 10 . Bank on it. Take the under.

I love Paul Rhoads. If I weren’t a Texas fan, I just may adopt whatever team he was coaching. And it won’t be Iowa State for very long.

That said, I think we roll the Cyclones. “Roll” in the post 5-7 era means 30-13.

Rhoads > Chizik, should be moving on ere long, yeah?

Who’s all going? I am.

dc -
 
Read this then:
 
 http://www.widerightnattylite.com/2011/9/28/2455371/wrnls-guide-to-ames

As an ISU student and fan I would say, I would not sleep on this team or the hostility of the stadium. I have been to most of the northern big 12 and 10 stadiums, and there was not a more ticked off and hostile crowd than in the ISU vs. Iowa game 2 weeks ago. Alot of expectations on your guy’s part a big win for Texas, but most of us are calling the same thing against you for mostly the same reasons (wins against mediocre teams , young quarterbacks). The games in Ames this year have been amazing and the team has been really feeding off the fans.
All that being said, I predict an ISU win…close, but still a win. And as for the hostility, hopefully the people of ISU treat the Texas fans well and hopefully whoever comes up has a great time before the game.
Beat Texa$

Thanks Scip!

Lee Plummer -
 
Thanks for coming by and giving your thoughts. It doesn’t take long for any fan base to get giddy from a little success and I think ISU and UT are in the early throes of optimism. Truthfully, we don’t know a ton about either one of our teams at this point of the year.

Iowa State spotted 3 interception turnovers in each of their last 2 games. Their first 3 drives against uconn were interception, interception, interception. And they didn’t lose either of those games. Its a tough gut check to win despite putting yourself in that type of hole in just one game a season, let alone 2 back to back games. Iowa isn’t a creampuff, even in a down year. I don’t know what to make of uconn. The respective talent and coaching differential between ISU and Texas hasn’t changed measurably in Texas favor since last year, and ISU whipped Texas @ Texas. I expect nothing less than a hard fought game this year.

“The respective talent and coaching differential between ISU and Texas hasn’t changed measurably in Texas favor since last year, and ISU whipped Texas @ Texas. I expect nothing
less than a hard fought game this year.”

That’s where your analysis really falls apart. The coaching and effective talent at Texas has dramatically changed since last year.

Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a certain football coach complained that it was nigh impossible to beat Texas because of the disparity in football talent between his school and Texas. Saint Darrell opined “Let’s swap teams. He can coach my guys and I’ll coach his. Two weeks, and I’ll kick his ass with his own players.”

Thus endeth the Lesson. Bryan Harsin says “Hi!”

You have to remember, Darrell wasn’t 40 yet, and hence, not a Man.

Case will move the chains with Brown and Foz banging away. CD McCash will add lotsa yards.
Texas 42 Isu 13

LonghornScott, Changed yes, Improved… Jury is still out. I said the differential has not shifted measurably in Texas favor, and I stand by that statement. Texas always has good athletes, and last year’s team overall probably had more experienced good athletes, whereas this team may have more better athletes, but less experienced.
Iowa State does not always have the same number of great athletes, but they’ve improved their athletes since last year, while retaining most of their “good experienced” athletes from last year. So in my opinion, if anything the differential has shifted more towards Iowa State. That being said, Texas should have whipped ISU last year with that differential, so I honestly don’t know what to expect this year, other than a tough gritty game.
If ISU turns the ball over and is penalized as much as in the last few weeks, Texas will win. If they get things cleaned up for the game, I’d give them even odds for a win.

you may have missed it, but our entire coaching staff was overhauled. You are about to experience what a dramatic difference that has had on our program. And no, the differential has not shifted toward ISU from last year to this year… this UT squad would knock the piss out last year’s UT team.

They play as hard as any team in the country. Rhoads coaches inferior talent to play above their potential. I doubt he will be in Ames next year if they make a bowl game this year. Their team is fun to watch if u have no rooting interest in the game.

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