Matt Campbell's irresistible force meets Kirk Ferentz

Submitted by Buy Bushwood on September 12th, 2021 at 10:55 AM

Lots of examples in which the hottest offensive commodity for a couple years can't really do too much when others adjust (RichRod, Scott Frost). Or is Matt Campbell's alleged prowess simply a corollary of the Big 12. Or maybe it's just one game. But when Kirk Ferentz comes into your home stadium and sits on the face of your modern offense, it's a little concerning.  

1VaBlue1

September 12th, 2021 at 11:05 AM ^

You can't turn it over 4 times and expect to win the game.  Look at the stats and tell us again how Ferentz won with a "modern offense".  ISU moved the ball up and down the field, but kept turning it over.  Iowa kept trying to lose, but ISU just wouldn't let them.

I was all for replacing JH with Campbell last year.  When he was re-signed, I jumped back on board hoping to see a better team.  So far, I see a better team.  But, if I see regression to the point I think JH needs to be replaced, I'll look around again at available alternatives.  Maybe Campbell will still be one of them?  Maybe he won't be?

But right now Harbaugh's new staff and team look good.  They look competent.  They play hard and finish plays.  I'm plenty good with it right now.  So this obsession with Campbell seems like water under the bridge and an exercise in creating argument.

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127283

1VaBlue1

September 12th, 2021 at 12:24 PM ^

Nope...  I don't care if/when people have different opinions, but I do care that they coherently express said opinions.  In a separate thread you complained about the "Harball" offense, implying that you don't agree with what he's doing (or, maybe, whether he should be here).  With this thread, you're implying that he's better than Campbell by explaining that Campbell's team was beat by a nobody offense.

So I'm not sure what you're trying to address with this post.  I gave my thought's on Campbell, incl why I believe they lost and whether he should replace JH.  Just like you gave yours on...  whatever it was.  The only think I can think of is that you are looking for argument.

You posted something to the board, which implies you want comments on it.  I commented.  Not sure why you're arguing about it...

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127283

Buy Bushwood

September 12th, 2021 at 1:39 PM ^

Don't know what to say about your anger.  You deride my posts, yet reply to them profusely. Seems like maybe you're just a hater looking to exude hate.  You're seriously an adult (I presume) who's now haranguing me twice in different threads for writing Harball. It's that important to you to shame me for making a portmanteau that you don't like? Sad. Now you "don't know what I'm trying to say in this post", yet no one else seems to have a problem with figuring it out. 

Joined: 10/24/2020

MGoPoints: 21665

LSAClassOf2000

September 12th, 2021 at 11:07 AM ^

Well, it didn't take him quite five seasons to win as many games than Paul Rhoads did in close to double that time, and that is a position in which Iowa State probably has never found itself - that sort of fairly rapid improvement to at least a serviceable team if not great. I think we do have to ask, however, if that is aided by their presence in the Big XII and if what we saw in yesterday's game was a hint of the ceiling in Ames in terms of talent acquisition, where a good-not-great Big Ten team can walk in and run right over them essentially.

That does bring up the same question that has been asked around here for a while though - what could Campbell do with better talent than you'll likely ever see in Ames? I think the answer right now to that is, "Someday, I am sure someone will find out...". Not trying to fuel Campbell hype, because I am not on that train really, but I still think he'll get a shot on a bigger stage eventually.

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130655

Kevin13

September 12th, 2021 at 12:35 PM ^

Before the season started people were still taking about Campbell and all the talent he has on his team now and how he had built a powerhouse. Many fans think he’s the greatest coach out there. I think he’s a good coach but hasn’t proven enough to me to think he walks on water like others around here do. 
He is now 0-5 against his biggest rival. This great team he has barely could get past Northern Iowa. I think most of his success has come about by playing in the Big 12 which is not a very tough conference.  
Iowa State was over rated this season and it’s already showing.  I like Matt Campbell but just don’t hold him in the same esteem like others who wanted him here at all costs 

Joined: 01/26/2016

MGoPoints: 16040

Buy Bushwood

September 12th, 2021 at 11:28 AM ^

I will support the team, especially the kids who play their guts out of UM.  JH loves UM, but we've seen this script over and over, despite reboots of coordinators and systems. This script is JH core being as a football coach, and it involves physically routing lesser competition and a glaring lack of a second dimension to invoke against the powerful teams on the schedule. It reduces to winning against all major underdog, going %500 against the upper tier teams (usually with one inspiring route each year against PSU, WISC, ND, that gives us hope), then taking a giant sh*t against OSU and in a bowl game. 

Seeing it again this year, I'm over JH and would like to see something new. I just think past logic indicates that he isn't going to get this program over the hump with his limitations. I'd love for the next hire to be the next Urban Meyer, which I don't think is Matt Campbell. On the other hand, at least we aren't a blue-blood who hired Clay Helton or Steve Sarkisian.  

Joined: 10/24/2020

MGoPoints: 21665

MGoArchive

September 12th, 2021 at 11:51 AM ^

Exactly this. Nothing I’ve seen thus far leads to me believe this team’s ceiling is any higher than 8-4, and losing every game that matters (Wisconsin, MSU, PSU, OSU). Running 53 god damn times, even if it worked, is peak Harbaugh. We will get absolutely annihilated trying that against a decent defense.

Joined: 05/13/2013

MGoPoints: 1005184

unWavering

September 12th, 2021 at 12:48 PM ^

Washington's defense is likely the 2nd or 3rd best defense we will play all season. 

I'm not sure why this board seems to only like "taking what the defense gives you" when that means passing the ball. Had we thrown 20 bubble screens highly effectively the board would've loved it, if only because Brian has endorsed it.

Why don't we see what the team actually does against other quality teams before we write off the season. I mean Christ on a cracker, we won decisively, which is a lot more than a lot of people thought would happen vs Washington a few weeks ago

 

Joined: 01/13/2011

MGoPoints: 22437

Templeton Peck…

September 12th, 2021 at 6:09 PM ^

Brah... seriously? They won the fucking game by doing what worked. UW's DBs are no joke. All your MGoPoints notwithstanding... style points matter for shit, and this makes you seem like the worst kind of fan... someone who bitches about the way in which the team you root for wins a game. 

Joined: 10/14/2015

MGoPoints: 3173

Rabbit21

September 12th, 2021 at 1:05 PM ^

This to me, is the fundamental question.  What do we have to do to end up with a program that doesn't make us want to slit our wrists from the end of November through early January.  The streak to Ohio St. is awful but equally angering is the futility in bowl games.  That, to me, is the thing I can't get over.  Like I just want to know where the teams puts its pride after the OSU beatdown.  If Harbaugh can't fix that then its time to see if someone else can.

Joined: 11/12/2009

MGoPoints: 30303

MichAtl85

September 12th, 2021 at 1:49 PM ^

People like what Matt Campbell has done at a historically awful football school. Harbaugh wins the games he’s favored in (usually) and loses games he’s underdogs in. 
 

If OSU was the only issue Harbaugh had year in and year out that’d be one thing. The hallmarks of the Harbaugh era are: do pretty well at home (2020 excluded), play poorly and lose on the road. If we’re not going to compete against Ohio state I understand. Can we at least go into a hostile environment and play an intense game from the start and beat a team we aren’t supposed to beat?

Can we find enough of a passing game to win in Madison? Happy Valley? East Lansing? The running backs on this team are phenomenal. Mike Hart is developing that talent exceptionally well. Can we develop a QB? A star wide receiver? We’ll find out. I sure would love to eat crow. 

Joined: 09/21/2019

MGoPoints: 12352

jdib

September 12th, 2021 at 11:13 AM ^

-ISU had 339 yards of offense vs Iowa's 173. 

-ISU turned the ball over 4 times vs Iowa's 0 turnovers. 

It's plausible to say Campbell is overrated but any team loses coughing the ball up 4 more times than their opponent, especially when 2 of those turnovers resulted in immediate 14 points the other way

 

Joined: 10/31/2012

MGoPoints: 13905