Iowa State football: Midseason grades for players and coaches

Coming off of a 64-point blowout against a conference opponent is probably the worst time to give out the 2013 Iowa State fooball team’s midseason report card. Let’s push that disaster off to the side and collectively look at the Cyclones’ first six games of the season.

Oct 19, 2013; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Art Briles and Iowa State Cyclones head coach Paul Rhoads meet at midfield after the game at Floyd Casey Stadium. The Bears defeated the Cyclones 71-7. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Overall, the grades should be expected for a team that’s 1-5 on the season without a conference win. Coming into the season, expectations weren’t as high but a potential for a bowl game was definitely in sight.

Instead, the season has been a three-part roller coaster ride of emotion. The first two games against both Iowa schools, which many considered winnable, were lame ducks with the team absolutely hampered with injuries at quarterback and the offensive line. Things started trending the right way with a dominant win at Tulsa and nearly getting the win against Texas, but then things started falling apart against Texas Tech and completely fell off the edge against Baylor.

With the whole season in mind, here are the grades. Agree? Disagree? More thoughts? Sound off below.