After an Indiana win, park Beathard until?

[87alum87]

With a goal of being conference champions, a healthy Beathard is practically a must. He says re-injury occurs in every game, just as any progress was made in healing between games. A win on the 11/7 would allow four weeks to heal until meeting Ohio State, Michigan State, or Michigan.

Would it be worth parking him if/until, Iowa has one loss and is behind in a following game, or if/until Wiegers is injured? I would love to see a healthy Beathard in the Conference Championship, even if Iowa suffered a loss to get him healthy.

Thoughts?

 

[BulliesOfTheBigTen]

Nonsense. At this stage, how is the goal anything other than making the playoff and contending for the national title? We give it everything we got until we lose or win out.

 

[citizenHawk]

You can't play the "if" game, but you can't pretend that each game will not be a challenge going forward. The climb gets far more difficult as you get closer to the top.

If the line can't pass protect, it won't matter who is back there when it comes to hypothetical games. Better to focus energy on that part of the equation.

 

[IACub]

With a goal of being conference champions, a healthy Beathard is practically a must. He says re-injury occurs in every game, just as any progress was made in healing between games. A win on the 11/7 would allow four weeks to heal until meeting Ohio State, Michigan State, or Michigan.

Would it be worth parking him if/until, Iowa has one loss and is behind in a following game, or if/until Wiegers is injured? I would love to see a healthy Beathard in the Conference Championship, even if Iowa suffered a loss to get him healthy.

Thoughts?

Sit our QB1 until we lose one and get behind in a second game? Sounds like a solid strategy, since there's really nothing else on the line. Nothing at all...

 

[ChosenChildren]

I don't think we can win games without Beathard. Are you somehow assuming that Wiegers is ready to step up? I don't think he is a very capable backup, but maybe I'm missing something here.

 

[HawkeyeinOmaha]

I think we need to bring everything we got in these last 4 games. Any of these last 4 opponents could potentially jump up and bite us in the butt.

 

[Cushawk]

I think there is no way you just sit Beathard. If he is good to play, then play him. Beathard at 75% (or wherever he is) is better than Weigers at 100% right now. But having said that, I would not have been upset to see Weigers the entire 2nd half against Maryland when we were up 21-0. Not like the offense did much in the 2nd half anyways.

 

[Auger]

Don't sleep on Minnesota. Their offense could still give us fits. They gave that Michigan D some trouble. They are playing for their bowl lives right now as well. Their D has been up and down but when they peak and can slow just about any offense down. Nebraska game still could be a close one as well.

 

[SWIowahawks]

I'm confused. Does Iowa clinch the division with just a win against Indiana this weekend? Or is there another team still in striking distance?

 

[87alum87]

Yes, I assume Wiegers is ready to step up. Maybe there is not much of a drop-off between a healthy Wiegers and a hobbled, frustrated Beathard. The defense and running backs will have to carry more of the load either way.

I think there is a almost no chance of winning the Conference Championship without a healthy Beathard. So a play-off talk seems pointless. But if Wiegers could somehow go 3-0 against Minnesota, Purdue, and Nebraska, there is still a chance for great things with a healthy Beathard. Even 2-1 would get the team to Indy.

Does anyone else see Michigan State or Ohio State linebackers or ends just drilling him, if he is less than mobile?

 

[td77]

With a goal of being conference champions, a healthy Beathard is practically a must. He says re-injury occurs in every game, just as any progress was made in healing between games. A win on the 11/7 would allow four weeks to heal until meeting Ohio State, Michigan State, or Michigan.

Would it be worth parking him if/until, Iowa has one loss and is behind in a following game, or if/until Wiegers is injured? I would love to see a healthy Beathard in the Conference Championship, even if Iowa suffered a loss to get him healthy.

Thoughts?

LOL!

 

[JerryDennard]

It's not either/or. Start Wiegers, if he struggles, and if Beathard can go, throw him in out of the bullpen. Or play Wiegers situationally. Better than playing Beathard until he gets hurt or breaks down, and being forced into using Wiegers (with no real backup).

 

[DudeHawk]

He's not going to get significantly better with just another week or two off. It would also be extremely unfair to a kid that has sacrificied so much just to be the starting QB here. You don't yank that away from him during the stretch run of an undefeated year.

Also, not sure if you've seen our passing offense lately, but we need all hands on deck right now. Handing the reigns to a completely inexperienced redshirt freshman seems, ummmm...I guess stupid, would be the right word.

 

[BondHawk]

With a goal of being conference champions, a healthy Beathard is practically a must. He says re-injury occurs in every game, just as any progress was made in healing between games. A win on the 11/7 would allow four weeks to heal until meeting Ohio State, Michigan State, or Michigan.

Would it be worth parking him if/until, Iowa has one loss and is behind in a following game, or if/until Wiegers is injured? I would love to see a healthy Beathard in the Conference Championship, even if Iowa suffered a loss to get him healthy.

Thoughts?

I'm sure you are a very nice person, and probably a good neighbor, but I really, really hate people who think like you. You are what is wrong with America. Or at least one of 10,000 things that are.

 

[DudeHawk]

It's not either/or. Start Wiegers, if he struggles, and if Beathard can go, throw him in out of the bullpen. Or play Wiegers situationally. Better than playing Beathard until he gets hurt or breaks down, and being forced into using Wiegers (with no real backup).

What the F is the difference?

We're not exactly in a position to be wasting possessions right now. You make it sound like we've been in cruise control every game.

 

[BUCKSNDUCKS]

You would think that Wiegers can hand the ball off and run better than Cj, but his passing must NOT be as good.

 

[hansenhawk]

YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME.

 

[DudeHawk]

I'm confused. Does Iowa clinch the division with just a win against Indiana this weekend? Or is there another team still in striking distance?

If Wisconsin wins out (very likely), then we have to get to Nebraska undefeated before we officially clinch. We can afford one loss, anywhere, and still control our own destiny.

If they lose another game, then we would have to lose 3 out of the last 4 to blow the division.

 

[ChosenChildren]

Ferentz has already said that Beathard won't be healthy until the bowl game, whether he rests or not

 

[87alum87]

I'll make this really clear. Iowa will not be in the play-offs with a Maryland game version of a beat-up Beathard, or win a conference championship. And there is a good chance his injury will worsen.

 

[JerryDennard]

I'm assuming that 75% CJ = 100% Wiegers. Maybe that's wrong, but if that's about correct, the correct play is to start Wiegers and reserve CJ for bullpen / situational duty. It's not "wasting possessions" it's smart coaching. CJ said he doesn't feel right and he's frustrated. We can all see he's not the same CJ. Injured CJ doesn't give us the best chance to win - at least, not over a healthy backup who has been taking the #1 snaps.

If CJ goes down - which is very likely if he keeps playing all snaps - we will have Wiegers and no backup for the biggest games of the year.

 

[FranklinHawk]

You would think that Wiegers can hand the ball off and run better than Cj, but his passing must NOT be as good.

I don't think it's just about running, passing, or handing off. A lot of it is being able to read the defense and put us into the correct play, and we don't know where Wiegers is at from that perspective yet either.

 

[DudeHawk]

I'll make this really clear. Iowa will not be in the play-offs with a Maryland game version of a beat-up Beathard, or win a conference championship. And there is a good chance his injurywill worsen.

Based on what diagnosis exactly, Doc?

I'll make it very simple for you: Iowa doesn't do jack-shit without CJ at QB.

 

[Jan Itor]

I'm sure you are a very nice person, and probably a good neighbor, but I really, really hate people who think like you. You are what is wrong with America. Or at least one of 10,000 things that are.

Hyperbole

 

[DudeHawk]

Hyperbole

Troof.

 

[BondHawk]

I'm assuming that 75% CJ = 100% Wiegers. Maybe that's wrong, but if that's about correct, the correct play is to start Wiegers and reserve CJ for bullpen / situational duty. It's not "wasting possessions" it's smart coaching. CJ said he doesn't feel right and he's frustrated. We can all see he's not the same CJ. Injured CJ doesn't give us the best chance to win - at least, not over a healthy backup who has been taking the #1 snaps.

If CJ goes down - which is very likely if he keeps playing all snaps - we will have Wiegers and no backup for the biggest games of the year.

The biggest game of the year is this one. Right now. Every week. That will not change until we lose, or we win the national championship.

 

[citizenHawk]

I'll make this really clear. Iowa will not be in the play-offs with a Maryland game version of a beat-up Beathard, or win a conference championship. And there is a good chance his injury will worsen.

And a good chance they lose to Purdue without him.
Unless you consider an Outback Bowl victory the ultimate prize, your thinking is a little backwards.

Putting a fork in it, this touchdown happened because CJB was playing QB:

 

[IACub]

I'll make this really clear. Iowa will not be in the play-offs with a Maryland game version of a beat-up Beathard, or win a conference championship. And there is a good chance his injury will worsen.

We'd better just give up then.

 

[BondHawk]

Hyperbole

Of all the comments you have seen on these boards throughout your 10,000+ posts, you choose to point out this one as hyperbole? Without any exaggeration, that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

 

[87alum87]

Not give up....but see if Wiegers can be a Hesse, or a Croston, or a Wadley.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

Dear lord, sit our QB the rest of the way?!?!?!?!?! Beathard has a groin strain not a fractured vertebrae people. He may not be 100% but his injury is not life threatening nor is playing going to cause any long term damage. A groin strain is annoying and can limit a player but it will get better each week, although playing might set that back a bit, but we are 8-0, playing for conference championship and possibly a chance to play in the CFB playoff and we have people thinking about sitting our QB1, SMH/facepalm

 

[DudeHawk]

Not give up....but see if Wiegers can be a Hesse, or a Croston, or a Wadley.

Yeah, because we have so much room for experimentation right now.

Let's start every single back-up this weekend. Who knows? There might someone good hiding on the bench somewhere.

 

[GnarlyBoy]

87alum - I thinks it's a very valid question. I also believe 100% that the coaching staff has considered the pros and cons. They know way more than any of us do about CJ's health, impairment, prognosis, Wiegers' progression, etc. I trust them to make the right decision. Obviously a gamble either way. Wiegers is supposedly getting a lot of reps in practice while CJ is resting that groin.

 

[Packer54]

If there was substantial risk to CJ being in the game (meaning long term injury) I doubt KF would play him UNLESS we had a backup that could do what he does. As many have mentioned it is not just the hand offs and even the passing.....it is the decision making, the checking in/out of plays, etc. Next you can be damn sure it is going to take a team of horses to get CJ to sit.
The coaching staff AND CJ (and of course his offensive line) need to manage this. The play calling, the blocking and CJ not hanging on to the ball and not taking off on runs will substantially help him survive the balance of the season. You can't save him at this point.....you have to play him but make the adjustments. O-line play from here on out is even more critical than ever.

 

[JerryDennard]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the last TD past CJ threw was with 7:50 left in the 2Q vs Illinois. CJ hasn't thrown a TD pass since - not in the 2nd half Illinois (we rode Canzeri), not in the NW game, not vs. Maryland, and he's thrown . That's 10 quarters. We don't know if Wiegers can read a defense but it's not like CJ is Peyton Manning back there. He's been sacked 6 times since then, with 21 rushes for all of 17 yards including the Illinois game.

 

[Qued18]

Running game and defense is driving this team QB16 is the navigator

 

[GnarlyBoy]

I don't have a clue about Wiegers physical abilities, command of the offense or reading defenses, or if his head is believed to be ready for live action. He's a big strong kid physically, and has been in the program for almost 2 years. I also seriously doubt CJ will make it through the regular season if he starts every game and plays 80% of the snaps.

 

[thirdandpunting]

 

[87alum87]

Great points Packer, Jerry, and Gnarly. Good to have real discussion rather than brainless insults and dude-like quips.

 

[ICWestfan]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the last TD past CJ threw was with 7:50 left in the 2Q vs Illinois. CJ hasn't thrown a TD pass since - not in the 2nd half Illinois (we rode Canzeri), not in the NW game, not vs. Maryland, and he's thrown . That's 10 quarters. We don't know if Wiegers can read a defense but it's not like CJ is Peyton Manning back there. He's been sacked 6 times since then, with 21 rushes for all of 17 yards including the Illinois game.

Sheesh. I hadn't realized that until you posted that. The really troubling aspect of your post is that CJB has only gained 17 yard's since the injury.

That said, I wouldn't mind seeing Wiegers for a series or 3 each game.