How would you grade Brian's Playcalling so far?

[ichawk24]

Basically every single playcall is great if it works, and terrible if it fails.

Fans.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

E for effort.........which is also an A, but effort doesn't start with A, so.......

 

[BCRoss89]

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.

Perhaps we should consider bringing in Manzell in on sneaks like that, not as bulky, quick twitch back.

I was surprised how often Wisconsin passed on 3rd and 4th down conversion options. It is more common for Pro Teams to throw as well.

Also, I question whether Iowa had proven the sneak to be a reliable conversion option preferable over a pass for this team. I mean to sneak against there massive nose tackle, without proven blocker like Blythe, Danniel's or Scherff, was not even 50/50 odds. Of course, easy for me to say now. That play was a back breaker.

 

[mikesright]

I voted B. I think Brian is doing a good job and it has been better lately. One big thing he needs to consider IMO is to do much more constraint plays and to keep hitting that button more consistently during the game. Too often we have been getting into 3rd and long trying to be persistent with the outside zone. Hit em with bootlegs, RPO/PA and counters until they stop it. I think the run game would finally get back into gear if teams feared our constraints.

As I see it the narrative this year is that teams have been picking their poison, choosing to stop the run and sticking with it at the cost of giving up big plays in the passing game. None of our opponents adjusted in any meaningful way on defense against us thus far. I think Brian worries a bit about being predictible which is a genuine concern most years - but with a team this talented he should worry more game to game about pressing the same button until the other team stops it.

 

[BCRoss89]

I voted B. I think Brian is doing a good job and it has been better lately. One big thing he needs to consider IMO is to do much more constraint plays and to keep hitting that button more consistently during the game. Too often we have been getting into 3rd and long trying to be persistent with the outside zone. Hit em with bootlegs, RPO/PA and counters until they stop it. I think the run game would finally get back into gear if teams feared our constraints.

As I see it the narrative this year is that teams have been picking their poison, choosing to stop the run and sticking with it at the cost of giving up big plays in the passing game. None of our opponents adjusted in any meaningful way on defense against us thus far. I think Brian worries a bit about being predictible which is a genuine concern most years - but with a team this talented he should worry more game to game about pressing the same button until the other team stops it.

"Scratch where it itches"

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

Chris Fant was kind enough to vote 3 times.

 

[cheerscoach]

Chris Fant was kind enough to vote 3 times.

Either him or "wasn't drunk".

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

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.....

Probably a better analogy is that the Hawks converted on plenty of occasions with QB sneaks back when Nathan Chandler was QB. He was another big, tall QB ... and he managed to execute the QB sneak. I'd be incline to agree that it's not anything beyond what Nate Stanley is also capable of executing.

 

[BigHawksFan]

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 agree with everything you said here. Just think, if Stanley was just a little more accurate, we'd look scary offensively. I also would like to see Stanley keeping the D from substituting, which he mostly does already in up-tempo, but instead going for snapping the ball while there are not 11 players on D, like Aaron Rodgers.

 

[NorthDSMHawk]

1. A
   23 vote(s)
   11.2%
2. *
   B
   134 vote(s)
   65.0%
3. 
   C
   39 vote(s)
   18.9%
4. 
   D
   6 vote(s)
   2.9%
5. 
   F
   4 vote(s)
   1.9%

What do these numbers tell us about the posters here?

76.2% are somewhat honest and intelligent.
18.9% are debbie downers
2.9% are stupid
1.9% are ISU/Nebraska fans (seems awful low)

 

[redghost1974]

At time Stanely is Jake C, too much velocity and off target when sitting in the pocket. Like Stanzi, he looks more comfortable rolling out of the pocket looking for targets downfield. On collapsing pockets, if he would just step up and take the yards with his feet instead of throwing rushed we would do much better.

2018 BF is light years beyond than GDGD play calling.

 

[BGHAWK]

I had him at a C up until that bonehead call to throw the ball late in the second quarter against Minnesota right after Moss had intercepted the pass to stop a Minnesota TD. Now I have him at a D-

 

[TKingpin]

I would have been a B, but there are simply too many calls that get me screaming at the TV. Why do we run that stretch play to the short side of the field? Why do we continue to run the stretch play when the defense has 8 in the box and a safety coming up? Why do Fant and Hock not get TWICE as many targets as they do? Frustrating.

If and when we know it is going to be a blitz, we need to run the back out for a little dump off screen. It works ( recall the 4th down play to Wadley vs Michigan in 2016).

But I cannot forgive him for (not one but) 2 plays inside the 5 yard line that did NOT get passed to Noah Fant who has 1-on-1 coverage at the far end of the field. I am sorry, but it wasn’t just the QB sneak that failed.

2 possessions inside the 5 and we get 3 points. If we get 14 there, the punt snafu does not matter. We lost the game vs Wisconsin because of those 2 missed opportunities. You have Noah Freaking Fant out on the perimeter man-to-man. You don’t even learn from your mistake the 2nd time around! That is the real sickening part. I am still bitter about it, in case you couldn’t tell.

Brian - this just in: other teams are loading the box and attacking the LOS. You need to throw to set up the run. Especially on 2nd and 5 or 2nd and 6. Your predictability makes it 3rd and 8 too many times. They.know.you.are.going.to.run! Other teams DCs just have to laugh.

The only coach willing to surprise anybody on this staff is Lavar. Bravo for the fake punts and fake FGs these last 2 years.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

I love threads like this. lol

 

[NorthDSMHawk]

I had him at a C up until that bonehead call to throw the ball late in the second quarter against Minnesota right after Moss had intercepted the pass to stop a Minnesota TD. Now I have him at a D-

There was 1:20 left and we were at the 20? When did our fans start b****ing about not trying to just run the clock out when there's a chance to score? It wasn't like we were even playing a good defense like we did against Wisconsin, we had 28 already in the half. I remember the collective genius of this board ripping Kirk/Brian for not being more aggressive during the end of the 2nd against Wisconsin, which started at the Iowa 3 with like 2 minutes left.

That end of half pick at Minnesota was 100% on Stanley. Our coaches gave him an easy rollout with leveled receivers to the sideline. If it's not there, you throw it out of bounds and live for the next down. Stanley made a very, very poor decision and didn't do that. If you want to blame Kirk/Brian, be my guest. But you look ridiculous doing so.

 

[ichawk24]

Well, Stanley threw a pick, so in the fans' outcome-based evaluation, going for it was a totally moronic, bad, no-good idea.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

There was 1:20 left and we were at the 20? When did our fans start b****ing about not trying to just run the clock out when there's a chance to score? It wasn't like we were even playing a good defense like we did against Wisconsin, we had 28 already in the half. I remember the collective genius of this board ripping Kirk/Brian for not being more aggressive during the end of the 2nd against Wisconsin, which started at the Iowa 3 with like 2 minutes left.

That end of half pick at Minnesota was 100% on Stanley. Our coaches gave him an easy rollout with leveled receivers to the sideline. If it's not there, you throw it out of bounds and live for the next down. Stanley made a very, very poor decision and didn't do that. If you want to blame Kirk/Brian, be my guest. But you look ridiculous doing so.

Being a coach sucks sometimes- damned if you do, damned if you don't

 

[hawk in mizzou]

B, does a respectable job with the strengths and weaknesses of the roster.

 

[Iafootballfan]

We are 77th in total offense so far, when we break into the top 50 I'll change my mind from a C+.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

There was 1:20 left and we were at the 20? When did our fans start b****ing about not trying to just run the clock out when there's a chance to score? It wasn't like we were even playing a good defense like we did against Wisconsin, we had 28 already in the half. I remember the collective genius of this board ripping Kirk/Brian for not being more aggressive during the end of the 2nd against Wisconsin, which started at the Iowa 3 with like 2 minutes left.

That end of half pick at Minnesota was 100% on Stanley. Our coaches gave him an easy rollout with leveled receivers to the sideline. If it's not there, you throw it out of bounds and live for the next down. Stanley made a very, very poor decision and didn't do that. If you want to blame Kirk/Brian, be my guest. But you look ridiculous doing so.

Calling a pass there was fine. Rolling out was fine. The receiver spacing was bad.

But that int was all on Stanley. It was plain and simple an idiotic throw. That ball should have been launched well out of bounds where no one in play could catch it.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

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.

At the risk of being redundant, you are correct. The initial call in the hurry-up was fine and almost certainly would have worked. But the review ruined it. So coming back out after the break and running the same damn play--a QB sneak with a kid who, unlike CJ, does not relish carrying the football--into the teeth of the defense is, given the importance of the game and the situation, inexcusable. Despite all the other goofiness that happened, if Iowa scores the TD there, game over. So, on the biggest call of the year--at least so far--BF failed horribly.

Now I realize many of you cannot accept that reality, but that's OK. Facts are facts no matter how many people say otherwise.

 

[BGHAWK]

There was 1:20 left and we were at the 20? When did our fans start b****ing about not trying to just run the clock out when there's a chance to score? It wasn't like we were even playing a good defense like we did against Wisconsin, we had 28 already in the half. I remember the collective genius of this board ripping Kirk/Brian for not being more aggressive during the end of the 2nd against Wisconsin, which started at the Iowa 3 with like 2 minutes left.

That end of half pick at Minnesota was 100% on Stanley. Our coaches gave him an easy rollout with leveled receivers to the sideline. If it's not there, you throw it out of bounds and live for the next down. Stanley made a very, very poor decision and didn't do that. If you want to blame Kirk/Brian, be my guest. But you look ridiculous doing so.

BS that was on whoever called the play.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

At the risk of being redundant, you are correct. The initial call in the hurry-up was fine and almost certainly would have worked. But the review ruined it. So coming back out after the break and running the same damn play--a QB sneak with a kid who, unlike CJ, does not relish carrying the football--into the teeth of the defense is, given the importance of the game and the situation, inexcusable. Despite all the other goofiness that happened, if Iowa scores the TD there, game over. So, on the biggest call of the year--at least so far--BF failed horribly.

Now I realize many of you cannot accept that reality, but that's OK. Facts are facts no matter how many people say otherwise.

You're a pretty reasonable poster, but you realize that nothing you stated is an actual fact, right?

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

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.

This is a great point.

 

[obfuscating]

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.

And we need to stay up tempo, not get a lead and then go back to zone stretch to the short side.

 

[illhawkdvv]

My grading would have nothing to do with trick plays but I don't think teams DC will ever quit crowding the line if we don't start showing were willing to throw on first down. If I counted right we threw 3 times on first down last week. The only game I can think of where we come out throwing on first down and kept until the defense backed off was Ohio St last year.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

I voted C. Becoming less predictable but I thought he missed some opportunities to exploit weakness (running up the gut against Wisconsin instead of outside the tackles). However, more shots down field and he's trying to utilize skill guys.

 

[rivercityjazzman]

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.

I agree about jet sweep. IMO, that play works because of speed, due to so much lateral running. Even a fast TE is not wide receiver-fast.

 

[icantfindausernamethatisntused]

My grading would have nothing to do with trick plays but I don't think teams DC will ever quit crowding the line if we don't start showing were willing to throw on first down. If I counted right we threw 3 times on first down last week. The only game I can think of where we come out throwing on first down and kept until the defense backed off was Ohio St last year.

1st down pass percentage:

• OSU last year: 45%
• Minnesota last week: 41%

Pretty similar actually.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

First off, if you get to even 50% of a fanbase liking an OC you have a miracle. Everyone bitches about playcalling

Second, per game averages are dumb to use for comparisons across NCAA football because tempos vary greatly. Iowa runs the ball and shortens the game. By the ESPN offensive efficiency ranking we are #39.

 

[backinblack23]

So far he has been good, so a sold B/B+ in my book. Last game he took more shots down field and that was a welcome sign to see. I still think he's a tad too predictable in certain situations but I understand that too with not wanting to turn the ball over or take too big of risks, just would like to see him make run out of the shotgun a few more time just to keep defense honest. If Smith and Marsette can be more productive I'm guessing that helps him open the playbook up more too. Overall a solid job and I think he will continue to improve.

 

[bumpstock]

Sorry for doubting you, Brian

 

[TKingpin]

I have to give him credit for today. Very well done.

Now - any reason not to target the TEs that often in the future?

 

[NorthDSMHawk]

I have to give him credit for today. Very well done.

Now - any reason not to target the TEs that often in the future?

Umm... maybe because other teams will scheme to cover them better? Or have actual talent in the secondary that won’t allow a 250 lb tight end out run them on a vertical? Brian’s been working all season long on getting the ball to our TEs, it just works better when you play a ***** team.

Wait... aren’t you the guy with the “plays that cannot be stopped”? LOL

 

[Buffhawk]

He is getting better it seems with each game. Today he showed just how many playmakers they have on offense.