Try reading what I posted. You said you've seen this "alot" where Kirk doesn't play the guy, and then the next year he comes in and almost wins the Heisman. My point was that happened ONCE. Thats all I said...
Headline: Kaleb gets on fire when jNW defense has to guard against Sullivan
- Thread starter uihawk82
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Perhaps you should follow your own advice and try reading what I wrote. Nowhere did I imply this. Only a fool would think that was the intent of my statement.
I said that I see it a lot where fans will excuse these bad roster decisions because the usurped player wasn’t terrible. I then when on to say it is silly to do that when the next guy comes in and damn near wins the Heisman.
The Stanzi / Christensen controversy has definitely been overblown over time - at least in terms of the length of the "controversy". Stanzi, a sophomore, played in the first 3 games, and did well. Against ISU, Christensen came in when Stanzi was off, and Iowa ended up winning that game, sealed by Brodell's punt return down the west sideline into the south end zone. The next game at Pitt was the one that I recall caused much of the controversy, where each played half the game. Stanzi was playing well, when Christensen, by design, played the 4th quarter and Iowa stupidly lost that game. That was the end of the split QB routine that year. Iowa lost 3 more games that year (by a total of 10 points or so) before getting hot and finishing the season strong. So the controversy existed for a short while, and arguably lost them a game. I do recall believing that Stanzi was the better choice that year, but Kirk was committed to playing this out in the non-conference portion of the season, sealed by the two performances at Pitt.
I don't recall McCann being excellent, but he was adequate. They won 7 games that year (and should have beaten ISU in that late season game delayed due to 9/11) for an 8 win season. I do recall some discussion about Banks not being ready to play a whole game given his limited knowledge of the playbook, but I don't know if that was cover for McCann or not. The Michigan game gave us a glimpse what Banks could do. The one play I remember from that game was him stepping out of bounds a yard or so short of a first down. I recall that he didn't come back in after that, and that had many fans (including me) wondering why we didn't see him again that game.
It wasn’t overblown. Jake C was a big name recruit who ended up being a bust. It was obvious to everyone in the world as he threw lasers at feet all through 2007 en route to one of the few missed bowl seasons of the Ferentz era. Iowa fans were rewarded that season with a final week loss to MAC powerhouse Western Michigan.
Buzz on Stanzi and his potential was high in spring and summer 2008. Ferentz had a 10 win team and the best skill position player of his Iowa tenure on his hands, but ole Kirk hadn’t seen enough of Jake, and chose to split the first 4 games in a dumb QB competition that culminated in a hilarious ending in Pittsburgh. That team ended up 8-4 in the Outback. Could have been 10-2 and another top ten team for Kirk. We will never know.
My point on being overblown is that lasted 4 games, not the whole season. And arguably it cost Iowa the Pitt game, as I stated. The other 3 losses were while Stanzi was the starting QB. The FB going the wrong way on 4th and 1 at Michigan State. Iowa coming back to tie Illinois only to lose at the end on a FG (I think my memory is correct on that). I don't recall the NW game that year, their other loss.
I don't disagree with you about the 2007 season, that whole team was off that year, including Christensen. But I don't recall a QB controversy that year, only that Iowa didn't have a very good QB that season. The touted Christensen, who showed some promise in 2006 in his limited role, did not produce for the rest of his time at Iowa.
Agree.
I overstated McCann having an excellent year- he had HIS best season, so excellent for him, but not compared to other QB's.
Certainly agree with the Stanzi/Christensen debate. It's absurd that people keep bringing that up.
KF has always valued experience and command of the offense over talent. Fans would prefer to see talent. It's simply a sore spot for fans. And it's one of those things that can't be measured in wins and losses.
In the Cade/Sully saga, I think KF's biggest mistake was not letting players decide it on the field, like with Jake/Ricki. Split time and see who gets it done during an actual game.
Who knows what happens in that 08 season if they go into camp with Stanzi cemented as the starter. Even into week 1. Jake C was clearly, painfully obviously, not a major college QB.
Stanzi was young and reckless. He would have benefited from the full slate of the non conference and acclimated. I think they win a few of those first 3 they dropped. By the time he got the keys, they had a loss that was on Jake, and he didn’t have a ton of reps under his belt and faced back to back bowl teams that went 9-4 with good defenses, and he lost hard fought close games. That 08 team was loaded and underachieved, and it is my opinion Kirk’s QB competition cost them at least a game.
Does a full year of playing in 2001 stop his thumb getting smashed? If not, then we still lose that game.
And Iowa would not have played Miami. It's a moot point.
Responcible, lolol….
It has about as much to do with it as the 2001 chart. You think Banks just figured it out in the summer of his junior year?
Here is how stupid that chart was that was posted. 2001 Offensive Player of the Year Antwaan Randle-El listed 7th on that list of QB passer rating. Which would you rather have as your QB Randle-El or Kyle McCann? I know who Kirk would choose.
I think Kirk said at that time (liberally paraphrasing) that Antwaan Randle-El couldn't have graduated soon enough for him, or something along the lines that he was glad he didn't have to face him any longer. So, no, I don't think Kirk would have chosen McCann or Randle-El, as I've inferred from your post.
You don’t think? Iowa had a better version of Antwaan Randle-El sitting on its bench for a full year in 2001 and went with Kyle McCann.
I loved Banks. But he was a better version of Antwaan Randle-El in 2001? The Offensive MVP of the Big Ten that year? Interesting argument. But yes, it's your opinion, you're entitled.
Oh jees, your right because I misspelled a word? What are you a 6th grade english teacher? And yes I do think Banks figured a LOT out after that 2001 season. Fact. The guy had only played one year at QB at a junior college no less, and he and ALL the coaches said he had a lot to learn about not only the offense but how to play QB. Of course theres all the internet couch coaches on here who think all you need to do is throw a guy out there and let him run around and make plays like as the QB and LEADER of your offense it makes no difference if he's on the same page as the other 10 guys on the field. The amount of assumption and stupidity that goes on here sometimes is truly amazing.
Hey if a pocket passer can evade the rush, keep plays alive, and be very accurate and a great passer then bring him on. there is nothing wrong with a great passer but they probably need some mobility also, not a speedster but mobile enough
Yeah it's a stretch about ISU I'll admit. But yes I think we play Miami if we win. Because Ohio State was squeaking past everyone and struggling to score against bad teams. Our offense looked so much better than theirs.
Don't keep repeating this lie. Banks was nowhere ready for Big Ten ball his junior year. BB and the coaches said it at the and long after BB became and Iowa Hall of Famer. How about giving KF some credit for being the only coach in the country to offer BB as a QB. BB had no offers out of HS. I'm sure you remember BBs good plays but do you remember the bad? Running OB short of the line to gain when one more step would have gained a first down? You remember the plays where he through behind because he wasn't thinking and recognizing fast enough?
Jake C was the returning starter his junior season. Before the first game the coaches announced the starting QB would be decided on the field as Jake C and Ricky Stanzi. Jake C started and Ricky played the second half. Game 2 Ricky started and Jake played the second half. Game 3 Jake started, Ricky came in and was later benched for disastrous play while Jake led a come from behind win at Iowa State. Ricky was named the starter and started the Pittsburgh game, and got benched for ignoring the coaches and managing the clock. Ricky started every game thereafter, so 11 starts for Ricky and two for Jake AND Ricky played in every game and almost every down.
CJ v Jake R. Jake R was hardly a crappy QB. Go back and look at the numbers. He was a future NFL QB, that hung around the league. CJ wasn't all the great himself in his early appearances, but he improved throughout the season and overtook Jake. When a choice was forced KF kept CJ and let Jake go, based mainly on potential. So CJ played throughout his soph season and was starting by the end of that season.
In his one season of starting Jake C threw more TDs than all of Iowa's starting QBs in 2023, 2022 and I think 2021. Jake also threw about 1/3 as many interceptions (6) than the gang that couldn't shoot straight in 2023, 2022 and 2021.
