Fant's Tweet

[okeefe4prez]

Your going to pick one broken play as evidence for that? A play that, I might add, was going to work if everyone was on the same page?

Look, pal, do I get emotional about the play calling sometimes? Yes, yes I do. But if you're gonna criticize the guy, you have to criticize him for something he did or didn't do. He did have formations with Fant in the slot and Hock at TE and I was merely citing to the most memorable play where that formation was used.

And that play wasn't gonna work because the lineman got destroyed on the play and was deep in the backfield where he tripped up the RB who I think was the intended receiver. The theory behind the play was good. The D will all be pulled to Fant and Hock, allowing an easy pass to the RB in the spot vacated by the blitzer. If we had a decent o-line and a little better play at RB, our offense would probably be really, really good and I think Ferentz is getting to the point where he is at least almost as good as OKeefe was.

 

[BVHawk95]

Look, pal, do I get emotional about the play calling sometimes? Yes, yes I do. But if you're gonna criticize the guy, you have to criticize him for something he did or didn't do. He did have formations with Fant in the slot and Hock at TE and I was merely citing to the most memorable play where that formation was used.

And that play wasn't gonna work because the lineman got destroyed on the play and was deep in the backfield where he tripped up the RB who I think was the intended receiver. The theory behind the play was good. The D will all be pulled to Fant and Hock, allowing an easy pass to the RB in the spot vacated by the blitzer. If we had a decent o-line and a little better play at RB, our offense would probably be really, really good and I think Ferentz is getting to the point where he is at least almost as good as OKeefe was.

It didn't come off as that harsh of a criticism to me, more of a hypothetical, but I see your point.

And it's semantics, but the OL didn't block that play because they were not ready for the snap, or thought it was blown dead. And if Fant is looking at his man instead of Easley, he blocks him and Toren walks into the endzone. But I don't like thinking about that play very much.

 

[Motigerhawk]

Fant, imo, was misused all year.

The evidence I point to is the outback bowl where hock didn't get a target until late. We saw that all year with Fant.

To me it is poor game planning and lack of creating opportunities for them.

Just because a guy gets double coverage, doesn't mean you can't game plan him to get open. You don't game plan him out of the game.

 

[okeefe4prez]

Fant, imo, was misused all year.

The evidence I point to is the outback bowl where hock didn't get a target until late. We saw that all year with Fant.

To me it is poor game planning and lack of creating opportunities for them.

Just because a guy gets double coverage, doesn't mean you can't game plan him to get open. You don't game plan him out of the game.

I think they had a bunch of intermediate and deep plays set up for him but they had double moves and by the time he broke he was open but Stanley was on the cusp of getting murdered and couldn't get him the ball.

I think we gotta reserve judgment on Brian's capabilities as a coordinator until he has a legit Iowa-style o-line. I actually think he'll be pretty good when/if that comes to fruition.

 

[cincyhawk]

Every single coach in the world starts their 2 best Dends. That means Kirk thinks AJ is the 3rd best one on the team.

This.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

In the case of Fant, my impression of the situation was that the coaches were trying to get Noah to do certain things on the field and he wasn't doing them so he was sidelined a lot.

 

[revkev73]

I think they had a bunch of intermediate and deep plays set up for him but they had double moves and by the time he broke he was open but Stanley was on the cusp of getting murdered and couldn't get him the ball.

I think we gotta reserve judgment on Brian's capabilities as a coordinator until he has a legit Iowa-style o-line. I actually think he'll be pretty good when/if that comes to fruition.

The high cost of hiring a "learn on the job" OC.

 

[deanvogs]

The high cost of hiring a "learn on the job" OC.

When Brian took over he inherited the a team that gained 324 YPG and averaged 24.9 PPG. In just 2 years he has brought those totals up to 375 YPG and 31.2 PPG (The 4th highest scoring team in the B1G).

 

[revkev73]

When Brian took over he inherited the a team that gained 324 YPG and averaged 24.9 PPG. In just 2 years he has brought those totals up to 375 YPG and 31.2 PPG (The 4th highest scoring team in the B1G).

Yup, he is learning, although my impression is that his "gametime" calling is a bit Helter Skelter

 

[InGoodCo]

Lol. Well, now you said it.

yeah, no I didn't. I expect more out of you TK, reading comprehension is high on the list.

 

[InGoodCo]

The high cost of hiring a "learn on the job" OC.

FWIW - Iowa's offense averaged the most points it has since 2002. BF has made huge strides with the offense, but IMO I give some of that credit to having KOK back in the fold.

 

[revkev73]

FWIW - Iowa's offense averaged the most points it has since 2002. BF has made huge strides with the offense, but IMO I give some of that credit to having KOK back in the fold.

Experienced QB, two possible first round draft pick TEs are also helpful.

Kind of interesting that Iowa won vs Mississippi State as, by far, the most disciplined, well coached of the two, and yet the losses and missed opportunities vs NW, WI etc. are pretty easily connected to a poorly coached team.

BF was not the best available for OC, he was the safe pick, from Kirk's perspective, non-threatening, keep it in the family, keep the cruise ship steady ahead.

That BF is improving is, well, the best case scenario for sure, given he is here and lock to stay here and most likely the next HC.

Bottom line, Iowa beat a more talented SEC team in their bowl game! Very sweet, not much better, well, perhaps a shutout of Wisconsin.

 

[GotTimDodge]

If Fant gets drafted in the first or second round of the NFL draft (and is physically intact, free of injury), hasn't Ferentz done his job???

What?
Do some of you really think potential NFL preparation is the top priority for a coach?
What the?

How about... winning games? At Iowa?

 

[GotTimDodge]

Anyone have any video where Fant was blocking poorly?

 

[Jonrn]

I think Schwartz missed the point of Fant's tweet. He wasn't just "cheering on his teammates." He was rightfully taking a shot at Ferentz for not playing his talent (Epenesa in this case). The "he should be out there every play" comment wasn't about Epenesa--it was Fant commenting on his own playing time and Ferentz's pattern of not putting talent on the field.

Let's not sugar coat this. Fant's pissed at the Ferentz's. Epenesa will have a decision to make next year too, if Iowa makes a bowl game. Aside from that, will Ferentz even allow the 5-star talent to start in his last year as a Hawkeye, or is there a hard-working Iowa kid with more union card stock?

I think you’re reading into this way too much. Kids speak in hyperbole, fant isnt stupid, he understands the game of football. He knows the correct amount of snaps for any defensive lineman in college isn’t 100% of them. Especially on a 90 degree day.

He’s just giving his teammate a compliment. Could the argument be made AJE deserved more snaps over the year? Yes of course, but I trust Reese Morgan and Phil here. The defensive line was the only consistent bright spot on this team all year.

 

[westender]

The PFF ratings for the Outback Bowl had Parker Hesse right there with AJE. PH was 1 point behind AJE and both were some of the top players in the game. So yeah there is that.

 

[westender]

For the record, I'd have played AJE more than Hesse. Sometimes the best way to learn and improve your game is with more PT. And I like Hesse. In today's world of RPO offense, AJE is better suited. And the term "arm chair QB" is just a derogatory term for a fan that voices an opinion that's unpopular.

Hesse was rated by PFF right there with AJE for the bowl game.

 

[westender]

I didn't post this observation at the time, but ahead of the spring practice the fam and I were standing outside Kinnick on the west side just hanging out and players and coaches were wandering over from the new facility. KF was on his way and Eppy's family was there outside also. Eppy's Dad bear hugged KF. KF hugged all the family members and they chatted it up for about 5 minutes. I don't think the Epenesa's have any kind of issue with Iowa or KF.

 

[lightning1]

Hesse was rated by PFF right there with AJE for the bowl game.

I'm sure it was. I'd play AJE more because the more PT he gets, the better he's gonna be. His upside is much, much higher. You only realize that upside with playing time (PT).

 

[lightning1]

I didn't post this observation at the time, but ahead of the spring practice the fam and I were standing outside Kinnick on the west side just hanging out and players and coaches were wandering over from the new facility. KF was on his way and Eppy's family was there outside also. Eppy's Dad bear hugged KF. KF hugged all the family members and they chatted it up for about 5 minutes. I don't think the Epenesa's have any kind of issue with Iowa or KF.

Quite the opposite. They have a great relationship with KF. That's why I have no problem with AJE sharing PT with Hesse. If the situation is good enough for AJE, it's good enough for me.