Great effort!

[bent20]

So who is player of the game? I didn't get to follow it all, so I'll let others decide. Guessing Bell has to be the leading candidate again. SDSU focused on him early and he still basically had 200 yards. Amazing defensive effort, too.

 

[BigBlue79]

bell and archie...both are monsters...but I would have to say bell...he was literally carrying people an extra five yards like they were his little brothers after he came back from an injury...play of the game was towalid....

 

[bent20]

Gosycamores live blog said he broke four tackles and carried three defenders into the endzone on his last score. Pretty impressive for a guy his size.

I was impressed with the commitment we showed to the run game. SDSU obviously came out looking to stop it early on. Fouch and the receivers again gave us a nice balance.

 

[BigBlue79]

lots of weapons on this team...we haven't even gotten hilton involved alot...we will though because he is still getting behind people...we just need to connect....but that is hard for fouch to dump pass to TE's and underneath to riston all game and we run...and then tell him to throw a deep ball...he will be a little off...but he can do it...just executing...we will be dangerous....I like our Defense...no complaints...maybe short passes but they started picking up on those out routes in the end...

 

[bent20]

I would like to see us throwing the ball a little bit more than we have the past couple of weeks, but when we're so effective on the ground it's hard to argue with ball control and the occasional quick strike.

 

[Sycamore]

How do you have complaints about the offense and not the defense. We can sugarcoat it all we want, but the way the D gives up points in bunches, it's going to be the difference vs teams like UNI and NDST. Youngstown, Butler, and SdSt has all made our d look pretty bad during those games. We are going to need an absolute suburb effort defensively vs UNI. I don't think we can expect our O to score 30+ points every single game. There is going to be a game or two that the o will struggle, and the D will have to carry us, and that kind of worries me.

 

[bent20]

How do you have complaints about the offense and not the defense. We can sugarcoat it all we want, but the way the D gives up points in bunches, it's going to be the difference vs teams like UNI and NDST. Youngstown, Butler, and SdSt has all made our d look pretty bad during those games. We are going to need an absolute suburb effort defensively vs UNI. I don't think we can expect our O to score 30+ points every single game. There is going to be a game or two that the o will struggle, and the D will have to carry us, and that kind of worries me.

I had concerns about the D after the YSU and Butler games. Today they came up big several times. Agree we need to do a better job of closing games out, but early they were outstanding. They had to hold SDSU after a fumble in our territory and a blocked punt. If we give up touchdowns there it's a totally different game.

 

[Sycamore]

I didn't listen to the game. I just got my updates here, but it worries me when a team scores so quickly and moves the ball with such ease. I agree that our d has been opportunistic thus far. I did go to the Youngstown and butler game, and I left really weary of our D. I think we have the talent and athletes on that side. It just seems that we give up so many points and yards. I'm glad to see obseki have a good game. The last two games he was held in check.

 

[bent20]

I didn't listen to the game. I just got my updates here, but it worries me when a team scores so quickly and moves the ball with such ease. I agree that our d has been opportunistic thus far. I did go to the Youngstown and butler game, and I left really weary of our D. I think we have the talent and athletes on that side. It just seems that we give up so many points and yards. I'm glad to see obseki have a good game. The last two games he was held in check.

Obaseki held in check? Not really. He might not have the sack and tackle numbers in the box score, but he made several big plays (pressures) in both of those games. He's the best Dlinemen in the MVC. I've already seen a couple of opposing coaches say that, guessing we'll see a few more in agreement.

 

[Sycamore]

For being the best lineman in the conference he was held in check. He had 0 unassisted tackles in the western and Youngstown game, and 6 assisted between the 2. There's no doubt he is our best d lineman, but I think he would agree that he hasn't been playing as well as he's capable. I usually don't watch the line during the plays, he might be getting double teamed, I don't know. For what we have been used to out of Ben, ( a few sacks and hurries a game plus at least two tackles for a loss) he has been held in check.

 

[Callmedoc]

Obaseki held in check? Not really. He might not have the sack and tackle numbers in the box score, but he made several big plays (pressures) in both of those games. He's the best Dlinemen in the MVC. I've already seen a couple of opposing coaches say that, guessing we'll see a few more in agreement.

Uhhh Yeah I concur with Bent on this one. the guy was in Hess's face virtually every time he dropped back and being the best D-lineman has a lot to do with taking up two blockers. Hardy and others have been making plays because big ben is taking up ALL of the attention.

 

[bent20]

Obaseki was schooling Penn State's oline. Humiliating them. He's the real deal and then some.

 

[Spencer#1FAN]

Spencer Kid...

So What do were think about Spencer??? He hasnt really seen a lot of pt but he's been out there... What do we think he need to do more of??

 

[bent20]

So What do were think about Spencer??? He hasnt really seen a lot of pt but he's been out there... What do we think he need to do more of??

The fumble could have been quite costly if the D didn't hold SDSU to a FG. Not too worried about it though. Keep working hard, playing at a high level, making the big plays that are going to be necessary, especially next week and as we march toward the playoffs. That's what we'll need. Strength, poise, leadership. That's what we need from all of our players, but especially the up and coming stars. They're the ones who will take this great season and build on it.

 

[BrokerZ]

So What do were think about Spencer??? He hasnt really seen a lot of pt but he's been out there... What do we think he need to do more of??

I think you have to be patient with Spencer. It takes some time to build rapport with a new QB and we also have some already established wideouts. He'll come around...he's too talented not to.

 

[BigBlue79]

I love the way the d starts off. When they want they get after it. Our d was put in the hole and made big plays we just need to finish. Also I don't think we said we have problems with the o I just would like to see our great passing game to accompany the run we have. And Hilton Spencer have been silent. And to say obaseki was held in check is beyond laughter. You must not be watching him. He abused the guy last night and put pressure on the qb when they only rushed three. He is the best in the conference just ask other coaches. Every coach us worried about him and he has been in every qbs face thus far.

 

[ISUCC]

I was able to watch Spencer play last night, he is easy to spot w/ his height and the fact he wears the #1.

While ISU may not be passing a lot these days, Spencer does a LOT that people might not notice. Mainly he is an EXCELLENT down field blocker, so when we're running the ball he's keeping defenders out of the way so ISU can pick up big gains.

The fumble he had last night was the result of a HUGE hit by an SDSU player, so we can't really fault him on that. In fact, that was the "hit of the game" for SDSU on the video board. The TD pass he dropped, again, was a ball he had originally caught, but got hit pretty hard after the catch and simply wasn't able to hold on to it.

Spencer is gonna be an integral part of this offense for the next 2 1/2 years. Be patient, he is gonna be a very good weapon in the ISU arsenal!

So What do were think about Spencer??? He hasnt really seen a lot of pt but he's been out there... What do we think he need to do more of??

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

I like our Defense...

Do you really? Well they've given up over 400 yards of total offense against every team not named Penn State and we saw what they did yesterday (16 points) vs. an Indiana Loosiers team that gave up 27 to Ball State and 24 to North Texas.

I'd say if you wanted to be critical of a 4-1 team that defense is an area that we could for sure improve.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Obaseki was schooling Penn State's oline. Humiliating them. He's the real deal and then some.

BENT the Sycamore didn't say he wasn't the read deal, in fact he acknowledged that he was the best lineman in the league. Statistically he has indeed been held in check and that's the only point that was made.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

While ISU may not be passing a lot these days, Spencer does a LOT that people might not notice. Mainly he is an EXCELLENT down field blocker, so when we're running the ball he's keeping defenders out of the way so ISU can pick up big gains.

This ^

When you've got 2nd and like 15 to go and Bell is running down the sidelines and you see Spencer blocking at/past the first down sticks you can quickly see part of the reason we are able to run the ball so well. I'd venture to guess that most of our big runs on the corner are run to his side of the field - that is a complete guess but he's a physical wide receiver. I'd say our entire passing game has been held in check if you want to be honest.