ICAlumni
Well-Known Member
Disappointing game today on many levels but very satisfying where it matters... a W.
You never know what to expect going to IU or NU when Iowa Football is the topic. We struggle with these two schools and both typically have solid Offense and so-so Defense. Indiana isn't as bad as people think and they aren't as good as they looked today. Iowa leaves Bloomington with a W and that's really all that matters... that and no injuries. Every season there is a game when it's better to be lucky than good and today was that day. For Wisconsin, that day was the AZ St game. Iowa is fine, it's not time to panic... we are 7-2 which is about what we should be. We are a few plays from being 9-0.
Here's what I take away from today.
1. Iowa dominated the game. Look at the box score without the points and you'd think we won by 2-3 touchdowns. We SHOULD have won by 2-3 touchdowns. The execution was there today WITH THE EXCEPTION of a few plays in the red zone. For whatever reason today (no I don't think it was the lack of ARob... Coker could have punched those runs in) we couldn't punch the ball in. Running more in the RZ may have helped. But if you knock 2-3 of those 5 trips in... it's not a game.
2. The offense was good today. We moved the ball very well, barely punted, and gave ourselves lots of chances. We had a lot of yards and kept their offense off of the field. We had one turnover which was a blown route.
3. The defense was solid today. They had more rushing yards than you'd like to see but, even so, still didn't have a great game on the ground. Their passing, as far as Indiana is concerned, was below average and had lots of incompletions. The defense did a pretty decent job but has lots of room to improve. They need to get more pressure with the front 4 (this, in my mind was the most disappointing aspect of the game.)
4. Special teams were serviceable. We had some pretty good kick coverage and some kick coverage that wasn't great. Our punt returns were excellent and our punting was excellent. Our kicking game was good. I'll take 4-5 any day.
5. James Morris is going to be REALLY good... he already is.
6. Ricky Stanzi is a phenomenal QB... enjoy him while you can. It's easy to criticize him and take him for granted but all he does it win and play his best with the game on the line.
We were lucky today but it's ok. Good teams need some luck too. Things are fine.
This is the best thing that could have happened to us going into Evanston in my opinion. This team will be at attention and ready to go all week. We are also going to be mad from last year, and I expect these guys to come out firing on all cylinders next Saturday. I'll be in the stands.
GO HAWKS.
You never know what to expect going to IU or NU when Iowa Football is the topic. We struggle with these two schools and both typically have solid Offense and so-so Defense. Indiana isn't as bad as people think and they aren't as good as they looked today. Iowa leaves Bloomington with a W and that's really all that matters... that and no injuries. Every season there is a game when it's better to be lucky than good and today was that day. For Wisconsin, that day was the AZ St game. Iowa is fine, it's not time to panic... we are 7-2 which is about what we should be. We are a few plays from being 9-0.
Here's what I take away from today.
1. Iowa dominated the game. Look at the box score without the points and you'd think we won by 2-3 touchdowns. We SHOULD have won by 2-3 touchdowns. The execution was there today WITH THE EXCEPTION of a few plays in the red zone. For whatever reason today (no I don't think it was the lack of ARob... Coker could have punched those runs in) we couldn't punch the ball in. Running more in the RZ may have helped. But if you knock 2-3 of those 5 trips in... it's not a game.
2. The offense was good today. We moved the ball very well, barely punted, and gave ourselves lots of chances. We had a lot of yards and kept their offense off of the field. We had one turnover which was a blown route.
3. The defense was solid today. They had more rushing yards than you'd like to see but, even so, still didn't have a great game on the ground. Their passing, as far as Indiana is concerned, was below average and had lots of incompletions. The defense did a pretty decent job but has lots of room to improve. They need to get more pressure with the front 4 (this, in my mind was the most disappointing aspect of the game.)
4. Special teams were serviceable. We had some pretty good kick coverage and some kick coverage that wasn't great. Our punt returns were excellent and our punting was excellent. Our kicking game was good. I'll take 4-5 any day.
5. James Morris is going to be REALLY good... he already is.
6. Ricky Stanzi is a phenomenal QB... enjoy him while you can. It's easy to criticize him and take him for granted but all he does it win and play his best with the game on the line.
We were lucky today but it's ok. Good teams need some luck too. Things are fine.
This is the best thing that could have happened to us going into Evanston in my opinion. This team will be at attention and ready to go all week. We are also going to be mad from last year, and I expect these guys to come out firing on all cylinders next Saturday. I'll be in the stands.
GO HAWKS.
