Judging Brian Ferentz in Year 1

[Xerxes]

Its hard for me to be impressed with BF this year. He had the best offensive player Iowa has had in 30 years and used him like a traditional RB when he is clearly and all-purpose back who should have had more catches out of the backfield and less carries into 8/9 men fronts. BF could coach at Iowa for the next 20 years and not see a player equal to Wadley. IMO a wasted year on a once in a generation player. That alone should be enough to call this season a failure at OC.

As others have mentioned, play calling and adjustments leave much to be desired. Is this a Brian problem? Is it a Kirk problem? Both probably.

With Nate, ISM, Easley, Fant, & Hockenson they actually have some potential moving forward for the next 2 seasons. But until proven otherwise, offensive potential at Iowa is nowhere close to actual offensive production at Iowa.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

[QUOTE="tksirius, post: 1676903, member: 39717" All I'm saying is whining makes me feel like more of a man[/QUOTE]

Dime.

 

[Joshbrown]

What was GD's offense like his first year at Iowa?

So we got rid of GD so we could repeat 2012? I thought I read a thousand posts/articles telling us we just upgraded our offense? Kind of like when we got rid of KOK we upgraded our offense. Are you starting to see a pattern?

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

So we got rid of GD so we could repeat 2012? I thought I read a thousand posts/articles telling us we just upgraded our offense? Kind of like when we got rid of KOK we upgraded our offense. Are you starting to see a pattern?

No...we got rid of GD so we could stay on track for the succession plan. Keep up please.

 

[Joshbrown]

[QUOTE="tksirius, post: 1676903, member: 39717" All I'm saying is whining makes me feel like more of a man

Dime.[/QUOTE]

 

[hawkeyes87]

So we got rid of GD so we could repeat 2012? I thought I read a thousand posts/articles telling us we just upgraded our offense? Kind of like when we got rid of KOK we upgraded our offense. Are you starting to see a pattern?

Yeah. Even the most positive / optimistic / "glass half-full" comments in this thread have been basically "not bad" / "coulda-been-worse" / "better-than-GD".

The bar is so incredibly high!

 

[Joshbrown]

No...we got rid of GD so we could stay on track for the succession plan. Keep up please.

A+

 

[tksirius]

Ok, that tells half the story. If you look at the strength of schedule numbers from the 2012 season vs 2017, you get the other half of the story. I've seen Iowa's schedule ranked from 5 to 26 in 2017...depending on metrics and source. The 2012 schedule is anywhere from 46 to 77 depending on source. In 2012, Iowa's opponents were 80-61. In 2017 they were 101-55.

Sagarin rated Iowa's 2017 schedule as the 5th toughest...and this is usually the best analysis. In 2012, Sagarin rated Iowa's schedule at 70.

All I'm saying is that Brian has more excuses than Greg Davis.

Average total defense rankings of opponents:

BF 1st year: 42.23
GD 1st year: 49.58

 

[Joshbrown]

Dear Brian:

Fan request from an alum. In season 2 stay away from these numbers:
10
&
17

 

[mopkins]

Here are some 2017 Iowa stats I found interesting...

- Stanley had 26 TD passes. Tied for 2nd all time in Iowa history.
- Stanley had a 55.6 completion percentage. (That's not good)
- Stanley easily had a better year than 2016 Beathard. 2015 Beathard was better across the board though...except of course TD passes.

- Wadley averaged 4.4 yards per carry in 2017 compared to 6.4 in 2016. A full 2 yards less per carry...yikes

- Iowa's 2017 Tight Ends had 56 receptions for 840 yards and 14 touchdowns. Last year Iowa's Tight Ends caught 32 receptions for 389 yards and 5 touchdowns. For random reference, Dallas Clark's senior year he had 43 receptions for 742 yards and 4 touchdowns.

- Iowa allowed 25 sacks in 2017 compared to 30 in 2016.

- In 2017, Iowa averaged 329 yards per game and 28.2 points per game. In 2016, Iowa averaged 325 yards per game and 24.9 points per game

Year 1 of Brian Ferentz...Iowa's running game was pretty much awful. Was it injuries? Opponents? Terrible play design? Terrible play calling? Young QB missing reads? I'd say all of the above.

Stanley overthrew way too many passes and it seems like later in the season BF completely abandoned the downfield passing and check downs to Wadley. I have no idea why.

The tight ends were heavily involved in Iowa's offense this year. It was clearly a focus of BF's offense.

 

[Joshbrown]

Here are some 2017 Iowa stats I found interesting...

- Stanley had 26 TD passes. Tied for 2nd all time in Iowa history.
- Stanley had a 55.6 completion percentage. (That's not good)
- Stanley easily had a better year than 2016 Beathard. 2015 Beathard was better across the board though...except of course TD passes.

- Wadley averaged 4.4 yards per carry in 2017 compared to 6.4 in 2016. A full 2 yards less per carry...yikes

- Iowa's 2017 Tight Ends had 56 receptions for 840 yards and 14 touchdowns. Last year Iowa's Tight Ends caught 32 receptions for 389 yards and 5 touchdowns. For random reference, Dallas Clark's senior year he had 43 receptions for 742 yards and 4 touchdowns.

- Iowa allowed 25 sacks in 2017 compared to 30 in 2016.

- In 2017, Iowa averaged 329 yards per game and 28.2 points per game. In 2016, Iowa averaged 325 yards per game and 24.9 points per game

Year 1 of Brian Ferentz...Iowa's running game was pretty much awful. Was it injuries? Opponents? Terrible play design? Terrible play calling? Young QB missing reads? I'd say all of the above.

Stanley overthrew way too many passes and it seems like later in the season BF completely abandoned the downfield passing and check downs to Wadley. I have no idea why.

The tight ends were heavily involved in Iowa's offense this year. It was clearly a focus of BF's offense.

Stanley's a nice kid with natural athletic ability who won't disobey the HC. He's easy to like.

Having said that, he'd rather throw it into the stands than scramble for a first down. That's one significant point that separates CJB and NS.

 

[mopkins]

Stanley's a nice kid with natural athletic ability who won't disobey the HC. He's easy to like.

Having said that, he'd rather throw it into the stands than scramble for a first down. That's one significant point that separates CJB and NS.

Well he is a statue. I don't think he can run even if he wanted to.

CJB's legs solved a lot of problems in 2015, that's for sure. 2016 post hernia surgery he just wasn't the same...or the coaches didn't allow him to be the same. Not really sure which.

 

[Joshbrown]

Well he is a statue. I don't think he can run even if he wanted to.

CJB's legs solved a lot of problems in 2015, that's for sure. 2016 post hernia surgery he just wasn't the same...or the coaches didn't allow him to be the same. Not really sure which.

I've got a feeling we both enjoyed CJBs toughness. Kirk said he played hurt almost all of 2015. The kid had so much "never quit" in him. Gotta luv that. I was cringing watching him in his final bowl game.

 

[tksirius]

I've got a feeling we both enjoyed CJBs toughness. Kirk said he played hurt almost all of 2015. The kid had so much "never quit" in him. Gotta luv that. I was cringing watching him in his final bowl game.

Whoa whoa whoa! Kirk said that was on the training staff's hands, not his.

 

[BVHawk95]

Well he is a statue. I don't think he can run even if he wanted to.

CJB's legs solved a lot of problems in 2015, that's for sure. 2016 post hernia surgery he just wasn't the same...or the coaches didn't allow him to be the same. Not really sure which.

From a mobility point, he's much better inside the pocket than CJ was. We saw him dodge a lot of rushers and break away from what could have been sacks multiple times. More of a Tate or Big Ben mobility (result wise, anyway) than a Banks or Beathard one.

As for CJ, I'm still not convinced he was ever 100% healthy during 2016.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Average total defense rankings of opponents:

BF 1st year: 42.23
GD 1st year: 49.58

Thank you for supporting the argument...but wins and losses and SOS ratings are more important. So...three of the 5 teams that beat us played in New Year's 6 bowls and won those games. Every team that beat us won a bowl game, four of which won 10 games or more. As far as I'm concerned, people have a right to complain about losing to Purdue and NW...games we should have won...IMO. MSU also was winnable, but that's a tough road venue. Playing Wisconsin and MSU on the road are going to be tough in any year...even when we are favored.

I'm not making excuses...I'm trying to explain why what you saw this year on offense happened. If you were starting two freshman on the defensive line...a couple of freshman or 1st year linebackers...would you complain as much if our defense was inconsistent.

I think you have a hard on for BF for some reason. Are you upset that his daddy paid more attention to him and is looking out for him. Maybe you have daddy issues.

 

[Joshbrown]

Thank you for supporting the argument...but wins and losses and SOS ratings are more important. So...three of the 5 teams that beat us played in New Year's 6 bowls and won those games. Every team that beat us won a bowl game, four of which won 10 games or more. As far as I'm concerned, people have a right to complain about losing to Purdue and NW...games we should have won...IMO. MSU also was winnable, but that's a tough road venue. Playing Wisconsin and MSU on the road are going to be tough in any year...even when we are favored.

I'm not making excuses...I'm trying to explain why what you saw this year on offense happened. If you were starting two freshman on the defensive line...a couple of freshman or 1st year linebackers...would you complain as much if our defense was inconsistent.

I think you have a hard on for BF for some reason. Are you upset that his daddy paid more attention to him and is looking out for him. Maybe you have daddy issues.

I think you operate from a paradigm where certain teams SHOULD beat Iowa. It reminds me of KF: "Well NDSU won 5 titles, why should we beat them?"
BECAUSE THEY'RE FRICKEN FCS YOU OVERPAID HACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tksirius]

Thank you for supporting the argument...but wins and losses and SOS ratings are more important. So...three of the 5 teams that beat us played in New Year's 6 bowls and won those games. Every team that beat us won a bowl game, four of which won 10 games or more. As far as I'm concerned, people have a right to complain about losing to Purdue and NW...games we should have won...IMO. MSU also was winnable, but that's a tough road venue. Playing Wisconsin and MSU on the road are going to be tough in any year...even when we are favored.

You think SOS is more important when grading an offense than the defenses that offense went up against? That doesn't make any sense.

I'm not making excuses...I'm trying to explain why what you saw this year on offense happened. If you were starting two freshman on the defensive line...a couple of freshman or 1st year linebackers...would you complain as much if our defense was inconsistent.

You're not making excuses... lmfao

I think you have a hard on for BF for some reason. Are you upset that his daddy paid more attention to him and is looking out for him. Maybe you have daddy issues.

DAD:

 

[hawkeyes87]

.three of the 5 teams that beat us played in New Year's 6 bowls and won those games

No.

3 teams we played did this, not 3 that beat us.

Remember, BF accidently used a gameplan attacking OSU's proven weakness and we beat them.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

I think you operate from a paradigm where certain teams SHOULD beat Iowa. It reminds me of KF: "Well NDSU won 5 titles, why should we beat them?"
BECAUSE THEY'RE FRICKEN FCS YOU OVERPAID HACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No, I live in reality. In the world you idiots live in, losing seniors and playing freshmen shouldn't have any impact on the game. Playing more good teams shouldn't impact your overall performance. If you want to complain about the job they have done building depth and recruiting...that's a legitimate argument. When you want to complain that our offense couldn't operate well against the top tier B10 teams, but not address why, other than to say our offensive coordinator is to blame...your arguments are singular and lame.

I believe winning and losing at this level is a very fine line and games hinge on mistakes / turnovers. I don't think you can blame the offensive coordinator when his QB fumbles at the 5 yard line, and his freshman receiver fumbles near the red zone on another drive against Michigan State. There are so many examples like this with dropped passes, etc. Why did he run into 8 man fronts? Because he was protecting his QB...and minimizing his disadvantage against top tier edge rushers...and blitz packages.

The point of the original post was that under an OC change, our previous experience was much much worse and he had a seasoned QB in JVB. They had similar issues on the offensive line (injuries) and again...which offense did you prefer to watch? I'll take 2017 and those results.