A Ferentz Apologist is Concerned

ChosenChildren

ChosenChildren

Well-Known Member
I have defended Captain Kirk all year (and last year as well). Today I think the glaring weaknesses of this team were truly exposed. Although I think our offense has been very good all year, here are my concerns going forward:

1. Defense. Wow, we are just not very good right now. Perhaps we improve next year, but I'm not sure we will. Something is missing on the Iowa sideline right now. I really think Coach Parker must retire at the end of this year. He is a phenomenal coach, but it just seems like the right time to me. We need a young coach over there with some fresh ideas. We are giving up well over 400 yards per game, and we really have stopped no one except Michigan.

2. Special Teams. They just killed us today. Penalties; fumbles; missed FG; missed tackles. Short kickoffs. Pathetic. I don't get it.

3. Recruiting. I don't see enough playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. Perhaps they are there, and just haven't seen the field yet. I sure hope so.

4. Energy level of our head coach. This man seems tired and burned out to me. Short, rude answers in press conferences. A general look of unhappiness and frustration. KIrk, if you aren't having fun, the players won't either. Kirk has been at Iowa for a very long time. I'm not suggesting that we change head coaches, but it might be time for Kirk to make some changes with his coaching staff and try to reinvent himself a little bit. This team just seems to be running out of ideas to me. People make changes in the business world. Sometimes a head coach has to shake things up as well.

Our kids play hard and they are great kids. We just aren't good enough right now. Today was tough on Iowa fans. We are a little spoiled because of the success this team has enjoyed. But a fan base has to have hope.
 
If you want to call me "fair weather" I have no problem with that. I'm frustrated and starting to lose hope for the first time. I love this coach and this team, but we came out flat today and played uninspired football. Podolak commented on Iowa's energy level during and after the game. Perhaps we emptied the tank last week against the Wolves. I just think some changes might be good for this program in the off-season. I think Coach Ferentz needs to shake things up a little bit. All great coaches do it from time to time. Now is the time.
 
ChosenChildren said:
If you want to call me "fair weather" I have no problem with that. I'm frustrated and starting to lose hope for the first time. I love this coach and this team, but we came out flat today and played uninspired football. Podolak commented on Iowa's energy level during and after the game. Perhaps we emptied the tank last week against the Wolves. I just think some changes might be good for this program in the off-season. I think Coach Ferentz needs to shake things up a little bit. All great coaches do it from time to time. Now is the time.
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I know your not. I agree with a lot of what you said. I think you nailed it. KF needs something to jumpstart him again. A little shakeup might be good, I know I'm ready for one.
 
i generally agree, but remember we just lost to the #17 ranked team in the nation. its not like the minnesota loss. i didn't expect us to win, but i also didn't expect us to suck so bad right off the bat and give them so many chances to beat us.

our margin for victory is thin, we definitely can't afford to turn it over like that in our own end twice in the first half.
 
Not giving up. We had some great wins this year (Pitt, NW, Mich). It is just hard to build a program without a great defense. We are far from that right now
 
It's frustrating no doubt about it. When you looked at our defense on paper, before the season, what were your expectations? I had a great deal of concern being that we run a 4 - 3 which relies on pressure from the front 4.

Now if you told me we would lose Alvis and B Davis it only would have furthered that anxiety. Fortunately, we've developed some depth on the backend and it's allowed us to play more 3 - 4 and nickel. Fact of the matter is we're not we here we want to be on the front end and the d as a whole suffers. As a result I think the offense has too much pressure on it.
 
my biggest concern is we looked out-athleted in space (Hyde v. Cunningham), our receivers couldn't get separation and on perimeter runs(#4 v. Prater). I heard on radio some of these players for MSU are guys who normally would have gone to Michigan... difference betweeen Mich & MSU this year.
 
OP is so correct on the energy of the staff. Not enough passion. Football is a game of emotion. If you play with little or no emotion, you play like...well...today.

I saw the replay of the 2002 Michigan game on BTN. During the halftime interview, KF showed so much confidence, it bordered on cockiness. I miss that swagger from KF and his staff. New blood in needed on the coaching staff.
 
The DL is too small which cause problems for the rest of the defense. They will get bigger next year but with the loss of key seniors the problems will still be there. Not that Binns, Daniels, Prater have dominated to begin with, but they are experianced. So next year the entire line could be a problem not just the interior.

The underperforming OL from this year is going to lose some key players as well. This year the lack of a TE threat has made the job easier for opposing LB's and tougher on Iowa's WR's. Not that KMM or Davis have been able to be the second threat they were needed to be. And next year those two will be the main guys. So while next year's schedule is (again) favorable, the results may be the same as this year. Not enough talent to contend.

Your right that it looks like Kirk isn't enjoying himself. Coaching at the college level is all consuming during the year and when things don't go right, it is even more so.
 
I just think it is directly related to that whole impressive stat about sending the third most NFL draftees to the league of any programs in the country since 2006. Those draftees tend to be 2 or 3 or 4 year starters. So who did we have behind them preparing to step in this year? Inexperienced guys,who stuck it out,despite not playing for 4 full years in many cases...guys like Daniel,Nardo, Bigach,Gaglione,or newbies like Alvis. Clayborn,Klug,Ballard,Hunter,Angerer,Edds,Sash,Greenwood...these guys all started for 3 or 4 years.
We lost a lot of guys who were sitting behind them for a variety of reasons,but sitting probably did not help.
I agree that probably it is time for Norm to step down,but not sure how much difference it will make without the jimmy and the joes...the x 's and the o's are not the problem.
We have to find a way to fight back next week and pull out a win over the Boilers.
 
ChosenChildren said:
If you want to call me "fair weather" I have no problem with that. I'm frustrated and starting to lose hope for the first time. I love this coach and this team, but we came out flat today and played uninspired football. Podolak commented on Iowa's energy level during and after the game. Perhaps we emptied the tank last week against the Wolves. I just think some changes might be good for this program in the off-season. I think Coach Ferentz needs to shake things up a little bit. All great coaches do it from time to time. Now is the time.
Click to expand...

Has apathy settled in at Iowa? Norm was a great DC. I intentionally put the word was in that sentence. Do I think he has lost his knowledge of the game? No I don't. However, I do think he doesn't have the energy level anymore to produce what is needed on the field and in recruitng to win consistantly. From what I hear he doesn't go on recruiting trips at all. Stop and think about that a second. Iowa visits a prospect in his home with the parents there and the guy that will coach this kid for the next 4-5 years can't be there? What's that say to the recruit? It's time for a change and sooner the better.
 
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