Ferentz Team Slow Starts

The clowns are lucky they get to face us very early in the season. It might be my imagination but I believe the slow developmental approach is slowly disappearing. This might be the year we start to see some different defensive coverages and a more wide open offense. The clowns aren't going to march into Kinnick and stroll around like they own the place! Stanley is head and shoulders above anything they have and they aren't going to be ambushing anyone this year. It's pretty simple......the clowns aren't going to win IN OUR HOUSE!!!!
 
judzeehawk said:
The clowns are lucky they get to face us very early in the season. It might be my imagination but I believe the slow developmental approach is slowly disappearing. This might be the year we start to see some different defensive coverages and a more wide open offense.

The clowns aren't going to march into Kinnick and stroll around like they own the place!

Stanley is head and shoulders above anything they have and they aren't going to be ambushing anyone this year. It's pretty simple......the clowns aren't going to win IN OUR HOUSE!!!!
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How often have the clowns played at Kinnick in the KF years and "strolled around" ? 2012 the hawks were avg on the way to being below avg yet the clowns barely won because Jantz played great against the non-attacking hawks. 2014 the hawks played poor on offense in that loss.

2002 total abberation.

Now back to the main question, I sometimes find it hard to believe after spring, summer, and August how lightly prepared, to give it a polite name, the hawks are in Sept. the pundits always talk about how Iowa improves throughout the year, Jeez, 2008 could have been an amazing year with Stanzi as the starter in game 1. And so many early season games where Norm and Phil would coach soft on Dee. Let the players play.
 
You definitely have to know who you are playing and the team has to gel and be up to speed.
I think we just mixed and matched, played people early and we're looking for who could do what in live action.
That's fine when you are up 21 going into the 4th.
Otherwise you end up losing to teams you shouldn't.
With Wisconsin early this year, there is no time for players or coaches to be dinking around. You want to win the West you had better come out strong and remain strong all season.
You don't think Nebraska has us circled?? Northwestern always does. ISU does.
Yeah we may be circling Wisconsin, and that is fine, but beware of who is circling us as well. We have to play aggressive the whole season, the minute we let up, someone is going to be there.
 
Yeah roles need to get defined. Be it how we use certain guys situationally etc. How are Young and IKM going to be used. Brandon Smith and Smith Marsette are huge what ifs. Will we use TEs even more and more creatively? Only way to really do that is through lots of reps and time on the field. Less predictability on early downs with the play calling can certainly help. I have no idea how many times that sort of sentiment has been relayed but it certainly still stands.
If they can come out guns blazing and make a statement the first few games it'd sure be nice to have confidence going into the Wisky game and give them something to think about before taking the field.
 
Kirk tends to run the program much like an NFL franchise, and my theory on the slow starts is that he approaches the OOC slate as an NFL coach approaches the preseason.

He sees it as a time to evaluate his players and tinker with different ideas. Plus, my guess is that he prefers to keep it vanilla so that the conference teams don't have a lot of tape to evaluate. His NFL style has some positives, but his philosophy on the OOC season does hurt us at times.
 
#1DieHardHawk said:
Kirk tends to run the program much like an NFL franchise, and my theory on the slow starts is that he approaches the OOC slate as an NFL coach approaches the preseason.

He sees it as a time to evaluate his players and tinker with different ideas. Plus, my guess is that he prefers to keep it vanilla so that the conference teams don't have a lot of tape to evaluate. His NFL style has some positives, but his philosophy on the OOC season does hurt us at times.
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Which I kind of agree with. Frankly I would rather loose to ISU and win every other game including the B10 championship. Especially if ISU has a good year.
Our schedule is such that unless we go undefeated and win the B10 championship, WHICH IS THE GOAL. We are not going to get invited to the National Championship play offs anyway.
But we could win the b10, go to a heck of a bowl with a out of conference loss.
It's a would you rather question.
It stinks that ISU plays us tough, because if you are going to tip your hand, you have to go all in. It's nice we get Wisconsin early in that aspect, but as I said Nebraska fans have made it clear to their new AD and Coach, they can't accept losing to us.
So I say just go all out from the get go and go for it. Basically say this is who we are and try and stop us.
Keep mixing up the play calls and execute them.
 
#1DieHardHawk said:
Kirk tends to run the program much like an NFL franchise, and my theory on the slow starts is that he approaches the OOC slate as an NFL coach approaches the preseason.

He sees it as a time to evaluate his players and tinker with different ideas. Plus, my guess is that he prefers to keep it vanilla so that the conference teams don't have a lot of tape to evaluate. His NFL style has some positives, but his philosophy on the OOC season does hurt us at times.
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I say the same thing every year and Iowa run the same shit at the beginning/middle/end so not sure hiding much, lol. But I think Iowa is moving toward opening up and same base with a lot of different looks. Very exciting times w the talent on campus. GO hawks!
 
Not arguing that Iowa has a history of starting slow, and finishing stronger, but there are examples of every kind

Iowa starts strong, finishes strong
2009
2015

Iowa starts strong, finishes weak
2010 (although Iowa lost to Arzona early)

Iowa starts slow, finishes weak
2012, 2014

Iowa starts slow, finishes strong
2008, 2013, 2016
 
#1DieHardHawk said:
Kirk tends to run the program much like an NFL franchise, and my theory on the slow starts is that he approaches the OOC slate as an NFL coach approaches the preseason.

He sees it as a time to evaluate his players and tinker with different ideas. Plus, my guess is that he prefers to keep it vanilla so that the conference teams don't have a lot of tape to evaluate. His NFL style has some positives, but his philosophy on the OOC season does hurt us at times.
Click to expand...

You're probably dead on with this. But here I thought practice all spring and August were what that was for.... We have no preseason games in college football. The stats all count and so do the games. It's one thing for the early part of the year to be feeling out what you have to work with to a degree. It's another to just totally embrace that to the point where it could be a detriment.
 
You guys can spin this anyway you want to. Iowa gets mediocre results in recruiting and gets midland results. A few years lower and a few years higher. KF fairly often has slow stops (bowl games).

Fact is that most P5 teams and some lower level teams have about equal talent on the list of starters (A few get a lot better talent). As the season wears on there are injuries. Contact with the enemy means more casualties. The weaker teams have less depth. Iowa being mediocre has more depth than weak teams. Less depth than stronger teams. When Iowa wins big in a year, they have more NFL talent. It's pretty simple.

KFs conservative style of O play does lead to some more losses and about an equal amount, but lesser number of wins.

Last year there was talk about how Campbell was the same as ISU . ISU played OK in the 5th game. Not a likely win later in the year. They happened to have some depth at QB which helped their year survive. No idea if they have talent in the waiting for 2018.

One thing about Iowa (the state) culture is that Iowans are very OK with average. Iowa is a very average state. Those who call it home or are proud of Iowa are very content with being average. Iowans do tend to make excuses on being average more than other states. You don 't hear Missourians, Nebby's, MN's and others make excuses on their states as much as Iowans. The other states in general don't spend as much time dissing other states as much as Iowans do. when I lived in Missouri (called Misery by expat Iowans) it was embarrassing. Missouri is actually a pretty darn nice state to live in and I wish I'd have stayed.

Back to Hawks. Using OOC as "Pre Season" is a silly concept. It kills your playoff hopes and puts you in a lower bowl game. The situation is best analyzed by Brad Banks results. KF didn't want him. KF tried to make him a drop back passer and it was like getting a cat to act like a dog. The cat was always going to be a cat. That team is arguably the best KF team ever and he has never ever had a similar QB. Last year's D was prolly pretty close to that 02 team. Only he had a game mgr at QB. Put Banks on that team...

Not sure what ISU really has this year, but an ISU win in IC with the same ole approach stands a pretty good chance at a loss. Maybe if they played later, not as much.
 
HawkGold said:
You guys can spin this anyway you want to. Iowa gets mediocre results in recruiting and gets midland results. A few years lower and a few years higher. KF fairly often has slow stops (bowl games).

Fact is that most P5 teams and some lower level teams have about equal talent on the list of starters (A few get a lot better talent). As the season wears on there are injuries. Contact with the enemy means more casualties. The weaker teams have less depth. Iowa being mediocre has more depth than weak teams. Less depth than stronger teams. When Iowa wins big in a year, they have more NFL talent. It's pretty simple.

KFs conservative style of O play does lead to some more losses and about an equal amount, but lesser number of wins.

Last year there was talk about how Campbell was the same as ISU . ISU played OK in the 5th game. Not a likely win later in the year. They happened to have some depth at QB which helped their year survive. No idea if they have talent in the waiting for 2018.

One thing about Iowa (the state) culture is that Iowans are very OK with average. Iowa is a very average state. Those who call it home or are proud of Iowa are very content with being average. Iowans do tend to make excuses on being average more than other states. You don 't hear Missourians, Nebby's, MN's and others make excuses on their states as much as Iowans. The other states in general don't spend as much time dissing other states as much as Iowans do. when I lived in Missouri (called Misery by expat Iowans) it was embarrassing. Missouri is actually a pretty darn nice state to live in and I wish I'd have stayed.

Back to Hawks. Using OOC as "Pre Season" is a silly concept. It kills your playoff hopes and puts you in a lower bowl game. The situation is best analyzed by Brad Banks results. KF didn't want him. KF tried to make him a drop back passer and it was like getting a cat to act like a dog. The cat was always going to be a cat. That team is arguably the best KF team ever and he has never ever had a similar QB. Last year's D was prolly pretty close to that 02 team. Only he had a game mgr at QB. Put Banks on that team...

Not sure what ISU really has this year, but an ISU win in IC with the same ole approach stands a pretty good chance at a loss. Maybe if they played later, not as much.
Click to expand...

Not sure where you get that Iowans think they are average. At what?
 
westender said:
Not sure where you get that Iowans think they are average. At what?
Click to expand...

Iowa is consistently average as a state. Population, size, income, things to do and so on. If you live in an average state one must be pretty OK with that. Iowa is a fine place. It's not rich, it's not poor. It's not ugly, it's not beautiful.

Sort of fits the Hawks pretty well.
 
4thngoal said:
Which I kind of agree with. Frankly I would rather loose to ISU and win every other game including the B10 championship. Especially if ISU has a good year.
Our schedule is such that unless we go undefeated and win the B10 championship, WHICH IS THE GOAL. We are not going to get invited to the National Championship play offs anyway.
But we could win the b10, go to a heck of a bowl with a out of conference loss.
It's a would you rather question.
It stinks that ISU plays us tough, because if you are going to tip your hand, you have to go all in. It's nice we get Wisconsin early in that aspect, but as I said Nebraska fans have made it clear to their new AD and Coach, they can't accept losing to us.
So I say just go all out from the get go and go for it. Basically say this is who we are and try and stop us.
Keep mixing up the play calls and execute them.
Click to expand...
The thing about that is in the moment when that's going down we have no crystal ball... In the moment it absolutely sucks balls to lose to them. I agree with you in that our goals are bigger than any one early season game. I for one set goals high. Why not hope/try to win them all and make the powers that be in college football take note of little ole Iowa. Put the ball in their court to make a tough decision. If they were to pass on an undefeated Iowa for lets say a one loss Notre Dame or someone like that the BIG would have a melt down. I think KF totally is in line with your goals of winning the BIG. I don't think KF even considers going after the NC so much. I could be wrong but it just feels that way
 
HawkGold said:
You guys can spin this anyway you want to. Iowa gets mediocre results in recruiting and gets midland results. A few years lower and a few years higher. KF fairly often has slow stops (bowl games).

Fact is that most P5 teams and some lower level teams have about equal talent on the list of starters (A few get a lot better talent). As the season wears on there are injuries. Contact with the enemy means more casualties. The weaker teams have less depth. Iowa being mediocre has more depth than weak teams. Less depth than stronger teams. When Iowa wins big in a year, they have more NFL talent. It's pretty simple.

KFs conservative style of O play does lead to some more losses and about an equal amount, but lesser number of wins.

Last year there was talk about how Campbell was the same as ISU . ISU played OK in the 5th game. Not a likely win later in the year. They happened to have some depth at QB which helped their year survive. No idea if they have talent in the waiting for 2018.

One thing about Iowa (the state) culture is that Iowans are very OK with average. Iowa is a very average state. Those who call it home or are proud of Iowa are very content with being average. Iowans do tend to make excuses on being average more than other states. You don 't hear Missourians, Nebby's, MN's and others make excuses on their states as much as Iowans. The other states in general don't spend as much time dissing other states as much as Iowans do. when I lived in Missouri (called Misery by expat Iowans) it was embarrassing. Missouri is actually a pretty darn nice state to live in and I wish I'd have stayed.

Back to Hawks. Using OOC as "Pre Season" is a silly concept. It kills your playoff hopes and puts you in a lower bowl game. The situation is best analyzed by Brad Banks results. KF didn't want him. KF tried to make him a drop back passer and it was like getting a cat to act like a dog. The cat was always going to be a cat. That team is arguably the best KF team ever and he has never ever had a similar QB. Last year's D was prolly pretty close to that 02 team. Only he had a game mgr at QB. Put Banks on that team...

Not sure what ISU really has this year, but an ISU win in IC with the same ole approach stands a pretty good chance at a loss. Maybe if they played later, not as much.
Click to expand...
Only thing I agree on is not taking the same old approach to ISU.
Look, we had Kok, then GD, anyone could see the difference in offense. Now we have BF's idea of offense being developed. None are the same, so unless you want us to go sread or option every down, I don't see how you can say KF' offense's are always boring. Are we going to run the ball?? Absolutely, you won't win any games if you can't do that. Would it be nice and have we before went a little hurry up? Yes. But not with a new offense, new Oc, new qb.....ect.
I don't complain about any state really and rarely have I ever heard anyone do that, we complain about their fans. That is 99% of the time because they said something about our program.
There isn't any excuse for not giving your all and doing your best, I agree.
We were 7-5 last year with everything from a bunch of freshman playing to new coaches. Every reasonable Nebraska fan is hoping for the same results this year and our schedules about match up. I would say they probably won't play as many freshman and have hit the Juco route pretty hard, but hey do what you need when rebuilding, Purdue did it to.
 
Hawkfnntn said:
The thing about that is in the moment when that's going down we have no crystal ball... In the moment it absolutely sucks balls to lose to them. I agree with you in that our goals are bigger than any one early season game. I for one set goals high. Why not hope/try to win them all and make the powers that be in college football take note of little ole Iowa. Put the ball in their court to make a tough decision. If they were to pass on an undefeated Iowa for lets say a one loss Notre Dame or someone like that the BIG would have a melt down. I think KF totally is in line with your goals of winning the BIG. I don't think KF even considers going after the NC so much. I could be wrong but it just feels that way
Click to expand...
Definitely the goal is win them all!!!!
 
4thngoal said:
Only thing I agree on is not taking the same old approach to ISU.
Look, we had Kok, then GD, anyone could see the difference in offense. Now we have BF's idea of offense being developed. None are the same, so unless you want us to go sread or option every down, I don't see how you can say KF' offense's are always boring. Are we going to run the ball?? Absolutely, you won't win any games if you can't do that. Would it be nice and have we before went a little hurry up? Yes. But not with a new offense, new Oc, new qb.....ect.
I don't complain about any state really and rarely have I ever heard anyone do that, we complain about their fans. That is 99% of the time because they said something about our program.
There isn't any excuse for not giving your all and doing your best, I agree.
We we 7-5 last year with everything from a bunch of freshman playing to new coaches. Every reasonable Nebraska fan is hoping for the same results this year and our schedules about match up. I would say they probably won't play as many freshman and have hit the Juco route pretty hard, but hey do what you need when rebuilding, Purdue did it to.
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We were 7-5 with some amazing players last year. Every year there is talk about "youth". When you live in other states for some time, the Iowa mentality of crazy bragging and dissing is quite apparent.

I never said boring. When KF offense works the way he wants it to, it is a thing of beauty. Doesn't happen oft though. His best years are usually with non boring QBs but there is always a reluctance to play them. CJ, BB, Stanzi. Not sure where Tate was, but those weren't Iowa's best teams record speaking.

When KF has "his" QB, it is usually game mgt. He got "his" OC with Davis. It wasn't Davis' fault.
 
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