First Offensive Series Predictions

[SixAMtailgate]

I know it is only Wednesday, but I need something to talk about other than the BCS, because it is stressing me out.

What are your predictions for Iowa's first series on offense?


My prediction:

(MSU defers to 2nd half)
We get the opening kickoff return to the 23 yard line
1st and 10: Robinson to right for 2 yds
2nd and 8: Stanzi incomplete pass (slant) intended for Stross
3rd and 8: Draw play to Robinson for 5 yards
4th and 3: 42 yard Donahue punt.

 

[HaydensHawk]

sounds fairly typical actually.

 

[ShadasRevenge]

I know it is only Wednesday, but I need something to talk about other than the BCS, because it is stressing me out.

What are your predictions for Iowa's first series on offense?


My prediction:

(MSU defers to 2nd half)
We get the opening kickoff return to the 23 yard line
1st and 10: Robinson to right for 2 yds
2nd and 8: Stanzi incomplete pass (slant) intended for Stross
3rd and 8: Draw play to Robinson for 5 yards
4th and 3: 42 yard Donahue punt.

Couldn't have said it better myself, although it does seem like Iowa has tended to throw 1st down this year. Probably just seems that way, though.

 

[Robbymac]

We win the coin flip and elect to recieve

Brandon Wehger returns to the Iowa 18 yard line

1st and 10: Johnson-Koulianous 82 yard pass from Stanzi (flea flicker)
Murray PAT Good

....what?

 

[hawkfan2679]

I think there might be some sort of boot action at least once on the first drive...maybe even the first play.

 

[VanMan1]

Iowa wins the toss, receives.

Wegher takes it to the house! Someone wins $10,000 from Hardee's.

 

[hawk4life21]

MSU defers. Iowa receives and we score on a TD pass for 7 yards to either Reisner or Moeaki.

 

[UP6936]

As far as the first drive is concerned I am unable to predict any of the plays or outcomes, but I can predict aging older than my years and not having any fingernails left by the 2nd quarter!

 

[droidhawk]

2 and out with a punt on 3rd down. In fact, we may just punt and play D until the 2nd half. Hey, it's worked twice on the road already.

 

[JerryGallagher]

Regarding the first offensive series, consider this:

***Iowa is now 15-3 in Stanzi's starts, a tremendous record. But as we all know there have been some very close shaves along the way and much of that can be blamed on poor starts by Iowa and Stanzi, in particular. So I wondered how Iowa has fared out of the gate against its opponents in the Stanzi era when it's received the opening kickoff (which Coach Ferentz prefers) as opposed to going on defense to start the game. I wondered whether I would find any trend that might indicate it would be better to have Iowa's defense on the field first which could give Stanzi a shorter field with which to operate in his first drive. Just a thought... Obviously, it's very hard to argue with anything the Hawkeyes have done, but sooner or later, you have to think their tendency to start slow will catch up with them.

This is what I found:

***In the 18 games with Stanzi as the starter, Iowa has received the opening kickoff 15 times.

***In those 15 games, Iowa has scored on its opening possession six times (4 TDs, 2 FG)... What's interesting is that all of those scores came in non-conference games. Iowa is 0 for 8 in that category in conference games with Stanzi. And in those games, he's thrown a pick 6 and has fumbled twice.

***On the flip side, Iowa has gone on defense first in three games with Stanzi. In all three of those games, Iowa forced a punt and then followed it up with a TD on their opening drive... and the Hawks won all three of those games.

Just something to chew on... Go Hawks!