Having a Book Smart QB Overrated?

[hawkfan2679]

Jake is fine and is going to keep getting better..he looked better to me out there on Saturday than he did last year. Sure, he missed a few shots but as Kirk said, UNI plays a deep three-deep zone...not all that dissimilar to what Iowa tries to do; keep things in front of you and force teams to make a lot of plays to score.

He showed command and accuracy that I don't recall seeing as consistently last year.

I only have a slight issue with the lack of shots taken, and that is that even if you don't take the deep shots, if a team is playing 3 deep, you should have a decent amount of space to work in the intermediate space (10-15 yards). If you rush 4 and play 3 deep, that only leaves 4 players to cover the width of the field in that area and there are lots of concepts that can be utilized ("safe" concepts, i.e. one player reads) to hit those areas.

For example, I know I saw this one at least twice:

.............................................F
............C.......................................................C
...............................W....M..........S..........$
..............................E....N......T...E
............X.................T..G..C..G..T.................Z
..................................................Y..............H
...............................S......Q

One high signifies either C1 or C3 (usually), so you check the leverage of the corners and immediate post-snap movement for either 1 or 3. If it's 3, you work the trips side. If it's one, you go backside. We always seemed to get C3. At the snap, H (Hillyer, in most cases) would run a wheel route, pulling the $ to the flats with him. Y (Hamilton or any one of our TE's) would run a route towards the flat, pulling the Sam backer. Z (KMM) released vertically, eyed the Sam, got on top of him and then cut inside him and sat down while the Sam continued outward with Y. Rudock took a quick 5 (I think) and hit KMM twice for about 15 yards apiece because there was nobody home in the intermediate middle of the zone (typical with C3). If UNI would have taken this away with the Mike (spacing was too good to do so on Saturday, but if they really wanted to overstretch to take this play), it opens up a fair share of cover 3 beaters to the backside as well.

All in all, though, the short stuff kept drives moving. If we could get our running game to keep us on schedule (something that didn't happen frequently enough on Saturday), those short passes put us in 3rd and short or 1st down situations. As we move through the season, however, teams are going to lock that down and hopefully we can capitalize by inserting some verticality into the passing game.

 

[iowalaw]

If playing a certain type of defense is all it takes to prevent a much more talented qb and much much more talented offense to be limited to 2 yard passes and handoffs for short gains (behind a couple of all American linemen), sign our defense up. We can completely shut down Wisco and Neb and any SEC opponent by this magical trick.

The fact is, the type of defense is not what stalled our offense. If a defense cheats, it leaves openings in other areas. If this defense put all its dbs back to prevent the deep ball, fine, wouldn't the 15 yrd pass be wide open all day? Also, how could they play a prevent d, but also stack the box so that even Weisman could only manage 3 plus yrds per carry?

Who knows, maybe UNI will go on to be the FCS national champs...but for now, we had an offense too scared to take shots down the field against a much much inferior opponent. I have a feeling this is apparent in the film room this week and changes will be made. Heck, Jake is human...I'm sure he has buddies/family who watched the telecast who have told him what Chuck Long, Iowa's all time best qb, was saying.

 

[franstheman]

If playing a certain type of defense is all it takes to prevent a much more talented qb and much much more talented offense to be limited to 2 yard passes and handoffs for short gains (behind a couple of all American linemen), sign our defense up. We can completely shut down Wisco and Neb and any SEC opponent by this magical trick.

The fact is, the type of defense is not what stalled our offense. If a defense cheats, it leaves openings in other areas. If this defense put all its dbs back to prevent the deep ball, fine, wouldn't the 15 yrd pass be wide open all day? Also, how could they play a prevent d, but also stack the box so that even Weisman could only manage 3 plus yrds per carry?

Who knows, maybe UNI will go on to be the FCS national champs...but for now, we had an offense too scared to take shots down the field against a much much inferior opponent. I have a feeling this is apparent in the film room this week and changes will be made. Heck, Jake is human...I'm sure he has buddies/family who watched the telecast who have told him what Chuck Long, Iowa's all time best qb, was saying.

Actually guys law is right. I'd like to say believe Ferentz and I'm sure cover 3 was used often but I saw several instances from the stands of Kinnick where they came out in cover 2 and cheated a safety in putting 8 in the box on plays where we had 3 wideouts. They were even doing this and pressing guys like Smith and Powell daring us to go downfield and we didnt. We just checked to a run.

 

[JonDMiller]

Actually guys law is right. I'd like to say believe Ferentz and I'm sure cover 3 was used often but I saw several instances from the stands of Kinnick where they came out in cover 2 and cheated a safety in putting 8 in the box on plays where we had 3 wideouts. They were even doing this and pressing guys like Smith and Powell daring us to go downfield and we didnt. We just checked to a run.

Most every QB misses things...most college QB's are not that good. Jake has a chance to be good...and is more game manager..which I think what KIrk prefers...fewer mistakes...don't beat yourself

 

[1hawkeye1]

His arm looked much improved over last year and he seemed to have an excellent command of the offense. Never looked "deer in the headlights".

No, a book smart QB is not overrated.

 

[PCHawk]

I only have a slight issue with the lack of shots taken, and that is that even if you don't take the deep shots, if a team is playing 3 deep, you should have a decent amount of space to work in the intermediate space (10-15 yards). If you rush 4 and play 3 deep, that only leaves 4 players to cover the width of the field in that area and there are lots of concepts that can be utilized ("safe" concepts, i.e. one player reads) to hit those areas.

For example, I know I saw this one at least twice:

.............................................F
............C.......................................................C
...............................W....M..........S..........$
..............................E....N......T...E
............X.................T..G..C..G..T.................Z
..................................................Y..............H
...............................S......Q

One high signifies either C1 or C3 (usually), so you check the leverage of the corners and immediate post-snap movement for either 1 or 3. If it's 3, you work the trips side. If it's one, you go backside. We always seemed to get C3. At the snap, H (Hillyer, in most cases) would run a wheel route, pulling the $ to the flats with him. Y (Hamilton or any one of our TE's) would run a route towards the flat, pulling the Sam backer. Z (KMM) released vertically, eyed the Sam, got on top of him and then cut inside him and sat down while the Sam continued outward with Y. Rudock took a quick 5 (I think) and hit KMM twice for about 15 yards apiece because there was nobody home in the intermediate middle of the zone (typical with C3). If UNI would have taken this away with the Mike (spacing was too good to do so on Saturday, but if they really wanted to overstretch to take this play), it opens up a fair share of cover 3 beaters to the backside as well.

All in all, though, the short stuff kept drives moving. If we could get our running game to keep us on schedule (something that didn't happen frequently enough on Saturday), those short passes put us in 3rd and short or 1st down situations. As we move through the season, however, teams are going to lock that down and hopefully we can capitalize by inserting some verticality into the passing game.

I was just going to say this exact same thing.

 

[AdamHawk]

Why would KF have Jake take a bunch of chances airing the ball out in the first game vs. an FCS opponent? I was actually surprised we didn't run more. I do remember a couple shots down field as well, particularly a 40+ yard completion to Willies.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

I was just going to say this exact same thing.

Omg, you too? I was thinking Exactly the same.

Well played PC.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

Idiots are quite capable of over-thinking things.

 

[knighthawk13]

Jake is fine and is going to keep getting better..he looked better to me out there on Saturday than he did last year. Sure, he missed a few shots but as Kirk said, UNI plays a deep three-deep zone...not all that dissimilar to what Iowa tries to do; keep things in front of you and force teams to make a lot of plays to score.

He showed command and accuracy that I don't recall seeing as consistently last year.

Three-deep zones give up 8 yards at a crack.....not 3. Jake has to get better or they need to run better routes against teams that play that style of defense.

 

[HawkIMalaise]

Fair enough. I would still just advise you to make a mental note to bump this thread after our first loss - it would be up to 8+ pages by now of stunningly lucid and insightful takes from hn posters. Someone might even create a "wins vs act score" matrix for every hawk qb going back to randy reined for you trolling enjoyment.

I am literally crying I am laughing so hard at this comment....

 

[HawkIMalaise]

Well, my guess is Jake has a marginally decent looking girlfriend, and this is reflected in his lack of gumption to throw the ball downfield. Think the scene in Moneyball when the scouts talk about how ugly the one prospect's girlfriend is. This is my theory and I am sticking with it until pictures prove otherwise

How Kirk never rang Drew Tate's neck for his type of play I will never know.

 

[iowalaw]

It does not take a lot of smarts to audible to a run whenever the defensive backs start pressing. It takes a lack of confidence. Maybe as the season goes on Jake will get more confidence in his WRs and start airing it out a bit.

 

[BlindDogScooter]

It does not take a lot of smarts to audible to a run whenever the defensive backs start pressing. It takes a lack of confidence. Maybe as the season goes on Jake will get more confidence in his WRs and start airing it out a bit.

So... how long have you been a Hawkeye fan? See, I ask because everyone on the planet
knows that Captain Kirk is NEVER going to roll out much of his offense in the first game of the
season. Couple that with his natural tendency toward plain vanilla and it's easy to see how
meaningless your criticism truly is.

If this were the 5th game of the season, or beyond, I could just let it pass as the rantings of
yet another arm chair coach wannabe but after the first game... seriously?

I've said it before on this forum and I'll repeat it here...

Before Jake is done he will be the 2nd coming of Chuck Long. I'll take smart and talented every time.

 

[ICHawk24]

Idiots are quite capable of over-thinking things.

This thread supplies ample evidence.

 

[BlindDogScooter]

Well, iowalaw, I thought you were going to get your chance to bump
the thread and say I told you so today but, alas, the smart kid earned
his scholly....

 

[iowalaw]

Well, iowalaw, I thought you were going to get your chance to bump
the thread and say I told you so today but, alas, the smart kid earned
his scholly....

Uhh, did you not watch the same game everyone else did? Jake did more of the same overly conservative check downs to the 2 yard dump offs to the running backs. Meanwhile, CJ Bethard gets one series and brings more excitement in 3 passes than Jake did in 3.5 quarters. There can be no question CJ was the better qb on the field today. But perhaps you like squeeking by UNI and Ball State with a qb who refuses to throw a pass more than 5 yards past the line of scrimmage.

 

[Foval21]

Uhh, did you not watch the same game everyone else did? Jake did more of the same overly conservative check downs to the 2 yard dump offs to the running backs. Meanwhile, CJ Bethard gets one series and brings more excitement in 3 passes than Jake did in 3.5 quarters. There can be no question CJ was the better qb on the field today. But perhaps you like squeeking by UNI and Ball State with a qb who refuses to throw a pass more than 5 yards past the line of scrimmage.

Ha ha ha ha ha....if you are serious you know very little about quarterbacking and what matters to win. Jake went through progressions and made the correct read most of the day and went deep more than you realized. He had an average of more than 10 yds per completion. Not to mention it takes serious toughness and leadership to lead a comeback like that against anyone.

 

[BlindDogScooter]

Uhh, did you not watch the same game everyone else did? Jake did more of the same overly conservative check downs to the 2 yard dump offs to the running backs. Meanwhile, CJ Bethard gets one series and brings more excitement in 3 passes than Jake did in 3.5 quarters. There can be no question CJ was the better qb on the field today. But perhaps you like squeeking by UNI and Ball State with a qb who refuses to throw a pass more than 5 yards past the line of scrimmage.

You're delusional... seriously... you should stop now.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

Uhh, did you not watch the same game everyone else did? Jake did more of the same overly conservative check downs to the 2 yard dump offs to the running backs. Meanwhile, CJ Bethard gets one series and brings more excitement in 3 passes than Jake did in 3.5 quarters. There can be no question CJ was the better qb on the field today. But perhaps you like squeeking by UNI and Ball State with a qb who refuses to throw a pass more than 5 yards past the line of scrimmage.

350 yards passing ÷ 5 yards....Wait, Jake completed 70+ passes??! At 70%, that us 100 throws! That's way too many throws. What are they doing out there!

CJ could've done that with 4 passes.

Seriously though, every single rational Iowa fan would like to see more vertical passing, if nothing else than to help the run game. I think many if us wouldn't mind seeing CJ for a full 3-4 series. Its the delusional fans, yes...like you, that think(without question) they know jack squat about what qb gives us the best chance to win. Getting tired of it.