Those Hawkeye fans who hate the offense

[HawkGold]

How frustrating it must be as an Olineman knowing the entire defense is running full speed at you toward the backfield every first and second down.

This is a point that those who criticize the critics miss. Our RB and O Linemen are getting crushed. It's not talent, its scheme and how the other team can read it. It's been going on a long time, but gotten worse this year. It will lead to more injuries. For those that disagree, break it down and show me where I'm wrong.

If you have a QB who can't deal with the blitz, change the routes. Change to a power running game. Change QBs or recruit different types of QBs. I personally thing Stanley can hit the open guy but they are changing him to throw over the Line first to avoid the interception too much.

 

[earlkoppelman]

I think we need to remember the current offensive line is the product of 5 years of Brian F as offensive line coach. His recruits and his coaching. I think most would agree this years line play is glaring evidence the OL did not improve under his tutelage (and may have regressed) in both talent and execution.
However, due to his promotion he has walked away from this train wreck of an OL.
Imagine

How frustrating it must be as an Olineman knowing the entire defense is running full speed at you toward the backfield every first and second down.

Last response to your post mes

I agree.....it’s been heading that way since Brian came back

Yup

 

[Knight78]

This^ His dad has been giving us the double middle finger for years now.

I would disagree. Kirk is doing what EVERY OTHER P5 coach does with fan forums and message boards. Do you honestly believe that Saban logs in to Alabama's fan forums to defend his decisions/actions? Or Harbaugh at Michigan? Or Meyer at OSU? Or ..... ANY OTHER P5 coach? Absolutely not.

Please note that I am not criticizing or upholding what Kirk does, only that there is no coach in the nation that gets strategy, game planning, play calling, recruiting info, etc. from fan forums.

 

[Knight78]

Yeah I don't get it either. Why In the hell cant five guys block seven or eight defensive guys???

Look, I called this problem before the season even started. I predicted seven to eight guys in the box. KF and his dufuss coaching staff are a joke.

So you don't think the fact (FACT, mind you) that we have an inexperienced quarterback, an inexperienced receiving corps and one of the best backs in the Big 10 would tip off opponents to stack the box? Until Stanley proves that he can consistently make completions to the receivers (other than running backs) that move us down the field, we are going to continue to see 7 or 8 guys in the box. No amount of coaching will change that.

 

[hawkeyes87]

Just the Ferentz's contribution toward answering those fundamental questions, like, "What spectacular collisions occur when you repeatedly slam accelerating bodies into each other in an extremely confined space."

Physics humor on a football board? Bazinga!

 

[westender]

Yes I have seen a bunch of plays where the defender has just gone past a lineman that was going to block a linebacker or another defender 2 yards away from the LOS. There's talent on this team, it's just young talent unfortunately.
I predicted 6-6.

I'd say the line has been disappointing thus far.

This is a point that those who criticize the critics miss. Our RB and O Linemen are getting crushed. It's not talent, its scheme and how the other team can read it. It's been going on a long time, but gotten worse this year. It will lead to more injuries. For those that disagree, break it down and show me where I'm wrong.

If you have a QB who can't deal with the blitz, change the routes. Change to a power running game. Change QBs or recruit different types of QBs. I personally thing Stanley can hit the open guy but they are changing him to throw over the Line first to avoid the interception too much.

Dude has been at QB for 5 games. If it were you or me we would have to wear a diaper as we would piss our pants. When did we expect a 5 game starter at QB to come out of the gate and play like Tom Brady?

 

[HawkGold]

I'd say the line has been disappointing thus far.


Dude has been at QB for 5 games. If it were you or me we would have to wear a diaper as we would piss our pants. When did we expect a 5 game starter at QB to come out of the gate and play like Tom Brady?

Hes a starter at an above average power conference. H's almost half way in.

 

[BigD]

So you don't think the fact (FACT, mind you) that we have an inexperienced quarterback, an inexperienced receiving corps and one of the best backs in the Big 10 would tip off opponents to stack the box? Until Stanley proves that he can consistently make completions to the receivers (other than running backs) that move us down the field, we are going to continue to see 7 or 8 guys in the box. No amount of coaching will change that.

You are absolutely right. Can’t blame the opponents for playing seven or eight in the box. It is the smart strategic defense. So any prudent coach would counter with a barrage of a variety of different passing schemes. That’s the problem as the coaching staff is insistent to continue to pound the ball on the ground. I already addressed this subject in a response to a question Jon asked me. The only way to sharpen a skill is to play through it. To gain experience and that’s exactly what needs to happen even if it cost us a game or two. At least Stanley will be getting valuable experience for the rest of his career as an Iowa QB.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

I'd say the line has been disappointing thus far.


Dude has been at QB for 5 games. If it were you or me we would have to wear a diaper as we would piss our pants. When did we expect a 5 game starter at QB to come out of the gate and play like Tom Brady?

We were discussing offensive line play.

 

[westender]

We were discussing offensive line play.

Sure. Been disappointing but it has been shuffled with injuries to the two guys who were our starting offensive tackles. Imagine the line not quite up to par when the OTs that were there aren't now. RS freshman LT watching your QBs back.

 

[westender]

Hes a starter at an above average power conference. H's almost half way in.

Yeah 5 games. 3 home and 2 road. And he has done a hell of a job. he did what he had to do to win Penn State game. D needed to hold on and could not. he made some mistakes in the MSU game, particularly the one fumble. So yeah, bench him. LOL!

 

[HawkGold]

Yeah 5 games. 3 home and 2 road. And he has done a hell of a job. he did what he had to do to win Penn State game. D needed to hold on and could not. he made some mistakes in the MSU game, particularly the one fumble. So yeah, bench him. LOL!

I think he's a terrific qb. I will say that 5 games in Iowa is suffering something that a 20 year coach shouldn't have to experience oft, but he does.

Not speaking necessarily to you, but I've notice the KF high end supporters are in a round about way blaming players. QB isn't experienced enough (again 5 games into his 2nd season 1 as a starter) or Wadley isn't big enough to plow over people (oft a lineman, a DE and a LB at once). In the past many of the high end supporters of KF blamed Davis or they blamed KOK. Now they can't blame Brian as he is what KF wants.

Stanley should have had more snaps last year. The back up should have had them this year, but the Hawks were fighting for their lives against NTSU, Wyoming, and ISU all likley not good teams.

 

[InGoodCo]

weird concept - blaming the players that play the game and directly impact the final results of the game

 

[InGoodCo]

the Hawks were fighting for their lives against NTSU, Wyoming, and ISU all likley not good teams.

NTSU and Wyoming are both going bowling. Not that that makes them a good team, it just means, they were better then a lot of other teams loaded up on to start the year. ISU will take a miracle.

I just love the hand wringing over the Oline when Iowa has one of the best OL minds in the game - they won the Joe Moore award last season and lost Ike and are now playing Freshman extended snaps. They also struggled against 2 of the better defenses in the B1G.

 

[ArvadaHawk]

weird concept - blaming the players that play the game and directly impact the final results of the game

If the staff wasn't calling the plays and stanley was, i'd agree. I think the general premise here is that because our staff insists on running into 8+ man fronts, our OL gets blamed when perhaps they shouldn't because they're constantly out manned. In fact, every single OL and our TE could have 6 pancake blocks on every run play and we'd still struggle with the 7th, 8th and 9th man playing the run.

 

[InGoodCo]

If the staff wasn't calling the plays and stanley was, i'd agree. I think the general premise here is that because our staff insists on running into 8+ man fronts, our OL gets blamed when perhaps they shouldn't because they're constantly out manned. In fact, every single OL and our TE could have 6 pancake blocks on every run play and we'd still struggle with the 7th, 8th and 9th man playing the run.

I get it, I just don't get what's different then last year when we insisted on running into 8+ man fronts.... or the previous 17 years before that. Could be something with having a rookie at QB, having a less then ideal Punter and poor field position to maybe. Maybe also that whole injury thing and starting one RS Frosh a true one out there too. It's just not a finished product at this point, and again - PSU and MSU have pretty good D's.

 

[ArvadaHawk]

I get it, I just don't get what's different then last year when we insisted on running into 8+ man fronts.... or the previous 17 years before that. Could be something with having a rookie at QB, having a less then ideal Punter and poor field position to maybe. Maybe also that whole injury thing and starting one RS Frosh a true one out there too. It's just not a finished product at this point, and again - PSU and MSU have pretty good D's.

When we win, we live with it. When we don't, we can typically point to this. Not always, but typically.

 

[DBAHawkFan]

Expect the same this weekend. Horrible weather in the forecast, rain and high winds (20mph, probably more with gusts) which isn't going to help our struggling offense.

IL will come out and dare us to pass, just as every other team we have played. I expect KF to play for a 10-7 type of game, so this won't be the week we see progress in our offense. Field position, and trying to score when we have the wind at our backs....

 

[DBAHawkFan]

I get it, I just don't get what's different then last year when we insisted on running into 8+ man fronts.... or the previous 17 years before that. Could be something with having a rookie at QB, having a less then ideal Punter and poor field position to maybe. Maybe also that whole injury thing and starting one RS Frosh a true one out there too. It's just not a finished product at this point, and again - PSU and MSU have pretty good D's.

2015 was more the year that it worked because CJB gave us that added boost of being able to scramble, and hit the deep pass (when it was called).

In 2016 we lost that player who could go over the top, and Kittles wasn't healthy. Throw in CJB getting dinged up, and teams knew they could sell out for the run.

This is the blueprint against Iowa, and will be until NS is able to hit those deep passes. He needs protection too, but he's missed nearly every bomb he's thrown this year. We notice, so D1 coaches notice.

It does seem worse this year because of having the inexperience at QB, and KF is gonna go even more conservative until he absolutely cannot anymore.

 

[ArvadaHawk]

Expect the same this weekend. Horrible weather in the forecast, rain and high winds (20mph, probably more with gusts) which isn't going to help our struggling offense.

IL will come out and dare us to pass, just as every other team we have played. I expect KF to play for a 10-7 type of game, so this won't be the week we see progress in our offense. Field position, and trying to score when we have the wind at our backs....

I get it and if these conditions are what we see at game time, then running makes sense. However, the team that isn't afraid to throw in these conditions can gain the upper hand. You can fumble just as easily in these conditions as you can throw a pick.