Howe: Limited Passing Game Leads to Another Iowa Bowl Embarrassment

[ArvadaHawk]

Attendance is important but less so than in the past because of the huge TV contracts the Big Ten is signing. Plus, donors keep giving money. Pacha just stepped up with a huge donation for the north end zone renovation.

Rob, everything has a return on investment. Iowa football is embarrassing, right now, because the rest of the college football world views Iowa has a dinosaur program. We couldn't pass for more than 100 yards in almost 40% of our games and we lost to a FCS team and we lost 3 straight home games. This was not a good season. If we hadn't pulled the Michigan Miracle, we'd be 7-6. That is following up 12-0 / 12-2 with 14 or 15 starters returning.

 

[RobHowe]

Rob, everything has a return on investment. Iowa football is embarrassing, right now, because the rest of the college football world views Iowa has a dinosaur program. We couldn't pass for more than 100 yards in almost 40% of our games and we lost to a FCS team and we lost 3 straight home games. This was not a good season. If we hadn't pulled the Michigan Miracle, we'd be 7-6. That is following up 12-0 / 12-2 with 14 or 15 starters returning.

I hear what you're saying but it's a bottom line business. Cash is rolling into the program through TV deals and donations. And attendance was up this year.

 

[revkev73]

Kirk knows he is gold...I doubt the outcome bothers him much at all...always others to blame...rationalizations and excuses are in place...

 

[QuadCityHawkeye]

During his introductory press conference, Davis said he'd design his plan around his players' strengths. It doesn't seem like his plan changes at all no matter who he has.

I've noticed this as well and is what frustrates me the most. Iowa will never have the guys he did at Texas year in and year out yet Davis still runs that same offense.

 

[Hawk4Fan]

I think you're going to be disappointed if that's your expectation. Maybe you're just hoping.

Yeah after all Iowa is great at keeping coaches who do a CRAPPY job!

 

[Hawk4Fan]

No doubt that the lack of a passing game is huge, but a bigger huge is Iowa's lack of speed/quickness on the edges on both sides of the ball. After the first couple of series, even King looked like another guy on the field compared to the white jerseys. Iowa on the edges looked a bit like the Louisville kicker (exaggeration, but the point is made). Iowa looked like they had 7 or 8 guys who could compete (interior) and the others looked D3ish. That includes receivers.

Another missed point, it was quite apparent that Iowa doesn't have a back up QB who was ready. That is a KF trait. CJ looks some much like JVB his senior year it's spooky. I'm am beginning to think the O line is actually pretty good, but the play calling, qb issues, and WR issues makes them look bad.

Wrong CJ was hit before he got done with a 3 step drop so many times this year it is not even funny and that is 100% oline issues

 

[HawkGold]

Wrong CJ was hit before he got done with a 3 step drop so many times this year it is not even funny and that is 100% oline issues

Again, if the defense by looking at stats can eliminate most of the possibilities of what could happen.....that is very difficult to defend. You fail to look at the bigger picture.

 

[Hawk4Fan]

Again, if the defense by looking at stats can eliminate most of the possibilities of what could happen.....that is very difficult to defend. You fail to look at the bigger picture.

If the QB can't even complete a 3 step drop before getting hit that has nothing to do with people being covered that is 100% oline crappy blocking

 

[ArvadaHawk]

Again, if the defense by looking at stats can eliminate most of the possibilities of what could happen.....that is very difficult to defend. You fail to look at the bigger picture.

Our passing game woes are all connected. Do we have avg WR talent because we don't throw, or do we not throw because we have avg talent? Because of the first point, defenses are lining up 9 men in the box to play the run. So, our OL now has to block 9 guys when we run or pass, and if we are passing, few times do we run wr's deep to get

I hear what you're saying but it's a bottom line business. Cash is rolling into the program through TV deals and donations. And attendance was up this year.

Then are we saying the University of Iowa (and all other programs) don't care about the fans? There is more money coming in from donors and tv revenue that the University sees fans as irrelevant, or at least, less relevant. If we have come to that, then why would fans support the program? Do you think Iowa would continue getting donations and tv revenue if the stadium is empty when the fans learn they aren't an important ingredient of the program? Then let's discuss how many times Iowa has gone to a "better bowl game" because of fan support.

Rob, I know you're being a devils advocate, here, but Iowa fans really are pissed off. This is just not acceptable performance.

 

[RobHowe]

Our passing game woes are all connected. Do we have avg WR talent because we don't throw, or do we not throw because we have avg talent? Because of the first point, defenses are lining up 9 men in the box to play the run. So, our OL now has to block 9 guys when we run or pass, and if we are passing, few times do we run wr's deep to get


Then are we saying the University of Iowa (and all other programs) don't care about the fans? There is more money coming in from donors and tv revenue that the University sees fans as irrelevant, or at least, less relevant. If we have come to that, then why would fans support the program? Do you think Iowa would continue getting donations and tv revenue if the stadium is empty when the fans learn they aren't an important ingredient of the program? Then let's discuss how many times Iowa has gone to a "better bowl game" because of fan support.

Rob, I know you're being a devils advocate, here, but Iowa fans really are pissed off. This is just not acceptable performance.

I am. And I agree that fan support is key reason for Iowa sometimes receiving better bowl games than it deserves.

I do think these crazy TV deals change the way conferences and ADs view the importance of the fans' feelings. Unsold seats, while still lost revenue they'd like to avoid, don't impact decisions as much as they have in the past.

The average fan matters, yes. And over time, they can affect change if revenue takes a hit over time.

Everybody was mad after '14. Iowa came back with a 12-0 regular-season and this year the stands were full again. I don't think the powers that be are concerned right now. Barta isn't going to force KF to make changes. It's not happening.

 

[DBAHawkFan]

Was Keenon Davis the last WR Iowa recruited and got that was of decent star count? I seem to remember him being a 4 star that didn't exactly reach his potential. Seemed like KMM took a lot of his thunder during their time together.

Rob do you expect there to be much shuffling of the coaching staff? I know it'd been talked about some that there wouldn't be but that was before this fiasco of a game. Knee jerk reactions will bring this talk back up I'm sure. Besides the obvious of Davis and Kennedys jobs what about Woods. I never did understand him moving to TEs... Especially after Reid left why wouldn't have have slid back to that role of LBs again? Our TE production clearly wasn't all that great this yr either even when Kittle was healthy...

Keenan unfortunately had the 2012 season as his farewell. He produced pretty well in 2011 (though had some crucial drops that year). But we wasted him his FR year (which we see ALL to often).

It's why I don't think we get Martin. We have no data/history of playing true FR at WR. Well one, Douglas and he produced...but we all know what happened later.....

 

[AreWeThereYet]

During his introductory press conference, Davis said he'd design his plan around his players' strengths. It doesn't seem like his plan changes at all no matter who he has.

I noticed that. Coming into the season it seems that the system in place is pretty static, at least with the passing game. Sure they'll adjust the route selection and use a subset of plays to bring the new guys up to speed. In the second half of the season they did develop a set of passing plays to get Wadley in space, out of necessity. I see no indication that they came into the season with much of a plan to use Wadley in the passing game, and took half the damn season to get serious about adjusting. In contrast, I have seen a fair amount of adjustment to how the offensive line has been used in the running game to try to open up more running gaps. It seems to me you can only go so far with that though, if you don't have much of a passing game.

 

[HawksMN]

I am. And I agree that fan support is key reason for Iowa sometimes receiving better bowl games than it deserves.

I do think these crazy TV deals change the way conferences and ADs view the importance of the fans' feelings. Unsold seats, while still lost revenue they'd like to avoid, don't impact decisions as much as they have in the past.

The average fan matters, yes. And over time, they can affect change if revenue takes a hit over time.

Everybody was mad after '14. Iowa came back with a 12-0 regular-season and this year the stands were full again. I don't think the powers that be are concerned right now. Barta isn't going to force KF to make changes. It's not happening.

Does seem the Hawks coaching staff is the ONLY ONE who is constantly questioned for bad gametime coaching decisions by broadcast play by play guys. Anyone ever notice this? And I agree with the play by play people more often than not.