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Black Saturday
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2008-10-18
The last few weeks have been as rough on the Iowa State football team as they have been on the stock market.
Two weeks ago, the Cyclones let a 20-point halftime lead disappear in a 35-33 loss to No. 16 Kansas. Last week, Baylor dismantled ISU 38-10, and the Cyclones followed that up with a one-sided 35-7 loss to Nebraska Saturday.
And, after five straight losses, ISU, just like stock analysts, must see if it has bottomed out and is capable of making a quick recovery.
"Since the first half of Kansas, right now as a football team we have gone backwards," coach Gene Chizik said. "It's a fine line as to why. We are hit and miss in so many areas of our football team. We have to start putting our fingers in the holes of the dam."
In the last 10 quarters, the market trends have pointed down for the Cyclones (2-5, 0-3 in the Big 12), as they've been outscored 108-30.
The offense has struggled to move the ball into opponent's territory, and the defense has been unable to get enough third-down stops.
The same thing happened Saturday, as the Cornhuskers (4-3, 1-2) scored three first-half touchdowns to take control of the game.
Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz (27-of-37, 328 yards, two total touchdowns) moved the Cornhusker offense down the field with ease early on, relying on a short and intermediate passing game to roll up 548 yards of total offense.
"Defensively, we are struggling at times," Chizik said. "It is kind of spot play. They try hard, and they are holding on, holding on, holding on and then something big happens."
ISU rallied when the second half opened as running back Alexander Robinson went virtually untouched on a 67-yard touchdown run to cut the Nebraska lead to 21-7 with 14 minutes, 23 seconds left in the third quarter.
But the Cyclones, who amassed only 218 total yards, were unable to sustain the surge as ISU failed to score on its two other second-half possessions in Cornhusker territory.
In the third quarter, tight end Derrick Catlett lost a fumble, and in the fourth quarter, kicker Grant Mahoney missed a 40-yard field goal.
"I don't necessarily think we have to do anything new," ISU quarterback Austen Arnaud said. "We just have to execute the things that are given to us."
For the offense, that means converting more than 2-of-13 third downs. This season, ISU has converted just 31 percent (30-of-98) on third down.
For the special teams, that means no more fumbles on punt returns. For the defense, that means wrapping up Nebraska wide receiver Nate Swift when given the chance to prevent his 19-yard touchdown catch.
"We are going through a rough time right now," ISU cornerback Leonard Johnson said. "Everyone is hanging in. No one is giving up. Hopefully we can just play together and get us one."
Chizik said he doesn't have any answers right now for the Cyclones' lack of execution. But he knows his staff must start finding them if the Cyclones are to turn their bear market into a bull market.
"That is what our jobs are as coaches right now," Chizik said. "To make sure this is not a downward spiral."
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 232-2161, Ext. 358, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2008-10-18
By Nirmalendu Majumdar/The Tribune
Iowa State’s Devin McDowell reaches for the ball after fumbling it away during the fourth quarter of Nebraska’s 35-7 victory Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cornhuskers’ Niles Paul, 24, and the Cyclones’ Euseph Messiah also are going for the ball. Paul eventually recovered the ball.
Iowa State’s Devin McDowell reaches for the ball after fumbling it away during the fourth quarter of Nebraska’s 35-7 victory Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cornhuskers’ Niles Paul, 24, and the Cyclones’ Euseph Messiah also are going for the ball. Paul eventually recovered the ball.
The last few weeks have been as rough on the Iowa State football team as they have been on the stock market.
Two weeks ago, the Cyclones let a 20-point halftime lead disappear in a 35-33 loss to No. 16 Kansas. Last week, Baylor dismantled ISU 38-10, and the Cyclones followed that up with a one-sided 35-7 loss to Nebraska Saturday.
And, after five straight losses, ISU, just like stock analysts, must see if it has bottomed out and is capable of making a quick recovery.
"Since the first half of Kansas, right now as a football team we have gone backwards," coach Gene Chizik said. "It's a fine line as to why. We are hit and miss in so many areas of our football team. We have to start putting our fingers in the holes of the dam."
In the last 10 quarters, the market trends have pointed down for the Cyclones (2-5, 0-3 in the Big 12), as they've been outscored 108-30.
The offense has struggled to move the ball into opponent's territory, and the defense has been unable to get enough third-down stops.
The same thing happened Saturday, as the Cornhuskers (4-3, 1-2) scored three first-half touchdowns to take control of the game.
Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz (27-of-37, 328 yards, two total touchdowns) moved the Cornhusker offense down the field with ease early on, relying on a short and intermediate passing game to roll up 548 yards of total offense.
"Defensively, we are struggling at times," Chizik said. "It is kind of spot play. They try hard, and they are holding on, holding on, holding on and then something big happens."
ISU rallied when the second half opened as running back Alexander Robinson went virtually untouched on a 67-yard touchdown run to cut the Nebraska lead to 21-7 with 14 minutes, 23 seconds left in the third quarter.
But the Cyclones, who amassed only 218 total yards, were unable to sustain the surge as ISU failed to score on its two other second-half possessions in Cornhusker territory.
In the third quarter, tight end Derrick Catlett lost a fumble, and in the fourth quarter, kicker Grant Mahoney missed a 40-yard field goal.
"I don't necessarily think we have to do anything new," ISU quarterback Austen Arnaud said. "We just have to execute the things that are given to us."
For the offense, that means converting more than 2-of-13 third downs. This season, ISU has converted just 31 percent (30-of-98) on third down.
For the special teams, that means no more fumbles on punt returns. For the defense, that means wrapping up Nebraska wide receiver Nate Swift when given the chance to prevent his 19-yard touchdown catch.
"We are going through a rough time right now," ISU cornerback Leonard Johnson said. "Everyone is hanging in. No one is giving up. Hopefully we can just play together and get us one."
Chizik said he doesn't have any answers right now for the Cyclones' lack of execution. But he knows his staff must start finding them if the Cyclones are to turn their bear market into a bull market.
"That is what our jobs are as coaches right now," Chizik said. "To make sure this is not a downward spiral."
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 232-2161, Ext. 358, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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