Some topics condensed for clarity.
Opens with praise for WMU for the quick start, and then for the Hawkeyes for how they responded to the adversity. 34 unanswered* points, good execution in the run game of course, and special teams rebounding from the missed FG.
*My own personal nit to pick, but "unanswered points" gets used as a synonym for "straight points" and technically, it should only be for game-ending runs. Otherwise they're answered. Yes, this is the type of hill I choose to die on.
Lachey with a "significant" ankle injury, out for "quite a while" — later clarified that he's "most likely"* out for the year. Reiterates that there's a human element to guys (college kids, remember) getting taken off the field with bad injuries like that, despite looking like gladiators with the helmets on the field. Lot of trust in his depth at TE at least, praising Pascuzzi for jumping in and doing a good job, so they still have four guys they trust. "The group will be fine, but we're better with Luke."
*I would strongly recommend not turning this into a "so you're telling me there's a chance" situation. Lachey just had his surgery this morning, so the recovery calendar is still a bit up in the air, but the depth Iowa has at TE should preclude any effort to bring Lachey back on an aggressive schedule this season, especially after something as gruesome as that injury. He's done for the year.
"Day-to-day, week-to-week" for Kaleb and Jaz, both with lower leg injuries as well. Neither available for PSU but hoping to get them both back "sooner rather than later."
Praise for PSU's recruiting and coaching across all three phases. Two personnel groups, both effective: great wideouts, two good tight ends, two good tailbacks, praise for Allar's command and athleticism, even dating back to last season. Really athletic guys at all positions on defense as well. Playmakers, dangerous with their athleticism and aggression. (Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln...)
Talking about the unique environment and Whiteout: "If you love college football, it's one of the great venues."
Passing game still developing; Kirk mentions it's also been a matter of the practice time Cade lost* with his knee and then thigh injuries.
*This is something that he has brought up a few times now, and I get why fans might start rolling their eyes or seeing it as an excuse. I would say there is indeed an expiration date on that as an excuse, but three weeks is probably too quick on that when it comes to QB. If we're still hearing that after six more weeks of health from McNamara, sure, but there's too much focus on incremental improvement from coaches to anticipate that message getting too stale to be useful.
Recalls the 2009 game where Iowa walked into a night Whiteout game... and immediately gave up a long TD. But it's a 60-minute game and they had the dudes to turn that around. There's going to be highs and lows — gotta keep playing and keep your composure; "you have no choice." Clayborn's punt block noted as the obvious pivot point of the game, just a guy making a great play and some luck to have the ball bounce right to him. Team fed off that and closed out the game.
Jermari Harris praised for a good week of practice so far, good mentality. Mentioned in another thread, but his early miscues against WMU were the result of pressing too hard and it sounds like he's back where he needs to be. Still listed as starter.
Ferentz jokingly says he has a chip on his shoulder for PSU not recruiting him — "the obvious reason is they were trying to win." Says he was 200 pounds and ran a 5-flat 40. "I've forgiven them, 50 years later." Vintage Kirk deadpan.
Notes he knew about Diante Vines' uncle prior to the game — praises his perseverance through the myriad issues early on. Also notes that with this many players, there's often family issues going on, and that at this time last year Leshon Williams was at a family funeral.
When asked about the frequently competitive games, Ferentz reminds that 2016 got out of hand quickly — "real ugly, real fast" — and that Iowa can't show up unprepared on Saturday.
Ferentz didn't have much to say about the "flopping" controversy from the 2021 game. Also said he didn't have much to say to Franklin about it either... but that that's always the case, that win or lose, all there is to say when the coaches meet after the game is "congratulations" or "good luck."
On the long WMU TD, that it was the result of bad communication* — on all three phases, bad communication is "like electricity in the water."
*Communication is an obvious point of emphasis for coaches every week, but Iowa will need to be near-flawless on this front on Saturday.
Run game will be critical to beating Penn State — the teams that have beaten them recently ("they haven't lost much in the last... 50, 60 years") have been successful on the ground. Expecting to see this emphasized Saturday.
Kaleb Brown still developing — "just a matter of time" before his production comes. Hard worker with a good skill set, but not much game experience to draw on yet.
Last week's special teams hero DT Anterio Thompson another guy developing as we speak. Ferentz reminds us that DT Yahya Black "wasn't Yahya Black three years ago" — same with DT Logan Lee and many others. "There's a real art to playing in (the interior DL), something you learn how to do."
Also on the DL, notes that quick passing from opponents has limited the sack numbers so far but that that's just one stat — sometimes it's more effective to get hands up than to pressure the passer. Sounds like there's zero consternation about DL/pass rush production from coaches.
A longer answer near the end about player development — brings up Ron Hallstrom, who didn't start a game for Iowa until his fifth year of school and was a 1st-round pick who had a 14-year NFL career. Says that it's up to players further down on the depth chart to keep working. "Some guys do and some guys don't."
Notes TE Steven Stilianos adjusting to D-1 ball, brings up Zach Van Valkenburg as a guy who made big strides in effectiveness from Year 1 to Year 2 of his jump up in competition. Not apples-to-apples of course. Notes Nick Jackson is also improving on an accelerated schedule since he's got so much game experience (same with Higgins, though his path is even more different than Jackson's and Stilianos').
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A good half-hour from Kirk today, which is longer than usual. Hey, it's a big game for everybody.
Opens with praise for WMU for the quick start, and then for the Hawkeyes for how they responded to the adversity. 34 unanswered* points, good execution in the run game of course, and special teams rebounding from the missed FG.
*My own personal nit to pick, but "unanswered points" gets used as a synonym for "straight points" and technically, it should only be for game-ending runs. Otherwise they're answered. Yes, this is the type of hill I choose to die on.
Lachey with a "significant" ankle injury, out for "quite a while" — later clarified that he's "most likely"* out for the year. Reiterates that there's a human element to guys (college kids, remember) getting taken off the field with bad injuries like that, despite looking like gladiators with the helmets on the field. Lot of trust in his depth at TE at least, praising Pascuzzi for jumping in and doing a good job, so they still have four guys they trust. "The group will be fine, but we're better with Luke."
*I would strongly recommend not turning this into a "so you're telling me there's a chance" situation. Lachey just had his surgery this morning, so the recovery calendar is still a bit up in the air, but the depth Iowa has at TE should preclude any effort to bring Lachey back on an aggressive schedule this season, especially after something as gruesome as that injury. He's done for the year.
"Day-to-day, week-to-week" for Kaleb and Jaz, both with lower leg injuries as well. Neither available for PSU but hoping to get them both back "sooner rather than later."
Praise for PSU's recruiting and coaching across all three phases. Two personnel groups, both effective: great wideouts, two good tight ends, two good tailbacks, praise for Allar's command and athleticism, even dating back to last season. Really athletic guys at all positions on defense as well. Playmakers, dangerous with their athleticism and aggression. (Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln...)
Talking about the unique environment and Whiteout: "If you love college football, it's one of the great venues."
Passing game still developing; Kirk mentions it's also been a matter of the practice time Cade lost* with his knee and then thigh injuries.
*This is something that he has brought up a few times now, and I get why fans might start rolling their eyes or seeing it as an excuse. I would say there is indeed an expiration date on that as an excuse, but three weeks is probably too quick on that when it comes to QB. If we're still hearing that after six more weeks of health from McNamara, sure, but there's too much focus on incremental improvement from coaches to anticipate that message getting too stale to be useful.
Recalls the 2009 game where Iowa walked into a night Whiteout game... and immediately gave up a long TD. But it's a 60-minute game and they had the dudes to turn that around. There's going to be highs and lows — gotta keep playing and keep your composure; "you have no choice." Clayborn's punt block noted as the obvious pivot point of the game, just a guy making a great play and some luck to have the ball bounce right to him. Team fed off that and closed out the game.
Jermari Harris praised for a good week of practice so far, good mentality. Mentioned in another thread, but his early miscues against WMU were the result of pressing too hard and it sounds like he's back where he needs to be. Still listed as starter.
Ferentz jokingly says he has a chip on his shoulder for PSU not recruiting him — "the obvious reason is they were trying to win." Says he was 200 pounds and ran a 5-flat 40. "I've forgiven them, 50 years later." Vintage Kirk deadpan.
Notes he knew about Diante Vines' uncle prior to the game — praises his perseverance through the myriad issues early on. Also notes that with this many players, there's often family issues going on, and that at this time last year Leshon Williams was at a family funeral.
When asked about the frequently competitive games, Ferentz reminds that 2016 got out of hand quickly — "real ugly, real fast" — and that Iowa can't show up unprepared on Saturday.
Ferentz didn't have much to say about the "flopping" controversy from the 2021 game. Also said he didn't have much to say to Franklin about it either... but that that's always the case, that win or lose, all there is to say when the coaches meet after the game is "congratulations" or "good luck."
On the long WMU TD, that it was the result of bad communication* — on all three phases, bad communication is "like electricity in the water."
*Communication is an obvious point of emphasis for coaches every week, but Iowa will need to be near-flawless on this front on Saturday.
Run game will be critical to beating Penn State — the teams that have beaten them recently ("they haven't lost much in the last... 50, 60 years") have been successful on the ground. Expecting to see this emphasized Saturday.
Kaleb Brown still developing — "just a matter of time" before his production comes. Hard worker with a good skill set, but not much game experience to draw on yet.
Last week's special teams hero DT Anterio Thompson another guy developing as we speak. Ferentz reminds us that DT Yahya Black "wasn't Yahya Black three years ago" — same with DT Logan Lee and many others. "There's a real art to playing in (the interior DL), something you learn how to do."
Also on the DL, notes that quick passing from opponents has limited the sack numbers so far but that that's just one stat — sometimes it's more effective to get hands up than to pressure the passer. Sounds like there's zero consternation about DL/pass rush production from coaches.
A longer answer near the end about player development — brings up Ron Hallstrom, who didn't start a game for Iowa until his fifth year of school and was a 1st-round pick who had a 14-year NFL career. Says that it's up to players further down on the depth chart to keep working. "Some guys do and some guys don't."
Notes TE Steven Stilianos adjusting to D-1 ball, brings up Zach Van Valkenburg as a guy who made big strides in effectiveness from Year 1 to Year 2 of his jump up in competition. Not apples-to-apples of course. Notes Nick Jackson is also improving on an accelerated schedule since he's got so much game experience (same with Higgins, though his path is even more different than Jackson's and Stilianos').
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A good half-hour from Kirk today, which is longer than usual. Hey, it's a big game for everybody.
