Miller: Ferentz 'Dead Serious' ; Is He Dead Wrong?

[theboat]

Why don't we work on punt blocks more?

Because this one time back in 2001, Iowa got called for a roughing the punter so we can't risk it again.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Hmm. Seems to me like we saw punt returns under Hayden Fry.. Remember Tim Dwight? And did Hayden's teams continually get burnt by fake punts?

Or is Kirk Ferentz saying that he doesn't know how to fix the "fake punt" issue without sacrificing the possibility of a punt return? You know, I'm not even talking about running punts back for TD's.. Just getting a 10-15 yard return on a punt here and there sure can't hurt your field position, and would also increase your chances of having a scoring drive. Just my 2 cents.

I've gotten the feeling that our punt returners have been playing pretty cautiously anyway judging by the amount of fair catches and/or our players backing away and letting the ball bounce and roll, so it won't surprise me if we really see things go uber-conservative in the punt return game.. Conservative to the Nth degree.

 

[tksirius]

Surely, GB is now gauging the donor climate regarding Curt's future. Right?

 

[eveningnewsteam]

Id just like to see the ball carrier on the fake punt actually have to fight for yardage instead of running for 30 and stepping out of bounds. An Iowa defender being within 10 yards of the ball carrier before hes 30 yards downfield would be progress or actually just seeing the ball carrier before hes 30 yards downfield would be progress.

 

[rjbaustian]

I don't pander to folks, especially a segment of the fanbase that drives me nuts I just think it's poor form to say something like this. The merits and debate of the strategy is a different angle for me entirely...for me, this is about the wisdom in saying something like this. There is a reason this topic is at Yahoo, NBC, etc...because it sounds so silly.

The reason its so silly because of you guys in the media, I just dont get why saying this is such a big deal. Kirk doesnt give you guys much to go on, and youre all grabbing for straws. Like why we stopped stretching the field in the 2nd half, or didnt run some draws or screens to slow up that rush...but picking "we may never return a punt again" is what you go on? Jon, I mean no disrespect, I normally enjoy how level headed you are on here, but youre starting to sound like the rest of the Kirk haters on here.

 

[cecilB]

Ferentz Dead Serious, Is He Dead Wrong?Hawkeye Nation

Miller, for a guy that has produced a good body of work, this was pathetic.

 

[Eda]

Your logic is the same one KF is using. It is laughable that a Coach at the BCS level paid MILLIONS can't coach his team to stop a fake punt and his only resort is to not returning punts anymore. You have got to be kidding me nick.

Bottomline is this you don't ever say something like this, even if your thinking it and sadly proves to me that KF is losing his grip.. All KF should have done is what he normally does state that is a problem that needs corrected and we are working on ways to fix it. Done, Move on.

Lets be honest here... There is nothing he could say that would've made you guys less..... Hmmm, how should I say this.... Rabid?

 

[brhawks18]

I’ve also heard Iowa has banned passing beyond the first yard marker and playing offense with less than two minutes left in the half.

I think the NCAA should ban fake punts. This will take care of KF not returning punts.

 

[MisterLucky]

Man, sometimes I really hate hearing about all the players Ferentz has put in the NFL, many after years while posting a mediocre record. It's like hearing your ex-girlfriend married a millionaire.

 

[volhawk50]

Your logic is the same one KF is using. It is laughable that a Coach at the BCS level paid MILLIONS can't coach his team to stop a fake punt and his only resort is to not returning punts anymore. You have got to be kidding me nick.

This exact point actually came up on the radio in East Tennessee today. (Of course they pronounced it with the emphasis on the second syllable, like f'RENTS or even f'RENZ) They pointed out that a lot of coaches haven't been in the business as long as Kirk has, and aren't paid nearly as much as Kirk is, yet they've found a way to consistently return punts and not get burned on fakes. Kirk hasn't found a way to do both at the same time, while everyone else has.

 

[NCHawker]

Why don't we work on punt blocks more?

dude.

 

[JonDMiller]

Miller, for a guy that has produced a good body of work, this was pathetic.

I'm not the guy who said he was dead serious about never returning a punt again. I wouldn't even have thought that possible fiction.

 

[Bigtenchamp]

a huge deal? nah but yet another pretty obvious sign that he just has lost his grip - but most coaches are too competitive and prideful to walk away when they should.

 

[Bigtenchamp]

I’ve also heard Iowa has banned passing beyond the first yard marker and playing offense with less than two minutes left in the half.

true story

 

[Bigtenchamp]

really to me its just Ferentz pouting.. which I guess doesn't make it any better

 

[M1911A1Hawkeye]

really to me its just Ferentz pouting.. which I guess doesn't make it any better

True that.

 

[Jonesy86]

Prediction: Every OSU punt (if there are any) Iowa sets up the return. Now the kicker might fair catch it anyway, based on the coverage, but a good football analyst will be able to tell that, right?

 

[patmyne]

Miller, for a guy that has produced a good body of work, this was pathetic.

Jon is as homer Iowa as anyone. Many have piled on him over the years for his lack of "biting the hand that feeds him". Guy doesn't stir the pot for site hits....

 

[blubberhawk]

I'm going to bite again since I have a few minutes at work to kill....

I don't think it is about drinking the Kirk Kool-Aid. Have I seen KF make his fair share of dumb coaching mistakes- absolutely?!?! I'm definitely not blind!!! I also had the luxury of going to 8 of the last 10 bowl games in person and watched Iowa win 5 of those bowl games (a few against the SEC, the catch, and an Orange Bowl victory). These bowl games are a blast and I credit KF for getting us there. This dude and his staff know how to coach.

I'm also a season ticket holder and have seen my fair share of good games as well as bad games at Kinnick. As we all know last year was absolutely awful. I was probably one of about 1k fans who actually stayed until the very end of the PSU butt kicking. I also had one of the coolest moments ever with my family when Iowa knocked off PSU with "The Kick".

My point is I do think KF has earned the right to try to turn this thing around. He is obviously trying to adapt with the times and I think that's very evident with the coaching changes and changing some of their schemes.

Even though our records are the same as last year and Rob pointed out the stats are similar (even though I think our offensive numbers would have been better had we not returned two punts and int's for td's against Western Michigan); I still think this team is much better. At least they don't put us to sleep this year when they are on offense and we have already thrown more td's then all of last year combined. Our two losses are against teams that will most likely end up in the top 25! Now if MSU craps the bed against IU/Purdue/or Illinois then I will stand corrected. NIU and MSU are not bad teams to lose to. Central Michigan is a bad team to lose to and we don't have a loss like that this year- that's improvement! I also have been reading the Huddle Pass write ups from former players (if you don't you should check it out) and they pretty much say the same thing.

I think if we can get to 6-6 that's a huge step in the right direction. I know that 6-6 should be unacceptable but let's face it we have to crawl again before we can walk again. That gets us to a bowl game and gets the youngsters some extra practice time which will be huge going into next year (which I've been told the coaches think is going to be a big year for us). I also believe this gives us a hook for recruithing that we are also heading in the right direction.

Now if the wheels fall off the bus this year and we don't win another game then yes we absolutely need to explore our coaching options.

Right now we are half way through the season with 6 games left and a healthy OL. There is a lot of football left to be played and I feel an upset coming in the near future. This team just doesn't seem like the type of team that will roll over and die on us. I don't think Morris, Scherff, Kirsey, Weisman, or Hitchens will allow that to happen. They have worked too hard to give up now!!!

As fans lets not get wrapped up in one loss to a team that may end up being the Legends Division Winner. Let's continue to support these players and the coaches because we all bleed Black and Gold and none of us like to lose. There are some huge games coming to Kinnick in a couple of weeks and the 12th man needs to represent!!

Go Hawks!!!

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ps- Bring on the Buckeyes, Wildcats, and Badgers!!!

Ah yes, the catch. I too was in Florida for that one..
Tate and Holloway made great plays to cover up what could have been one of the biggest clock management gaffs by a coaching staff in the history of big games..All was forgiven/forgotten since we won that game.

 

[Hawknick]

Actually you got to wonder the NCAA did ban my fake kneel play a couple of year ago that I had planned for Iowa to use. They banned a few other of the classic trick plays. Why would they ban some and not the others? I don't like the way they cherry pick trick plays to ban.