Grading O'Keefe

okeefe4prez

Well-Known Member
I would give him an A-. I can't give him an A+ because there a few things he needs to improve and I think he and Ferentz know exactly what those are.

IMHO they are:

1) SOMETIMES (like once a game at most) he needs to get the play in a little faster.

2) SOMETIMES the quarterbacks who aren't Juco transfers tend to start to clam up a LITTLE bit the longer they've been in the system and regress SLIGHTLY with time. We didn't see this with Chandler or Banks, but some of the other QBs seemed to have regressed slightly as they try to minimize costly mistakes.

3) ON OCCASION O'Keefe doesn't respond properly to pressure with screens, slants and other quick throws and he doesn't always seem to give the QB the option to check down when needed.

I think all of these are because O'Keefe is too much of a perfectionist. Though I'm obviously not a witness to all of the practices, it seems to me like the offense practices a fairly limited playbook and focuses on running a limited number of plays to absolute perfection and that when we try to deviate from those core plays the kids mess something up (e.g., the multiple motion penalties every time we tried to run that quick count QB sneak this year - a play that has not been a KOK staple for the past 13 years), which then causes a greater reliance on the core plays we can run to perfection.

I think some of you guys are unnecessarily hard on O'Keefe, as you seem to act like we're the only team on the field and you never give credit to the other team. The teams that we lost to this year for the most part had pretty good defenses and sometimes your guys just can't execute because the defense is taking things away. I know we've seen some Iowa defenses do that to opposing teams.

7-6 is prolly right about where this ballclub should have been, we should have beaten Minnesota but lost to Michigan. ISU was a tossup and unfortunately, we dropped that one.

Instead of bashing our kids and coaches, let's give credit to some of these opposing teams - MSU, Nebraska, PSU (pre-Sandusky), Oklahoma and ISU had some stretches where they played darn good football and they had good games against us. Our stretches will come again, fellas.
 








it seems to me like the offense practices a fairly limited playbook and focuses on running a limited number of plays to absolute perfection and that when we try to deviate from those core plays the kids mess something up.

I would agree with this. You can praise or blame whoever you want regarding offensive inconsistency. It might help to be somewhat prepared going into a bowl game. We ran Coker all year like a work horse which expanded our playbook. With that gone it just killed us last night. You can grade him out however you want. I'd be more in the C category. Do we get the most out of the level of talent we recruit. Is it old school offensive sets that makes Iowa more of the easiest teams to prepare for.

Iowa RB Marcus Coker's suspension puts offense in flux
 




SOMETIMES KOK actually calls the right play.

FREQUENTLY KOK calls the absolute wrong play.

ENDLESSLY I wish for his retirement.

NEVER does any other team inquire about his services. (after 13 years)
 


You make some legit points but, geez, no need to pile on your guy with the all caps "SOMETIMES", "ON OCCASION" and "SLIGHTLY"!

Remember, he's not out there on the field failing to execute. He's not the one letting the play clock run out waiting for a play. He's not the one who doesn't hit the guard-tackle hole fast enough or hard enough on 1st down, right or left. He's not the one missing the block or taking the sack under an all-out blitz on 3rd and long. Everyone knows it's coming but it's like the players are somehow oblivious to such defensive notions and just get beat. He's not the one who isn't exploiting the defense's weakness as the game progresses. If those guys on the field would just pick up on a few more of the defensive tendencies they might be better able to attack.

How quickly you forget that Brad Banks almost won the Heisman 9 years ago and who's the QB coach? Not to mention Dallas Clark didn't win the Mackey 9 years ago and Robert Gallery didn't win the Outland 8 years ago and Shonn Greene didn't win the Doak Walker 3 years ago without a little help from the grand scheme highlighting them.

He's the constant bedrock during all that individual glory, yet, you dock his grade on the trivial, incidentals.

I am 1000% convinced that Ken O'Keefe is maximizing his potential in every game, against every opponent, in every situation on every play. He simply can not perform any better, let alone up to the perfectionistic standards you have set. Yet, you, who has defended him to the point of proudly bearing his moniker, demean him in such a way.

Et tu, Brute?
 


Haha, I mean why would we ever want to have more than 10 plays in the playbook? that's just silly!

I'll give KOK an A when it comes to running our playbook to perfection.

In reality an F- when it comes to running an effective offense.

But like you said and what we hear from KF time and time again... ALL the credit goes to the other team.
 


I know we have an "Offensive Coordinator." I just always seem to be wondering why our offense doesn't appear to be coordinated. During the first three quarters of the game, instead of looking like a team playing their 13th game, it looked like the first fall practice. I will give KOK cudos for the screen pass, his one shining moment.
 


I know we have an "Offensive Coordinator." I just always seem to be wondering why our offense doesn't appear to be coordinated. During the first three quarters of the game, instead of looking like a team playing their 13th game, it looked like the first fall practice. I will give KOK cudos for the screen pass, his one shining moment.

Funny thiisthat OU was simply running a practice. They looked pretty emotionless and looked like they were jsut running drills.
I thought I was over it but I'm getting more pi$$ed the more I keep thinking about it! Way to make a statement Kirk.
 


I sure hope the OP is joking or sarcastic with KOK getting an A- grade. This is the age of really good offenses scoring 42 points a game. I think Iowa avgd about 25 points a game this year but the last few games against good defenses, msu, nebby, and OU we stunk for the most part avg about 12 pts.

Jason White is a senior and he looked good running straight ahead last nite. Where has he been?

Why did kok call about 6 sweep plays against a fast defense last nite. I could predict they would not be successful and they werent as they almost all lost yardage. I said two weeks ago you have to run right at OU and fast defenses. KOK doesnt get it.

kok gets a C- to a D as OC and especially QB coach. kok cannot call and design some easy sitdown and comeback routes to get jvb off to a good start. There is a pattern with jvb and bad starts on the road. KOK has not fixed this.

Without Marvin Mcnutt making some great plays the overall passing game was mediocre. I know there were lots of drops also but they pray for execution and dont get it. the coaches need to work on getting the execution.

WE SCORED 21 POINTS AGAINST MINNY, GIVE ME A BREAK.
 




SOMETIMES KOK actually calls the right play.

FREQUENTLY KOK calls the absolute wrong play.

ENDLESSLY I wish for his retirement.

NEVER does any other team inquire about his services. (after 13 years)

Ummmm KOK was mentioned for the Indiana and Uconn head coaching jobs last year.
 






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