Here is a 6 and half minute video breaking down a little bit of CJ Beathard. Within in it, there is some footage that is noteworthy. It is going to seem like I'm critical of CJ here which isn't my intent. My intent is to show that not all of Iowa's shortcomings come at the feet of the coaches and that Iowa does in fact actually send WR's beyond 5 yards on a regular basis. Here is the link. My commentary matches a lot of what's on the video although I sprinkle in a couple of additional comments because I'm trying to breakdown more of the play itself rather than evaluate the QB. Here is the link.
The first play shown is a play action pass on 1st down with a slant and flat/bubble route combo on the weak side. The play fake does what it is supposed to do which is bring in the linebackers and we get man coverage on the WR's. The slant here should be open. It's not a well run route, but there is still a place to put the ball and CJ gets it there, but Smith cannot hang on. In live time it probably looks like a dumb call because of the result, but everything was executed well except the route and catch. This is an execution problem, not a play calling problem.
The second play show is a stick concept. I'd like to note that this concept does feature a go route which is something Iowa allegedly never runs. Vandeburg is one on one in that situation. I'm not saying that he should take that shot, I'm just saying it's there if you trust your guy. If you're angry at the lack of aggression, that's on the QB, not on the coaches calling the play. On the weak side, Hillyer runs what is either going to end up as a 10-12 yard in route or post route. The safety on that side of the field gets sucked in so if the QB did want to try and throw it up for Hillyer, he could. CJ does make his way to the best match up though. Hillyes route clears out the weak side for Daniels who is leaking out of the backfield. It does appear to me that Daniels will have half a step on the LB so assuming he can make the catch, it would set up a 3rd and short or maybe even end up in a first down. However, the play is doomed due because the LT gets beat quickly and the DE hits CJ as he throws. This play was an execution problem, not a play calling problem.
On the 4th play, the Hawkeyes are facing a 3rd and 2 and have three WR left and one WR right. On the trips side, the Stanford defense is giving a cushion and playing press coverage against Smith on the other side. Stanford is showing that they are bringing 5 and sure enough they do. On the right side, Smith runs a quick hook/out just beyond the sticks and on the left side, the two inside receivers are running slants and while Hillyer on the outside runs a quick in at the sticks. Typical crap ass Greg Davis play call right? Vandeburg is open on one of the quick slants. This should be an easy first down. Instead, CJ locked in on T. Smith on the right side for whatever reason and throws to Smith. This play was an execution problem, not a play calling problem.
On the 5th play, the Hawkeyes are facing a 3rd and 3 and have the receivers to the right and two receivers to the left. The Stanford is giving a cushion to the receivers on the right and playing up close on the receivers on the left. We have two outs at the sticks by the inside receivers on the right and the outside receiver runs what is looking like a go route but it appears he is running it with the intention of blocking. This would lead me to believe the coaches want the ball to go to one of the out routes. The Stanford defender jumps the route and takes it for 6. If the coaches do in fact preach they want that ball to go to one of the out routes, one could put some blame on the coaches. But CJ is ultimately the man with the ball and is the guy that gets to pull the trigger. On the left, T. Smith gets open right away on a quick slant which would be an easy first down. I don't think the play design is horrible here, I think Stanford just did a good job of taking away the initial read. But there was an easy throw to be made. This to me is an execution problem.
On the last play it shows CJ scrambling for a first down on 3rd and 6. The only thing I'd like to note here is that three of the Hawkeyes WR's do run downfield routes past the sticks with one route a couple yards short. The Stanford coverage here is getting good depth and defending the line to gain. A downfield throw here will be difficult to make.
The first play shown is a play action pass on 1st down with a slant and flat/bubble route combo on the weak side. The play fake does what it is supposed to do which is bring in the linebackers and we get man coverage on the WR's. The slant here should be open. It's not a well run route, but there is still a place to put the ball and CJ gets it there, but Smith cannot hang on. In live time it probably looks like a dumb call because of the result, but everything was executed well except the route and catch. This is an execution problem, not a play calling problem.
The second play show is a stick concept. I'd like to note that this concept does feature a go route which is something Iowa allegedly never runs. Vandeburg is one on one in that situation. I'm not saying that he should take that shot, I'm just saying it's there if you trust your guy. If you're angry at the lack of aggression, that's on the QB, not on the coaches calling the play. On the weak side, Hillyer runs what is either going to end up as a 10-12 yard in route or post route. The safety on that side of the field gets sucked in so if the QB did want to try and throw it up for Hillyer, he could. CJ does make his way to the best match up though. Hillyes route clears out the weak side for Daniels who is leaking out of the backfield. It does appear to me that Daniels will have half a step on the LB so assuming he can make the catch, it would set up a 3rd and short or maybe even end up in a first down. However, the play is doomed due because the LT gets beat quickly and the DE hits CJ as he throws. This play was an execution problem, not a play calling problem.
On the 4th play, the Hawkeyes are facing a 3rd and 2 and have three WR left and one WR right. On the trips side, the Stanford defense is giving a cushion and playing press coverage against Smith on the other side. Stanford is showing that they are bringing 5 and sure enough they do. On the right side, Smith runs a quick hook/out just beyond the sticks and on the left side, the two inside receivers are running slants and while Hillyer on the outside runs a quick in at the sticks. Typical crap ass Greg Davis play call right? Vandeburg is open on one of the quick slants. This should be an easy first down. Instead, CJ locked in on T. Smith on the right side for whatever reason and throws to Smith. This play was an execution problem, not a play calling problem.
On the 5th play, the Hawkeyes are facing a 3rd and 3 and have the receivers to the right and two receivers to the left. The Stanford is giving a cushion to the receivers on the right and playing up close on the receivers on the left. We have two outs at the sticks by the inside receivers on the right and the outside receiver runs what is looking like a go route but it appears he is running it with the intention of blocking. This would lead me to believe the coaches want the ball to go to one of the out routes. The Stanford defender jumps the route and takes it for 6. If the coaches do in fact preach they want that ball to go to one of the out routes, one could put some blame on the coaches. But CJ is ultimately the man with the ball and is the guy that gets to pull the trigger. On the left, T. Smith gets open right away on a quick slant which would be an easy first down. I don't think the play design is horrible here, I think Stanford just did a good job of taking away the initial read. But there was an easy throw to be made. This to me is an execution problem.
On the last play it shows CJ scrambling for a first down on 3rd and 6. The only thing I'd like to note here is that three of the Hawkeyes WR's do run downfield routes past the sticks with one route a couple yards short. The Stanford coverage here is getting good depth and defending the line to gain. A downfield throw here will be difficult to make.
