A TEAM loss ...

[Tim Dodge Rules]

You know it wasn't a TEAM loss when you gotta start a thread about it being a TEAM loss.

 

[unoHawkeye]

I've made no claim stating that the O wasn't struggling. In fact, I've been explicit in mentioning that the O obviously struggled the most. However, the D and ST still have a lot of room for improvement too. My point was simply that mistakes were made by all.

Also, if we're being "objective" ... then given what we've seen from the O (and Nate Stanley, in particular) ... we know that he can be an amazingly exemplary QB too. The "objective" analysis would NOT be to throw him under the bus ... but rather to highlight that Ferentz has been encouraging him to loosen up for a very good reason. Obviously, when he's "having issues" ... he gets amped up too much about it ... and it negatively impacts his game.

An "objective" analysis would also point out that PSU was doing a good job of putting Stanley under duress too ... and part of that is a credit to PSU ... and part of that is on Iowa's pass-pro.

Lastly, as others have noted ... an "objective" analysis also points how the offensive plan actually seemed pretty decent. The plan adapted to try to work Stanley out of its funk ... and the play-calling led to some plays that offered the Hawks some huge opportunities. Unfortunately, poor execution led to misses on NEARLY ALL of those opportunities ... and the Hawks lost as a result.

I haven’t thrown Stanley under the bus. I’ve noted that he completed 18/49 passes, threw zero touchdowns, and never “worked out of his funk.”

And regarding your point about Stanley getting too amped up when he’s having issues, that is exactly why posters, such as myself, suggested that at some point he should have been pulled for a series or two in an effort to calm him down. I have not once suggested that Nate should no longer be starter, because I, like you, am well aware how good he can be.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I haven’t thrown Stanley under the bus. I’ve noted that he completed 18/49 passes, threw zero touchdowns, and never “worked out of his funk.”

And regarding your point about Stanley getting too amped up when he’s having issues, that is exactly why posters, such as myself, suggested that at some point he should have been pulled for a series or two in an effort to calm him down. I have not once suggested that Nate should no longer be starter, because I, like you, am well aware how good he can be.

I wasn't suggesting that you were ... but many fans make claims like "the play-calling sucks" or that "Stanley sucks" ... and they honest-to-god believe that they're just stating the objective facts. I'm just pointing out that an "objective" analysis is one that is a critical analysis ... one that will err on the side of being devoid of the typical fan's emotional (knee-jerk) response.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I’m turning the page. Can’t get sucked into these anymore. Lol

Yeppers ... I'm gonna try and let this thread die a natural death now.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

I need to do like Homer does and not post on the forum for awhile following losses. All it does is piss me off watching people freak out.

 

[unoHawkeye]

I need to do like Homer does and not post on the forum for awhile following losses. All it does is piss me off watching people freak out.

Some of it is pretty funny if we’re being honest. I’d obviously prefer the Hawks win and miss out on that entertainment though

 

[hawkfeever]

What do you think the punishment is for a LT that jumps 3 times in a game and before you say it was on the road and loud, well why didn't everyone else jump that much?

 

[hawkfeever]

What makes this one painful was all the dominoes we needed fell as needed going into the game. Iowa wins and are the clear leader going to the club house. And as bad as things got screwed up in the game, with under 4 minutes left we were right at the door of taking a 1 point lead. Close losses hurt the worst. But it wasn't just any game. It was a game where we were playing for much higher stakes and we didn't get it done. Is 10 - 2 a great season? I would say it would be pretty damn good, but in late October the Hawks were still in the Big Ten and National mix and we just got nut punched and are basically out of both. Now we can hope for a good consolation prize bowl where maybe we get to play a Mississippi State (insert mid-level SEC team here). Does that really excite anyone in the world of a national playoff? NO. Exactly why the playoff should expand, but until then this is what we have. It is basically Alabama's to lose anyway. Would have been fun to at least see Iowa play one extra game in Indy against Harbaugh or Meyer, but now will probably be Northwestern getting creamed by one of them.

 

[robchawk]

now that we have had a dedicated Qb coach for a couple of years where does he fit in this equation. Talk about not improving your position...or not...

Also one of the main points of the game is PSU dialed up the pressure and that #54 was a load up front for them. Seemed as though once they did this our passing game sort of fell apart. Running game was doing better though.

 

[Franisdaman]

Ya idk. Iowa was in man coverage, Hockaday went with the back, which was his job, leaving McSorley unaccounted for

yah, i don't get it; once McSorely got thru the LOS, there was no one there

good leg or bad leg, you have to account for McSorely

 

[obfuscating]

Surely, the O is the group that had the most difficulties in the game .... but key mistakes were made in each phase of the game that ultimately led to the L.

• While our special teams did a number of special things ... the blown kick coverage towards the end of the game was pretty egregious. It led directly to points by PSU.
• I'm willing to give the D a pass on giving up 10 points .... since 3 were set up by a very short field by our coverage unit ... and 7 were set up by Nate's first INT. However, losing outside contain on McSorley was inexcusable - that gave PSU an easy TD. Furthermore, the lapse in our coverage while in cover-2 ... giving up the long pass play that ALSO set up a big score ... that too was inexcusable.
• Obviously our O missed on more opportunities than I care to mention .... but easily the most painful was the overthrow to Hock that was a perfect call and a sure TD! Another painful one was the late INT when we were deep in PSU's territory. A timeout needed to be called ... and it was mostly on Nate for trying to change the play late. He needs to realize that he should just call the TO rather than rush a snap. Of course, in his defense, he thought that the play change was communicated to everybody ... and clearly Noah didn't know what was going on (that's on Noah too).

However, you win as a team and you lose as a team. The good news is that at least the Hawks fought hard and didn't quit on each other. What they need to do is keep on focusing on improvement ..... next week isn't going to be any easier.

Our O did fairly well except for 2 players, one being the QB that should have been pulled. If it hurts his confidence (as some broadcasters were leaning towards as to "why he wasn't pulled) then is he really a D1 QB? I recall several teams switching QB's mid-game (Alabama and Clemson being some big names that were just fine with it).

KF screwed the "team" on this - he put Nate above the rest.

 

[TJHawkeye]

Homer's point is valid, everybody made mistakes, BUT if Stanley played even an average game, we win by 10 to 14 points.

 

[HawkInArk]

Homer's point is valid, everybody made mistakes, BUT if Stanley played even an average game, we win by 10 to 14 points.

Yessir!