Judging Brian Ferentz in Year 1

[HawkeyeWalker]

I'll give him a weak C-. Possibly a D+. 2nd half of MSU, 2nd half of NW, all of the Wisc game, the 2 pitches in our own endzone against attacking defenses resulting in 1, almost 2 safeties, and the "read option" keepers on 3rd and long deep in our own territory with a passing QB....simply cannot warrant anything better than C-. The total offense and running game ranks cannot be overlooked. Still too many runs into 8-9 man fronts(imo about 5-6 too many per game), still too predictable at times(I think it was better than recent years).

That said, their are some things to be optimistic about....I liked how we used the TEs, we did attack more vertically, and our fakes worked(a couple were awesome).

I will be more critical next year though, I believe the defense is going to take a step back and the offense is going to need to be better(maybe significantly). That means more more points, more sustained drives, and an improved punting game(not really on Brian).

If we aren't in the 75-85 area or better in offensive rankings....its gonna be a tough year, and Brian(and KF) will feel the heat...and deserve it.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

Dig that guy in Big Trouble in Little China. New avatar coming?

 

[JoeyLabasForPresident]

I wasn't even trying.
Note to self: learn from HC, less effort works

Good, it shows when you try too hard.

 

[hawkeyes87]

No, I didn't say he was a legend...read the post.

I read it. And you did say it. Read the first 5 words of your post.

Listen, if KF wasn't making changes and bringing in new coaches, etc..., Polasek / Copeland / O'Keefe (returning),.. The reality is he's making changes and trying to elevate the program.

Again, your standards are pretty low. Elevating the program? Polasek was only brought in because BF was promoted to OC. KOK is a retread. The other points you listed are areas that still would be rated as average or below.

 

[HawkU]

I'll give him a weak C-. Possibly a D+. 2nd half of MSU, 2nd half of NW, all of the Wisc game, the 2 pitches in our own endzone against attacking defenses resulting in 1, almost 2 safeties, and the "read option" keepers on 3rd and long deep in our own territory with a passing QB....simply cannot warrant anything better than C-. The total offense and running game ranks cannot be overlooked. Still too many runs into 8-9 man fronts(imo about 5-6 too many per game), still too predictable at times(I think it was better than recent years).

That said, their are some things to be optimistic about....I liked how we used the TEs, we did attack more vertically, and our fakes worked(a couple were awesome).

I will be more critical next year though, I believe the defense is going to take a step back and the offense is going to need to be better(maybe significantly). That means more more points, more sustained drives, and an improved punting game(not really on Brian).

If we aren't in the 75-85 area or better in offensive rankings....its gonna be a tough year, and Brian(and KF) will feel the heat...and deserve it.

Well said. And yes- there were flashes. I just don't think a P5 B1G team is where an OC should be running with training wheels and getting their on-the-job-training.

 

[HuckFinn]

I wonder what the offense's ppg was when you consider pick sixes/fumbles or points scored by opposition when we turned it over in our own redzone. Hmmmm

The last time I checked, interceptions, fumble recoveries, turnovers in general, by Iowa, were pretty important in the game outcome, along with every other college team I have watched over the years.

 

[SCHawkeye2]

Just to be clear:

Brian in 2017: 329 ypg total offense, 28.2 ppg, #105.
Davis in 2012: 310 ypg total offense, 19.3 ppg, #116.
(Stats from ESPN.com)

Neither was good. But Brian was better.

I consider both scores above to be an "F".
Debating which "F" performance is better is ridiculous.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

No, bud, Vince Young won a national title at Texas. Greg Davis had nothing to do with it.

Yep...you are right...Vince was definitely the brains of that offense. LOL. Vince needs a personal assistant to tell him where he parked his car. I'm confident Greg was directing the show at Texas. And after listening to Mack Brown every week...I'm even more confident the offense was soley in the hands of Greg Davis.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

I read it. And you did say it. Read the first 5 words of your post.



Again, your standards are pretty low. Elevating the program? Polasek was only brought in because BF was promoted to OC. KOK is a retread. The other points you listed are areas that still would be rated as average or below.

I never called Kirk Ferentz a legend. You can't read.

 

[dualradius]

Snooze fest.

Will do what dad wants. Nothing will be elevated.

Class family. Hard working. Represents university well.

Is that enough though? Is that what fans want?

Side note: name the last time Iowa audibled to a pass.

 

[brozley]

The consistency was pretty bad as well as creativity. He was working with a new starting QB and some new tools as well as getting some on the job training on making adjustments etc. Too me it didn't always seem the offense was prepared for what they were going to see. It has been discussed many times on this board about Iowa's philosophy and this is what we do. The other coaches know that and still there were very few bright spots where we would actually break tendencies. I also thought there was lack of creativity in creating mismatches with our play makers and getting them the ball in space. While it was BF first year these are issues we have had for the last several years. As I stated in a post a few weeks ago that I hope they do an extensive self scout this off season and focus on breaking tendencies.

BF is an O lineman, dammit who hires an O lineman that has never called a play in a NCAA game to be a B10 coordinator? Probably never happened before. Let him do what he does well, coach O line. That's a very important position for which he is very qualified to do. To expect him to be any good at OC is foolishness.

 

[dualradius]

BF is an O lineman, dammit who hires an O lineman that has never called a play in a NCAA game to be a B10 coordinator? Probably never happened before. Let him do what he does well, coach O line. That's a very important position for which he is very qualified to do. To expect him to be any good at OC is foolishness.

It’s the university thanking KF for doing what he’s done.

KF and son will be in charge at least 6 more years.