When I see how torn apart this fan base and team seem to be already I just hate it. Last season really galvanized everyone. Iowa had the disrespect card in the media to play (rightly or wrongly) and had everyone fired up from the staff/players/fans everyone. Now what a difference a year makes.
Does anyone think there's just one thing you can point to for blame? I find it hard to believe that say losing Ott and Meir off the Dline will have made that big of a difference especially what little Ott played. I don't think anyone would argue losing Fisher from the LB corp is a big deal. Our safeties as a whole haven't done all that great. Snyder has made a couple of big plays but they hardly outweigh the negative ones at this point. But is that really an end all be all? It's the combination of everything obviously that's gotten them where they are.
To me there's a lack of confidence now. Since losing to NDSU the winds are out of their sails. I'm sure you all saw how easily OSU roasted Rutgers. And for all intent and purposes Iowa was out played by them most of the game. Make no mistake football is an emotional game. If Iowa doesn't get off to a good start they seem to almost check out emotionally. I'm not sure how the coaches are to remedy that but that's why they get paid what they do. It's extremely disconcerting to me the lack of emotion passion and urgency coming from the players/coaches and fans. We fans sure didn't help anything with their behavior against NW. Now I get it the refs were terrible and everything just seemed to be going wrong but we have to be better than that. If we are going to demand what many are from the coaches and players the least we can do is hold up our end. I know it's hard to be positive when there doesn't seem to be a reason to be but that's when the players need us the most. Now granted I know it wasn't 70k fans throwing stuff but there sure wasn't much cheering going on in the 4th q.
This season sure feels like it's slipping. And it could absolutely do that if they don't beat MN. I think being more aggressive on offense earlier in the game may help with their emotion. There has been an even lessor degree of creativity on offense this year then in the past. (and that's saying something) Which makes no sense with CJ being a senior. Now I understand our receivers are young. So let's do less robotic timing routes.Do more quick slants and deeper routes. Make it simpler not more complicated. Smith and Scheel have shown they can go get the ball. Give them legit opportunities as teams are daring them to go deep. Taking 1 or 2 shots a game don't cut it not even close.
Almost no matter how good the Offense does it won't matter if the defense doesn't step up. Nothings more frustrating than watching them get carved up like they've been. If the defensive line can't get penetration and disrupt the running game then the style of play they do won't work. It's just that simple. Lining up in a different way on 3rd on longs is nice and helps sometimes but why not mix it up every other down and distance some too? Quit being so darn predictable and gamble now and then. I'm not even suggesting all the time. Just pick a play or two when you feel momentum slipping or after they've gotten a 1st down on them. Make them make quick adjustments they wouldn't have planned on. It's called coaching... Ugh.
Not many scenarios are more frustrating to watch play out then seeing your favorite team that's capable of so much more struggle top to bottom. One should probably say maybe they aren't capable of being better... Well I don't want to believe that so for now I'm choosing not to and hope they can keep Floyd home and turn it around...
Does anyone think there's just one thing you can point to for blame? I find it hard to believe that say losing Ott and Meir off the Dline will have made that big of a difference especially what little Ott played. I don't think anyone would argue losing Fisher from the LB corp is a big deal. Our safeties as a whole haven't done all that great. Snyder has made a couple of big plays but they hardly outweigh the negative ones at this point. But is that really an end all be all? It's the combination of everything obviously that's gotten them where they are.
To me there's a lack of confidence now. Since losing to NDSU the winds are out of their sails. I'm sure you all saw how easily OSU roasted Rutgers. And for all intent and purposes Iowa was out played by them most of the game. Make no mistake football is an emotional game. If Iowa doesn't get off to a good start they seem to almost check out emotionally. I'm not sure how the coaches are to remedy that but that's why they get paid what they do. It's extremely disconcerting to me the lack of emotion passion and urgency coming from the players/coaches and fans. We fans sure didn't help anything with their behavior against NW. Now I get it the refs were terrible and everything just seemed to be going wrong but we have to be better than that. If we are going to demand what many are from the coaches and players the least we can do is hold up our end. I know it's hard to be positive when there doesn't seem to be a reason to be but that's when the players need us the most. Now granted I know it wasn't 70k fans throwing stuff but there sure wasn't much cheering going on in the 4th q.
This season sure feels like it's slipping. And it could absolutely do that if they don't beat MN. I think being more aggressive on offense earlier in the game may help with their emotion. There has been an even lessor degree of creativity on offense this year then in the past. (and that's saying something) Which makes no sense with CJ being a senior. Now I understand our receivers are young. So let's do less robotic timing routes.Do more quick slants and deeper routes. Make it simpler not more complicated. Smith and Scheel have shown they can go get the ball. Give them legit opportunities as teams are daring them to go deep. Taking 1 or 2 shots a game don't cut it not even close.
Almost no matter how good the Offense does it won't matter if the defense doesn't step up. Nothings more frustrating than watching them get carved up like they've been. If the defensive line can't get penetration and disrupt the running game then the style of play they do won't work. It's just that simple. Lining up in a different way on 3rd on longs is nice and helps sometimes but why not mix it up every other down and distance some too? Quit being so darn predictable and gamble now and then. I'm not even suggesting all the time. Just pick a play or two when you feel momentum slipping or after they've gotten a 1st down on them. Make them make quick adjustments they wouldn't have planned on. It's called coaching... Ugh.
Not many scenarios are more frustrating to watch play out then seeing your favorite team that's capable of so much more struggle top to bottom. One should probably say maybe they aren't capable of being better... Well I don't want to believe that so for now I'm choosing not to and hope they can keep Floyd home and turn it around...
