Top 5 Things That Went Wrong in 2010

[Igothawked]

Well at 8-4 we won't be playing a really good team in a bowl game, but I expect us to come out and roll whoever we play. Ever since the USC game we have been terrificly prepared for our bowl games. We usually come out looking and loose and play with a more aggressive game plan than we do all season, which makes it a little frustrating when you realize how good we actually are.

I agree with this post 100%. Its great to seem them well prepped for the bowl game, but they seem to almost play a different game come bowl time. Its really fun to watch but also quite frustrating.
It stems from losing a game or two each year that you shouldn't lose. Then you get to a bowl game and are usually matched up with some team that is not as good.

 

[Igothawked]

And he wasn't getting attention last year? If he can't make it through a chip in the big 10, I don't like his prospects of rushing through NFL tackles next season. If he's playing hurt, sit him down until he becomes effective and slide Ballard to the end.

This is true, but unfortunately its too late. I kind of feel bad for AC, unfortunately his draft stock has gone down this year. I kinda feel bad for the guy, ya know?

 

[PeoriaHWKI]

I think adding Norm to the injuries is a big one I left off. When you have to share duties and do not have your true leader and icon such as Norm you are missing something and maybe other areas get overlooked..special teams? I doubt it but not having Norm I belive was a major factor for the 4th qtr drives.

 

[FBletterman]

1. Special teams play
2. LB play
3. Losing Jewel
4. Losing Norm

Don't need a 5th those 4 alone makes us undefeated.

 

[HaydenHawk56]

Stats don't tell the whole thing with Rick. He is not the same QB that he was a year ago in crunch time. I prefer that Stanzi over this overcoached and regressed one.

 

[SpecialKHawk]

Football is the ultimate team game. A team that expects to win 10+ games cannot have many weaknesses. We simply had too many holes this year to overcome or compensate for. Some of the issues were in control of the program, others were not.

# 1 Special Teams... definite weakness costing us points, field position and posession of the ball. This could be a bad sign because typically special teams are filled with younger players and can be an indicator of future starting talent.

# 2 O-Line.... The o-line did not play physical enough nor consistently control the line of scrimmage. JF is an undersized lineman who's play exceeded my expectations but he did have leverage issues when a defender was head up or in his gap. He did his best work getting down field on LB's. The inconsistentcy problems were magnified with the inexplicable insertion of Koeppel in at right guard. He is smaller than JF and despite being a hard worker and great kid is not a Big Ten quality player (never understand this given Boeffelli, Van Sloten, Orne, etc. are on the bench). Two under-sized lineman are creating opportunities for the opposing D-Lineman to disrupt the line of scrimmage. Not every play but enough that drives are stalling. The pocket is being collapsed and we are not getting enough of a consistent push/seal in the running game. Keep in mind pressure/pocket collapse can cause more check downs and incompletions in the passing game. A single incompletion can disrupt a drive. We have seen this far too often since Gettis/McMillan were injured.

# 3 RB's + Running game.... injuries + BW + inability to run the football. Running the football is the key to winning football games at all levels of football. It is paramount to our offense since our passing game is predicated on timing/play-action/deep crossing routes. Our lack of committment to the running game is stiffling our offense. One reason for this is it is typically easier for under-sized lineman to pass block than to run block. Run blocking not only involves technique but requires physicality and leverage. The issue at hand is the pro-style passing game increases our chances of a negative play; incompletion, sack, dropped pass and holding penalty. The running game keeps the chains moving, clock moving and keeps your defense off the field(fresh-rested). The chances of a negative running play is much less if you have a good O-Line. We needed the offense to be better this season. How many 4rth quarter points were generated in the losses? Not many.

# 4 D-LB's.... Injuries and youth. Top 6 gone from last season, 2 in the Pro's. Throw in the loss of a shut down corner.

# 5 Leadership..... This is purely speculation but I'm wondering if we did not have the leadership on this year's team that we had last year. We are supposed to have a great strength and conditioning program but our conditioning / strength has been called into question all season. Did this year's team take the approach this past summer of not only doing the typical strength/conditioning work but doing the 'extra' that would be required given the 'target' that was placed on our back with success and expectations? The season before we had a guy like Angerer who made sure guys showed up on time and did the work. Did we have a guy(s) like that this year? This year's team looks like it did the minimum, resting on it's laurels and hype. I'm not indicating that no work was done but did they put that little bit extra in that was needed in the fourth quarter or simply to play 4 quarters of football in a tough and experienced conference?

 

[UncleHawk]

I boil it down to:

1. Injuries to Tarp,Davis,Johnson,Hunter and Nielsen at lb. If we have Tarp,Hunter and Nielsen in there vs Wis,NW and OSU in those last drives, we get the stop.

2. Injuries to Gettis and McMillan at guard. The o-line has not been as good without those two guys vs IU,NW,and OSU.

3. Special teams breakdowns,from bad long snapping,to missed fgs and PATs,to bad blocking on PATs, to bad kickoffs, to bad coverage. Even Donahue had a couple of critical bad punts. Again,injury to Murray was a key.

4. Our rb loss of Wegher, and injuries to Hampton,Coker and ARob.
We thought we were deep enough at rb,but again,the injury woes this year hit specific positions putting multiple guys out at rb,lb,and guard. Bad luck.
So, once again,we see that Iowa football is a few critical injuries away from being average. It has always been that way, and always will be that way. Our depth just cannot match OSU,and the wiskys,and MSU's have had injuries where they happen to be deep.

Last year Iowa was blessed injury wise until Ricky went down. Then we lost two games. In 2002, when we ran the table, we stayed remarkably healthy with only Mo Brown going down,and we had ample wrs to cover. Freddy Russell ,miniture rb, stayed healthy for 02 and 03,toting the ball a ton of times...go figure.

This. Even the order is spot on.

UncleHawk

 

[Jonesy86]

I would add to the list

6. Norm's health
7. Overall coaching
8. Ricky Regression

Ricky didn't regress. He just lost his lucky rabbit's foot before the NW game last year.

 

[PeoriaHWKI]

Add to the list No Heart, No Pride, NO LEADERSHIP!

 

[SirJamaLot]

I hope ferentz stays for 10 more years but it is time for a new offensive coordinator, but the blame is not on KOK, it is on the shoulders of the returning players, our veterans were not ready for Arizona, Indy, NW, or Mn. They showed their talent against PSU, Mich, and OSU but found out talent does not win games!!!! Their performance and overall pride in execution stunk half the time.