ADVERTISEMENT

A closer look at stats & rankings from 2010-2019

Apr 8, 2003
111,247
248,852
113
2019
10-3 record
Final Rankings: #15 AP / #14 Sagarin
25.8 points scored per game (#88 of 130)
14.0 points allowed per game (#5 of 130)

2018
9-4 record
Final Rankings: #25 AP / #10 Sagarin
31.2 points scored per game (#44 of 130)
17.8 points allowed per game (#11 of 130)

2017
8-5 record
Final Rankings: NR in AP / #18 Sagarin
28.2 points scored per game (#66 of 130)
19.9 points allowed per game (#17 of 130)

2016
8-5 record
Final Rankings: NR in AP / #41 Sagarin
24.9 points scored per game (#95 of 128)
18.8 points allowed per game (#13 of 128)

2015
12-2 record
Final Rankings: #9 AP / #22 Sagarin
30.9 points scored per game (#53 of 128)
20.4 points allowed per game (#20 of 128)

2014
7-6 record
Final Rankings: NR in AP / #47 Sagarin
28.2 points scored per game (#70 of 128)
25.6 points allowed per game (#51 of 128)

2013
8-5 record
Final Rankings: NR in AP / #32 Sagarin
26.3 points scored per game (#80 of 125)
18.9 points allowed per game (#9 of 125)

2012
4-8 record
Final Rankings: NR in AP / #70 Sagarin
19.3 points scored per game (#113 of 124)
22.9 points allowed per game (#33 of 124)

2011
7-6 record
Final Rankings: NR in AP / #45 Sagarin
27.5 points scored per game (#58 of 120)
23.8 points allowed per game (#46 of 120)

2010
8-5 record
Final Rankings: NR in AP / #21 Sagarin
28.9 points scored per game (#49 of 120)
17.0 points allowed per game (#7 of 120)
 
AP Poll history (Updated 1/14/20)

Kirk Ferentz (1999-present)
8 times in 21 seasons
2019: 15
2018: 25
2015: 9
2009: 7
2008: 20
2004: 8
2003: 8
2002: 8

Hayden Fry (1979-1998)
10 times in 20 seasons
1996: 18
1995: 25
1991: 10
1990: 18
1987: 16
1986: 16
1985: 10
1984: 16
1983: 14
1981: 18

Bob Commings (1974-1978)
0 times in 5 seasons

Frank Lauterbur (1971-1973)
0 times in 3 seasons

Ray Nagel (1966-1970)
0 times in 5 seasons

Jerry Burns (1961-1965)
0 times in 5 seasons

Forest Evashevski (1952-1960)
5 times in 9 seasons
1960: 3
1958: 2
1957: 6
1956: 3
1953: 9

Leonard Raffensperger (1950-1951)
0 times in 2 seasons

Edward Anderson (1939-1942, 1946-1949)
1 time in 8 seasons
1939: 9

One note from Wikipedia:

While the AP Poll currently lists the Top 25 teams in the nation, from 1936 to 1961 the wire service only ranked 20 teams. From 1962 to 1967 only 10 teams were recognized. From 1968 to 1988, the AP again resumed its Top 20 before expanding to the current 25 teams in 1989.
 
AP Poll history:

Kirk Ferentz (1999-present)
8 times in 21 seasons
2019: 19 (currently, could end up top 15)
2018: 25
2015: 9
2009: 7
2008: 20
2004: 8
2003: 8
2002: 8

Hayden Fry (1979-1998)
10 times in 20 seasons
1996: 18
1995: 25
1991: 10
1990: 18
1987: 16
1986: 16
1985: 10
1984: 16
1983: 14
1981: 18

Bob Commings (1974-1978)
0 times in 5 seasons

Frank Lauterbur (1971-1973)
0 times in 3 seasons

Ray Nagel (1966-1970)
0 times in 5 seasons

Jerry Burns (1961-1965)
0 times in 5 seasons

Forest Evashevski (1952-1960)
5 times in 9 seasons
1960: 3
1958: 2
1957: 6
1956: 3
1953: 9

Leonard Raffensperger (1950-1951)
0 times in 2 seasons

Edward Anderson (1939-1942, 1946-1949)
1 time in 8 seasons
1939: 9

One note from Wikipedia:

While the AP Poll currently lists the Top 25 teams in the nation, from 1936 to 1961 the wire service only ranked 20 teams. From 1962 to 1967 only 10 teams were recognized. From 1968 to 1988, the AP again resumed its Top 20 before expanding to the current 25 teams in 1989.
Interesting that Hayden's best teams finished the year ranked #10, while Kirk has had 5 teams finish the season with a higher AP ranking.
 
Iowa plays at a slower pace than most other teams out there, so my perspective is that points per game are a bit misleading.

By this efficiency measure, http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...sort/offEfficiency/order/false/tab/efficiency, this year Iowa is:
  • #52 for offensive efficiency
  • #11 for defensive efficiency
  • #5 for special teams

What could Iowa do with a top 30 offense? 12-2 2015 is a pretty decent example:
  • #32 for offensive efficiency
  • #19 for defensive efficiency
  • #75 for special teams
 
Iowa plays at a slower pace than most other teams out there, so my perspective is that points per game are a bit misleading.

By this efficiency measure, http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...sort/offEfficiency/order/false/tab/efficiency, this year Iowa is:
  • #52 for offensive efficiency
  • #11 for defensive efficiency
  • #5 for special teams

What could Iowa do with a top 30 offense? 12-2 2015 is a pretty decent example:
  • #32 for offensive efficiency
  • #19 for defensive efficiency
  • #75 for special teams
With one of the true top 30 offenses that year, we would have been in the playoffs.
Our offense wasn't any better that year.
 
Part of the defensive efficiency is probably due in part to the offense keeping them well-rested. That unfortunately makes the offense score less but the wins still happen.
Sometimes. 3 & out is 3 & out.... runs or not :).
 
Very good chance that if Iowa has a top 30 offense, the defensive numbers don't look near as good. Do people really not understand that style of play comes into play at some point?
Sometimes, not always.
If we could have turned some of the FG into TD this year that certainly could have eaten even more clock on the offensive side while adding points at the same time.
Our running game NEEDS to improve, that won't hurt the D.
Well, unless we start breaking off a bunch of 70 yard runs :D
 
Iowa plays at a slower pace than most other teams out there, so my perspective is that points per game are a bit misleading.

By this efficiency measure, http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...sort/offEfficiency/order/false/tab/efficiency, this year Iowa is:
  • #52 for offensive efficiency
  • #11 for defensive efficiency
  • #5 for special teams

What could Iowa do with a top 30 offense? 12-2 2015 is a pretty decent example:
  • #32 for offensive efficiency
  • #19 for defensive efficiency
  • #75 for special teams
Exactly. Efficiency numbers are better too look at as they incorporate style of play. While the offense could certainly improve (everyone wants to see that) using total/scoring offense doesn't make for a good case since you're comparing them to different styles of play. Think Iowa vs Texas Tech from a few years ago.
 
Our defense compared to last year was a Schrodinger's Cat! :eek:

We were both better and worse than the season prior, in points allowed. :confused:
 
Sometimes, not always.
If we could have turned some of the FG into TD this year that certainly could have eaten even more clock on the offensive side while adding points at the same time.
Our running game NEEDS to improve, that won't hurt the D.
Well, unless we start breaking off a bunch of 70 yard runs :D
Agreed, and I'd love to have seen us convert more of those (and felt we should have to be honest). But that isn't going to bump us from 88th or whatever in Scoring O into top 30. That would require a complete scheme change or LSU/Bama talent upgrade. Or..... just dump B1G teams and play USC type teams more. ;)

Iowa would be rolling with a Top 45-55 scoring offense/top 30-40 efficient offense.
 
  • Like
Reactions: H4wkfan4life
Agreed, and I'd love to have seen us convert more of those (and felt we should have to be honest). But that isn't going to bump us from 88th or whatever in Scoring O into top 30. That would require a complete scheme change or LSU/Bama talent upgrade. Or..... just dump B1G teams and play USC type teams more. ;)

Iowa would be rolling with a Top 45-55 scoring offense/top 30-40 efficient offense.
Agreed. I don't really care what the "ranking" is just want them to be better :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: NorthDSMHawk
Having 4 touted TE underclassmen who we can assume will push for time and Goodson (plus other RB underclassmen) from snap one should really help our efficiency next year. How fast Petras sees the field and feels the pressure in the pocket will dictate how fast the offense can click. We certainly have the ceiling to take steps forward.

Brian certainly has shown to enjoy keeping his foot on the gas. I don't remember the team but Stanzi called a McNutt pass trying to keep the pressure on years ago and got chastised for it. Brian was able to use that part of the playbook without a raised eyebrow. We COULD be very pleased with the next few years of output.
 
With one of the true top 30 offenses that year, we would have been in the playoffs.
Our offense wasn't any better that year.

You are probably right regarding the playoffs. Finish the MSU game with a TD instead of an off the back interception and a TD instead of a PI/hold on the possession after CJ's bomb to start the 4th quarter and that probably bumps the efficiency for the season up a couple of points and into the top 30.

2015 really proves your point that a solidly top 30 offense as measured by efficiency would put Iowa in the playoff hunt more often than not. However, to say 2015 wasn't any better than other seasons is ignoring facts. 2015 was objectively was better in points per game than every year on the list except 2018. And the best efficiency of any of the years listed by Blair. Even the 2009 Orange Bowl season was 86 in efficiency and 78 in points (which kind of surprised me).

CJ Beathard was good and led Iowa's best offense of the decade to an undefeated in the regular season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kilkenny31
Part of the defensive efficiency is probably due in part to the offense keeping them well-rested. That unfortunately makes the offense score less but the wins still happen.
Sorry, but this is a total crock. Most of the games we've lost over the last 10 years were because the defense was fatigued in the 4th quarter after having spent 65+ % of the game on the field. Have you not seen the record setting number of 3 and outs and truncated droves over the last
10 years? We are way under water on the cumulative TOP over that time. In actuality, our offense has given our defense less rest than maybe any other team in the country.
 
You are probably right regarding the playoffs. Finish the MSU game with a TD instead of an off the back interception and a TD instead of a PI/hold on the possession after CJ's bomb to start the 4th quarter and that probably bumps the efficiency for the season up a couple of points and into the top 30.

2015 really proves your point that a solidly top 30 offense as measured by efficiency would put Iowa in the playoff hunt more often than not. However, to say 2015 wasn't any better than other seasons is ignoring facts. 2015 was objectively was better in points per game than every year on the list except 2018. And the best efficiency of any of the years listed by Blair. Even the 2009 Orange Bowl season was 86 in efficiency and 78 in points (which kind of surprised me).

CJ Beathard was good and led Iowa's best offense of the decade to an undefeated in the regular season.
played 3 good teams-
10 points vs wiscy
13 vs msu
16 vs stanford half of which were gifts iirc

how many of those past teams got to miss osu/psu/mi/msu(in regular season)? ;)

These bloated conferences make it almost pointless to try to compare seasons anymore.
 
Sorry, but this is a total crock. Most of the games we've lost over the last 10 years were because the defense was fatigued in the 4th quarter after having spent 65+ % of the game on the field. Have you not seen the record setting number of 3 and outs and truncated droves over the last
10 years? We are way under water on the cumulative TOP over that time. In actuality, our offense has given our defense less rest than maybe any other team in the country.

Here are the stats
2019 23rd
2018 24th
2017 65th
2016 56th
2015 31st
2014 31st
2013 47th
2012 87th
2011 94th
2010 59th

Some good, some bad but none of these are 'less rest than maybe any other team in the country' status.
 
We are way under water on the cumulative TOP over that time. In actuality, our offense has given our defense less rest than maybe any other team in the country.
Unfortunate for your theory that isn't the case.

https://www.teamrankings.com/colleg...-time-of-possession-net-of-ot?date=2020-01-02

2019 - 23
2018 - 24
2017 - 65
2016 - 56
2015 - 31
2014 - 31
2013 - 47
2012 - 87
2011 - 94
2010 - 59
2009 - 28
2008 - 29

Far cry from "less rest than maybe any other team in the country". Exclude non-P5 teams above us and your take becomes comically bad.
 
played 3 good teams-
10 points vs wiscy
13 vs msu
16 vs stanford half of which were gifts iirc

how many of those past teams got to miss osu/psu/mi/msu(in regular season)? ;)

These bloated conferences make it almost pointless to try to compare seasons anymore.

The linked efficiency number actually takes into account strength of schedule.

You say being a top 30 offense over the course of a season would make Iowa a playoff team. The stats back up your point. And the individual games you bring up show that when the offense is anemic they lose unless the defense is heroic.

It is tough to make a straight up comparison (that is why message boards are entertaining) and you could make some points for or against a couple of other years being being better. But, I don't see how you can argue with a straight face that 2015 offense was no better than 2012 or 2016 for example.
 
Sorry, but this is a total crock. Most of the games we've lost over the last 10 years were because the defense was fatigued in the 4th quarter after having spent 65+ % of the game on the field. Have you not seen the record setting number of 3 and outs and truncated droves over the last
10 years? We are way under water on the cumulative TOP over that time. In actuality, our offense has given our defense less rest than maybe any other team in the country.
So you're saying that when the offense bogs down and doesn't control the clock, that the defense isn't as efficient? Isn't that exactly my point? I looked at the offensive output and TOP over the past 10 years and how well Iowa does correlates to how well the team does defensively. You should be able to see the same thing: https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/stat/average-time-of-possession-net-of-ot
 
A measure of the offense helping the defense can be approached from several directions, but none are definitive. TOP ranking using only P5 teams when playing other P5 teams will produce substantially different results. A slow tempo offense like ours runs fewer plays per minute of clock time and makes TOP appear better than it is. Total yards gained is another indicator, and we haven't done well there, especially in the run game.

Sometimes the best test is the eye test. How many times, late in key games has our offense taken control or even asserted itself by scoring, or even sustaining drives, or maintaining possession as the game winds down.
Almost never. The choice is to turn the game over to the defense.
 
A measure of the offense helping the defense can be approached from several directions, but none are definitive. TOP ranking using only P5 teams when playing other P5 teams will produce substantially different results. A slow tempo offense like ours runs fewer plays per minute of clock time and makes TOP appear better than it is. Total yards gained is another indicator, and we haven't done well there, especially in the run game.

Sometimes the best test is the eye test. How many times, late in key games has our offense taken control or even asserted itself by scoring, or even sustaining drives, or maintaining possession as the game winds down.
Almost never. The choice is to turn the game over to the defense.
So FIRE. EVERYONE.
 
A measure of the offense helping the defense can be approached from several directions, but none are definitive. TOP ranking using only P5 teams when playing other P5 teams will produce substantially different results. A slow tempo offense like ours runs fewer plays per minute of clock time and makes TOP appear better than it is. Total yards gained is another indicator, and we haven't done well there, especially in the run game.

Sometimes the best test is the eye test. How many times, late in key games has our offense taken control or even asserted itself by scoring, or even sustaining drives, or maintaining possession as the game winds down.
Almost never. The choice is to turn the game over to the defense.
Doubling down huh? Bold.
 
Ya, it can be a real challenge to help some people see something as obvious as the nose on their face.
giphy.gif


I mean, after making the following claims, only to get them shot down with the actual TOP statistics, I'm not sure why anyone would listen to you.
defense was fatigued in the 4th quarter after having spent 65+ % of the game on the field.
We are way under water on the cumulative TOP over that time. In actuality, our offense has given our defense less rest than maybe any other team in the country.

Unfortunate for your theory that isn't the case.

https://www.teamrankings.com/colleg...-time-of-possession-net-of-ot?date=2020-01-02

2019 - 23
2018 - 24
2017 - 65
2016 - 56
2015 - 31
2014 - 31
2013 - 47
2012 - 87
2011 - 94
2010 - 59
2009 - 28
2008 - 29

Far cry from "less rest than maybe any other team in the country". Exclude non-P5 teams above us and your take becomes comically bad.

You'd almost have to actually try to be more incorrect about something.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BurgHawk87
Part of the defensive efficiency is probably due in part to the offense keeping them well-rested. That unfortunately makes the offense score less but the wins still happen.
Not necessarily. We have had a number of games where the defense has been on the field for disproportionate number of snaps. Also, a number of years are national offensive numbers are greater than our BIG Conference numbers.
 
It's like playing in an arcade, you go to kick the ball, kick it well and the darn goal posts have moved. I have found that Iowa doesn't perform well offensively when going into the wind on a field that runs north to south. However on east to west fields the difference is negligible. Certainly Roman will be along to substantiate the claims with something more than 'I saw the defensive line sucking wind as Northwestern drove down the field due to the offense'
 
AP Poll history (Updated)

Kirk Ferentz (1999-present)
8 times in 21 seasons
2019: 15
2018: 25
2015: 9
2009: 7
2008: 20
2004: 8
2003: 8
2002: 8

Hayden Fry (1979-1998)
10 times in 20 seasons
1996: 18
1995: 25
1991: 10
1990: 18
1987: 16
1986: 16
1985: 10
1984: 16
1983: 14
1981: 18

Bob Commings (1974-1978)
0 times in 5 seasons

Frank Lauterbur (1971-1973)
0 times in 3 seasons

Ray Nagel (1966-1970)
0 times in 5 seasons

Jerry Burns (1961-1965)
0 times in 5 seasons

Forest Evashevski (1952-1960)
5 times in 9 seasons
1960: 3
1958: 2
1957: 6
1956: 3
1953: 9

Leonard Raffensperger (1950-1951)
0 times in 2 seasons

Edward Anderson (1939-1942, 1946-1949)
1 time in 8 seasons
1939: 9

One note from Wikipedia:

While the AP Poll currently lists the Top 25 teams in the nation, from 1936 to 1961 the wire service only ranked 20 teams. From 1962 to 1967 only 10 teams were recognized. From 1968 to 1988, the AP again resumed its Top 20 before expanding to the current 25 teams in 1989.
 
I don’t care about the analysis and the stats to an extreme extent, but I know Iowa needs to be able to run the ball better and be able to have a running back that can get 1 yard when we need it. The ability to close out games with the run and avoid situations where Petras has to be the entire offense will lead to more wins.

The defense will have potential, but the middle is pretty unproven and the ability of the D line to have enough people for rotating is yet to be proven. We are missing a cover corner that is proven against B1G number 1’s.

I expect the D to take a step back this year and the success of the O will be all about how the QB plays. He’ll have a lot of help, but we need to be better than last year on O with the D being a bit weaker (my forecast).
 
So the numbers are consistent with what we saw on the field this year; the D is pretty darn solid while the offense is unimpressive and underwhelming.
Not a surprise.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RomanHawk
ADVERTISEMENT