The last 5 minutes or so of the first half

U

uihawk82

Well-Known Member
The game worked out and the hawks scored early in the 2nd half to go up 17-0 but it seemed this time of the game was wasted. Kirk keeps losing to teams like NW because of being so conservative. I know he has been going for more fourth downs but he punted on 4th and one around the NW 45, they held NW but let so much time go off the clock, then the 3 straight runs when they got the ball back with about 2.5 minutes to go in the first half.

I know NW's offense was looking pretty bad and they are bad so I guess Kirk's idea was to punt and play defense until the hawk offense got it going and put that drive together.

I maybe am wrong but I thought this time of the game was go for the jugular time to go up by 13 or 17. My son said I was bellyaching about nothing, his friends agree with me,

What is your take? PS, NW has a pretty good defense, Wisky had trouble moving the ball on them which was a harbinger of things to come. So I thought the combination of the way Nate can do QB sneaks etc it was a good time to go for the first down with about 5 minute do go.
 
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I understand why Ferentz did what he did the first time. I don't agree with it. There was little chance NW would have scored but there's no need to take a chance there.

After losing 2 minutes and 6-7 yards of field position, the last "drive" if it can be called that -- the overall view for his reasoning still applies but to not even make an attempt is just dumbassery. if that drive fails, NW will have to put it in the air to score and that was a turd offense all game. I like the chances. the risk is very minimal.
 
uihawk82 said:
The game worked out and the hawks scored early in the 2nd half to go up 17-0 but it seemed this time of the game was wasted. Kirk keeps losing to teams like NW because of being so conservative. I know he has been going for more fourth downs but he punted on 4th and one around the NW 45, they held NW but let so much time go off the clock, then the 3 straight runs when they got the ball back with about 2.5 minutes to go in the first half.

I know NW's offense was looking pretty bad and they are bad so I guess Kirk's idea was to punt and play defense until the hawk offense got it going and put that drive together.

I maybe am wrong but I thought this time of the game was go for the jugular time to go up by 13 or 17. My son said I was bellyaching about nothing, his friends agree with me,

What is your take? PS, NW has a pretty good defense, Wisky had trouble moving the ball on them which was a harbinger of things to come. So I thought the combination of the way Nate can do QB sneaks etc it was a good time to go for the first down with about 5 minute do go.
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If you have confidence in your defense, that they can pin Northwestern back in their territory if you punt...then why not have confidence in your defense that they can stop NW near mid-field if Iowa doesn't get the 4th down conversion? NW's offense was hideous, regardless. That said, a shutout win is hard to argue against, but we have all experienced pissed away games with Kirk-ball think.
 
DDThompson said:
I understand why Ferentz did what he did the first time. I don't agree with it. There was little chance NW would have scored but there's no need to take a chance there.

After losing 2 minutes and 6-7 yards of field position, the last "drive" if it can be called that -- the overall view for his reasoning still applies but to not even make an attempt is just dumbassery. if that drive fails, NW will have to put it in the air to score and that was a turd offense all game. I like the chances. the risk is very minimal.
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And like you say the hawks had 3rd and short I think in that last drive at maybe the NW 40 or so. The way the QB sneak is working that might be the play to use to get the first down on 3rd down. And if you come up a foot or so short you can take some time off the clock and go on 4th down with the same qB sneak.

Maybe the first punt was the smart play and maybe the time to take the chance was the 2nd drive like you say.

Of course any team like NW can hit a pass for a quick TD, there are always risks.
 
revkev73 said:
If you have confidence in your defense, that they can pin Northwestern back in their territory if you punt...then why not have confidence in your defense that they can stop NW near mid-field if Iowa doesn't get the 4th down conversion? NW's offense was hideous, regardless. That said, a shutout win is hard to argue against, but we have all experienced pissed away games with Kirk-ball think.
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Because if you fail to convert and get NW on a 3 and out they will pin you deep in your territory and we know the play calling that will ensue.

Not that it mattered because the same play calling at midfield for the last drive that was used would have been used deep in your territory.

That’s why I can understand punting on the second to last drive. The field thinking and play calling on the last drive is just plain dumb
 
DDThompson said:
Because if you fail to convert and get NW on a 3 and out they will pin you deep in your territory and we know the play calling that will ensue.

Not that it mattered because the same play calling at midfield for the last drive that was used would have been used deep in your territory.

That’s why I can understand punting on the second to last drive. The field thinking and play calling on the last drive is just plain dumb
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In game coaching leadership and decision making from Iowa often leaves me wanting more and puzzled.
 
Iowa got up by 20 and it was time to play conservative. Rainy nasty day. Get the win and get back to Iowa City.

Offense scored two TD's. Mounted a good drive in the third quarter(?) Kept a good defense on it's heels.

Defense was great. 5 sacks. Held Northwestern to less than 100 yards rushing, less than 200 passing.

Iowa's punters are a weak link.

The only issue I had was they left Stanley in too long. Should have put the backup QB in.
 
HawkeyeDenis said:
Iowa got up by 20 and it was time to play conservative. Rainy nasty day. Get the win and get back to Iowa City.

Offense scored two TD's. Mounted a good drive in the third quarter(?) Kept a good defense on it's heels.

Defense was great. 5 sacks. Held Northwestern to less than 100 yards rushing, less than 200 passing.

Iowa's punters are a weak link.

The only issue I had was they left Stanley in too long. Should have put the backup QB in.
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You are only as good as your backup QB, it would be nice to see the next one, before it is too late and emergency time.
 
revkev73 said:
If you have confidence in your defense, that they can pin Northwestern back in their territory if you punt...then why not have confidence in your defense that they can stop NW near mid-field if Iowa doesn't get the 4th down conversion? NW's offense was hideous, regardless. That said, a shutout win is hard to argue against, but we have all experienced pissed away games with Kirk-ball think.
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Isn't it awesome we can bitch about how we feed up last 2 minutes of a first half and still win by 20? :)
 
Play call was right to take the 5 and punt. NW wasn't moving the ball at all nor did they rest of the day. Field position matters and situations matter. Anything else you think is wrong
 
revkev73 said:
You are only as good as your backup QB, it would be nice to see the next one, before it is too late and emergency time.
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I agree. Petras should have been in the last two drives. It gives KF/BF an “excuse” to throw the ball when NW stacks the box to T-off on your RBs.
 
You should remember your Ferentz history. Ferentz calculated in the first half that NW could not score absent a mistake so he was going to do NOTHING to give them a chance to get a cheap score. Please refer back to the Penn State 6-4 game.
 
revkev73 said:
You are only as good as your backup QB, it would be nice to see the next one, before it is too late and emergency time.
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Petras is just Nate, just not as good, so no need. Better to hide him so next year he can win an “open competition” so everyone feels better going into the season.
 
thetrza said:
I was so upset at the decisions to punt on short yardage fourth downs at the end of the first half.
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That one I actually agreed with because they got the ball first second half . The one where we kicked a FG to go up 20 made zero sense .
 
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