After the hysteria passes - take a deep breath

[1977Hawkeye]

This is all I needed to read to know this article was garbage.

Iowa State is one of the worst programs in all of college football. Paul Rhoads is a complete failure, but...he's just made Ferentz his *****. I'm not mad that Ferentz doesn't have a top 5 program, I'm mad that this team wasn't better than UNI, Ball State or Iowa State.

ps-I just saw that this Rick Brown guy works for the Register. I wouldn't have wasted my time and read it if I had saw that. Only a no talent pile of garbage who nobody else would hire would actually work for the Des Moines Register.

Agreed. I don't expect Iowa to be Alabama every year. Every now and then would be nice when everything comes together, but I DO expect to be consistently competitive and not losing to the likes of ISU, Central Michigan, etc., especially in Kinnick. I DO expect better than a 7-9 record against ISU. I DO expect an offense that doesn't rank near the bottom of the country. I DO expect better than 4-8 records like we saw in 2012, especially 10+ years into our $4 million dollar man's tenure. If that means I "expect to be Alabama", then think what you want - it doesn't mean you know what you're talking about. But not expecting mediocrity doesn't mean unrealistic expectations. Anyone who says otherwise can go and do lewd things to themselves.

I don't, however, think it's unreasonable to expect a Top 25 program.

I'm tired of "taking a deep breath", "stepping back from the ledge", saying "It's just one game" etc. etc. several times every year. I'm ready for some Iowa football like we saw from 2002-04, 2008/09. Those teams didn't even play for the national title, but they were dang fun to watch and made me proud to be a Hawk fan. Now call me delusional.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

SSorry about that, still trying to figure this out from my phone.Lots of talk about coaching or lack thereof. Something to consider.We have a defensive scheme that attempts to keep everything in front of us, presumably relying on the percentages that the opposing offense will make a mistake or incur a penalty that stalls their drive and ends their possession.Why on earth do we have an offensive scheme that is ball control, relies on near perfect execution to succeed, and is extremly vulnerable to a mistake or penalty that stalls our possession?We are playing an offensive scheme that plays right into the scheme we want our opposing offenses to play against our defense.Does anyone else find this to be ironic and perhaps a colossal lapse in coaching?

Excellent point.

 

[BirdsOfPrey]

"Why on earth do we have an offensive scheme that is ball control, relies on near perfect execution to succeed, and is extremly vulnerable to a mistake or penalty that stalls our possession?We are playing an offensive scheme that plays right into the scheme we want our opposing offenses to play against our defense.Does anyone else find this to be ironic and perhaps a colossal lapse in coaching?"

What?! The only colossal lapse here is in the brain of the writer. How exactly does one's offense play into an opposing offense that plays against our defense. What?! Are we still talking football? Iowa's offensive scheme when operating effectively is designed to keep our defense off the field so the defense remains fresh. Defense has been the strength of Iowa's teams. Offense helps our defense - it's that simple. There's no irony or relationship to what schemes other teams are running. Teams can copy what we do or do whatever they want....it's called FOOTBALL. I don't like the product Iowa's putting on the field either but try to at least make some sense.