Can someone explain why some say we’ll be better next year?

[#1DieHardHawk]

The recruiting rankings globally would not support that. However, they recruit better than Iowa to their respective scheme, that much is the obvious.

I think it's also possible that their developmental program is more effective as well.

For as many accolades that Doyle receives, I do sometimes find myself questioning his results. When you watch Wisconsin players, you see more of what I would call suddenness and "quick-twitch" ability, and, that's really where it's at in terms of making someone not only bigger but more effective. For lack of a better way of putting it, they "pop and snap" their bodies around the field. Boise State would be another program that achieves similar results.

Doyle may be good at putting on the weight, and many of his players have been outstanding in the weight room, but I think it's fair to question if his program is developing that quick-twitch ability and suddenness that really matters on the field.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

We will miss Wadley, but I really like what we have behind him. I felt last season that IKM was our most underrated recruit. Young also has looked outstanding at times. Also, there's a lot of buzz about Bryan, and Toks will be coming off his redshirt (ultimately, though, my gut says Toks will be a transfer casualty), so it should be competitive in the spring.

 

[HawkInATX]

To be fair, people do the same thing for Wisc and MSU when comparing HF to KF. They were both pretty bad under HF.

KF is no Fry, few are or ever will be, for many reasons other than W/L record. Fry is legend.

Spot on here. Nobody is crapping on HF (maybe my post looked that way), but it's not as if the Big Ten was all OSU and Michigan top to bottom during his tenure. Turning around the program the way he did was a massive achievement. But also KF sustaining the same level of W/L season after season with only one or two years of transitional hiccups is also nothing to sneeze at. For reference, just look at how Michigan did with it's revolving door of coaches post Lloyd Carr or Nebraska after Bo Pellini (a change I will NEVER understand to this day). For most of the 90s, Wisconsin, MSU, NW, Purdue, were all doormats.

 

[Xerxes]

Wisconsin and Penn State sure. I don't see Northwestern beating us at Kinnick.

I'd like to agree with you but Northwestern usually plays very tough in Kinnick. Won there in 2006, 2008, 2009(with their 3rd string QB), and 2016. 2013 was an OT game. Outside of 2014, the recent games in Kinnick have usually been pretty tight and more than not, Northwestern has walked away the winner.

 

[HawkPrdatr40]

I’m looking forward to seeing what happens. I personally see lots of promise with what the future holds with these young players.

 

[Fryowa]

You guys can go on and on and on and on about how the young players themselves will get better, but apparently you fail to realize that unless the staff starts doing something different with the scheme, we're going to be right back here next year talking about 2019 because the Hawks will end up 6-6 or 7-5 again with a shitty non-con loss, 4 or 5 conference drops to unranked teams, and a big beautiful win over a top 10 program (which everyone here will use as justification that the Hawks are "turning the corner.")

The problem is not the players. All college teams with the exception of maybe the top 5 recruiting classes have deficiencies at certain spots that they have to work around with play calling and defensive scheming. Teams that win adapt.

Iowa does not adapt.

 

[HawkGold]

Spot on here. Nobody is crapping on HF (maybe my post looked that way), but it's not as if the Big Ten was all OSU and Michigan top to bottom during his tenure. Turning around the program the way he did was a massive achievement. But also KF sustaining the same level of W/L season after season with only one or two years of transitional hiccups is also nothing to sneeze at. For reference, just look at how Michigan did with it's revolving door of coaches post Lloyd Carr or Nebraska after Bo Pellini (a change I will NEVER understand to this day). For most of the 90s, Wisconsin, MSU, NW, Purdue, were all doormats.

Fact Check:
1990 - MSU and IL 1st
1991 - IU 3rd
1992 - MSU 3rd and IL 4th
1993 - Wisc 1st. IU 4th IL 4th
1994 - Wisc 4th
1995 - NW 1st
1996 - NW 1st
1997 - Pur 2nd WIsc 4th
1998 - Wisc 1 Purd one game back in 4th
1999 - MSU 2nd.

the biggest diff between KF and HF is that HF consistently lost subordinates. KF is up and down with the same. Albeit in most years, D isn't the issue though this year probably due to lack of D blitzes, Iowa would get smoked by.....Iowa.

 

[Hawk5656]

Does that rating include his fumbles?

 

[Gibsonian]

We will be better next year this year because without hope, we're hopeless and nothing to look forward to. Cub fans been optimistic for years, and is finally paying off for those guys.

Only reason I can think of really for me that we might be better is that the OC will have his training wheels off, lessons learned, ready to move into year two with much better plan and understanding of what it takes to move the ball and score.

If the above does not happen, my hope for next year is weak at best................

 

[InGoodCo]

We won't, Jon is drinking the kool-aid again so he does not have his media credentials taken from him just like aways and I am going to say the others had a really good buzz going towards the end of the Whisky game when they posted that junk.

LOL, The Diesel picked em to go 6-6 this year, he's such a kool-aide drinker. Can't the expectation be higher for next year be because of the schedule, having to OT's that aren't freshman, returning the bulk of the Dline including Epenesa and a starting QB that is going to break the Iowa single TD record? I think that's reason to be at least more optimistic without ridicule.

 

[koralakers]

The expectations rise from the softer schedule - Iowa could be favored in ten games but lose to the only two ranked teams on it's schedule. People will crow about how great of a turnaround it is and new Kirk, and all kinds of other we're back nonsense. Iowa will finish 2nd to Wisconsin. Iowa will go to a bowl and get destroyed.

Everybody likes to harp on expectations and how Kirk is about the same as Hayden.

Hayden had to play Michigan and Ohio State every year. That's at least one guaranteed loss on talent being talent every year. OSU and Michigan had more scholarships. The Big Ten didn't have revenue sharing. Hayden got paid $48,000/yr! The Iowa program had 17 straight losing seasons before he got here. There were like 8 bowl games. All the advantages were there for the blue bloods. They played 11 games. 7 wins during this period is like 9 wins during the Ferentz era.

Beating OSU or Michigan in the 80's was like climbing Everest. If you weren't a superior physical specimen, you were going to die during the attempt.

The expectations have to rise when the competition gets weaker overall - which is where it will be next year. Next year, Iowa could win every game it is favored in. Just like this year.

Hayden also loaded up on OOC games (Neb, UCLA, etc). ISU was really the only 'patsie' OOC game. That's why it's hard to compare Hayden vs KF on record alone.

 

[InGoodCo]

It's proven fact, first year coordinators never get better with experience, either do QB's. We are DOOMED

 

[InGoodCo]

Hayden also loaded up on OOC games (Neb, UCLA, etc). ISU was really the only 'patsie' OOC game. That's why it's hard to compare Hayden vs KF on record alone.

LOL, you know people can look that kind of stuff up right? How loaded was Tulsa, Northern Iowa, Central Michigan and New Mexico State?

 

[GoHawks24]

I think people are optimistic due to a few factors:

Firstly, the schedule is a lot more manageable next season. At least on paper. We also get the tough ones in Kinnick. I don't know if you've heard, but we have a pretty good home field advantage there.

Secondly, we'll have a quarterback coming back that has a full season of experience under his belt and two years within the program. He'll also be on his second year with his offensive coordinator. That can only help the offense I would think.

Lastly, while we lose Bazata, the rest of our D-Line is back and should be stout. Also, hopefully Josh Jackson decides to come back, making the secondary pretty formidable as well. Snyder should hopefully be back too. Having a strong D-Line and secondary should hopefully ease the pain of losing 3 multi-year starting linebackers. I also feel that we have some good talent waiting in the wings. Of course there will be a drop off, but I don't think it'll be as impactful as some are thinking.

 

[OkstHawk]

And your still a douche

And you still can't spel.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

LOL, you know people can look that kind of stuff up right? How loaded was Tulsa, Northern Iowa, Central Michigan and New Mexico State?

Both coaches had their share of softies. The biggest diff is Kirk got 1 more every year (until last season) with the 12 game schedule...including the frequent FCS opponent. (one of which he lost to and one where he was bailed out by the double FG block miracle)

 

[InGoodCo]

Both coaches had their share of softies. The biggest diff is Kirk got 1 more every year (until last season) with the 12 game schedule...including the frequent FCS opponent. (one of which he lost to and one where he was bailed out by the double FG block miracle)

Different times though - you gotta admit. Half of UNI's team now would have been stuffed on Iowa's roster either on ship or walk ons - now the 85 limit creates a lot more parity. Not that ever losing to an FCS is acceptable, it's not... but those schools are thriving now because of that rule.

And Hayden played FCS teams a plenty.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

Different times though - you gotta admit. Half of UNI's team now would have been stuffed on Iowa's roster either on ship or walk ons - now the 85 limit creates a lot more parity. Not that ever losing to an FCS is acceptable, it's not... but those schools are thriving now because of that rule.

And Hayden played FCS teams a plenty.

The scholarship rule has changed the landscape, no doubt.

What FCS teams did Hayden play? I was not aware. Fill me in.

Still 4 non-cons vs 3 helps pad the win column

 

[tksirius]

LOL, you know people can look that kind of stuff up right? How loaded was Tulsa, Northern Iowa, Central Michigan and New Mexico State?

And Hayden played FCS teams a plenty.

For the record:

Hayden Fry (20 seasons)
OOC games

FCS Teams Played: 7
FCS Teams Lost To: Zero
Power 5 Teams Played: 45
Top 10 Teams Played: 9
Top 25 Teams Played: 12

Kirk Ferentz (19 seasons)
OOC games

FCS Teams Played: 16
FCS Teams Lost To: 2 (almost 3 with UNI)
Power 5 Teams Played: 32
Top 10 Teams Played: 3
Top 25 Teams Played: 5

 

[Robowe]

For the record:

Hayden Fry (20 seasons)
OOC games

FCS Teams Played: 7
FCS Teams Lost To: Zero
Power 5 Teams Played: 45
Top 10 Teams Played: 9
Top 25 Teams Played: 12

Kirk Ferentz (19 seasons)
OOC games

FCS Teams Played: 16
FCS Teams Lost To: 2 (almost 3 with UNI)
Power 5 Teams Played: 32
Top 10 Teams Played: 3
Top 25 Teams Played: 5

A lot of HF's Top 10/Top 25 teams (7) played were in the first few years when the schedules were made before he started at Iowa. See if you can guess when Hayden's influence on the non-conference scheduling kicked in.

1979
@Oklahoma #3
vs Nebraska #7
vs Iowa State

1980
@Nebraska #6
vs Iowa State
vs Arizona

1981
vs Nebraska #7
@ Iowa State
vs UCLA #6

1982
@Nebraska #3
vs Iowa State
@Arizona

1983
@iowa State
@Penn State

1984
vs Iowa State
vs Penn State #12
@Hawaii

1985
vs Drake
vs Northern Illinois
@iowa State

1986
vs Iowa State
vs Northern Illinois
vs UTEP