The Maddening 2019 Season

[thedukeofearl]

Why can’t people just enjoy a season? We went 9-3 while playing a top 10 schedule having to face 5 top 25 teams with 3 being on the road. We had zero running game, we had a shaky at best interior OL play with tons of injuries, and still went 9-3, with a chance at a 10 win season.

Yeah, we found a way to win despite all

The main stat defining the season was that:

We lost to Michigan at home, Penn State at Kinnick and Wisconsin in Madison by a total of 15 points

Michigan had ONE good offensive play the entire game and we came within a few inches of reaching across the goal line at Wisconsin for the win

Our Defense was outstanding and made every game exciting

Our Offense was something else, and we seemed to be lucky to score at all, sometimes

Not every football fan appreciates excellent D but the Hawk Fanatics have learned to and this year our D improved as the season went on. Would have been easier if we hadn't lost so much to the NFL but that is the way it is

Stanley came thru despite his occasional shortcomings, many caused by the inefficient O line

GOODSON arrived

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Why can’t people just enjoy a season? We went 9-3 while playing a top 10 schedule having to face 5 top 25 teams with 3 being on the road. We had zero running game, we had a shaky at best interior OL play with tons of injuries, and still went 9-3, with a chance at a 10 win season.

Yes...by all means we should be happy with 9-3 and not question anything...after all we only lost to three of the five teams that were capable of beating us and we kept the games close in those contests. Is there a Hand Grenade Trophy for us? Hooray!

All teams play with injuries...all great teams overcome them. The thing I'm having difficulty with is that we moved the ball between the 20s and struggled in the redzone or in the opponents territory ALL YEAR LONG. Our field goal kicker will win the Groza because we couldn't score touchdowns. The point I was trying to make is that we hurt ourselves in many of those games...because we didn't make the plays that were there. It was either a bad throw, a drop, or a missed block. Is that coaching? or were we too inexperienced at WR, TE, and offensive guard?

I really think BF needs to examine how they played in the second half of games. I haven't done the analysis but we didn't score points, other than Wisconsin, in the second half of games. Was it play selection, poor adjustments and execution? Or attitude...we had a lead and we are going to win with our defense? Whatever it was...just look at Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, & Nebraska. Is that how you want to finish games?

 

[deanvogs]

Yes...by all means we should be happy with 9-3 and not question anything...after all we only lost to three of the five teams that were capable of beating us and we kept the games close in those contests. Is there a Hand Grenade Trophy for us? Hooray!

All teams play with injuries...all great teams overcome them. The thing I'm having difficulty with is that we moved the ball between the 20s and struggled in the redzone or in the opponents territory. Our field goal kicker will win the Groza because we couldn't score touchdowns. The point I was trying to make is that we hurt ourselves in many of those games...because we didn't make the plays that were there. It was either a bad throw, a drop, or a missed block. Is that coaching? or were we too inexperienced at WR, TE, and offensive guard?

This whole mentality that 9-3 should automatically be 12-0 because we were “close” in those games is silly. We could have just as easily been 6-6 as we could have been 12-0. Acting like every close win is a given and every close loss should have been a win is stupid. You are what your record says you are. We weren’t close to a 12 win team because we lost 3 games.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

This whole mentality that 9-3 should automatically be 12-0 because we were “close” in those games is silly. We could have just as easily been 6-6 as we could have been 12-0. Acting like every close win is a given and every close loss should have been a win is stupid. You are what your record says you are. We weren’t close to a 12 win team because we lost 3 games.

You are missing my point. I'm not saying that every loss should have been a win. I'm saying we looked like the same offensive team in the second half of multiple games and the result was exactly the same. Poor offense point production in the second half of games...and what did we change?

If you do the same thing over and over, and expect a different result...well...isn't that the definition of insanity?

 

[uihawk82]

LOL, wow some of you have zero clue about college football.

-We have two wins over top 25 teams, only 2 teams have more (Georgia and LSU at 3).

-No other team in the top 25 had played 5 other top 25 teams.

I mean my God the stupidity on this board is breathe taking at times. Bama has 11 wins and NOT A SINGLE WIN OVER A TOP 25 TEAM. Clemson has not even played a single top 25 team all year long. They will have 12 wins and beat nobody with a pulse.

Who the hell do you think teams with 9+ wins are beating? They are NOT beating 5 top 25 teams and then 4 other bowl teams. They are beating 2 or 3 top 25 teams, 2-3 bowl eligible teams, and are beating 4 complete dog shit teams. That is how it works, how many times do I have to explain this to you f***ing idiots?

Man you really miss the point of the OP's thread title and subject. The OP is opining about how the hawks' season could have included more wins. Just leave it at that instead of pulling out a bunch of stats.

If you as an Iowa fan cant see how close they were to a great season and how maddening it is then you must not have much fandom emotion. Heck I thougth it was maddening that the hawks didnt beat ISU by 10-14.

 

[HawksMN]

If WI finishes off Minneygoof, just think if we'd have had 3 more pts at Wisky. Dang.

 

[tksirius]

This whole mentality that 9-3 should automatically be 12-0 because we were “close” in those games is silly. We could have just as easily been 6-6 as we could have been 12-0. Acting like every close win is a given and every close loss should have been a win is stupid. You are what your record says you are. We weren’t close to a 12 win team because we lost 3 games.

Your reading comprehension is poor.

 

[uihawk82]

You are missing my point. I'm not saying that every loss should have been a win. I'm saying we looked like the same offensive team in the second half of multiple games and the result was exactly the same. Poor offense point production in the second half of games...and what did we change?

If you do the same thing over and over, and expect a different result...well...isn't that the definition of insanity?

I also think Deanvogs missed your point and posted that

 

[Jonrn]

It's been a good season, but am so tired of losing to Wisky & PSU every year.

the Michigan game is the hardest looking back. When you only allow another team 10 points in modern college football, you HAVE to win that game. That win at the big house would have been special.

 

[deanvogs]

You are missing my point. I'm not saying that every loss should have been a win. I'm saying we looked like the same offensive team in the second half of multiple games and the result was exactly the same. Poor offense point production in the second half of games...and what did we change?

If you do the same thing over and over, and expect a different result...well...isn't that the definition of insanity?

What is maddening is people around here. Why did people think this offense was all of a sudden going to be juggernaut after 1/2 the season was done? Every time we won, it was the same lament. Well no shit the offense stinks, it has stuck for 6 games, then 7 games, then 8 games, etc. There are systemic problems here that can only be addressed in an off season.

Instead of giving the staff and team CREDIT for overcoming some sever issues in the running game and interior offensive line after wins, people sit around that bitch and moan that we can't drop 35 PPG on teams. That is the maddening part.

 

[deanvogs]

Your reading comprehension is poor.

I read just fine. My issue is people on this board only want to bitch about issues they know the team has had for a long, long time now. Now shit the offense stunk this year, and at the same time they found a way to go 9-3 vs a top 10-20 schedule. That is good work from a team and a staff.

 

[DBAHawkFan]

I really think BF needs to examine how they played in the second half of games. I haven't done the analysis but we didn't score points, other than Wisconsin, in the second half of games. Was it play selection, poor adjustments and execution? Or attitude...we had a lead and we are going to win with our defense? Whatever it was...just look at Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, & Nebraska. Is that how you want to finish games?

You bring up a really good point here, and it’s not the first time this has happened. I need to go back and look at which season or seasons this exact scenario happened. I think it was 2014, but may have been 2013 (or both)

That (or those) team calling card was to score 10-14 points in the first half, and get completely shut out or struggle to score more than a few FG in the second half, allowing every team to come back and give us our cardiac arrests in the final few minutes.

This leads me to believe it’s a scheme issue that comes from the top

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

I read just fine. My issue is people on this board only want to bitch about issues they know the team has had for a long, long time now. Now shit the offense stunk this year, and at the same time they found a way to go 9-3 vs a top 10-20 schedule. That is good work from a team and a staff.

I've seen Iowa's offense stink against the good team they played...and their ultimate losses to those teams. Wisconsin two years ago comes to mind...etc. We either couldn't run at all, or our WRs could get no separation. However, this years offense wasn't exactly a repeat. We moved the ball on teams...we just failed in the red zone. We moved the ball between the 30s on Michigan...I forget the stat but we were in plus territory like 8 times and came away with 3 points. Penn State...again...moved the ball...just couldn't finish drives with TDs. In several of our wins...exact same thing.

The premise or point of discussion was whether it was player related, scheme related, or conservative/shriveled nut sack syndrome...and most likely a little of all. We have guys that can make plays in the red zone...Smith, Smith-Marsette, & Tracy...was it the lack of seasoned TE?

Last time I checked this is a message board where opinions are welcome...and I don't think i was bitching about this or that. I said the offensive year was maddening...because the pieces were there...IMO.

 

[okeefe4prez]

Stanley was horrible. For every NFL throw he’d make 10 bad ones. We needed a Nathan Chandler performance and got JC. He never developed

It wasn't that bad. It was more like for every NFL pass he had, he would make 2 or 3 terrible ones. But part of it was that very pedestrian DTs and inside LBs feasted on the interior of our o-line.

 

[PCHawk]

I think the summary of this thread is if the team was better, they would have been better.

 

[4thngoal]

I've seen Iowa's offense stink against the good team they played...and their ultimate losses to those teams. Wisconsin two years ago comes to mind...etc. We either couldn't run at all, or our WRs could get no separation. However, this years offense wasn't exactly a repeat. We moved the ball on teams...we just failed in the red zone. We moved the ball between the 30s on Michigan...I forget the stat but we were in plus territory like 8 times and came away with 3 points. Penn State...again...moved the ball...just couldn't finish drives with TDs. In several of our wins...exact same thing.

The premise or point of discussion was whether it was player related, scheme related, or conservative/shriveled nut sack syndrome...and most likely a little of all. We have guys that can make plays in the red zone...Smith, Smith-Marsette, & Tracy...was it the lack of seasoned TE?

Last time I checked this is a message board where opinions are welcome...and I don't think i was bitching about this or that. I said the offensive year was maddening...because the pieces were there...IMO.

Football 101: the field gets smaller once you hit the red zone or there abouts. That means that getting separation in a high traffic area is going to be harder, even against less talent. If you can't run the ball (and we couldn't) you are going to struggle. If you happen to have 2 first round TE's? You can cover it up a little.
Now, this time last year, we were switching a nt to be the starting center. Not counting every other thing that made us have to kind of piece together an ol. We then brought in some ol recruits who were pretty much hand picked. Plus Goodson arrived on the scene.
I have a pretty good feeling, we will be able to run the ball next year. But next year's ol is going to have to be the complete package, because we will have a new qb with weapons all around him. So we should be able to have a pretty good passing game as well.
This is why I keep saying if everyone stays..,.. and we put together a stout ol.
We could very easily win the b10 next year.
I for one will be watching what happens because when those odds come out in the spring, they might be worth looking at.
If someone would have been sitting here Friday and asked me if I would bet it all on that fg? I would have taken it. If this team decides they are going to win the b10 next year, they will.

 

[Stanzi]

I'm really hoping AJ, Tristan and Aleric all come back because next season's team could be really special if they do. Stanley is the only offensive starter we lose and we only lose a few defensive starters but they all have very good replacements behind them on the depth chart.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

AJ Epenesa and Wirfs are gone. It's also likely that Jackson is gone. I think it ends there though. I don't see Stone going, and I don't see Golston going.

The defense needs a LB to step up and play like Welch did this year and there are several options. Welch was vital cog and really played well. Even with the loss of AJE, we have a solid group coming back on the DL. Waggoner, Golston, Nixon, Schulte, Shannon, Vanvalkenburg, and Evans. Nixon with another year with Doyle could be a monster. Golston, Evans, Waggoner, and Vanvalkenburg should be able to get pressure on the edge. The mike backer is the only piece where we need someone to step up. The secondary is going to be really good.

Hopefully Jackson stays, but he's got to be a middle round choice at this point. That being said, there are alot of options on the OL...young options. Britt is going to be special. Obviously it starts with Linderbaum, you know Kallenberger is going to play...Britt is going to be in there...Banwart should be healthy by then...Schott is in there...Plumb at right tackle? Ezra Miller in the mix somewhere?

Here's my hope:

LT - Jackson
LG - Kallenberger
C - Linderbaum
RG-Schott
RT - Britt

If Jackson goes:

LT - Kallenberger
LG - Banwart
C - Linderbaum
RG - Schott
RT - Britt

 

[AreWeThereYet]

In retrospect I think last year was more of a disappointment than this year. The difference being the team had more parts in place last year than this year.

The receivers really stepped it up this year, but the redzone offense really missed Hockenson and Fant. The middle of the offensive line was brutal (bad) at times. The zone running game wasn't there at all. The line was totally out of sync on pass protection. Banwart going down was a much bigger loss than most people think, since he was the one helping Linderbaum with the line calls. Stanley might have been slightly better than last year, but wasn't getting any time against the likes of Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin.

If I was going to point to one crucial thing this year over last, it would be Stanley finally using his feet to make some critical plays, both getting first downs and getting out of the way. That small detail alone saved several games. That and Duncan nailing pretty much every critical field goal.

Kind of wish they had run a few more QB sneaks on a few those second and short yardage downs in the first part of the conference schedule. Would have worked.

PS: How could I forgot to mention punting. The punting was at least average this year. Yay!