Play of the game...

dagdaj

Well-Known Member
Hear me out on this.
We should all be pounding this. Friendly media should be pounding this.

The play where Sullivan kicked it into 4th and got in front of the ball carrier and threw a better than average block for a QB, and added decent yards after.

Isn't that everything you ask of players? Isn't that Kirkball? Execute. Then go the extra mile?

There is no controversy.

Do this right and Sullivan breaks the streak of <300 yard games. Against Nebraska.
 
Sullivan showed he is a gamer with that play.
His TD run showed how much opponents completely ignore the Iowa QB run option and load up on the RB's. KJ had a much better performance after Sullivan came in.
His throws were better. He could scramble and extend plays.
Is he great? No.
Does he contribute more than McNamara? Yes.
It seemed the entire team responded to his play. Offense & defense.
 
Hear me out on this.
We should all be pounding this. Friendly media should be pounding this.

The play where Sullivan kicked it into 4th and got in front of the ball carrier and threw a better than average block for a QB, and added decent yards after.

Isn't that everything you ask of players? Isn't that Kirkball? Execute. Then go the extra mile?

There is no controversy.

Do this right and Sullivan breaks the streak of <300 yard games. Against Nebraska.
 
Sullivan showed he is a gamer with that play.
His TD run showed how much opponents completely ignore the Iowa QB run option and load up on the RB's. KJ had a much better performance after Sullivan came in.
His throws were better. He could scramble and extend plays.
Is he great? No.
Does he contribute more than McNamara? Yes.
It seemed the entire team responded to his play. Offense & defense.
All of this. We don’t need great QB play. We just need someone with a skill set that can elevate the team. With this offense’s composition, that has always obviously been the guy who can run. Why would you take the guy you know to be a below average passer with no mobility over the guy who you expect to be a below average passer with mobility?
 
All of this. We don’t need great QB play. We just need someone with a skill set that can elevate the team. With this offense’s composition, that has always obviously been the guy who can run. Why would you take the guy you know to be a below average passer with no mobility over the guy who you expect to be a below average passer with mobility?

One would think the issue is settled now

There can be no doubt, Hawks have a solid healthy skilled QB now

Cade did the best he could, but the injuries have hampered his play, and he had to be constantly
on edge with the threat of another hit that would end his career permanently

Sully has a skillful running game and that adds a dimension that makes our offense light years
better

After The Deacon and an oft injured QB, we have someone we can depend on

It's All Good
 
I can't remember a time I have seen a QB throw a forward pass, then sprint out and become the lead blocker - that hustle was amazing

Yeah, Sully's instincts are solid

That is certainly the play of the game as the TopDawg posted
 
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Watching McNamara is like watching an improved Deacon Hill. You can see the improvement but it is still is horrible to watch. Sullivan is a gamer, does everything better and is fun to watch.
 
I was at the game and cheered big time when Mac threw a deep ball to perfection. Yeah, only one. But on occasion I have seen evidence of Mac’s QB skills. Then he breaks my heart with inept performances. Damn.

Caution. Comments about Mac, in all fairness, should be carefully presented. He has been a loyal and brave Hawkeye. Rehab from two surgeries. Any takers out there? New system, new school, new city, new teammates. Then a new O coordinator and QB coach. He is a Captain. By all reports, his team mates love the guy.

It is likely that he has flat out been unable to turn the page to playing like the guy who started for Michigan for God’s sake! Maybe he will be asked to try again.

No doubt about it, Sully was really good. His style is totally different from a long line of recent Iowa QB’s. NW was screwed with their lack of preparation when came in. Tough shit, NW. The coaches gave him stuff he could do, which he did very effectively.
I am guessing he gets the start vs Wisconsin. We could see Mac as well. That would be fascinating!

I will add that I have watched a lot of QB’s Over lots of years. Often the inexperienced guys tend to revert to the run too soon because they are not sophisticated enough as passers to read defenses and go to the air. Look at our back up QB in last year’s bowl game, who will not be back next season.

But Sully is not without valuable experience. I am hopeful that he will pass first and run second. We could certainly see him as the #1 QB in 2025. But we better also go to the portal.
 
Love the young man’s tenacity, his heart. Not pleased with QB play. I’m an old geezer and can easily make some of the throws he misses. I think we have found our solution for this year, time for Cade to support the new number 1.
 
I was at the game and cheered big time when Mac threw a deep ball to perfection. Yeah, only one. But on occasion I have seen evidence of Mac’s QB skills. Then he breaks my heart with inept performances. Damn.

Caution. Comments about Mac, in all fairness, should be carefully presented. He has been a loyal and brave Hawkeye. Rehab from two surgeries. Any takers out there? New system, new school, new city, new teammates. Then a new O coordinator and QB coach. He is a Captain. By all reports, his team mates love the guy.

It is likely that he has flat out been unable to turn the page to playing like the guy who started for Michigan for God’s sake! Maybe he will be asked to try again.

No doubt about it, Sully was really good. His style is totally different from a long line of recent Iowa QB’s. NW was screwed with their lack of preparation when came in. Tough shit, NW. The coaches gave him stuff he could do, which he did very effectively.
I am guessing he gets the start vs Wisconsin. We could see Mac as well. That would be fascinating!

I will add that I have watched a lot of QB’s Over lots of years. Often the inexperienced guys tend to revert to the run too soon because they are not sophisticated enough as passers to read defenses and go to the air. Look at our back up QB in last year’s bowl game, who will not be back next season.

But Sully is not without valuable experience. I am hopeful that he will pass first and run second. We could certainly see him as the #1 QB in 2025. But we better also go to the portal.
You're correct that inexperienced throwers tend to bail out earlier than experienced QBs. But frankly, after the past 3 years I don't care if Iowa's QB throws, runs, or crawls. If he can hold onto the ball, move the chains, and put points on the board, that's all I care about. And according to KF, that's what HE cares about too -- in that order. If Sullivan can move the ball down the field and score by running, God's speed, bro.
 
You're correct that inexperienced throwers tend to bail out earlier than experienced QBs. But frankly, after the past 3 years I don't care if Iowa's QB throws, runs, or crawls. If he can hold onto the ball, move the chains, and put points on the board, that's all I care about. And according to KF, that's what HE cares about too -- in that order. If Sullivan can move the ball down the field and score by running, God's speed, bro.
Yup
 
Cade was given a chance and left Michigan because he got passed up on depth chart. Not a dig on him, just the truth. Iowa took a chance on an injured QB and he was compensated (don’t know how much) to come to Iowa and play at a high level.
It hasn’t planned out how either side would have liked I suspect and that’s ok.
Now you give someone else a shot and if Cade is as good of teammate/leader as some suspect, he will support the team and work his ass off to get better if his number is called. In all honesty and fairness he doesn’t deserve anymore of a chance than Sullivan. Sullivan has been patient, worked hard and taken the little packages he had been given up until last game.
To say Cade deserves to be playing is incredibly disrespectful to Sullivan and the work and commitment he’s shown. If Cade can’t be the type of teammate Sullivan has been then maybe people have him all wrong.
 
Cade was given a chance and left Michigan because he got passed up on depth chart. Not a dig on him, just the truth. Iowa took a chance on an injured QB and he was compensated (don’t know how much) to come to Iowa and play at a high level.
It hasn’t planned out how either side would have liked I suspect and that’s ok.
Now you give someone else a shot and if Cade is as good of teammate/leader as some suspect, he will support the team and work his ass off to get better if his number is called. In all honesty and fairness he doesn’t deserve anymore of a chance than Sullivan. Sullivan has been patient, worked hard and taken the little packages he had been given up until last game.
To say Cade deserves to be playing is incredibly disrespectful to Sullivan and the work and commitment he’s shown. If Cade can’t be the type of teammate Sullivan has been then maybe people have him all wrong.
Could not agree more
 
I’m 100% on the Sullivan train and I think it’s the right move to start him from here on out.

However…

You folks need to pump the brakes a little bit on the expectations.

Wisconsin is in no way shape or form similar to NW. They are a real-deal salty B1G team. What happened against Northwestern’s defense is not going to happen against Fickel and Tressel. NW’s head coach, DC, and players are totally in over their heads.

Sullivan no doubt should be the new starter (he probably won’t be), but people here need to temper the expectations. He’s not going to be easily zipping around the DE for 6-7 yards or getting 10 seconds to move around and throw the ball. This game next week is going to be a different affair.
 
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