Current Perspective

[mrF6n6]

if you combine the scores for the 2 2nd halves we have played so far...
you get 40-7
I don't think Iowa's offense is as bad as most people seem to make it out to be...
last year Iowa scored 24 against Wyoming in the opening game of the season... and everybody got scared.
but then we turned around and scored 44 against Iowa State

we were down 2 scores in that game with under 7 minutes to go... we ended up scoring 3 more times in regulation and a 4th time in OT to win it.

our offense is just fine so long as we don't turn the ball over.
why take chances when you know the other team can't move the ball?

 

[Rustys Dad]

Some of our fans are concerned, or frustrated, and/or convinced that our offense is bad and we will have another one of those years.

I actually feel pretty good about where we are at right now, and here's why.

1) NIU was a pretty decent opponent. Not great, but they aren't just another chump team. They have a pretty decent oline and a relatively strong defense.

2) ISU.....is actually a very good team/opponent. They have a lot of players back from a team that beat both Oklahoma and TCU last year. Did really well defensively last year. They have some serious talent on both sides of the ball and a good coaching staff in their 3rd year.....this win was ugly, but very good.

3) Our defensive line is better than I anticipated...and I am an optimist.

4) Out linebackers were really really good in this last game....way better than I anticipated.

5) Defensive backfield has been playing really well.

6) First game where our starting oline was together and they missed some blocks (as did TEs and backs) so they will be better. ISU had an aggressive attacking defense...our blocking will get better.

7) Stanley hasn't played up to par yet...I believe he will in the near future.

8) We've gotten through the first two opponents at 2-0 which I think is a big deal. We "should" beat UNI and hopefully iron out some offensive kinks......3-0 going into the Wisconsin game. Obviously we could lose that game, but mid season is typically when Kirk's teams start to really click (if they are going to be good)....

Bottom line, I think we are heading for a very strong season....one of the better in recent history.

That's my gut take.

I do think our offense will continue to gel and I do think this Iowa team will continue to get better each week ... Man, our defense is stout. We will have games where we give up a lot of points and yards but for the most part, this defense is mighty strong.

 

[93hawkeye]

The O seems about like last year's...except without the homerun threat of Wadley's. I'm not sure how we'll manage to move the ball effectively against Wisky...we'll see

 

[Walleye70]

Seems like even crappy teams have s better passing attack than Iowa. Most these crappier teams playing big ten teams in preconference

 

[Crafty Beaver]

I'm calling it. No way in hell we lose to NW this year. I'll stake my substantial message board reputation on it.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

Perry,

I believe everything you articulated with this caveat; But if we come out with our non creative predictable game plan vs. Wiscy we will require luck to win. Like in 2015 when Stave stumbled and gave us the game. If we come out with a let it rip Ohio State game plan plan throwing on 1st down and being very unpredictable, we have a good shit. Look at what and Ohio State and Penn State beat Bucky in the last 2 Big 10 Championship games. They smoked them passing!

Stave didn't simply stumble. An Iowa DT pushed the center back and the center stepped on Stave's foot. Iowa forced that fumble, it wasn't just a Wisconsin mistake.

 

[grayhair81]

I have not written off the offense or the season. I am sticking by my prediction of 9 wins. I am just extremely disappointed with the offense and especially with Stanley. Stanley's woes are not due to pressure or even sub-par WRs (although that is a reality). There is something going on in his head. I think the talent level on offense is very good, excepting WR. The post to ISM and the late hookup with BS show there is some potential for better things. My bigger concern is the continuous diet of stretch right in the face of 9 defenders crashing the box. I hope this weekend is an air attack that we haven't seen since the Long or Hartlieb days just to build some confidence and timing.

 

[hawkeyeinmo]

I have not written off the offense or the season. I am sticking by my prediction of 9 wins. I am just extremely disappointed with the offense and especially with Stanley. Stanley's woes are not due to pressure or even sub-par WRs (although that is a reality). There is something going on in his head. I think the talent level on offense is very good, excepting WR. The post to ISM and the late hookup with BS show there is some potential for better things. My bigger concern is the continuous diet of stretch right in the face of 9 defenders crashing the box. I hope this weekend is an air attack that we haven't seen since the Long or Hartlieb days just to build some confidence and timing.

Could some our fans be expecting a little too much out of Stanley? (me included) Stanley missed on a # few passes Saturday including a couple of bad misfires. I watched Mathew Stafford have "bad misfires" 5-6 times last night!

 

[cleotishaywood]

Have we attempted a jet sweep at all thus far?

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I have not written off the offense or the season. I am sticking by my prediction of 9 wins. I am just extremely disappointed with the offense and especially with Stanley. Stanley's woes are not due to pressure or even sub-par WRs (although that is a reality). There is something going on in his head. I think the talent level on offense is very good, excepting WR. The post to ISM and the late hookup with BS show there is some potential for better things. My bigger concern is the continuous diet of stretch right in the face of 9 defenders crashing the box. I hope this weekend is an air attack that we haven't seen since the Long or Hartlieb days just to build some confidence and timing.

I like the emphasis on running simple things in order to build up the execution of the OL. Even with plays that some fans would consider infuriating ... the Hawks are still enticing LBs and Ss to come down and crash ... and that's still a perfect set-up for our play-action game. Also, the running game was oddly mediocre last season ... so getting the OL to a point where they're run-blocking better is another important positive.

 

[ichawk24]

If Sargent received a dumpoff in similar space that Wadley got that one against OSU last year, Sargent would have done something nice with it, too. The only heroic effort by Wadley on a pass play last year was the ISU TD to force OT.

The entire passing game is off and needs to come together. There are pieces. We shall see.

 

[ichawk24]

Have we attempted a jet sweep at all thus far?

ISM gained 5 yards on a jet sweep (or jet sweep-like) against NIU.