We Have 10 Years of Data and Here is What We Know

[ChosenChildren]

Records of the top Big Ten teams over the past 10 years

Ohio State 103 22 .821
Iowa 84 40 .677
Wisky 84 40 .677
Michigan 79 41 .658
Penn State 79 43 .647

This conservative coaching staff at Iowa is the second or third best program in the Big Ten over the past 10 years, outperforming Joe Paterno (winningest college coach of all time) and Michigan, which is the winningest program in college football history.

I really hope Kirk Ferentz doesn't change anything.

 

[Cosity82]

There is always room for improvement. I would hate to think the coaching staff closes their doors to the possibility of bettering themselves.

 

[Warhawks77]

There is always room for improvement. I would hate to think the coaching staff closes their doors to the possibility of bettering themselves.

I agree with this. WHile it is good to point out where we stand in the big 10 I note that as a conference we have only 1 national title game (OSU). So while we have definately seen marked improvement as a team, we must continue to strive to be the best in the conference and work our way to making the next jump in our program which is peforming in the top tier (BCS) team standards year in and year out. I believe we can do it! Go Hawks!

 

[DodgerHawki]

You don't think they do an examination...

There is always room for improvement. I would hate to think the coaching staff closes their doors to the possibility of bettering themselves.

of pretty much everything during every offseason? After the 2003 Orange Bowl, Iowa completely changed the bowl prep routine after getting thrashed by USC. Since that time, Iowa has gone 4-2 in bowls against an impressive list of schools (wins over Florida, LSU, South Carolina, Georgia Tech) and two close losses to Florida and Texas.

They've had a greater emphasis on the downfield passing game the last two years with McNutt and DJK to throw to and a QB who was better equipped to get it downfield (even with his overthrows against Northwestern and Ohio State this year).

Coaches at every level and in every sport are always looking for things to improve how the coach or their team. This staff is certainly not perfect. For all the complaining about the defense (much of it deserved) special teams errors are the reason we're playing for an 8-4 season at Minnesota and not getting ready to at least play for a co-conference title.

 

[BSpringsteen]

Look Chosen - you're the only one who seems to think that everyone saying that this season is a disappointment and questioning the coaching staff is saying they want the coach fired.

Bottom line, there were glaring coaching errors in 3 of the 4 losses, that have been repeated by this staff numerous times. Most notably as it relates to clock management.

If the coaching staff is going to demand perfect execution for their schemes to be successful than guess what, players not executing becomes their responsibility too.

8-4 should be the bottom end of what we can expect yearly out of this program, and when you return 15 of 22 starters, that is pretty brutal.

You talk about close games... there was no excuse for the NW game to be that close. There was no excuse for the Indiana game to be that close.

We have the highest paid coaching staff in the conference, great facilities, incredible fan support, national exposure every week, and recruiting has never been better.

No one is suggesting that we are going to be able to become Ohio State and win 10 games for 6 straight years. But I don't think it is unreasonable given all that has been invested in this program to expect some separation between us and the next group.

 

[Rawkhawk73]

Records of the top Big Ten teams over the past 10 years

Ohio State 103 22 .821
Iowa 84 40 .677
Wisky 84 40 .677
Michigan 79 41 .658
Penn State 79 43 .647

This conservative coaching staff at Iowa is the second or third best program in the Big Ten over the past 10 years, outperforming Joe Paterno (winningest college coach of all time) and Michigan, which is the winningest program in college football history.

I really hope Kirk Ferentz doesn't change anything.

Yes, because the world is littered with tons of success stories of people who accomplished great things and then just sat on those successes and didn't change or evolve, right?

Give me a break. I don't think there is a person on this site who isn't proud as he!! of what Kirk and this staff have accomplished over the last 10 years (although I did notice you left out the 1st two in order to make the data say what you want it to say). However, when there are glaring weaknesses that need to be corrected, and to state that you don't want him to change a thing, tells me you are either A) young or B) don't understand how successful people are always constantly evolving or C) both.

Your heart's in the right place. Unfortunately, you couldn't be more wrong.

 

[ThunderHawk]

Gee. Think of how good our record would be if the offense was better than mediocre.

 

[Saginawbay]

Look Chosen - you're the only one who seems to think that everyone saying that this season is a disappointment and questioning the coaching staff is saying they want the coach fired.

Bottom line, there were glaring coaching errors in 3 of the 4 losses, that have been repeated by this staff numerous times. Most notably as it relates to clock management.

If the coaching staff is going to demand perfect execution for their schemes to be successful than guess what, players not executing becomes their responsibility too.

8-4 should be the bottom end of what we can expect yearly out of this program, and when you return 15 of 22 starters, that is pretty brutal.

You talk about close games... there was no excuse for the NW game to be that close. There was no excuse for the Indiana game to be that close.

We have the highest paid coaching staff in the conference, great facilities, incredible fan support, national exposure every week, and recruiting has never been better.

No one is suggesting that we are going to be able to become Ohio State and win 10 games for 6 straight years. But I don't think it is unreasonable given all that has been invested in this program to expect some separation between us and the next group.

This is a correct post just because you question does not mean we want them fired.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

There is always room for improvement. I would hate to think the coaching staff closes their doors to the possibility of bettering themselves.

Exactly. The overall record the past decade clearly is very good, so I can't complain about that. But that doesn't mean that everything is perfect and couldn't be improved upon.. Maybe if we correct a couple of things we could do even better? I don't think that requires coaching changes. Just some tweaking.

 

[ohhawk]

Pat Harty has a spot on article he posted today at Hawk Central about perspective that some Hawk fans might want to consider as they critique the program.

Nothing wrong with questioning and discussing elements of our program but some go way overboard with their expectations.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Pat Harty has a spot on article he posted today at Hawk Central about perspective that some Hawk fans might want to consider as they critique the program.

Nothing wrong with questioning and discussing elements of our program but some go way overboard with their expectations.

Expecting a national championship is going overboard. Expecting better than 7-4 after getting most of an Orange Bowl winner back for this year, is very reasonable, IMO.

 

[DBAHawkFan]

I don't know. I guess i'm wrong for expecting to beat Indiana and NW each year. yes NW has a decent record, but they're not a great team. If Iowa can beat down MSU, then why not NW and Indiana?

I was nervous about this year. AZ, NW, and OSU were all games i could see us losing. I throw NW on there because that's the trend. We lose to them, and to OSU.

I think every year every fan HOPES for a 12-0 record, but let's be realistic.....it doesn't happen too often for any team.

What i do expect is a staff to learn from their mistakes. They have shown improvement in bowl preperation, recruiting, and to a lesser extent, playing the best man regardless of age.

What we haven't seen is ability to adapt during the game (minus half time adjustments), and ability to run a 2 min offense. There have been a few times, PSU 08, and MSU 09 where we've looked pretty good.

But this year, with those same players we had in the example above, looked like they had never run the drill before.

that's what needs to be critiqued and challenged.

 

[hawkforlife9]

I suppose your analysis assumes that Michigan and Penn St. will continue to have weak programs. They have had some off years and we have been able to capitalize. It won't continue.

 

[ThunderHawk]

Pat Harty has a spot on article he posted today at Hawk Central about perspective that some Hawk fans might want to consider as they critique the program.

Nothing wrong with questioning and discussing elements of our program but some go way overboard with their expectations.

I think expecting more than 17 points against teams that are routinely getting trucked for 35 or 40 isn't too much to ask for.

 

[Iowafarmgirl]

Exactly. The overall record the past decade clearly is very good, so I can't complain about that. But that doesn't mean that everything is perfect and couldn't be improved upon.. Maybe if we correct a couple of things we could do even better? I don't think that requires coaching changes. Just some tweaking.

I think Kirk Ferentz' system is fairly simple. We should all know, but tend to forget, that the crux of Iowa's offensive and defesnive philosophy is to do what they do really well, and dare the opponent to do something about it.

In my view, Iowa's success and defeat rest not on schemes and play calling, but execution. Simply put, there has not been execution this year. In my view, the glaring lack of execution has been on the offensive line (which is not suprising) and the defensive line (which is baffeling). Every year Iowa has great success, both of these elements are dominant. This year they are not, at least not in the 4th quarter.

 

[SeattleHawkeye]

I think Kirk Ferentz' system is fairly simple. We should all know, but tend to forget, that the crux of Iowa's offensive and defesnive philosophy is to do what they do really well, and dare the opponent to do something about it.

In my view, Iowa's success and defeat rest not on schemes and play calling, but execution. Simply put, there has not been execution this year. In my view, the glaring lack of execution has been on the offensive line (which is not suprising) and the defensive line (which is baffeling). Every year Iowa has great success, both of these elements are dominant. This year they are not, at least not in the 4th quarter.

Sorry, but the "execution" excuse is played out. Honest question - you do understand execution is directly related to scheme, right? When your opponent knows you have not substantially changed your schemes in over 10 years, that can make executing much, much more difficult. It also allows your opponent to scheme against you much more successfully, b/c they know pretty much exactly what you'll be doing. This is why most B10 teams love playing IA - they know where IA players will be and can scheme against it.

Also, some people are cool w/ losing to less talented teams 5 out of 6 years. Some of us aren't. Some of us also aren't ok w/ 8-4 records w/ arguably your most talented team to date. If you're ok w/ 8-4, more power to you, but give us that have higher aspirations the same respect.

 

[Iowafarmgirl]

Sorry, but the "execution" excuse is played out. Honest question - you do understand execution is directly related to scheme, right? When your opponent knows you have not substantially changed your schemes in over 10 years, that can make executing much, much more difficult. It also allows your opponent to scheme against you much more successfully, b/c they know pretty much exactly what you'll be doing. This is why most B10 teams love playing IA - they know where IA players will be and can scheme against it.

Also, some people are cool w/ losing to less talented teams 5 out of 6 years. Some of us aren't. Some of us also aren't ok w/ 8-4 records w/ arguably your most talented team to date. If you're ok w/ 8-4, more power to you, but give us that have higher aspirations the same respect.

A few things. This is not arguably Iowa's most talented team. Maybe the third or forth of the Ferentz era, bit not of all time. Last year's team was much more telneted than this year's, and the NFL rosters prove that.

Second, the execution thing is not played out. Last year, we had the same schemes. Nothing signficant changed. It was just as easy for other teams to prepare for us last year. The difference between 10-2 and 8-4 is clearly execution. It isn't an excuse. It's empirical fact.

 

[DBAHawkFan]

This year's problem has been scheme.

On offense, up until the IN game, I thought was playing very well. We were putting up points at will, and taking huge chunks of clock off the scoreboard. I believe this was the exact model of what KF wanted. Ball control, efficient, and put points on the board.

Since then, I honestly have no idea what's happened. Stanzi can't hit a WR if the route is over 15 yards consistently, Arob has been hurt and I believe it's shown the last few weeks, and some inconsistent play calling in the red zone (IN game).

I believe the OL has played great considering most of us thought it would be a large weakness. The problem with the OL really isn't theres, but the situations they've been put in. Against AZ, and OSU to end the game, the teams know we're going to pass, they know we'll run routes that take a while to get open, so they pin their ears back, and go all out. They know they can do this because none of our WR will run a slant or quick route. And yes, some of those plays the OL did poorly and deserve the blame.

On defense, its our LBs. They aren't bad, but they can't cover like Edds and Angerer. The DL is getting pressure this year, but they can't get the sack because our LB's can't hold coverage for another second or two like they did last year.

It's still scheme in that we don't change. In a 2 min drill, unless there is just flat out mistakes by the offense, our defense doesn't get it done.

 

[DBAHawkFan]

A few things. This is not arguably Iowa's most talented team. Maybe the third or forth of the Ferentz era, bit not of all time. Last year's team was much more telneted than this year's, and the NFL rosters prove that.

Second, the execution thing is not played out. Last year, we had the same schemes. Nothing signficant changed. It was just as easy for other teams to prepare for us last year. The difference between 10-2 and 8-4 is clearly execution. It isn't an excuse. It's empirical fact.

But why play the same scheme if we don't have the same talent and expect the same results?

Having three NFL players on defense has made a huge difference last year. The staff has to know that the LB corps wouldn't be able to cover like last year's squad, so why not make a slight adjustment?

It's making these little adjustments that could turn a loss to a win. Or it could very easily ended the same way. The fact is, our current scheme this year wasn't able to stop teams when it mattered.

 

[PJHawk]

The difference between 10-2 and 8-4 is clearly execution. It isn't an excuse. It's empirical fact.

You’re over thinking if farmgirl (are you really a girl?) With Iowa football over the past four years where most of the losses have been less than a TD the difference between 8-4 and 10-2 is simply getting lucky on a play or two that the bounce of the ball for you is a win; against you is a loss.