Not getting first downs to protect a late lead- the bane of Iowa Kirk ball

[uihawk82]

I am not sure, just guessing, but there has to be about a game a year, 20-25 games, that Kirk could have one more in the win column if he had 1) the really stout, powerful running game to grind out first downs late with a lead, 2) have the creativity to design some plays and practice them to no end to get a guy open a yard beyond the sticks, or 3) confidently throw on first downs when teams are loading up to stop the run.

Man, I/we have seen this so many times. I said I was going to flush this loss but then I read a recap on HawkCentral which mentioned the last two '3 and outs' the hawks had while having the lead. Just one first down in either possession might have done it.

And one type of player can get these first downs and that is a pretty fast mobile shifty QB. Banks, Tate, CJB, and even Stanzi many times could fake and roll out and run or pass for big plays.

It is too bad. Of course we all wish Kirk would have gone for that 4th and one prior to the late Kentucky scoring drive. And besides that I/we can't figure out on one of those downs in that series why Brian called for a hurry up, quick line up when running clock would have been great and when Iowa hardly does that hurry up stuff and it looked like the hawks were more messed up.

 

[Motigerhawk]

Wake Forest scored 70 points in 17 minutes in a game this season. It takes us 3 or 4 games to score 70.

 

[HaydenHawk56]

I also don't understand the deep hands offs as well to our backs late in the game. Slow developing plays kills our running game whether it be east to west or north to south.

 

[okeefe4prez]

Wake Forest scored 70 points in 17 minutes in a game this season. It takes us 3 or 4 games to score 70.

Sit down. If you add up all the points we scored in our four losses, we didn't even get halfway to 70.

 

[HuckFinn]

I also don't understand the deep hands offs as well to our backs late in the game. Slow developing plays kills our running game whether it be east to west or north to south.

Yup.

 

[kicker22]

Way to often we focus on one play that "determines the game". Sure the decision to punt on 3rd 4th down gave UK the opportunity they needed, but I have more issues then a decision that in those situation has worked for us in the past more times then it didn't. Like OP said the the last two three and outs were as detrimental in the loss as the decision to punt was. The bigger issue IMO was the fact we were 4-11 on third down and our TOP was only 22:06. Football is a game of inches. You cannot allow your opponent to have the ball for nearly 2/3s of the game and expect to legitimately come away with a win when you give your opponent that much time to gain those "extra inches".

 

[thedukeofearl]

I am not sure, just guessing, but there has to be about a game a year, 20-25 games, that Kirk could have one more in the win column if he had 1) the really stout, powerful running game to grind out first downs late with a lead, 2) have the creativity to design some plays and practice them to no end to get a guy open a yard beyond the sticks, or 3) confidently throw on first downs when teams are loading up to stop the run.

Man, I/we have seen this so many times. I said I was going to flush this loss but then I read a recap on HawkCentral which mentioned the last two '3 and outs' the hawks had while having the lead. Just one first down in either possession might have done it.

And one type of player can get these first downs and that is a pretty fast mobile shifty QB. Banks, Tate, CJB, and even Stanzi many times could fake and roll out and run or pass for big plays.

It is too bad. Of course we all wish Kirk would have gone for that 4th and one prior to the late Kentucky scoring drive. And besides that I/we can't figure out on one of those downs in that series why Brian called for a hurry up, quick line up when running clock would have been great and when Iowa hardly does that hurry up stuff and it looked like the hawks were more messed up.

The timeout factor destroyed us

One wasted in a futile attempt to draw them offsides

Pitiful gamble when we were within inches of a first down

Then, when we needed a solid punt, pinning them inside the 10 where it is very
difficult to operate effectively

Then, we give up the Killer TD

I wonder if Riley Moss, the All American could have, at least, taken a penalty

Then, the timeout that wasn't called and resulted in a frantic mess that could have
prevented with a timeout, giving more time to hike the ball and perhaps a planned
play that might have resulted in a few inches for the First Down, and put us within
field goal range

Whatever it is worth, I still remember being ranked in the Top Ten for a few weeks

And, being ranked Number Two for a week

 

[uihawk82]

The timeout factor destroyed us

One wasted in a futile attempt to draw them offsides

No shit, and you are so correct. Why at your own 45 yard line, with 4th and 1, and your attempt to draw the other team offside fails would you waste a time out to save you 5 yards and put you back to the 40 yard line. That is so stupid. Yet I see pro coaches and many college coaches do it. So stupid and you wonder how someone making 5 to 8 million dollars a year can do it, not only Kirk but a lot of top coaches.

Now if you are at your own 5 yard line punting it might be worth it to not get a delay of game and try to get a booming punt by giving your punter a whole 15 yards of snap distance.

And Duke, there was a whole list of errors by the hawks in that game, it was not a clean game.

I do not give any players on either side any shit for physical and some mental mistakes though on a day when the field temps were > than 100 degrees the whole game.