What wasnt so good Saturday

[kameltoez102]

My take on the game is they really wanted to work on the run game and expected to run very well against Wyoming. To their credit they played hard and made it more difficult. Once the game was under control there was no need to open up the playbook, might as well work on the basics and get reps. The other thing that really hampered how the offense ran was the fumbles and the dropped passes. I never would have thought that they open the game with a jet sweep but they did.

They tried to get the ball to Smith which ultimately didn't end well. The only thing I wish they would have done was do some more quick passes to MV just to get Stanley in a rhythm. I also think next week they need to get him out of the pocket more. There will only be more 8-9 men in the box to come until Stanley and the receivers show they can stretch the field. ISU will crowd the line all day long until a long play convinces them differently.

Ultimately this may be a team led by the defense but the offense has to be able to sustain drives to keep the defense off the field and stay fresh.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

A redshirt freshman I believe. I think that is why he started getting snaps in August. If the rest of the line was in place, he might have got the nod. Can't really blame the coaches for wanting some experience out there.

I think it's a good thing Render started for experience. Daniel's might not even been hurt that bad but held out as a precaution, I don't know. But, I liked seeing Render start for some quality back-up minutes. Ya gotta have a solid back-up at center.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

What wasn't so good? Guess this will come off as negative

It's the Deja Vu of every year us complaining about the offense. Literally could go back to 2012 and it's the same complaints every year.

QB looks confused
WR are lacking skill / experience
OL struggles to open holes (for slower RB), but mostly Pass Protection
Predictable Play Calling

I watched a lot of other games over the weekend and it's just amazing how much faster other teams are compared to Iowa. Granted, it's the style that we play that compresses everyone between the hashes, but other teams make changes at OC, graduate players, and yet it doesn't appear (it's my perception) that they look as BAD as Iowa does every year to start out on offense.

Stanley scares me right now. He couldn't hold on to the ball, and he locked on to his WR. There are going to be some growing pains, but due to the style of offense we play, we put so much pressure on the defense to carry the load if we have turnovers or inept at moving the ball.

Some positives. Wadley is a stud. It was nice to see some passes down the middle of the field. I'm hopeful that BF gets a little more creative with his calls. More screens, and more passes to Wadley Butler to take advantage of blitzes

The O-line needs to get the pass protection shored up. I think Stanley will gain confidence and settle in but he is going to get blitzed, and blitzed more. There is absolutely no reason not to blitz iowa until Iowa hurts them. The coaches need to have some designed plays for some quick hitters to offset the blitz to keep the D honest. Again, coaches need to design plays and the O-line needs to better pass protect.

This will help the balance of the offense and make the offense complete as the run game will be there.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

My take on the game is they really wanted to work on the run game and expected to run very well against Wyoming. To their credit they played hard and made it more difficult. Once the game was under control there was no need to open up the playbook, might as well work on the basics and get reps. The other thing that really hampered how the offense ran was the fumbles and the dropped passes. I never would have thought that they open the game with a jet sweep but they did.

They tried to get the ball to Smith which ultimately didn't end well. The only thing I wish they would have done was do some more quick passes to MV just to get Stanley in a rhythm. I also think next week they need to get him out of the pocket more. There will only be more 8-9 men in the box to come until Stanley and the receivers show they can stretch the field. ISU will crowd the line all day long until a long play convinces them differently.

Ultimately this may be a team led by the defense but the offense has to be able to sustain drives to keep the defense off the field and stay fresh.

Solid post. Can't disagree.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I duno, fans gripe about play calling because a given play does not yield yards. They call isn't the issue, its the execution far more often than not.

Agree. BF was calling throws down the field. Fant dropped (after a very solid hit) that one early in the game. There could have been a score on that drive had he gotten that one. It's the first game. I'm not worried. Iowa's D should give them a chance in every game.

I would have liked to see the young freshman WR get another chance after his fumble just to get his confidence up again. Sometimes that's where Ferentz can go wrong, IMO, sitting a player too long after fumbling.

I mean he should have held onto the ball, but it wasn't like he didn't get hit hard. He took a pretty good whollup.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I get what you are saying. BUT, the end around to the TE? Not a great play, IMO.
I want to see more passes to MVB. I would like to see a couple more deep balls.
But I think we were limited due to our poor O line play. And the fact it was a new QB.

Im not griping. I just want to see a couple different things.

Yea, I shook my head and that one and told my wife "That ain't gonna work". I realize Fant is a mismatch for defenders and has some speed for his size, but I don't see an end around with him working at all. His advantage is going to come downfield with his size, speed and athleticism, between the LB and D-backs.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I'm gonna say commercials. Usually set the dvr and wait an hour to start watching staying off social media. You usually catch up to the game halfway through the 4th without having to sit through the barrage of the same three car/phone/food commercials. First game of the season didn't want to wait and paid for it. To add insult to injury all of the games on seemed to have their commercial breaks synced up.

So you couldn't FF thru the commercials? Now I think I ran into that a while back with DTV. I think they may have changed it so people just can't FF thru them.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

lol . . . of all the posters on this board, you want honestly least of all hypocrite.

Wuuuut??????????

 

[SteveGarvey1]

Yea, I shook my head and that one and told my wife "That ain't gonna work". I realize Fant is a mismatch for defenders and has some speed for his size, but I don't see an end around with him working at all. His advantage is going to come downfield with his size, speed and athleticism, between the LB and D-backs.

Yeah, I don't think we'll see Gronk run any end arounds Thursday night.

 

[westender]

Prior to the game I would have thought QB might be the winner. QB wasnt that great but I thought the biggest dissapointment was the offensive line hands down. Sure Daniels didnt play but all fall people have been talking about the great depth. Wadley got his 100+ yards but most were on his own. I sure didnt see our offensive line blowing people down the field. And the pass protection wasnt good either. This wasnt the Green Bay packers we were playing. I think they gave up about 35 per game last year. I think we better see a huge improvement this week because if we dont run the ball well it will be tough to win.

One other quick thing. Iowa and Ferentz took some criticism from Cunningham for leaving Bethard in the Florida game after it was long decided and he was clearly hurting. Unfortunately justified. So what was Wadley doing running the ball with 2 minutes to go??? I have always appreciated Ferentz and the way he treated his players and not playing them when hurt, but these were 2 occasions I have no idea what he was thinking?

Same reason Wadley probably got tackled in practice. Ferentz willing to risk it to get and keep guys ready and in condition. Wyoming keyed on the run for sure. The QB of the offensive line was out! Guy at center hadn't played it in years. Alaric Jackson first start at LT. So let the guys settle in and get Daniels back at Center.

And don't forget the 4 turnovers. We had 4 and we still won by 3 TDs.

 

[westender]

I think Austin Blythe pointed out on twitter that if Butler blocks the Safety like he was supposed to on that very first play from scrimmage, Wadley is gone for a TD. Watch that play and you will see what he means.

 

[GesterHawk]

Yea, I shook my head and that one and told my wife "That ain't gonna work". I realize Fant is a mismatch for defenders and has some speed for his size, but I don't see an end around with him working at all. His advantage is going to come downfield with his size, speed and athleticism, between the LB and D-backs.

That play will pay off dividends in the future if it sucks a linebacker up to defend against it when Fant goes in motion.

Fans called for creativity all offseason from BF. He gave it there and fans are panning it. Let us wait and see how that look plays out in the future.

 

[SpiderRico]

I think Austin Blythe pointed out on twitter that if Butler blocks the Safety like he was supposed to on that very first play from scrimmage, Wadley is gone for a TD. Watch that play and you will see what he means.

That's exactly right. It was a double tight set with the 2 TEs to the left side of the formation. Fant and Hockensen blew their guys off the ball and there was a huge lane there. Had Butler gotten his block, then it goes for a huge gain, and probably a TD given Wadley's ability in the open field once he gets to the 2nd level....

 

[hawkfan2679]

I think Austin Blythe pointed out on twitter that if Butler blocks the Safety like he was supposed to on that very first play from scrimmage, Wadley is gone for a TD. Watch that play and you will see what he means.

I don't think he scores but we certainly get more out of they play. I hope we keep that little wrinkle in the play list...the more we run it the more we'll see the way teams defend it and the better we'll be at blocking it. And to piggy-back off of my discussion in a different thread, if we can develop several counters off of that same look (a play series vs a singular jet sweep play) it will certainly help our offense.

 

[Bordone]

So you couldn't FF thru the commercials? Now I think I ran into that a while back with DTV. I think they may have changed it so people just can't FF thru them.

I can when I let the dvr run. I watched live last week because I was excited for the season to start. typically they won't let you ff watching on demand.

 

[westender]

One thing not improved was the promised cell service. Not good in Kinnick for the most part. Could get out simple texts but anything beyond that not so good. Expected it to be much improved.

 

[SpiderRico]

One thing not improved was the promised cell service. Not good in Kinnick for the most part. Could get out simple texts but anything beyond that not so good. Expected it to be much improved.

Probably would have been better, but the Athletic Dept gave the University an add'l $2M, so there went that idea!

 

[NCHawker]

I think Watley was in the game late because Iowa did not run very many plays in the game. He and the rest of the #1's need repetitions. they need repetitions. <<-- that's it.