Hawkeye Nation Podcast post Penn State

[Denverhawk1]

Anyone listen to this? Miller discusses Iowa’s lack of identity. Not just this year, but for the last several and he has some crazy stats. In 21 years of Ferentzball, only 2 times has Iowa had a top 25 rushing season. 2002 and Shonne Green. That stat BLEW me away.

Honestly, I need to perhaps think how I view the program. For years I just blindly bought into Iowa having a bullish running game and dominant line. The statistics just don’t bear that.

This is a program that is defense first, special teams second, and offense is a liability. At best. It’s just the truth. And really, the good years for the offense are the anomaly. Not the bad years.

It’s a miracle to be 8-4 with the stats Miller spits out.

He also discusses Iowa’s offensive output against the upper 1/3 of the B1G since 2015. It’s awful. Mostly 1 touchdown a game on average. The offensive talent simply isn’t there. And when you also add into consideration the number of coaches on the offensive side of the ball learning their jobs on the go, again, it’s probably a miracle to see 8-5, 9-4.

After listening to that podcast, the stats, the problem is and has been “offensive”. Wow. I think I wanted to just call the offense average, but that’s not fair. It’s bad. That’s the norm.

 

[hwk23]

Iowa hasn’t been in the top 50 in yards per attempt rushing since 2008. I looked it up. This for a team that prides itself on OLs.

 

[Xerxes]

Anyone listen to this? Miller discusses Iowa’s lack of identity. Not just this year, but for the last several and he has some crazy stats. In 21 years of Ferentzball, only 2 times has Iowa had a top 25 rushing season. 2002 and Shonne Green. That stat BLEW me away.

Honestly, I need to perhaps think how I view the program. For years I just blindly bought into Iowa having a bullish running game and dominant line. The statistics just don’t bear that.

This is a program that is defense first, special teams second, and offense is a liability. At best. It’s just the truth. And really, the good years for the offense are the anomaly. Not the bad years.

It’s a miracle to be 8-4 with the stats Miller spits out.

He also discusses Iowa’s offensive output against the upper 1/3 of the B1G since 2015. It’s awful. Mostly 1 touchdown a game on average. The offensive talent simply isn’t there. And when you also add into consideration the number of coaches on the offensive side of the ball learning their jobs on the go, again, it’s probably a miracle to see 8-5, 9-4.

After listening to that podcast, the stats, the problem is and has been “offensive”. Wow. I think I wanted to just call the offense average, but that’s not fair. It’s bad. That’s the norm.

He's right. Iowa really doesn't have an identity and haven't had one since that day in Kinnick when Wisconsin took it from them.

OL U, physical program, establish the run, stop the run, make opponents beat you. Those were all calling cards of the 2001-2009 era.

Iowa says they're physical but I can say I'm 6'5 240 with 5% body fat and a movie star hairline but that doesn't make it true. You have to prove it and against the MAC, Illinois, & Rutgers of the world, they are. But physical programs like NW, PSU, MSU, & Wisconsin push them around on both sides of the LOS. Even Iowa's lone outlier year of 2015 ended with a 10 minute drive of MSU running the ball down Iowa's throats.

The strength and conditioning/advantage at the LOS that Iowa used to enjoy is long gone and normally you would search for and create a new identify. However the first step in dealing with a problem is admitting you have one and Kirk truly doesn't believe there are any problems.

 

[trj]

Not to sound like a douche, but isn’t this stuff we already know? Despite the numerous o-linemen they put in NFL, the numbers do not translate into great rushing teams. 2009 and 2015 had good backs, good o-lineman and the rushing numbers were not very good.

 

[hawkeyes87]

After listening to that podcast, the stats, the problem is and has been “offensive”. Wow. I think I wanted to just call the offense average, but that’s not fair. It’s bad. That’s the norm.

Must be the thin air?

You might be the last one to figure this out.

But don't worry, soon their in-house offensive guru BF will be the HC.

 

[trj]

He's right. Iowa really doesn't have an identity and haven't had one since that day in Kinnick when Wisconsin took it from them.

OL U, physical program, establish the run, stop the run, make opponents beat you. Those were all calling cards of the 2001-2009 era.

Iowa says they're physical but I can say I'm 6'5 240 with 5% body fat and a movie star hairline but that doesn't make it true. You have to prove it and against the MAC, Illinois, & Rutgers of the world, they are. But physical programs like NW, PSU, MSU, & Wisconsin push them around on both sides of the LOS. Even Iowa's lone outlier year of 2015 ended with a 10 minute drive of MSU running the ball down Iowa's throats.

The strength and conditioning/advantage at the LOS that Iowa used to enjoy is long gone and normally you would search for and create a new identify. However the first step in dealing with a problem is admitting you have one and Kirk truly doesn't believe there are any problems.

Wisconsin evolved without losing their identity. Despite changes and trying to adapt to the way the game is played now Iowa has never quite figured it out.

 

[koralakers]

Games involving Iowa average about TWO LESS POSSESSIONS PER GAME than games involving all other teams.
-we bleed 39.5 seconds off every play clock
-we RARELY push the ball down the field
-no two minute drive offense
-on defense, we try to force teams to take 10-15 plays to score against us

ALL these things “slow down the game”. Our offensive and defense TOTAL YARDAGE numbers will always be skewed way down, so you have to take some of these numbers with a grain of salt

 

[NCHawker]

..of course Dace has to digress into stories about Michigan

 

[HaydenHawk56]

Iowa's individual production (or units) is greater than the sum of its' collective parts (or the total team). It can get players into the NFL at certain positions. It can knock off better teams frequently, but not consistently. It knocks off most teams than it is better than, but not consistently.

Good, some times very good, but not great defenses. Poor to Mediocre offenses. Good to Mediocre Specials Teams.

This all adds up to a consistently competitive program, but rarely a championship one. Hence, a lot of 8-4/7-5s. Keeps the machine going and the hope/hype going year after year.

 

[MoseSchrute]

Not to sound like a douche, but isn’t this stuff we already know? Despite the numerous o-linemen they put in NFL, the numbers do not translate into great rushing teams. 2009 and 2015 had good backs, good o-lineman and the rushing numbers were not very good.

Yes. If you're paying attention this is old news. We're a running team that doesn't run it very well.

 

[phdsvp]

The take on the podcast was, "Iowa must have really good coaching to be able to go 8-4 with zero offensive production for fifteen years."

My take was, "Why does Iowa continue to do nothing about their lack of offensive production, and how could you possibly see 'scoring points' as not important enough to fix?"

 

[Caddy]

Iowa's individual production (or units) is greater than the sum of its' collective parts (or the total team). It can get players into the NFL at certain positions. It can knock off better teams frequently, but not consistently. It knocks off most teams than it is better than, but not consistently.

Good, some times very good, but not great defenses. Poor to Mediocre offenses. Good to Mediocre Specials Teams.

This all adds up to a consistently competitive program, but rarely a championship one. Hence, a lot of 8-4/7-5s. Keeps the machine going and the hope/hype going year after year.

How many skill players are we putting in the NFL. Quarterbacks? WRs? RBs? Not many. Ones that actually stick and contribute.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

Iowa has a running back by committee because they don't have the one back that can stand up an be the guy. Iowa has 3 backups and one potential star.

If you don't have a stellar offensive line then your marginal running backs weaknesses are exposed.

 

[NCHawker]

Anyone listen to this? Miller discusses Iowa’s lack of identity. Not just this year, but for the last several and he has some crazy stats. In 21 years of Ferentzball, only 2 times has Iowa had a top 25 rushing season. 2002 and Shonne Green. That stat BLEW me away.

Honestly, I need to perhaps think how I view the program. For years I just blindly bought into Iowa having a bullish running game and dominant line. The statistics just don’t bear that.

.

dude, wake up. where have you been Rip Van Winkle

Dreaming of Iowa's power running game.