Expect plain vanilla against ISU

[Blackleaf40]

I seem to remember Hayden Fry used the term "Plain vanilla" when discussing game strategy internally against low threat opponents in pre-season play. It simply means playing a very toned down, fundamentality strict game designed to win but reduce injury potential as well as intentionally lowering stronger teams perceptions of our threat positions.

I think KF often adopts this same tactic as do a number of other conference coaches. I certainly don't see ISU as being considered as strong as Miami of Ohio. They match up very poorly in most all key positions at least THIS year.

I think Iowa controls the game early and plays enough to win but doubt a blowout or exotic plays are really on the dessert menu for this Saturday. I'd be surprised by a 28 point margin. I think it's likely going to be a snoozefest.

That being said, it will be a good opportunity to spend a few extra bucks on maybe some higher quality beer and enjoying the pregame atmosphere. Also, I don't see any wins this year on ISU's radar and many of them feel this pain very acutely. It might be nice if a few of you guys could offer some words of encouragement and maybe even a higher quality brew than normal.

 

[Burbank84]

ISU was also bad in 2014 with a way below average offensive line, but Iowa's defensive game plan that day was to not blitz, and play a contain defense against Cyclone QB Sam Richardson. This strategy allowed Richardson to get comfortable in the pocket, so he was able to pick Iowa's defense apart at key times in the game, including the drive for the game winning field goal at the very end.

No sure thing versus against Iowa State, especially if Iowa employs the same defensive game plan versus Lanning.

 

[And1Hawk]

How about we just worry about playing well. We left more questions than answers after the opener. Hardly a thing of beauty giving up 3 70+ TD yard drives. It should be pointed out that Wisky beat that team 54-0 last year. They were down 6 players too last Saturday. The QB that looked like Aaron Rodgers against us had 8 TDs to 13 picks last year.

If we take an attitude that this a forgone conclusion that would be a mistake. Only look to 2 years ago at home losing to a 2 win ISU team that beat NO OTHER power 5 teams that year. We could not run the ball at all on that team. We get tight against them.

 

[83Hawk]

You can't judge a team by its first game.

 

[93hawkeye]

Iowa plays plain vanilla versus everybody because that's who we are. The few times we've seen new offensive wrinkles in the middle of the season is after a bye week. I don't believe Kirk's philosophy is to hold back and rightly so, because Iowa just isn't good enough to play at play with one hand tied behind our back and still beat Power 5 opponents

 

[StormHawk42]

How about we just worry about playing well. We left more questions than answers after the opener. Hardly a thing of beauty giving up 3 70+ TD yard drives. It should be pointed out that Wisky beat that team 54-0 last year. They were down 6 players too last Saturday. The QB that looked like Aaron Rodgers against us had 8 TDs to 13 picks last year.

If we take an attitude that this a forgone conclusion that would be a mistake. Only look to 2 years ago at home losing to a 2 win ISU team that beat NO OTHER power 5 teams that year. We could not run the ball at all on that team. We get tight against them.

This is what I fear will happen. UNI embarrassed their OL by blitzing them mercilessly. We won't do that. Additionally, they will develop their entire game plan around running Lazard against Mabin.

Don't have a good feeling about this one.

 

[KuwaitHawk]

Maybe King takes on Lazard.

 

[Kurt Warner]

If the coaches don't blitz when needed and we don't dominant that o line we have some coaching problems. There is ZERO reason we should lose against isu, zero. I think we win big.

 

[And1Hawk]

If the coaches don't blitz when needed and we don't dominant that o line we have some coaching problems. There is ZERO reason we should lose against isu, zero. I think we win big.

After 2014 I could have not been more shocked by that outcome so I've seen this movie before. We have lost to some of the crappiest teams ever (not just horrid ISU teams) during KFs time that I thought had zero chance against us so I'm not approaching this game with that view.

 

[Blackleaf40]

Historically I cannot remember any Hawkeye team that blitzed consistently nor a pre-season where most questions about the character of the team where answered. Points taken though.

I think a 17 point spread is about spot on.

Don't forget about the higher quality beer and offering a few words of encouragement to a forlorn clone after the game though...I think that's still valid.

 

[mthawkeyes]

Maybe King takes on Lazard.

This is what I'm hoping. Such an approach is rare for Iowa, but it has happened before. Lazard is good enough to make some plays against King, but he would make the openings a lot smaller and less frequent, and make ISU pay for a mistake.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

How about we just worry about playing well. We left more questions than answers after the opener. Hardly a thing of beauty giving up 3 70+ TD yard drives. It should be pointed out that Wisky beat that team 54-0 last year. They were down 6 players too last Saturday. The QB that looked like Aaron Rodgers against us had 8 TDs to 13 picks last year.

If we take an attitude that this a forgone conclusion that would be a mistake. Only look to 2 years ago at home losing to a 2 win ISU team that beat NO OTHER power 5 teams that year. We could not run the ball at all on that team. We get tight against them.

Last year's Wisconsin team seems like a bad example to compare with considering.............

 

[Lone Clone]

This is what I'm hoping. Such an approach is rare for Iowa, but it has happened before. Lazard is good enough to make some plays against King, but he would make the openings a lot smaller and less frequent, and make ISU pay for a mistake.

ISU has several other good WRs, including a 6-6 true freshman whose TD catch Saturday night made the ESPN highlights. Question is whether Lanning will have enough time to throw, and if he'll pay more attention to the color of the uniforms worn by the guys he's throwing to.

 

[WildTurk]

ISU sucks and should be treated as such

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Iowa purposely didn't show raider package. I expect that they'll use it against ISU - at least depending on down and distance.

 

[EZ2BJZ]

To be honest, I highly doubt Iowa will have the same plain vanilla defensive schemes like they did against Miami. I think the coaches and players know they will get Iowa State's best shot, and the Cyclone team that showed up against UNI will not be the same team on the field this Saturday. I think history has proven that time and time again. Also, I think it would be a major mistake for Iowa not to try to get after Lanning.

Iowa has struggled with Iowa State in the past when the talent gap was minimal at best and Iowa was mediocre. That is not the case this year. Iowa wins big.

 

[Freyvet]

If the coaches don't blitz when needed and we don't dominant that o line we have some coaching problems. There is ZERO reason we should lose against isu, zero. I think we win big.

Kurt Warnet questioning IA coaches??? Shocker!

 

[Lone Clone]

To be honest, I highly doubt Iowa will have the same plain vanilla defensive schemes like they did against Miami. I think the coaches and players know they will get Iowa State's best shot, and the Cyclone team that showed up against UNI will not be the same team on the field this Saturday. I think history has proven that time and time again. Also, I think it would be a major mistake for Iowa not to try to get after Lanning.

Iowa has struggled with Iowa State in the past when the talent gap was minimal at best and Iowa was mediocre. That is not the case this year. Iowa wins big.

The Iowa State game is Iowa's Super Bowl. No way they'd show their playbook against Miami.

 

[Packer54]

I see a bunch of Josie raising hell on Saturday night to make up for lost time. Release the hounds.

 

[EZ2BJZ]

The Iowa State game is Iowa's Super Bowl. No way they'd show their playbook against Miami.

 

[latenighter84]

I always hate when KF does the safe approach. Your players can only execute plays they work on enough to do well. The playbook needs to be open all the way from the beginning of the season to the end. Having an unproven "trick" play in your bag is stupid if you can't be relatively sure they can make it happen.

 

[Lone Clone]

I see a bunch of Josie raising hell on Saturday night to make up for lost time. Release the hounds.

If he's going to try to get kicked out sooner than he did in the first game, he's set the bar pretty high.

 

[Packer54]

If he's going to try to get kicked out sooner than he did in the first game, he's set the bar pretty high.

Don't think he was trying and I think he will bring all sorts of hell against ISU line.

 

[Weird_Harold]

I seem to remember Hayden Fry used the term "Plain vanilla" when discussing game strategy internally against low threat opponents in pre-season play. It simply means playing a very toned down, fundamentality strict game designed to win but reduce injury potential as well as intentionally lowering stronger teams perceptions of our threat positions.

I think KF often adopts this same tactic as do a number of other conference coaches. I certainly don't see ISU as being considered as strong as Miami of Ohio. They match up very poorly in most all key positions at least THIS year.

I think Iowa controls the game early and plays enough to win but doubt a blowout or exotic plays are really on the dessert menu for this Saturday. I'd be surprised by a 28 point margin. I think it's likely going to be a snoozefest.

That being said, it will be a good opportunity to spend a few extra bucks on maybe some higher quality beer and enjoying the pregame atmosphere. Also, I don't see any wins this year on ISU's radar and many of them feel this pain very acutely. It might be nice if a few of you guys could offer some words of encouragement and maybe even a higher quality brew than normal.

I hope not... I like me some chocolate, strawberry, and occasionally Spumoni.

 

[Blackleaf40]

The Iowa State game is Iowa's Super Bowl. No way they'd show their playbook against Miami.

Lol...if Trice would ever sell out for more than just the Iowa game, u might have a point but they don't so it's the opposite. Most ISU fans I know didn't even go to ISU and get their gear at Walgreen's. Your football program is like a condemned property in foreclosure and Pollard is a polyester suited realtor. He's two seasons away from needing a clone "GoFundMe" account to pay for your tunnels fog machine. Last year's ref conspiracy debacle only guarantees a new generation of clone fans rationale for sucking and I don't like you.

 

[myteamcanbeatupyourteam]

After seeing ISU give up 200+ yards rushing to UNI, yeah probably pretty vanilla. Iowa should be able to pound it down ISU's throat. Would love to see multiple backs with over a hundred yards rushing. I would take that vanilla all day!

 

[HawkeyeinOmaha]

ISU has several other good WRs, including a 6-6 true freshman whose TD catch Saturday night made the ESPN highlights. Question is whether Lanning will have enough time to throw, and if he'll pay more attention to the color of the uniforms worn by the guys he's throwing to.

He WILL have time to throw.

 

[Dauminator]

I always hate when KF does the safe approach. Your players can only execute plays they work on enough to do well. The playbook needs to be open all the way from the beginning of the season to the end. Having an unproven "trick" play in your bag is stupid if you can't be relatively sure they can make it happen.

How many times do you think a football team practices each play?

 

[Blackleaf40]

I doubt it will make much difference. A few sideline 5 and out patterns maybe and I suspect at least one long post pattern reception. Just enough for a brief highlight reel. He will end up throwing a pick and they'll go turbo on turnovers as usual when our defense wears them down. Someone wake me when it's over.

 

[relishingwinning18]

Lanning looked really bad, that last quarter that I watched. If he looks anywhere near like that against Iowa, this game won't be close. His INT's were really really bad. Just boneheaded to be honest. With that said, I won't be shocked one bit if he throws for 300/4tds in his best Jantz effort.

 

[David1979]

Iowa won't hold anything back. They learned their lesson two years ago. I remember after the game they said the played it too conservatively. You didn't see blitzes or the raider package or much variance on either side of the ball against Miami (ohio) because they didn't need to and on defense because they had the back up MLB in the game. They knew they can use Bower, Jewell and Niemann on blitzes. and they trust Jewell to make the right call to back out of it if they need to.