The good news is, we hung in there with a top 10 team. The bad news is this post-game wrap up is the Hawkeye staff continues to make the same mistakes.
1. Losing the Close Calls - I cannot remember a time in my life where there were so many close calls that were reviewed and decided against us or no calls that favored opponents. Plus, I don't think Wisconsin had any penalties at all. They must have converted five 3rd downs by 1 inch after replay. Refs failed to call late hits or roughing the kicker penalties how many times? We even lost a touchdown. If the Hawks won 50% of the reviewed calls, we very well could have won this game.
2. Misuse of King Continues - The ineptitude of personnel decisions by this staff continues. King had another fantastic game...stopping the run. Why was our star CB stopping the run? Because rather than having King cover the opposing team's best WR, they have King cover the empty side of the field. Opposing QBs simply go to the other side of the field and torch Mabin. Such a waste of talent relegating a Thorpe Award winner to an undersized safety in run support. In addition, would it kill the staff to throw the kid a bone and let him line up as WR for a few plays? It would help the team, and help his draft stock.
3. DL Continues to Improve - The D Line was beyond impressive. Clement looked like an NFL back against #2 Ohio State. He averaged just 3 yards per carry against us. These guys are the one unit who has continually improved over the season. Hats off to Reece Morgan.
4. Offense Continues to Misfire - Two words come to mind when I watch our offense: Todd Lickliter. There is no innovation. No flash (aside from what Wadley does on his own). No adjustments made based upon the opponent. No speed at WR. Whether we win or lose, it is boring football to watch. Recruits are taking notice. It's time to make a change at OC.
5. Wadley Continues to Be the Best Back - Our best player continues to be left out of starting lineup in favor of an inferior player? Sure, Wadley still gets playing time, but every game of the season he has been the better back (Wadley had 72 yards receiving and avged 1 yrd per carry more than Daniels today). Naming an inferior at any position the starter is symbolic. It shows 2nd teamers that no matter how hard they work, they cannot supplant Kirk's favorites. Once Daniels or Bo Bower or Cole Croston are named a starter, they are handed a union card and their performance no longer matters.
6. Beathard Continues to Regress - If we erased last year from CJ's resume, most fans would be clamoring for him to be benched. Today he was 17-33 for 153 yards (4 yards per completion, and most of that is yards after catch). Zero touchdowns. Most importantly, zero shots down the field to keep the defense honest. CJ is a gamer, no doubt, and continues to fight hard with his legs. But his 20th delay of game penalty of the season (we called timeout before it was called) cost us a HUGE touchdown in the 2nd quarter today, and these sort of rookie mistakes continue to happen.
7. Snyder Continues to Deliver Hits - While Snyder's pass coverage continues to be subpar, he continues to show flashes of Bob Sanders on his hits. Our defense has lacked that for years. This kid will be a stud next year.
8. WRs Continue to Embarrass Us - Political correctness aside, how many Power 5 schools in the nation have had 3 walk-on or 2 star white guys from small town Iowa/South Dakota as their top 3 receivers? Just one. Then Scheel continues to look like a 4 star bust, and Smith continues to drop more passes than he catches. The routes the staff draws up aren't doing these kids any favors...nor is the huge attrition that we've suffered in the past 4 yrs.
9. Tempo Continues to Be Like Molasses - I've pointed this out in weeks past, but what is stopping this team from picking up the pace? CJ continues to hike the ball with 2 seconds left on the play clock and allowing the defense to be completely set and ready for the play. On those rare occasions where we do play no huddle, hurry up offense, we move the chains each and every time. Why not continue it?
10. Outrageous Mental Mistakes Continue - The bad penalties continue to plague us. Undisciplined play. And did anyone notice on King's huge kick return at the end of the game...he had 3 blockers ahead of him, and just one guy to beat coming from the side...all 3 blockers just stayed out front and waited for the guy to come make a play. Absolute amateur play.
1. Losing the Close Calls - I cannot remember a time in my life where there were so many close calls that were reviewed and decided against us or no calls that favored opponents. Plus, I don't think Wisconsin had any penalties at all. They must have converted five 3rd downs by 1 inch after replay. Refs failed to call late hits or roughing the kicker penalties how many times? We even lost a touchdown. If the Hawks won 50% of the reviewed calls, we very well could have won this game.
2. Misuse of King Continues - The ineptitude of personnel decisions by this staff continues. King had another fantastic game...stopping the run. Why was our star CB stopping the run? Because rather than having King cover the opposing team's best WR, they have King cover the empty side of the field. Opposing QBs simply go to the other side of the field and torch Mabin. Such a waste of talent relegating a Thorpe Award winner to an undersized safety in run support. In addition, would it kill the staff to throw the kid a bone and let him line up as WR for a few plays? It would help the team, and help his draft stock.
3. DL Continues to Improve - The D Line was beyond impressive. Clement looked like an NFL back against #2 Ohio State. He averaged just 3 yards per carry against us. These guys are the one unit who has continually improved over the season. Hats off to Reece Morgan.
4. Offense Continues to Misfire - Two words come to mind when I watch our offense: Todd Lickliter. There is no innovation. No flash (aside from what Wadley does on his own). No adjustments made based upon the opponent. No speed at WR. Whether we win or lose, it is boring football to watch. Recruits are taking notice. It's time to make a change at OC.
5. Wadley Continues to Be the Best Back - Our best player continues to be left out of starting lineup in favor of an inferior player? Sure, Wadley still gets playing time, but every game of the season he has been the better back (Wadley had 72 yards receiving and avged 1 yrd per carry more than Daniels today). Naming an inferior at any position the starter is symbolic. It shows 2nd teamers that no matter how hard they work, they cannot supplant Kirk's favorites. Once Daniels or Bo Bower or Cole Croston are named a starter, they are handed a union card and their performance no longer matters.
6. Beathard Continues to Regress - If we erased last year from CJ's resume, most fans would be clamoring for him to be benched. Today he was 17-33 for 153 yards (4 yards per completion, and most of that is yards after catch). Zero touchdowns. Most importantly, zero shots down the field to keep the defense honest. CJ is a gamer, no doubt, and continues to fight hard with his legs. But his 20th delay of game penalty of the season (we called timeout before it was called) cost us a HUGE touchdown in the 2nd quarter today, and these sort of rookie mistakes continue to happen.
7. Snyder Continues to Deliver Hits - While Snyder's pass coverage continues to be subpar, he continues to show flashes of Bob Sanders on his hits. Our defense has lacked that for years. This kid will be a stud next year.
8. WRs Continue to Embarrass Us - Political correctness aside, how many Power 5 schools in the nation have had 3 walk-on or 2 star white guys from small town Iowa/South Dakota as their top 3 receivers? Just one. Then Scheel continues to look like a 4 star bust, and Smith continues to drop more passes than he catches. The routes the staff draws up aren't doing these kids any favors...nor is the huge attrition that we've suffered in the past 4 yrs.
9. Tempo Continues to Be Like Molasses - I've pointed this out in weeks past, but what is stopping this team from picking up the pace? CJ continues to hike the ball with 2 seconds left on the play clock and allowing the defense to be completely set and ready for the play. On those rare occasions where we do play no huddle, hurry up offense, we move the chains each and every time. Why not continue it?
10. Outrageous Mental Mistakes Continue - The bad penalties continue to plague us. Undisciplined play. And did anyone notice on King's huge kick return at the end of the game...he had 3 blockers ahead of him, and just one guy to beat coming from the side...all 3 blockers just stayed out front and waited for the guy to come make a play. Absolute amateur play.
