Is Brian Ferentz Getting the Job Done?

Another week and another abysmal performance by what was touted as one of the top OLs in the nation in the preseason. While our RBs aren't great, they are getting smothered quite often at or before the line of scrimmage. The guys up front simply aren't blocking. While I know Brian Ferentz is untouchable among hawk fans, it's time to call a spade a spade. Hell, I have even watched Scherff whiff and give up a sack this week against a guy who was likely an unrecruited 2 star at ISU. What gives?
I think Jon Miller said or Steve (can't remember which one) said it best when they said that the Iowa offense is operating in a phone booth. It doesn't matter how good the line is, when you can put a bunch of defenders up at the line of scrimmage with 0 fear of getting burnt deep. Also, when Jake would audible at the line of scrimmage, ISU absolutely knew we were running to the short side of the field and cheated that way. With all of those disadvantages, it's hard to be effective in the running game. With that said, we need a better running back than Bullock carrying the ball. He missed one HUGE hole, and I have always thought he has had suspect vision. Couple that with average speed, and no ability to break tackles, you have some issues at running back. He does a nice job blocking and catching the ball out of the backfield. There is a place for him, just not carrying the ball.......like ever.
 
Right now I think Phil Parker is the only member on the staff who is doing a good job. The defense is doing enough to win games but the offense as a whole isn't getting it done. That falls on every member of the staff on that side of the ball. I don't think I even have to get into special teams.
 
Right now I think Phil Parker is the only member on the staff who is doing a good job. The defense is doing enough to win games but the offense as a whole isn't getting it done. That falls on every member of the staff on that side of the ball. I don't think I even have to get into special teams.

You really think that Parker is getting the job done? Iowa had ZERO sacks and hardly any pressure on Richardson on Saturday. Parker isn't doing squat.
 
We whiffed on tackles last year so they gave those offers to more DBs. I don't know if BF is a good coach or not but it still irks me that in the middle of several mediocre seasons, KF hired his son over what had to be numerous people more qualified to coach the OL. (And no, I don't believe his varied but limited experience at NE was enough to qualify him for the job.) Some say BF has got KF to change things and modernize things. If so good for him. I just don't think a big time football program is something a head coach should be able to use to advance his own children. (And I believe that is true everywhere and even for those people who hire their fathers or brothers. To mention two other families with Iowa ties:) I just do not think it is professional.)
As for the Texans job, at the time I suspected if it was an actual job offer and not just a planted rumor, BF would take it so KF could hire a more experienced OL coach. Just wishful thinking on my part I guess.
 
You really think that Parker is getting the job done? Iowa had ZERO sacks and hardly any pressure on Richardson on Saturday. Parker isn't doing squat.
He also gave up 17 in a half to a team that hadn't scored in the 2nd half in the first 2 games. The worst part about all of this is we were out coached by CPR. How bad do you have to be to get out coached by that d-bag? I think KF should watch the film and be like, "yep that's it, I'm no longer capable of coaching football because I let this clown out coach me. Time to hang it up."
 
He also gave up 17 in a half to a team that hadn't scored in the 2nd half in the first 2 games. The worst part about all of this is we were out coached by CPR. How bad do you have to be to get out coached by that d-bag? I think KF should watch the film and be like, "yep that's it, I'm no longer capable of coaching football because I let this clown out coach me. Time to hang it up."

Before or After he's done counting his millions?
 
You really think that Parker is getting the job done? Iowa had ZERO sacks and hardly any pressure on Richardson on Saturday. Parker isn't doing squat.

I think as a whole the defense has not been the problem this season. Lomax getting ejected was a big reason why Iowa State scored on that possession. I agree the line didn't get a good push but Richardson is also a mobile QB and they weren't going to blitz him. The linebackers aren't playing well in pass coverage but I cant say the defense is why Iowa lost to Iowa State. The defense was gassed in the 4th quarter largely because the offense was not sustaining drives. The offense has been really bad all season long outside that last Ball State drive.
 
I think as a whole the defense has not been the problem this season. Lomax getting ejected was a big reason why Iowa State scored on that possession. I agree the line didn't get a good push but Richardson is also a mobile QB and they weren't going to blitz him. The linebackers aren't playing well in pass coverage but I cant say the defense is why Iowa lost to Iowa State. The defense was gassed in the 4th quarter largely because the offense was not sustaining drives. The offense has been really bad all season long outside that last Ball State drive.

The defense was gassed because they have players playing every single down and they don't have a sustainable rotation. If they don't utilize the back-ups they're going to have problems and that's on Parker.

If it wasn't for Iowa State fumbling on the goal line Iowa would have lost 27-17. The defense didn't do Iowa any favors.
 
Before or After he's done counting his millions?
He will have plenty of time to count his millions after he's retired. He has to be number one on the most overpaid coach list. But I think we're not suppose to talk about that because it doesn't matter what he gets paid. I guess if he made $1 million a year I would be just as mad, but he would be a lot easier to get rid of.
 
The defense was gassed because they have players playing every single down and they don't have a sustainable rotation. If they don't utilize the back-ups they're going to have problems and that's on Parker.

If it wasn't for Iowa State fumbling on the goal line Iowa would have lost 27-17. The defense didn't do Iowa any favors.


Boy, has this been a trend for a long time.....too long in my opinion
 
You do realize this was a strategic move by the coaching staff, right? They sacrificed scholarships on the OL because they saw it as a strength and put those extra resources into rebuilding the WR corps.

Yes and where did that get us,we don't throw the ball Down Field.
 
I see the DE from Iowa State which played across from Schreff is all BIG~12 this week so NO, the OL coaching is not getting it done.
 
I've rewatched every game this year concentrating on the OL as that's a unit I have experience with. For the most part, the OL has been establishing a good push on the LOS on running plays and has given JR a good pocket to throw from on passing plays. Against ISU, it was pretty much the same. Good pushes in the first half, which I fully expected to pay dividends in the 2nd half, but it never did. Scherff did get beat a few times on pass plays by Morrissey as it was obvious he's not 100%. There are 2 major issues right now....neither having to do with the OL. 1) RBs (Weisman and Bullock mainly) have been too slow to the hole and 2) RBs are not seeing many of the holes that are there.

From where I sit, the RBs are the problem right now...not the OL. Actually, IMHO, the RB rotation is to blame. Both #1 and #2 above are symptoms of an RB that is not getting enough game reps to get into any kind of flow.
 
At this moment it does not feel like the any of the coaching staff is getting the job done.

I try, very hard, to keep rose colored glasses. I kept muttering after Ball State about the points left on the field by a bobble and missed kicks. Things were not as bad as they appeared. This week, however, they are as bad as they appear. It certainly appears that Ball State was an outlier. Iowa is not very good right now.

This coaching staff has a huge job ahead for this season. We'll all know before long if they are up to the task.
 
I've rewatched every game this year concentrating on the OL as that's a unit I have experience with. For the most part, the OL has been establishing a good push on the LOS on running plays and has given JR a good pocket to throw from on passing plays. Against ISU, it was pretty much the same. Good pushes in the first half, which I fully expected to pay dividends in the 2nd half, but it never did. Scherff did get beat a few times on pass plays by Morrissey as it was obvious he's not 100%. There are 2 major issues right now....neither having to do with the OL. 1) RBs (Weisman and Bullock mainly) have been too slow to the hole and 2) RBs are not seeing many of the holes that are there.

From where I sit, the RBs are the problem right now...not the OL. Actually, IMHO, the RB rotation is to blame. Both #1 and #2 above are symptoms of an RB that is not getting enough game reps to get into any kind of flow.

I mostly agree with the above but I'd say it's more of a numbers problem.

I have re-watched the last two games concentrating on the numbers at the point of attack. Most often then not when the backs gain little yardage it is because of being outnumbered. Running into 8-9 man fronts with only 7 blockers isn't a recipe for success no matter how good your OLine is. There were a few times where an OLineman got beat but it was more rare than when the RB somehow managed a reasonable gain.
 
I think (unfortunately) we have SEVERAL problems, on both sides of the ball.

The OL IS working with some new personnel. The D is working with inexperienced LBs (why, BTW, was Josey Jewell put in that position in his first game back?) and two new starting DBs (and one who missed the first half this Saturday).

Looking at the released Two-Deeps for this Saturday, I ALMOST want to see us use running plays exclusively for the first two drives and see what the he&& happens, since it appears JR is still starting, as is Weisman. MAKE the OL grind it out, MAKE all the TEs and WRs go through their run-blocking sequences. If it fails (which I am sure it would), put a blow-up doll with a Hawk cap in the booth, put GD on the team bus, and let Jake and CJ ****** the rest of the day's plays.

In other words, I'm ready to see ANYthing that isn't identical to games 1-3.
 
I agree with a lot of what is said about the RBs being to blame.

I want to see A healthy Canzeri get 15-20 touches and Weisman another 10 rushes and I think we end up pretty decent.
 
I agree with a lot of what is said about the RBs being to blame.

I want to see A healthy Canzeri get 15-20 touches and Weisman another 10 rushes and I think we end up pretty decent.

Actually, Canzeri, like Bullock, has been much more effective coming out of the backfield thus far, which COULD be a good thing.

And as long as we are using John Kenney as a FB, and with issues at LB, why not put him back at LB and run Weisman at FB?
 
I think we can all agree we want to see them try something different. Just something, anything because this crap we're getting isn't working. I don't care if this something or someone different fails miserably at least they tried something different. What's the definition of insanity again?
 
I've rewatched every game this year concentrating on the OL as that's a unit I have experience with. For the most part, the OL has been establishing a good push on the LOS on running plays and has given JR a good pocket to throw from on passing plays. Against ISU, it was pretty much the same. Good pushes in the first half, which I fully expected to pay dividends in the 2nd half, but it never did. Scherff did get beat a few times on pass plays by Morrissey as it was obvious he's not 100%. There are 2 major issues right now....neither having to do with the OL. 1) RBs (Weisman and Bullock mainly) have been too slow to the hole and 2) RBs are not seeing many of the holes that are there.

From where I sit, the RBs are the problem right now...not the OL. Actually, IMHO, the RB rotation is to blame. Both #1 and #2 above are symptoms of an RB that is not getting enough game reps to get into any kind of flow.

Also re-watching - just the 'O'... agree - runs that get stopped are do to being outnumbered usually as opposed to a 'weak link'.
Would like to have seen our play calling the last 2 drives of ISU game to keep running on 1st down - especially after the 6th-7th play of the drive. Thought we were getting them on heels, but incomplete (2nd & 10) is not good spot for this offense.

WOULD LOVE TO SEE END ZONE VIEW .... from watching in N End Zone Sat - not much, if any separation v. ISU or UNI defensive backs by WR's - that was where the difference was suppose to be this year, correct??
 
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