This team has been held together with duct tape and bailing wire. Our fortunes have been largely tied to our injury status. We started 7-0 with the later f those games coming with players that never expected to see the field. The linebackers which was supposed to be a strength was especially hit hard with three experienced guys out and some of the backup lost also. I was told over 100 players have seen meaningful minutes in games this year. At first we seemed to get away with it with the backups playing well. But as the competition got tougher and coaches had game film on them, they were exposed.
Our injuries were starting to show in our 7th win where we escaped with a win against UCF when our quarterback, Rocco Becht, put the team on his back and led us to a game winning drive on the last possession. The next week the wheels came off against Kansas. We were never really in that game. The following week against Tech we put together a late drive that seemed to be the game winner, but the defense couldn't stop Tech as they answered to win the game. Those games were the low point. Since then we've got a couple of key players back, including a run stopper, Domonique Orange. He helps take pressure off those young linebackers. His counterpart on the DL, J.R. Singleton, I believe got hurt again and may be out. That's not good news if he can't go.
Our fortunes this year have been pretty much tied to injuries, and with Campbell it's hard to know who is going to be able to go. Often it takes the reporters Tweeting during warmups about who is out there and who is in street clothes. The defense has given up many long plays this year, which is not what ISU fans are used to under defensive coordinator John Heacock. But as the young replacements have gotten more game action and coaching, they have started to get better. At one point I was told we started three young guys from small Iowa schools, including at least one walkon.
I don't know what to expect on Saturday. Hopefully we are healthy enough on defense to slow ASU down and get some stops. But the offense needs to finish drives and not settle for field goals. If ISU can run the ball and not turn it over, that will give the Cyclones the best chance to win.
I am normally an optimist, but from our 7th game through the end of the season, I haven't been expecting wins.