93 pass attempts and no pics

[ibahawkeye]

Jake has completed nearly 60% of his passes and eliminated mistakes thus far.

My request for the passing game is to get Willies more targets.

I've seen enough of Vandeberg. Perhaps Vandeberg can help fill the void of KMM as a solid possession WR but he's certainly not the deep threat.... Even Joey Galloway knows it!!

 

[ICHawk24]

Nearly 69%

 

[PCHawk]

I really don't get targeting Vandeberg twice on deep balls with the other options we have.

 

[ibahawkeye]

Nearly 69%

Right.. I meant nearly 70%... Typo.

 

[Xerxes]

What do you think his completion % would be in an offense that asked the QB to do more than check downs and 3 yard outs? I'm no expert but if you're not concerned about Iowa's downfield passing game which directly hinders the running game, we're definitely not seeing things the same way.

There is a reason why JR doesn't throw the ball downfield very much. He knows that he can't do it successfully often. And thats whats going to get him replaced.

JR is by all accounts a brilliant person. He knows as long as he knows the playbook, basic audibles, hits check downs, does not turn the ball over, and avoids risks, he's not going anywhere. He's doing what most players probably would. Doing whatever needs to be done to stay on the field.

 

[trj]

What do you think his completion % would be in an offense that asked the QB to do more than check downs and 3 yard outs? I'm no expert but if you're not concerned about Iowa's downfield passing game which directly hinders the running game, we're definitely not seeing things the same way.

There is a reason why JR doesn't throw the ball downfield very much. He knows that he can't do it successfully often. And thats whats going to get him replaced.

JR is by all accounts a brilliant person. He knows as long as he knows the playbook, basic audibles, hits check downs, does not turn the ball over, and avoids risks, he's not going anywhere. He's doing what most players probably would. Doing whatever needs to be done to stay on the field.

I pretty much agree with this assessment.

 

[PhoenixHawk]

We, and Jake, should be very happy that the DBs were not that great, and didn't look back during those last drives. They would have had some very, very easy picks on those underthrown balls. Likewise, JR dodgd a bullet on one of his first sideline thow at the start of the game. It went rigt through the hands of the DB who jumped it.

He won't be that lucky in the B10.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Joe Montana wasn't great at the deep ball either.... People that are calling for Beathard need to get over themselves and clearly don't know football very well. If you think he could do what Rudock has done these last two games your kidding yourselves. I highly highly doubt he could have ran the offense as well those last two drives to win that game. I also highly doubt he'd have not thrown a costly pick in the last two games if he was the starter. Iowa has had a hell of a lot worse QB play in the past and have stuck with who they had. So for those of you wanting to bench Rudock when he is not the reason the O has been struggling are delusional. The running game has got to get it going. There has not been an explosive running play yet and they've yet to really pound an entire possession down the field either. If the running game gets going it'll all tie in to a more complete game.

 

[smbhawk1]

I am not suggesting a change at QB. However two things stand out to me after being at the last two games.

1) Rudock is missing a ton of receivers that are wide open. Duzey was wide open a number of times yesterday and Rudock flat out missed him. Against UNI on one drive alone, Rudock missed a receiver deep on 3 consecutive plays that would have been touchdowns.

2) Rudock is throwing behind way too many receivers. If he hits just a few in stride yesterday we keep drives alive. And if I am Damon Bullock, I am not too happy with my QB. Rudock left Bullock out to dry on at least two plays.

 

[mccarthyizm]

Joe Montana wasn't great at the deep ball either.... People that are calling for Beathard need to get over themselves and clearly don't know football very well. If you think he could do what Rudock has done these last two games your kidding yourselves. I highly highly doubt he could have ran the offense as well those last two drives to win that game. I also highly doubt he'd have not thrown a costly pick in the last two games if he was the starter. Iowa has had a hell of a lot worse QB play in the past and have stuck with who they had. So for those of you wanting to bench Rudock when he is not the reason the O has been struggling are delusional. The running game has got to get it going. There has not been an explosive running play yet and they've yet to really pound an entire possession down the field either. If the running game gets going it'll all tie in to a more complete game.

How is the running game going to work when the horizontal passing game can be defended with an 8 man front? Your argument makes no sense. If Iowa had the ability to establish the run against these defenses, then sure, the short passing attack would be fine. Why even risk a downfield throw if you can just "establish the run"? Establishing the run against a defense unconcerned with a vertical passing attack is extremely difficult, hence Iowa's difficulties thus far. you make it sound like establishing the run is as easy and isolated as pressing some button somewhere.

Maybe Beatherd couldn't have finished the game as well as Rudock did. But maybe Iowa would have been up by 28 in the 4th he had played more. Rudock's O did nothing for 3.5 quarters.

People calling for more Beatherd don't necessarily "hate" Rudock or think he should never play again. It's not a binary position. Rudock doesn't make a lot of mistakes and doesn't take a lot of risks. That limits turnovers and costly decisions but it can also leave a team down 10 to Ball State.

 

[SheagleHawk]

Joe Montana wasn't great at the deep ball either.... People that are calling for Beathard need to get over themselves and clearly don't know football very well. If you think he could do what Rudock has done these last two games your kidding yourselves. I highly highly doubt he could have ran the offense as well those last two drives to win that game. I also highly doubt he'd have not thrown a costly pick in the last two games if he was the starter. Iowa has had a hell of a lot worse QB play in the past and have stuck with who they had. So for those of you wanting to bench Rudock when he is not the reason the O has been struggling are delusional. The running game has got to get it going. There has not been an explosive running play yet and they've yet to really pound an entire possession down the field either. If the running game gets going it'll all tie in to a more complete game.

You don't think a similarly rated QB that plays for the same team, knows the same playbook, could check down 60% of the time or throw 3yds outs? Maybe a QB would/could make certain plays so we didn't have to score 2 tds in the final 5 mins to beat a average MAC team at home in our head coaches 16th year? Have you ever considered that our offense is dog chit partly b/c our 2nd year RS Jr QB can't consistently deliver an accurate ball beyond 10 yds? Did you see the body language and facial expression of Smith as Rudock once again missed him late in the game wide open? There's not even consistency, oddly, to his downfield throws. Underthrown, overthrown, behind the receiver, etc. You're kidding yourself if you think Jake is not a part of the reason this offense is a dumpster fire.

 

[ibahawkeye]

CJ threw one terrific long pass, no denying that.

I think it's way too assumptive to conclude that CJ is a better option base on one play.

And if you look at last year, there is absutely no debating, Jake was better.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

I am not suggesting a change at QB. However two things stand out to me after being at the last two games.

1) Rudock is missing a ton of receivers that are wide open. Duzey was wide open a number of times yesterday and Rudock flat out missed him. Against UNI on one drive alone, Rudock missed a receiver deep on 3 consecutive plays that would have been touchdowns.

2) Rudock is throwing behind way too many receivers. If he hits just a few in stride yesterday we keep drives alive. And if I am Damon Bullock, I am not too happy with my QB. Rudock left Bullock out to dry on at least two plays.

Well, he's completing 70% of them now...so he's not missing a ton. I'm not saying he hasn't missed guys...but the average fan watches the end of a play where Rudock has actually, through body movement, made his decision to check down or throw somewhere else...and the DB starts to change direction and "poof", our receiver is wide open. I'm not saying he hasn't had guys coming open or that he hasn't missed some...but it's not as bad as people think.

Our passing game is going to evolve and continue to improve. I also think Rudock can throw the deep ball better than he has because he must have in the spring and camp to keep his job. Let me tell you, I liked what he did at the end of the game there...and if you asked me, I was glad he was the guy on those two drives. He wasn't the issue yesterday, place kicking, mistakes in run blocking, running back vision, fumbles, and a big drop at the 2 yard line hurt us.

I would also question our game plan. So in the fourth quarter, BS was running two LBs at Rudock with their DL...where was a screen pass? They were bringing two up the middle...run a screen? How about a draw play when they showing blitz from the outside? What the hell.

That being said, if Rudock throws that flat pass to a TE or RB (Bullock) again, I'm going to scream...that's the worst safety valve area in the game. Late in in the flat always has bad consequences. He's going to get someone killed. Hey, Greg Davis...ever heard of a dump off to a back in the middle of the field?

 

[bws258]

Ruddock's not horrible, but not a great as those two stats would indicate ... it's relatively easier to have a high completion rate and a low INT rate if 80% of your passes are 5 yard dump-offs. I think we need to see Beathard for more than one series, especially when his series results in a TD. (later taken away, of course)

 

[bws258]

A lot of Ruddock's completions still leave a lot to be desired. He often forces receivers to make an adjustment to make the catch that costs them YAC. Example, if he hits Canzeri in-stride on that pass down the east sideline, that's a TD.

 

[tm3308]

I don't necessarily think it's time to make a change. As someone mentioned, Beathard has hardly shown enough this year to warrant that. BUT, he did perform well enough yesterday (three nice pass plays, including the best-thrown deep ball I've seen an Iowa QB toss since Stanzi was slinging it) to warrant getting a closer look, IMO. He needs to get more than a series or two next week, and hopefully everything will be sorted out by the time conference play starts.

This just really is starting to feel like 2008 again. Only this time, we don't have Shonn Greene to keep the offense respectable while we wait to figure things out at QB.

 

[Ozhawk]

And if I am Damon Bullock, I am not too happy with my QB. Rudock left Bullock out to dry on at least two plays.

I'm very hard of hearing and I can read lips really well. Bullock clearly was not happy on one of those "hang out to dry" plays. Pretty sure the words, WTF, came out of his mouth... and based on his throat movement he was shouting those words.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

I think there is more to his check downs than what is mentioned here. With no running game to speak of, the DB's don't respect the running threat. They are pass protecting. Meanwhile It looks like Jake is working on getting rid of the ball in a minimal time. That is what has been emphasized to him. Get rid of the ball quickly.

Iowa needs to get back to establishing the running game to open up the passing attack. The weapons are there for a good passing attack but it still needs a running game for support.

 

[Xerxes]

I'm very hard of hearing and I can read lips really well. Bullock clearly was not happy on one of those "hang out to dry" plays. Pretty sure the words, WTF, came out of his mouth... and based on his throat movement he was shouting those words.

The "WTF" comment could also have directed at the refs for the two helmet to helmet hits he received when JR left him out to dry. I normally don't get into the "refs cost us" nonsense but that crew was in over their head yesterday.

 

[tm3308]

I think there is more to his check downs than what is mentioned here. With no running game to speak of, the DB's don't respect the running threat. They are pass protecting. Meanwhile It looks like Jake is working on getting rid of the ball in a minimal time. That is what has been emphasized to him. Get rid of the ball quickly.

Iowa needs to get back to establishing the running game to open up the passing attack. The weapons are there for a good passing attack but it still needs a running game for support.

No, they're stopping the run because they can stack the box without fear of being beaten over the top in the passing game. They're killing two birds with one stone.