General reaction to criticism

[tm3308]

Honestly, if anyone questions the conservatism of the offense at all, they automatically don't know Iowa Football, or they want the Hawks to run it up.

1. Just because it's not surprising to me that we sat on our hands, doesn't mean I have to agree with it. Same as how it's not surprising that the KKK hates black people, but I don't agree with it.

2. I don't advocate that we "score 60" or "throw it up 50 times", which is what many of the "You don't know Iowa Football" crowd seems to think that "critics" are saying. I just want us to have a bit more comfortable lead before doing nothing, on purpose. Make it a 3-possession game so that a fluke play doesn't make it a ball game. Iowa has made it pretty clear that they have special teams issues at this point, and a blocked punt, KO return, punt return, etc. could have made it a dogfight. Why not take away that possibility by scoring just enough to make that kind of play irrelevant?

 

[JonDMiller]

Since you said the same thing in another thread, and felt the need to start your own, I'll reply in kind:

Most of the blowback that comes from 'criticism' threads has as much to do with how the OP crafts his criticism. Threads that are emphatic and 'nuff said' crap is guaranteed to get blowback, because it's mostly ignorant on its face, regardless of the topic.

As it relates to Iowa football and what they do, I think that some of these posts are like peeing into the wind. you know who and what they are and what they want to do. Since 2002, just 11 BCS conference schools have a higher winning percentage than Iowa. In the last decade, just one Big Ten team has more wins than Iowa. the 2000's was the winningest decade in Iowa football history.

the proof is in the pudding, over and over and over. Some folks like style points I guess. I just like the wins

 

[ShadasRevenge]

Honestly, if anyone questions the conservatism of the offense at all, they automatically don't know Iowa Football, or they want the Hawks to run it up.

1. Just because it's not surprising to me that we sat on our hands, doesn't mean I have to agree with it. Same as how it's not surprising that the KKK hates black people, but I don't agree with it.

2. I don't advocate that we "score 60" or "throw it up 50 times", which is what many of the "You don't know Iowa Football" crowd seems to think that "critics" are saying. I just want us to have a bit more comfortable lead before doing nothing, on purpose. Make it a 3-possession game so that a fluke play doesn't make it a ball game. Iowa has made it pretty clear that they have special teams issues at this point, and a blocked punt, KO return, punt return, etc. could have made it a dogfight. Why not take away that possibility by scoring just enough to make that kind of play irrelevant?

Who are you to say the coaching staff wasn't comfortable with a possession lead over a team that had shown zero ability to move the ball with any consistency?

Don't make it sound like Iowa wasn't trying to score in the 2nd half; maybe Penn State was able to make some adjustments of their own at halftime.

 

[JonDMiller]

2. I don't advocate that we "score 60" or "throw it up 50 times", which is what many of the "You don't know Iowa Football" crowd seems to think that "critics" are saying. I just want us to have a bit more comfortable lead before doing nothing, on purpose. Make it a 3-possession game so that a fluke play doesn't make it a ball game. Iowa has made it pretty clear that they have special teams issues at this point, and a blocked punt, KO return, punt return, etc. could have made it a dogfight. Why not take away that possibility by scoring just enough to make that kind of play irrelevant?

Kirk plays the percentages like an NFL coach. When you bring up blocked punts, punt returns for scores and flukes plays like that, they have happened a total of 5 times in the last seven or eight years out of over 100 football games. That's how he thinks, and he is not going to change.

 

[DuffMan]

I was at the game, and I can't think of a time in which I was more comfortable with a lead. After the goal line stand there wasn't a tense moment in the game.

 

[JonDMiller]

I was at the game, and I can't think of a time in which I was more comfortable with a lead. After the goal line stand there wasn't a tense moment in the game.

I dont recall a minute last week where I was remotely concerned about the game.

 

[tm3308]

I was at the game, and I can't think of a time in which I was more comfortable with a lead. After the goal line stand there wasn't a tense moment in the game.

That's why I said I was more worried about the fluke plays. The ones that come without warning. If that kind of play happens, it's a totally different ball game.

 

[BuiltLikeWilt]

Thats the way our coach rolls!! boring(sometimes) classy(all the time)!!!!

 

[tm3308]

Since you said the same thing in another thread, and felt the need to start your own, I'll reply in kind:

Most of the blowback that comes from 'criticism' threads has as much to do with how the OP crafts his criticism. Threads that are emphatic and 'nuff said' crap is guaranteed to get blowback, because it's mostly ignorant on its face, regardless of the topic.

As it relates to Iowa football and what they do, I think that some of these posts are like peeing into the wind. you know who and what they are and what they want to do. Since 2002, just 11 BCS conference schools have a higher winning percentage than Iowa. In the last decade, just one Big Ten team has more wins than Iowa. the 2000's was the winningest decade in Iowa football history.

the proof is in the pudding, over and over and over. Some folks like style points I guess. I just like the wins

I understand that the blowback gets started because of people that present their concerns in a poor manner (KOK mailed it in), but then EVERYONE who shows concern, regardless of how they do it, gets labeled as someone who wants to see 60 points on the board. I posted this thread because making this argument within a thread already loaded with that stuff is stupid. It just gets lost in the shuffle.

 

[ShadasRevenge]

That's why I said I was more worried about the fluke plays. The ones that come without warning. If that kind of play happens, it's a totally different ball game.

Fair enough point, but how often do fluke plays happen to Iowa, other than (seemingly) against Northwestern every year?

Iowa hadn't had a punt blocked since the Pittsburgh game in 2008, and then Zona got one. I can't remember the last time the Hawks gave up a kickoff return for touchdown, Arizona got one.

I don't get concerned about fluke plays, because by their very definition, they don't happen very often.

 

[tm3308]

Kirk plays the percentages like an NFL coach. When you bring up blocked punts, punt returns for scores and flukes plays like that, they have happened a total of 5 times in the last seven or eight years out of over 100 football games. That's how he thinks, and he is not going to change.

I understand he plays the percentages. But the special teams this year have accounted for 2 of those 5 miscues, and were close to giving up a few more scores. PSU also got pretty close to a punt last night. While they aren't common historically in the KF era, they seem to be happening more frequently with the unit right now. I just feel like you have to adjust to the current climate a little.

 

[tm3308]

Fair enough point, but how often do fluke plays happen to Iowa, other than (seemingly) against Northwestern every year?

Iowa hadn't had a punt blocked since the Pittsburgh game in 2008, and then Zona got one. I can't remember the last time the Hawks gave up a kickoff return for touchdown, Arizona got one.

I don't get concerned about fluke plays, because by their very definition, they don't happen very often.

The blocked punt I'll admit was a fluke. But the KO return, I'm not sure. ISU had BIG lanes to run in, and if their returners had any speed they'd have busted two for TD's. Given that weak spot, and that we were facing two speedsters in Stephon Green and Chaz Powell, the chances of that "fluke" play happening go up.

 

[brhawks18]

I was at the game, and I can't think of a time in which I was more comfortable with a lead. After the goal line stand there wasn't a tense moment in the game.

I have no idea how Kirk Ferentz thinks, but I like what I see and here are some things that would make sense to me. He is smarter then the rest of us put together with how he does things.

1. Kirk Ferentz is just too classy to run up the score. It's hard to say this
of many coaches.

2. He has a lot of respect for opposing coaches, especially Joe Paterno.

3. Maybe as important as 1 and 2 is the fact Iowa has a bye next week
plus they did not give Michigan much to look at offensively on film. I'd
venture to guess Iowa played it close to vest by design last night.

If you look at the #1 team at home versus Penn State you'd notice the same score. Further, if you look at the stats from that game, they are quite similar. Save for the fact PSU had 4 turnovers against Alabama and 1 against Iowa.

I'll gladly take Kirk Ferentz over any other coach.

 

[JonDMiller]

I understand he plays the percentages. But the special teams this year have accounted for 2 of those 5 miscues, and were close to giving up a few more scores. PSU also got pretty close to a punt last night. While they aren't common historically in the KF era, they seem to be happening more frequently with the unit right now. I just feel like you have to adjust to the current climate a little.

There is a reason why he is a successful football coach. He isn't insecure with things that many of us are insecure with. I used to be like this, worrying about offensive philosophy, etc. then I kept seeing the results...and I realized that my insecurities were not things they were worried about, or rather, they have confidence in who they are and who they want to be, and how they do things, that they don't knee jerk the way we do out here in the stands.

Just because some fans are worried about fluke plays that have happened on less than 1% of the plays of the KF era, it doesn't mean the coaches are. Thank goodness for that. This is probably more about your make up than anything else, which is OK when you are explaining your opinions in a fair matter and non-inflammatory way. There will still be differing opinions, but it will be civil, and that is enjoyable.

 

[JonDMiller]

I have no idea how Kirk Ferentz thinks, but I like what I see and here are some things that would make sense to me. He is smarter then the rest of us put together with how he does things.

1. Kirk Ferentz is just too classy to run up the score. It's hard to say this
of many coaches.

2. He has a lot of respect for opposing coaches, especially Joe Paterno.

3. Maybe as important as 1 and 2 is the fact Iowa has a bye next week
plus they did not give Michigan much to look at offensively on film. I'd
venture to guess Iowa played it close to vest by design last night.

If you look at the #1 team at home versus Penn State you'd notice the same score. Further, if you look at the stats from that game, they are quite similar. Save for the fact PSU had 4 turnovers against Alabama and 1 against Iowa.

I'll gladly take Kirk Ferentz over any other coach.

While I agree with the sentiments of 1 & 2, I really think it's a lot more simple than that. He felt his defense was good enough to keep a 14 point lead, and they wanted to run the ball on first down to keep the clock moving.

 

[DuffMan]

That's why I said I was more worried about the fluke plays. The ones that come without warning. If that kind of play happens, it's a totally different ball game.

A) You worry too much.

B) Recent history has shown "fluke plays" against Iowa are far more liekly to be in the form of pick 6's or turn overs than big scoring plays against Iowa's Defense.

We played to minimize those "fluke plays".

Seriously think about it, how many TD's of over 20 yards has Iowa given up in the last 3 years? I'd be willing to bet it's fewer than the number of pick 6's given up by Stanzi last year.

 

[Hawke]

The blocked punt I'll admit was a fluke. But the KO return, I'm not sure. ISU had BIG lanes to run in, and if their returners had any speed they'd have busted two for TD's. Given that weak spot, and that we were facing two speedsters in Stephon Green and Chaz Powell, the chances of that "fluke" play happening go up.

Your criticism is based on unfounded conjecture. Their two speedy kick returners didn't bust one open. Once again Kirk Ferentz won a game by playing high-percentage football.

 

[tm3308]

Your criticism is based on unfounded conjecture. Their two speedy kick returners didn't bust one open. Once again Kirk Ferentz won a game by playing high-percentage football.

Just because it didn't happen doesn't mean it couldn't have. And there was one return that they just needed another block or two to bust a big one.

 

[tm3308]

A) You worry too much.

B) Recent history has shown "fluke plays" against Iowa are far more liekly to be in the form of pick 6's or turn overs than big scoring plays against Iowa's Defense.

We played to minimize those "fluke plays".

Seriously think about it, how many TD's of over 20 yards has Iowa given up in the last 3 years? I'd be willing to bet it's fewer than the number of pick 6's given up by Stanzi last year.

We got burned on two deep throws (one of them was completed) also. You don't have to put together a drive to score. And PSU was very close a couple times.

 

[JonDMiller]

Just because it didn't happen doesn't mean it couldn't have. And there was one return that they just needed another block or two to bust a big one.

We should worry about a stray asteroid slamming into Kinnick Stadium each week Iowa plays. Just because it didn't happen doesn't mean it couldn't.