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

[SeattleHawkeye]

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.

No, it's not a fact. It's your opinion, so you want to think it's a fact. It's a fact NW's QB commented during the NW game wk that he loved playing IA b/c he knew exactly what we'd be doing and they knew how to beat it...yet we make almost no changes to our scheme and give up underneath completions much of the day, to the tune of 83 plays. And Coker is running strong the 1st quarter Sat. and IA is getting yards on the ground...yet he gets pulled for 2 quarters, then when he comes back in in the 4th suddenly the running game is going strong again. Those are facts. It's also a fact the IA coaches haven't substantially deviated from their schemes for almost 12 years, and resultantly it makes execution of those schemes challenging. But it's all about execution, right?

And the talent level of this years team is one of Ferentz' best, in particular for offensive skill players and the defense. This IA team started the season ranked in the top 10 for a reason - b/c they were returning many talented starters and players, including having some quality depth at certain positions. There will be a number of pros from this years team for good reason.

 

[racerhawk]

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.

Great post.

I think we all thought that this year's Iowa team had more talent than last year's team BEFORE this season started. However, maybe that wasn't the case. Losing Amari S (took away half the damn fied), Pat Angerer (of the Colts), and Edds arguably makes a huge difference in how these close games played out.

What if those three were defending the short passes against Wisky? Would Angerer and Edds have stopped Pryor's 4th and 10? How about last week for the 91 yard drive against Persa and that spread? I think losing those three players was a much bigger deal any of us realize.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

I think the system works, its weakness is (like all systems) is that it depends upon execution. The linebacker situation has hurt all year. Losing Angerer was a bigger hit than most people thought it would be. DB's can't cover their area's and the LB's jobs too. How many times have we seen Sash coming from the opposite side of the field to make a tackle this year? the corners have done a decent job but they have been badly burnt on a couple of situations this year. The D line is great, but sacks are down, hurries, deflections are all down from last year. Last year it seemed like Binn's knocked down a pass every game.

Special teams killed Iowa in the Arizona and Wisconsin games. Since the Wisconsin game these guys have not played with the same level of emotion, its like they are playing with a dark cloud over their heads.

 

[Iowafarmgirl]

No, it's not a fact. It's your opinion, so you want to think it's a fact. It's a fact NW's QB commented during the NW game wk that he loved playing IA b/c he knew exactly what we'd be doing and they knew how to beat it...yet we make almost no changes to our scheme and give up underneath completions much of the day, to the tune of 83 plays. And Coker is running strong the 1st quarter Sat. and IA is getting yards on the ground...yet he gets pulled for 2 quarters, then when he comes back in in the 4th suddenly the running game is going strong again. Those are facts. It's also a fact the IA coaches haven't substantially deviated from their schemes for almost 12 years, and resultantly it makes execution of those schemes challenging. But it's all about execution, right?

And the talent level of this years team is one of Ferentz' best, in particular for offensive skill players and the defense. This IA team started the season ranked in the top 10 for a reason - b/c they were returning many talented starters and players, including having some quality depth at certain positions. There will be a number of pros from this years team for good reason.

You realize you made my point for me right? Which is helpful, because it is difficult for women to over-think things...

 

[cabse5]

Wha' happened to this thread? From 10 years of Iowa data under Ferentz to execution of schemes vs. change of schemes?

Please, pretty please, stop excusing this team for their inability of stopping a spread offense because of average linebackers.
We couldn't stop spread offenses when we had great linebacker tandems like Greenway and Hodge, Edds and Angerer.

As far as the spread is concerned, a change of scheme is necessary.
Besides, the defense shouldn't require a pro-caliber player to be successful.

 

[racerhawk]

Wha' happened to this thread? From 10 years of Iowa data under Ferentz to execution of schemes vs. change of schemes?

Please, pretty please, stop excusing this team for their inability of stopping a spread offense because of average linebackers.
We couldn't stop spread offenses when we had great linebacker tandems like Greenway and Hodge, Edds and Angerer.

As far as the spread is concerned, a change of scheme is necessary.
Besides, the defense shouldn't require a pro-caliber player to be successful.

Iowa won 11 games last year, and may very well still win 9 this year.

Put in your resume.

 

[silvanthalas]

Nothing signficant changed.

You're right it didn't: we keep bad teams in games and just as often give them a chance to beat us. Sometimes, we're just plain lucky that they don't (UNI, 2009; Indiana, 2010).

But apparently it's too much to ask to rely a little bit more on the talent than we have than luck to beat such teams.

 

[jsmhawk]

You're right it didn't: we keep bad teams in games and just as often give them a chance to beat us. Sometimes, we're just plain lucky that they don't (UNI, 2009; Indiana, 2010).

But apparently it's too much to ask to rely a little bit more on the talent than we have than luck to beat such teams.

Amen. I am so sick of losing to NW and IU and letting lesser teams hang around. We should be pounding the weaker teams. Instead, our soft zone allows NW, Indiana, UNI, Arkansas State, etc to hang around and have a chance to beat us. In the case of NW, a great chance of beating us has turned in to an automatic loss year in and year out. This is unexcuseable imo. We HAVE to adjust our scheme against Indiana and NW and teams that run the short spread passing game!!!

 

[seepig]

I do agree with much of what you speak on this thread farmgirl. The one issue is if you're a running team and the other team puts 8-9 men in the box I don't care how good you execute you are NOT going to run the ball effectively...it just won't happen. You do have to execute for things to go your way true enough but adjustments and getting matchups to your advantage are a HUGE part of this game and we didn't do that...the coaching staff doesn't think that far ahead.

 

[seepig]

I'll remind everyone we didn't stop OSU or Wisconsin when we needed to either and they aren't spread offenses and oh BTW Scott Tolzien completed 77% of this passes against us. What's that tell you?