Can we pronounce the horizontal passing game at Iowa dead?

homes

homes

Well-Known Member
I think the evidence is overwhelming at this point. Late game against Ball State, second half against Pittsburgh, second half against Purdue, Indiana, Northwestern, Illinois, second half against Wisconsin. These have been the most productive games, or portions of games, all year for the Hawks, when the horizontal passing game was virtually, if not completely, abandoned. Unless Iowa has a bunch of 6'4", 215 pound, 4.3 guys coming in next year, Iowa is not equipped to run that offense. Let's agree that it was given the ol' college try at Iowa, but it's time to do the humane thing, and put it down.
 


We are now running the offense Ken O'K was running, at least for the most part. I think KF had a little visit with GD, and probably with his QB's. Good thing.
 




We threw a bunch of "fall out of bounds while you catch it for a 4 yard gain" in the first half this week, so it certainly ain't dead yet.
 


A lot of people criticize the pass pattern to the outside of the field, but this is where the quarterback feels most comfortable passing the ball. There is better vision and no risk of a safety or linebacker in a short zone intercepting the pass.

A fundamental part of the Greg Davis passing game is the option route, sometimes referred to as the stick route. The wide receiver runs to a space and breaks away from the defensive back. When the receiver and the quarterback are on the same page, the results are deadly. There have been a few big plays this year where the wide receiver just runs near the defensive back and stops, once in the Maryland game and again last Saturday.

When combined with a stretch play action, or a read option, you can get some quick screen passes that result in high completion rates and consistent yardage. Breaking tackles and getting YACs makes the offense even more explosive.

To really take it to the next level, a running quarterback with a killer pump fake, receivers running double moves, offensive linemen who actually block, trick plays like laterals to o-linemen, going up-tempo when the defense wants to substitute, and other things can really get the offense cranking.
 


I don't believe it is dead. Expecting to see a whole lot of horizontal passes this Saturday at the bowl game and as long as GD is still here. This wasn't the first time Iowa has had some success throwing the ball downfield. That success didn't change this staff's thinking before, no reason to expect it to change now.
 


Xerxes said:
I don't believe it is dead. Expecting to see a whole lot of horizontal passes this Saturday at the bowl game and as long as GD is still here. This wasn't the first time Iowa has had some success throwing the ball downfield. That success didn't change this staff's thinking before, no reason to expect it to change now.
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Especially when you factor in that Kirk said he still wanted to run the ball to start the second half. Just another in the long line of things Kirk has said that have just left me speechless.
 




thetrza said:
A lot of people criticize the pass pattern to the outside of the field, but this is where the quarterback feels most comfortable passing the ball. There is better vision and no risk of a safety or linebacker in a short zone intercepting the pass.Yes, because good D-backs never jump this route for a pick 6. :rolleyes: If a team doesn't have the athletes, this is very little benefit (3yrd completion) for the risk taken (interception).

A fundamental part of the Greg Davis passing game is the option route, sometimes referred to as the stick route. (Yes, I recall this when he came. Take out the ambiguity between WR & QB & just run a hard route to hopefully open space. Unless there is a terrific bond with really smart route runners & QB, this is a tough scheme for college age players. There are just too many unknowns with an option route by the WR. This is probably the biggest downfall of the GD offensive scheme. Just didn't work. just run hard routes so the QB can expect the WR to be in a certain spot on the field.) The wide receiver runs to a space and breaks away from the defensive back. When the receiver and the quarterback are on the same page, the results are deadly. There have been a few big plays this year where the wide receiver just runs near the defensive back and stops, once in the Maryland game and again last Saturday.

When combined with a stretch play action, or a read option, you can get some quick screen passes that result in high completion rates (Who gives a crap if they are only for 2-3 yrds? It doesn't stretch the field. Really, a QB's completion % of 68% is not that impressive to me if they only get 175 yrds) and consistent yardage. Breaking tackles and getting YACs makes the offense even more explosive.(Wishful thinking with the players that Iowa gets here.)

To really take it to the next level, a running quarterback with a killer pump fake, receivers running double moves, offensive linemen who actually block, trick plays like laterals to o-linemen, going up-tempo when the defense wants to substitute, and other things can really get the offense cranking.
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Have you seen the number of high profile college and pro teams that use the horizontal pass to the flat? At least, the 3 yard pass to the flat? Numerous teams use this kind of pass. It's a low-risk 'handoff' to a fast back (unless it's KMM) in the flat to gain the edge. As KF might say: it's the execution that fails the play.
 


HomerChampless said:
Have you seen the number of high profile college and pro teams that use the horizontal pass to the flat? At least, the 3 yard pass to the flat? Numerous teams use this kind of pass. It's a low-risk 'handoff' to a fast back (unless it's KMM) in the flat to gain the edge. As KF might say: it's the execution that fails the play.
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Using that pass occasionally is fine. Relying on it almost exclusively in your passing attack is not.
 


That style works for many teams across the country. Have to have timing, rhythm, and tempo, something we don't know anything about. Look folks, say what you want but this is the 4th most productive offense under Kirk, as Jon pointed out, and ranks 66th in the country. This style doesn't work for us. There's a multitude of things wrong. Not just one. Namely, the head coach.
 




HomerChampless said:
Have you seen the number of high profile college and pro teams that use the horizontal pass to the flat? At least, the 3 yard pass to the flat? Numerous teams use this kind of pass. It's a low-risk 'handoff' to a fast back (unless it's KMM) in the flat to gain the edge. As KF might say: it's the execution that fails the play.
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QB's that routinely throw downfield: Aaron Rodgers - Andrew Luck - Tom Brady. See the correlation with the success of their teams.
 


83Hawk said:
Using that pass occasionally is fine. Relying on it almost exclusively in your passing attack is not.
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I agree. Having it as one of many options on most passing plays is bad?

Most posters, like you, seem to zone in on the times the horizontal pass is actually thrown to a receiver and not realizing the other options the pass play offers (some QBs have this same problem). Or defenders that are sucked into covering the fake horizontal pass.
 




HomerChampless said:
I agree. Having it as one of many options on most passing plays is bad?

Most posters, like you, seem to zone in on the times the horizontal pass is actually thrown to a receiver and not realizing the other options the pass play offers (some QBs have this same problem). Or defenders that are sucked into covering the fake horizontal pass.
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I never said having it as an option is bad....what is bad is making it the primary option. Big difference.
 


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