If you look at the play calling over the last 3-4 years, there's a ton more Chances getting taken than any time in Ferentz' tenure. The problem is that the O-Line has been awful during that same timeframe and most of the Chance plays end up in a sack or a checkdown due to not enough time for play to develop.
Can't Iowa Afford To Take More Chances On Offense?
- Thread starter MelroseHawkins
- Start date
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I went to the game at Illinois. LaPorta was great on the first drive. Bielema swapped up the defense to drape the hell out of LaPorta and it was like the offense was stuck in park after that. The line was terrible. I couldn't tell if Petras was good or bad because the guy was running for his life the moment the ball got in his hands on damned near every snap. The line was definitely terrible and no WR created any fear in opposing defenses. LaPorta was the only offense we had. I think it was just a talent issue from transfers out, misses in recruiting and attrition, but it was hard to watch. And I'm a man with a pretty low bar for what I consider acceptable offense.
Hell, I don't think Brian is a bad x and o guy, it's just that someone has to get the line fixed. They are still pathologically incapable of blocking the three man fronts with an unidentified fourth rusher. It's been that way for over 5 years now and it's getting really old, particularly since so many teams are running that look on defense now.
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
Yes, Iowa hasn't had good Oline play in some time, they make adjustments every year to match the talent or lack of talent each season. Iowa has a much deeper stable of WR's this season, and have 2 of the better TE's in the country. A good RB who's a year older and wiser, also a QB that is not a statue that can actually complete > 60% of his passes.
Anyone who thinks this years team is going to look a lot like last year is going to be to in for a surprise I think. That's just my opinion. The feeling from kids day is that the offense was visably better from almost every single beat guy that attended.
Northside Hawk
Well-Known Member
Nailed it. We ran up plenty of points in the Stanley era, partly because our defense wasn't as strong. Posters with an axe to grind tend to have short memories however.
Northside Hawk
Well-Known Member
Anyone who would rather be entertained than win needs to stick with basketball-or be a fan of what's left of the Big 8. Frans teams alone should be right up their alley.
SCHawkeye2
Well-Known Member
Let's not get too proud about all this 'winning'. The last win against a season-end Top 25 team was Minnesota in Nov 2019.
I will go on the record as NOT satisfied with only beating the lower tier of the B10 and no other Top 25 programs for the past three seasons.
Complacency with mediocre wins will not get us back to the level of a B10 contender and competitive Top 25 team.
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You and I completely agree on the winning. I’m fully on board with this. Where we separate is the fact I want to beat real teams and not just run up a record of longevity and from playing in the b10w with a soft preseason schedule that we play annually. So yes…we have completely different expectations and views on what success really is
We weren’t in the Michigan or ohio st games. Offense or defense. I’m a huge fan of parker and our defense through the years, but our defense isn’t dominant against top 15 teams. And when the offense has near zero ability to score, that’s problematic. And that’s been the knock on ferentz. Outside a very isolated year, even if the defense can compete nationally, the offense doesn’t show up
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
Dude, our defense stifled Ohio for a large portion of that game but the dog shit offense absolutely murdered us in that game. That was the type of game where if we could have just moved the ball a little bit and put up a few TDs the defense was good enough to give us a shot. The defense was starting on the wrong side of the 50 every drive and Day was so pissed off about how stifled they got on offense that he kept his foot on the throttle deep into the 4th quarter to get his offense reps.
justwinbaby
Well-Known Member
At halftime the only thing that the commentators wanted to talk about was how good the Iowa defense was playing. In the second half OSU made some incredible plays that our defense was inches from stopping. If I remember correctly our offense literally gave that game away.
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
2006 bowl game against Texas. Remember that end around pass? Ugh. It was a lot worse than a wasted down. I heard that O'Keefe tried to call it off but Ferentz was intent on "sending a message" to the fans.
Northside Hawk
Well-Known Member
I remember us getting a TD pass nullified in that came because the tight end was covered (or was he not covered) and thus wasn't an eligible receiver.
Then years later the officials missed it in the Nebraska game-and Kirk lost his shit and drew a fifteen yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
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Teddy
Well-Known Member
Guys, lighten up.
Given last year's inexperienced line, sustaining more injuries at the position over the last three years, and the receiver room (including hoax injuries) and, most significantly quarterback, do you think they could use a more aggressive game, put the ball in the air more? With Petras and Padilla? The offense lacked the skill and experience to run more than basic skeleton of the offense.
justwinbaby
Well-Known Member
You would think that yes we could take more chances given that our defense is spectacular. That being said it’s all about the offensive line. If our offensive line is decent to good then our offense will be fine. If our offensive line sucks then how can anyone expect the rest of the offense to overcome that. No offensive coordinator or quarterback or receiver or running back will make the offense work if the offensive line can’t pass protect or run block. No offensive coordinator can make this offense go if the offensive line is still as bad as it has been the last couple of years. It starts and ends with the offensive line. Period.
Teddy
Well-Known Member
Spot on about the line. However, I think it will be significantly better than last season. No freshmen starting, either RS or true redshirts. Center will be an upgrade simply because it is hard to imagine Jones playing worse than last year. If he does, I think Feth takes Logan's place. Both guard positions appear solid with some depth. Right tackle is kind of like center, hard to see it being played more poorly than DeJong and Plumb last season.
Even if Cade is seriously injured we will still start a QB better than Petras, because it's hard to get worse. Our true freshmen are probably already better than Padilla at his best. Terrible players at the one position thaat can lose a game by himself. Even a marginal improvement last season and Iowa's 10-2 and playing in Indy.
Of course, no question the wide receivers have improved. Need them to stay healthy but there were times when only 1 or 2 scholly receivers were able to play. Johnson and Brecht contributed nothing last season so no loss. Bruce underperformed, had a lot of drops and now there are at least facts from which one could infer inability was not responsible for the drops and other mistakes.
I wanted to add an example. Win late last season. Di Vines burned by his off-balance defender and was wide open with nothing but grass. Petras never took his eyes off the double-teamed Sam and just burned the ball into Sam's feet. No first down, no four more downs, just a QB that that could not regularly read the field.
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Whether they take chances or not, I don't care. They (they, being the offensive coordinator) has to do *something* when doing the same thing overrated doesn't work.
That could include taking unexpected chances. I dunno what ya do last year when 4 guys rushing was enough to get to the QB, leaving plenty of defenders to clog up the middle and your secondary only needs to cover the one experienced receiver.
At that point, I think you're running tons of gadgets. Putting a back under center. Looking for a halfback who might be able to throw. Something other than doing the same thing over and expecting different results.
While I think they have more ability than last year, if schtuff ain't working, I want to see wrinkles. Doesn't have to be outright trickery. But it's gonna have to he something. Taking chances would be part of that.
That could include taking unexpected chances. I dunno what ya do last year when 4 guys rushing was enough to get to the QB, leaving plenty of defenders to clog up the middle and your secondary only needs to cover the one experienced receiver.
At that point, I think you're running tons of gadgets. Putting a back under center. Looking for a halfback who might be able to throw. Something other than doing the same thing over and expecting different results.
While I think they have more ability than last year, if schtuff ain't working, I want to see wrinkles. Doesn't have to be outright trickery. But it's gonna have to he something. Taking chances would be part of that.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
justwinbaby
Well-Known Member
Correct. The offensive line is supposed to be Kirks specialty. It should be obvious to them that this is the problem. It SHOULD be fixable by the coaches and players we have. We should stop wasting the opportunities we have. We have a top tier defense. We could consistently be a top ten team if the offense was significantly closer to the level of the defense. If the oline became as dominant as the dline then we are in the conversation for the CFP.
