Ferentz all in on Davis?

[MeatMan]

still not sure how the horizontal passing game meshes with the power running game...don't know how it doesn't end up like last year.

 

[ajkhawkeye]

still not sure how the horizontal passing game meshes with the power running game...don't know how it doesn't end up like last year.

Exactly. If you don't take some shots downfield, the defense plays 9 guys in the box. There's absolutely no running room. Perfect recipe for a 4-8 season.

 

[MeatMan]

Exactly. If you don't take some shots downfield, the defense plays 9 guys in the box. There's absolutely no running room. Perfect recipe for a 4-8 season.

that, and they don't play off each other well. Stanzi had some really easy throws off of those bootlegs where it looks like a stretch run play. now, the passing game doesn't have a PA option, or if they do try it, it looks really fake and no one bites on it. and yes, they can just load the box because there's no fear of going up top.

 

[ajkhawkeye]

that, and they don't play off each other well. Stanzi had some really easy throws off of those bootlegs where it looks like a stretch run play. now, the passing game doesn't have a PA option, or if they do try it, it looks really fake and no one bites on it. and yes, they can just load the box because there's no fear of going up top.

Completely agree, the PA is a key to any offense. KOK used it to near perfection. I'll give GD the benefit of the doubt for this past season's dumpster fire, but if nothing changes this season, it needs to be time for him to shown the door. I really have a feeling that Captain Kirk will go down with his ship if the GD Experiment does not work. His stubbornness/loyalty (whichever you want to call it) is unreal at times.

 

[MeatMan]

Completely agree, the PA is a key to any offense. KOK used it to near perfection. I'll give GD the benefit of the doubt for this past season's dumpster fire, but if nothing changes this season, it needs to be time for him to shown the door. I really have a feeling that Captain Kirk will go down with his ship if the GD Experiment does not work. His stubbornness/loyalty (whichever you want to call it) is unreal at times.

i don't think KF has any other options really. if next season is a huge bomb (which i think it will be) he doesn't really have time (or favor with the fanbase) to scrap it and start again. his fate will in some measure be tied to Davis.

 

[ajkhawkeye]

i don't think KF has any other options really. if next season is a huge bomb (which i think it will be) he doesn't really have time (or favor with the fanbase) to scrap it and start again. his fate will in some measure be tied to Davis.

That's a good point. Time is ticking on the Ferentz clock, and if he doesn't turn things around quickly, these last few years are the ones that will be remembered most from his legacy. I also find it interesting how he will be remembered years down the road. Hayden Fry probably stayed on a couple years too long and the team's records paid for it dearly IMO, but we don't remember him for those years at all. Will Ferentz be remembered for the 3 straight #8 rankings and an Orange Bowl victory or the 3+ years of "mediocrity" that finished his career? (assuming he doesn't get out of his downslide)

 

[NCHawker]

I am expecting improvement. Now I'm speculting - after the fact - given recent departures - that there was a lack of unity in thought and philosphy and the esprit de corps was lacking. Just spit balling here. But a lot was a miss last year and it was baffling there had to be something deeper going on. Maybe we'll read about it in 10 years or so.

 

[hawkinn3]

My thought is that Barta and the booster have him on a very long leash. He could go 4-8 the next two years and I don't think he would be gone. They can blame Greg Davis then give Kirk two more years with another OC, blame the injuries, spin the close losses and near wins etc.

This board is much more negative than the fanbase at large I feel, just listen to call in shows from the old timers, they love this guy.

 

[tubahawk]

Hard to believe, I know, but I was making a serious point.

A competent head coach is either "all in" with a coordinator, fully committed, or he should let him go. Period. There can't be a middle ground if you want to succeed, this game is too competitive.

Ironically, some people last season criticized Ferentz for *not* being fully committed to GD's offense, but asking Greg to graft GD concepts onto traditional Iowa concepts*. Similar things were said of KF/KOK before that. I've been critical of certain aspects of Kirk's performance, but have to chuckle at how he gets nailed from both sides on some issues. Losing will do that, people tend to overreact and declare EVERYTHING broken.

*what's the difference between that, and "adjusting to the personnel you have"? a fine line indeed.

And I think that commitment is also being shown this off season by all the coaching changes. Rumor has is Erb and Soup are departing (or being asked to leave) in part because they aren't completely on board with Davis' system.

Ferentz may get one more year to "sort things out" by claiming it takes time for coaches to adjust, but if 2014 is anything less than 8 wins, I would think some donors might be willing to facilitate a change in leadership.

 

[MoseSchrute]

My thought is that Barta and the booster have him on a very long leash. He could go 4-8 the next two years and I don't think he would be gone. They can blame Greg Davis then give Kirk two more years with another OC, blame the injuries, spin the close losses and near wins etc.

This board is much more negative than the fanbase at large I feel, just listen to call in shows from the old timers, they love this guy.

Two more years of 4-8 and he most certainly will be gone.

 

[deanvogs]

I said you cant blame KOK anymore- meaning he wasnt the problem as I said for the last three years. KOK won a NC running the spread. Kirk went out and found a more conservative OC. So now we know that it wasnt KOK screwing things up.

Those who bashed KOK non stop are really the ones who were shown to not know what the h@ll is going on. At least now the blame rests with the person at top, which it always should have.

 

[HawkeyeMHA]

Yep, he's all in and it's all bad. I not a Dan of the derp Davis scheme. I actually am a kok guy. Give me the zone blocking, the fake hand off reverse roll out, I knew what I was going to get. No derp for me. We are in for long years

 

[dave3912]

Yep, he's all in and it's all bad. I not a Dan of the derp Davis scheme. I actually am a kok guy. Give me the zone blocking, the fake hand off reverse roll out, I knew what I was going to get. No derp for me. We are in for long years

The sad part is all along I thought KOK was horrible and if only they had a better OC they would put up more points. Boy was I wrong, so wrong.

One of my favorite calls ever by KOK was the end of the Insight Bowl against Missouri, it was the play action and the TE took it all the way to the 2 yard line to seal the game. Mizzou was stacked in the box expecting a power run straight up the middle, the Mizzou players and coaching staff looked stunned.