Can't Iowa Afford To Take More Chances On Offense?

[MelroseHawkins]

Tired narrative maybe and I'm one that loves a defensive battle, but there's absolutely no excuse for the SDST (7-3 win), ISU (10-7 loss), or Illinois (9-6 loss) or even Minnesota (13-10 win) offensive performances last year. We can say what we want about the narrative all we want as I agree that wins and losses are the only thing that matters, but a great defense and special teams needs an offense with a pulse and we've struggled to find one. Defense wins championships, but in order for that defense to do so you have to be able to generate points offensively.

Agree.

 

[Teddy]

Tired narrative maybe and I'm one that loves a defensive battle, but there's absolutely no excuse for the SDST (7-3 win), ISU (10-7 loss), or Illinois (9-6 loss) or even Minnesota (13-10 win) offensive performances last year. We can say what we want about the narrative all we want as I agree that wins and losses are the only thing that matters, but a great defense and special teams needs an offense with a pulse and we've struggled to find one. Defense wins championships, but in order for that defense to do so you have to be able to generate points offensively.

You are complaining about something that literally everyone, including the coaches, is unacceptable. If the Iowa offense scores twice as much will you still be complaining?

 

[oldhawk12]

I wouldn't say our offense has been a flaw or shortcoming. I think that would be an understatement of epic proportions. I would say that an offense (even an average offense) has been what's consistently kept us out of the top 10 conversation as opposed to simply being a flawed team.

Our defense is repeatedly exposed in top 10 games outside the b10. Without question, the defense is where kf teams hang their hat, but to really think iowa defense rivals a Georgia type defense is laughable. It doesn’t matter because kf will never have an offense to be in this type of game anyway

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Our defense is repeatedly exposed in top 10 games outside the b10. Without question, the defense is where kf teams hang their hat, but to really think iowa defense rivals a Georgia type defense is laughable. It doesn’t matter because kf will never have an offense to be in this type of game anyway

Have this debate with opposing coaches that prepare to actually play Iowa. I bet you they would have a different perspective.

You are one of the most pessimistic individuals I have had the joy of crossing paths with.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Have this debate with opposing coaches that prepare to actually play Iowa. I bet you they would have a different perspective.

You are one of the most pessimistic individuals I have had the joy of crossing paths with.

He's old. His name says so. With age comes pessimism and a loss of hope.

 

[Northside Hawk]

Have this debate with opposing coaches that prepare to actually play Iowa. I bet you they would have a different perspective.

You are one of the most pessimistic individuals I have had the joy of crossing paths with.

If he's using Georgia as a measuring stick (or Alabama, Clemson, LSU etc.) he's going to be eternally disappointed.

If Iowa's defense would get ramrodded by Georgia, it's not like we're the Lone Ranger. And prime Hayden teams got boatraced by legit top ten non con teams as well. See the 1986 or 1991 Rose Bowls, or our games with Miami and Oregon in the early 1990's.

 

[okeefe4prez]

If he's using Georgia as a measuring stick (or Alabama, Clemson, LSU etc.) he's going to be eternally disappointed.

If Iowa's defense would get ramrodded by Georgia, it's not like we're the Lone Ranger. And prime Hayden teams got boatraced by legit top ten non con teams as well. See the 1986 or 1991 Rose Bowls, or our games with Miami and Oregon in the early 1990's.

Our defense was every bit as good as Georgia's last year. I had a Georgia fan at the gym tell me as much. The problem is that when your offense goes 3 and out 80% of the time and can't sustain a drive beyond 2 first downs your defense is going to get hung out to dry, which we have routinely seen against good teams. The SEC teams have more freak outliers at positions like rush end, but they also have a bunch of guys going for highlight reel hits every play and they are typically not the best at assignment football. If that Iowa defense was routinely playing with a double digit cushion where the opposition was in known passing situations it would be downright disgusting against just about any offense.

 

[kicker22]

Our defense is repeatedly exposed in top 10 games outside the b10. Without question, the defense is where kf teams hang their hat, but to really think iowa defense rivals a Georgia type defense is laughable. It doesn’t matter because kf will never have an offense to be in this type of game anyway

Not arguing with you, but what would those Georgia defenses look like if they were on the field as much as ours is in those top 10 games?

 

[kicker22]

You are complaining about something that literally everyone, including the coaches, is unacceptable. If the Iowa offense scores twice as much will you still be complaining?

Not sure what you're looking at, but as I said I love a defensive slugfest. The problem I'm referring to is were finding ourselves in slugfests with teams we should be knocking out early. I don't think it'd be fair to say that "I'd still be complaining if the offense scored twice as much", because maybe I would maybe I wouldn't. Based on the games I referenced from last season if the offense scores "twice as much" in those games were still being held under 20ppg in those contests. I'm not saying I'd be complaining but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be puffing my chest out celebrating how good we were offensively either.

 

[kicker22]

Our defense was every bit as good as Georgia's last year. I had a Georgia fan at the gym tell me as much. The problem is that when your offense goes 3 and out 80% of the time and can't sustain a drive beyond 2 first downs your defense is going to get hung out to dry, which we have routinely seen against good teams. The SEC teams have more freak outliers at positions like rush end, but they also have a bunch of guys going for highlight reel hits every play and they are typically not the best at assignment football. If that Iowa defense was routinely playing with a double digit cushion where the opposition was in known passing situations it would be downright disgusting against just about any offense.

I think you're spot on. Georgia's defense was/is elite but I'd also say the gap between their's and ours isn't that wide. Looking over the scores and point totals they allowed last year would say the same things. As you pointed out if our offense could sustain drives as well as the Georgia offense I think we'd be easily among the best statistically across the board in the county.

 

[dagdaj]

Our defense was every bit as good as Georgia's last year. I had a Georgia fan at the gym tell me as much. The problem is that when your offense goes 3 and out 80% of the time and can't sustain a drive beyond 2 first downs your defense is going to get hung out to dry, which we have routinely seen against good teams. The SEC teams have more freak outliers at positions like rush end, but they also have a bunch of guys going for highlight reel hits every play and they are typically not the best at assignment football. If that Iowa defense was routinely playing with a double digit cushion where the opposition was in known passing situations it would be downright disgusting against just about any offense.

100%
Wait....strike that.
10000%

I kept waiting for a game last season when offense just showed any kind of consistent spark. Just to see how much better it made the rested defense when the opposing offense is always trailing or facing a long field. I mean, all joking aside, we all understood why "Punting is winning" and were only slightly embarrassed by that.

What did that ole Minny coach call the Iowa defense years ago? "3 seconds of hell"? Something like that?
That kind of defense can wreak havoc on elaborate offenses of the SEC.

 

[okeefe4prez]

I think you're spot on. Georgia's defense was/is elite but I'd also say the gap between their's and ours isn't that wide. Looking over the scores and point totals they allowed last year would say the same things. As you pointed out if our offense could sustain drives as well as the Georgia offense I think we'd be easily among the best statistically across the board in the county.

The only defense in the past several years that I would say was hands down better than the typical salty Iowa defense was Clemson that year they beat Bama 44-16. That team may have been one of the three best college football teams ever. 4 d-linemen drafted in the first round. Simmons at LB drafted top 10-ish the next year. Trevor Lawrence, number 1 pick, at QB. The receivers. That d-line was the best ever assembled. The SEC teams definitely have outlier star players, but they are just not cohesive units. Against Iowa you can beat a dude, but it is really hard to beat the unit. It makes it really hard for college offenses. You watch a game like Tennessee-Alabama from last year and it makes you appreciate just how ridiculous Phil Parker is. That dude in the slot would have beaten Iowa deep once, he beat Alabama deep four times and it cost Bama a shot at the natty and let TCU into the playoff.

 

[Teddy]

Not sure what you're looking at, but as I said I love a defensive slugfest. The problem I'm referring to is were finding ourselves in slugfests with teams we should be knocking out early. I don't think it'd be fair to say that "I'd still be complaining if the offense scored twice as much", because maybe I would maybe I wouldn't. Based on the games I referenced from last season if the offense scores "twice as much" in those games were still being held under 20ppg in those contests. I'm not saying I'd be complaining but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be puffing my chest out celebrating how good we were offensively either.

Complaining about the offense. Every coach knows they need to score a lot more points, like everyone that watched Iowa football last year, and the year before.

Funny thing about your comment is I like fast paced up and down scoring games. But I like the Hawkeyes winning more; however, they do it is OK with me-although we won't continue winning if we do not improve this dreadful offense.

I meant the Iowa offense, season long from tomorrow to the bowl game, will double its 14.1 average, which will still require an offense to only average 28.3 points per game. At least I've wagered that way.​

 

[kicker22]

Complaining about the offense. Every coach knows they need to score a lot more points, like everyone that watched Iowa football last year, and the year before.

Funny thing about your comment is I like fast paced up and down scoring games. But I like the Hawkeyes winning more; however, they do it is OK with me-although we won't continue winning if we do not improve this dreadful offense.

I meant the Iowa offense, season long from tomorrow to the bowl game, will double its 14.1 average, which will still require an offense to only average 28.3 points per game. At least I've wagered that way.​

I'm with you that at the end of the day I care about winning more then simply putting up points and games being up and down the field. And like I said I'm totally on board with a defensive showdown, but at the same time I'm a firm believer that there's a difference between a good win and an ugly win at the end of day. I guess my thought process is I'd rather win thinking it was an all around "team" win as opposed to winning "in spite of our offense".
And I think that's the part that has haunted us the past few years. Every game should be "graded" differently, however at the same time I feel as though our defense is an elite unit and feel like it's being wasted at times because our offense can't get it done.