2015 Offense

[ThatsFootball]

Iowa had a pretty lackluster offense last year, that I think most here can agree on that. This offseason Kirk has doubled down on Davis as well as stating the program will look to outside sources for new ideas to try and revamp the offense (Green Bay was the example used).

What are some of the new things you all think we will see this fall? Will there be a major change in offensive philosophy or schemes, or something more subtle like small wrinkles in the playbook? Do you believe there will be any visible change at all on the offensive side of the ball?Lastly, if you do think the changes in offensive will be noticeable, do you feel like they will be successful?

Personally, I say sign me up for an offensive philosophy that resembles Green Bay's (as a Vikings fan, that pains me to say). Long play action passes down the middle of field and utilizing a FB like the way GB does with Kuhn (as opposed to running stretch plays outside with him) would look great sitting in Kinnick. I know it has been said before, but I really think the number one thing that hurt our team most last year was our lack of a deep passing attack. Truthfully, I really do not think it mattered which QB was going to be in there, the offensive philosophy would have stayed the same. Teams essentially played much closer to the line and I think it was the main reason our running game didn't turn out to be the crutch many fans (and coaches) thought this team would need to be successful.

Personally, I am cautiously optimistic that some very necessary changes will happen with this years offense. Probably a mistake on my part, but I need to find something to have faith in for this season.

Just for fun (

) here is a quick look at some of Iowa's offensive output from last season:

Nationally - 56th in passing, 63rd in rushing (

with a line that probably will end up having at least 3 guys drafted), and 71st in scoring.

24 points against Purdue - 3rd lowest forced, ahead of S. Illinois (13) and Indiana (23). Other notables are Central Michigan (38) and Western Michigan (34).

17 points against Ball St - 2nd lowest forced, ahead of Colgate (10). Notables are Army (33)... hell just look it up. Trust me, it isn't pretty.

17 points against ISU - Lowest forced. Next closest was Toledo (30). This one is very sad. NDSU put up twice as many points, in Ames.

14 points against Minnesota - Tied for 2nd lowest with Michigan, ahead of San Jose State (7). Other notables are E. Illinois (20), Middle Tenn (24), and Northwestern (17). Half of our points also came against the Minn 2nd team.

 

[SigMaintHawk]

I'm interested in seeing if/how, the offense changes now that GD had the running game responsibilities stripped away. I know GD still has 100% command of the playcalling,in game, but just wondering if having BF help out in that area(running game) makes any difference...

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Originally posted by SigMaintHawk:
I'm interested in seeing if/how, the offense changes now that GD had the running game responsibilities stripped away. I know GD still has 100% command of the playcalling,in game, but just wondering if having BF help out in that area(running game) makes any difference...

Sadly don't think it will change much if you go by his answer from spring press conf. One thing think maybe little more zone read with CJ being more athletic than JR.


Q. What is a running game coordinator
and how does it work differently than it did last
year?

KIRK FERENTZ: You know, it's probably
more of a title than anything else. I think we've
worked pretty well together. Everybody has a
chance to give input and what have you. It'll give
Brian a little bit more -- I don't know if authority is
the right word, but a little bit more responsibility
probably to just organize our run game, tweak it a
little bit, and so it's probably more of a title than
anything else, but I think the staff works really well
together, but he'll kind of have some final say on
some run game stuff, probably he can veto my bad ideas probably as much as anything.

 

[markfromj]

Originally posted by iahawkeyes17:

Originally posted by SigMaintHawk:
I'm interested in seeing if/how, the offense changes now that GD had the running game responsibilities stripped away. I know GD still has 100% command of the playcalling,in game, but just wondering if having BF help out in that area(running game) makes any difference...

Sadly don't think it will change much if you go by his answer from spring press conf. One thing think maybe little more zone read with CJ being more athletic than JR.


Q. What is a running game coordinator
and how does it work differently than it did last
year?

KIRK FERENTZ: You know, it's probably
more of a title than anything else.

Poor leadership right there.

 

[saberfan]

Originally posted by ThatsFootball:
Iowa had a pretty lackluster offense last year, that I think most here can agree on that. This offseason Kirk has doubled down on Davis as well as stating the program will look to outside sources for new ideas to try and revamp the offense (Green Bay was the example used).

What are some of the new things you all think we will see this fall? Will there be a major change in offensive philosophy or schemes, or something more subtle like small wrinkles in the playbook? Do you believe there will be any visible change at all on the offensive side of the ball?Lastly, if you do think the changes in offensive will be noticeable, do you feel like they will be successful?

Personally, I say sign me up for an offensive philosophy that resembles Green Bay's (as a Vikings fan, that pains me to say). Long play action passes down the middle of field and utilizing a FB like the way GB does with Kuhn (as opposed to running stretch plays outside with him) would look great sitting in Kinnick. I know it has been said before, but I really think the number one thing that hurt our team most last year was our lack of a deep passing attack. Truthfully, I really do not think it mattered which QB was going to be in there, the offensive philosophy would have stayed the same. Teams essentially played much closer to the line and I think it was the main reason our running game didn't turn out to be the crutch many fans (and coaches) thought this team would need to be successful.

Personally, I am cautiously optimistic that some very necessary changes will happen with this years offense. Probably a mistake on my part, but I need to find something to have faith in for this season.

Just for fun (

) here is a quick look at some of Iowa's offensive output from last season:

Nationally - 56th in passing, 63rd in rushing (

with a line that probably will end up having at least 3 guys drafted), and 71st in scoring.

24 points against Purdue - 3rd lowest forced, ahead of S. Illinois (13) and Indiana (23). Other notables are Central Michigan (38) and Western Michigan (34).

17 points against Ball St - 2nd lowest forced, ahead of Colgate (10). Notables are Army (33)... hell just look it up. Trust me, it isn't pretty.

17 points against ISU - Lowest forced. Next closest was Toledo (30). This one is very sad. NDSU put up twice as many points, in Ames.

14 points against Minnesota - Tied for 2nd lowest with Michigan, ahead of San Jose State (7). Other notables are E. Illinois (20), Middle Tenn (24), and Northwestern (17). Half of our points also came against the Minn 2nd team.

While the offense was mediocre or worse in many games, I think the biggest problem was the defense. We scored 31, 24, 34, and 28 in 4 of the losses last season.

 

[ThatsFootball]

Originally posted by saberfan:


While the offense was mediocre or worse in many games, I think the biggest problem was the defense. We scored 31, 24, 34, and 28 in 4 of the losses last season.

This is a lot of truth to this as well. As Iowa fans we have been pretty accustom to having at least a serviceable, typically solid defense. Last year we saw what happens when you do not.
This post was edited on 4/3 3:20 PM by ThatsFootball

 

[BuddyRydell]

Originally posted by markfromj:

Originally posted by iahawkeyes17:

Originally posted by SigMaintHawk:
I'm interested in seeing if/how, the offense changes now that GD had the running game responsibilities stripped away. I know GD still has 100% command of the playcalling,in game, but just wondering if having BF help out in that area(running game) makes any difference...

Sadly don't think it will change much if you go by his answer from spring press conf. One thing think maybe little more zone read with CJ being more athletic than JR.


Q. What is a running game coordinator
and how does it work differently than it did last
year?

KIRK FERENTZ: You know, it's probably
more of a title than anything else.

Poor leadership right there.

His response suprised you? Coach underspoken Ferentz? Lol.
Is he supposed to tell you and the rest of the B1G what changes they are making to their run scheme? Maybe he should have listed and diagramed all the new plays for everyone so teams can start preparing for them now. Not giving the 'enemy' too much information is a lack of leadership?
Iowa has become too zone (stretch) dependent since KOK left. Everyone complains how predictable Iowa's run game is and when he puts his son in charge of changing it up, everyone still complains. New England's 'base' run is zone, but they have an effective 'power' scheme they use and BF has been put in charge of implementing it, thus the RC title. plus they may look at inserting some of GreenBay's 'gap scheme' that they use as a change up to their zone scheme. Saw some of the power plays last weekend. Like it. More straight ahead and quicker hitting. Lot's of pulling up and through. Defenses have become more and more 'creative' (even cheating by holding lineman keeping them from getting to the next level off combo blocks, it's never called) in defending the zone (stretch) play. Plus, some sacrifice power for speed in defending it, so NFL teams have come up with some good change-ups that catch them flat footed (they're so used to running sideways against a zone team). You have to run right at speed. We are going to see some of it this year. I can't wait!
If the run game gets going again (it's obviously been down) the passing game should easily open up.

 

[Chewback]

My guess is the main difference we will see in the offense is that CJB has "learned to check down." Could be wrong and I hope I am, but that's my guess.

 

[Bearhawk0505]

More zone read and more throws down the field. CJB's arm completely opens up the options of many different routes further down the field. He has a great arm and can make NFL type throws. That does not make him a good QB alone, but the potential is there for him to be a great one. He has the best release I have ever seen at Iowa. I like the receiving group we have at TE and WR, although not very deep.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Yeah CA magically loses the ability to throw the deep ball.

Iowa was all over the place last year which basically speaks to a program mired in inconsistency. We scored what 45(?) against Northwestern and put up points against Indiana but could against other poor defenses.

We still haven't received a reason for why Iowa struggled so much offensively, particularly in the run game, at the start of the season. Iowa actually got to a point midway through the season where when they were on tthy looked alright, but that was also in between series of doing nothing or worse....

 

[nu2u]

Originally posted by Chewback:

My guess is the main difference we will see in the offense is that CJB has "learned to check down." Could be wrong and I hope I am, but that's my guess.

....... or CJB has "learned to duck" in the event the OTs replacing Scherff and Donnal are unable to fill their shoes.

But seriously, does anyone really believe that Beathard will suddenly become a "game manager" type QB? There has been a lot of discussion about the check downs as an offensive philosophy but IMHO the vast majority of the check downs were specific to Jake Ruddock's decision making. The very term implies this - the QB moves to a safer or more conservative option when the QB determines that the chance of successfully completing the main option is too risky. I'm not knocking Jake Ruddock, only making the point that Beathard is obviously less risk aversive.

 

[Packer54]

I think we were equally unimpressive on both sides of the ball.......and special teams as well.