QB expectations.

G

Grady

Well-Known Member
Commentators and fans alike seemed pleased overall about yesterday's QB play. I hate to be a kill-joy after a pleasant 40-0 win, but this is such a sad commentary of how low expectations are for Iowa's QBs. After yesterday's opening drive vs one of the worst teams in college football, starter Brown's stats for the remainder of the game were 8-15 for 90 yds. Hecklinski's game stats were 7-16 for 76 yds. A combined 15-31 for 166 yds. In modern college football, those are pretty pathetic numbers.

Brown started hot, then looked weak. Hecklinski made some horrible throws across his body, and his body language looked like he's lost all confidence.

Hoping for the best going forward, but other than yesterday's opening drive, objectively the QB play did not inspire confidence despite the 40-0 final score.
 
Grady said:
Commentators and fans alike seemed pleased overall about yesterday's QB play. I hate to be a kill-joy after a pleasant 40-0 win, but this is such a sad commentary of how low expectations are for Iowa's QBs. After yesterday's opening drive vs one of the worst teams in college football, starter Brown's stats for the remainder of the game were 8-15 for 90 yds. Hecklinski's game stats were 7-16 for 76 yds. A combined 15-31 for 166 yds. In modern college football, those are pretty pathetic numbers.

Brown started hot, then looked weak. Hecklinski made some horrible throws across his body, and his body language looked like he's lost all confidence.

Hoping for the best going forward, but other than yesterday's opening drive, objectively the QB play did not inspire confidence despite the 40-0 final score.
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There were hints here and there of good play from both QB's. Heck had some passes dropped. Some because he could have thrown the pass better. Hank had some passes dropped too. Same deal. Iowa could have easily had at least 2 more TD catches if the WR/TE's don't drop the pass in the endzone

But Heck had a couple of those passes where, well, maybe he should not have thrown it. Heck got 1 picked off in the endzone. Hank really only had 1 ball that could have been picked off.

But no argument, there's a lot that can be cleaned up with both QB's.
 
Grady said:
Commentators and fans alike seemed pleased overall about yesterday's QB play. I hate to be a kill-joy after a pleasant 40-0 win, but this is such a sad commentary of how low expectations are for Iowa's QBs. After yesterday's opening drive vs one of the worst teams in college football, starter Brown's stats for the remainder of the game were 8-15 for 90 yds. Hecklinski's game stats were 7-16 for 76 yds. A combined 15-31 for 166 yds. In modern college football, those are pretty pathetic numbers.

Brown started hot, then looked weak. Hecklinski made some horrible throws across his body, and his body language looked like he's lost all confidence.

Hoping for the best going forward, but other than yesterday's opening drive, objectively the QB play did not inspire confidence despite the 40-0 final score.
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Sadly, I agree. But it’s early. And, on the upside, I think we have a loaded receiver room.
 
Same as it ever was. IMO, they can win 9 or 10 games with just competent quarterback play. Huge caveat being, they need a FG kicker that can make at least 60% of his kicks. Watching the B1G this weekend, they can grind out a lot of W(s) by simply playing Iowa football.
 
Grady said:
Commentators and fans alike seemed pleased overall about yesterday's QB play. I hate to be a kill-joy after a pleasant 40-0 win, but this is such a sad commentary of how low expectations are for Iowa's QBs. After yesterday's opening drive vs one of the worst teams in college football, starter Brown's stats for the remainder of the game were 8-15 for 90 yds. Hecklinski's game stats were 7-16 for 76 yds. A combined 15-31 for 166 yds. In modern college football, those are pretty pathetic numbers.

Brown started hot, then looked weak. Hecklinski made some horrible throws across his body, and his body language looked like he's lost all confidence.

Hoping for the best going forward, but other than yesterday's opening drive, objectively the QB play did not inspire confidence despite the 40-0 final score.
Click to expand...
I can't argue with the stats but I think your view is one of the glass half empty. First extended playing time in two years for Hank, first ever for Heck. I heard that Heck indicated in his post-game comments that he was nervous. That is certainly understandable and I'm sure Brown was too. As hawkdrummer said, dropped passes were an issue. The other side is they both missed some open receivers. You hope down the line they hit those. Things seldom click that well in the first game.

These guys won't be shooting for first team All-B1G or anything like that. But I think one of them will raise their level of play to not only competence but something beyond that. We'll have to wait and see how it plays out but I am more optimistic than you are.
 
Brown’s first drive was likely scripted and rehearsed. Neither looked better than mediocre. Granted, first game jitters, but considering the competition….?
 
Do you people actually watch any college football other than Iowa games? I saw a lot of poor QB play in every game I watched yesterday. Brown looked excellent in his first three series, controlling the offense and making the passes that were there. Heck didn't look as good, but it's all relative. If you're going to flush them after one game I don't know what to tell you. You don't know football. I'm pretty sure the coaches will work with them both to correct what they did wrong, and build on the good things they both did.
 
HawkeyeTech said:
Do you people actually watch any college football other than Iowa games? I saw a lot of poor QB play in every game I watched yesterday. Brown looked excellent in his first three series, controlling the offense and making the passes that were there. Heck didn't look as good, but it's all relative. If you're going to flush them after one game I don't know what to tell you. You don't know football. I'm pretty sure the coaches will work with them both to correct what they did wrong, and build on the good things they both did.
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Both have improvements to be made for sure, but both also showed good potential. So, taking in this first game and adding how they both did in the spring game I'd say they are both even.

ISU is a significant improvement in talent and ability so it will be interesting to see how both QB's react to ISU's quickness. Heck's quickness may give him a slight edge over Brown going up against ISU.
 
HawkeyeTech said:
Do you people actually watch any college football other than Iowa games? I saw a lot of poor QB play in every game I watched yesterday. Brown looked excellent in his first three series, controlling the offense and making the passes that were there. Heck didn't look as good, but it's all relative. If you're going to flush them after one game I don't know what to tell you. You don't know football. I'm pretty sure the coaches will work with them both to correct what they did wrong, and build on the good things they both did.
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Sorry, I watch a LOT of college football, and if you think that after 2 years, the coaches will be able to suddenly "correct what they did wrong" by next week, I would suggest YOU don't know football. My point was that Iowa fans' expectations are ridiculously low for what they think is good quality QB play.

I didn't say the QBs played terrible, but other than the opening drive, both QBs' play was objectively subpar compared to what you could expect from BTen starting QBs playing vs one of the worst teams in all of college football.

I admit to being sick and tired of seeing MAC QBs making throws that many Iowa QBs haven't been able to make in recent years. The issue isn't whether I've watched ENOUGH college football -- the issue perhaps is that I've watched TOO MUCH football and have seen what is possible from the QB position.
 
BigD said:
Both have improvements to be made for sure, but both also showed good potential. So, taking in this first game and adding how they both did in the spring game I'd say they are both even.

ISU is a significant improvement in talent and ability so it will be interesting to see how both QB's react to ISU's quickness. Heck's quickness may give him a slight edge over Brown going up against ISU.
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Definitely seeing a defensive game for Saturday, but Hawks win by double digits.
 
THawk122 said:
Definitely seeing a defensive game for Saturday, but Hawks win by double digits.
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I know we all hope for this each year, but Iowa State seems to play their best when playing us. I knew their last coach was pretty good and the fact that he was taken away by a damn good Big Ten team says a lot. I don't know how their new coach will do over the next few years, but either way the players playing Iowa State will play their hearts out against us................ regardless of who their coach is. Rivalries can be a bitch.
 
Hank is the guy. He’s bigger, more accurate and doesn’t seem careless. Neither guy is really good, but they don’t have to be to win 7-8 games with this defense. They need to stop playing both guys and just let Hank get a ton of reps.
 
vork22 said:
Hank is the guy. He’s bigger, more accurate and doesn’t seem careless. Neither guy is really good, but they don’t have to be to win 7-8 games with this defense. They need to stop playing both guys and just let Hank get a ton of reps.
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Based on the NI game, I agree Brown looked better. Should get the start against the Clones. But Hecklinski should get about 1/3 of the snaps as well.
 
guffus said:
There were hints here and there of good play from both QB's. Heck had some passes dropped. Some because he could have thrown the pass better. Hank had some passes dropped too. Same deal. Iowa could have easily had at least 2 more TD catches if the WR/TE's don't drop the pass in the endzone

But Heck had a couple of those passes where, well, maybe he should not have thrown it. Heck got 1 picked off in the endzone. Hank really only had 1 ball that could have been picked off.

But no argument, there's a lot that can be cleaned up with both QB's.
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If you take away Diaz, Von & the TE depth on this years team, don't you pretty much have the teams of Petras & Deacon Hill? Eeeek!
 
A lot of Hank's early success I think was maybe scripted plays the first couple drives and on the legs of Moulton. He broke two huge runs and left short fields for Hank to manage. Now, I can't say Hank wouldn't have led the team down the field on a 9-12 play drive, but that is not what happen. Moulton got free on a couple and Iowa scored.
 
Brown exceeded my expectations, which were admittedly low. Heck did not, but as others have noted, he had drops and was not playing behind the full first team line, nor did he have the benefit of the scripted plays.

Overall, I came away understanding better why the coaches are having trouble seeing much separation. I also believe both guys are at least competent, which I was worried about. Both guys have lots of room for growth and should do so as they collect game experience. For me, just pick the guy you think has the highest ceiling and roll with him.
 
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