Countdown of Top 15 Indispensable Hawkeyes - No. 9 & No. 8
- Thread starter RobHowe
- Start date
Motigerhawk
Well-Known Member
sigh. FBs and Ks in the top 15.
I think a good kicking game is drastically under appreciated. Over the past 5 years, Iowa has had 15 games that have been won/loss by 3 points or less. Think back to all the games below that might have been determined by making/missing a crucial field goal, punting game issues, touch backs vs. kickoff returns, etc..
2016:
Iowa lost to NDSU 23-21
Iowa beat Michigan 14-13
2015:
Iowa beat Pitt 27-24
Iowa lost to MSU 16-13
2014:
Iowa lost to ISU 20-17
Iowa lost to Wisconsin 26-24
Iowa lost to Nebraska 37-34
2013:
Iowa lost to NIU 30-27
Iowa beat Michigan 24-21
2012:
Iowa beat NIU 18-17
Iowa lost to ISU 9-6
Iowa lost to CMU 32-31
Iowa beat MSU 19-16
Iowa lost to IU 24-21
Iowa lost to Purdue 27-24
2016:
Iowa lost to NDSU 23-21
Iowa beat Michigan 14-13
2015:
Iowa beat Pitt 27-24
Iowa lost to MSU 16-13
2014:
Iowa lost to ISU 20-17
Iowa lost to Wisconsin 26-24
Iowa lost to Nebraska 37-34
2013:
Iowa lost to NIU 30-27
Iowa beat Michigan 24-21
2012:
Iowa beat NIU 18-17
Iowa lost to ISU 9-6
Iowa lost to CMU 32-31
Iowa beat MSU 19-16
Iowa lost to IU 24-21
Iowa lost to Purdue 27-24
Howe mentioned in his article briefly how Iowa's style of play really endears themselves to needing a good kicking game... Your homework absolutely bears that out. So as many folks that might roll their eyes at a kicker being in the top 10 on here I absolutely have no problem with it... In regards to importance they are right up there no doubt about it
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
See "Nate Kaeding, Rob Houghtlin, Daniel Murray, Marshall Koehn, et. al." for list of kickers that have been rather prominent at some point in their Hawkeye careers...
How anyone could denigrate a kicker's place on a list like Rob's is mind-boggling. For the other side of said coin, one need only google the name "Scott Norwood"...
IndianaHawk
Well-Known Member
And that is why it is called a "game winning kick". Lack of special teams can kill a season.
Good call Rob.
Good call Rob.
hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
A good kicking game is important. That having been said, an Iowa loss to ISU, NDSU, NIU or CMU is not on the kicker.
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Motigerhawk
Well-Known Member
I would prefer a couple Wrs or safeties or CBs or DEs listed.
I understand that a kicking game is important. Unfortunately, we rely on it too much. I would rather see us blow out some of these teams or win by 10, instead of relying on our kicker to win it.
I wonder how many other teams had that many close games? That would be an interesting comparison.
I understand that a kicking game is important. Unfortunately, we rely on it too much. I would rather see us blow out some of these teams or win by 10, instead of relying on our kicker to win it.
I wonder how many other teams had that many close games? That would be an interesting comparison.
I would bet most fans and coaches agree with ya on that... As a coach I sure as heck wouldn't want to leave most of my games up to them either... Yet some of the best games and greatest finishes seem to end with one. It's as much a part of the game as anything I don't see it changing. So if your KF and this is your style of play than much like recruiting stud lineman is important than so are kickers.
This is what I was going to say. It's more idea to have good players at other positions that are capable of affecting the game for 25-50 plays and make it so you don't need a kicker. But we all know Kirk's style of play so unfortunately the kicker should probably even be ranked higher.
