Ferentz: JVB Gives Us Best Chance to Win

[IowaFan81]

What is your first hand account of the quarterback competition?

Well, practice can't tell us anything about Rudock, Sokol etc..., but Saturdays have told us first hand that JVB isn't getting it done. Maybe the backups stink it up in practice while JVB lights it up. I agree with most others here. How does anyone know what any of the backups can do?

Can you honestly sit there and say that JVB is getting the job done and no other QB deserves a shot? If so, what info do you have? I don't think JVB is to blame by himself, but he certainly deserves some of it.

 

[PCHawk]

I believe they are questioning his honesty more then the "competition".

A good example is 2010 after the Wisconsin game. 1 time out, and you just got a 1st down. Spike the ball is the only option. Especially since your down by 1. You need 15 yards to put it at a 40 yard FG.

My opinion on the QB competition is the isn't one, JVB is the only one who gets a chance. That isn't competition. However I feel it is the system that is bad, not JVB.

His reason for not spiking the ball was further proof that he has no concept of clock management. He said that the play before took 12 seconds off the clock and they didn't have enough time to spike the ball and run one more play. He used one play where Allen Reisner took about 5 seconds off the clock running sideways to get out of bounds to determine how much time they need to run a play. How does a college head coach not know that the average play takes 6 to 8 seconds? We lost the chance at a game tying field goal because the play before happened to take 12 seconds so Kirk decided that every play takes 12 seconds.

 

[Cover3]

His reason for not spiking the ball was further proof that he has no concept of clock management. He said that the play before took 12 seconds off the clock and they didn't have enough time to spike the ball and run one more play. He used one play where Allen Reisner took about 5 seconds off the clock running sideways to get out of bounds to determine how much time they need to run a play. How does a college head coach not know that the average play takes 6 to 8 seconds? We lost the chance at a game tying field goal because the play before happened to take 12 seconds so Kirk decided that every play takes 12 seconds.

Hahaha. Perfect. Especially when our motto back then on defense was "Six Seconds of Hell." Beautiful. I recall him immediately after the game saying "that's a situation we'll look at." In a sense, that's a rare "mea culpa" from Kirk, but not strong enough for a guy who at the time had been a collegiate head coach 12-14 seasons. If he truly just had some general principles about how he manages the clock, we wouldn't have seen half the bufus we have over the years. Every decision looks like we're talking it over for the first time.

 

[tm3308]

How, in any way, does your question validate or invalidate the hypothesis that KF doesn't always tell the public/media the truth?

Generally, the burden of proof is placed on the accuser. If you call someone a liar, you better have proof to support that. Not just "Well, you can't prove he ISN'T a liar!"

 

[JBRTHREE]

He is a nice kid, but JVB is playing like a LAME DUCK!!! (shameless political reference... VOTE! [for MITTY] ) JVB is SO bad he couldnt complete a pass to an ugly Nebraska girl! And they are ALL easy! (GET IT!?!?)

 

[PCHawk]

Hahaha. Perfect. Especially when our motto back then on defense was "Six Seconds of Hell." Beautiful. I recall him immediately after the game saying "that's a situation we'll look at." In a sense, that's a rare "mea culpa" from Kirk, but not strong enough for a guy who at the time had been a collegiate head coach 12-14 seasons. If he truly just had some general principles about how he manages the clock, we wouldn't have seen half the bufus we have over the years. Every decision looks like we're talking it over for the first time.

One general principal should be to quit trying to save all your timeouts for "later". Say we have two timeouts and have to go 50 yards in 90 seconds. If we throw a 9 yard pass on 1st and 10 and don't get out of bounds, use a timeout. You are not going to save more time with that timeout in any other situation then you will right there. The entire offense has to go 9 yards down field and get set up for the next play. That is the biggest time killer you can have in a 2 minute drill.

It happened in the Cap 1 bowl at mid field. If we use a time out there we have 2nd and 1 with about 30 seconds left, one timeout, and 20 yards to go. Time wouldn't have even been a huge factor at that point. Instead we decide to save the timeouts for "later". 8 years later we still haven't used those 2 timeouts.

 

[PCHawk]

He is a nice kid, but JVB is playing like a LAME DUCK!!! (shameless political reference... VOTE! [for MITTY] ) JVB is SO bad he couldnt complete a pass to an ugly Nebraska girl! And they are ALL easy! (GET IT!?!?)

I agree that everyone should get out and vote..... but only if you're going to vote for who I want to win.

 

[bamahawkeye]

I may be wrong, but before GDavis got here, wasn't there a lot of hype about Rudock's potential as the starting QB. If that was the case, I would lean towards he hasn't picked up the offense. And especially since KF compared Rudock and JVB so favorably to each other. If both have the same attributes, it would make sense that neither is excelling in the offense, but JVB's experience gives him the edge. I am just as baffled as everyone else as to why no one else has been given a shot. I'm not defending the decision. I pray that Rudock improves dramatically with another year in the system. But as someone else said, if KF's statement is true, it doesn't give me a lot of confidence heading into next year if no other QB on this roster is even close to being ready to take one meaningful snap this year.

 

[Garandx]

Ferentz, when presented with the trooth/

 

[PCHawk]

It's not like Kirk's lying. In his mind the more experienced QB gives the team the best chance to win under all circumstances. I'm holding out hope that next year one of our QB's is a stud. The excuses on why he didn't play this year will be interesting also.

 

[DDThompson]

No way to figure out if a guy is a gamer if he never plays a game. Even Ferentz has no clue what these guys can do on Sat.

If Vandenberg looks great in practice and sucks on Sat., you play someone else to see what they can do. Maybe nothing, maybe something, or maybe Vandy gets his head out of you know what and wakes up. (like Jantz against Baylor)

If vandeberg looks the same at practice as he does on Saturday, and the coaches think he is still the answer over the other guys then the future is bleak.

Bump.

This really good summary boat and the logic of it is normally called "common sense."

The snottier version is that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is normally called "insane."

 

[Cory]

I don't have any and neither do you. Control freaks cannot handle being wrong or questioned and I think that is the issue here. James seems to be a great kid so it appears KF doesn't want to put all his hard work out to pasture. Honorable but not the job of a head coach.

 

[hawkfan340]

Generally, the burden of proof is placed on the accuser. If you call someone a liar, you better have proof to support that. Not just "Well, you can't prove he ISN'T a liar!"

Fine and good. There's various evidence of Kirk bending the truth at press conferences over the years that we could debate. Problem is that Jon's comment takes us into an area where nothing can be proved or disproved.

When someone takes an argument in such a direction, it's usually because actual facts will take them in a place they don't want to go.

 

[koralakers]

JVB might be the QB that gives us the best chance...but the coaching gives us no chance.

+100000000000000000000000

 

[DTF]

Keep in mind that one of his TD's was a 1 yard screen that KD took 10-15 yards after shaking the defender.

My question is this- at what point does JVB get benched? 50 point drubbing? 60? He completed 9 passes in the blowout against PSU. What would have been the measurable downside of saying "Hey we, uh...don't want to risk you getting injured. Take a seat"?

If Sokol, who has experience starting (I believe), is no good, why was he offered a scholarship? If objective viewers WITNESSED the backup(s) weren't any better, people would get over JVB as the issue. It would be an objection nullified by proof. But there is no pressure on KF to change anything, what's the worst that could happen? Is he going to get fired? Are players going to risk tranferring to a lesser school?

I mean there are so many questions on this board that are answered "Well what would you know?" or "If X was better, why wouldn't he be playing?" That isn't proof of ANYTHING. How do people find it impossible to believe a backup QB could match JVB's stats? Because the coach says so? If JVB was putting up last years numbers it would be nit picking, but he ranks amongst the lowest in almost every major category for starting QB's. KF's responses amount to "Because I said so".

What's that quote? Crazy is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Teams worse than the Hawks and teams better than the Hawks make changes when they aren't seeing the required production, they don't rest on their laurels. They say "We need to win this game, something has to change"

Good grief.

 

[MeatMan]

this is maybe the most telling part of the Q and A

Q. The problem, if you were, if that’s the right word Saturday. But your concepts in the passing game, is it something that Greg Davis is arguing for? Or you guys said at the beginning of this when you changed coordinators and all that stuff, that you’re going to do what your players do best. Is this what your players can do best now?
COACH FERENTZ: What concept are we talking about specifically?

Q. The short, quick passing game?
COACH FERENTZ: I know the question came up, catches and out routes, and I wasn’t thinking quickly enough. The touchdown came and scored against Penn State. It was just a quick hitch out there. One guy beat one guy, and that’s talking about explosives. Coincidentally, the play at Michigan State beat Indiana at the end of the game, is the same play to the left side. They threw a quick ball out to, I believe, it was their freshman receiver. He beat the DB and scored a touchdown.
I kind of get this concept stuff for short throws, long throws all that stuff. But it’s really a little bit more intricate than that. I’m not trying to give a lecture or anything like that.
But passing games tend to, the stereotype of the old Oakland Raiders, Al Davis, John Madden, throw the ball down there 400 yards and had Olympic sprinters on the outside. That wasn’t far from the truth. But you try to do what’s best for your players, and you also try to do what’s best for the situation. There is a lot of thought that goes into that. Doesn’t always work out, but that’s what we try to do for 14 years.

Q. The current situation though, is it more what Greg wants for his offense, or is it what your personnel are capable of executing, giving them the best chance to execute?
COACH FERENTZ: I think first of all, I’ll say this: Gregg’s a tremendous coach, tremendous person, really an outstanding coach. Most coaches I’ve been around that are really good‑‑ and I’ve been really lucky in my career to be around a lot of good ones‑‑ everything starts with what can your players do? That’s where it always starts. No matter where you are, what you’re doing. If you’re coaching well, you have to do that. So I think that’s usually the goal we have at the beginning of every week.
Again, like recruiting, it’s a very fluid discussion. Who is doing what, and what is the injury situation and all those different types of things. But there is a lot of thought that goes into it.


So, Kirk doesn't understand the question? Or doesn't want to answer it? Just playing dumb? Wonder if he's seriously thought about this. I'm sure it's crossed his mind, but does he even understand it.

 

[smbhawk1]

What is your first hand account of the quarterback competition?

I don't know Cory's first hand account, but my guess is it is just as much as yours. Unfortunately you like to make it appear as if you have insider info.

 

[tm3308]

I don't know Cory's first hand account, but my guess is it is just as much as yours. Unfortunately you like to make it appear as if you have insider info.

No, he places more faith in the opinions of those who DO have first-hand accounts than he does a random message board poster who doesn't have that account. There's a big difference between that and claiming to be an insider.

 

[blubberhawk]

What is your first hand account of the quarterback competition?

Here we go again..

Two words:
Jake Christensen.

We are supposed to trust that we have no other quarterbacks that can play at the very least, the same level as what we are getting?

Come on.. You can't blame fans for questioning. Ferentz WILL NEVER admit he is wrong about anything.

If JVB is really the only option Iowa has at QB, then we really are hopelessly buried at the bottom of our division. (and Ferentz has done a horrible job at recruiting)

 

[WindyCityHawkI]

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz reiterated on Tuesday that quarterback James Vandenberg continues to play because he gives Iowa its best chance to win.

So just because he thinks JVB gives them the best chance to win, what does that have anything to do with getting the backup and potential future starter some live reps when the game is a blowout in the 4th quarter? It makes no sense at all.