Why KF philosophy may hurt Iowa's playoff chances

[Seth53]

And again, wayyyyy premature, but……

KF has been a coaching gentleman throughout his tenure @ Iowa.
I.e. he doesn’t run up the score in order to score style points.
While I do admire this, this year, in my opinion, he needs to run up the score on the remaining teams on our schedule if we want to make the playoffs.

KF needs to put the foot on the throat of the remaining teams as we start the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] half of the season. To not add 1-2 extra scores when we could will probably hurt us. Reasons:

- Iowa is not highly thought of nationally. We’re not sexy. We don’t have a household name at any one position. Pundits don’t like to have to think about us. We're easy to dismiss. Hell, the national pundits want to dismiss us.
- Our 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] half schedule is already coming under fire. Simply winning close will hurt us.
- We’re mired with about 6-8 other teams in the 8-15 ranking range…we need to separate from the pack.
- This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get into the playoffs. Kirk.3 needs to show this wrinkle this year.
- OSU got hot last year late, ran it up vs Wisky, ushered themselves into the playoffs and you know what happened.

I know this goes against the very fabric/being of KF and staff, but this year, with this opportunity and this remaining schedule, I think he needs take no prisoners if Iowa is to be seriously thought of by the selection committee. The opportunity may never present itself again.

 

[bcl20]

I love this team, I really do but I don't think they are going to be in a position to blow out every remaining team on the schedule.

 

[Seth53]

I love this team, I really do but I don't think they are going to be in a position to blow out every remaining team on the schedule.

True....I guess my thought is *if* the opportunity presents itself, we need to. This year, it's all falling into place. We need to separate.

 

[tanaros]

And again, wayyyyy premature, but……

KF has been a coaching gentleman throughout his tenure @ Iowa.
I.e. he doesn’t run up the score in order to score style points.
While I do admire this, this year, in my opinion, he needs to run up the score on the remaining teams on our schedule if we want to make the playoffs.

KF needs to put the foot on the throat of the remaining teams as we start the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] half of the season. To not add 1-2 extra scores when we could will probably hurt us. Reasons:

- Iowa is not highly thought of nationally. We’re not sexy. We don’t have a household name at any one position. Pundits don’t like to have to think about us. We're easy to dismiss. Hell, the national pundits want to dismiss us.
- Our 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] half schedule is already coming under fire. Simply winning close will hurt us.
- We’re mired with about 6-8 other teams in the 8-15 ranking range…we need to separate from the pack.
- This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get into the playoffs. Kirk.3 needs to show this wrinkle this year.
- OSU got hot last year late, ran it up vs Wisky, ushered themselves into the playoffs and you know what happened.

I know this goes against the very fabric/being of KF and staff, but this year, with this opportunity and this remaining schedule, I think he needs take no prisoners if Iowa is to be seriously thought of by the selection committee. The opportunity may never present itself again.

I agree in part, but a lot depends on Iowa's health the rest of the way. Winning 40-10 at Northwestern with the Hawks missing FIVE starters, is simply incredible, and absolutely no one saw coming. All Iowa can do is win its games, and see how it unfolds. A factor that may count against the Hawks is how far off the radar of everyone they were 6 weeks ago. They weren't receiving any votes at the start of the season, now they're ranked #12 with 5 to play. Take care of business, let the chips fall where they may in regards to everyone else. Losses will come to teams ahead of us. At the very least, we control our own destiny in the conference. Root for Illinois over Wisconsin saturday to really open up the race for Iowa.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

Given time, things tend to regress to the mean. And people tend to regress to their core patterns...KFz will likely do just that...given time.

But real change can happen, when one is truly committed. We'll see....

 

[uihawk82]

And again, wayyyyy premature, but……

KF has been a coaching gentleman throughout his tenure @ Iowa.
- OSU got hot last year late, ran it up vs Wisky, ushered themselves into the playoffs and you know what happened.

I know this goes against the very fabric/being of KF and staff, but this year, with this opportunity and this remaining schedule, I think he needs take no prisoners if Iowa is to be seriously thought of by the selection committee. The opportunity may never present itself again.

I think Brian Ferentz would like to bury teams, not sure about some other assistant coaches, but I bet Greg Davis likes to score a lot of points.

Hate to use a basic KF cliche but if they execute you might see some blowouts but nice to see the 2nd and 3rd stringers getting playing time, it is fun to watch them play in Big 10 games, it has been a long time.

 

[MiniMoeHawk]

I agree in part, but a lot depends on Iowa's health the rest of the way. Winning 40-10 at Northwestern with the Hawks missing FIVE starters, is simply incredible, and absolutely no one saw coming. All Iowa can do is win its games, and see how it unfolds. A factor that may count against the Hawks is how far off the radar of everyone they were 6 weeks ago. They weren't receiving any votes at the start of the season, now they're ranked #12 with 5 to play. Take care of business, let the chips fall where they may in regards to everyone else. Losses will come to teams ahead of us. At the very least, we control our own destiny in the conference. Root for Illinois over Wisconsin saturday to really open up the race for Iowa.

you want Wisconsin and Pitt to win out. Iowa needs to have wins over top 25 teams at the end of the season

 

[uihawk82]

you want Wisconsin and Pitt to win out. Iowa needs to have wins over top 25 teams at the end of the season

It would be nice if Wisky and Pitt are ranked and the hawks are 12-0 but I would still like to see Wisky get one more loss. If so the hawks could lose 2 games and still go to the big 10 champ game.

 

[jjh4hawks01]

Blowouts don't matter.

IF we go undefeated through winning the championship game in Indy, we will NOT be left out of the 4 team playoff.

Beating teams by a lot of points don't mean jack.

 

[Seth53]

Blowouts don't matter.

IF we go undefeated through winning the championship game in Indy, we will NOT be left out of the 4 team playoff.

Beating teams by a lot of points don't mean jack.

Have to agree to disagree. Granted they had a loss (albeit early) but a major reason OSU got invited to the FB dance was their 59-0 over Wisconsin in Indy. I think Iowa needs to do more than just 'get by' if they win out. Much more.

 

[blubberhawk]

And again, wayyyyy premature, but……

KF has been a coaching gentleman throughout his tenure @ Iowa.
I.e. he doesn’t run up the score in order to score style points.
While I do admire this, this year, in my opinion, he needs to run up the score on the remaining teams on our schedule if we want to make the playoffs.

KF needs to put the foot on the throat of the remaining teams as we start the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] half of the season. To not add 1-2 extra scores when we could will probably hurt us. Reasons:

- Iowa is not highly thought of nationally. We’re not sexy. We don’t have a household name at any one position. Pundits don’t like to have to think about us. We're easy to dismiss. Hell, the national pundits want to dismiss us.
- Our 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] half schedule is already coming under fire. Simply winning close will hurt us.
- We’re mired with about 6-8 other teams in the 8-15 ranking range…we need to separate from the pack.
- This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get into the playoffs. Kirk.3 needs to show this wrinkle this year.
- OSU got hot last year late, ran it up vs Wisky, ushered themselves into the playoffs and you know what happened.

I know this goes against the very fabric/being of KF and staff, but this year, with this opportunity and this remaining schedule, I think he needs take no prisoners if Iowa is to be seriously thought of by the selection committee. The opportunity may never present itself again.

Just win the games. I do not care how or by how much. Iowa will most likely not be in any position to blow out many (if any) of their remaining opponents.
If Iowa runs the regular season table and wins in Indianapolis, they will be in the playoffs, ESPECIALLY if that win would be over the defending National Champions.
As for now, I am just enjoying the wins, week by week.

 

[Jonrn]

First of all, Iowa hasn't had the chance to blow out too many teams. Only the mean green and northwestern.

Second of all, it really doesn't matter. Iowa needs to win the rest of the schedule by one point each week and then win the big ten championship game. The only way to get in the playoff is to go 13-0. Margin of victory won't matter if Iowa beats OSU after going 12-0.

 

[ChosenChildren]

Get your starters out in the 4th quarter. We don't have the depth to leave starters in.....what happens if CJB doesn't play because of injury? I don't agree with the "we need to blow them out" philosophy at all. Just win the game and then play the subs! Please!

 

[OUTofTOWNHAWK]

Problem is- If given the chance CJ needs to come out of games. So it will be hard to run up the score without him in the game.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Threads like this make my head want to explode. Just win the games by whatever means necessary. You can look at every National Champion team out there and they had close calls in usually a few games...OSU last year lost one and also had a few close games.

Match ups, turnovers, etc...make things interesting. Iowa doesn't need to blow anyone out...they just need to win...and 13-0 gets you in a playoff. I honestly don't think we would beat OSU...but in one game with all the lights and everything...it could happen. I keep going back to the fact if we can get CJ healthy, he gives us something we haven't had since really Brad Banks/maybe Stanzi on his good days...a QB who can beat you in several ways...great arm, can run, and is a serious competitor. That gives us a chance against anyone.

 

[PCHawk]

I looked at the teams ahead of us in the rankings and it looks like 5th place is worst case scenario if we win out. But it's also a very likely scenario. I agree with the op. We aren't in a position where it's wise to leave 7 points on the field by running 3 strait fullback dives. The op isn't saying we need to go into games with a different game plan. We just need to NOT do things we normally do just to try NOT to score.

 

[ibahawkeye]

First off, I don't believe this team is a playoff caliber team. It's not a knock... I mean there are only 4 teams in the country that make and this just is not one of those top 4 teams. Although the schedule is fairly easy to finish, I could easily see this team slipping up especially at Nebraska.

Now, if somehow Iowa were to run the table including the Big 10 championship game, they will be in the playoffs. There is no way that an undefeated Big 10 team would get left out.

Points will play no roll. If Iowa has 1 loss.... they wouldn't make it. If Iowa goes undefeated they are in.

 

[ibahawkeye]

Have to agree to disagree. Granted they had a loss (albeit early) but a major reason OSU got invited to the FB dance was their 59-0 over Wisconsin in Indy. I think Iowa needs to do more than just 'get by' if they win out. Much more.

The difference with Ohio State was that they had 1 loss. The only scenario Iowa is getting in is by going undefeated and if they do that they will be in the playoffs and even if they win every game by 1 point.

 

[ibahawkeye]

I looked at the teams ahead of us in the rankings and it looks like 5th place is worst case scenario if we win out. But it's also a very likely scenario. I agree with the op. We aren't in a position where it's wise to leave 7 points on the field by running 3 strait fullback dives. The op isn't saying we need to go into games with a different game plan. We just need to NOT do things we normally do just to try NOT to score.

Just curious... in your scenario who are the 4 teams that would still be ahead of Iowa?

Edit: Baylor, Utah, LSU, Clemson - I suppose if these 4 teams hold serve and are all undefeated, this would probably be the only scenario that Iowa were to be left out if the Hawks were to run the table.

 

[okieviaiowa]

NO ONE on this forum can sniff KF's knowledge of football ...

these type threads are a joke