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A few thoughts before the first practice starts
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-08-04
A new college football season means a whole new batch of arguments are bound to pop up. But before everyone chooses sides while debating who the best quarterback in the country is or how many games Iowa State will win this season, here are some things I’m certain on about the Cyclones before they hold their first practice.
No. 1: Paul Rhoads is taking the right approach at ISU.
At Big 12 Media Days, one of the first things he said was that he wants to turn the Cyclones into a championship program. That may not seem like much, but that’s everything.
Coaches coach, players play and fans cheer to see their team win championships. That means Big 12 North titles. That means Big 12 titles. That means BCS bowls and, if things fall right, a national championship.
Talking about championships isn’t something every coach does when he takes over a program. But it is something every coach should talk about.
It may seem weird that a program without a conference championship since 1912 is talking about winning, and winning big, but if you don’t plan for it, it can never happen. That’s why new coaches need to talk about championships.
I like that Rhoads is taking the Cyclones’ lack of recent success and long-term championship drought head on. It’s the only way to get past it and turn ISU into the program he envisions.
No. 2: The defense doesn’t have to be Virginia Tech or USC. It only needs to be adequate.
Defensive coordinator Wally Burnham told me the Cyclone defense doesn’t have to be super this season. It only has to do its job. I believe part of the reason for that is because of the offense.
Things seemed to click for quarterback Austen Arnaud and company as last season progressed. If the group can get a grasp on the no-huddle spread, offensive points should go up on the scoreboard. Which means ISU won’t need the defense to hold opponents to 13 points to win.
No. 3: Junior college transfers will play a role in how good the defense is.
Coaches bring in junior college players because they believe the kids can contribute right away. ISU junior college transfers David Sims, Matt Taufoou and Jacob Lattimer are no exception.
Sims could plug a hole at safety that formed after Chris Brown, who showed promise in 2007, missed most of 2008 due to injury. The linebacking corps could use an injection of speed and athleticism, which Taufoou and Lattimer could provide.
They could also help the linebackers without ever climbing atop the depth chart. Coaches love to talk about depth creating competition at practice. Coaches talk about it because it’s true. By pushing starters for playing time, Taufoou and Lattimer could improve the defense by forcing the players ahead of them to get better in order to keep their jobs.
Regardless of how it plays out, the junior college transfers will have a say in how effective the 2009 defense really is.
No. 4: Fans may be gearing up for the Iowa game, but Kent State is the most important non-conference game.
ISU hasn’t won on the road in 17 games. The players need to prove to themselves they can win away from Jack Trice Stadium. It’s something the team has to get past if it’s to become a championship program, and this may be the best shot at a road win this year.
Knocking off the Hawkeyes would be great and get players believing in themselves, but if ISU falls to the Golden Flashes the next week, the momentum will be lost as the same old questions about winning on the road will resurface.
But if ISU wins at Kent State it can head into consecutive winnable games against Army and Kansas State confident and looking to start a winning streak.
Plus, a road win heading into the neutral-site game with the Wildcats would be a boost for the conference opener.
A few wins, including two wins outside of Iowa, is as much as ISU could hope to accomplish in its first five games. It would show the program is moving forward. And it can’t be done without a win at Kent State.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-08-04
Bobby La Gesse covers Iowa State football and women's basketball for the Tribune.
A new college football season means a whole new batch of arguments are bound to pop up. But before everyone chooses sides while debating who the best quarterback in the country is or how many games Iowa State will win this season, here are some things I’m certain on about the Cyclones before they hold their first practice.
No. 1: Paul Rhoads is taking the right approach at ISU.
At Big 12 Media Days, one of the first things he said was that he wants to turn the Cyclones into a championship program. That may not seem like much, but that’s everything.
Coaches coach, players play and fans cheer to see their team win championships. That means Big 12 North titles. That means Big 12 titles. That means BCS bowls and, if things fall right, a national championship.
Talking about championships isn’t something every coach does when he takes over a program. But it is something every coach should talk about.
It may seem weird that a program without a conference championship since 1912 is talking about winning, and winning big, but if you don’t plan for it, it can never happen. That’s why new coaches need to talk about championships.
I like that Rhoads is taking the Cyclones’ lack of recent success and long-term championship drought head on. It’s the only way to get past it and turn ISU into the program he envisions.
No. 2: The defense doesn’t have to be Virginia Tech or USC. It only needs to be adequate.
Defensive coordinator Wally Burnham told me the Cyclone defense doesn’t have to be super this season. It only has to do its job. I believe part of the reason for that is because of the offense.
Things seemed to click for quarterback Austen Arnaud and company as last season progressed. If the group can get a grasp on the no-huddle spread, offensive points should go up on the scoreboard. Which means ISU won’t need the defense to hold opponents to 13 points to win.
No. 3: Junior college transfers will play a role in how good the defense is.
Coaches bring in junior college players because they believe the kids can contribute right away. ISU junior college transfers David Sims, Matt Taufoou and Jacob Lattimer are no exception.
Sims could plug a hole at safety that formed after Chris Brown, who showed promise in 2007, missed most of 2008 due to injury. The linebacking corps could use an injection of speed and athleticism, which Taufoou and Lattimer could provide.
They could also help the linebackers without ever climbing atop the depth chart. Coaches love to talk about depth creating competition at practice. Coaches talk about it because it’s true. By pushing starters for playing time, Taufoou and Lattimer could improve the defense by forcing the players ahead of them to get better in order to keep their jobs.
Regardless of how it plays out, the junior college transfers will have a say in how effective the 2009 defense really is.
No. 4: Fans may be gearing up for the Iowa game, but Kent State is the most important non-conference game.
ISU hasn’t won on the road in 17 games. The players need to prove to themselves they can win away from Jack Trice Stadium. It’s something the team has to get past if it’s to become a championship program, and this may be the best shot at a road win this year.
Knocking off the Hawkeyes would be great and get players believing in themselves, but if ISU falls to the Golden Flashes the next week, the momentum will be lost as the same old questions about winning on the road will resurface.
But if ISU wins at Kent State it can head into consecutive winnable games against Army and Kansas State confident and looking to start a winning streak.
Plus, a road win heading into the neutral-site game with the Wildcats would be a boost for the conference opener.
A few wins, including two wins outside of Iowa, is as much as ISU could hope to accomplish in its first five games. It would show the program is moving forward. And it can’t be done without a win at Kent State.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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