Joshbrown
Well-Known Member
Gair should've started ahead of Taylor
Mo Fleming (who has proved himself at West Virginia) should've started ahead of Mabin
Ekakitie should've started ahead of Bazata
At least one guy (Mends?) should've started ahead of Bowers or at the very least shared time with him.
That's 4 men just on defense where the coaches played the wrong guy. And those are just the most recent ones, and the ones that are obvious. I'm sure over the last 18 years there are many more we will never know about.
Well I've been getting schooled on how Michigan is loaded with talent and Iowa isn't. Actually that's not true. Michigan is just better at using their talent to their advantage. Jake Rudock is an example of this. So is Michigan's use of Peppers vs Kirk's lack of imagination with King. Much of Iowa's talent sits on the bench or becomes a starter at the end of their career rather than near the beginning. Kirk is like 7-5 against Michigan. And that record isn't because he has anything in common with Urban Meyer. It's because the overall talent among the 24 starters is close to equivalent.
Now on offense.
In 2012 Vandy is on an epic losing streak. Now I don't fault Bear-Killer 100% but why not sit him at least for a half and see what Weinke or someone else can do? Stubbornness born out of ego or lack of imagination is why.
In 2014 CJB should've been awarded the starting job after the faux competition between JR and CJB. Also in 2014, the coaches could've found a way to give Willies more of a chance which might've kept him at Iowa. And that could've made him a person to pick up the slack in a year like this one where we need WR talent.
This year the O-line gets shuffled around as Brian tries to figure out who should start. Of course his brother has to be listed on the depth chart every week. How much more transparent can the Ferentz family be?
2015 Daniels is the starter ahead of Canzeri. While I luv Daniels, Canzeri was the better back and should've been named starter.
2016 Jerminic Smith is a starter, but what has he shown? I would rather have Mitchell at WR then Smith. But he's being short-changed for some odd reason in the same way Gair/Fleming/Ekakitie/Canzeri/etc. were short-changed.
What about Kulick. He seems to be a talent. Why not use that talent?
Those are just some examples among the players. Now let's talk coaches.
Kirk hires an OC who got fired at Texas. Really? Kirk couldn't find someone who wasn't unemployed or recently fired? Right after he was hired the Texas fans invade Hawkeye message boards and warn us what is about to happen. Were they wrong? And why didn't anyone at Iowa notice how these rank amateurs nailed GD's talent level. And speaking of best options, it smells kinda bad when guys like Soup aren't good enough for Iowa - even though he had a long impressive resume - and a guy with a much shorter resume named Ferentz is brought in and rapidly becomes among the highest paid on Kirk's staff.
Overall Kirk has struggled to attract and keep awesome assistants, just as he has struggled to put the best 24 starters on the field. I think it's fair to assume Kirk's evaluation skills are not as good as others at his paygrade. And for this reason, and a staggering lack of imagination on offense, Iowa will always win less games than they should.
NOW:
Mo Fleming (who has proved himself at West Virginia) should've started ahead of Mabin
Ekakitie should've started ahead of Bazata
At least one guy (Mends?) should've started ahead of Bowers or at the very least shared time with him.
That's 4 men just on defense where the coaches played the wrong guy. And those are just the most recent ones, and the ones that are obvious. I'm sure over the last 18 years there are many more we will never know about.
Well I've been getting schooled on how Michigan is loaded with talent and Iowa isn't. Actually that's not true. Michigan is just better at using their talent to their advantage. Jake Rudock is an example of this. So is Michigan's use of Peppers vs Kirk's lack of imagination with King. Much of Iowa's talent sits on the bench or becomes a starter at the end of their career rather than near the beginning. Kirk is like 7-5 against Michigan. And that record isn't because he has anything in common with Urban Meyer. It's because the overall talent among the 24 starters is close to equivalent.
Now on offense.
In 2012 Vandy is on an epic losing streak. Now I don't fault Bear-Killer 100% but why not sit him at least for a half and see what Weinke or someone else can do? Stubbornness born out of ego or lack of imagination is why.
In 2014 CJB should've been awarded the starting job after the faux competition between JR and CJB. Also in 2014, the coaches could've found a way to give Willies more of a chance which might've kept him at Iowa. And that could've made him a person to pick up the slack in a year like this one where we need WR talent.
This year the O-line gets shuffled around as Brian tries to figure out who should start. Of course his brother has to be listed on the depth chart every week. How much more transparent can the Ferentz family be?
2015 Daniels is the starter ahead of Canzeri. While I luv Daniels, Canzeri was the better back and should've been named starter.
2016 Jerminic Smith is a starter, but what has he shown? I would rather have Mitchell at WR then Smith. But he's being short-changed for some odd reason in the same way Gair/Fleming/Ekakitie/Canzeri/etc. were short-changed.
What about Kulick. He seems to be a talent. Why not use that talent?
Those are just some examples among the players. Now let's talk coaches.
Kirk hires an OC who got fired at Texas. Really? Kirk couldn't find someone who wasn't unemployed or recently fired? Right after he was hired the Texas fans invade Hawkeye message boards and warn us what is about to happen. Were they wrong? And why didn't anyone at Iowa notice how these rank amateurs nailed GD's talent level. And speaking of best options, it smells kinda bad when guys like Soup aren't good enough for Iowa - even though he had a long impressive resume - and a guy with a much shorter resume named Ferentz is brought in and rapidly becomes among the highest paid on Kirk's staff.
Overall Kirk has struggled to attract and keep awesome assistants, just as he has struggled to put the best 24 starters on the field. I think it's fair to assume Kirk's evaluation skills are not as good as others at his paygrade. And for this reason, and a staggering lack of imagination on offense, Iowa will always win less games than they should.
NOW:
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