Ricky Stanzi's experience.

[NorfolkNeb]

We just faced the most explosive offensive team we will face in the reguar season. We won. Things look good. Ricky Stanzi is one of the top-5 rated quarterbacks in QB efficiency in the nation, after 7 games. The color commentator for ESPN today (a tool) did not like the way Ricky threw the ball to DJK on the right sideline for an incompletion in the third quarter (when Iowa had a 14 point lead). DJ was double covered, and Ricky's looping throw was over the head of all three. The color man intimated that Ricky could have threaded the ball to DJ if he'd thrown a moment earlier.
Trying to throw that ball (the way the commentator asked for) was exactly what Ricky would have tried the last two years. It likely would've given Michigan the momentum in that game 10 minutes before they actually did gain it. It was a home game for Michigan with a whole lot on the line for both teams.
Ricky threw a ball that a tremendous athlete like DJK might have been able to get to, if he'd somehow split the defenders with a kamakazie move and sprawled toward the sideline. The pass the color guy called for would've had a 20% chance of being caught by DJ, a 40% chance of being incomplete, and a 40% chance of being intercepted by one of the two DB's covering him.
That's why Ricky is a third year starting senior. He doesn't make that throw, with a 14 point lead in the third quarter. He makes the throw he did. The thow Ricky made had a 10% chance of completion, a 90% chance of an incompletion, and a 0% chance of interception.
Ricky has thrown 2 int's in 7 games. Iowa is 6-1. Unless Iowa is trailing at halftime in 3 of the 5 remaining games, don't count on him throwing more than 2 int's the rest of the season.
Ricky is as cool, or cooler, than Chuck Long was: six games into his senior season.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

No INT's. Three TD's(?). 60-70% completion ratio? Theres nothing wrong with Ricky. He's not flashy, but he isn't making mistakes either. We'll take it every game. These color commentators are usually wrong.
Don't forget how many of these guys picked Michigan to beat Michigan State, Denard for Heisman etc. They show up for a game and have a day or two to become instant experts. Most of the experts don't like Iowa because Iowa isn't flashy.

 

[edr247]

Stanzi had some questionable decisions in the game. At least two dropped picks that might have been pick sixes, a couple times he didn't audible out of run plays that were blown up by Michigan, and some other head scratchers.

However, when push came to shove, he did what he needed to in order to get the offense moving and scoring.

 

[DFaceHawkeye]

edr -- are you sure he had options to audible out of these plays that were stuffed?? That's what I thought, Iowa consistently runs into stacked boxes and this discussion has taken place many times. They are going to check out sometimes, run into others. Robinson scored on a run against a stacked box.

He did throw a couple bad throws, otherwise, I want nothing to do with criticizing him, since I have no idea what plays and options he had on each play.

 

[edr247]

edr -- are you sure he had options to audible out of these plays that were stuffed?? That's what I thought, Iowa consistently runs into stacked boxes and this discussion has taken place many times. They are going to check out sometimes, run into others. Robinson scored on a run against a stacked box.

He did throw a couple bad throws, otherwise, I want nothing to do with criticizing him, since I have no idea what plays and options he had on each play.

After at least two of the stuffed run plays, you could see he was frustrated and KOK was talking to him. Not sure if it was because perhaps he wanted to throw it, or what.

And I'm not criticizing him necessarily. I thought that other than a few questionable plays at QB and perhaps a few questionable decisions as a leader on the offense, he was great. Hopefully he continues to play well, and keeps his INTs and mistakes down against the rest of our schedule.