Mark Gronowski talks about disappointing first start,

[Gander Hawk]

It occurs to me that if our QB had this kind of performance against a power 5 team, I would be very concerned. However, since he played a team that was the level of his previous experience, when he was incredibly successful, I can simply chalk this poor performance up to a couple of variables. He was nervous as a whore in church. He had not played in a game environment like Kinnick. He hasn't played a game, period, in about a year. He is coming off surgery. He and his receivers have not worked together when the bullets are flying. Mark is no dummy. He is a proven product who could have opted for the nfl draft. I feel bad for him, but to put him in the Cade Mc. basket would be really, really stupid. I am anxious to see the next couple of games.

We have an outstanding QB coach/O coordinator. He will fix a lot of the issues this week.

Anxious is the right word.

 

[kicker22]

My two cents. The run game was lit and we didn't need to throw. Showed a lot of different looks with his ability to run the ball. Did he look good throwing the ball? No, but we didn't need him to throw the ball that game. Hopefully it was first game jitters. We know he's capable and can put up yards, so hopefully it was just first game jitters and a hell of a lot of rust.

 

[trj]

My two cents. The run game was lit and we didn't need to throw. Showed a lot of different looks with his ability to run the ball. Did he look good throwing the ball? No, but we didn't need him to throw the ball that game. Hopefully it was first game jitters. We know he's capable and can put up yards, so hopefully it was just first game jitters and a hell of a lot of rust.

55 career starts, which include 2 FCS championship games, and he has over 10,000 career passing yards…hope you guys are right, and it is not a case of the yips.

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

55 career starts, which include 2 FCS championship games, and he has over 10,000 career passing yards…hope you guys are right, and it is not a case of the yips.

I get it. I think anyone who watched, felt that pit in their stomach saying, "Oh boy, here we go again." Maybe for reassurance I watched highlights and I can only think it was just the "yips" and a bad game. He had 7 limited fall practices from what I was told? I had heard his timing with Logan Jones (how he snaps the ball harder) might have also sped him up. Heck, who knows? We can make all sorts of excuses. We shall see very soon....

 

[trj]

I get it. I think anyone who watched, felt that pit in their stomach saying, "Oh boy, here we go again." Maybe for reassurance I watched highlights and I can only think it was just the "yips" and a bad game. He had 7 limited fall practices from what I was told? I had heard his timing with Logan Jones (how he snaps the ball harder) might have also sped him up. Heck, who knows? We can make all sorts of excuses. We shall see very soon....

I will give him the benefit of the doubt for now, but we will have a lot clearer picture around 3 pm Saturday.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

When the season is all said and done, I think we will see Gronowski as a solid pick up. I'm confident he will settle in. Will it happen this week? I doubt it - he will play better, but ISU's defense is salty as hell and the scheme is a challenge for even the most experienced QBs.

I'll go against the grain a little here. I honestly don't think nervousness and jitters were the biggest issues. He's way too experienced for that.

My gut is that the pressure to be the savior of the offense, combined with insufficient time to become comfortable with the scheme and his WRs overwhelmed him. All of that will resolve with time, but I expect his play to be very uneven for at least the next 3-4 games.

 

[vork22]

It’s amazing how many excuses get made for this crap. Somehow Iowa QBs are always the ones nervous or over excited resulting in 50 yards passing.

 

[BigD]

It occurs to me that if our QB had this kind of performance against a power 5 team, I would be very concerned. However, since he played a team that was the level of his previous experience, when he was incredibly successful, I can simply chalk this poor performance up to a couple of variables. He was nervous as a whore in church. He had not played in a game environment like Kinnick. He hasn't played a game, period, in about a year. He is coming off surgery. He and his receivers have not worked together when the bullets are flying. Mark is no dummy. He is a proven product who could have opted for the nfl draft. I feel bad for him, but to put him in the Cade Mc. basket would be really, really stupid. I am anxious to see the next couple of games.

We have an outstanding QB coach/O coordinator. He will fix a lot of the issues this week.

Totally agree and I also expect much better results against the Cyclones.

What has me scratching my head is how many people don't understand the Shanahan offense. The fact is it worked as it was designed last Saturday. It is a heavily run oriented system (we know Kirk loves that). Yes, there were open receivers that were missed, but as you pointed out there may be many reasons why he passes were a little off the mark and he didn't stand in the pocket a few seconds more. He admitted he may have left the pocket sooner than he should have.

I hope we can run like that against the Big Ten opponents on our schedule. If we do the Big Ten defenses are going to be in trouble. It is true he will need play at a higher level against better teams and this week will be a HUGE test. Last time I checked I think the experts are giving Iowa State a three to four point edge over the Hawks, Apparently they are expecting a better game for Iowa against Iowa State or else they would be giving Iowa State at a minimum a seven to ten point advantage.

This will be interesting to say the least.

 

[BigD]

It occurs to me that if our QB had this kind of performance against a power 5 team, I would be very concerned. However, since he played a team that was the level of his previous experience, when he was incredibly successful, I can simply chalk this poor performance up to a couple of variables. He was nervous as a whore in church. He had not played in a game environment like Kinnick. He hasn't played a game, period, in about a year. He is coming off surgery. He and his receivers have not worked together when the bullets are flying. Mark is no dummy. He is a proven product who could have opted for the nfl draft. I feel bad for him, but to put him in the Cade Mc. basket would be really, really stupid. I am anxious to see the next couple of games.

We have an outstanding QB coach/O coordinator. He will fix a lot of the issues this week.

"He was nervous as a whore in church."

I think if there were more whore's in church then Sunday attendance's would climb.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

55 career starts, which include 2 FCS championship games, and he has over 10,000 career passing yards…hope you guys are right, and it is not a case of the yips.

Don't use the Y word! Bad juju.

Regards,
Chuck Knoblauch

 

[kicker22]

55 career starts, which include 2 FCS championship games, and he has over 10,000 career passing yards…hope you guys are right, and it is not a case of the yips.

I could be totally wrong, but I see it no different then a Freshman making his first career start. Tons of nerves and emotions running high, first time in playing at Kinnick, hyped as the cure for our offensive woes. I can definitely see it being overwhelming. Not saying there isn't reason for concern, but think it may be premature. Let him settle in and get a few more games under his belt and then reassess.

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

Don't use the Y word! Bad juju.

Regards,
Chuck Knoblauch

I wasn't a Yankee fan by any means, but felt so bad for Chuck "New Kids on the" Knoblauch. Didn't Steve Sax also have a bout with it?

 

[kicker22]

This is really weird considering he was a multi-year starter and reward winner at SDSU, winning championships even, and had played at Kininick before when SDSU played in Iowa City, and he had beaten Albany before in the FCS playoffs.

Yet he was obviously nervous.

New team. New stadium. 70,000+ screaming fans thinking he's going to resurrect the passing game, and all he wants to do is be that guy. That's a lot for anyone and could definitely cause some butterflies.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

I wasn't a Yankee fan by any means, but felt so bad for Chuck "New Kids on the" Knoblauch. Didn't Steve Sax also have a bout with it?

They did a great Ted Lasso episode where one of the players on the soccer players got the yips after he killed the mascot during a penalty kick. They had to bring in the sports psychologist to fix him.

I get the yips on 50% of my golf shots!

 

[Gander Hawk]

Totally agree and I also expect much better results against the Cyclones.

What has me scratching my head is how many people don't understand the Shanahan offense. The fact is it worked as it was designed last Saturday. It is a heavily run oriented system (we know Kirk loves that). Yes, there were open receivers that were missed, but as you pointed out there may be many reasons why he passes were a little off the mark and he didn't stand in the pocket a few seconds more. He admitted he may have left the pocket sooner than he should have.

I hope we can run like that against the Big Ten opponents on our schedule. If we do the Big Ten defenses are going to be in trouble. It is true he will need play at a higher level against better teams and this week will be a HUGE test. Last time I checked I think the experts are giving Iowa State a three to four point edge over the Hawks, Apparently they are expecting a better game for Iowa against Iowa State or else they would be giving Iowa State at a minimum a seven to ten point advantage.

This will be interesting to say the least.

"Little off the mark" is more than generous.

 

[SCHawkeye2]

My two cents. The run game was lit and we didn't need to throw. Showed a lot of different looks with his ability to run the ball. Did he look good throwing the ball? No, but we didn't need him to throw the ball that game. Hopefully it was first game jitters. We know he's capable and can put up yards, so hopefully it was just first game jitters and a hell of a lot of rust.

You are right - we did not need to throw.
But we did throw.
And it was awful.

 

[Hay Man]

I watched the game last week on tv...was there anyone at the game that watched our WR's? Wondering if they were getting separation and Mark just didn't see them or was too nervous to throw it? He had a couple of the worst throws I've ever seen.

 

[kicker22]

You are right - we did not need to throw.
But we did throw.
And it was awful.

No argument there whatsoever, but was it that much worse of a performance then we're use to seeing the past couple years? Honestly I'm not sure and if that was his worst lets hope for the best. Only one direction to go from here.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

No argument there whatsoever, but was it that much worse of a performance then we're use to seeing the past couple years? Honestly I'm not sure and if that was his worst lets hope for the best. Only one direction to go from here.

Missing the WR badly in the endzone and short arming it out in the left flat were pretty bad, but other than that it was on par with Hill and Cade and crew. As others have mentioned, at least he can make plays with his feet. This kid is already the best QB we have had since Stanley, even if he continues to throw like its with his wrong hand.

 

[kicker22]

Missing the WR badly in the endzone and short arming it out in the left flat were pretty bad, but other than that it was on par with Hill and Cade and crew. As others have mentioned, at least he can make plays with his feet. This kid is already the best QB we have had since Stanley, even if he continues to throw like its with his wrong hand.

From my point of view I'd rather see him come out struggling game one and progress over time, then taking the McNamara approach where he throws a TD his first pass of his career and its slowly down hill from there the rest of the way.