In a normal year with spring and august camp and 3 non conf games ...

[uihawk82]

This could have been a team at 6-1 or 7-0 right now. The defense has come on great. Five turnovers and a bunch of penalties at Purdue are the difference.

The running game is coming on and yeah I know Minny is bad against the run . Alaric Jackson not playing stellar right now yet good enough.

Very good special teams.

 

[MattinColumbus]

We do need better QB play. Tonight, Petras had a nice start and a nice finish, but was fairly bad in between. But our run game is solid, our defense is getting better.

 

[guffus]

I remember some recent normal years where Iowa would lose to Purdue and NW by 1 score each then turn around and beat ILL 63-0

The more things change the more they remain the same. Iowa just does not win those games they need to win in order to win the West, but blow out the teams that don't matter.

 

[MattinColumbus]

Oh, and I forgot the damn punter, who is a major weapon.

 

[HaydenHawk56]

What do we need to have happen for Iowa to be in the title game? Win out....but not sure Northwestern or Purdue have that many losses in them.

 

[oregonhawkeye]

I hear the argument but it's hard to be better than your mediocre QB.

 

[uihawk82]

What do we need to have happen for Iowa to be in the title game? Win out....but not sure Northwestern or Purdue have that many losses in them.

Well jNW and Purdue basically have a 2 1/2 or 3 game lead on the hawks. I am just taking them one at a time as the hawks are, go into beaver stadium and kill a few lions, then on to the next game.

 

[SmokeTownHawk]

It is what it is. Iowa controlled this game for the most part and shut down their big playmakers until the end. Just too bad we only have 5 more games to the season. I'd love to have a do-over of Purdue and jNW.

 

[uihawk82]

Brady Quinn did his scouting on Petras though about his inaccuracy on throws to his left. He needs to get is feet, hips, and shoulders in synch on those throws. last week he really got his shoulders and hips turned and squared to the throw to the left a couple times and made some nice deliveries

 

[uihawk82]

It is what it is. Iowa controlled this game for the most part and shut down their big playmakers until the end. Just too bad we only have 5 more games to the season. I'd love to have a do-over of Purdue and jNW.

Five more games, isnt it only 4 games left?

 

[AFAcademyHawk]

We

Five more games, isnt it only 4 games left?

Every team is guaranteed a 9th game. Goes by division standings.

Northwestern is actually pretty good, their defense will keep them in every game.

Purdue stinks - Iowa blows them out with a slightly cleaner game. The mistakes just came at the worse moments.

 

[uihawk82]

We

Every team is guaranteed a 9th game. Goes by division standings.

Northwestern is actually pretty good, their defense will keep them in every game.

Purdue stinks - Iowa blows them out with a slightly cleaner game. The mistakes just came at the worse moments.

ahhh , interesting , I sort of remember that now

 

[99topdawg]

We

Every team is guaranteed a 9th game. Goes by division standings.

Northwestern is actually pretty good, their defense will keep them in every game.

Purdue stinks - Iowa blows them out with a slightly cleaner game. The mistakes just came at the worse moments.

Yep. Those 2 fumbles in the red zone (or close to it) killed us. Didn't play terribly otherwise.

Good 1st half against NW. Terrible 2nd half by the offense. Defense held them to 7 points in the 2nd half.

Not saying we've only had one bad half and it was offense only, but it's not as bad as I thought when I went back and watched those 1st 2 games yesterday.

 

[Iceman]

I hear the argument but it's hard to be better than your mediocre QB.

The interception at the Minnesota game was befuddling, stared down the receiver the whole time....how do you not see the guy right in front of your target.

 

[AFAcademyHawk]

Yep. Those 2 fumbles in the red zone (or close to it) killed us. Didn't play terribly otherwise.

Good 1st half against NW. Terrible 2nd half by the offense. Defense held them to 7 points in the 2nd half.

Not saying we've only had one bad half and it was offense only, but it's not as bad as I thought when I went back and watched those 1st 2 games yesterday.

This team is very similar to 2018 and 2008. Just few plays away from being special, but very clearly a good team at every level.

That being said, still half the season to go ...

 

[The Big LeHAWKski]

Considering:
1. how we lost the first two with so may dumb penalties
2. how well we have played the last two games
3. ...and how young our starters are - the FUTURE IS VERY BRIGHT!

With an 8-game conf season I must admit I'm enjoying this season much more.
It's a totally F'd up year, so I'm doing my best to truly enjoy the little things!

 

[HaydenHawk56]

How mindsets/outlooks can change. I even started a thread saying this team is a baddd and looks lost. Kuddos to the players and coaches getting something figured out post Northwestern. Iowa has established a running game and the defense is looking solid/good. For as weak as the defense looked many times in the first 2 games, they either lead or are in the top 3 in statistics in the conference. That bolds well for the future if this trend continues. Special teams are a potent weapon.

Crazy to think....if Iowa keeps playing this way.....they could win out (still very tough with Wisconsin and Penn St still has their athletes for example), clearly be the best team in the West, and not represent it in the title game.

Also could be we just played 2 real bad teams. But, on the whole, Iowa is a competitive 2-2 team that is a few bone-headed plays away from being 4-0. Iowa should be 4-0.

 

[Grady]

NW didn't do much vs Iowa, but they typically don't have to do much to get a W because of their defense. The Purdue game is what really hurt -- they're not a great team, and Iowa beats that team 8 out of 10 times.
Not a long talk between the coaches at the midfield handshake after the game!
Does anyone know where to find Fleck's postgame comments/interview/video?

 

[dahlhawk]

We do need better QB play. Tonight, Petras had a nice start and a nice finish, but was fairly bad in between. But our run game is solid, our defense is getting better.

I would say outside of one bad pass, (which could have been a miscommunication) Petras played great! Two touch passes for TD's were right on target without the cannon. Much better on all portions of his game, even showered some wheels and tough QB sneaks. Future is bright.

 

[Ian Pike Hammer]

What do we need to have happen for Iowa to be in the title game? Win out....but not sure Northwestern or Purdue have that many losses in them.

Yeah, we need to win out OR [and God forgive me for saying this!] the virus needs to come into play. The B1G conf. decided pre-season that teams needed to play 6 games minimum in order to play in the championship game. This means that teams like Wisc and /or NW/Purdue could actually go undefeated and NOT be eligible. Maybe the conference grand pooh-bah doo-dah's will amend that rule if the Covid reeks havoc on the scheduling and games played.