Open letter to Ferentz

I think Bama is the best writer on that site and that was terrifically done. Completely agree with every sentiment.
 
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100% what I am thinking but much more diplomatically worded. Well done.
 
That's a pretty good article.

I would argue that Wisconsin isn't "sexy" though, Beils even says that in his comments.

Pretty interesting and applicable, though, for sure.

Thanks for the link.
 
Excellent piece. I agree with all of it, but find the reference to Bear Bryant changing schemes to continue his success the most salient point of the article. Our schemes are antiquated and far too predictable. While I respect KF's loyalty to his coordinators, he also has a duty to the university and the fans to put the BEST product on the field he possibly can. He is not doing that with KOK and Norm as coordintors and if he doesn't recognize that, then perhaps his time here is done.

Slice it how you like, but the program is in decline and tough choices need to be made.
 
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Very well written. I'm not going to speak for other fans, but it personally put what I was writing into a more well written and less emotional way. Thanks for the link.
 
The only problem is, they KNOW of the shortcomings and WONT change. At what point do we as a fanbase say "Ok, then you gotta go"?


At this point, I think Kirk Ferentz would be a great NFL coach, but college has passed him by, as it changes too much, too fast.
 
I'd have to agree with what Bama wrote. Pretty good article. We all see the same things that he noted towards the bottom of the page, and those are the things that we fans want to see fixed.
 
Very well done and largely what I'm thinking, but much more diplomatically.

JonDMiller should read this. Perhaps he would gain some fresh insight.
 
I've watched Iowa long enough to know that Kirk will leave in the next couple years and Iowa will reach the Next Level, of averaging 4 wins a year.
 
Valid points on many issues, and my comment throughout the second half and after the game was "we have never been so out-coached in the KF era". I fully support hawk fans critiquing the very negative outcome of the MN game - the team and staff deserve the blame. However, I disagree with Bama hawk regarding the line "Iowa won't have great seasons again until modifications happen" (appeared in the last paragraph). Was yesterday's loss worse than the woodshed jobs against Indiana or Purdue in 2007? Or the season ending loss to Western Michigan that year? It might be a reasoned argument to say so, but it is debatable after the immediate emotion of this weekend wears off. That being said, the development of players has been a constant at Iowa under KF, and while it may not happen next year - Iowa can return to great seasons as was proved in 2009. By any measure that year was a great season - 11 wins, BCS bowl win, dominant at times, gritty throughout, and possibly an injury to Stanzi away from an undefeated regular season.

This doesn't take away from legitimate points regarding philosophical rigidity that is compounding shortcomings already evident on the team. A perfect example is the point made about the corners playing off and keeping receivers in front. In past years we could get by with that due to the horses we traditionally had on the DL and LB - we obviously don't have that this year, but we don't adjust the secondary philosophy to compensate for this. Likewise with blitz packages, blitz pick-up, offensive packages, etc...
 
Great article. However, I don't think Kirk would have to fire KOK or Norm to get a completely different product on the field. I think Kirk would just have to remove the chains holding them back. I feel this way because both KOK and Norm ran completely different schemes with their former teams.
 
I agree with this 100000% with two thumbs up! Things need to CHANGE in a drastic way in Hawkeye football.
 
That's a pretty good article.

I would argue that Wisconsin isn't "sexy" though, Beils even says that in his comments.

Pretty interesting and applicable, though, for sure.

Thanks for the link.


They are not sexy in the sense of spread out throw all over the place. But what i think Bama is getting at, is the ability to use personnel to their advantage and blow lesser opponents out of the water. More or less have the ability to score a crap load of points, which is sexy when dealing with the BCS.
 
This was a very well-written article. We all want success. Coach wants success ... fans want success. But something is not clicking in Iowa City. It's easier to focus on the Top 10 finishes and theOrange Bowl appearance, and how many players we have sent to the NFL ... but what's missing are the numbers that don't often get looked at ... Our road record; our record against the ISU's, Minnesota's, Indiana's ... Yes, Kirk has been great for Iowa ... But we can't simply live in the past and not question the future ...
 
And what is this writers credentials? It is about execution. Every coach and player knows that. If we had executed the other day every time we were in the red zone or even ONE time more, how about if we had executed on D and got ONE more stop, none of this would be brought up.
I have never said a bad word about the schemes these coaches use. They work. Dont think so, watch ball on Sunday sometime. Problem is we seem to have a bunch of kids who think they are playing flag football. I also understand him telling them to calm down, I think he should let them be happy and do a jig for a second, but then it's time to focus again. If you have kids or have coached, you know Bill Cosby was right, they all have brain damage, and trying to keep a younger person focused to be the best they can be is very hard. Dont think so, then you are one of those"that never happens" guys, or a one pump chump. Everything is about focus and execution.
 
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