Now THIS is the offensive output most of us were hoping to see when Greg Davis was sacked. A 41-16 win when the experts in Vegas favored us by just 4 points. A lot to be optimistic about going into next week 5-1 and ranked for the first time in a year.
1. Stanley - what a game! Perhaps Iowa's most improved player from game 1 to game 6. 21/33 for 320 yards and 6 touchdowns. The tds and yardage should not be much of a surprise. However, his improved accuracy and elusiveness shredding tackles were a new wrinkle. With his size, I'd like to see what he could do on some QB draws. If Nate played like this against Wisconsin, we win by 17 points. With all that said, what the @$# was Nate doing still in the game in the last 1:00 of play, randying around chucking deep passes when up by 25 points? Setting aside the fact that he is one big hit away from an injury, that was some Urban Meyer kind or sportsmanship. Also, from a team first perspective, it would have been a great chance to give our backups some much needed game reps. Would be nice if our cupcake media asked this question.
2. TEs - let the debate rage on as to who our best tight end is. Both had 4 catches, TJ for 106 yards and 2 TDs and Fant for 101 and 1 TD. Both had a few drops. TJs pancake block was one for the highlight reel, and Fant extended his touchdown record at Iowa. From what I've seen of both players, my vote goes to TJ. He's got better hands and is the superior blocker. Fant would be our top WR if he split out wide.
3. Which Amani Jones Is It Going to Be - Jones came into the season with the most LB hype from the coaches. He was unceremoniously benched in the first quarter of game 1. Too soon to pull the plug on a guy, one might think? Last week, he was thrust into action due to injury and had 9 tackles in the 2nd half alone, including the biggest hit of the year. So how does he follow up that performance? By being sent back in Kirk's dog house. He only playing a hand full of minutes after serving a 1st half suspension. Not really fair that he's given such a short leash considering coach's pet Bo Bower was allowed to play every down of every game for 3 years, regardless of numerous mistakes. Jones showed last week that he's one of our top 3 LBs, especially with all the injuries.
4. Hesse/Epenesa Debate - Many want to see more playing time for Epenesa. I'm not sure I agree. Hesse was dominant today, with 6 tackles. He doesn't have the flashy sack totals of Epenesa, but he is a tough run stuffer. AJ had just 1 tackle, but it was a bull rush sack that will add to his NFL draft highlight reel. These are complimentary DEs and it's fantastic that Iowa has the luxury of having 3 Big 10 caliber DEs at the same time.
5. Ferentz Play Calling - For the first time this season, I was really happy with the play calling. We threw to set up the run rather than the other way around. There was no running up the middle into 8 men in the box today. The passing game opened up line and allowed Young and Sergent to average 5.5 yards per carry. The more we pass, the better our chances of success. With that said, clock management at the enf of the 1st half was atrocious. We had the ball at mid-field with 40 seconds left and a solid kicker. We run a screen pass for a loss of 1 and burn 30 seconds off the clock. We then gain 10 yards, but there's no time left to do anything.
6. Special Teams Coach Needs to Go - LeVar Woods has been the weak link on the staff for years. He's usually assigned to coach the positions no one else wanted (i.e. co-LB coach one year, TE coach one year, and now special teams). Under Woods, we have seen glaring mental/coaching mistakes on special teams that are unthinkable on other teams. Groenenwig's fair catch on the 3 yard line and the punt bouncing off a blocker already cost us 1 game. Today, Smith Marsette curiously returned a ball from the 1 yard line despite there being a defender on the 3 yardline. Clearly, he did not know that he could fair catch it. Then Groeneweg ran a ball out of the endzone with a defender at the 3 yard line. He got drilled at the 11 yard line, putting us in unacceptably awful field position when he could have simply called a fair catch. The refs bailed us out by flagging Indiana on the play. C'mon, Woods. You are being paid a doctor's salary...do your job or let someone else take it.
7. Talented Defensive Newcomers - How about Geno Stone and Riley Moss stepping in and showing that they belong out there! Combined, they had 11 tackles and an interception, and helped our defense bend but not break. Iowa is deeper at DB than it has been in a decade. Ojemudi-who? He's back to being healthy but I didn't see him out there. May have been passed up?
