IowaLaw's 1st Quarter Report Card

[uihawk82]

It's Things are different...even if you don't notice it.

I agree to a point but I am still waiting for BF to show more novelty counter play action of sorts. Besides Nate missing Hockenson on that throw in the 4th we ran pretty much basic plays.

Have we ever faked a screen pass one direction and then thrown a screen back to a fullback or TE on the other side. Why can we have IKM and Sargent both in the backfield on first and second down with 2 TEs looking like a running play and then both backs, who are split behind Nate, just run toward the sideline. If a blitz comes you throw it the wide open back on the blitz side. If they dont blitz you should have time

Or you run a fake to one back and and give it to the other going a different direction. I am back to saying we need some or more counter play action. The Jet sweep is a start as it worked 2 out of 3 times.

What was Wisky's last TD, a beautiful counter play to I think a TE lined up in an H-back blocking formation. A good play to pull out of the hat when you need or want it.

 

[Ree4]

Against Wisconsin...we had guys open all night. Doesn't that credit go to Brian Ferentz? He can't throw the ball for Stanley in the fourth quarter you know. Stanley missed open guys that were schemed open. What more do you want him to do? People have complained for years about our guys don't get open. Was Fant open on his two TDs? Yes...and they were well designed and executed plays. Things are different...even if you don't notice it.

Some people have no idea what a football scheme is. They simply think that if a play doesn't work that the scheme was wrong. There are more variables than just a scheme to whether a specific play works or not. Sadly these people seem to congregate specifically on this board =/

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

The offensive line has done a good job so far. They have given up very few sacks. And this is after playing the best team Iowa will face other than Penn State this year.

 

[Xerxes]

It's kind of tough to take the first three games and rate by offensive production based on those game plans. Iowa has historically kept it close to the vest in these games...in particular NIU and UNI. If you don't think we could have thrown the ball around in the second half against NIU and UNI...you would be wrong. We did what we always do...we work on running the ball almost exclusively.

I would say for the first three games...the record is the most important. I think a valid assessment of the offense will be how they perform in B10 play because a much larger segment of the playbook is in play. So far...there is nothing wrong offensively, other than red zone production on two drives. You can point to the QB sneak if you want...and we had 600 pounds that was attempting to double the nose...and Stanley is 240. I would have rather seen something different too...but you can hardly fault a coordinator for trusting two Sr. linemen and a large QB to get the job done. Credit goes to Wisconsin.

Against Wisconsin...we had guys open all night. Doesn't that credit go to Brian Ferentz? He can't throw the ball for Stanley in the fourth quarter you know. Stanley missed open guys that were schemed open. What more do you want him to do? People have complained for years about our guys don't get open. Was Fant open on his two TDs? Yes...and they were well designed and executed plays. Things are different...even if you don't notice it.

Yep Iowa did have open WRs all night. That part of the matchup was clearly in favor of Iowa.

I will give Iowa’s offense credit there. Against the best D they’ve played all year, they played their best game. Unfortunately it only added up to 17 points and really that’s the only offensive stat that matters even though D & SP can heavily influence that number

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

Maybe Fran can coach the offense in football and Kirk can coach the defense in basketball.

this wins HN for the day.

 

[Seth53]

OP...thanks for your write-ups. Always look forward to your analysis.

 

[GotTimDodge]

What grade does everyone give #11?

 

[guffus]

My first observation is there are 12 games in the regular season so after 4 games this should not be the 1st Qtr report but the 1st Third report.

If you did a 1st Qtr report after the first 3 games I think a 3-0 record and a bit of shaky offense with great defense would have given a B+ overall grade.

Maybe he is assuming Iowa goes to the Big Ten CCG, then the playoffs and NCG, in which case Iowa will play 15 games total.

 

[DDThompson]

What grade does everyone give #11?

Total Defense = D-

Rush support = B-

Pass defense = C

 

[guffus]

What grade does everyone give #11?

#11 CONNOR KAPISAK? Oh, wait, you must mean Micheal Ojemudia.

Consensus seems to be he is good in run coverage but not the best cover corner Iowa has seen. With all the young talent at DB, you got to wonder if Ojemudia's starting job will be challenged in the coming weeks. Rugamba and Synder seemed to see the writing on the wall, knew their playing time was going down, and got out of town.

I think Ojemudia is a mechanical engineering major so if he does get demoted, he might stick around to finish his degree. Of course I am getting ahead of myself, nobody has been demoted. . yet

 

[uihawk82]

What grade does everyone give #11?

I dont try to go negative on individual players but I have already started a thread on my concern with the corners. Maybe Ojemudia was too concerned with run support when he got turned and lost his man. But on the third and 10 after the punt kick fumble by Iowa that is a pass play all the way and he should have full concentration on his guy. He really lost track of his guy. He has to keep his eyes on the guy he is guarding, match his hip movements to the receiver (because you cant run in a different direction than what the hips are pointing, thanks to the great Drake basketball player for telling us that), and lock down that receiver.

 

[bitmap]

Special Teams grade?

I go w/ a "C" here. Before Saturday's game I was in the B+ column but the two turnovers on punting dropped it overall by a grade point. The B+ I was leaning to is because Recinos has missed some very makable field goals. The fact that there haven't been any big returns against the hawks is very encouraging. Kickoff and punt coverage has been acceptable to very good. Punting has been very good. Kickoff returns good. Punt returns good until the fumble. That was a real momentum breaker for sure.

 

[Northside Hawk]

#11 CONNOR KAPISAK? Oh, wait, you must mean Micheal Ojemudia.

Consensus seems to be he is good in run coverage but not the best cover corner Iowa has seen. With all the young talent at DB, you got to wonder if Ojemudia's starting job will be challenged in the coming weeks. Rugamba and Synder seemed to see the writing on the wall, knew their playing time was going down, and got out of town.

I think Ojemudia is a mechanical engineering major so if he does get demoted, he might stick around to finish his degree. Of course I am getting ahead of myself, nobody has been demoted. . yet

I watch some of the replay Thursday night after seeing the game live last weekend.

Now I know that in cover two the DB knows he has deep help from the safety but damn...

...Hooker saved Ojemudia's bacon at least twice in that game.

As for the final TD that another poster brought up. We ran a lot of counter, and with success, in 2015.
Waldey's big day against jNW, Canzeri against Illinois and Nebraska, Daniels big run to seal the Minnesota game. All counter action. We just haven't run as much of it since.

 

[uihawk82]

I watch some of the replay Thursday night after seeing the game live last weekend.

Now I know that in cover two the DB knows he has deep help from the safety but damn...

...Hooker saved Ojemudia's bacon at least twice in that game.

As for the final TD that another poster brought up. We ran a lot of counter, and with success, in 2015.
Waldey's big day against jNW, Canzeri against Illinois and Nebraska, Daniels big run to seal the Minnesota game. All counter action. We just haven't run as much of it since.

But most of our counter plays still go the the main I back - running back. Wisky's counter play was the Hback coming across the formation against the motion to the offense, a total deceptive counter play.

I wonder if Fant or Hockensen could run pretty well in that play, I think they could.

 

[Northside Hawk]

The coaching errors in the Wisconsin game were obvious, and bitterly disappointing. Father and Son don't seem to be able to keep their heads when the "bullets are flying."

One of the most disappointing losses ever at Kinnick.

Theres no game this week so I can pick on Beyer some more.

I closely watched the replay. This is the most bonehead play I've seen an Iowa player make since at the 1988 Peach Bowl when Chet Davis got indecisive on whether to bring the opening kickoff out of the endzone and ended up fumbling it away at the three yard line.

This makes Jonathon Parker in the Tax Slayer Bowl look like child's play.

Groneweg and Gervase are both frantically waving Iowa players away from the ball the moment it hits the ground.

Amani Hooker runs immediately as far away from it as he can. He ends up out bounds near the pylon.

Beyer is barely crossing the 30 when the ball hits and is running towards it! He can see the goddamn thing is on the ground. He continues running towards it, not backing into it, for fifteen yards. He can see neither Nate more anyone else is making any attempt to return it. There is no reason to try and block. There is no reason to do anything other than what Hooker did-get the hell away from it. You know, like a seventh grader would.

Wisconsin's players did the smart thing by not downing it right away, so you know they saw something in the films that indicated we have come close to doing this before and may come close to doing it again. Gift touchdown, ballgame.

It is been mentioned for a week. This is a boneheaded play or boneheaded coaching. It's right up there with Leon Lett on Thanksgiving many years ago. The professional equivalent for me would be to drive a hazmat loaded vehicle across the warehouse floor of one of my accounts and crash it into their propane tanks. How much longer do you think I would have a job with that company, let alone how much longer that company would be our customer?

 

[uihawk82]

Theres no game this week so I can pick on Beyer some more.

?

And didnt you see another hawk get close to the ball just before Beyer came within about 5 yards of the ball? I remember most hawks staying away then this other hawk jumps in close to the ball but dances away then Beyer comes in.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

Theres no game this week so I can pick on Beyer some more.

I closely watched the replay. This is the most bonehead play I've seen an Iowa player make since at the 1988 Peach Bowl when Chet Davis got indecisive on whether to bring the opening kickoff out of the endzone and ended up fumbling it away at the three yard line.

This makes Jonathon Parker in the Tax Slayer Bowl look like child's play.

Groneweg and Gervase are both frantically waving Iowa players away from the ball the moment it hits the ground.

Amani Hooker runs immediately as far away from it as he can. He ends up out bounds near the pylon.

Beyer is barely crossing the 30 when the ball hits and is running towards it! He can see the goddamn thing is on the ground. He continues running towards it, not backing into it, for fifteen yards. He can see neither Nate more anyone else is making any attempt to return it. There is no reason to try and block. There is no reason to do anything other than what Hooker did-get the hell away from it. You know, like a seventh grader would.

Wisconsin's players did the smart thing by not downing it right away, so you know they saw something in the films that indicated we have come close to doing this before and may come close to doing it again. Gift touchdown, ballgame.

It is been mentioned for a week. This is a boneheaded play or boneheaded coaching. It's right up there with Leon Lett on Thanksgiving many years ago. The professional equivalent for me would be to drive a hazmat loaded vehicle across the warehouse floor of one of my accounts and crash it into their propane tanks. How much longer do you think I would have a job with that company, let alone how much longer that company would be our customer?

Two thoughts:
1) It's over. let it go. Or...
2) Take a visit to IC and tell him personally. I'm sure he eagerly awaits fan input.

 

[Northside Hawk]

And didnt you see another hawk get close to the ball just before Beyer came within about 5 yards of the ball? I remember most hawks staying away then this other hawk jumps in close to the ball but dances away then Beyer comes in.

It's Groneweg and Gervase, who then frantically get away from it.

The only other Hawkeye in the picture, besides Hooker, is Geno Stone, who is about ten yards behind Beyer and frantically tries to recover it after seeing Beyer kick it.

 

[Northside Hawk]

Two thoughts:
1) It's over. let it go. Or...
2) Take a visit to IC and tell him personally. I'm sure he eagerly awaits fan input.

Two thoughts:
1) It's over. let it go. Or...
2) Take a visit to IC and tell him personally. I'm sure he eagerly awaits fan input.

I am letting it go. I'm opening up a bottle of Crown Royal and watching the Steve Bartman replay over and over.

Nah, just kiddin'. I don't drink whiskey. And I don't blame Bartman. Turn the page, onward and upward. I have things to do. I have a back yard, and dogs, if you know what I mean

 

[hawkeyebob62]

I am letting it go. I'm opening up a bottle of Crown Royal and watching the Steve Bartman replay over and over.

Nah, just kiddin'. I don't drink whiskey. And I don't blame Bartman. Turn the page, onward and upward. I have things to do. I have a back yard, and dogs, if you know what I mean

I just think the kid is probably still agonizing over it, and my do it for a long time, especially if the Hawks don't put the whole crappy loss behind them.