Brian Ferentz Appreciation Thread

W

WinOneThisCentury

Well-Known Member
Before everyone goes all ape sh$t here...just read the post.

1) Team is averaging 32.42 points a game.
2) Running game has really improved and adjustments at halftime have worked.
3) We have open receivers all over the field.
4) Petras is making progress.
5) Wildcat is here to stay and provides another challenge for defenses to gameplan for.

I, for one, think he's done a great job of utilizing talent now that his QB is starting to operate like he's supposed to, and make the throws he should be able to make. Players have to make the plays, but an offensive coordinator has to implement a scheme to exploit defenses. He's doing that. For those of us who remember the Greg Davis years...and how against good teams, we could get no separation whatsoever anywhere...this is a much much different offense. Sure, part of it is the talent at receiver...but our passing game is so much more sophisticated than previous regimes.

Certainly you can point to the NW game and say we never should have abandoned the running game...and thrown 50 times with a new QB. NW's MO is not to allow you to run the ball...period. You have to throw to beat them...it wasn't necessarily the wrong game plan...just that our players weren't up to the challenge in executing it.

The wildcat is ingenious from my perspective and it's already been successful. Getting all three running backs on the field is huge...because all deserve the opportunity. This is still evolving also. I guarantee that Goodson is going to do some RPO stuff as this season goes on...and next season. The pass plays off play action are coming...and it's going to be tough to stop.

I think you have to give credit where credit is due. First year QB, the interruptions in spring/summer/fall camps...and we are a couple of fumbles and poor execution away from being 7-0. It sucks, but the offense is showing some ingenuity, and we aren't vanilla...that's for sure.
 
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WinOneThisCentury said:
Before everyone goes all ape sh$t here...just read the post.

1) Team is averaging 32.42 points a game.
2) Running game has really improved and adjustments at halftime have worked.
3) We have open receivers all over the field.
4) Petras is making progress.
5) Wildcat is here to stay and provides another challenge for defenses to gameplan for.

I, for one, think he's done a great job of utilizing talent now that his QB is starting to operate like he's supposed to, and make the throws he should be able to make. Players have to make the plays, but an offensive coordinator has to implement a scheme to exploit defenses. He's doing that. For those of us who remember the Greg Davis years...and how against good teams, we could get no separation whatsoever anywhere...this is a much much different offense. Sure, part of it is the talent at receiver...but our passing game is so much more sophisticated than previous regimes.

Certainly you can point to the NW game and say we never should have abandoned the running game...and thrown 50 times with a new QB. NW's MO is not to allow you to run the ball...period. You have to throw to beat them...it wasn't necessarily the wrong game plan...just that our players weren't up to the challenge in executing it.

The wildcat is ingenious from my perspective and it's already been successful. Getting all three running backs on the field is huge...because all deserve the opportunity. This is still evolving also. I guarantee that Goodson is going to do some RPO stuff as this season goes on...and next season. The pass plays off play action are coming...and it's going to be tough to stop.

I think you have to give credit where credit is due. First year QB, the interruptions in spring/summer/fall camps...and we are a couple of fumbles and poor execution away from being 7-0. It sucks, but the offense is showing some ingenuity, and we aren't vanilla...that's for sure.
Click to expand...
Truth.
 
He does seem to be more confident and rather innovative

That last drive in the illini game was priceless

He seems to be making the necessary adjustments when things are going downhill

Plus: The Wildcat

Worked to perfection beyond all expectations

He's All Good

:cool:
 
Think about it this way...if you are a recruit, RB or WR, and you watched Iowa yesterday...you have to be thinking...I want to play in that offense. Smith-Marsette had a TD catch on a crazy ingenious play design, he had a reverse for TD, and he caught a few balls outside of that. Tracy was in the wildcat. We use our RBs in the passing game, we use the slot receivers in multiple ways...etc.

Now think about one of our recruits...Dejean. I know they are talking about him playing safety...I don't think this is where they put him. This kid is big, almost 200 now, and has speed and some wiggle. I think you have to put him at RB or slot receiver. He would then become your wildcat QB. Guess what...he can throw it...can you imagine him with an RPO option in the wildcat.

I'm just saying...I never thought I would see the things we are seeing with Kirk Ferentz still being the head coach.
 
He learned a bitter lesson against jNW. In that game he abandoned the run. In the last two games Iowa simply adjusted and kept running. Its not as simple as stop running now. They look at how they can adjust to the D, adjust and run differently.
 
NCHawker said:
He learned a bitter lesson against jNW. In that game he abandoned the run. In the last two games Iowa simply adjusted and kept running. Its not as simple as stop running now. They look at how they can adjust to the D, adjust and run differently.
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Hopefully the lessons learned from Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota...just stick with the run...finds some creativity with the jet sweep and wildcat...work on the timing of when to hit on the big play or exotic...stop doing it when you MUST. Same with an aggressive pass game. First two games are a million miles apart from the rest of the season.
 
My impression was the Wildcat caught Illinois by surprise.

They really didn't know how to scheme against it.
 
I have a theory...just hit me.

We've seen sargent make cut backs in the zone runs. Goodson seems to follow the blocking.

I'm wondering if that is what the coaches asked them to do...to create a different feel for each runner. So they can take advantage of a change in running styles

Wondering if we'll see Goodson cutting this week against Wisconsin
 
I think running backs each have their own natural tendencies. Of course they study film and look at their own runs but i think it's mostly natural instinct....
 
WinOneThisCentury said:
Think about it this way...if you are a recruit, RB or WR, and you watched Iowa yesterday...you have to be thinking...I want to play in that offense. Smith-Marsette had a TD catch on a crazy ingenious play design, he had a reverse for TD, and he caught a few balls outside of that. Tracy was in the wildcat. We use our RBs in the passing game, we use the slot receivers in multiple ways...etc.

Now think about one of our recruits...Dejean. I know they are talking about him playing safety...I don't think this is where they put him. This kid is big, almost 200 now, and has speed and some wiggle. I think you have to put him at RB or slot receiver. He would then become your wildcat QB. Guess what...he can throw it...can you imagine him with an RPO option in the wildcat.

I'm just saying...I never thought I would see the things we are seeing with Kirk Ferentz still being the head coach.
Click to expand...
With all due respect to your opinion, and the job Brian did calling that game, the TD to ISM wasn't that crazy or ingenious. He scored at Minnesota on almost the exact same play. Petras also had Ragaini open for a TD at Penn State on that play but rushed it.

I agree with the rest of your post however. Wait til Goodson lines up in the wildcat and throws one up the seam to Laporta.
 
NCHawker said:
I have a theory...just hit me.

We've seen sargent make cut backs in the zone runs. Goodson seems to follow the blocking.

I'm wondering if that is what the coaches asked them to do...to create a different feel for each runner. So they can take advantage of a change in running styles

Wondering if we'll see Goodson cutting this week against Wisconsin
Click to expand...
Wisconsin has a long history of blowing up our zone running plays. We better hope Brian has other surprises in store for them.
 
NCHawker said:
He learned a bitter lesson against jNW. In that game he abandoned the run. In the last two games Iowa simply adjusted and kept running. Its not as simple as stop running now. They look at how they can adjust to the D, adjust and run differently.
Click to expand...

Northside Hawk said:
With all due respect to your opinion, and the job Brian did calling that game, the TD to ISM wasn't that crazy or ingenious. He scored at Minnesota on almost the exact same play. Petras also had Ragaini open for a TD at Penn State on that play but rushed it.

I agree with the rest of your post however. Wait til Goodson lines up in the wildcat and throws one up the seam to Laporta.
Click to expand...
The action was similar with Smith Marsette in motion and using his speed to get to the edge...but the formations were completely different...and the way it was blocked were different. They also got him the ball right away (out in front of him), so he could be in a one on one situation on the edge with the corner...advantage ISM. Against Minnesota, Smith just ran off the corner and got in the way of the LB trying to get out there. Essentially the same play...but formation and the execution different. I'll still go with ingenious.
 
WinOneThisCentury said:
Think about it this way...if you are a recruit, RB or WR, and you watched Iowa yesterday...you have to be thinking...I want to play in that offense. Smith-Marsette had a TD catch on a crazy ingenious play design, he had a reverse for TD, and he caught a few balls outside of that. Tracy was in the wildcat. We use our RBs in the passing game, we use the slot receivers in multiple ways...etc.

Now think about one of our recruits...Dejean. I know they are talking about him playing safety...I don't think this is where they put him. This kid is big, almost 200 now, and has speed and some wiggle. I think you have to put him at RB or slot receiver. He would then become your wildcat QB. Guess what...he can throw it...can you imagine him with an RPO option in the wildcat.

I'm just saying...I never thought I would see the things we are seeing with Kirk Ferentz still being the head coach.
Click to expand...
Don’t think KF had a choice.....he had to adopt to the way the game is played in 2020. He may have to take it a step further and adjust on how he is recruiting quarterbacks.
 
WinOneThisCentury said:
The action was similar with Smith Marsette in motion and using his speed to get to the edge...but the formations were completely different...and the way it was blocked were different. They also got him the ball right away (out in front of him), so he could be in a one on one situation on the edge with the corner...advantage ISM. Against Minnesota, Smith just ran off the corner and got in the way of the LB trying to get out there. Essentially the same play...but formation and the execution different. I'll still go with ingenious.
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One of the unique and effective tendencies in Iowa’s offense is to run the same basic plays out of a variety of sets and blocking schemes.
 
The Purdue gameplan was fine too. Just bad execution (penalties, nervous energy on Petras' fault, fumbles). ISM might not have had any catches that game, but he was targeted.

The most irritating thing about the NW game was the refusal to mix in some runs on the second to last drive. Should have been scheming that drive as the last of the game instead of treating it like a two-minute drill.

Playcalling has been solid all the way back to Minnesota last year.
 
The double reverse out of the wildcat was the best play call an Iowa O-coordinator has made since O'Keefe called that play action on 4th and 1 to ice the Missouri bowl game.
 
Northside Hawk said:
Wisconsin has a long history of blowing up our zone running plays. We better hope Brian has other surprises in store for them.
Click to expand...


I hear ya. And you have to believe that the coaches know it too..ya have to think they see it too. I'm encouraged that this offense has evolved in the last couple of years.
 
Too bad he is abusive and racist and it took 5 years for him to get to this point. But, hey, the offense looks good.
 
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