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Cyclones looking to solve offensive woes
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2008-10-18
Iowa State football coach Gene Chizik knows there is a problem with the offense.
The Cyclones have scored just 17 points over their last two games, and Chizik said after ISU's 35-7 loss to Nebraska Saturday that getting the offense back on track is a priority.
"Offensively right now, we can't move the football," Chizik said. "There was a little bit of a spark there from a (67-yard touchdown) run from (running back) Alexander (Robinson). Other than that, it was hard to run the football all game. We are out of sync offensively. We are not consistent at all."
In the first half, ISU even struggled to move the chains. It converted only two first downs and gained only 45 yards. Chizik said things got a little better in the second half when Robinson scored ISU's lone touchdown and the Cyclones gained most of their 218 total yards.
For Chizik, getting more out of the offense starts with revamping the Cyclone running game, which gained just 113 yards.
"It affects our whole football team, top to bottom," he said. "It affects you getting first downs. It affects you with the clock. If affects you with the defense being able to stay off the field. It affects you when it comes to field position."
Nebraska gave up its fewest points Saturday to a Big 12 opponent since a 21-3 win over Kansas State in 2006.
"We just had a good game plan and knew the weaknesses of their tackle and their guard and we just executed," Nebraska defensive end Zach Potter said.
Getting off the field. ISU had problems forcing Nebraska to punt as the Cornhuskers converted on 7-of-13 third-down attempts, with most of the conversions coming in the first half as Nebraska built a 21-point halftime lead.
"They were executing the game plan better than we were," Chizik said. "They had a nice pickup game for all of our blitzes. They did a nice job. At the end of the day, they are executing well, and we are executing well, and we are hoping for 50-50, and that wasn't the case."
ISU needs more than TO. With their three turnovers against Cornhuskers, the Cyclones have forced a Big 12 Conference-leading 20 turnovers.
But they failed to score off any of them Saturday, and Chizik said that has to change if ISU is to start winning conference games.
"We just couldn't capitalize on any of those field position advantages or turnover advantages," Chizik said. "We haven't been able to capitalize on anything."
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
Nebraska linebacker Tyler Wortman keeps Iowa State’s Alexander Robinson from making a reception in the first quarter of the Cornhuskers’ 35-7 victory Saturday.
Nebraska linebacker Tyler Wortman keeps Iowa State’s Alexander Robinson from making a reception in the first quarter of the Cornhuskers’ 35-7 victory Saturday.
Iowa State football coach Gene Chizik knows there is a problem with the offense.
The Cyclones have scored just 17 points over their last two games, and Chizik said after ISU's 35-7 loss to Nebraska Saturday that getting the offense back on track is a priority.
"Offensively right now, we can't move the football," Chizik said. "There was a little bit of a spark there from a (67-yard touchdown) run from (running back) Alexander (Robinson). Other than that, it was hard to run the football all game. We are out of sync offensively. We are not consistent at all."
In the first half, ISU even struggled to move the chains. It converted only two first downs and gained only 45 yards. Chizik said things got a little better in the second half when Robinson scored ISU's lone touchdown and the Cyclones gained most of their 218 total yards.
For Chizik, getting more out of the offense starts with revamping the Cyclone running game, which gained just 113 yards.
"It affects our whole football team, top to bottom," he said. "It affects you getting first downs. It affects you with the clock. If affects you with the defense being able to stay off the field. It affects you when it comes to field position."
Nebraska gave up its fewest points Saturday to a Big 12 opponent since a 21-3 win over Kansas State in 2006.
"We just had a good game plan and knew the weaknesses of their tackle and their guard and we just executed," Nebraska defensive end Zach Potter said.
Getting off the field. ISU had problems forcing Nebraska to punt as the Cornhuskers converted on 7-of-13 third-down attempts, with most of the conversions coming in the first half as Nebraska built a 21-point halftime lead.
"They were executing the game plan better than we were," Chizik said. "They had a nice pickup game for all of our blitzes. They did a nice job. At the end of the day, they are executing well, and we are executing well, and we are hoping for 50-50, and that wasn't the case."
ISU needs more than TO. With their three turnovers against Cornhuskers, the Cyclones have forced a Big 12 Conference-leading 20 turnovers.
But they failed to score off any of them Saturday, and Chizik said that has to change if ISU is to start winning conference games.
"We just couldn't capitalize on any of those field position advantages or turnover advantages," Chizik said. "We haven't been able to capitalize on anything."
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 232-2161, Ext. 358, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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