Chizik says better days are ahead
By Kelly Beaton, Courier News Service| Posted: Monday, October 27, 2008
AMES, Iowa -- The Cyclones can only hope this is rock-bottom.
They have now lost six in a row. They just lost on homecoming.
And, their defense just got carved up like your kid's Jack O'Lantern.
The Iowa State football squad's biggest chore these days may be restoring its fans' faith after Saturday's 49-35 loss to Texas A&M.
"Our fans are great," said second-year Cyclone coach Gene Chizik. "I know there's a little frustration there. I'm certainly not oblivious to that."
For the sake of Chizik's sanity, you hope he didn't tune in to the postgame radio show late Saturday night. A steady stream of irate callers questioned the defensive expertise of Chizik -- a former Frank Broyles Award winner as the nation's top assistant at Auburn in 2004.
The Cyclones' secondary was a sieve against the Aggies, allowing sophomore Jerrod Johnson to complete 23 of his first 27 passes en route to a career-high 381 passing yards and four scoring strikes. The middle of Iowa State's pass coverage -- roughly 10-15 yards down the field -- was wide open all night.
Now, in the last three games, opposing quarterbacks have completed 79 percent of their passes against Iowa State, for a total of 987 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions.
"We're making it a game of throw and catch," Chizik acknowledged. "I don't think we're putting enough pressure on 'em. I think we're gonna have to get back to ... blitzing (quarterbacks) more."
In a game that included 1,083 yards of total offense, Texas A&M converted on 11 of 14 third-down attempts, and also converted on its only fourth-down attempt.
"The focus," Chizik said, "is to play better on both sides of the ball."
Actually, however, Iowa State's once dormant offense sprang to life Saturday night, producing 574 yards of total offense, it's most since 2002. The Cyclones rattled off 34 first downs -- their most since a 35-6 win over Northern Iowa in 1990. Iowa State had won by no less than three scores every other time it registered 31 or more first downs in its history.
Another encouraging development was Austen Arnaud's play. Iowa State's sophomore signal-caller completed 26 of 41 passes for a career-high 371 yards and ran for 67 yards.
And the Ames native did all that with a sore throwing shoulder.
"He was tough," said Chizik. "He made some nice throws. And, when there was nothing there, he pulled it down and ran it. He was tough."
Arnaud completed passes to 10 different receivers, finding senior R.J. Sumrall nine times for 143 yards.
"We were pretty much scoring at will," Arnaud insisted. "We could've scored 50 points that game."
"I was real proud of our offense," said Chizik, whose team tormented A&M's 101st-ranked defense. "They kept fighting back -- they never gave up."
And now, Chizik -- saddled with a 5-15 career record in Ames -- must do the same.
Admittedly, the Cyclones have hit a low. But their head coach still believes they can point their program due north in the season's final month.
"This is a journey," Chizik reiterated. "We're in it for the long haul ... and there'll be a better day for us."
CHIP OF THE BLOCK?: Perhaps it's piling on, but it's hard not to note who one of the officials was that made a confounding onside-kick call against Iowa State late in Saturday's loss.
Shawn Hochuli was the game's back judge. Hochuli is the son of embattled NFL official Ed Hochuli, who drew ire from San Diego Charger fans on Sept. 14, when he inadvertantly blew a whistle too early, negating a late-game fumble recovery by linebacker Tim Dobbins (who, ironicially, is an Iowa State alum). San Diego ended up losing that day, 39-38, at Denver.
Saturday, Iowa State trailed, 42-28, with 7:43 remaining when receiver Darius Darks appeared to recover an onside kick after it hit a Texas A&M player. Both sides seemed to agree the ball was Iowa State's, evidenced by the fact the Aggies' defense even came onto the field. However, after a lengthy review of the play, referees awarded the visitors the ball on the
37 1/2 yardline. Iowa State was never able to regain momentum.
They have now lost six in a row. They just lost on homecoming.
And, their defense just got carved up like your kid's Jack O'Lantern.
The Iowa State football squad's biggest chore these days may be restoring its fans' faith after Saturday's 49-35 loss to Texas A&M.
"Our fans are great," said second-year Cyclone coach Gene Chizik. "I know there's a little frustration there. I'm certainly not oblivious to that."
For the sake of Chizik's sanity, you hope he didn't tune in to the postgame radio show late Saturday night. A steady stream of irate callers questioned the defensive expertise of Chizik -- a former Frank Broyles Award winner as the nation's top assistant at Auburn in 2004.
The Cyclones' secondary was a sieve against the Aggies, allowing sophomore Jerrod Johnson to complete 23 of his first 27 passes en route to a career-high 381 passing yards and four scoring strikes. The middle of Iowa State's pass coverage -- roughly 10-15 yards down the field -- was wide open all night.
Now, in the last three games, opposing quarterbacks have completed 79 percent of their passes against Iowa State, for a total of 987 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions.
"We're making it a game of throw and catch," Chizik acknowledged. "I don't think we're putting enough pressure on 'em. I think we're gonna have to get back to ... blitzing (quarterbacks) more."
In a game that included 1,083 yards of total offense, Texas A&M converted on 11 of 14 third-down attempts, and also converted on its only fourth-down attempt.
"The focus," Chizik said, "is to play better on both sides of the ball."
Actually, however, Iowa State's once dormant offense sprang to life Saturday night, producing 574 yards of total offense, it's most since 2002. The Cyclones rattled off 34 first downs -- their most since a 35-6 win over Northern Iowa in 1990. Iowa State had won by no less than three scores every other time it registered 31 or more first downs in its history.
Another encouraging development was Austen Arnaud's play. Iowa State's sophomore signal-caller completed 26 of 41 passes for a career-high 371 yards and ran for 67 yards.
And the Ames native did all that with a sore throwing shoulder.
"He was tough," said Chizik. "He made some nice throws. And, when there was nothing there, he pulled it down and ran it. He was tough."
Arnaud completed passes to 10 different receivers, finding senior R.J. Sumrall nine times for 143 yards.
"We were pretty much scoring at will," Arnaud insisted. "We could've scored 50 points that game."
"I was real proud of our offense," said Chizik, whose team tormented A&M's 101st-ranked defense. "They kept fighting back -- they never gave up."
And now, Chizik -- saddled with a 5-15 career record in Ames -- must do the same.
Admittedly, the Cyclones have hit a low. But their head coach still believes they can point their program due north in the season's final month.
"This is a journey," Chizik reiterated. "We're in it for the long haul ... and there'll be a better day for us."
CHIP OF THE BLOCK?: Perhaps it's piling on, but it's hard not to note who one of the officials was that made a confounding onside-kick call against Iowa State late in Saturday's loss.
Shawn Hochuli was the game's back judge. Hochuli is the son of embattled NFL official Ed Hochuli, who drew ire from San Diego Charger fans on Sept. 14, when he inadvertantly blew a whistle too early, negating a late-game fumble recovery by linebacker Tim Dobbins (who, ironicially, is an Iowa State alum). San Diego ended up losing that day, 39-38, at Denver.
Saturday, Iowa State trailed, 42-28, with 7:43 remaining when receiver Darius Darks appeared to recover an onside kick after it hit a Texas A&M player. Both sides seemed to agree the ball was Iowa State's, evidenced by the fact the Aggies' defense even came onto the field. However, after a lengthy review of the play, referees awarded the visitors the ball on the
37 1/2 yardline. Iowa State was never able to regain momentum.
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