IowaLawWasRight
Well-Known Member
You can't ask for more than a dominating shut-out win on a crisp Homecoming afternoon. We played like the double digit favorite we were without looking past our opponent for next week's showdown against Penn State. A win next week, and this team can legitimately start talking about the Big 10 championships and a shot at the playoffs!
1. Stanley - Just when he seems to have turned a corner after a rough start to the season, he comes out and lays an egg. 11 of 22 for 86 yards and 1 head scratching interception. It was windy, so it makes sense that the majority of throws were thrown at or behind the line of scrimmage. But even those gimme tosses were mostly thrown behind the intended receiver. By comparison, mediocre Alex Hornibrook was 13 of 22 for 188 yrds in a snow storm in Wisc today. Kudos to Brian F for getting my memo and allowing the backup QBs some work in a blow out.
2. RB Play - The Hawks had 52 carries today in a run-first game. I was hoping to see someone come away with a 100 yard performance. Kelly-Martin nearly made it with 24 carries for 98 yrds. Sargent added 54 more, gaining 5.4 yrds per carry. Given Smith-Marsette's skill set and lack of targets in the receiving game, it would make sense to put the ball in his hands more in the run game. He had 1 carry for 16 yrds today and should be able to run that same play 2-3 times per game.
3. WR No-Shows - We threw the ball 24 times, but Smith and Smith-Marsette combined for just 2 catches. If these guys can make circus 1 handed grabs, surely they are capable of catching 5-10 ordinary passes per game as well? It all starts with running good routes and getting open.
4. Consistent TE Play - Our TEs combined for 6 catches, and played another solid game. While it's a treat having a unique threat like Fant on the team, he had another game where he had as many catches (3) as drops (3). It's time for him to quit randying around and just play the game. Stop worrying about NFL dollars and catching more touchdowns, and play like a blue collar Iowa TE. Do that, and the rest will come.
5. DL Dominance - Maryland had just 3 series in the entire first half! How does that happen? Hesse and Epenesa subbed in and out and combined for 8 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. Goldston had a big game, with 3 tackles and a TFL. Maryland came in as one of the top 20 rushing attacks in the country, but managed just 68 rushing yards and 47 passing yards. There is so much depth on this DL that every week another guy steps up.
6. Recinos - Our kicker has had a quiet year, for the most part. This week, despite the strong wind, he stepped up and hit 3 of 3 field goals when the game was still very much in doubt. Kudos to the kicking game.
7. Moss - How about my boy Riley Moss. The tv announcers referred to him as a walk-on, but I believe he was a greyshirt who picked up one of our last scholarships instead of playing DII football last year. He stepped up yet again today, with 3 tackles and 2 pass breakups. Who would have guessed Moss would have started the majority of games at CB last summer when we seemingly had more cb depth than any other position?
1. Stanley - Just when he seems to have turned a corner after a rough start to the season, he comes out and lays an egg. 11 of 22 for 86 yards and 1 head scratching interception. It was windy, so it makes sense that the majority of throws were thrown at or behind the line of scrimmage. But even those gimme tosses were mostly thrown behind the intended receiver. By comparison, mediocre Alex Hornibrook was 13 of 22 for 188 yrds in a snow storm in Wisc today. Kudos to Brian F for getting my memo and allowing the backup QBs some work in a blow out.
2. RB Play - The Hawks had 52 carries today in a run-first game. I was hoping to see someone come away with a 100 yard performance. Kelly-Martin nearly made it with 24 carries for 98 yrds. Sargent added 54 more, gaining 5.4 yrds per carry. Given Smith-Marsette's skill set and lack of targets in the receiving game, it would make sense to put the ball in his hands more in the run game. He had 1 carry for 16 yrds today and should be able to run that same play 2-3 times per game.
3. WR No-Shows - We threw the ball 24 times, but Smith and Smith-Marsette combined for just 2 catches. If these guys can make circus 1 handed grabs, surely they are capable of catching 5-10 ordinary passes per game as well? It all starts with running good routes and getting open.
4. Consistent TE Play - Our TEs combined for 6 catches, and played another solid game. While it's a treat having a unique threat like Fant on the team, he had another game where he had as many catches (3) as drops (3). It's time for him to quit randying around and just play the game. Stop worrying about NFL dollars and catching more touchdowns, and play like a blue collar Iowa TE. Do that, and the rest will come.
5. DL Dominance - Maryland had just 3 series in the entire first half! How does that happen? Hesse and Epenesa subbed in and out and combined for 8 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. Goldston had a big game, with 3 tackles and a TFL. Maryland came in as one of the top 20 rushing attacks in the country, but managed just 68 rushing yards and 47 passing yards. There is so much depth on this DL that every week another guy steps up.
6. Recinos - Our kicker has had a quiet year, for the most part. This week, despite the strong wind, he stepped up and hit 3 of 3 field goals when the game was still very much in doubt. Kudos to the kicking game.
7. Moss - How about my boy Riley Moss. The tv announcers referred to him as a walk-on, but I believe he was a greyshirt who picked up one of our last scholarships instead of playing DII football last year. He stepped up yet again today, with 3 tackles and 2 pass breakups. Who would have guessed Moss would have started the majority of games at CB last summer when we seemingly had more cb depth than any other position?
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