Intriguing Brian Ferentz Tweet

Nice!

It would make for some quick three and outs, but could be what we have to do with the lack of RB experience.
 
I watched Morehouse's early practice vids...they are really hammering tempo this spring...as in uptempo.

With Iowa's defense next year, that is an interesting proposition...scoring fast is one thing...going three and out fast, or getting one first down and then out fast, that's another and a risky proposition for a challenged front four on defense.
 
We need to hire LICK to coach offense for a year... D will need some time to rest. Without a shot clock.. LICK could chew up an entire half on one drive.
 
I watched Morehouse's early practice vids...they are really hammering tempo this spring...as in uptempo.

With Iowa's defense next year, that is an interesting proposition...scoring fast is one thing...going three and out fast, or getting one first down and then out fast, that's another and a risky proposition for a challenged front four on defense.

Yeah, although I am not sure I can say this year that I want to see the D on the field so much. I guess if we're moving chains and converting in the red zone.
 
The DL could always surprise. Nobody thought the DL would be any good when King and Kroul left. Just sayin.
 
I watched Morehouse's early practice vids...they are really hammering tempo this spring...as in uptempo.

With Iowa's defense next year, that is an interesting proposition...scoring fast is one thing...going three and out fast, or getting one first down and then out fast, that's another and a risky proposition for a challenged front four on defense.

This is the beauty of spring practice. You can try and tinker with a lot of things and then head back to the film room and evaluate.

I would also point out that practice tempo doesn't necessarily translate over to games. What I mean by that is increasing tempo in practices could be done for any number of reasons:

1. Kirk could feel that guys have become complacent and are "lolly-gagging"....so he increases the tempo as a way to kick them in the a$$ a little bit.

2. Kirk could feel that practices have become "stale" over the years and is using an increased tempo to freshen things up and get guys more motivated.

3. During his extensive evaluation of things this off-season (he stated it was more extensive than normal), he could have come to the conclusion that the 2 minute offense and the last possession of the 1st half were significant weak points and the best way to address those things is through an increased tempo in practice. Get guys used to doing things fast and with a purpose.

4. When I was in basic training in the Army, we did everything fast. You needed to go to the head, you ran. You needed to get to chow, you ran. During station training, you ran from one station to the other. Etc. The reason they do this is to instill a sense of purpose and a sense of speed in everything you do....eliminate some of the mental thought in doing things and just quickly react to situations. That's what I take away from those videos. Not that we'll be Texas Tech or have basketball on grass as the norm, but that he is attempting to change the culture a little bit by instilling a sense of purpose...a sense of doing things with speed....to stop thinking and just react more....let athletes do what they do best.

Of course, I could be completely wrong and we'll come out 4 and 5 wide and start flinging it all over the place. :D
 
I watched Morehouse's early practice vids...they are really hammering tempo this spring...as in uptempo.

With Iowa's defense next year, that is an interesting proposition...scoring fast is one thing...going three and out fast, or getting one first down and then out fast, that's another and a risky proposition for a challenged front four on defense.

Not to be overly sarcastic but what difference will it make? The D gave up 46% 3rd-down conversion rate last year even with a sputtering ball control offense that only managed a 38% conversion rate in conference. If you accept that the defense will probably allow the same this year, does it really matter how fast or slow the offense is? Seems to me, the best counter strategy is to simply step up the offense in one way or another to start scoring more points, period.

I respect that this seems to be the coaching staff finally acknowledging the defensive limitations and actually making adjustments to maximize the offensive side of the game. They are accepting they aren't going to be able to rely on the defense to win them games, anyway, so better focus on the unit that gives them the best chance to compete and win -- for this year's team, that is the offense.

It's quite a significant philosophical shift from what you expect out of Iowa football. It carries a big risk / reward element to it. I think it will be fun to watch. I also like it because it's the first tid bit of evidence that things are truly getting "shaken up".

IF this actually comes to be what we see on the field, I will live with the consequences and applaud the effort to tweak strategy, play to your strength and maximize opportunity for success. Many will become irate because they will continue to look through the glasses of the last 6 - 7 years.
 
Increased tempo=more reps in same amt time

Teams that run faster tempos tend to drop their average time of possession and the D tends to be on the field more, which normally I don't see as a problem for Iowa, but this year that isn't necessarily ideal.
 
there is also another way to look at it if you score alot of points fast the sooner you can get reserves in the game and get them valuable playing time that will help you as the season goes along and build depth.
 
Teams that run faster tempos tend to drop their average time of possession and the D tends to be on the field more, which normally I don't see as a problem for Iowa, but this year that isn't necessarily ideal.

We are going to suck on D this year no matter what. May as well try to get something exciting going on offense.
 
there is also another way to look at it if you score alot of points fast the sooner you can get reserves in the game and get them valuable playing time that will help you as the season goes along and build depth.

That's fine, so long as our opponents aren't allowed to score-at-will and keep up in that situation......
 
Yep:

The objective should be to try to outscore the opponents. However, the current hurry up schemes are not three and out heavy. In fact, you have a much better chance of going three and out in a traditional scheme. It just is going to take up more clock time.

My suspicion is that hurrying up the tempo will result in more sustained drives. It might end up being somewhat of a wash in actual clock time, but the other defenses will be more worn down, because they will have to defend more plays and do more running.

Iowa has done defenses a favor by letting them catch their air in the past.
 
The offense needs to look for opportunities to score. I'm sure Iowa will still strive for a 50/50 balance with regard to run and pass, but as we've all seen in the last few years, the offense at least seems to be quite predictable.

Mixing up the tempo at times could help that. I look forward to an offense that still wants to run and control the game, but also an offense that isn't afraid to exploit weaknesses. Because defenses have a hard time substituting fast enough, quickly going to an up tempo style can create nice mismatches.

I look forward to an offense that runs more plays, and tires out the opponent. It seems like Iowa has been on the opposite side of that equation for awhile. Maybe it won't occur this year, but I like this direction.
 

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