Iowa's Complementary Football Plan Hasn't Come Together

RobHowe

RobHowe

Administrator
Iowa's system is based on complementary football. What does that mean? The Hawkeyes explain and say it must get better to turn their fortunes around:

LINK
 
Rob, in how many years does that really work for Iowa. One phase of the game is in most years severely handicapped. In most years that are successful, it seems that one or multiple areas needs to over achieve to overcome the area not doing their job right. This year, Jewell is a huge amount of glue. Iowa doesn't have as many glue guys this year to cover over the weaknesses...at least not yet. All three wins this year so far may prove to not be very good wins.
 
Jewell: "Then its on the punt game to pin them back in their area then play good defense off of that and then give the offense the ball near the 50."

Assuming the other team's punt gets a net 30 yards, all the D has to do is force them to punt from their 20 to make that work. No pressure!
 
HawkGold said:
Rob, in how many years does that really work for Iowa. One phase of the game is in most years severely handicapped. In most years that are successful, it seems that one or multiple areas needs to over achieve to overcome the area not doing their job right. This year, Jewell is a huge amount of glue. Iowa doesn't have as many glue guys this year to cover over the weaknesses...at least not yet. All three wins this year so far may prove to not be very good wins.
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I think the idea is to pull it all together as the season advances. Some years that happens quicker than others. Some years they can get away with it happening more slowly. They didn't get away with against the last two opponents. If they opened up against Rutgers and Illinois, like Nebraska, maybe they would have. A lot of variables.
 
RobHowe said:
I think the idea is to pull it all together as the season advances. Some years that happens quicker than others. Some years they can get away with it happening more slowly. They didn't get away with against the last two opponents. If they opened up against Rutgers and Illinois, like Nebraska, maybe they would have. A lot of variables.
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Football is like life. Doesn't oft go as planned. I don't think there is a better coach at dealing with high levels of adversity. He does get his share which is something I don't understand. I'm guessing some of it is because Iowa isn't as deep as some programs that are near Iowa on results or better. Just guessing though.
 
With only 12 games, there's not a lot of pulling together time, particularly if the goal is to play for a BT title. I get it that improvement doesn't happen in a vacuum, there is that annoying nuisance of the opponent each week who has designs on thwarting their improvement, but still, it needs to happen expeditiously. Finally hitting on all cylinders in week 10, while that may give some measure of satisfaction to those monitoring some improvement progression chart, the general fan base doesn't have that level of patience, or interest, in incremental improvement - they (we) would simply like to see more wins from the jump.
 
homes said:
With only 12 games, there's not a lot of pulling together time, particularly if the goal is to play for a BT title. I get it that improvement doesn't happen in a vacuum, there is that annoying nuisance of the opponent each week who has designs on thwarting their improvement, but still, it needs to happen expeditiously. Finally hitting on all cylinders in week 10, while that may give some measure of satisfaction to those monitoring some improvement progression chart, the general fan base doesn't have that level of patience, or interest, in incremental improvement - they (we) would simply like to see more wins from the jump.
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This approach was sufficient before divisions and playoffs and when getting to a bowl was the gauge. That has all changed. Teams that want to win a B1G division, make it to the B1G game and (potentially) the Playoff, need to hit the ground running and have all tweaks and adjustments done by game one of B1G conference season.

Football has always been all 3 phases (at least in modern era) and Iowa fans know that, perhaps, better than most fans. The underlying factor that supports all 3 phases is coaching, game plans, personnel decisions and philosophies.
 
They just need to execute the game plan and do what they are doing but just more of it and things will work out. I have faith.
 
Someone needs to let Brian in on that secret!

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I know a lot of people don't want to hear this, but the primary goal is to play in the post-season. Iowa is still on track for that goal if they defeat Illinois. 4-2 at the break is acceptable, with a close win over Iowa State and a very close loss against Penn State. Many people had Iowa losing both of those games, as well as losing to Wyoming.
 
And we lose all three starting LBs next year, so that'll be the next excuse as to why the defense can't stop anyone....assuming the offense can actually score next year with an experienced QB, WR, OL, and RBs

I have my doubts since we couldn't score points with a QB who was drafted in the 3rd round (and will probably start for the 49ers before year is over).

We have multiple problems. First at the top KF doesn't aspire for championships publicly. I'm sure the goal is to win every game and that'll take care of itself, but Iowa has never looked or sounded confident since Norm left.

We are developmental program. That's how we practice. We don't scheme towards an opponent, instead we scheme to what Iowa does. Our opponent could rank dead last in the nation for pass defense, and we'll come out and run stretch to the left, stretch to the right, 5 yard swing pass on 3rd down. I cannot remember who stated it, but they said Iowa always practices the fundamentals throughout the year, and that's why their technique stays strong as the season goes on. But it means Iowa doesn't focus as much on gameplan

Now that we are split into divisions, the goal every year should be to win the West, and see what happens in the championship game. That goal is pretty much dead and we're only two weeks in. We can whine about WI having an easy schedule year in and year out, but they take care of their business.

Iowa needs to focus less on doing things the Iowa way, and just find ANY way to win
 
DBAHawkFan said:
And we lose all three starting LBs next year, so that'll be the next excuse as to why the defense can't stop anyone....assuming the offense can actually score next year with an experienced QB, WR, OL, and RBs

I have my doubts since we couldn't score points with a QB who was drafted in the 3rd round (and will probably start for the 49ers before year is over).

We have multiple problems. First at the top KF doesn't aspire for championships publicly. I'm sure the goal is to win every game and that'll take care of itself, but Iowa has never looked or sounded confident since Norm left.

We are developmental program. That's how we practice. We don't scheme towards an opponent, instead we scheme to what Iowa does. Our opponent could rank dead last in the nation for pass defense, and we'll come out and run stretch to the left, stretch to the right, 5 yard swing pass on 3rd down. I cannot remember who stated it, but they said Iowa always practices the fundamentals throughout the year, and that's why their technique stays strong as the season goes on. But it means Iowa doesn't focus as much on gameplan

Now that we are split into divisions, the goal every year should be to win the West, and see what happens in the championship game. That goal is pretty much dead and we're only two weeks in. We can whine about WI having an easy schedule year in and year out, but they take care of their business.

Iowa needs to focus less on doing things the Iowa way, and just find ANY way to win
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Let me condense the previous post into what I agree with the most: Finding a way to win IS NOT the Iowa way under KF but teaching KF's fundamentals is.
 
First Down Production as well as eliminating so many plays for lost yardage.
Time of Possesion
Field Position

3 areas that have been bad and need to get fixed.
 
yeah, i could work to just limit myself. But i know the best words

and you summed it up nicely. The KF way is the only way
 
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