There has to be something internal going on with this team

[HawkGold]

Iowa looks slow on defense because LBs are "covering" (i.e. running behind) WRs and RBs on crossing and seam routes. On 3rd and 7 you can bet a WR or RB is going to cross an Iowa LB. Especially 41.

Iowa looks slow on offense because come game time, opposing defenses know the Iowa offense like Iowa's defense knows the Iowa offense in practice.

All that is reasonable. Still, they aren't fast. Also why do they look slower than last year. They aren't coming off the line.

 

[PCHawk]

The fact those games were against Miami(OH ) and ISU explains both the people forgetting and the "good on offense".

But how many times has our offense looked bad against terrible teams in the past?

 

[dahlhawk]

If Iowa isn't slow than they simple are taking the worst angles on tackling I've ever seen. The only player on Iowa's team that looks fast is Whatley. Even King looks noticeable slower but I blame that on midseason fatigue. It bothers me that a team with such horrible Public Relations problems like Penn State, imposed penalties, and coaching change still managed to OUTRECRUIT Iowa! They had 4 or more better WR's than we have. The loss of the Texas recruit is an example of Iowa just not getting it. You can't win without winning at recruiting.

 

[Knight78]

I think this is dead on. Even if we lose to Wisky and PSU, there isn't the gnashing of teeth for a 7-2 record.

But the loss to NDSU took the heart out of this team. The body language wasn't the same after that game.
You don't go from a few seconds of reaching the Final Four last season to losing to a I-AA opponent and know if you win the next 12, you don't control your own destiny. They experienced how difficult it was to go 12-0. To win 10 more in a row after that debacle?

Just to point out it does happen, Michigan in 2006 was 11-2. Lost their last regular season game to Ohio State and lost in the Rose Bowl to USC. The next year, they lost to 1-AA Appalachian State. They lost the next week to unranked Oregon. They ended the year 9-4, losing to Wisconsin and Ohio State.

 

[Knight78]

People tend to forget how good we were on offense the first two games this year. That one loss due to terrible coaching completely derailed this season.

I wouldn't put it completely on coaching. We had interior line injuries and it showed when NDSU blitzed up the middle and we couldn't handle it. CJ took a pounding that game because of it and hasn't looked right since.

 

[hawkeyes87]

I wouldn't put it completely on coaching. We had interior line injuries and it showed when NDSU blitzed up the middle and we couldn't handle it.

So it's not up to the coaches to have some plays to counter blitzes?

It's not up to the coaches to have enough depth on the o-line to absorb a couple injuries and still handle NDSU? I thought o-line was KF's specialty?

 

[94HawkMA]

There is no other explanation for a team that went 12-2 last year and returned 15 starters...which included a 2nd team All-B1G QB, 2 of the top 3 RBs, 3 of 5 OL, 6 of the front 7 and 3 of 4 DBs on D.

Couple that with no passion whatsoever (had been mentioned multiple games by sideline reporters) plus the still mysterious captaincy loss by King and it's obvious to even the most casual observer that there is no chemistry whatsoever on this team.

Since the seniors don't feel like leading the team this year, it's time to play for the future. But that won't happen, so I guess I have 3 free Saturdays now.

Iowa had a weak schedule last year. This year, CJ is hurt. He won't run. Also, he has no one to throw to. The best receiver is hurt, and Iowa never has Big 10 depth.

The offensive line is worse this year. James Daniels is a physical specimen, but he can't make calls like Blythe.

Other senior leadership is lost from last year. Drew Ott. Nate Meier.

King is showing no effort.

I see some guys playing hard, but with the overall lack of talent and the lack of effort that some guys are showing, this team is just not good. Iowa will be lucky to be close to the spread. I expect it to be probably 63-6.

 

[hawkeye23]

Channeling my inner icky:

It's the contract dummy. Prior to 2016 once every 4/5 years Kirk felt heat under his seat. That's why once every 4/5 years he coached like it mattered. With the new contract that pattern will not be repeated.

It isn't rocket science my fellow fan.

Yep, just like a free agent player in a contract year. Pony up in time to keep stacking...

 

[Knight78]

So it's not up to the coaches to have some plays to counter blitzes?

It's not up to the coaches to have enough depth on the o-line to absorb a couple injuries and still handle NDSU? I thought o-line was KF's specialty?

Sure it is. But when they leave a back in to help block and that back does a "look out" block... how does that help? (A look out block is when you whiff on the block and turn around and yell "Look Out! Here he comes!") DMX is our best blocking back, which is mainly why he's in there on 3rd down, but he's been injured. Wadley and Daniels both have whiffed multiple times in pass protection.

We did a better job against Penn St at protecting CJ, but still not what could be called a good job.

And we gave up depth at O-line to recruit more receivers when GD came in; at least that's what we were told that more WRs would be recruited at the expense of the O-line.