When was the last time IA d got off the field in crunch time in big game?

[Northside Hawk]

This game remided me of the Zach McCabe SAFO game from 2014. Like yesterday, Wiscy went into that game shorthanded, a couple players banged up. Like yesterday, we were in position to win. Like yesterday, when Wisconsin had to execute a set they knew exactly they were going, into Kaminski. Like yesterday, they knew what to do when they needed a stop. Surround Marble when he drove inside. Like yesterday, there was a ton of venom being spewed on these boards from frustrated fans who are frankly sick of losing to a program they should be competing with.

 

[ThunderHawk]

I never trust our D to shut down a game in a make or break situation. I never trust them because they've given me no reason to trust them.

Phil Parker has issues. He doesn't press his obvious advantages in crucial situations. Some kind of disturbing self sabotage at play. It's almost always dumbass shitbrained schemes rooted in pensive fear and not player screw-ups that cost us in these situations.

Yeah, our defensive stats look good on the surface for the most part. But when it really matters, Phil pisses it down his leg. Football is a game determined by situations, not statistics.

 

[trj]

PP is a good d-coordinator. However, I have never completely forgiven him for that 22 play drive to a qb with a busted throwing shoulder in the B1G title game.

 

[guffus]

Although Iowa St is a game you don't want to lose for the embarrassment factor, Iowa St is not a National Spotlight game. Iowa should beat the clowns year in and year out.

So, I don't consider ISU to be a "Big Game." Wisconsin, Ohio St, Penn St, those are big games.....the with Alabama's of the world above that.

Well then, that's a very small sample size to choose from. Iowa defense needs to hold in a game where it is ahead late in a close game against a big opponent. I guess we would have to throw out all ISU and Minn games, because they don't meet your definition of a big game.

Does the 2016 Michigan game count? Oh wait I guess since Michigan was ahead until Iowa's FG, I guess the key defensive stop the defense made was right before Iowa's last drive, so I guess that does not count. Or maybe that doesn't count because Iowa was not ranked, so it was not really a big game. If not that one, how about 2013 Michigan or 2011 Michigan games? The defense made key stops late in those games with Iowa ahead.

How about 2015 Nebraska? 2013 Nebraska? Do those count?

How about pinstripe bowl against BC? Defense makes a key play late in the game. Does that one count?

 

[ThunderHawk]

PP is a good d-coordinator. However, I have never completely forgiven him for that 22 play drive to a qb with a busted throwing shoulder in the B1G title game.

Nor should you. In the biggest moment of his professional life, he choked like a fkn turncoat Russian Vor being force-fed cement.

Nearly every single heartbreaking loss has been due to the defense failing; while just about every last exhilarating win has been due to the offense going clutch. Which is astounding considering our usual offensive "production."

Phil's a choker when it matters most. If it's a good' disciplined team needing to drive down and score on Iowa at the end of a crucial game, grab your nuts, cuz it's incoming, and hard.

 

[HaydenHawk56]

Well then, that's a very small sample size to choose from. Iowa defense needs to hold in a game where it is ahead late in a close game against a big opponent. I guess we would have to throw out all ISU and Minn games, because they don't meet your definition of a big game.

Does the 2016 Michigan game count? Oh wait I guess since Michigan was ahead until Iowa's FG, I guess the key defensive stop the defense made was right before Iowa's last drive, so I guess that does not count. Or maybe that doesn't count because Iowa was not ranked, so it was not really a big game. If not that one, how about 2013 Michigan or 2011 Michigan games? The defense made key stops late in those games with Iowa ahead.

How about 2015 Nebraska? 2013 Nebraska? Do those count?

How about pinstripe bowl against BC? Defense makes a key play late in the game. Does that one count?

Bigtime opponent when something is on the line...like a title..or on the path towards a title. Yes..all games count...but when is the last time iowa put a Giant away needing that win to cement the next level...championship...or championship path?

 

[Ben Rumson]

I never trust our D to shut down a game in a make or break situation. I never trust them because they've given me no reason to trust them.

Phil Parker has issues. He doesn't press his obvious advantages in crucial situations. Some kind of disturbing self sabotage at play. It's almost always dumbass shitbrained schemes rooted in pensive fear and not player screw-ups that cost us in these situations.

Yeah, our defensive stats look good on the surface for the most part. But when it really matters, Phil pisses it down his leg. Football is a game determined by situations, not statistics.

Good assessment thunder on Phil. Could it be the conservative don't screw it up override by...oh I don't know...the head guy maybe???

 

[okeefe4prez]

Phil's a choker when it matters most. If it's a good' disciplined team needing to drive down and score on Iowa at the end of a crucial game, grab your nuts, cuz it's incoming, and hard.

If we're being honest here, it's probably a function of two things. First, Iowa's guys generally aren't that good. Now when we have a stud lineman, a few good LBs and good DBs, that defense can end games. The fact that our guys aren't that good limits what you can call. Oh, you wanna call a middle LB blitz? Great, it's only gonna take that guy 6 seconds to get home because he's tired, probably a little slow to begin with and our line ain't gonna move their guys to get him the hole he needs because the linemen ain't that good.

Second, the Ferentz philosophy is bend but don't break. Ran it since Norm was around. What you see is what you get. It's predicated on the idea that college QBs ain't good enough to run 10+ play drives to score. Problem is, with the proliferation of these specialized camps and training, these kids landing D-I starting jobs are all pretty effin' good now. It used to be only a special guy like maybe Kirk Cousins (great drive in 2009 negated by 7 gets 6) or Terrelle Pryor (that fucking run on 4th down in 2010) was gonna torch you on a sustained drive when the game was on the line. But now like half the kids in the NCAA can do it because when that pass rush is worn out and he has 4 guys in routes and we only have 2 competent cover guys downfield, someone's gonna get open and he's gonna have time. Playing the numbers, 10 years ago you could count on the QBs throwing errant passes or WRs dropping balls that would save some games. Hornibrook is a fairly pedestrian QB, but the kid was 17 of 22, and at least one of those was a drop. This ain't the '80's anymore where teams were still challenged by the vertical passing game. It's frustrating, but unless we've got absolute stud LBs or DBs in the mold of AJ Edds, Pat Angerer, Chad Greenway or Josh Jackson, we ain't stopping above average teams late in the game other than maybe 1 or 2 times out of 10.

 

[HawksMN]

PP is a good d-coordinator. However, I have never completely forgiven him for that 22 play drive to a qb with a busted throwing shoulder in the B1G title game.

22 play drive when that same QB RAN for a first down. WTH?

 

[dahlhawk]

The Iowa philosophy under Kirk has always been"sandbagging", or in golf terms, "laying up". Let the other guy make the mistake. If a team executes Iowa loses.

 

[Northside Hawk]

The Iowa philosophy under Kirk has always been"sandbagging", or in golf terms, "laying up". Let the other guy make the mistake. If a team executes Iowa loses.

Especially when he thinks he has enough points late in the game. It would be the equivalent of a basketball team letting the shot clock expire every possession because they fear a live ball turnover or rebound and run-out. In that hypothetical situation Kirk's basketball teams could only score if fouled or if they force a live ball turnover.

 

[taffaej]

Remember when Iowa was the the “bullies” of the Big Ten? Yeah those were good times

 

[SpiderRico]

2010, in my mind, was the year that started the trend of the defense not being able to get off the field. Arizona, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Ohio State all had game winning drives in the final minutes that enabled us to grab defeat from the jaws of victory.

Before that, there were a lot of times our defense was able to get major stops. Start with the Alamo Bowl against Texas Tech in the 2001 season, the Purdue game in 2002, the Michigan game in 2003, the Minnesota game in 2004, the PSU game in 2008 (I know we drove for the game winning FG, but it was set up by an INT against Clark in the waning minutes).

But ever since 2010, if the opponent has the ball in the final minutes with the chance to win the game, invariably our defense pisses down their leg. It's like the basketball jinx of every team being able to hit game winning shots against us.

Some days being a Hawkeye is awesome, and some days it just flat out sucks!

 

[SteveGarvey1]

2010, in my mind, was the year that started the trend of the defense not being able to get off the field. Arizona, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Ohio State all had game winning drives in the final minutes that enabled us to grab defeat from the jaws of victory.

Before that, there were a lot of times our defense was able to get major stops. Start with the Alamo Bowl against Texas Tech in the 2001 season, the Purdue game in 2002, the Michigan game in 2003, the Minnesota game in 2004, the PSU game in 2008 (I know we drove for the game winning FG, but it was set up by an INT against Clark in the waning minutes).

But ever since 2010, if the opponent has the ball in the final minutes with the chance to win the game, invariably our defense pisses down their leg. It's like the basketball jinx of every team being able to hit game winning shots against us.

Some days being a Hawkeye is awesome, and some days it just flat out sucks!

Exactly. Deep down I knew Wisconsin was going to drive down and score because it's happened so much in recent years. Like O'Keefe said, it's the bend but not break defense that's easily exploited these days by at least decent QBs who know they have to perform when the game is on the line.

I do remember one game vs. Michigan a few years ago when they had that running QB-can't remember his name-but they were at our goal line with a chance to win and we called the blitz a few times, rattled him, and we ended up winning. B but not B was thrown out at that point and it paid off. Too bad Kirk doesn't get out of the B b n B mindset more often in those situations.

 

[okeefe4prez]

Exactly. Deep down I knew Wisconsin was going to drive down and score because it's happened so much in recent years. Like O'Keefe said, it's the bend but not break defense that's easily exploited these days by at least decent QBs who know they have to perform when the game is on the line.

I do remember one game vs. Michigan a few years ago when they had that running QB-can't remember his name-but they were at our goal line with a chance to win and we called the blitz a few times, rattled him, and we ended up winning. B but not B was thrown out at that point and it paid off. Too bad Kirk doesn't get out of the B b n B mindset more often in those situations.

Yeah, Dennard choked in 2011, I believe it was. Threw an incomplete pass on 4th down. But he was a bad passer. Michigan also fumbled late in the game at Iowa in 2013 when either Kirksey or Hitchens crushed either their QB or RB (I forget which because it was so damned cold that day all I really remember was the cold and Smith catching a long TD early in the second half) to stop a late drive at the end of the game. So the defense does have those two key stops against Michigan.

 

[okeefe4prez]

Like O'Keefe said, it's the bend but not break defense that's easily exploited these days by at least decent QBs who know they have to perform when the game is on the line.

It used to be that 4th quarter comebacks were the mark of a really special QB, but nowadays in either the pro game or college game a whole bunch of games seem to come down to who has the ball last provided there is at least a minute left in the game. It's damn near getting as bad as basketball where you just need to watch to see who gets the ball last because so many QBs are so good down the stretch and the way they have changed the rules so guys can't get lit up anymore and you can't destroy the QBs, it's only going to get worse. The game is basically turning into soft tackle basketball on grass.

I believe during the broadcast the announcers even alluded to it - one of them was saying it's easier being down late in the 4th than trying to protect the lead. He's probably right because for a decent QB it's easier to attack than to worry about trying to run the clock out.

 

[BigD]

If we're being honest here, it's probably a function of two things. First, Iowa's guys generally aren't that good. Now when we have a stud lineman, a few good LBs and good DBs, that defense can end games. The fact that our guys aren't that good limits what you can call. Oh, you wanna call a middle LB blitz? Great, it's only gonna take that guy 6 seconds to get home because he's tired, probably a little slow to begin with and our line ain't gonna move their guys to get him the hole he needs because the linemen ain't that good.

Second, the Ferentz philosophy is bend but don't break. Ran it since Norm was around. What you see is what you get. It's predicated on the idea that college QBs ain't good enough to run 10+ play drives to score. Problem is, with the proliferation of these specialized camps and training, these kids landing D-I starting jobs are all pretty effin' good now. It used to be only a special guy like maybe Kirk Cousins (great drive in 2009 negated by 7 gets 6) or Terrelle Pryor (that fucking run on 4th down in 2010) was gonna torch you on a sustained drive when the game was on the line. But now like half the kids in the NCAA can do it because when that pass rush is worn out and he has 4 guys in routes and we only have 2 competent cover guys downfield, someone's gonna get open and he's gonna have time. Playing the numbers, 10 years ago you could count on the QBs throwing errant passes or WRs dropping balls that would save some games. Hornibrook is a fairly pedestrian QB, but the kid was 17 of 22, and at least one of those was a drop. This ain't the '80's anymore where teams were still challenged by the vertical passing game. It's frustrating, but unless we've got absolute stud LBs or DBs in the mold of AJ Edds, Pat Angerer, Chad Greenway or Josh Jackson, we ain't stopping above average teams late in the game other than maybe 1 or 2 times out of 10.

Excellent post.

The golden (black and gold) is why can’t our offense put together one offensive drive like that in the fourth quarter??? Just one sustained drive and we are all sitting here talking about 4-0 and being favored to win the West. Because this seems to be an ongoing problem for Iowa for the last ten plus years and since over that time we have seen 250 plus players come and go the it is obvious that it’s not the players causing the problem.

King Kirk needs to do what’s right here and retire at the end if the season. Give another coaching staff a chance to see what they can do. Settling in life because of the fear of something not happening or something bad happening is no way for anyone to live their life. Apparently a large part of our fan base, our AD, and the university administration never got the memo.

However as long as he is here I will continue to cheer for my team. 11-1 is still a remote possibility and 10-2 is also. We just got to change things so those losses aren’t always to Wisconsin.

Got to work today and all the BYU football fans were asking me what happened to Iowa’s offense in the fourth quarter.

The only enjoyment I got WAs remembering that The cheese heads lost to BYU on their home field. Smoked cheese!!!

 

[okeefe4prez]

why can’t our offense put together one offensive drive like that in the fourth quarter??? Just one sustained drive and we are all sitting here talking about 4-0 and being favored to win the West. Because this seems to be an ongoing problem for Iowa for the last ten plus years and since over that time we have seen 250 plus players come and go the it is obvious that it’s not the players causing the problem.

Yeah, I agree this is a problem. There's no reason we shouldn't be able to put up sustained 6+ minute drives in the fourth quarter if our coach is such a highly regarded o-line expert. It's actually a critical piece of playing the model of ball Kirk wants to play. If your goal is to keep most games close so you have a chance to "punch above your weight" you damned well better be able to control the line of scrimmage in the 4th quarter. If I had to point to one material difference between Iowa and Wisconsin since 2010 it is that Wisconsin can demoralize your d-line by the 4th quarter almost every year, but Iowa cannot.