No Vertical, No Chance
- Thread starter JonDMiller
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Hawkfromnorwalk
Well-Known Member
Greg Davis = No vertical...
SonofaSailor
Well-Known Member
Jon, you hit the nail on the head,
I know Greg likes his "horizontal passing game" but if this is what he envisions as far as where we target...We might as well just mail in every season. If I was a young wide-out in this program I would probably be considering a transfer...I am not sure on the numbers...but sitting in the Big House it seemed like we only targeted KMM and Keenan a handful of times. Now, not saying Keenan wouldn't have dropped the ball...but that's an execution issue. I would love to see breakdown on where we have been throwing to. I bet 70% of the passes are within 6-8 yards of the line of scrimmage this season.
I know Greg likes his "horizontal passing game" but if this is what he envisions as far as where we target...We might as well just mail in every season. If I was a young wide-out in this program I would probably be considering a transfer...I am not sure on the numbers...but sitting in the Big House it seemed like we only targeted KMM and Keenan a handful of times. Now, not saying Keenan wouldn't have dropped the ball...but that's an execution issue. I would love to see breakdown on where we have been throwing to. I bet 70% of the passes are within 6-8 yards of the line of scrimmage this season.
seepig
Well-Known Member
Ditto Jon! Great and fair statements and opinions. Another 4-8 season next year and I'm completely off the Ferentz bandwagon. We just simply can't let this program slip into oblivion like the basketball program. While Ferentz and Davis are under rightful criticism. Phil Parker's inability to get the D on the same page is every bit as disconcerting. That was a defense totally outmatched mentally yesterday and the D coordinator has to hold accountability for that. It was BEYOND uninspired play.
JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
It's easier for me to give the D a pass this year given how I felt they outperformed last year and on the whole this year, they are still middle of the pack in scoring defense this year as it relates to the Big Ten
hawkeyegamefilm
Well-Known Member
Hah, you'd win your bet. Through 11 games Iowa has targeted 72% of their passes under 10 yards. Yesterday WRs saw 5 targets on Iowa's 26 attempts. Oddly it was also Iowa's best statistical passing game.
HaydenHawk56
Well-Known Member
"It's easier for me to give the D a pass this year given how I felt they outperformed last year and on the whole this year, they are still middle of the pack in scoring defense this year as it relates to the Big Ten."
First, Jon great write up. That was an excellent read about the state of the program.
I kind of disagree with the above comment though. I think those stats might be kind of skewed due to the Big Ten being down and Iowa played the stronger part of their schedule later in the year. Since Iowa has played the "faster teams" in the Big Ten on their schedule ( Penn St, Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan, soon to be Nebraska, probably even Purdue in relation to us) we have given up tons of yardage. Although, the offense does not help the cause when they go 3 and out over and over again.
Iowa's secondary looked foolish yesterday. At one point, I told my wife Michigan could almost pass for considerable yardage every down if they wanted to.
Though, like you note above, the defense has found a way to score some points this year, reflecting in the stats.
However, I do agree the bigger part of the problem is the offense if we look at the year on the whole (it usually is). I do think the offense outperformed the defense yesterday though.
The program has a lot of issues to sort through. Ferentz is going to have to be willing to change again and make the changes necessary to get Iowa competitive again.....even if those changes come way out of his comfort zone.
First, Jon great write up. That was an excellent read about the state of the program.
I kind of disagree with the above comment though. I think those stats might be kind of skewed due to the Big Ten being down and Iowa played the stronger part of their schedule later in the year. Since Iowa has played the "faster teams" in the Big Ten on their schedule ( Penn St, Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan, soon to be Nebraska, probably even Purdue in relation to us) we have given up tons of yardage. Although, the offense does not help the cause when they go 3 and out over and over again.
Iowa's secondary looked foolish yesterday. At one point, I told my wife Michigan could almost pass for considerable yardage every down if they wanted to.
Though, like you note above, the defense has found a way to score some points this year, reflecting in the stats.
However, I do agree the bigger part of the problem is the offense if we look at the year on the whole (it usually is). I do think the offense outperformed the defense yesterday though.
The program has a lot of issues to sort through. Ferentz is going to have to be willing to change again and make the changes necessary to get Iowa competitive again.....even if those changes come way out of his comfort zone.
koralakers
Well-Known Member
WOW. 1 pass pattern beyond 20. I thought EVERY pass play should have a 'deep' route to keep the defense/safeties honest. They haven't had to play 'honest' all yr! Also, JVB makes it his life's mission to rifle it out of his hands 1.2 seconds after each snap, which means he locks in to a double-covered guy 3 yards down the field, and throws him an almost uncatchable bullet. How can these coaches who get paid hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of dollars not correct this. Isn't it their job. We have watched hundreds if not thousands of college/pro games over the decades and even we, as fans, understand he ridiculous this offense looks.
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
For the first time during the Ferentz tenure...I believe he deserves all the heat the media, the fans, and the University can put on him. To allow this offense to continue to execute the way it has for an entire season is beyond comprehension. If I am an opposing D coordinator, I'm just licking my chops when Iowa hits their schedule. If the TE blocks down or shows blocking, fire everyone up the field because it's a stretch. When your receivers never test you deep, bring the safeties up. At least KOK would start a game with 7-8 pass plays based on the way the defense lined up...and to make them change their scheme. This is inconceivable.
I know it won't happen, but I can't believe Davis is going to get another year. Even if our running game is dominant next year, and team have to stack the box, I just can't see this passing game being effective. The box is stacked now and we can get people open after the first quarter.
I know it won't happen, but I can't believe Davis is going to get another year. Even if our running game is dominant next year, and team have to stack the box, I just can't see this passing game being effective. The box is stacked now and we can get people open after the first quarter.
As you make some reference to ISU I would make another reference comparison regarding two different recruiting strategies. Below is the number of commits (or in the case of 2013 the number of verbals thus far) that each program has signed in the last 4 years that were located outside the Midwest:
2013 - ISU 16 / Iowa 1
2012 - ISU 14 / Iowa 9
2011 - ISU 17 / Iowa 14
2010 - ISU 20 / Iowa 6
In ISU's case the numbers consist primarily of players from CA, TX, and FL. In Iowa's case it is a mix of eastern and southern states. If I used just southern states in the above numbers the spread would be even larger between the two schools.
Among several reasons why these two programs are moving in different directions might be Rhoad's emphasis on the south for selecting his players. He's has recognized the value of speed in today's game and has been able to find the players that bring that element to the table. I believe this is one of the reasons why the two programs are moving in different directions as of late.
2013 - ISU 16 / Iowa 1
2012 - ISU 14 / Iowa 9
2011 - ISU 17 / Iowa 14
2010 - ISU 20 / Iowa 6
In ISU's case the numbers consist primarily of players from CA, TX, and FL. In Iowa's case it is a mix of eastern and southern states. If I used just southern states in the above numbers the spread would be even larger between the two schools.
Among several reasons why these two programs are moving in different directions might be Rhoad's emphasis on the south for selecting his players. He's has recognized the value of speed in today's game and has been able to find the players that bring that element to the table. I believe this is one of the reasons why the two programs are moving in different directions as of late.
Eda
Well-Known Member
I'm with Jon on this one. I think the D should get somewhat of a pass on this season. Historically, we know what our defense is capable of. They did play better the first half of the season. They are creating turnovers and giving the offense some opportunities. They have been forcing 3 and outs. They have shown the ability to play with emotion, effort, and heart. Now with all that being said, I think they have been regressing as the season wears on. And you can debate why that is.
As for the verticle passing scheme... I can't understand why it isn't being added. It is so very obvious to EVERYONE that this is a real problem. Even if they only target 5-7 per game deeper passes per game, it would back the defenses off.
Jon, can you add any insight as to why this isn't being explored more by the coachig staff?
PhoenixHawk
Well-Known Member
They got off to a great start yesterday by passing to the TE over the middle. That worked great for two drives. But they clearly should have been ready to follow that with playaction deep, which would have totally put the D back on their heels just when they were having to totally commit to playing up on the TE.
atxhawk
Well-Known Member
So again, it all boils down to the coaching staff. If Rudock isn't ready to play after a red shirt year, and an almost full year riding the pine, then the coaches need to be blamed for it. If the players aren't executing then the coaches need to either fix it, bench the players not performing, or both.
Lack of throws over 20, coaching. Either the coaches aren't coaching JV to look down field or they aren't calling plays that go vertical.
Lack of dline, coaching. Letting coach Kaz stay too long after running off players, and not recruiting adequate replacements, all fall on management/coaching.
Lack of scheme adjustments, coaching staff as a whole.
This season has been a complete wreck and most of it can be blamed on the coaching staff. Which player under Fry was calling out the current coaches for not instilling a sense of competition in the current players? The coaching staff appears to be complacent, and that looks to be filtering down to the players.
KF needs to take some lessons from Fran.
Lack of throws over 20, coaching. Either the coaches aren't coaching JV to look down field or they aren't calling plays that go vertical.
Lack of dline, coaching. Letting coach Kaz stay too long after running off players, and not recruiting adequate replacements, all fall on management/coaching.
Lack of scheme adjustments, coaching staff as a whole.
This season has been a complete wreck and most of it can be blamed on the coaching staff. Which player under Fry was calling out the current coaches for not instilling a sense of competition in the current players? The coaching staff appears to be complacent, and that looks to be filtering down to the players.
KF needs to take some lessons from Fran.
Jon, early on in his time at Iowa we heard how high the staff was on Ruddock. What changed about that? Has he just completely failed to grasp this offense? If JVB had been injured, would the staff have played one of the other QB's and burned their redshirt instead of throwing Ruddock in there?
UweBlab
Well-Known Member
Agreed. There us more to this story than we know now. Was JVB ready at NW and OSU when Stanzi got hurt? No. But Ferentz always says how valuable that experience was for James. Why not give Jake some snaps.
K Ferentz probably would have put his goldenboy James Morris at QB if JVB got hurt.
JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
I don't know if anything has changed. All we have to go on is the fact that Iowa's offense might be the worst of the Ferentz era, the team is 4-7 and JVB has taken every snap.
SpecialKHawk
Well-Known Member
How do we know that the lack of deep targets is a 100% reflection of the change in OC ???
Is the QB sensing pressur(real or imaginary) and unloading the ball early into the flats instead of stepping up or rolling to the outside of the pocket allowing the deeper routes time to develop?
Is the QB choosing where the ball is going at the line of scrimmage?
Does the QB panic at the first sign of an impending blitz -> which may be a bluff in some cases by the defense?
I've noticed guys all season with routes down field but never a look from the QB. Some of these guys have been uncovered in some cases due to coverage breakdowns by the defense but the QB never worked his progressions.
How is it that the QB that had such a supposedly awesome season was not in the pre-season top 5 or 6 for B1G QB's, which is the weakest B1G of my lifetime? Did the rest of the league know something or realize a padding of the stats took place against very weak opponents at home and with a very good WR (McNutt) ? I can recall mostly poor results on the road last year that looked a lot like this year.
This may be 100% on the OC but I want to see another QB play this system before I assign the blame. KF has prevented this look by purposely not playing another QB even in mop-up time.
Is the QB sensing pressur(real or imaginary) and unloading the ball early into the flats instead of stepping up or rolling to the outside of the pocket allowing the deeper routes time to develop?
Is the QB choosing where the ball is going at the line of scrimmage?
Does the QB panic at the first sign of an impending blitz -> which may be a bluff in some cases by the defense?
I've noticed guys all season with routes down field but never a look from the QB. Some of these guys have been uncovered in some cases due to coverage breakdowns by the defense but the QB never worked his progressions.
How is it that the QB that had such a supposedly awesome season was not in the pre-season top 5 or 6 for B1G QB's, which is the weakest B1G of my lifetime? Did the rest of the league know something or realize a padding of the stats took place against very weak opponents at home and with a very good WR (McNutt) ? I can recall mostly poor results on the road last year that looked a lot like this year.
This may be 100% on the OC but I want to see another QB play this system before I assign the blame. KF has prevented this look by purposely not playing another QB even in mop-up time.
