How would you grade Brian's Playcalling so far?

[mill1634]

I've been very impressed with Brian so far...favorite call of the year was the TE throwback against Minnesota...TJ was wide open. However, I hope we never see the TE end around to Fant ever again. The Jet sweeps to IS-M have worked well, which has not been the case in recent years.

 

[Johnsoda123]

One thing I've liked is when his offense goes up tempo. That has to put pressure on a defense. Stanley seems comfortable executing it.

 

[hawkster03]

I'd give him a B. Not a B+ and not a B-, just a straight B.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Overall, B-/C+. Like the team in general, he's inconsistent. He'll make a lot of great calls, and then he'll do something inexplicable...like the QB sneak vs. Wisconsin that, all by itself, cost Iowa the game...and the jet sweep to Fant, which resulted in a loss of both yards and Fant.

More misdirection in the running game, more throws down the field, more trick plays (flea-flicker, halfback pass, hook-and-lateral, jump pass from inside the five...). And I'd love to see the slant to Fant or Brandon Smith, especially in the red zone. Should be nearly impossible to stop.

He's on the right track. Now he needs to put his foot on the gas and be consistent. When that happens, look out. The Hawkeyes have the weapons, and I think BF is on the verge of figuring out how best to deploy them.

 

[FreddyUI]

Overall, B-/C+. Like the team in general, he's inconsistent. He'll make a lot of great calls, and then he'll do something inexplicable...like the QB sneak vs. Wisconsin that, all by itself, cost Iowa the game...and the jet sweep to Fant, which resulted in a loss of both yards and Fant.

More misdirection in the running game, more throws down the field, more trick plays (flea-flicker, halfback pass, hook-and-lateral, jump pass from inside the five...). He's on the right track. Now he needs to put his foot on the gas and be consistent. When that happens, look out. The Hawkeyes have the weapons, and I think BF is on the verge of figuring out how best to deploy them.

Agree

 

[NorthDSMHawk]

He's been fine. I went with B. There has been a few calls I've been in disagreement with but you'll have that with any OC, and they all certainly know more than I do. The whole jet sweep end around has had poor results, continuously, and would be very happy to see it ditched.

Many of our offensive woes have not been the result of playcalling, but rather very correctable mistakes by our players. Some big drops by TEs/WRs, huge penalties on long runs (especially the damn chop block calls...errrr), and some overall bone headed plays we wouldn't expect from some of our guys (looking at you Nate for that end of half pick last week).

I was very skeptical of his hire, and thus far will say he has proven me wrong.

 

[cheerscoach]

What criteria and metrics are being used to establish this 'grade' I haven't seen any.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

B with the occasional (WTF was that?)

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

B with the occasional (WTF was that?)

LOL. Sounds like me when I was in school.

 

[mtdew_fever]

More trick plays? With KF sign off on that? I think history will suggest that isn't going to happy.

I am not sure if this is poor play calling or just plain lack of execution, but finding a way to run the ball more consistently is the key. In any case, it is BF's job to find a way to make it happen.

Overall, B-/C+. Like the team in general, he's inconsistent. He'll make a lot of great calls, and then he'll do something inexplicable...like the QB sneak vs. Wisconsin that, all by itself, cost Iowa the game...and the jet sweep to Fant, which resulted in a loss of both yards and Fant.

More misdirection in the running game, more throws down the field, more trick plays (flea-flicker, halfback pass, hook-and-lateral, jump pass from inside the five...). And I'd love to see the slant to Fant or Brandon Smith, especially in the red zone. Should be nearly impossible to stop.

He's on the right track. Now he needs to put his foot on the gas and be consistent. When that happens, look out. The Hawkeyes have the weapons, and I think BF is on the verge of figuring out how best to deploy them.

 

[Hawktimism]

I like what he is doing. I liked to see that they "scratched where it itched" against MN by passing when the running game wasn't taking off. I'd like to see a few less OZ runs because they just haven't been effective this season. I'd like to see a few more RB screens mixed in. I think he is way ahead of where he was last year... players executing better helps... but you can tell his calls are better too. Solid B from me...

 

[funnyfletcher]

LOL. Sounds like me when I was in school.

I played with a couple tight ends.

 

[DogBoyRy]

B with the occasional (WTF was that?)

B plus after enduring GDGD for so long he looks great at times.

 

[TS568]

A, and anyone giving below a B+ is just bitching IMO. We just hung half-a-hundred on a rival the road. Finding the receivers better this year and getting Fant and Hockenson involved early to set the tone. Also, we have been MONEY on 4th down (with exception of the Wisconsin play) and that has swung close games into blowouts. Very happy with the O this year.

 

[JLDHAWK]

I'll say this, at least I can't sit in the stands and call the plays for the most part. There is always some predictability but overall a huge improvement in diversifying the offense. He has built upon the use of the TE's, except for the Fant jet sweep. That was ugly. I hate the stretch play to the short side field we run that too much. Overall a solid B. He will get better.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Overall, B-/C+. Like the team in general, he's inconsistent. He'll make a lot of great calls, and then he'll do something inexplicable...like the QB sneak vs. Wisconsin that, all by itself, cost Iowa the game...and the jet sweep to Fant, which resulted in a loss of both yards and Fant.

Fant got injured because he chose to leave his feet. I don't mind the call because it shows 2 things ... it shows a continued attempt to try to get the ball to our playmakers AND it gives another wrinkle that may not be expected from the opposition. The next time we're in a short-distance situation and the opposing team sees motion by Fant ... the motion is even more likely to move the LB or S. The point being that you don't ONLY call a play for the here and now ... you also do things because it sets up other possibilities down the road.

I could see that motion getting folks moving to the side that Fant is going ... and then we leak a RB or Hock on the other side ... and then we see Fant's motion allows us to achieve some misdirection.

 

[scotthawk1964]

For the most part, I think he has done a good job, I would grade him a B. The fourth and one sneak vs Wisky people are pretty sour on, but it was one play in a 60 minute game and had a 50/50 chance. I think as the season has been progressing, the offense seems to be progressing. If we can get it all together and cut the mistakes, we are good enough to win the BIG. Of course, the D injuries are not helping us, but they are building depth because of it.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

For the most part, I think he has done a good job, I would grade him a B. The fourth and one sneak vs Wisky people are pretty sour on, but it was one play in a 60 minute game and had a 50/50 chance. I think as the season has been progressing, the offense seems to be progressing. If we can get it all together and cut the mistakes, we are good enough to win the BIG. Of course, the D injuries are not helping us, but they are building depth because of it.

The center was uncovered if memory serves ... when that is the case, usually a QB sneak is a pretty good call. Nate just did a crappy job of finding a crease and keeping his legs moving.

 

[steventrelain]

scoring defense - 13th
scoring offense - 69th
total offense - 77th
total defense - 4th
https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/22
Minnesota calling looked better. Need to stay with the scratch where it itches strategy.

 

[citizenHawk]

Up until last week, I felt there was a lack of attempts toward/in the endzone when the offense gets the ball inside the 20. No excuse for it with our TEs, and this was the bigger issue vs. Wisconsin. There was a notable re-evaluation of the redzone offense in this regard (i.e. using those guys, and taking the shots), and it showed up in the Minnesota game. Will be a good thing going forward--and I expect BF's grade to improve accordingly as result.

 

[HawkOn15]

scoring defense - 13th
scoring offense - 69th

Defense great
Offense nice

 

[anon_8rcdnbko1jbe0]

I see Iowa12 voted.

 

[StormHawk42]

B. Would be an A but consistency is still a bit off. It seems more often than not, our first two or three series is almost too scripted. I realize they have a script coming out but in the first few games this season, we really looked sluggish out of the gate. Probably needed some flexibility there.

 

[bumpstock]

I have him a C(+). His first series against the stupid Gophers was perfect! I wish he'd use those same plays (but, in a different order) every series. BF is doing well, but please use more of those dump-off passes to the RB's more often...they know what to do after they catch it, and they're better at securing the rock.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I have him a C(+). His first series against the stupid Gophers was perfect! I wish he'd use those same plays (but, in a different order) every series. BF is doing well, but please use more of those dump-off passes to the RB's more often...they know what to do after they catch it, and they're better at securing the rock.

The issue of dumping off the ball to the RB is more on Stanley waiting too long to do it ... you can see him trying to find guys open who are his top reads.

I like that he's keeping his eyes downfield, but his pre-snap reads ought to tell him that sometimes the best option will be to just drop the ball off to his RB. If I were go guess ... the O had a "memo" from last year ... and one of the bigger points was to do a better job of stretching the field vertically. I love the emphasis ... but sometimes you have to put money in the bank too (Ken O'Keefe's words, not mine).

 

[Forgery5]

40 rushes with a 2 yard per carry average against Minnesota. Too often we run into 8-9 men in the box when play action should be called. We scored but little came easy. Seems like we could throw more to set up the run. IMO

 

[bumpstock]

Totally agree...love the down field stuff. It was my goal to get the opponent's LBs going sideways after our RBs so that our TEs/WRs could use the "soft" middle

 

[SDHawkDoc]

I like what he is doing. I liked to see that they "scratched where it itched" against MN by passing when the running game wasn't taking off. I'd like to see a few less OZ runs because they just haven't been effective this season. I'd like to see a few more RB screens mixed in. I think he is way ahead of where he was last year... players executing better helps... but you can tell his calls are better too. Solid B from me...

Yes, but there was more reason to skew the ratio even further to pass in that game given the 8-9 men in the box approach minny was taking. A few too many "let's pound our heads against this brick wall again" type of running plays.
I think there were 79 offensive plays for Iowa, 40 run and 39 pass. A better distribution would have been more like 44-45 pass and 34-35 run. Like to see them use play action more and throw to the back on wheel route.

 

[20Hawkeye14]

If the curve is set at a C+ I would give him a B- and now pushing a B. (The curve is set on past iowa offenses).

I really think the offense would have put up more points without the turnovers vs. Wisconsin. They had gotten on a roll a few times that game, and the turnovers killed our momentum.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

I would give him an A-, except that the 4th quarter against Wisconsin gets weighted heavier than every other quarter played this season, dropping him to a B.

 

[ichawk24]

I think there were 79 offensive plays for Iowa, 40 run and 39 pass. A better distribution would have been more like 44-45 pass and 34-35 run. Like to see them use play action more and throw to the back on wheel route.

12 of the last 15 offensive plays were runs, which tends to happen in blowout victories.

So, it was 36 passes to 28 rushes early in the 4th quarter.

36 to 28 is comparable to your suggested ratio of 44 to 34.

 

[scotthawk1964]

The center was uncovered if memory serves ... when that is the case, usually a QB sneak is a pretty good call. Nate just did a crappy job of finding a crease and keeping his legs moving.

It worked most of the time in 2015 with CJ, so there wasn't any reason to think we couldn't get a yard against Wisky.

 

[IAHawk2011]

Passing game: A
Rushing game: C
Overall: B

I absolutely love what BF has done in the passing game. Iowa is consistently pushing the ball downfield, and I have seen more wide open receivers the last two years than I did all of Greg Davis’s tenure.

That being said, we could use a little more creativity in the run game, as teams have really emphasized snuffing out that outside zone run the last couple years.

 

[Franisdaman]

Overall, B-/C+. Like the team in general, he's inconsistent. He'll make a lot of great calls, and then he'll do something inexplicable...like the QB sneak vs. Wisconsin that, all by itself, cost Iowa the game...and the jet sweep to Fant, which resulted in a loss of both yards and Fant.

More misdirection in the running game, more throws down the field, more trick plays (flea-flicker, halfback pass, hook-and-lateral, jump pass from inside the five...). And I'd love to see the slant to Fant or Brandon Smith, especially in the red zone. Should be nearly impossible to stop.

He's on the right track. Now he needs to put his foot on the gas and be consistent. When that happens, look out. The Hawkeyes have the weapons, and I think BF is on the verge of figuring out how best to deploy them.

I think instead of picking on Brian's one play and saying that is what cost us in the Wisconsin game, you should remember the 2 punt return turnovers.

Also, why not blame the defense and Phil Parker for not stopping Wisconsin on their drive where we still led 17-14 with just one minute left?

Several things cost us the Wisconsin game; not just one play from our offensive coordinator.

 

[Freyvet]

Overall, B-/C+. Like the team in general, he's inconsistent. He'll make a lot of great calls, and then he'll do something inexplicable...like the QB sneak vs. Wisconsin that, all by itself, cost Iowa the game...and the jet sweep to Fant, which resulted in a loss of both yards and Fant.

More misdirection in the running game, more throws down the field, more trick plays (flea-flicker, halfback pass, hook-and-lateral, jump pass from inside the five...). And I'd love to see the slant to Fant or Brandon Smith, especially in the red zone. Should be nearly impossible to stop.

He's on the right track. Now he needs to put his foot on the gas and be consistent. When that happens, look out. The Hawkeyes have the weapons, and I think BF is on the verge of figuring out how best to deploy them.

How can they have weapons when the other half of the fan base thinks they cannot recruit? I know, I know your posts are only done to incite - I took the bait!

 

[steventrelain]

It worked most of the time in 2015 with CJ, so there wasn't any reason to think we couldn't get a yard against Wisky.

No reason to think Stanley is not the same as CJB? Oh come on. I hope the coaches understand personnel change from year to year and they aren't the same people with the same abilities. Good coaches are not dogmatic and they adjust their schemes to fit their personnel. And Wisconsin is a different animal from every other team we face. So if a play works against NIU it doesn't automatically mean it works against everyone else. I can't believe this even has to be explained to functioning adults.

 

[scotthawk1964]

No reason to think Stanley is not the same as CJB? Oh come on. I hope the coaches understand personnel change from year to year and they aren't the same people with the same abilities. Good coaches are not dogmatic and they adjust their schemes to fit their personnel. And Wisconsin is a different animal from every other team we face. So if a play works against NIU it doesn't automatically mean it works against everyone else. I can't believe this even has to be explained to functioning adults.

Different animal? I think the Badgers put there pants on the same way every football team does. And just about every coach will say, if our line can't pick up a yard........C'mon dude, QB sneaks for Iowa have worked far more then they have not worked, and if it had worked that ONE play against Bucky, no one would be commenting on it. Give me a break, it was one freaking play in a 60 minute game, and it is NOT the reason Iowa lost the game. Functioning adult? I bet you got your manhood stroked getting to bust that term out....what an idiot......LOL Oh, and personnel changes? I am sure the coaches know about that much more then you.....

 

[IAHawk2011]

The issue with the QB sneak is not that Brian called it, but rather that he called it after a timeout. The hurry-up QB sneak almost always works, and I would have had zero issue with them running it had the officials not stopped the clock to review.

 

[scotthawk1964]

The issue with the QB sneak is not that Brian called it, but rather that he called it after a timeout. The hurry-up QB sneak almost always works, and I would have had zero issue with them running it had the officials not stopped the clock to review.

I personally would not have called a QB sneak, but it for the most part has been effective for us in the past. It is so very easy to be an armchair OC after the fact. Had Brian throw the ball the very same asshats would be here saying we should have sneaked it. Would of, could of, should of.....Its all BS. But for those very asshats to come here and call other people out because they don't agree with one play in a game is ridiculous. And No, this does not pertain to you IAHawk2011.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

I would love to see his play calling evaluated BEFORE the play is run. Essentially, this poll is evaluating the effectiveness of the offense, not just play calling. It's pretty easy to see a bad "play call" when it doesn't work.

BF has mixed it up in all directions - short passes, long passes, overt the middle and to the side. Sweeps, dives, stretch play, jet sweep.

In just play calling, I gave him an A. Overall offense, I'd give him a B or B+, and the best Iowa has had in many years. I have no problem now envisioning 30+ pts a game average. No chance for that with GD.