what is Rx for winning these close game losses?

[WinOneThisCentury]

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

Well, if I'm being honest...#4 would have won one of our losses outright, and may have won two. The reality is this...the QB position is the most important position in football for a reason. No one player has the ability to make or break your game plan offensively. Certainly accuracy is important, but making plays at crucial moments is often what separates wins and losses.

Think about CJ Beathard...and I bring him up because he exemplifies exactly what I'm talking about here. In 2015, certainly CJ was good and accurate...but it's the extending of plays, running to get first downs, and when you absolutely have to make a play passing (to McCarron against Iowa State to put us up late), or running (run for extra yardage against Pitt to allow for the 57 yard field goal)...he made the play. In every close game we played that year...he always made the play at the crucial time.

To this juncture this year...Stanley has made very few of those crucial plays. We had our opportunities late against Wisconsin, when we were still leading and after they went ahead. He didn't do it. We had several opportunities against Penn State and he was awful. Never mind the mind boggling play at the end...he was terrible the whole game. Northwestern...he had some open guys and for whatever reason, he checked down or threw a terrible ball. He didn't fumble at the end...so we will never know if he was about to engineer a winning drive...but it didn't happen.

Stanley's stats are inflated by UNI, Minnesota, Indiana, and against the Illini. 16 of his 21 TDs are in those games. So in the big games, he's got 5. Enough said.

 

[ModebaSan]

Give your team a goal. Require them to score twice every quarter and at least one of those scores be a TD. Thats at minimum, 40 pts. a game, 56 pts. max. That will win you 99% of your games. For every pt. you fall short, make them run the stadium stairs, even if they win. After running those stairs a few times, they will give you maximum effort to avoid that fate. Same with defense, make them run stairs for every point scored against them. I have never bought into “we played because of what the other teams defense gave us.” BS! You win by imposing your will against the other guy. You have to have the mindset to dominate in all phases of the game and go out and execute. If your coach is tough, your team will be tough! Demand the best of your team and stop making excuses.

 

[Northside Hawk]

Well, if I'm being honest...#4 would have won one of our losses outright, and may have won two. The reality is this...the QB position is the most important position in football for a reason. No one player has the ability to make or break your game plan offensively. Certainly accuracy is important, but making plays at crucial moments is often what separates wins and losses.

Think about CJ Beathard...and I bring him up because he exemplifies exactly what I'm talking about here. In 2015, certainly CJ was good and accurate...but it's the extending of plays, running to get first downs, and when you absolutely have to make a play passing (to McCarron against Iowa State to put us up late), or running (run for extra yardage against Pitt to allow for the 57 yard field goal)...he made the play. In every close game we played that year...he always made the play at the crucial time.

To this juncture this year...Stanley has made very few of those crucial plays. We had our opportunities late against Wisconsin, when we were still leading and after they went ahead. He didn't do it. We had several opportunities against Penn State and he was awful. Never mind the mind boggling play at the end...he was terrible the whole game. Northwestern...he had some open guys and for whatever reason, he checked down or threw a terrible ball. He didn't fumble at the end...so we will never know if he was about to engineer a winning drive...but it didn't happen.

Stanley's stats are inflated by UNI, Minnesota, Indiana, and against the Illini. 16 of his 21 TDs are in those games. So in the big games, he's got 5. Enough said.

Scary part is that Stanley is on pace to break Chuck Long's record for career TD's and Long needed four years to do it. Long's record is 74. Stanley is 47 and counting.

There's your interesting stat for the day.

 

[tweeterhawk]

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.

There is zero evidence Kirk has ever had a two-minute drill playbook or taught it to his offenses.

 

[uihawk82]

There is zero evidence Kirk has ever had a two-minute drill playbook or taught it to his offenses.

Look at the few KF QBs who had successful late drives, Banks in 2002 against Purdue if not more games, Tate I think did it , Stanzi in 2008 against Penn St, 2009 against MSU if not other games, CJB against Pitt in 2015 and maybe in other games

All 4 of these qbs could scramble and run, even Stanzi, they could throw the long out pattern to get the catch and then out of bounds, they kept plays alive and had accuracy over the middle to get first downs and stop the clock.

This is why they are KF's 4 best qbs period. Even Nate Chandler could run and do these things.

I still like Nate Stanley for hanging in the pocket but his lack of mobility hurts the hawks offense, stalls drives, etc. If he could increase his accuracy it would make up for a lot of his slowness as consistent 66-70% moves the chains

 

[revkev73]

Well, if I'm being honest...#4 would have won one of our losses outright, and may have won two. The reality is this...the QB position is the most important position in football for a reason. No one player has the ability to make or break your game plan offensively. Certainly accuracy is important, but making plays at crucial moments is often what separates wins and losses.

Think about CJ Beathard...and I bring him up because he exemplifies exactly what I'm talking about here. In 2015, certainly CJ was good and accurate...but it's the extending of plays, running to get first downs, and when you absolutely have to make a play passing (to McCarron against Iowa State to put us up late), or running (run for extra yardage against Pitt to allow for the 57 yard field goal)...he made the play. In every close game we played that year...he always made the play at the crucial time.

To this juncture this year...Stanley has made very few of those crucial plays. We had our opportunities late against Wisconsin, when we were still leading and after they went ahead. He didn't do it. We had several opportunities against Penn State and he was awful. Never mind the mind boggling play at the end...he was terrible the whole game. Northwestern...he had some open guys and for whatever reason, he checked down or threw a terrible ball. He didn't fumble at the end...so we will never know if he was about to engineer a winning drive...but it didn't happen.

Stanley's stats are inflated by UNI, Minnesota, Indiana, and against the Illini. 16 of his 21 TDs are in those games. So in the big games, he's got 5. Enough said.

 

[revkev73]

Stanley has gradually inherited that skeeerd, confused, mechanical, dry throat demeanor of Kirk in important games.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

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

I've mentioned before, that this team seems void of clear leaders. A confident, verbal quarterback in the huddle helps a lot with the offense. Stanley is a great kid, but he just doesn't inspire. That deer in the headlights look doesn't scream "I'm gonna beat you!"

 

[phdsvp]

It's a cultural issue. Iowa as a program is not built, physically or mentally, to win close games or big games. It's endemic. Unless you change the culture, you won't be changing this problem.

 

[Robowe]

There is zero evidence Kirk has ever had a two-minute drill playbook or taught it to his offenses.

Didn't Iowa score in less than a minute to beat Pitt in 2015 led by CJ Beathard? The juggernaut lead by Nathan Peterman and Tyler Boyd.

Good start to the highlight as well.

 

[DDThompson]

There is zero evidence Kirk has ever had a two-minute drill playbook or taught it to his offenses.

LLLOL!

And yet there seems to be a game (maybe two) a year when they score 21 pts in four minutes

 

[DDThompson]

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

Iowa does not need 4 senior QBs

 

[DDThompson]

Give your team a goal. Require them to score twice every quarter and at least one of those scores be a TD. Thats at minimum, 40 pts. a game, 56 pts. max. That will win you 99% of your games. For every pt. you fall short, make them run the stadium stairs, even if they win. After running those stairs a few times, they will give you maximum effort to avoid that fate. Same with defense, make them run stairs for every point scored against them. I have never bought into “we played because of what the other teams defense gave us.” BS! You win by imposing your will against the other guy. You have to have the mindset to dominate in all phases of the game and go out and execute. If your coach is tough, your team will be tough! Demand the best of your team and stop making excuses.

DJ Durkin? Is that you?

 

[Xerxes]

Iowa does not need 4 senior QBs

SR QBs under Ferentz:

2002 Banks 11-2 One of the best seasons for an Iowa QB ever
2003 Chadler 10-3 Pretty solid year overall, his team was decimated by injuries
2006 Tate 6-7 Tate probably should have taken a RS, core injury wrecked his season, dumpster fire overall
2010 Stanzi 8-5 Good numbers but dogshit season for the team, much like 2018 actually
2012 JVB 4-8 Horrible numbers that year and probably the 2nd worst team of the KF era
2016 CJ 8-5 Injuries and OL didn't help his performance but zero excuse losing a home game to NDSU

Most coaches dream of SR QBs. Just more evidence that KF is in way over his head when it comes to offense.

 

[koralakers]

SR QBs under Ferentz:

2002 Banks 11-2 One of the best seasons for an Iowa QB ever
2003 Chadler 10-3 Pretty solid year overall, his team was decimated by injuries
2006 Tate 6-7 Tate probably should have taken a RS, core injury wrecked his season, dumpster fire overall
2010 Stanzi 8-5 Good numbers but dogshit season for the team, much like 2018 actually
2012 JVB 4-8 Horrible numbers that year and probably the 2nd worst team of the KF era
2016 CJ 8-5 Injuries and OL didn't help his performance but zero excuse losing a home game to NDSU

Most coaches dream of SR QBs. Just more evidence that KF is in way over his head when it comes to offense.

notice the ONLY SUCCESSFUL Sr QBs (Banks/Chandler), were FIRST-YR starters (as seniors). ALL the others were, on average, THREE-YEAR STARTERS

 

[Knight78]

Well, if I'm being honest...#4 would have won one of our losses outright, and may have won two. The reality is this...the QB position is the most important position in football for a reason. No one player has the ability to make or break your game plan offensively. Certainly accuracy is important, but making plays at crucial moments is often what separates wins and losses.

Think about CJ Beathard...and I bring him up because he exemplifies exactly what I'm talking about here. In 2015, certainly CJ was good and accurate...but it's the extending of plays, running to get first downs, and when you absolutely have to make a play passing (to McCarron against Iowa State to put us up late), or running (run for extra yardage against Pitt to allow for the 57 yard field goal)...he made the play. In every close game we played that year...he always made the play at the crucial time.

To this juncture this year...Stanley has made very few of those crucial plays. We had our opportunities late against Wisconsin, when we were still leading and after they went ahead. He didn't do it. We had several opportunities against Penn State and he was awful. Never mind the mind boggling play at the end...he was terrible the whole game. Northwestern...he had some open guys and for whatever reason, he checked down or threw a terrible ball. He didn't fumble at the end...so we will never know if he was about to engineer a winning drive...but it didn't happen.

Stanley's stats are inflated by UNI, Minnesota, Indiana, and against the Illini. 16 of his 21 TDs are in those games. So in the big games, he's got 5. Enough said.

Just went through the stats. It seems you don't have the right numbers. Stanley had 1 passing TD and 1 rushing TD against N Ill and we had 4 rushing TDs total. He had 0 TDs against ISU and we had 1 rushing TD. He had 2 TDs against Wisconsin and we got no rushing TDs. He had 1 TD against Maryland and we had no rushing TDs. He had no TDs against Penn St and we had no rushing TDs. He had 1 TD against NW and we had no rushing TDs. He had 1 TD against Purdue and we had 3 rushing TDs.

I guess I see a pattern. In all these games Stanley threw for 7 TDs and rushed for one. The rest of the team rushed for 8 TDs (7 in 2 games). I'd say our rushing, or lack thereof, is what is hurting us. Yeah, it would be great if he had a better game against Penn St. But our inability to run the ball hurt us there as much as anything. Take away the Penn St game stats and Stanley is 180-290 (62.1%) with 21 TDs and 7 Ints. Pretty sound numbers; compare them to CJ's junior year when we was 223-362 (61.6%) with 17 TDs and 5 Ints. What was the big difference? Rushing.

 

[ModebaSan]

DJ Durkin? Is that you?

Shhhhh!

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Just went through the stats. It seems you don't have the right numbers. Stanley had 1 passing TD and 1 rushing TD against N Ill and we had 4 rushing TDs total. He had 0 TDs against ISU and we had 1 rushing TD. He had 2 TDs against Wisconsin and we got no rushing TDs. He had 1 TD against Maryland and we had no rushing TDs. He had no TDs against Penn St and we had no rushing TDs. He had 1 TD against NW and we had no rushing TDs. He had 1 TD against Purdue and we had 3 rushing TDs.

I guess I see a pattern. In all these games Stanley threw for 7 TDs and rushed for one. The rest of the team rushed for 8 TDs (7 in 2 games). I'd say our rushing, or lack thereof, is what is hurting us. Yeah, it would be great if he had a better game against Penn St. But our inability to run the ball hurt us there as much as anything. Take away the Penn St game stats and Stanley is 180-290 (62.1%) with 21 TDs and 7 Ints. Pretty sound numbers; compare them to CJ's junior year when we was 223-362 (61.6%) with 17 TDs and 5 Ints. What was the big difference? Rushing.

i get what you are saying, I really do. That being said...the opposing teams have this information also. Every team we have faced gears up to stop our running game. A few teams, ISU & NW, committed 8-9 to the box damn near the whole game. You can't run the ball against that. You have to throw them out of that defense...and force them to respect the deep ball and the passing game in general. How in the hell are you going to block 8-or 9 with 7 guys. NW's safeties had were lined up 6 yards off the ball...both of them much of the time. Too many people in a small amount of space.

 

[revkev73]

notice the ONLY SUCCESSFUL Sr QBs (Banks/Chandler), were FIRST-YR starters (as seniors). ALL the others were, on average, THREE-YEAR STARTERS

Takes a while for a QB to learn the KF "system."

 

[uihawk82]

i get what you are saying, I really do. That being said...the opposing teams have this information also. Every team we have faced gears up to stop our running game. A few teams, ISU & NW, committed 8-9 to the box damn near the whole game. You can't run the ball against that. You have to throw them out of that defense...and force them to respect the deep ball and the passing game in general. How in the hell are you going to block 8-or 9 with 7 guys. NW's safeties had were lined up 6 yards off the ball...both of them much of the time. Too many people in a small amount of space.

This is totally correct and for some reason KF and whoever his OCoord is will not throw deep very much.

If you remember 2009 against jNW before Stanzi got hurt KOK went deep for a TD and got McNutt on a 2nd long pass to set up a td.

But most times KF plays right into the opposition defenses hands