The Hawks still need more speed and exposiveness

how many skill players has Iowa put in the NFL under ferentz? I can't remember but it's probably less than 10. Compare that to how many linemen and linebackers. It's probably a 10-1 ratio. WR has always been the weak link for Iowa IMO, especially home run guys.
 
Then stop paying top $ to a coach that can't recruit, or go out and give the $ to a guy that can recruit. Recruiting is where it all starts, and it's not like KF makes up for it with good game day coaching either. A top 10-15 ranked recruiting program is a long way from where we're at. We are in the bottom 3 of the conference with the class of 2016. That is unacceptable, period. In no way, shape, or form is that solid recruiting as you claim.

I didn't claim it was solid recruiting. I said it needs to improve.

And the debate continues....
 
how many skill players has Iowa put in the NFL under ferentz? I can't remember but it's probably less than 10. Compare that to how many linemen and linebackers. It's probably a 10-1 ratio. WR has always been the weak link for Iowa IMO, especially home run guys.

Agreed, WR talent/depth remains a weakness. Therein lies one dilemma. Since 2011, There was a focus on WR and speed which had a negative effect on Oline/Dline recruiting and depth. Oline talent/play was probably the biggest reason we struggled on offense today, along with playcalling.

RB talent seems to be improving, hopefully WR can come around.
 
We could use a little more at WR, but I don't think we are that far off elsewhere.

The Oline struggled in a number if games, especially at the Tackle position. We couldn't protect CJ at all, and inexplicably didn't try hardly any screens. Oline was the weakest link most of the year, as expected. Improvement and development there will pay huge dividends next year.

Like most games, it really came down to a few plays, in this game they just happened to be HUGE plays, all for scores...

1) LB lost footing on first play to McCaffrey, if Fisher keeps his feet, it's about a 10 yard gain

2) Pick 6 (this was the ballgame/landslide). Even a FG there changes a lot, a touchdown makes it 14-7.

3) punt return. Just a freak athlete made an unbelievable play.

4) 2 long TD passes, perfect passes, great playcalls, executed perfectly.

28-35 point differential in basically 5 plays. We lost by 29.

I still say if we score instead of the pick 6, while I don't believe we win, I think it's a ballgame. That just sucked the life out of the team, and CJ.

We got whooped. Playcalling and tackling was bad.


I swear the coaching staff didn't take the time to figure out what cleats they should have been wearing. The players looked like they were on ice on that grass surface. But yes we got outplayed, outcoached
 
I swear the coaching staff didn't take the time to figure out what cleats they should have been wearing. The players looked like they were on ice on that grass surface. But yes we got outplayed, outcoached

I noticed that as well. It seemed like the players were slipping a ton.
 
It's hilarious how people think it's so easy to recruit 4/5 star kids. If you aren't producing many in your state then it's not so easy to get them to come to Iowa.

This x1000. Please don't tell me "Well, they'll come to Michigan or Ohio State".
 
On Vandeberg's TD he completely burned his defender! That is how it is done he will have another big year.

I also liked what I saw from Wadley as a receiver. Him adding that dimension to his game will make him an even more dangerous player going forward. Linebackers and safeties can't keep up with him. Iowa should continue to find creative ways to get him the ball in space.
 
Then we should stop paying millions of dollars to a staff and program that can't be any better than a second-tier competitor and invest in sports that have that potential and some possibility for growth, like M/W basketball and W VB. But don't spend all of this money and then cry poverty when it comes to winning football games. If you want moral victories, join the Sun Belt.

Why don't you and the rest of "football geniuses" put your money where your mouth is. Instead of wasting all your brilliance on this board, get involved in your local youth programs. Mentor the kids. It's obvious you guys have all the answers. Coach'em up. Guide the next generation of players with your astute knowledge to make a first-tier competitor. Invest in the sport.
 
There is no doubt or demographics and location make recruiting more difficult and top 15 classes are unrealistic.

However our moderate historical success, rabid fanbase and new facilities should give us top 40 classes EVERY YEAR.

We shouldn't be far from Nebraska at all as the last time they were relevant the kids in high school were not alive.

We should have year in and year out classes that rank within 5-10 spots of Michigan State, Wisconsin and Nebraska.
 
Nobody said it was easy! That's why we're paying top $ to our coach. He's proven he can't do it, so get someone that can, or he needs to get someone on his staff that can.
Not only that, when and if top recruits come to Iowa, their athleticism has to be used. You see, their goal is to make it to the pros. No speedy DB is coming to Iowa "to defend dirt" as Spielman would say. Iowa's pass defense needs to, at least, play a match up zone so when an opponent's receiver comes into the area, defend the pass from the receiver. No speedy DB is going to want to play a scheme that doesn't show his abilities. You hear me, Phil Parker?

Iowa's offense has graduated,a little, from the, IMO, 'caveman attitude' of football but still has a long way to go.

So, some of you guys cry about poor little ole' state of Iowa and its lack of high star recruits. How do you explain Nebby in their glory days? Boise State? North Dakota State? The U of Miami on the flip side? Scenic attractions don't cause high recruits to come to a school to play, COACHES, THEIR SCHEMES AND THE SCHOOL'S FACILITIES DO. Figure it out, just once.

KF might just have to break his no Twitter policy if he wants a high star class. Maybe he doesn't want a high star class. He doesn't seem to be able to coach up the high star athlete.
 
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The disaster Iowa's receivers put in front of me reminded me of the Purdue game last season when CJ started his first. Did Iowa's receivers forget just how fast and hard CJ's passes came to them? Why wasn't that practiced in the bowl prep leading up to the game? Every receiver dropped at least one pass...meaning they had their hand(s) on many passes they didn't catch.
 
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There is no doubt or demographics and location make recruiting more difficult and top 15 classes are unrealistic.

However our moderate historical success, rabid fanbase and new facilities should give us top 40 classes EVERY YEAR.

We shouldn't be far from Nebraska at all as the last time they were relevant the kids in high school were not alive.

We should have year in and year out classes that rank within 5-10 spots of Michigan State, Wisconsin and Nebraska.

Can't argue with this logic.
 
No

So, some of you guys cry about poor little ole' state of Iowa and its lack of high star recruits. How do you explain Nebby in their glory days? Boise State? North Dakota State? The U of Miami on the flip side? Scenic attractions don't cause high recruits to come to a school to play, COACHES, THEIR SCHEMES AND THE SCHOOL'S FACILITIES DO. Figure it out, just once.

KF might just have to break his no Twitter policy if he wants a high star class. Maybe he doesn't want a high star class. He doesn't seem to be able to coach up the high star athlete.

Boise St and Oregon get a lot of California kids where there are so many great athletes it is amazing. California has 12 times the population of Iowa and the great weather to go out and work on your football skills on a 100 yard field most days of the year.

Same with Texas and Florida, I still think the hawks can get a few students from these states who want to play right away and maybe be a student athlete in a different type of place.
 
Im gonna disagree...just a little. We did not have it today, bad bowl prep bad game plan. Stanford is not that much better than us, hell NW took them apart.

I'm gonna have to disagree with this - also just a little.

Sure, Iowa clearly didn't "have it" yesterday, but when is the last time you've seen Alabama or Ohio State down 35-0? This just doesn't happen. Why? They are just a lot better than us. Fact. When they have games where they don't have it, they may get beaten, but it's a close game.

Iowa didn't have it yesterday, but is pretty clear that they need more athletes. Against a D with a pulse, they can NOT score points until it's garbage time. Gotta get better at skill positions (WR) and the OL has got to do a better job of protecting and opening running lanes.
 

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