what is Rx for winning these close game losses?

[uihawk82]

i have always thought that in some lean years when hawks lose close games the passing game is missing a handful of dependable routes and clutch receivers. when u have kaspar, Mo, CJ, clark and hinkle you can pick up first downs.

i think another prescription is a decent running qb who can extend plays and run for important yardage. and a good run game and i think the outside zone blocking has not been there as much the last 8-9 years.

the defense has mostly been very good to excellent over the years.

i think our qbs need to get that yardage by running sometimes, need some clutch repeatable pass routes. too much offensive inconsistency is the bain of KF's current offenses

 

[Xerxes]

It’s pretty clear that Iowa isn’t practicing 2 minute drills enough or they’re not practicing them well because every time they’re in that situation they look lost. So I’d start by bringing in somebody who knows what they’re doing to either join the staff or to coach the staff on how to do it.

 

[MikeyLikesIowa]

Not going for the two-point conversion unless we NEED to would help.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Seems that turnovers have killed us in those close losses as well.

 

[revkev73]

Better coaching leads to better fundamentals, which leads to winning close games. You rely upon fundamentals in the clutch, they are practiced so that doing the right things is reflexive, not thought about.

Having coaches on the staff that don't choke or panic in the clutch. This cancer spreads to the players, year after year.

Don't play to keep game close, play to dominate.

 

[DDThompson]

It’s systemic.
It’s not the same “L” formula for each of those.

Need to:

1. Pay attention to details.

2. Aggressive at the right time

3. “What the” game plans (defense too)

4. Not allow Bad Stanley on the bus

5. Clock management.

6. 2 minute stall-fense

7. Figure out why Iowa gets a chop block every game but the opponent has 0.

8. Turnovers



Other than that .... not much

 

[iloveyoularrystation]

mental toughness, and that comes from your leaders. on offense that has to be your qb, refusing to lose. not being physically tough and able to take a beating but being mentally tough and unshakeable, not rushing throws, not rushing mechanics. a guy whose gonna go grab the team in the huddle and say we ain't losing this dang game. we haven't had that guy since stanza, tate before him. on defense you need 3 of em, one on the line, one at backer, and one in the secondary. the last several years we've had 1 or 2 of them on d but not 1 at all 3. you need a dlineman whose gonna beat his dude in clutch and cause havoc, a linebacker whose not gonna miss the big tackle on 3rd or 4th down late, and the guy in the secondary who win there's a 50-50 ball is not losing that in the clutch. just haven't had it. having said all that if your qb isn't the best leader on your team in crunch time, its tough. the last couple years in crunch time when we had a last drive it usually has ended in an interception or fumble or four and out. the other teams senior qb's have marched down the field on us. it'd be interesting to see in the last 2-3 years what our record is against junior and senior qbs and what it is against everyone else. I bet its like all our losses or maybe all but one is against a junior or senior qb. and our record against freshman or sophomores no matter how good they are is awesome.

 

[uihawk82]

m

a guy whose gonna go grab the team in the huddle and say we ain't losing this dang game. we haven't had that guy since stanza, tate before him. on defense you need 3 of em, one on the line, one at backer, and one in the secondary. the last several years we've had 1 or 2 of them on d but not 1 at all 3.e.

Word was that CJ Beathard commanded the huddle and just told his offense they were going to drive it 90 yards. He has to be mentioned there

 

[westender]

i have always thought that in some lean years when hawks lose close games the passing game is missing a handful of dependable routes and clutch receivers. when u have kaspar, Mo, CJ, clark and hinkle you can pick up first downs.

i think another prescription is a decent running qb who can extend plays and run for important yardage. and a good run game and i think the outside zone blocking has not been there as much the last 8-9 years.

the defense has mostly been very good to excellent over the years.

i think our qbs need to get that yardage by running sometimes, need some clutch repeatable pass routes. too much offensive inconsistency is the bain of KF's current offenses

Don't turn the ball over.

 

[cincyhawk]

i have always thought that in some lean years when hawks lose close games the passing game is missing a handful of dependable routes and clutch receivers. when u have kaspar, Mo, CJ, clark and hinkle you can pick up first downs.

i think another prescription is a decent running qb who can extend plays and run for important yardage. and a good run game and i think the outside zone blocking has not been there as much the last 8-9 years.

the defense has mostly been very good to excellent over the years.

i think our qbs need to get that yardage by running sometimes, need some clutch repeatable pass routes. too much offensive inconsistency is the bain of KF's current offenses

Not being in a close game when you have no business being in a close game. Wisconsin, PSU -- ok, I can see that. Purdue? Northwestern? Most years, no.

 

[hawkinstl]

i have always thought that in some lean years when hawks lose close games the passing game is missing a handful of dependable routes and clutch receivers. when u have kaspar, Mo, CJ, clark and hinkle you can pick up first downs.

i think another prescription is a decent running qb who can extend plays and run for important yardage. and a good run game and i think the outside zone blocking has not been there as much the last 8-9 years.

the defense has mostly been very good to excellent over the years.

i think our qbs need to get that yardage by running sometimes, need some clutch repeatable pass routes. too much offensive inconsistency is the bain of KF's current offenses

I'll start with this. Put your best offensive weapon, Fant in a LOT during the entire game and your best defensive weapon, Epenesa in a LOT during the entire game and there may not be as many close games at the end of the 4th quarter.

 

[DDThompson]

mental toughness, and that comes from your leaders. on offense that has to be your qb, refusing to lose. not being physically tough and able to take a beating but being mentally tough and unshakeable, not rushing throws, not rushing mechanics. a guy whose gonna go grab the team in the huddle and say we ain't losing this dang game. we haven't had that guy since stanza, tate before him. on defense you need 3 of em, one on the line, one at backer, and one in the secondary. the last several years we've had 1 or 2 of them on d but not 1 at all 3. you need a dlineman whose gonna beat his dude in clutch and cause havoc, a linebacker whose not gonna miss the big tackle on 3rd or 4th down late, and the guy in the secondary who win there's a 50-50 ball is not losing that in the clutch. just haven't had it. having said all that if your qb isn't the best leader on your team in crunch time, its tough. the last couple years in crunch time when we had a last drive it usually has ended in an interception or fumble or four and out. the other teams senior qb's have marched down the field on us. it'd be interesting to see in the last 2-3 years what our record is against junior and senior qbs and what it is against everyone else. I bet its like all our losses or maybe all but one is against a junior or senior qb. and our record against freshman or sophomores no matter how good they are is awesome.

I’m not mentally tough enough to read long posts without paragraphs.

 

[ChosenChildren]

Recruit, and play, a mobile QB. Beathard in 2015 was dangerous because he was MOBILE.

Stanley is not mobile so teams can tee off on him.

It is that simple, but our brain dead coaching staff cannot figure it out

 

[NCHawker]

i have always thought that in some lean years when hawks lose close games the passing game is missing a handful of dependable routes and clutch receivers. when u have kaspar, Mo, CJ, clark and hinkle you can pick up first downs.

i think another prescription is a decent running qb who can extend plays and run for important yardage. and a good run game and i think the outside zone blocking has not been there as much the last 8-9 years.

the defense has mostly been very good to excellent over the years.

i think our qbs need to get that yardage by running sometimes, need some clutch repeatable pass routes. too much offensive inconsistency is the bain of KF's current offenses

Iowa lost to 4 senior QBs. Maybe that is what Iowa needs

 

[homes]

It's not one thing. That's what makes it so hard to pinpoint. Overall, the offense (but not always the same part of the offense) is the problem more than the defense.

 

[karras]

Iowa lost to 4 senior QBs. Maybe that is what Iowa needs

All of Kirk's multi-year starting QBs have regressed from their junior year to their senior year in terms of wins.

 

[ThunderHawk]

Watch the end of the Steelers-Jags game yesterday to see how a resilient, aggressive, confident team grabs opportunity and closes out a game by imposing its will.

 

[homes]

Watch the end of the Steelers-Jags game yesterday to see how a resilient, aggressive, confident team grabs opportunity and closes out a game by imposing its will.

Iowa certainly has the right uniforms.

 

[koralakers]

...NOT have KF as coach. Horrible game coach. Coaches like Fitz routinely coach circles around him in close games.

 

[iloveyoularrystation]

I’m not mentally tough enough to read long posts without paragraphs.

that's fair. sorry man, I was tired when I wrote it. i'm pretty surprised I formed sentences that were legible. i'll go back to the drawing board and try better next time. hehe