Quarterback Switch & Coaching Futures

[Hawkfnntn]

I don't understand this logic... Petras has struggled the last two games and had next to no meaningful reps last year. Yet it'd be different if we had a QB underneath him that has played, but because we haven't were just going to let him take his lumps? I'm not saying he deserves to be benched for the duration of his career or even the remainder of the season, but in any other sport if a starter is struggling you give them the hook, give them a chance to regroup, and then either let them fix things or win the position back. Our QB's have no meaningful experience because BF and KF refuse to give those backups any meaningful reps. Only way to get your feet wet is to be given an opportunity. Maybe Padilla isn't ready, but from what we've seen Petras may not be either. I just don't see it fair to allow one to continue to struggle while refusing to give the other an opportunity. But that's Iowa Football.

If Padilla had played we'd have an idea of how he looks. As it sits now the coaches in practice are the only ones that have a clue. He probably doesn't perform as well in practice as Petras. Now if Petras struggles against MSU too things may lean towards making a change. I just think a 2 game sample size with one of them playing in a nasty wind isn't necessarily a fair way to make a judgement. Neither do the coaches so far. They don't want to play musical chairs with that position. Easy to see why...

Now this is a weird ass year. No spring ball limited practices leading up to the games finally being played. He got no tune up cupcake games (like every other first yr starting qb under KF has had. He got Purdue on the road right out of the gate. It's just an asterisk yr. The yr of eligibility doesn't even count if they don't want it to. So I look at this yr as just a developmental yr for him anyway and hopefully hit the ground running next yr. I'd really like to see some improvement too. But I'm not going to bury the kid after 2 games with all these circumstances being what they've been

 

[kicker22]

If Padilla had played we'd have an idea of how he looks. As it sits now the coaches in practice are the only ones that have a clue. He probably doesn't perform as well in practice as Petras. Now if Petras struggles against MSU too things may lean towards making a change. I just think a 2 game sample size with one of them playing in a nasty wind isn't necessarily a fair way to make a judgement. Neither do the coaches so far. They don't want to play musical chairs with that position. Easy to see why...

Now this is a weird ass year. No spring ball limited practices leading up to the games finally being played. He got no tune up cupcake games (like every other first yr starting qb under KF has had. He got Purdue on the road right out of the gate. It's just an asterisk yr. The yr of eligibility doesn't even count if they don't want it to. So I look at this yr as just a developmental yr for him anyway and hopefully hit the ground running next yr. I'd really like to see some improvement too. But I'm not going to bury the kid after 2 games with all these circumstances being what they've been

I'm by no means putting everything on Petras or saying he shouldn't be on the field against MSU. But if a WR drops multiple passes...he's probably coming out. If a RB fumbles multiple times they're probably coming out. WR's job is to catch the ball. RB's job is to run the ball. A QB's job is to throw the ball so at what point in a game do we say he's not getting it done and give someone else a shot. I'm all about not juggling starting QBs as I feel it hurts the teams psyche and messes with a younger QB's head. At the same time though, and this is just my opinion, but if it's me I'd think struggling and finishing games would be harder on me than getting pulled if I'm not getting it done. There's no rule that says if a backup comes in and plays well they have to start the next game. Petras simply didn't have it, so I just don't see why not take a chance and see if Padilla did that day.

And totally agree with you on this being a weird ass year and not really mattering much, but with eligibility not counting why not use it as an 8 game audition and give multiple QBs reps. Over the next few years it's likely that we will need a tested backup, so why not give him an opportunity as well. Worst possible scenario is you have live games to evaluate your talent level. I just don't see why that would be a negative thing.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I'm by no means putting everything on Petras or saying he shouldn't be on the field against MSU. But if a WR drops multiple passes...he's probably coming out. If a RB fumbles multiple times they're probably coming out. WR's job is to catch the ball. RB's job is to run the ball. A QB's job is to throw the ball so at what point in a game do we say he's not getting it done and give someone else a shot. I'm all about not juggling starting QBs as I feel it hurts the teams psyche and messes with a younger QB's head. At the same time though, and this is just my opinion, but if it's me I'd think struggling and finishing games would be harder on me than getting pulled if I'm not getting it done. There's no rule that says if a backup comes in and plays well they have to start the next game. Petras simply didn't have it, so I just don't see why not take a chance and see if Padilla did that day.

And totally agree with you on this being a weird ass year and not really mattering much, but with eligibility not counting why not use it as an 8 game audition and give multiple QBs reps. Over the next few years it's likely that we will need a tested backup, so why not give him an opportunity as well. Worst possible scenario is you have live games to evaluate your talent level. I just don't see why that would be a negative thing.

My guess as to why they don't do it beyond just the continuity of how it's how they've tried to always do it is that the games do still count towards coaches resumes... BF is attempting to built up a resume to further advance his coaching career. So he has every incentive to be trying to not only win but look good doing it. He called as perfect of a game as an OC at Iowa ever has against USC in the bowl game. I'll be curious to see how long of a leash Petras does have because he's put two duds out there so far.

 

[kicker22]

My guess as to why they don't do it beyond just the continuity of how it's how they've tried to always do it is that the games do still count towards coaches resumes... BF is attempting to built up a resume to further advance his coaching career. So he has every incentive to be trying to not only win but look good doing it. He called as perfect of a game as an OC at Iowa ever has against USC in the bowl game. I'll be curious to see how long of a leash Petras does have because he's put two duds out there so far.

I just don't understand why he'd throw a fresh QB to the wolves and immediately expect him to be anything other than a game manager until things start clicking.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I just don't understand why he'd throw a fresh QB to the wolves and immediately expect him to be anything other than a game manager until things start clicking.

Yeah throwing 50 times in windy conditions when you were up 17 pts early in the game is beyond me. You don't have to run the ball from the I formation every time. Get creative with it. That was certainly BFs largest mistake. Was that the game plan to throw it a boat load? So yeah he coulda helped out the QB a heck of a lot more too

 

[MisterLucky]

None of our QB's came into the season with any real college experience. Sometimes, the player that looks best in practice, just can't cut it when the real bullets start flying. You never know when you might find the solution you need sitting on your bench. That said, Ferentz has a history of picking one QB and running with him regardless of the results.

 

[chucktownhawk]

pass around a few joints fellas, we're in for a tough season.

I'm picking the wrong week to start smoking joints again

 

[cohawkeye]

Padilla is nothing more than a back up. I have watched him play 6 times in high school and never understood why we recruited him.
Smart kid, had a D1 line in front of him , basically handed off well, good back up nothing more. Hogan needs to be the next up and thats a year or 2 away. Its not KFs way to change qbs and mix it up, it is the sole reason we are in this situation now. He never gives back qbs a meaningfull look or experience over the course of the year. So a losing season is what we have going a this point, watch or not its still a bunch of Ls through december Covid permitting. Schedule only gets tougher.

 

[WestCoastHawk]

Washed up Walkons podcast talked about how the coaches see the players every day so know who is 'better'. The difference is some people can't handle the gameday pressure which I believe Petras falls under. Others flourish under it... see Ricky Stanzi.

 

[koralakers]

I was wondering if Alex Padilla can get a look at quarterback. Spencer Petras needs to be out for some series and give Alex Padilla an opportunity to see what he can do with the offense.

Speaking of offense, it continues to under perform under Brian Ferentz. He’s had some good game plans, but the bad outweighs the good year after year. Any good candidates to replace him?

A change is needed with this program on many fronts. Are there any coaches from this coaching staff safe with their job or not?

Any thoughts?

Offense mostly underwhelming under BF, or any of KFs teams, for that matter. Program, where it’s at, with everything of 2020 so far, needs a shot of life that just isn’t there