Iowa second youngest team in Big Ten.

[Fryowa]

We were hoping that our program would get away from using the ball control offense all the time. It's good to have options especially when your defense isn't getting the job done.

Can’t have it both ways, though. That’s called being Clemson.

Whether we like it or not, and whether we like KF and BF or not, we don’t get teams that give us the luxury of being that adaptable.

Nebraska is a perfect example. They aren’t a running game powerhouse anymore, so they’ve tried to mix things up by air raiding it and getting QBs who think they can run in the Big Ten. Which is fine if your as deep as Alabama or Georgia or whoever, or have a team/staff that’s good enough to play different styles of ball...but we don’t, and as far as Nebraska they’re paying the price for being so schizophrenic.

The reason we’ve had the amount of success that we have is because we don’t try to do 10 things pretty well, we do 2 things really, really well—stifling, frustrating defense, and slow, clock-draining offense.

 

[Knight78]

Glen Mason used to say the same stuff. A local columnist dubbed them "the perpetually young Gophers". Must be in the water there.

Well, they are young........ when compared to the other football team in Minneapolis (the Vikings).

 

[MoseSchrute]

Well, I seen on a interview kf said bf isn't arguing with him as much anymore. He said so that's good.
Read into that however you want.
Then he joked, of course he isn't talking to me as much either.
To me it seems that with the coaches all talking and visiting other programs from sec schools to the Patriots, they have a vision and are working towards it.
We should see results pretty soon, I agree.

What SEC schools did they visit?

I still get a chuckle that people still don't understand the concept of ball control offense 20 years into it.

I understand it and even think it's a good strategy against some of the teams we have to play. I just wish we were better and more efficient at it. Need to increase those ypc numbers.

 

[PCHawk]

I just wish they would play the slow, kill the clock game against the really good teams, then pick up the pace and take more risks against the bad teams to maximize their opportunities to blow them out.

 

[Hawk90]

I can't agree more on the Penn State game. I re-watched it earlier this week and boy did Stanley miss a lot of opportunities early which could have put the game out of hand very fast.

My main gripe against BF is not being creative enough on a consistent basis to get his play makers the ball. Some games he has done an outstanding job and kept the defense guessing but there are other games when it isn't going your way (which happens) he has shown the inability to think outside the box and get the ball to the play makers when he needs to.

An example is last years bowl game. Besides a few big plays the offense was stagnant. When he did get the ball to Hockenson he showed why he was the best TE in college. Why could he have not adjusted the scheme to do that earlier? Why could he not think outside the box and see Fant as not just merely a TE but a big receiver in some formations and had them on the field at the same time. The OC needs to be able to get all of his best players on the field at one time consistently and that is where he needs improvement.

I also feel that his creativity in the running game has been poor. I don't think there is enough variety in the scheme so it makes it easier for the defense. What I mean by that is there is a lack of misdirection, draw plays, pitch outs, quick pitches with OL pulling etc. You have the inside zone and outside zone or stretch play run most of the time.

For the most part out fundamentals are very good at all positions so when you have guys running great routes and blocking well and then break tendencies it becomes very difficult for the defenses. When you are predictable and the defense can stack the box or consistently guess your play options our advantages in technique and fundamentals is neutralized to an extent.

Do you think it was a conscience effort to keep Watley (Sp?) from being used more as a playmaker? For example using him more in the slot, getting him in space. I do, I felt like they had "the guy" and didn't want to change their offense around him. Instead, it was the whole "plug and play" next man in attitude. In my mind he was a superstar at the college level, they just didn't use him to the team's full advantage.

 

[CP87]

I just wish they would play the slow, kill the clock game against the really good teams, then pick up the pace and take more risks against the bad teams to maximize their opportunities to blow them out.

They kind of did last year, starting with UNI (see blowouts of Minn, Ind, Ill; Maryland to an extent, but the weather made that an unusual game)

 

[uihawk82]

I can no longer understand the Brian hate, other than the nepotism charge, I can't see that he made the bone-headed calls last year relative to the previous year.. I get that the offense is ranked in the 90s'. But to me that is more KF than BF. Stanley lost that Penn St. game, BF called a great game, same with Wisconsin and NW. Short of KF turning the offense loose, and changing their entire scheme of; keep it close, make no mistakes and win at the end philosophy. Brian is doing a good job at least better than Davis and Ken O'Keefe did anyway.

Brian did above avg last year but I thought he had a major setback against NW with his short passing plays and running into a loaded box. The offense scored almost enough against psu, purdue, and wisky to win but some bounces and big plays didnt go the hawk's way.

NW was a stinker offensive game plan.

 

[uihawk82]

I also feel that his creativity in the running game has been poor. I don't think there is enough variety in the scheme so it makes it easier for the defense. What I mean by that is there is a lack of misdirection, draw plays, pitch outs, quick pitches with OL pulling etc. You have the inside zone and outside zone or stretch play run most of the time.

This ^^ is so true and I have posted many times over the years about getting all those types of plays ready to be used to flummox the defenses. At least in the last couple of years BF is using that 270 degree turn by the QB to fake a handoff to the deep back and hand it to the big fullback for a good 2 yards on a key play where 1 yard is needed.

 

[Northside Hawk]

I totally agree and that applies to the Hawkeyes also in both of the major sports.

I’ve suffered through many of DECADES as a cub fan with the “wait for next year” syndrome. Glad to see the curse finally gone. Has Iowa City had a goat on the field? DAMN that ball just lying there on our player’s back against MSU in 2015. What a freak ass play. Maybe a goat curse??

It was actually lying on the back of a Sparty wasn't it?

Curses in sports, of course, don't exist. But Iowa basketball has come pretty close. From Connie Hawkins to Pembroke Burrows to Lester, Thompson, Street, all the way to the present, there seems to be a lingering resonance of...something.

 

[PCHawk]

They kind of did last year, starting with UNI (see blowouts of Minn, Ind, Ill; Maryland to an extent, but the weather made that an unusual game)

Good point. It seems like most of the things I've always hated about Kirk's coaching has improved over the last few years. That being one of them.

 

[Denverhawk1]

He's the college football version of the Sham-Wow guy.

That’s a fucking great comparison right there.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

I totally agree and that applies to the Hawkeyes also in both of the major sports.

I’ve suffered through many of DECADES as a cub fan with the “wait for next year” syndrome. Glad to see the curse finally gone. Has Iowa City had a goat on the field? DAMN that ball just lying there on our player’s back against MSU in 2015. What a freak ass play. Maybe a goat curse??

Unbelievably heart-breaking.

Then, there's Jewell getting literally tackled by an offensive lineman on the winning TD...

 

[Northside Hawk]

Unbelievably heart-breaking.

Then, there's Jewell getting literally tackled by an offensive lineman on the winning TD...

The interception itself could easily have been a targeting call. Kittle got laid out.

And the grab on Vandeberg, while flagged, probably prevented another long TD pass.

Bottom line however, we had about 867 chances to get them off the field that last drive and couldn't do it.

It's up there with 1987 UNLV as the two most heartbreaking losses in my 40 plus years of watching Iowa sports.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

The interception itself could easily have been a targeting call. Kittle got laid out.

And the grab on Vandeberg, while flagged, probably prevented another long TD pass.

Bottom line however, we had about 867 chances to get them off the field that last drive and couldn't do it.

It's up there with 1987 UNLV as the two most heartbreaking losses in my 40 plus years of watching Iowa sports.

Even if I take my Hawkeye glasses off, by the letter of the rule, that absolutely was targeting.

You have to give MSU credit on that last drive. They converted a couple of 4th downs and ground it out, but, still probably wouldn't have scored on the last play if Jewell had not been blatantly tackled at the snap.

That UNLV game still gives me nausea.

 

[guffus]

How was this calculated? It does not look like they take into account if a player has redshirted. So a true freshman counts the same as a redshirt freshman even though the redshirt is 1 year older.

 

[Jonrn]

So PJ Fleck can’t use the “youngest team in the nation” excuse 3,924 times this year for why his team sucks dogshit?

I’m guessing since annexstad got hurt this is year 0.75 at Minnesota

 

[BigD]

Pops has given Brian the keys to the car but still has the speed maxed at 10 mph.

Lol!

 

[BigD]

I still get a chuckle that people still don't understand the concept of ball control offense 20 years into it. Of course Iowa is going to "rely" on their defense, that is LITERALLY the concept of football our program runs.

I still get a chuckle that the Iowa coaches and some of their supporters still don’t understand the concept of ball control offense 20 years into it. Two yard run, three yard run, two yard pass, PUNT!

When an offensive ratings of eightieth something is one of your best ratings, then something is serious wrong with an offensive philosophy. Make all the excuses you want but that is NOT ball control. TWO NFL tight ends should have been enough for any coach to nickel and dime an offense all the way down the field and into the end zone. End zone? What the hell is that???

I am seriously hoping that Brian can change that trend this year and bring all of his college and NFL experience to fruition. I sincerely wish the him and all our coaches the best because that means we as fans are going to have a fun and exciting year of Iowa football.

Let’s not consider Barta contract controlling football, football. If our defense sucked as bad as our offense has the last several years we would all be saying HELLO to Illinois in the basement of the B1G. Thank God Parker at least gets it.

I know I exaggerate a little but my point is that if our offense would keep pace with our defense then we could be a top 15 program every season, which would be awesome and a tremendous improvement.