Was it enough: ISU 48 - UNLV 3

How do you like me now?  Iowa State dismantled The UNLV Running Rebels 48-3.   But, was it  enough for your liking.   I was sitting next a negative ninny at the game in Vegas.  This particular person was complaining that Iowa State was not doing enough for a Top 15 ranked team.   I agree and disagree.   

Time to break it down.   Brock Purdy looked good and kind of like his old self.  Purdy was 21/24 with 288 yards passing with 3 touchdowns.   All 3 of the those touchdowns were on a string and the perfect spots.   Having 288 yards against an inferior team is good but not good enough.  However Purdy was very efficient.    This isn't on Purdy as much but, we still haven't pushed the ball down field except for the Charlie Kolar 33 yard break away.  I/m not seeing Professional Purdy numbers and skill. Yet, I like what Purdy was serving up for the most part.  Brock Purdy Grade: A-. 

Breece Hall hit the 100 yard mark for the first time all season.   There were a couple of times Hall looked like he was running with some urgency.   But, for the most part it felt like he was waiting for a hole to open up or running into a clogged drain pipe.  Hall had 21 carries, for 100 yards, and 2 touchdowns.   Negative Ninny was complaining that Hall should have had 200 yards against an inferior team.   Upon this statement I agree.   Hall hasn't looked like he can break off a run of more than a dozen yards this season.   I no longer believe he is a legitimate Heisman candidate, if he is he needs to be able to slice the cheese against weaker opponents, and throw some ham on it.  Breece Hall Grade: B-.   

The defense was outstanding again.   In the first half the Running Rebels had a total of 23 yards and 1, one, uno first downs and that was because Iowa State committed a penalty.   The 4th quarter allowed Iowa State to play some of their younger up and comers.   The Rebs rushing total: 36, Passing: 94 Total: 130 yards for the entire game.   This defense is going to keep us in most of the games, as long as we do not commit turnovers and bear ourselves.  Defense Grade: A.    

Overall grade on Iowa State: B.   I think we looked good.   But, I didn't see total domination.  I feel like we have areas where we are lacking - in particular the break away running game and the push the ball down field break your back long touchdown throws.  To me we feel more like a Top 20 than a Top 15 team right now.  On the upside we are 2-1, and the Team we lost to is a Top 5 team currently.  But, I will say Iowa State traveled well to Las Vegas.  It was estimated that ISU had 30,000 fans in the stadium,  UNLV maybe had 10,000.   It is good to see the support all around for this team. An ISU Home Game in Las Vegas

I'll be previewing the Baylor game later this week.   Last time we played at Baylor they won by a score of 23-21.   This could be a sneaky little test on the road.