Intriguing Brian Ferentz Tweet

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.

that was the problem with the '95 team. The offense was a quick strike offense rather than a drive the field offense. that fact killed the defense.
 
I won't get too excited until we actually take the field against a Big10 team. We completely dropped our uptempo offense after the 1st series against PSU.

I'm not sure I care how fast or slow we play, just that we take advantage of what the defense is doing or not doing. No more running into 9 man fronts cause it's for the sake of balance playcalling. Different audibles than a fade (though it did work some times with McNutt) or a off tackle run. Seemed that we had only two audibles the past few years. Let's mix it up more.
 
The more you score, the better your defense looks.

Bingo. This "playing from a posture of fear" crap has got to stop. Winners (and winning programs) make things happen...they don't play from a position of avoidance. KFz has bought into a classic myth: playing aggresively means more mistakes and turnovers and a result, reduced efficiency. Even if it does produce a few more errors...the additional benefit more than balances it out.

If you really have to "protect your defense", there's something very wrong with the way you're building your defensive squad. I love Norm as much as anybody, but maybe it's time to realize that his approach had some real limitations.
 
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[/QUOTE

Yes, you could be wrong but you convinced me. Your argument is not only plausible, it jives with what we think Ferentz is comfortable with.
 
Bingo. This "playing from a posture of fear" crap has got to stop. Winners (and winning programs) make things happen...they don't play from a position of avoidance. KFz has bought into a classic myth: playing aggresively means more mistakes and turnovers and a result, reduced efficiency. Even if it does produce a few more errors...the additional benefit more than balances it out.

If you really have to "protect your defense", there's something very wrong with the way you're building your defensive squad. I love Norm as much as anybody, but maybe it's time to realize that his approach had some real limitations.

That is what you are saying now but what will you be saying after a game in which Iowa makes numerious mistakes and loses?? I am betting you may be promoting a slower approach that may result in fewer mistakes and less time on field for an inexperienced defense. Hurry up offense doesnot necessarily mean the offense will score more.
 
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.
Don't see a problem with stamina with this defense. Our overall athleticism is improving. The problem is experience.
 
Thats what I am starting to think....if I ever take a coaching position at Iowa I am going to have a ton of fun with you message board proles. :)

KF always mentioned Brian filling him in about the happens on the interwebs and BF seems to have a good sense of humor so I'm sure he knew how his tweet would be taken....and run with... lol
 
The defense is going to be the weak link this year. We are going to have to try and outscore our opponents in shootouts. Simple as that.
 
Bingo. This "playing from a posture of fear=" crap has got to stop. Winners (and winning programs) make things happen...they don't play from a position of avoidance. KFz has bought into a classic myth: playing aggresively means more mistakes and turnovers and a result, reduced efficiency. Even if it does produce a few more errors...the additional benefit more than balances it out. If you really have to="protect your defense=", there's something very wrong with the way you're building your defensive squad. I love Norm as much as anybody, but maybe it's time to realize that his approach had some real limitations.
That is what you are saying now but what will you be saying after a game in which Iowa makes numerious mistakes and loses?? I am betting you may be promoting a slower approach that may result in fewer mistakes and less time on field for an inexperienced defense. Hurry up offense doesnot necessarily mean the offense will score more.
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there have been plenty of games in the past where we have made a lot of mistakes and lost using the slower approach. I think we have enough proof over the last decade that the slow down approach doesn't guarantee winning due to not making mistakes
 
Iowa did a lot of experimenting the first spring Kirk was there and the offense in the fall was not that of the spring
 
KF always mentioned Brian filling him in about the happens on the interwebs and BF seems to have a good sense of humor so I'm sure he knew how his tweet would be taken....and run with... lol

True, heck if I was Greg Davis I would come out that first series at soldier field and run a play out of Missouri's "monster" formation (or at least that is what is on NCAA football haha) where there are only 3 Olineman..
And then proceed to go no huddle shotgun with some wildcat thrown in...over/under on number of Iowa fan's fainting/jaw dropping?

haha it would be too much fun to mess with people like that. Just for one series but god it would be funny.
 
Iowa did a lot of experimenting the first spring Kirk was there and the offense in the fall was not that of the spring
I know this isn't the same but I coach Youth Tackle Football and we try and practice uptempo. Not because we want to play that way but it is much easier to slow down then to speed up if you are not used to it. Plus you get more Reps in practice and conditioning kind of takes care of itself.
 
The offense is also practicing in 11 man units. I've never seen this before. I know the practices are "closed", but if you go there there, you can watch.

I'm pretty excited about this season. I'm not sure the pace of practice will translate into the pace of the game, but I agree with the comment about a faster pace = more reps.
 
I'm sure Iowa's offense practiced the nohuddle last season because they effectively used it against the University of Pittsburgh. The problem was they didn't use the nohuddle much after the Pittsburgh game.
 

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