Northwestern has become Iowa

#1DieHardHawk

#1DieHardHawk

Well-Known Member
Remember the formula that propelled Iowa in the 80's and from 2002 - 2005?

Gritty, physically and mentally tough players.

Big, physical offensive line.

Powerful, downhill runners.

Quarterbacks that manage the game and make plays when it counts.

Stout, smart front seven that shoot gaps and shed blocks.

The "Bullies of the Big Ten"

Well - along with Wisconsin if you go back to Alvarez taking over - that team is now the Northwestern Wildcats.
 
No, I'd say Wisconsin became Iowa. Northwestern is who they have always been under Fitz. As usual, they have a great QB. As usual, their line gets manhandled against better teams that are properly coached. As usual, they have patience on offense and just enough defense to stay in games.

Their running game was an adjustment they made mid season. Larkin didn't run like that. But Fitz didn't sit there saying "aw shucks, my runnin' back is hurt so let's pack it in boys," he went out and revamped their offense a little bit to fit the players that he has. O'Keefe used to be able to do that when he was OC, like in 2004, but he ain't OC anymore.
 
Good point. And just a more attacking style on defense than Iowa the last 8 years and a better executing offense. Fitz knows how to muck up the opponents offense.

The hawks seemed to wait until very late in the game on defense to actually try to shoot some gaps on defense and get a negative play (jNW is noted for holding so that may have played a bit into it also). In the first half jNW didnt run the ball very well but they made some adjustments
 
okeefe4prez said:
No, I'd say Wisconsin became Iowa. Northwestern is who they have always been under Fitz. As usual, they have a great QB. As usual, their line gets manhandled against better teams that are properly coached. As usual, they have patience on offense and just enough defense to stay in games.

Their running game was an adjustment they made mid season. Larkin didn't run like that. But Fitz didn't sit there saying "aw shucks, my runnin' back is hurt so let's pack it in boys," he went out and revamped their offense a little bit to fit the players that he has. O'Keefe used to be able to do that when he was OC, like in 2004, but he ain't OC anymore.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I mentioned Wisconsin, but, the reason I think Northwestern fits better is that Wisconsin runs different schemes than Iowa. They run a power running scheme, and a 3-4 defense. Plus, they've been doing it for so long, that it's hard to think of them "becoming Iowa." They're more of a parallel program.

Fitz has built his program based upon mental and physical toughness, and a dramatically improved S&C program - all traits that we used to assign to the Hawks. His schemes are very similar to our own, with the exception of more passes to the flats (but, it's still the philosophy of ball-control and sustained drives).
 
Ummm NW sucks. They lost all three non conference games. They had virtually no running game, and had their best day on the ground yesterday in Kinnick with a true freshman running the ball. We are just really, really bad, and getting worse. We play in the worst division in the worst conference in P5 football, and still have a losing record.
 
okeefe4prez said:
No, I'd say Wisconsin became Iowa. Northwestern is who they have always been under Fitz. As usual, they have a great QB. As usual, their line gets manhandled against better teams that are properly coached. As usual, they have patience on offense and just enough defense to stay in games.

Their running game was an adjustment they made mid season. Larkin didn't run like that. But Fitz didn't sit there saying "aw shucks, my runnin' back is hurt so let's pack it in boys," he went out and revamped their offense a little bit to fit the players that he has. O'Keefe used to be able to do that when he was OC, like in 2004, but he ain't OC anymore.
Click to expand...
Adjusting the fly was always part of Hayden's MO when they were struggling. When their 1981 season was going sideways he installed the shotgun in a week-and beat Purdue 33-7.

Kirk's developmental, stay the course formula is never going to look good when the team is struggling. In fact, it makes him look pretty stupid.
 
It's almost like Chris Doyle is the most overrated coach in the Iowa program right now.

The Doyle worship has been nonsensical for years now. Iowa gets pushed around by everyone. If we can't fire either of the Bozo Ferentzes, start here.
 
phdsvp said:
It's almost like Chris Doyle is the most overrated coach in the Iowa program right now.

The Doyle worship has been nonsensical for years now. Iowa gets pushed around by everyone. If we can't fire either of the Bozo Ferentzes, start here.
Click to expand...
The measure of a strength and conditioning coach is how many guys die or are seriously injured under his watch. Doyle hasn't seriously injured anyone in years and no one has died, so he is better than the guy at Maryland.
 
phdsvp said:
It's almost like Chris Doyle is the most overrated coach in the Iowa program right now.

The Doyle worship has been nonsensical for years now. Iowa gets pushed around by everyone. If we can't fire either of the Bozo Ferentzes, start here.
Click to expand...
And yet he's the highest paid SC Coach in the entire NCAA...once again, thank you Gary Barta.
Maybe Doyle should wear short sleeved polos that are three sizes too small.
At least he'd look the part.
 
Caddy said:
Ummm NW sucks. They lost all three non conference games. They had virtually no running game, and had their best day on the ground yesterday in Kinnick with a true freshman running the ball. We are just really, really bad, and getting worse. We play in the worst division in the worst conference in P5 football, and still have a losing record.
Click to expand...

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Very well said for a Cyclone fan...you ARE in the worst conference in P5 football....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Share this page

Top