DesMoinesHawki
Well-Known Member
Comments from Kirk Ferentz call-in show
(Apologies in advance for any typos, etc. Sidenote: Nothing earth-shattering here. Pretty boring show this week and boring questions.)
On bye week: went well. Seems like 3 weeks since we played, good chance to work guys and get rest. Much needed. Hopefully we will be fresh this weekend
On timing of bye week: Played four games; better chance to learn more about where we are at
I think we know where the hot spots are; and where we need to improve
We really didn’t work on PSU in detail until Sunday. If you spend much more time you risk guys getting bored with game plan. Hopefully we are better football tam than two weeks ago
On Brett Greenwood: Progress is coming. He is with some real professionals. Getting great attention. Making progress. Going to take time.
On instate recruiting (how are we doing): I think it is hard to gauge. Still kind of early in the season Comfortable where we are at. Feel comfortable with the prospects on our board.
Who are backup wide receivers for our trio: Steve Staggs; Shumbert; Marcus Grant … probably first three guys in game.
On defense (giving up a lot of yards on 1st down)
We got off to tough start. I think the last two games I think we made progress. Pitt game clearly played better than week before. We gave up some big plays. Part mental; part physical. Can’t play good defense if you don’t tackle. We are improving. We have lost some outstanding players on defense. We are piecing it together. We will get tested this week.
On PSU QBs: Not totally similar but not totally dissimilar. Fairly similar in our prep for them. Both guys are capable. Talented group of receivers. They had 400+ yards of offense last week. We need to be ready to go. Their receivers are big.
On running game balance versus pass: Marcus got off to slow start. He is starting to look like we hoped he would. This may be a year where we throw more than run but need to continue to improve on run.
On DeAndre Johnson: Clearly Marcus starter. Jason White next guy in. All of the other guys are in there kind of together.
On Vandy: Gave him a little rest. He is always into it mentally. That is just how he is wired.
On Jordan Canzari: We had real need at rb position. We are very impressed with him. Great young guy. Rushed for 2,000 yards his senior year. High energy guy. Practices hard. Needs to get bigger.
On kick coverage: Two things: kick coverage … bye week gives us more time to designate on special teams. Playing a lot of young players on special teams. Bye week came at good time. We have improved. The question is what are we going to do next 8 weeks. Need to keep our intensity level. Big part of how our next 8 games go.
On Ruddock: Coming along. Ruddock doing real nice job. Hoping to redshirt him this year. Had a great senior year. I think he has a great future ahead of him.
Dominic Alvis: We recruited him late. Done a nice job. Started out playing inside. I think we have settled into rotation. Done a good job at end position.
(Apologies in advance for any typos, etc. Sidenote: Nothing earth-shattering here. Pretty boring show this week and boring questions.)
On bye week: went well. Seems like 3 weeks since we played, good chance to work guys and get rest. Much needed. Hopefully we will be fresh this weekend
On timing of bye week: Played four games; better chance to learn more about where we are at
I think we know where the hot spots are; and where we need to improve
We really didn’t work on PSU in detail until Sunday. If you spend much more time you risk guys getting bored with game plan. Hopefully we are better football tam than two weeks ago
On Brett Greenwood: Progress is coming. He is with some real professionals. Getting great attention. Making progress. Going to take time.
On instate recruiting (how are we doing): I think it is hard to gauge. Still kind of early in the season Comfortable where we are at. Feel comfortable with the prospects on our board.
Who are backup wide receivers for our trio: Steve Staggs; Shumbert; Marcus Grant … probably first three guys in game.
On defense (giving up a lot of yards on 1st down)
We got off to tough start. I think the last two games I think we made progress. Pitt game clearly played better than week before. We gave up some big plays. Part mental; part physical. Can’t play good defense if you don’t tackle. We are improving. We have lost some outstanding players on defense. We are piecing it together. We will get tested this week.
On PSU QBs: Not totally similar but not totally dissimilar. Fairly similar in our prep for them. Both guys are capable. Talented group of receivers. They had 400+ yards of offense last week. We need to be ready to go. Their receivers are big.
On running game balance versus pass: Marcus got off to slow start. He is starting to look like we hoped he would. This may be a year where we throw more than run but need to continue to improve on run.
On DeAndre Johnson: Clearly Marcus starter. Jason White next guy in. All of the other guys are in there kind of together.
On Vandy: Gave him a little rest. He is always into it mentally. That is just how he is wired.
On Jordan Canzari: We had real need at rb position. We are very impressed with him. Great young guy. Rushed for 2,000 yards his senior year. High energy guy. Practices hard. Needs to get bigger.
On kick coverage: Two things: kick coverage … bye week gives us more time to designate on special teams. Playing a lot of young players on special teams. Bye week came at good time. We have improved. The question is what are we going to do next 8 weeks. Need to keep our intensity level. Big part of how our next 8 games go.
On Ruddock: Coming along. Ruddock doing real nice job. Hoping to redshirt him this year. Had a great senior year. I think he has a great future ahead of him.
Dominic Alvis: We recruited him late. Done a nice job. Started out playing inside. I think we have settled into rotation. Done a good job at end position.
