2 positives going forward

[Hawknick]

I was impressed with two aspects of Iowa's play last Saturday.

10 receivers caught balls despite getting mugged on every play. Most impressive was the freshmen Matt Vandeberg. He was targeted 5 times caught 4 for 36 yards. He was even tackled 5 yards out of bounds, no call, got right back up. He has proven that he can be a major part of the Iowa passing game.

I was also happy with the performance of Connor Kornbrath. He did his part with 44.3 yards per punt. If he keeps this up the team will benefit in terms of field position

 

[Hawknick]

I should also mention that the CJF catch was amazing. He fought off a thug and still caught the ball. He can really take some pressure off the running game if he keeps that up. I was also observing that lots of teams are setting up for returns on Iowa punts. Kornbrath is a 4.8 40 runner he would have a good shot at picking up a first down if Iowa runs a fake punt against that D.

 

[ssckelley]

Jeez, 2 positive things and one of them is about the punter.

It is going to be a long season.

 

[SteveGarvey]

I should also mention that the CJF catch was amazing. He fought off a thug and still caught the ball. He can really take some pressure off the running game if he keeps that up. I was also observing that lots of teams are setting up for returns on Iowa punts. Kornbrath is a 4.8 40 runner he would have a good shot at picking up a first down if Iowa runs a fake punt against that D.

That....will never happen with Kirk at the helm. Too risky for him even though, if he's observant, he'd notice other teams are batting 1.000 against us with their fake punts the last few years.

 

[seepig]

I should also mention that the CJF catch was amazing. He fought off a thug and still caught the ball. He can really take some pressure off the running game if he keeps that up. I was also observing that lots of teams are setting up for returns on Iowa punts. Kornbrath is a 4.8 40 runner he would have a good shot at picking up a first down if Iowa runs a fake punt against that D.

We don't do creative things on special teams do we? And now apparently we aren't going to return punts anymore because commander Kirk has his head up his A _ _ and can't figure out how to defend against a potential fake punt.

 

[Hawknick]

I was thinking too if they practice their own fake punt it would give the punt defense team a chance to go against it in practice and be better prepared for it in game. So working on a fake punt will be a win win situation.

 

[ssckelley]

I was thinking too if they practice their own fake punt it would give the punt defense team a chance to go against it in practice and be better prepared for it in game. So working on a fake punt will be a win win situation.

Can you imagine the reaction of the fans and the sideline the first time the Hawks stop a fake punt or execute one themselves?

 

[dave3912]

Can you imagine the reaction of the fans and the sideline the first time the Hawks stop a fake punt or execute one themselves?

Or if they ran one and it failed and stopped for a huge loss. Not getting my hopes up, but everyone here would flip out if it didn't work out.

 

[ssckelley]

Or if they ran one and it failed and stopped for a huge loss. Not getting my hopes up, but everyone here would flip out if it didn't work out.

Oh I'm sure, but only after the shock of the call wore off. At first we would all be like "did they just....?".

 

[hawkinn3]

To the first positive, its a positive but also an issue. We have a lot of pretty good players but no great players. There isnt a WR or TE that teams double each time or anyone on the team that particularly concerns other teams. Teams can play us straight up and don't have to worry about much.

 

[Hawknick]

I checked some of the footage. CJF was triple teamed on his TD catch against NIU and double teamed against the criminal thugs last week on the TD catch. KMM has had some big games this year to the point where I can see teams doubling up on him too. This will open things up for big plays from Powell, Vandeberg and others. It will also open things up for the running game.

 

[homes]

I was thinking too if they practice their own fake punt it would give the punt defense team a chance to go against it in practice and be better prepared for it in game. So working on a fake punt will be a win win situation.

I will be surprised if they even put a punt return team out there, other than subbing KMM in for Lowdermilk.

 

[Xerxes]

My positives going forward are:

Iowa's passing game outside of KMM is very inexperienced. At Iowa, inexperience = uneven play. Hopefully we see the upswing against OSU and beyond.

MSU is hopefully the best defense Iowa plays this year. If Iowa can get a run game going against teams, which is possible with their RBs & OL, with their solid defense they can win some games.

1 BIG negative: Iowa prides itself on being a physical program. MSU destroyed that image. What is going to happen when Iowa faces another physical program that is much faster and athletic than Iowa (OSU and Northwestern)? Because on offense MSU isn't too scary, laughable really when it comes to speed. OSU and Northwestern, not so much.

 

[Hawknick]

There is a difference between being physical and kicking people in the face, ripping people's helmets off, holding on every play, tackling people 5 yards out of bounds, and the refs letting it happen. I hope that Gary Barta is putting enough pressure on the big 10 to make sure something is done. On even fair plays LTP, Van Sloten and Scherff were more physical than the thugs they were going against.

 

[Xerxes]

There is a difference between being physical and kicking people in the face, ripping people's helmets off, holding on every play, tackling people 5 yards out of bounds, and the refs letting it happen. I hope that Gary Barta is putting enough pressure on the big 10 to make sure something is done. On even fair plays LTP, Van Sloten and Scherff were more physical than the thugs they were going against.

MSU's guys were getting away with some garbage, no doubt. But physical teams do get away with that. They toe the line of physical and cheap. Figure out where the refs are calling it and proceed. I've seen Iowa get away with some questionable stuff for years.

The refs obviously were letting MSU get any with the crap. Its up to Iowa to adjust to it.

 

[Hawknick]

So both teams should rip helmets off and kick people in the face? If people want to match what the thugs do I guess. How many felons have played for those guys anyways?

 

[AnyoneButYou]

There is a difference between being physical and kicking people in the face, ripping people's helmets off, holding on every play, tackling people 5 yards out of bounds, and the refs letting it happen. I hope that Gary Barta is putting enough pressure on the big 10 to make sure something is done. On even fair plays LTP, Van Sloten and Scherff were more physical than the thugs they were going against.

You must haved learned a new word this week by using the word "thug" in everyone of your post???
Being out played is a better term to use for this game.

 

[ryno]

The hot cocoa is pretty good too!

 

[hawkeyebob62]

Actually, a third positive: FreedComanche got banned.

Sure, he'll return in another "form", but he'll have to keep quiet for a few weeks.

 

[EarlSlick]

The hot cocoa is pretty good too!

FAIL. It's lukewarm cocoa.