For anyone thinking we should have let them score...

[ClarkForHeisman]

don't. Just don't. We had a MUCH better chance of our defense stopping them, then our offense marching down the field on that defense for a game-tying FG. If their DEs could in their ears back and come after CJ...it would have ended the exact same way it ended - with CJ getting hit.

Ferentz was right to use TOs like he did, and bet on our defense. It just felt right for this game to end with their rushing O against our rushing D. Everyone will rave about a 9min 22 play drive, but the fact that we held them to 80yds on 22 plays says a little bit about iowa's defense too. They needed a 4th down option conversion they got by less than a foot inside the 5 to survive. Hats off.

 

[jemblue]

If you'd let them score, you'd have had about 1:50 to drive, what, 40 yards? Doesn't your kicker have great range? Given the college rules about the clock stopping when you move the chains, and given that you would be using all four downs instead of just three, I think your odds of getting that field goal would have been quite good.

Now, I realize that it's tough to tell your defense, which hasn't given up a TD all game, to sit back and concede one in the final minutes. That just goes against the mentality of playing defense. But in this particular case I think that was the percentage move. I think Ferentz coached a solid game overall but I think he erred here.

 

[BigHawksFan]

If you'd let them score, you'd have had about 1:50 to drive, what, 40 yards? Doesn't your kicker have great range? Given the college rules about the clock stopping when you move the chains, and given that you would be using all four downs instead of just three, I think your odds of getting that field goal would have been quite good.

Now, I realize that it's tough to tell your defense, which hasn't given up a TD all game, to sit back and concede one in the final minutes. That just goes against the mentality of playing defense. But in this particular case I think that was the percentage move. I think Ferentz coached a solid game overall but I think he erred here.

I'm torn between here. I can see both sides. However, it's hard to argue with the strategy of having one of the best defenses in the country try to stop them. I've criticized KF for years, but I feel like he was on his A game tonight, all year for that matter.

 

[ClarkForHeisman]

If you'd let them score, you'd have had about 1:50 to drive, what, 40 yards? Doesn't your kicker have great range? Given the college rules about the clock stopping when you move the chains, and given that you would be using all four downs instead of just three, I think your odds of getting that field goal would have been quite good.

Now, I realize that it's tough to tell your defense, which hasn't given up a TD all game, to sit back and concede one in the final minutes. That just goes against the mentality of playing defense. But in this particular case I think that was the percentage move. I think Ferentz coached a solid game overall but I think he erred here.

If MSU knew we had to throw, there is no way we drive down and score. Their DEs were killing him on obvious pass plays. Our WRs get no separation. Leaving the D out there was our best chance to win this game. If we're playing Indiana or Nebraska, I may say let 'em score. But against this D? No way.

 

[WWDMHawkeye]

And this strategy was VERY close to working. Hats off to Scott for that second effort to score. Otherwise, it's 4th and 1 and all of the pressure is back on MSU. And there was Cook's 4th down conversion by the skin of his teeth. It was very close to being the most heroic goal line stand in Iowa football history.

 

[Auger]

I was on the fence on this one but would love to have seen what Beathard could have done with 4 wide with over a minute left. The way he was on the sideline during that drive made me believe he could have led us on a game winning drive. MSU was weak downfield. Both Smiths would have been in.

 

[LincolnHawkeye]

They converted a 4th and 2 by inches, they scored a touchdown on 3rd down by inches on a second effort. I'd say our defense was doing pretty good, we just didn't get the breaks today that MSU has been getting all season

 

[notlongago]

They converted a 4th and 2 by inches, they scored a touchdown on 3rd down by inches on a second effort. I'd say our defense was doing pretty good, we just didn't get the breaks today that MSU has been getting all season

They converted everything on that drive by inches. 22 plays. They weren't going to be stopped. Statistically the smart play would've been to bet on the offense with almost 2 minutes to play. Msu had a weak secondary.

 

[broth87]

I personally don't think cook converted that 4th down and Gus Johnson agreed with me. He was short on that run because of where he had the ball, tucked back, when he hit the ground. Unfortunately no review had an angle to really show anything.
I also find it impossible to believe Michigan state piled that many plays together in a row running the football without a single hold anywhere in there. Sour grapes or whatever but I'm saying that's not possible.

 

[93hawkeye]

The Hawks' overall strategy on MSU's last possession was right. But their O line was flexing its muscle and we were giving up 4-5 yards on 1st down running plays. I'm thinking a 1st down run blitz, or a couple (before they got into the red zone) would have been a good move. Something to generate 2nd and more than 10 or third and more than 6.

 

[artradley]

I won't go so far as to criticize it, but the fact is that for the entire second half MSU's running backs were getting a minimum of two yards after the initial hit. The odds of them not getting into the end zone were almost zero. I understand that CW would say leave the game in the hands of your defense -- which has been outstanding all game -- instead of the offense -- which has been crappy all day. But I also believe our defense was no longer able to make a goal line stance, and our offense was had struggled because of poor game time strategy. It was clear that play action passes and roll-outs would have enabled CJ to move the team to within field goal range. Maybe there was only, say, a 20% chance that they would have accomplished it. But I felt there was 0% chance the defense could hold.

 

[MepoDawg#]

Play for with D, not OT or win with O.

 

[gablefan73]

I'm torn between here. I can see both sides. However, it's hard to argue with the strategy of having one of the best defenses in the country try to stop them. I've criticized KF for years, but I feel like he was on his A game tonight, all year for that matter.

I don't have a problem with the call either way but I would have let them score because of how they ran the ball down our throats that last drive. We were clearly tired and not getting much push on the line. We also allowed a ton of yards after contact.
Also, teams routinely put out the prevent defense in the final 2 minutes. I have 100% faith that CJ would have led us down the field.

 

[gablefan73]

My only real beef is attempting the blocked punt. Saying that was an ignorant call is an understatement.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

I couldn't disagree more with the OP.

The odds of the D making a goal line stand after msu had driven down the field and ground them down were significantly lower than giving CJ a shot with 2 minutes left to engineer a field goal attempt.

The D left their guts on that field. They deserve all the props for the way they played that game.
I do disagree with the strategy.

 

[gablefan73]

I couldn't disagree more with the OP.

The odds of the D making a goal line stand after msu had driven down the field and ground them down were significantly lower than giving CJ a shot with 2 minutes left to engineer a field goal attempt.

The D left their guts on that field. They deserve all the props for the way they played that game.
I do disagree with the strategy.

Our defense was on the field the whole 2nd half thanks to the genius who decided to try blocking the punt. I would be surprised if there is 100 Hawk fans watching the game who thought we were going to stop them. We had 20 people watching and not one person thought we were going to hold them. Let them score and give the ball to the guy who made this season happen.

 

[cyburban]

You never, ever give up a four point lead in the last four minutes of a game on purpose. NEVER. This is the stupidest conversation driven by people who have played too much MADDEN on their Xbox. There was no reason to think the Hawks would surrender a TD. Hindsight is always easy to pick apart. But ask any coach if they would surrender a 4 pt lead in the final minutes on purpose to take a chance on their offense having to move the ball and it would be a unanimous NO! Period!

 

[mlb1399]

It was a tough situation either way. Outside of one play, our offense was non-existent for the second half. Dropped passes and missed blocks killed us.

I think what really hurt us was the turnovers and running into the kicker. That could have been a different outcome if our D had more juice left. They were on the field for 37 minutes, including 9 minutes in a row. That's a lot to ask of any defense.

 

[ClarkForHeisman]

It's also too bad the refs missed the false start on their lineman who was lined up in the backfield. Go look at the reply of the TD play, he clearly flinches early. I didn't see it live but saw on the replay. Real shame that was missed.

The reason our d was on the files so much is because the offense wasn't. Outside of one play, our offense did absolutely nothing. Doesn't matter how weak their secondary is if beat hard doesn't have time to hit them. Play action wouldn't have fooled anyone with under 2 mins to go like it did on the bomb to smith.

 

[RocknRollface]

After they got the first down at the 3 I knew the game was over.

The ONLY way to win would have been to let them score and I knew Ferentz would not do it.

The odds are overwhelmingly better to try to get a filed goal with a minute and a half left than stop a team from three yards out with 4 trys that had just rammed it down your throat the length of the field.

 

[RocknRollface]

You never, ever give up a four point lead in the last four minutes of a game on purpose. NEVER. This is the stupidest conversation driven by people who have played too much MADDEN on their Xbox. There was no reason to think the Hawks would surrender a TD. Hindsight is always easy to pick apart. But ask any coach if they would surrender a 4 pt lead in the final minutes on purpose to take a chance on their offense having to move the ball and it would be a unanimous NO! Period!

It happens in the nfl a few times every year.

Its the right play.

 

[starbrown]

They converted a 4th and 2 by inches, they scored a touchdown on 3rd down by inches on a second effort. I'd say our defense was doing pretty good, we just didn't get the breaks today that MSU has been getting all season

MSU and Iowa both made their own breaks (and both had plenty of them) this season. To imply otherwise is silly.

 

[Shafthawk]

If we wanted to win this game, we needed the stop on 4th and 2.

Give MSU all the credit. They did the same thing to OSU in that game to set up the game tying FG.

The MSU RB'S have been showing unbelievable power. Our guys played a hell of a game. The coaches coached a hell of a game.

The blocked punt call is one I think they would wish they could have back. I know they were trying to make something happen in a defensive slugfest. But, it certainly backfired to the detriment of the Defense.

 

[RocknRollface]

If we wanted to win this game, we needed the stop on 4th and 2.

Give MSU all the credit. They did the same thing to OSU in that game to set up the game tying FG.

The MSU RB'S have been showing unbelievable power. Our guys played a hell of a game. The coaches coached a hell of a game.

The blocked punt call is one I think they would wish they could have back. I know they were trying to make something happen in a defensive slugfest. But, it certainly backfired to the detriment of the Defense.

Its not an either or scenario.

Once they got a first down inside the 3 you have to make the smart call that leaves you some kind of a chance.

We didn't.

 

[starbrown]

After they got the first down at the 3 I knew the game was over.

The ONLY way to win would have been to let them score and I knew Ferentz would not do it.

The odds are overwhelmingly better to try to get a filed goal with a minute and a half left than stop a team from three yards out with 4 trys that had just rammed it down your throat the length of the field.

I can see your logic. But remember what happened at Wisconsin when they were about to take the lead with a goal-line TD? That's why I bristle when people imply that only OTHER teams get breaks during the season.

I think Kirk realized if you let them go ahead and then don't win the game everyone will accuse you of giving the game away. And asking Kirk to voluntarily surrender a lead is like asking Spock to lie. It's just not in their nature.

 

[RocknRollface]

I can see your logic. But remember what happened at Wisconsin when they were about to take the lead with a goal-line TD? That's why I bristle when people imply that only OTHER teams get breaks during the season.

I think Kirk realized if you let them go ahead and then don't win the game everyone will accuse you of giving the game away. And asking Kirk to voluntarily surrender a lead is like asking Spock to lie. It's just not in their nature.

Yep, thats why I knew that first down was the worst possible scenario.

 

[hawkeye ball]

Not to change from the OP, but heard many people say that we scored too quickly on offense when CJB hooked up with Smith for the TD.

No, just no.

 

[starbrown]

If we wanted to win this game, we needed the stop on 4th and 2.

Give MSU all the credit. They did the same thing to OSU in that game to set up the game tying FG.

The MSU RB'S have been showing unbelievable power. Our guys played a hell of a game. The coaches coached a hell of a game.

The blocked punt call is one I think they would wish they could have back. I know they were trying to make something happen in a defensive slugfest. But, it certainly backfired to the detriment of the Defense.

You have a point on the block. But as a rule I wish Kirk would go for the block more often. I think the kids are talented enough to do that without running into the kicker. I hate the fact the rule allows the kicker to bounce into guys lying on the ground and then flop their way to a flag.