I have grown increasingly frustrated with ISU football from 2003 - 2015. I am not frustrated right now, because the new staff needs time and was left an almost totally empty hand at the critical offensive line position. And that is inexcusable and probably the most damning indictment of the previous regime. Because, in my opinion, offensive line is one area where we are NOT at a location disadvantage to recruit players to this position. But bad Offensive line hires, changing philosophies on body type and training regimen and inconsistent coaching have led to under performance, unusually high injury rates and an unacceptable large number of misses. I am actually encouraged a bit by the ability of this staff to cobble some semblance of an offensive line together that consists, right now, of 2 walk-ons, an JC player coming off injury, a grad transfer and a couple of RSFr. I also like that they are not throwing their young recruits to the wolves. But it will take time to build a core offensive line.
This has been a problem for a long time. We had a good, upper class offensive line for Sage in 2000, and a decent one for Seneca in 2001. But in 2002 he was running for his life and we were woefully inconsistent. 2003 the Oline was almost non-existent, then it was up and down, but the ups were average at best.
Under CPR, even with talent mostly recruited by Mac and Chizik, we were not dominant and were just terrible the last 3 years. I don't know if part of it is scheme, system or what. But we never seem to have the OLine that handles the type of offense we run.
I know we tend to blame QB's - and, frankly, we have not had upper tier QB's. But when our Olines were average, our QB's seemed to be average and when our Olines were bad or limited to pass blocking or run blocking, our QB's were bad also.
My hope for the Matt Campbell years is that the Offensive Line base gets established to allow the program to grow. And that he has, long term, a style of play that will fit and enable that growth to take place.
This has been a problem for a long time. We had a good, upper class offensive line for Sage in 2000, and a decent one for Seneca in 2001. But in 2002 he was running for his life and we were woefully inconsistent. 2003 the Oline was almost non-existent, then it was up and down, but the ups were average at best.
Under CPR, even with talent mostly recruited by Mac and Chizik, we were not dominant and were just terrible the last 3 years. I don't know if part of it is scheme, system or what. But we never seem to have the OLine that handles the type of offense we run.
I know we tend to blame QB's - and, frankly, we have not had upper tier QB's. But when our Olines were average, our QB's seemed to be average and when our Olines were bad or limited to pass blocking or run blocking, our QB's were bad also.
My hope for the Matt Campbell years is that the Offensive Line base gets established to allow the program to grow. And that he has, long term, a style of play that will fit and enable that growth to take place.
