Problems/answers?

[olddude]

Some problems with the program have been exposed. The way I see it they are (in no paticular order)
(1) recruiting, we need to try and step it up a little bit. We should be trying to move up and make steady improvments in this area, just like in all the other areas of the game.
(2) Keeping recuits. I am starting to think that if Norm retires, he could have a job in this area. He would still be around the program, and he is very good with the kids and an inspiration.
(3) developing and giving some play time to underclassmen. We know the upper classmen almost always get the play time, and if you figure they have been around the program longer it stands to reason they should/will beat out the younger guys. Since non-cons do not affect the run for the B10, maybe we should give them more play time in the non cons and focus on winning the B10. This creates a problem thou, because as fans would you be willing to lose more non-cons and maybe not rank as high each year, but have a more consistant shot at the B10 each and every year???? Also we need to have more blow out games like Wisky has, so the younger guys can get some snaps.
I dont know if it's practice/prep or play time or what, but after a year of losing so many players to the NFL, we still have to have some depth, so we dont have such a large drop off. This problem needs to be figured out and fixed.

 

[Hawkfromnorwalk]

Some problems with the program have been exposed. The way I see it they are (in no paticular order)
(1) recruiting, we need to try and step it up a little bit. We should be trying to move up and make steady improvments in this area, just like in all the other areas of the game.
(2) Keeping recuits. I am starting to think that if Norm retires, he could have a job in this area. He would still be around the program, and he is very good with the kids and an inspiration.
(3) developing and giving some play time to underclassmen. We know the upper classmen almost always get the play time, and if you figure they have been around the program longer it stands to reason they should/will beat out the younger guys. Since non-cons do not affect the run for the B10, maybe we should give them more play time in the non cons and focus on winning the B10. This creates a problem thou, because as fans would you be willing to lose more non-cons and maybe not rank as high each year, but have a more consistant shot at the B10 each and every year???? Also we need to have more blow out games like Wisky has, so the younger guys can get some snaps.
I dont know if it's practice/prep or play time or what, but after a year of losing so many players to the NFL, we still have to have some depth, so we dont have such a large drop off. This problem needs to be figured out and fixed.

Overall, recruiting itself isn't the issue, it's retention and development that are. We have had some decent recruits over the last few years but it becomes a problem when almost a quarter of a class either doesn't make it on campus or leaves within the first year. Iowa doesn't get the "ready out of the box" type guys, so they need to be able to retain recruits, put them through our S&C program, and then by sophomore or junior year those guys that everybody else passed on are now beasts. However, when we lose as many seniors as we did last year, and with all the retention problems we have had, we are putting people in the game that aren't at that level Iowa needs them to be at, thus, we have the issues we are seeing right now. Next year looks to probably be even worse, especially on D. Looks like we will be putting kids on the D Line that are going to be sophomores and redshirt freshmen.

 

[okeefe4prez]

Some problems with the program have been exposed. The way I see it they are (in no paticular order)

It's been close to two decades bince Iowa beat Northwestern and the Clowns in the same year and you're just now realizing there might be some problems?

Irregardless, our luck comes in streaks, when it's hitting, we finish in the top 10, when it turns, we finish with around 6 or 7 wins and unranked. With parity in college football, we should be thankful when it hits.

 

[hawkfarmer]

Cycles are the issue with Iowa in recruiting. When Iowa has a good year they do well in recruiting. check 2003-2005. And the last 2 years have been pretty good. The 2007 and 2008 classes were coming off of not so great seasons and were not that good. The players that left were not program changers either.

Iowa is thin, and hopefully even though this is a tough year we do have some young guys in the wings that can hopefully turn this around in a year or 2.

As much as everyone hates this, Iowa is not Alabama. Not going to recruit great classes every year. However Iowa needs to take advantage of their good classes and try not to let bad years affect recruiting.

One thing is that there has been some shining moments for Iowa this year. The O has loooked good at times, and Coker has made the RB position look good and McNutt the receivers. If Iowa can still get some high quality recruits (Ekakite, Garmon, Diamond etc) this year will be a good recruiting class and we will see some younger guys from the last 2 classes start playing more and hopefully contributing.

 

[whammer33024]

i would venture a guess that results on the field directly effect recruiting. therefore, recruiting cannot be #1. start winning more consistently and players will want to come here

 

[hawkfarmer]

i would venture a guess that results on the field directly effect recruiting. therefore, recruiting cannot be #1. start winning more consistently and players will want to come here

But you can't win a lot of games with out good recruits. So chicken or the egg.

 

[whammer33024]

we currently have good enough players to beat the likes of minnesota and ISU. we just didn't make it happen. those are the wins i'm talking about. every year we have more talent than minnesota or ISU. clean up those games and make them wins and we're staring at 8-2, which looks a lot better to an 18 year old kid than 6-4

 

[olddude]

It's been close to two decades bince Iowa beat Northwestern and the Clowns in the same year and you're just now realizing there might be some problems?

Irregardless, our luck comes in streaks, when it's hitting, we finish in the top 10, when it turns, we finish with around 6 or 7 wins and unranked. With parity in college football, we should be thankful when it hits.

It's those "streaks" or peaks and valleys that need to be addressed. I know OSU recruits better than us, but they NEVER have as big of ups and downs as we do. With the coaching style of KF (which I agree with), it's all about sound fundamental ball and no peaks and valleys. Yet something is lacking or missing in the program to give the program it's self sound fundamentals to level out those streaks, or peaks and valleys. Like I said, to heck with the non-cons, the conf has changed, lets focus on winning the B10 and going to the Rose, instead of every few years trying to put together a NC team and then suffering thru the years after that team goes pro. If we can become a more constant force in the B10, the recruiting will become easier and we will end up deeper and a better more sound program overall.

 

[albertyoungisgood]

"Irregardless"

come on, stop it, please

 

[okeefe4prez]

It's those "streaks" or peaks and valleys that need to be addressed. I know OSU recruits better than us, but they NEVER have as big of ups and downs as we do. With the coaching style of KF (which I agree with), it's all about sound fundamental ball and no peaks and valleys. Yet something is lacking or missing in the program to give the program it's self sound fundamentals to level out those streaks, or peaks and valleys. Like I said, to heck with the non-cons, the conf has changed, lets focus on winning the B10 and going to the Rose, instead of every few years trying to put together a NC team and then suffering thru the years after that team goes pro. If we can become a more constant force in the B10, the recruiting will become easier and we will end up deeper and a better more sound program overall.

Yeah, you're right. We should be able to take the second tier kids out of Ohio that OSU doesn't want and who don't commit to Illinois, Purdue or Wisconsin and consistently win 10 games. I think I'm going to email Ferentz and tell him this.

 

[herbyhawk]

also looking for to many Diamonds in the rough, its nice to find one maybe two but to try and find 4-5 a year is a stretch; look at last year, we got a commit from a WR that was the 5th option on his HS team if that, give me a break, i can see finding a Greenway on a 8 man team but you have to remember he was the star of the team and played numerous positions, Bob Sanders was considered a diamond in the rough, i call BS on that notion, he was a 1st Team All Stater in Penn, played on the State Super 33 Team against Ohio's Super 33 Team, his skil was not the issue it was his size most felt at 5'9 he was to small, even Joe Paterno at the time said himself that was the reason they passed on him,there are enough 3* players that would love to come to Iowa so we don't need to fill up on 2* or no star players, even the dual threat QB from Chicago was good enough for Arkansas who's currently in the top 10, but no he isn't good enough for KF, so what is he doing looking at a pair of kids that are not ranked, but they are Pro Style QB'S and it is not like the QB they get is going to start right away, i am the 1st to discount stars, but in the end they are a pretty good indicator of talent, they even have a top 20 at his position in Dual threat QB's in Donatel out in Colorado, that they have not offered, it is this type recruiting that needs to be addresed, just like there is a 6'5 325 llb OG 4* out in Arizona that wants a Iowa offer in the worst way, and stated this back in spring, but they won't offer because his arms are to short and he weighs to much, KF likes them lighter, so it is not that higher ranked kids are not interested in Iowa, it that KF is not interestd in them

 

[olddude]

I dont know the answer and it is not a clear cut one I am sure. But think about this. How much further along would Vandy be if we didnt worry about winning non cons and only worried about winning the B10? He would have had alot more playing time before he took over the reins. Where are we going to be when he leaves?

 

[hawkfarmer]

I dont know the answer and it is not a clear cut one I am sure. But think about this. How much further along would Vandy be if we didnt worry about winning non cons and only worried about winning the B10? He would have had alot more playing time before he took over the reins. Where are we going to be when he leaves?

I don't think just putting in backups to put in backups is the answer. The starters still need to gel during these non-con games. Also who wants to lose to ISU ever cause you put in your backup.

what needs to happen is Iowa beats (and I mean beats) the teams they are supposed to early and often to the young guys get their reps and the starters hopefully gel.

 

[olddude]

I don't think just putting in backups to put in backups is the answer. The starters still need to gel during these non-con games. Also who wants to lose to ISU ever cause you put in your backup.

what needs to happen is Iowa beats (and I mean beats) the teams they are supposed to early and often to the young guys get their reps and the starters hopefully gel.

I agree, thats what Wisky does. Yes Wisky plays a weaker non con, but they build depth and seem to be having a pretty good time staying towards the top of the B10 the last 10 years. Thats why I say to heck with it, our non cons have already been booked for awhile, so win or lose, play the game like you would if it was a blow out win. Focus on winning the B10 and staying towards the top of it. Tell the fans that is the goal and remind them non cons do not affect the B10 running.
Like I said I dont know, but it has to be addressed and something needs to be done to try and solve all these way up and way down years, because in the end doing well consistantly keeps your name in the spot light and brings in recruits.

 

[Cover3]

i would venture a guess that results on the field directly effect recruiting. therefore, recruiting cannot be #1. start winning more consistently and players will want to come here

I agree with this. This is why last year needed to be no worse than 9-3. In fact, this is where all these losses to ISU, NW, Minnesota, and the like hurt us. "Little ol' Iowa" suddenly hits the radar of the 3* and 4* kids when they're ranked #9. Any program does. Most programs don't follow that up with losses to Northwestern, though. Play more dime against NW, watch for Wisky's fake punt, and maybe get off the bus in Minneapolis last year (same for Minny this year and maybe blitz Jantz a little more) and we're probably coming off a 10-3 or 11-2 season, with at least a 7-3 record this year. The more you win, the easier recruiting should get, but we again sank into irrelevance so quickly after 2009 that we again (like 2005) will not parlay our success onto the recruiting trail. Last year's class was good from the '09 effect...this year's??? Probably not as good.

 

[olddude]

All I am saying is, we all agree the more you win the easier it should be to recruit. We all agree, we go up then down, up then down. That needs to stop, we need to think pipeline and program stability. The definition of insanity is what again??? Like I said, I think going after the conf, is the way to start righting the ship. Everybody tries for a zero loss, season. I say try something different, set a plan and try and be constant in the B10 title picture, once you get close, then you can worry about the non cons and zero losses.
Now it could be a practice/prep thing that needs to change also, but you have to figure out a way, any way to get the young ones some play time SOMEWHERE.

 

[Cover3]

All I am saying is, we all agree the more you win the easier it should be to recruit. We all agree, we go up then down, up then down. That needs to stop, we need to think pipeline and program stability. The definition of insanity is what again??? Like I said, I think going after the conf, is the way to start righting the ship. Everybody tries for a zero loss, season. I say try something different, set a plan and try and be constant in the B10 title picture, once you get close, then you can worry about the non cons and zero losses.
Now it could be a practice/prep thing that needs to change also, but you have to figure out a way, any way to get the young ones some play time SOMEWHERE.

Yep. I started a thread after the Minnesota game that it might be time to give young backups five snaps per game regardless of score because each year it seems we have one group that is TOTALLY green and isn't comfortable until week 7 or so.

 

[olddude]

Yep. I started a thread after the Minnesota game that it might be time to give young backups five snaps per game regardless of score because each year it seems we have one group that is TOTALLY green and isn't comfortable until week 7 or so.

It shows up big time when we get a good young class and only play those guys for 4 plus years, then when they are gone, the well is dry again and we are on a downward cycle again. Like I said I am not saying I have any answers, but to act like it's not fixable or that the problem does not exsist, is BS. People in the program need to reconize it, then put their heads together and come up with ideas on what they can do to fix it.

 

[Cover3]

It shows up big time when we get a good young class and only play those guys for 4 plus years, then when they are gone, the well is dry again and we are on a downward cycle again. Like I said I am not saying I have any answers, but to act like it's not fixable or that the problem does not exsist, is BS. People in the program need to reconize it, then put their heads together and come up with ideas on what they can do to fix it.

Right on. There are a myriad of ways to do a lot of things in football, substitution and time allocation included. If a problem is 'systemic' as many fans say our defensive woes are this year when referencing player attrition, then you should change the system. Like you imply, maybe more guys stick around if you have a rotation on the D-line two years ago. If things start going sideways or a big possession comes up, then make sure it's the A-team out there. Otherwise, involve more members of your team whose talents are at least comparable.

 

[HomerChampless]

I'm disenchanted with Ferentz right now.

He can't recruit because he doesn't use the athleticism of recruits. Matter of fact, Norm Parker revels in the fact he can't recruit.
EDIT: How is CJ Feds still on this team? Why hasn't he left by now?
IMO, you can't have an 'elite' football program without athletes.
Iowa's teams are always athletically average.

Ferentz can't adjust to the strengths and weaknesses of his team. If the defense is weaker, as it is this year, he refuses to rev up the offense. Parker, well Parker is Parker.

IMO, Ferentz is too concerned with winning the 'right' way.