If he hadn't shown major improvement lately, I'd be starting my own thread on it probably. But since he has, I'll chalk it up to a brain fart that serves as a reminder to pay attention to the clock.
IowaLaw's Post Game Report: Rutgers
- Thread starter IowaLawWasRight
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If he hadn't shown major improvement lately, I'd be starting my own thread on it probably. But since he has, I'll chalk it up to a brain fart that serves as a reminder to pay attention to the clock.
To Ragaini's performance, it wasn't good, but he was put in a really tough spot by that punter.
The first PR was low and he was probably right to field it at the 8. Maybe it would have gone in the end-zone based upon its trajectory, but you never know, and it seemed like he was going to have room to do something with it. He just didn't make the first guy miss, and then he made the mistake of not going down and getting tackled easily. Had he gone right down, he would have had forward progress at the 8. Breaking the tackle, and then getting swarmed under at the 3 was just kind of bad luck.
I would have to see replays of the punts he failed to field. Some he probably could have gotten to, some were inside the 10 (you know, like the ones he got criticized for when he did field them), and some I think were just great directional kicks that he could not have done much with.
The fair catch on the 5 probably should have been let go, but there was not one but TWO defenders camped out behind him on the goal-line waiting to stop the ball at the 1.
All learning opportunities for a guy who was playing his second game as a collegiate punt returner (some of our great returners, like Hyde and King, were not necessarily flawless right from the start, either). What we do know is that he has great hands and is great at tracking the ball (Copeland raves about him in those regards). We also know that ISM is not great in those regards; for all of his wonderful attributes, he makes catching kickoffs an adventure at times, and that is a FAR easier task than catching a punt.
I wouldn't mind to see ISM back there, and we will under certain circumstances. But I wouldn't write Ragaini off, either. It seems to me that he has some promise as a returner.
The first PR was low and he was probably right to field it at the 8. Maybe it would have gone in the end-zone based upon its trajectory, but you never know, and it seemed like he was going to have room to do something with it. He just didn't make the first guy miss, and then he made the mistake of not going down and getting tackled easily. Had he gone right down, he would have had forward progress at the 8. Breaking the tackle, and then getting swarmed under at the 3 was just kind of bad luck.
I would have to see replays of the punts he failed to field. Some he probably could have gotten to, some were inside the 10 (you know, like the ones he got criticized for when he did field them), and some I think were just great directional kicks that he could not have done much with.
The fair catch on the 5 probably should have been let go, but there was not one but TWO defenders camped out behind him on the goal-line waiting to stop the ball at the 1.
All learning opportunities for a guy who was playing his second game as a collegiate punt returner (some of our great returners, like Hyde and King, were not necessarily flawless right from the start, either). What we do know is that he has great hands and is great at tracking the ball (Copeland raves about him in those regards). We also know that ISM is not great in those regards; for all of his wonderful attributes, he makes catching kickoffs an adventure at times, and that is a FAR easier task than catching a punt.
I wouldn't mind to see ISM back there, and we will under certain circumstances. But I wouldn't write Ragaini off, either. It seems to me that he has some promise as a returner.
IowaLawWasRight
Well-Known Member
Hawk90 & CP87 - let's get real here. Nico had a bad game at PR and cost us the kind of field position that would lose games against Michigan, Penn State, Wisc, etc. We got away with the inexcusable mental mistakes because we were playing a team that has won 2 games in the past 2 years. PR is a position of instinct. You either know how to anticipate the flight of the ball and can run up and catch punts, or you're timid and let punts roll. You either have the crazy fearlessness to return punts or you flinch and fair catch balls when there are no defenders around. Nico has had his shot and isn't ready for prime time. We've got 10+ WRs and 10+DBs on the roster...let's give someone else a shot.
Cincihawk - yes, Stanley's stats were unequivocally "mediocre," as stated in the OP, and the stats don't lie. The OP listed 4 Big 10 QBs that had better games than Stanley in just the 11:00 am games. Later in the day, Penn State's QB was 16-22 for 279 and 4 TDs; Wisconsin's was 26-33 for 363 and 3 TDs; MSU's was 23-32 for 314 and 3TDs; Nebraska's was 16-26 for 290 and rushed for 70; and even Minn's was 24-35 for 288 and 3 TDs. All 10 QBs listed had better completion percentages and threw for more yards. So yes, I was being generous by calling Stanley's 11th place performance mediocre. By millennial standards where everyone receives a participation trophy, I guess you could say he was outstanding.
BrianFerentz - Sorry for your namesake's clock management. When you call out someone as being "so frequently wrong," it's customary to back the statement up with an explanation. There were 7 points made in the OP, you believe 4 or 5 were "wrong?" Back that mindless statement up.
Estron - what kind of insecure little b%$# believes that a Hawk fan posting his views about a Hawk game on a Hawk message board requires being "high and mighty" and "qualified to post about Hawkeye sports." By definition, posting about Hawkeye sports is what this board is for. Only a pathetic little boy afraid of his own shadow builds up rage over logging onto a message board and discovering that someone had the audacity to post on it.
Cincihawk - yes, Stanley's stats were unequivocally "mediocre," as stated in the OP, and the stats don't lie. The OP listed 4 Big 10 QBs that had better games than Stanley in just the 11:00 am games. Later in the day, Penn State's QB was 16-22 for 279 and 4 TDs; Wisconsin's was 26-33 for 363 and 3 TDs; MSU's was 23-32 for 314 and 3TDs; Nebraska's was 16-26 for 290 and rushed for 70; and even Minn's was 24-35 for 288 and 3 TDs. All 10 QBs listed had better completion percentages and threw for more yards. So yes, I was being generous by calling Stanley's 11th place performance mediocre. By millennial standards where everyone receives a participation trophy, I guess you could say he was outstanding.
BrianFerentz - Sorry for your namesake's clock management. When you call out someone as being "so frequently wrong," it's customary to back the statement up with an explanation. There were 7 points made in the OP, you believe 4 or 5 were "wrong?" Back that mindless statement up.
Estron - what kind of insecure little b%$# believes that a Hawk fan posting his views about a Hawk game on a Hawk message board requires being "high and mighty" and "qualified to post about Hawkeye sports." By definition, posting about Hawkeye sports is what this board is for. Only a pathetic little boy afraid of his own shadow builds up rage over logging onto a message board and discovering that someone had the audacity to post on it.
kicker22
Well-Known Member
You really think Martinez had a better game than Stanley? I also find it humorous that you're comparing Stanley's productions to other programs that either needed big numbers or simply like running up the score on other teams. I'm by no means a Stanley homer as I've been very tough on him in the past, but seems like a certain poster is out to pad their own stats.
iloveyoularrystation
Well-Known Member
I disagree Ferentz is a borderline hall of fame coach. He is clearly in at this point.
Are you basing this on your extensive experience as an elite P5 punt returner. Micah Hyde struggled with judging balls when he first started, and he was a damn good returner. We have seen ISM struggle with decision-making at time with kick returns, which are exponentially easier than punt returns:
Don't worry ISM will get his shot at punt return this year in certain situations (maybe this coming week?), but I trust the coaches to know who is reliable back there. And Korsak was insane. What would you have done with this punt?
That is several hard rugby-punt steps to the right, and the ball was already right hash. Every returner in America is thinking, "This one is going to be pinned against the right (or left, from returner's perspective) sideline." Then dude kicks it across his body from the 20 yard-line, midway between right hash and numbers and sails it to the 17 (63 yards in the air, 53 from original LOS) on the OPPOSITE NUMBERS! Do you realize how insane that is?
homes
Well-Known Member
Of course, you'd have to actually have watched the game to make these astute observations as opposed to reading someone's interpretation of what happened in the game. I will say this, shame on Nico for not watching more Australian Rules Football to be on to this cross body punting technique.
JoeyLabasForPresident
Well-Known Member
Sorry, you totally ignored my response to your drivel last week, so I’m not going to put in the effort to respond to a silly troll any longer.
Actually, I don't think Kirk minds seeing any punt drop to the ground and die there, no matter where it is on the field. Lots of bad things happen when you try to field a punt. And good things, but so much risk...yikes...don't touch it. All right boys, lets go get them.
Lifetime achievement!
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
Well...Stanley did have 3 balls dropped and he threw two away on purpose. So...from an accuracy standpoint that would bring his numbers up right. Oh wait, Stanley doesn't get credit for all the "empty stats" like YAC that other QBs get. How come Brady gets credit for those yards? Did you watch New England's game against Pittsburgh...short throw after short throw...yet somehow, those "empty stats" count. Stanley has to play big in the big games...period...that's the one area he needs to deliver on. He did in the bowl game against MSU...he played well against a GREAT defense. Let's see if it carries over...just stop the disdain when it's not warranted. You sound like an idiot.
Stanley needs to perform and step it up in the big games this year, nothing else matters much.
This is his time.
Iowa returned 38% of their opponents' punts last year (as opposed to fair-catching or letting drop), the 14th highest percentage in the nation.
I think Kirk doesn't mind the punts hitting the ground with the play blown dead. It is a safe play.
So it was just some bizarre coincidence that they were near the top of college football last year in return %?
I provide evidence that Iowa returns a high % of punts, and you are just gonna stick with your theory, huh?
JoeyLabasForPresident
Well-Known Member
You break out more actual stats than any other poster here, and I appreciate it. It’s like your day job is analyzing the team at times.
