Why do we take the ball if we win the toss?

[hawkeye12345]

I guess I don't understand the logic here. We are a team that wins and losses with our defense. Our D rarely gives up points so why not kick the ball of and try and win the field position battle from the start? Plus a defense is stoked up and ready to hit somebody while the offense may be a little jittery in big games. It takes a series or two to get relaxed and play your game on O so why not let the other team work out their jitters by throwing a pick 6 or missing a blocking assignment on a punt?

I had an argument with a buddy of mine over the weekend because I assumed that we always deferred if we won the toss - just like 99% of the teams out there but I was wrong.

 

[thawks1]

Because we can move the ball or score. If we get a first down or two we trust our D to hold getting field position.

 

[tm3308]

I guess I don't understand the logic here. We are a team that wins and losses with our defense. Our D rarely gives up points so why not kick the ball of and try and win the field position battle from the start? Plus a defense is stoked up and ready to hit somebody while the offense may be a little jittery in big games. It takes a series or two to get relaxed and play your game on O so why not let the other team work out their jitters by throwing a pick 6 or missing a blocking assignment on a punt?

I had an argument with a buddy of mine over the weekend because I assumed that we always deferred if we won the toss - just like 99% of the teams out there but I was wrong.

I have no idea if this is what we do, but the thought just occurred to me: do we take the ball when we win the toss on the road, and defer if we win at home?

Taking the ball first on the road is a sound idea. Our offense is pretty good, and drawing first blood on the road helps to settle the crowd a bit. Whereas at home, our crowd gets into it big time with the defense on the field.

Again, I might be way off. Just curious if maybe that's what we do.

 

[kuhntz]

Kirk likes to take the ball for consistency. Doesn't matter if we win the toss or not 99% of the time we will start with the ball. Weather is usually the only way that KF will defer.

 

[ShadasRevenge]

I have no idea if this is what we do, but the thought just occurred to me: do we take the ball when we win the toss on the road, and defer if we win at home?

Taking the ball first on the road is a sound idea. Our offense is pretty good, and drawing first blood on the road helps to settle the crowd a bit. Whereas at home, our crowd gets into it big time with the defense on the field.

Again, I might be way off. Just curious if maybe that's what we do.

9 times out 10, Kirk is going to take the ball if the Hawks win the toss. The exception is if there is weather (rain, wind) and the team would be better served to defer.

The idea is to either get on the board first, or at least move it out to midfield and pin the other team deep and make them work the length of the field.

 

[tm3308]

Kirk likes to take the ball for consistency. Doesn't matter if we win the toss or not 99% of the time we will start with the ball. Weather is usually the only way that KF will defer.

We start with the ball a vast majority of the time when we lose the toss at home because the other team defers, thereby giving us little choice but to take the ball. So that doesn't really count.

 

[racerhawk]

If we get a lead early, the game changes. If we get enough of a lead, it can dramatically influence the play calling of a run-oriented Badger team.

KF, I believe, has a tremendous win percentage when his teams are ahead at halftime. Get to halftime with the lead.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

I have no idea if this is what we do, but the thought just occurred to me: do we take the ball when we win the toss on the road, and defer if we win at home?

Taking the ball first on the road is a sound idea. Our offense is pretty good, and drawing first blood on the road helps to settle the crowd a bit. Whereas at home, our crowd gets into it big time with the defense on the field.

Again, I might be way off. Just curious if maybe that's what we do.

Have you not watched Iowa football at all the last decade? We take the ball first almost every game. This is not just coincidence, we do not have unbelievably bad luck with coin tosses. We take the ball first if we win, and more often than not the other teams defer if they win so we get it first the vast, vast majority of the time.

 

[Rawkhawk73]

It never ceases to amaze me how we have to go over this question every year.

Here's the deal.....KF, like most coaches, is all about consistency. He knows that if the other team wins the toss, they will defer. Therefore, he will always (with the exception of weather) take the ball if the Hawks win. This means that virtually every game the offense knows beforehand that they will get the ball first and can be prepared for that.

In addition, KF, like most coaches, is very superstitious. He's got a pretty good track record taking the ball first, so he's gonna keep sticking with what works.

Honestly, I like his way better. Since you can predict with almost 99% certainty that your offense will get the ball first to start the game, you can easily gameplan around that. In addition, all you have to do is get a 1st down or two and you can flip field position pretty easily. Finally, if you've got a stellar defense like we've had since about 2003 (minus a few down years), and you can get out to an early lead, then more often than not, you can force the other team into "catch up" mode right out of the chute, which plays right into our defense's hands. I honestly think that getting the ball to start the 2nd half is over-rated.

 

[tm3308]

Have you not watched Iowa football at all the last decade? We take the ball first almost every game. This is not just coincidence, we do not have unbelievably bad luck with coin tosses. We take the ball first if we win, and more often than not the other teams defer if they win so we get it first the vast, vast majority of the time.

I am aware that we usually end up with the ball. But it seems like when we defer, it's typically at home. That's why I asked.

 

[jimmybuffett]

I read an article awhile ago where someone asked Coach Ferentz that question. He said something to the fact that when he first got to Iowa our defense was not that good so he wanted to be on offense first to try and get the early lead. Then he just stuck with it.

As Hayden said "If it aint broke, don't fix it".

 

[Ronco]

Kirk likes to take the ball for consistency. Doesn't matter if we win the toss or not 99% of the time we will start with the ball. Weather is usually the only way that KF will defer.

This in agree with. Kirk is a control freak and knows this is one of those game things he can control. The consistency is probably good for the team as well, especially the O.

 

[patmyne]

I think another thought into this is by taking the ball first you are giving yourself the chance to ultimately have one more possession in the game than your opponent.

 

[Ronco]

I think another thought into this is by taking the ball first you are giving yourself the chance to ultimately have one more possession in the game than your opponent.

Huh?

 

[edr247]

Well, you could look at it another way. If we score first on offense, and then our amazing defense plays great, then your offense gets the ball back again, but we already have seven points on the board!

If the offense fails to do much, you can punt it away (we have a good punter) and your defense can play from there.

 

[patmyne]

Huh?

It's quite simple. Let's say Iowa starts the game with the ball. Each team possess the ball 5 times a piece. Then Iowa has the last possession of the first half. That's 6 to 5.

Then lets say Iowa has the ball last to end the game. By taking the ball first it ultimately gave us an extra possession this game. It makes sense to me. Maybe I'm not thinking right...

 

[pchawkeye12]

While I agree it is because of consistency and the fact our D was not great when Kirk arrived as stated previously, I would think we take the ball first so we can get our reads early from the opposing D. How they line up against certain formations, react to motions etc. Then if we happen to score on first drive our D comes out with momentum, if we don't score we just lean on them like normal.

As for the second half side of it. It's fairly realistic to say we have one of the best coaching staffs at making second half adjustments. There's a reason why we give up so few points in the third quarter! By taking the ball first we give our D an advantage of a half of football already being played and knowing the best way to stop it. I would much rather have this first half video and the necessary adjustments than having our D go into the opening drive of the game blind and have our offense take the ball in the second half after the opposing teams adjustments have been made.

 

[spudhawk]

It is working Iowa has given up 0 points in the 3rd quarter this season and the opponent has had the ball first each time. I think I trust Kirk and the defensive staff to make adjustments to stop opposing Os. I love what they do. Plus most teams defer if they win the toss so we end up with the ball if lose the toss.
But my advice to the captains when on the road- Tails never fails.

 

[eyekwah]

I think another thought into this is by taking the ball first you are giving yourself the chance to ultimately have one more possession in the game than your opponent.

You nailed it. If you take the ball first and can end the first half in possession of the ball you are one up in possessions.

 

[hawkfan340]

It's quite simple. Let's say Iowa starts the game with the ball. Each team possess the ball 5 times a piece. Then Iowa has the last possession of the first half. That's 6 to 5.

Then lets say Iowa has the ball last to end the game. By taking the ball first it ultimately gave us an extra possession this game. It makes sense to me. Maybe I'm not thinking right...

Yes, but by the exact same logic, if the opponent ends each half with the ball, they would have an equal number of 1st half possessions and one extra second half possession. You following me?