Brian Ferentz

[broth87]

I don't see him getting the credit he deserves for how this season is playing out. Kirk is getting tons of credit for "changing" and he does deserve credit. But I think Phil Parker's development in calling defensive schemes and his ability to adjust in game has been important. But I think the job Brian Ferentz has done with the offensive line and being the running game coordinator has been the single biggest factor leading to this season.
Just look at the rushing numbers:
Illinois State 210 rushing yards
Iowa State 260 rushing yards
Pitt 105 rushing yards
North Texas 210 rushing yards
Wisconsin 144 rushing yards
Illinois 278 rushing yards
Northwestern 294 rushing yards
Maryland 110 rushing yards
Indiana 234 rushing yards
Total: 1845 rushing yards
205 rushing yards per game
Jordan Canzeri 698 rushing yards
Akrum Wadley 426 rushing yards
Leshun Daniels 364 rushing yards
CJ Beathard 218 rushing yards
Derrick Mitchell 135 rushing yards

The pure rushing numbers are tremendous ans when Iowa football is putting up 200 yards per game, regardless of the names on the jerseys, we're awfully hard to beat. But if we look at it closer, look at the balance in rushing numbers which has been more a product of injury, but it seems we can just plug in a runner and it just keeps on keeping on. You would think all that credit should go to the offensive line and I would tend to agree with that. But consider the injuries and shuffling we've had to do along the line, and it's even more impressive. It means 2 things. First, our depth is damn impressive both on the line and in the backfield. And second, and more important in my opinion, the scheming and design if the running game is so good we can plug and replace players and it still works.
Our running game is so much more dynamic right now. It's way more than just zone stretch plays and I've seen plays this year we haven't run much if at all in previous seasons. Traps and draws and getting Wadley and Canzeri to the edges. Our running game, when the attack is diverse, is a thing of beauty to watch and I think Brian Ferentz deserves a TON of credit for this team being 9-0. I think we're slowly seeing a future coaching star in the making.

 

[theIowaHawk]

As always, it is hard to know exactly how much credit goes directly to which coach, but the run-blocking and running-behind-that-blocking has been excellent. Pass protection not so much, but has worked well enough (obviously) with CJ back there. the same lineman who struggle in some pass protection move extremely well and hit that second level to open those runs. Wadley made a great cut, but the blocking on that first TD run was exceptional (and poorly done by IU).

 

[grosie#2]

Kirk was know for his ability to coach and make OLs good well before he became head coach at Iowa. He did it for yrs. with Fry also as OL coach for the Browns. When he got the Iowa job it was pretty well known he took special interest in Iowa's OL.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree with Brian. I will speculate that Brian got a lot of his coaching knowledge from his Dad.

 

[theIowaHawk]

Way to go out on a limb.

 

[Herkmeister]

In my book he'll always be a member of the lucky sperm club. (But he's done a nice job.)

 

[LuckyNed]

Greg Davis should get most if not all the credit for this turnaround.

 

[grosie#2]

Way to go out on a limb.

Brian probably has influenced Kirk more than any other assistant coach Kirk has had. As your kids become adults and you get older and out of touch, I find they also like to tell u what to do. My 2 adult daughters have turned into my dad. Is at better tih?

 

[smallcenter]

Not to open old wounds, but isn't this the same board that just a year or two ago were calling for Brian Ferentz's head because he "obviously doesn't know what he's doing and is dragging the team down"? I think Brian Ferentz does a great job, as do all of the coaches. The reason for Iowa's resurgence is probably only truly known by those within the program, and if there is one thing we have learned as fans, its that Kirk Ferentz ain't gonna tell you and he's trained (quite well, in fact) his staff and players not to tell either.

Go Hawks!!!!

 

[hawkeyemark]

I hope we have Brian for a long time to come at Iowa and if we have anything close to this kind of success a couple more seasons before Kirk retires that seems a good possibility. Let's not forget that Brian had a pretty solid pedigree coming here having worked on Belechek's staff and coming out of there in seemingly high regard with the reports about him on track to become the next offensive coordinator had he stayed with the Patriots. Brian has obviously had much influence in the changes we have witnessed and I like how we have kept our smash mouth identity while becoming more varied in our offensive scheme.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

Not to open old wounds, but isn't this the same board that just a year or two ago were calling for Brian Ferentz's head because he "obviously doesn't know what he's doing and is dragging the team down"? I think Brian Ferentz does a great job, as do all of the coaches. The reason for Iowa's resurgence is probably only truly known by those within the program, and if there is one thing we have learned as fans, its that Kirk Ferentz ain't gonna tell you and he's trained (quite well, in fact) his staff and players not to tell either.

Go Hawks!!!!

Yes it is the same board......its amazing how fast "fans" can jump off and on the boat.....and then they try to justify why they were "down" on Iowa and why we had to listen to their garbage all summer and now they try to frame the narrative that the reason we are seeing success is because they were negative....that is a hybrid of narcissism and entitlement

 

[broth87]

I actually think we can tell. I gave you the numbers. The running game is a very big reason why we're 9-0.

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

If nothing else, I love the fact that he's not afraid in the least to get in the ears of the refs. When the crappy spots and other "officiating inconsistencies" were piling up, it was nice to see him laying in to the zebras.

 

[broth87]

If nothing else, I love the fact that he's not afraid in the least to get in the ears of the refs. When the crappy spots and other "officiating inconsistencies" were piling up, it was nice to see him laying in to the zebras.

Agreed! And while Kirk wasn't in on it, he certainly wasn't stopping Brian either.

 

[iowalaw]

Uhhhhhhh, I kinda think having wadley and canzeri instead of Wiesmann at rb and cj instead of rudock has something to do with out rushing attack. On the whole, our ol play has been pretty avg, with pass protection being one of the worst in the conference. I'm pretty sure the ol coach is in charge of that. No?? Or is that Davis' fault and the positives are all golden boy ferentz?

 

[broth87]

Pass protection hasn't been as bad as some of you wanna make it out to be. Considering left tackle has been our worst spot and Kirk coaches that position, maybe you should consider that.
I do agree that having running backs tote the ball instead of a fullback has definitely helped but if you can't see the differences in the attack and schemes, I can't help you with this discussion. It's not the same old same old Iowa rushing attack. We're doing more things with our linemen and attacking the defense in different ways. Much more diverse.

 

[LuteHawk]

The 9-0 start to this season is due to coaching and the
players who have executed their assignments on both
offense and defense. Football is a team game and the
coach is only as good as his talented players who are
on the gridiron.

The other ingredient to the 9-0 start is the team chemistry.
For that I gave credit to C.J. Beathard who by example
has led this team to play with heart and passion.