Play To Win

[HawkleberryFinn]

Kirk ball won't get it done this year. We need to take chances, while being fundamentally sound. The grind it out method won't take us to the title. They don't have to Texas Tech on every series, but it would be nice to see some audacious play-calling every other series.

 

[Northside Hawk]

Kirk ball won't get it done this year. We need to take chances, while being fundamentally sound. The grind it out method won't take us to the title. They don't have to Texas Tech on every series, but it would be nice to see some audacious play-calling every other series.

If anything the bowl win over Cowbell U proved that Kirkball is more alive and well than ever. The way we won that was Kirkball if ever it existed. Don't look for major philosophical changes on offense. However, we are making subtle but effective changes on defense; rotating bodies, fewer Will's and Leo's covering wideouts, the cash position, etc.

 

[revkev73]

If anything the bowl win over Cowbell U proved that Kirkball is more alive and well than ever. The way we won that was Kirkball if ever it existed. Don't look for major philosophical changes on offense. However, we are making subtle but effective changes on defense; rotating bodies, fewer Will's and Leo's covering wideouts, the cash position, etc.

Everyone has a "default setting" for Kirk it is the safety of 7-5, 8-4 rather than throwing all the nuts in the kettle.

If he keeps it at an even 7-5, churns out a few NFL players, and "molds citizens" rather than going for the gold, well, he will be here longer than many of us. And greasing the wheels for family.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

Everyone has a "default setting" for Kirk it is the safety of 7-5, 8-4 rather than throwing all the nuts in the kettle.

If he keeps it at an even 7-5, churns out a few NFL players, and "molds citizens" rather than going for the gold, well, he will be here longer than many of us. And greasing the wheels for family.

Mark this down: if the Hawks stay at 8 wins or better, with two 10-win seasons included (pre-bowl), then win 4 of the 6 bowls in those seasons, Brian Ferentz is the new coach come 1/1/2026. Maybe even Phil Parker as HC, with Brian taking over 1/1/2029 or 1/1/2030. And this board will love it, assuming we're still posting in such an archaic fashion. Anything less, then Brian has a yard full of "For Sale" signs for seasons on end...

 

[revkev73]

Mark this down: if the Hawks stay at 8 wins or better, with two 10-win seasons included (pre-bowl), then win 4 of the 6 bowls in those seasons, Brian Ferentz is the new coach come 1/1/2026. Maybe even Phil Parker as HC, with Brian taking over 1/1/2029 or 1/1/2030. And this board will love it, assuming we're still posting in such an archaic fashion. Anything less, then Brian has a yard full of "For Sale" signs for seasons on end...

Don't you think Kirk has a "wink deal" in place already for Brian? Kirk is the de facto AD correct? He doesn't do anything by accident, calculated for advantage. Of course, it would have to go through all of multicultural filters and PC process to hire Brian. But I can't imagine there isn't a plan in place already.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

Don't you think Kirk has a "wink deal" in place already for Brian? Kirk is the de facto AD correct? He doesn't do anything by accident, calculated for advantage. Of course, it would have to go through all of multicultural filters and PC process to hire Brian. But I can't imagine there isn't a plan in place already.

It's a theory. But I'm not sure Kirk has as much stroke outside the Athletic Dept. as we might think. All it takes is one column in the Daily Iowan and, bam, certain folks become concerned with "rules" and "procedure".

 

[HawkleberryFinn]

They played to win with a mediocre team in 2015. A few lucky bounces for sure, but look where they ended up.

 

[revkev73]

It's a theory. But I'm not sure Kirk has as much stroke outside the Athletic Dept. as we might think. All it takes is one column in the Daily Iowan and, bam, certain folks become concerned with "rules" and "procedure".

Seldom has average lasted so long, anywhere.

 

[SteveGarvey1]

Play to win but don't play stupid and reckless to win, like the fake field goal vs. Nebraska last November.

 

[Robowe]

Play to win but don't play stupid and reckless to win, like the fake field goal vs. Nebraska last November.

It's funny, people think Kirk is stuck in his ways. Last year, they ran fake field goals vs Minnesota (score), Penn State (score), and Nebraska (fail). Isn't that the definition of playing to win? It doesn't always work out, but it is fun.

 

[kicker22]

It's funny, people think Kirk is stuck in his ways. Last year, they ran fake field goals vs Minnesota (score), Penn State (score), and Nebraska (fail). Isn't that the definition of playing to win? It doesn't always work out, but it is fun.

I think there's a happy medium between playing way too conservative and being overly aggressive when you don't need to be. Just my opinion, but I'd like to see us take more chances on 2nd and medium or 3rd and short then I would in scoring position. As much as it meets that "fun" factor, there are times I'd much rather see us attempt field goals and take the points as opposed to flipping the field and playing the field position game.

 

[Robowe]

I think there's a happy medium between playing way too conservative and being overly aggressive when you don't need to be. Just my opinion, but I'd like to see us take more chances on 2nd and medium or 3rd and short then I would in scoring position. As much as it meets that "fun" factor, there are times I'd much rather see us attempt field goals and take the points as opposed to flipping the field and playing the field position game.

Agreed on the happy medium. However, it's a results oriented society now. Iowa led 14-7 early in the second quarter vs Minnesota. 4th and goal on the 4 yard line and they run a fake FG play to score a TD to take a 21-7. Great. Iowa maintained the lead the rest of the game.

Iowa leads Nebraska 28-13 late in the 3rd quarter. They try a fake FG at the 3 and fail. Nebraska comes back to tie the game (eventually), but Iowa wins late. If Iowa does get a TD there to make it 35-13, game over. They went for the win there and it didn't work. Hindsight is easy to use here, but I appreciated the shot at ending it there.

As far as playcalling goes (2nd and medium or 3rd and short), it will be interesting to see if the coaches give Stanley a little more freedom. History shows ... maybe, but we will see.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Kirk ball won't get it done this year. We need to take chances, while being fundamentally sound. The grind it out method won't take us to the title. They don't have to Texas Tech on every series, but it would be nice to see some audacious play-calling every other series.

I think Brian is trying to get to that or his vision is a little more liberal as far as passing goes. I just think they didn't have the receiving corp to work with and they are trying to slowly turn that around. He has a senior QB this year. Trust him.

 

[kicker22]

Agreed on the happy medium. However, it's a results oriented society now. Iowa led 14-7 early in the second quarter vs Minnesota. 4th and goal on the 4 yard line and they run a fake FG play to score a TD to take a 21-7. Great. Iowa maintained the lead the rest of the game.

Iowa leads Nebraska 28-13 late in the 3rd quarter. They try a fake FG at the 3 and fail. Nebraska comes back to tie the game (eventually), but Iowa wins late. If Iowa does get a TD there to make it 35-13, game over. They went for the win there and it didn't work. Hindsight is easy to use here, but I appreciated the shot at ending it there.

As far as playcalling goes (2nd and medium or 3rd and short), it will be interesting to see if the coaches give Stanley a little more freedom. History shows ... maybe, but we will see.

No argument at all there and very valid points. What I'm saying though is while those plays make a difference, the little things matter too. When we conservatively run the ball on third and long or end up completing a 4 yard pass on a 3rd and 6, at the end of the day it ends up being nothing more than a failed 3rd down attempt. However if we open things up a bit more those failed 3rd downs could turn into field goals or touchdowns which could be the difference between it being a 1 or 2 possession game late in the fourth quarter.

 

[Robowe]

No argument at all there and very valid points. What I'm saying though is while those plays make a difference, the little things matter too. When we conservatively run the ball on third and long or end up completing a 4 yard pass on a 3rd and 6, at the end of the day it ends up being nothing more than a failed 3rd down attempt. However if we open things up a bit more those failed 3rd downs could turn into field goals or touchdowns which could be the difference between it being a 1 or 2 possession game late in the fourth quarter.

I agree on the 4 yard pass on 3 and 6. Need to get receivers to run to the sticks (I don't blame the QB on those - they are running the play called). Running on 3rd and long ... frustrating.

 

[PCHawk]

No argument at all there and very valid points. What I'm saying though is while those plays make a difference, the little things matter too. When we conservatively run the ball on third and long or end up completing a 4 yard pass on a 3rd and 6, at the end of the day it ends up being nothing more than a failed 3rd down attempt. However if we open things up a bit more those failed 3rd downs could turn into field goals or touchdowns which could be the difference between it being a 1 or 2 possession game late in the fourth quarter.

I agree with this. Kirk has gotten way less conservative on 4th down calls, but really hasn't on the other 3 downs. Hopefully that changes too.

 

[westender]

Kirk ball won't get it done this year. We need to take chances, while being fundamentally sound. The grind it out method won't take us to the title. They don't have to Texas Tech on every series, but it would be nice to see some audacious play-calling every other series.

I didn't know Matt Campbell was on Hawkeye Nation. I guess it is the off season.

 

[Grady]

I love the trick plays being called the last couple years. What amazes me is that opposing coaches have not ONCE called a timeout when Iowa shifts to a funky position. I'm guessing that going forward those same coaches (Ohio St., Penn St., MN, for starters) will call a timeout if Iowa ever lines up in anything unusual again. I was at the Iowa-NB game and didn't like that fake call at all, tho, given the time and score. When you've got a chip-shot FG to go up 3 scores late in the 3rd quarter vs a BTen opponent, you gotta take it. Even if you score the TD there to go up 35-13 it's still a 3 score game, so the gain vs the risk was not worth it...and it almost cost them the game.

 

[karras]

Play to win but don't play stupid and reckless to win, like the fake field goal vs. Nebraska last November.

Most fans hated that play but I was okay with it, as I saw it as a statement move.
The one that bothered me was the year we got near the red zone right before the half, and then called some dive plays that made the announcers go, "what is the coach thinking right now". Then we line up for a FG 25 yards away from the end zone and we execute a fake with the kicker running for his life. Ultra-conservative for multiple previous plays and then that. When the clones/hawkeyes took the field after halftime the announcers were still talking about that series of calls.

Overall though I've seen more risk-taking from Brian than I saw from the previous 2 OCs. Same can be said for Parker the last few seasons. Brian just needs to improve on use of personnel. Brian was quoted by the commentators during the Illinois game (after we lost to NW) as saying, "Fant's involvement in our offense last week was not where it needs to be" . . . and I'm thinking, "well you're the OC, if his involvement is down, whose fault is that?"

 

[InGoodCo]

Iowa's lot in life means that it likely will NEVER be a consistently elite program. One that wins double digit games every single year. It can happen, sure. But close to a 120 years of data and history proves that it likely won't be, regardless of coach. Kirk Ferentz, Bill Bilacheck, Hayden Fry or Vince Lombardi. It really doesn't matter, as you can't really take the U of I and move it somewhere else and change it's demographics. History does however, show us that Iowa can be a pretty bad program in the wrong hands. I feel like the program continues to build and evolve. It's one of the most consistent winners in college football. The highs haven't been enough for me either, but I ask myself this all the time, would I rather be good every year, and literally always good and competitive, or would I rather suck most of the time and have a big run here and there like *most* programs in Iowa's pecking order on the totem poll? I would rather always be good. I would rather always have the S&C program Iowa has, I would rather have the NFL pipeline that it's established, I would rather have the culture that Iowa has that others don't. That's just me and my opinion. Iowa is a program many others are envious of and whoever we need to pay to keep that going, that's what I want.