This has probably already been brought up already, but the decision to take the ball at the start of the game rather than defer and play defense first has really been bothering me. As soon as I was able to watch the game on espn 360, I immediately thought....what are we doing with the ball first, we must of lost the coin flip. Later, I was informed we won the toss and decided to play O first. In a hostile road environment against a good team, I personally think this was a bad decision, obviously after the fact...but in general also. Thoughts?
coin flip=offense, bad decision IMO
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HaydenHawk56
Well-Known Member
Stupid decision by Ferentz and he done this sort of thing before. Actually it would appear to be an aggressive move that is something Kirk is not known for. However, he has managed to take the coin toss and make an aggressive move into a fairly predictable and conservative move. Every opponent knows we will take the ball first. Sometimes we do really well taking the ball to start. However, the strength of this Iowa team is still the defense (despite the drop off in the linebacker and secondary).
Unless you have 2002 type offense at your disposal, you need to play to your strengths. A green oline on the road did not need the spotlight on them to start the game in a very hostile and rowdy crowd atmosphere.
Unless you have 2002 type offense at your disposal, you need to play to your strengths. A green oline on the road did not need the spotlight on them to start the game in a very hostile and rowdy crowd atmosphere.
ShadasRevenge
Well-Known Member
So...what if McNutt catches that ball on that first series? It's easy to say it was a bad decision after the fact, but it's also a very fine line.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Iowa has taken the ball after winning the coin toss most times during KF tenure. This is nothing new & they are used to it. KF comes from the NFL & he plays games like an NFL team. This ensures the O of one more offensive possession & gives Iowa first chance at dictating field position. If going against a high-powered offense, then this is just more time the opponents O is not on the field.
KF will periodically defer & take D in extreme conditions, windy & rainy etc. This is what they did at Penn St last year. But, it is rare they don't take the ball first & I'm OK with it. There is a reason teams in the NFL take the ball first when winning the toss.
Also, in college, if a team takes the ball first when winning the toss, this will be a pattern they will be used to or normal for them. This is because most teams defer in college so the odds that a team will start the game are pretty high. I would say 85% or above. So the team is used to getting the ball which can be an advantage due to the consistency.
AZ is no more hostile than Penn St, Wisky, Michigan & Iowa has won at those places in the past taking the ball first.
KF will periodically defer & take D in extreme conditions, windy & rainy etc. This is what they did at Penn St last year. But, it is rare they don't take the ball first & I'm OK with it. There is a reason teams in the NFL take the ball first when winning the toss.
Also, in college, if a team takes the ball first when winning the toss, this will be a pattern they will be used to or normal for them. This is because most teams defer in college so the odds that a team will start the game are pretty high. I would say 85% or above. So the team is used to getting the ball which can be an advantage due to the consistency.
AZ is no more hostile than Penn St, Wisky, Michigan & Iowa has won at those places in the past taking the ball first.
ShadasRevenge
Well-Known Member
Fair enough, but would you be here saying it was a bad decision?
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
You can't come here & beeoootch (after the fact!) about losing one game & blaming it on the coin toss decision, especially when the team was something like 19-2 in the last 21 games making the same coin toss decision.
And when I say extreme conditions, it is pretty much weather related. Hostile environments on the road in college football do not meet the criteria & should not alter what the team usually does. KF is a product of schedules & repitition for consistency. He does not like to change without a pretty good reason.
next time i will try to beeeotch before the fact, does that make sense...i wished as soon as i saw they had the ball first that they didn't...and i was proved right, just being honest....or am i coming on here after the fact just to lie....not the time nor the energy dude, i am unhappy with the outcome like all the other fans and i want to beeeotch
ShadasRevenge
Well-Known Member
Congratulations. Yay?
ShadasRevenge
Well-Known Member
How so? Because it was at night? Because it was on the road? Because it was hot?
ShadasRevenge
Well-Known Member
I would argue that it wasn't any more extreme than Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State, or Wisconsin.
How was it extreme? Because their crowd was into it? This team has played in front of bigger (by far) and louder road crowds and won.
beanjo12
Well-Known Member
Come on now, are you really going to nitpick all the way down to the freaking coin flip? That decision did nothing to lose us that game.
ShadasRevenge
Well-Known Member
Dude, he just said that it's only his opinion, and that he doesn't have enough time to respond.
