Kirk Quote from yesterday

[GunnerHawk]

"We are a much better football team when we can run the football"

Hello captain obvious, every team is better when they run the football.

Our line is getting physically whipped at the point of attack. Note to Brian, the fing, jet sweep doesn't work. Until we figure out how to get teams to not stack the box, we will not run the ball.

16 yards of offense in the third quarter, seems like the team was in another bye week. PPP (Piss Poor Performance) by the Hawks!

 

[nck24]

"We are a much better football team when we can run the football"

Hello captain obvious, every team is better when they run the football.

Our line is getting physically whipped at the point of attack. Note to Brian, the fing, jet sweep doesn't work. Until we figure out how to get teams to not stack the box, we will not run the ball.

16 yards of offense in the third quarter, seems like the team was in another bye week. PPP (Piss Poor Performance) by the Hawks!

I feel like Iowa is a better football team when they score points...the more points scored, the better the team. I don't really care if we do it by running or passing. After 19 years, we should be able to do any of the above, in any game.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

58 yards of offense in the 2nd half, but in KF's mind we were just a couple drops away from 65 yards. So lots of positives.

 

[Stormn Norman]

I feel like Iowa is a better football team when they score points...the more points scored, the better the team. I don't really care if we do it by running or passing. After 19 years, we should be able to do any of the above, in any game.

But yet KF said if we would have held NW to fewer points Iowa would have won... How bout Iowa put some points on the board???

 

[Ihawkhoops]

In KF's mind, the D should give up no points, so there is less pressure on his averse to scoring offense. 6-3 wins are where KF's head is at. It's never the offense, always the defense. His brainwashing has been effective...see all the posters who bashed the D for PSU and MSU losses.

 

[Twoooooooo]

"We are a much better football team when we can run the football"

Hello captain obvious, every team is better when they run the football.

Our line is getting physically whipped at the point of attack. Note to Brian, the fing, jet sweep doesn't work. Until we figure out how to get teams to not stack the box, we will not run the ball.

16 yards of offense in the third quarter, seems like the team was in another bye week. PPP (Piss Poor Performance) by the Hawks!

I think you meant to say, Perfect Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance

 

[GunnerHawk]

I think you meant to say, Perfect Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance

Actually two weeks of preparation should prevent PPP.

Wonder how long Kirk will protect his son's PPPC (piss poor play calling)?

I make a lot less than he does but feel confident I can call a better game. He rolled out his QB once that I recall, no running back screens, no draws except the QB when it was third and 15.

PP

 

[Buffhawk]

How much more obvious does it become, that running up the middle is just not working. It fits the classic description of insanity. Is there just no other place for Wadley or anyone to go than up the middle? Cripes, it has been so obvious on TV that NW and others that have stacked the box know exactly what is going to happen. A product of Ferentz's coaching philosophy. That and Wadley does not seem to show the allusiveness he has had in the past. He seems to almost stop and try to find a hole.

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

When have you ever gained anything insightful or of substance from a Kirk Ferentz press conference?

The offense is archaic, stale, boring, and unimaginative. It is predicated on the belief that we will line up and whip you in the trenches. When Iowa doesn't dominate the line of scrimmage, they are screwed. Hence why Kirk Ferentz has nothing to say beyond "cleaning a few things up" and "that's how football goes."

The fact that the game plan has not deviated one iota should be a surprise to no one. About the only thing remotely surprising from yesterday was how many times they tried to turn Wadley into a power back and have him pound through the A and B gaps. Otherwise, business as usual. Oh, and heaven forbid they ever try to set up a screen pass to Wadley to get him out in space.

 

[Johnsoda123]

When have you ever gained anything insightful or of substance from a Kirk Ferentz press conference?

The offense is archaic, stale, boring, and unimaginative. It is predicated on the belief that we will line up and whip you in the trenches. When Iowa doesn't dominate the line of scrimmage, they are screwed. Hence why Kirk Ferentz has nothing to say beyond "cleaning a few things up" and "that's how football goes."

The fact that the game plan has not deviated one iota should be a surprise to no one. About the only thing remotely surprising from yesterday was how many times they tried to turn Wadley into a power back and have him pound through the A and B gaps. Otherwise, business as usual. Oh, and heaven forbid they ever try to set up a screen pass to Wadley to get him out in space.

It's a shame. I feel sorry for Wadley. He is so electric at the second level. He could be a 2,000 yard all purpose back in a different offense.

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

How much more obvious does it become, that running up the middle is just not working. It fits the classic description of insanity. Is there just no other place for Wadley or anyone to go than up the middle. Cripes, it has been so obvious on TV that NW and others that have stacked the box know exactly what is going to happen. A product of Ferentz's coaching philosophy. That and Wadley does not seem to show the allusiveness he has had in the past. He seems to almost stop and try to find a hole.

Wadley is not the issue.

The bottom line is Kirk has a philosophy and system he will not deviate from one iota. It will always be about tailoring his players to the strength of his system, and never about tailoring his system to the strength of his players. I'll give you an example, slightly anecdotal. In 2004, due to having a slew of injuries at RB, Iowa was forced to primarily pass. Drew Tate was a shot gun QB in high school, and that's where Iowa had him most during that 2004 season, and he obviously excelled. When they put him under center in 2005, however, he wasn't as comfortable or as effective. I actually had the opportunity one day to ask him how he felt about being under center so much and asked why they didn't have him in shot gun anymore. His response was, "Brother, I ask myself that question every day."

Granted, there were a lot of issues in 2005, but you get the point. The simple reality is this: if Iowa isn't dominating in the trenches, they are an average football team at best.

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

It's a shame. I feel sorry for Wadley. He is so electric at the second level. He could be a 2,000 yard all purpose back in a different offense.

I agree completely. Wadley can shift directions, cut, and do so many things in space you can't teach. How many screen passes did they set up for him yesterday? Conversely, how many plays did they try to have him run through the A and B gaps? Ridiculous.

 

[so2315]

It's not like they aren't running the football. Even Chuck Long made a comment on the Final Drive that Iowa ran the ball 33 times for just 88 yards. So what I got out of that statement is this: run the ball to this gap. Doesn't work so we will run the ball to the other gap. That didn't work either so try original gap again. Repeat.Repeat.Repeat X 33. PATHETIC!

 

[Gonzo Bloor]

"We are a much better football team when we can run the football"

Hello captain obvious, every team is better when they run the football.

Our line is getting physically whipped at the point of attack. Note to Brian, the fing, jet sweep doesn't work. Until we figure out how to get teams to not stack the box, we will not run the ball.

16 yards of offense in the third quarter, seems like the team was in another bye week. PPP (Piss Poor Performance) by the Hawks!

Kind of hard for the OL to block 8-9 guys who are stuffing the box. Sure they could play better, but when the opposing D knows exactly when and where a run play is going you can have the best line in the world and it won't matter.

 

[MadDogC]

I agree completely. Wadley can shift directions, cut, and do so many things in space you can't teach. How many screen passes did they set up for him yesterday? Conversely, how many plays did they try to have him run through the A and B gaps? Ridiculous.

I will never understand how we do not use Wadley like Stanford used McCaffery(sp)...except that 70-yd TD against PSU did look like a play Stanford used against us...imo Wadley should be a pass target 10-12x per game...

 

[Minny_Hawk]

Kind of hard for the OL to block 8-9 guys who are stuffing the box. Sure they could play better, but when the opposing D knows exactly when and where a run play is going you can have the best line in the world and it won't matter.

Don't disagree with this, but the OL play overall has been rather poor this year which has been amplified by the very questionable play calling. Jackson was little more than a human turnstile out there yesterday as Stanley was consistently under pressure from just 4-man rushes by one of the more undersized DL in the conference.

 

[Muskie5]

NW didn't even really stuff the box, our young OT's and TE's are just blocking like doo doo. Jackson and Wirfs are not ready to play, remember we should have 2 5th yr., experienced OT's starting but because injuries to them (and a couple other linemen) these 2 are forced to play before they are ready and they are taking their lumps. So what play would you liked called? Lol. Oh, how about some passes....oops they dropped half of them, must of been bad play call, lol. So, let me get this straight...when a play doesn't work, it was a poor play call? LOL, some of you crack me up.

 

[Herkmeister]

Actually two weeks of preparation should prevent PPP.

Wonder how long Kirk will protect his son's PPPC (piss poor play calling)?

I make a lot less than he does but feel confident I can call a better game. He rolled out his QB once that I recall, no running back screens, no draws except the QB when it was third and 15.

PP

Kirk has never thrown a member of his staff under the bus publicly.

 

[soybean]

If I was allowed just one critism against Ferentz it would be to say that he does not know how to use whatever speed he has on his teams over the years.

 

[Muskie5]

Kind of hard for the OL to block 8-9 guys who are stuffing the box. Sure they could play better, but when the opposing D knows exactly when and where a run play is going you can have the best line in the world and it won't matter.

Unless we have 2 TE's AND a FB in the game at the same time, NO team would or does put 9 in the box, lol....geez, people 'hear' things and just repeat it without any understanding of what the are saying. .

 

[Muskie5]

Kirk has never thrown a member of his staff under the bus publicly.

He will not throw his kids under the bus either. He knows some young players are struggling bad but he will not call them out in public, so we get his nondescript rhetoric. What do people want him to say? "Well, Mr. Announcer, Jackson and Wirfs and Fant just sucked today and my son if a moron....." LOL

 

[HawkLogic]

NW didn't even really stuff the box, our young OT's and TE's are just blocking like doo doo. Jackson and Wirfs are not ready to play, remember we should have 2 5th yr., experienced OT's starting but because injuries to them (and a couple other linemen) these 2 are forced to play before they are ready and they are taking their lumps. So what play would you liked called? Lol. Oh, how about some passes....oops they dropped half of them, must of been bad play call, lol. So, let me get this straight...when a play doesn't work, it was a poor play call? LOL, some of you crack me up.

you do recall those two experienced OT's you speak of were part of a sieve that resulted in a huge number of sacks of Beathard last year and one of the worst passing offenses in Div1. Last year's OL did good job of run blocking, couldn't pass block. This years OL can't run block, but pass blocking is okay. The common theme is Iowa offense is below average 80-90% of time under KF.

Before you make excuses about two Freshman OTs...isn't it KF responsibility to have enough backups at critical positions so we don't implode?

 

[HawkLogic]

Kirk has never thrown a member of his staff under the bus publicly.

Not coaches, but He does throw players under bus. Example Wirfs last start---instead of saying fantastic effort, he has to point out on one successful play Wirfs got beat.

 

[bagdropper]

I agree completely. Wadley can shift directions, cut, and do so many things in space you can't teach. How many screen passes did they set up for him yesterday? Conversely, how many plays did they try to have him run through the A and B gaps? Ridiculous.

Opponents have seen enough screen passes the last 12 or so games and are defending it better now - which is why we aren't seeing it as much.

Iowa played like horse manure on offense yesterday. NW does have a pretty good defense and that had a lot to do with yesterday, but the drops and offensive line gaffes certainly didn't help.

Iowa's offense, quite simply, has to execute better. I know using coach speak to describe the issues pisses many off here, but let's face it - THAT is the issue.

It isn't solely play calling, it isn't solely the line, it isn't solely the drops...they simply are not executing well across the board right now - on the field and in the coach's box.

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

Opponents have seen enough screen passes the last 12 or so games and are defending it better now - which is why we aren't seeing it as much.

Iowa played like horse manure on offense yesterday. NW does have a pretty good defense and that had a lot to do with yesterday, but the drops and offensive line gaffes certainly didn't help.

Iowa's offense, quite simply, has to execute better. I know using coach speak to describe the issues pisses many off here, but let's face it - THAT is the issue.

It isn't solely play calling, it isn't solely the line, it isn't solely the drops...they simply are not executing well across the board right now - on the field and in the coach's box.

I agree with most of that and have said as much in other posts.

I disagree that they've run many screens for Wadley all season. A few, but not a lot. I think a lot of the issue has been when they run screen plays to Wadley. On 3rd and a mile, that's pretty predictable.

 

[Gonzo Bloor]

Unless we have 2 TE's AND a FB in the game at the same time, NO team would or does put 9 in the box, lol....geez, people 'hear' things and just repeat it without any understanding of what the are saying. .

Weird, I didn't see in that original post anything about the TEs and FB sucking, just the OL. And yeah by the time Stanley's handed off and Wadley gets to the line the safety is there. Watch the opposing team's LBs on first down just before the ball is snapped sometime. Pretty telling stuff. The opposing DC knowing exactly what we're doing when we're in run formations is a bigger problem than our OL, which I already said has underwhelmed. But keep trying to make yourself feel smart.

 

[Johnsoda123]

NW didn't even really stuff the box, our young OT's and TE's are just blocking like doo doo. Jackson and Wirfs are not ready to play, remember we should have 2 5th yr., experienced OT's starting but because injuries to them (and a couple other linemen) these 2 are forced to play before they are ready and they are taking their lumps. So what play would you liked called? Lol. Oh, how about some passes....oops they dropped half of them, must of been bad play call, lol. So, let me get this straight...when a play doesn't work, it was a poor play call? LOL, some of you crack me up.

Weren't both Meyers and Boetger both walk ons? If so, it is awesome for those young men that they became starters. I'm just not sure you want your starting tackles to be walk ons and I'm not sure they were really tackles. I'm hopeful these two freshmen become dominant players.

 

[Gonzo Bloor]

Not coaches, but He does throw players under bus. Example Wirfs last start---instead of saying fantastic effort, he has to point out on one successful play Wirfs got beat.

Not to mention CJB when he came in the year Rudock was starting, plenty of times pointing out weaknesses and how bad they were in practice that week. But then Wyoming comes to town and all you hear is "Lots of NFL scouts at Kinnick, and they're definitely not here to watch our guy." Shit like that is just irritating.

 

[icwesthawk]

If I was allowed just one critism against Ferentz it would be to say that he does not know how to use whatever speed he has on his teams over the years.

Because he doesn't recruit it, he doesn't know how to use it when it appears in an Iowa uniform.

 

[Herkmeister]

Not coaches, but He does throw players under bus. Example Wirfs last start---instead of saying fantastic effort, he has to point out on one successful play Wirfs got beat.

I'm not a fragile guy so I wouldn't few that comment as throwing a player under the bus. (Not implying you are fragile either HawkLogic.)

I do know good coaches know what buttons to push. I'd view this as public motivation. And I love Wirfs.

These last 2 losses have really bothered me. I was pretty hostile last night. The bottom line is this: I love having Kirk as our coach. Brian has disappointed me this season, but I know he's a good man and a true competitor. I'm sure Kirk is disappointed too, and he knows the real causes of which I probably am unaware.

Kirk will get the train back on the track. He'll make the adjustments that need to be made.

I'm still a Coach Ferentz fan and I'm very proud of the type of young men he recruits to be Hawkeyes.

Name me one person who has been an athlete that hasn't had some deep lows to offset the highs.

 

[K OKeefe]

The way that the head coach and offensive coordinator are using Wadley makes me wonder if they are trying to punish him for the high stepping/flashy back that they believe he is. Flashy players have never been a favorite of Coach Ferentz. Please put Wadley in space and let him do his thing, which is make tacklers miss. It appears that Wadley made a mistake coming back for his senior season- he should have bolted for the NFL after last season. The guy is getting physically punished in the running game this year.

 

[Johnsoda123]

I'm not a fragile guy so I wouldn't few that comment as throwing a player under the bus. (Not implying you are fragile either HawkLogic.)

I do know good coaches know what buttons to push. I'd view this as public motivation. And I love Wirfs.

These last 2 losses have really bothered me. I was pretty hostile last night. The bottom line is this: I love having Kirk as our coach. Brian has disappointed me this season, but I know he's a good man and a true competitor. I'm sure Kirk is disappointed too, and he knows the real causes of which I probably am unaware.

Kirk will get the train back on the track. He'll make the adjustments that need to be made.

I'm still a Coach Ferentz fan and I'm very proud of the type of young men he recruits to be Hawkeyes.

Name me one person who has been an athlete that hasn't had some deep lows to offset the highs.

Rocky Marciano 49-0
(Mayweather doesn't count cause he's an azz)

 

[Herkmeister]

Rocky Marciano 49-0
(Mayweather doesn't count cause he's an azz)

I stand corrected.

 

[Rustys Dad]

How much more obvious does it become, that running up the middle is just not working. It fits the classic description of insanity. Is there just no other place for Wadley or anyone to go than up the middle? Cripes, it has been so obvious on TV that NW and others that have stacked the box know exactly what is going to happen. A product of Ferentz's coaching philosophy. That and Wadley does not seem to show the allusiveness he has had in the past. He seems to almost stop and try to find a hole.

Yep. Kept saying the same thing all game ... Yet we keep trying to run it ... where else ... but right up the middle ...

 

[IowaDU86]

In KF's mind, the D should give up no points, so there is less pressure on his averse to scoring offense. 6-3 wins are where KF's head is at. It's never the offense, always the defense. His brainwashing has been effective...see all the posters who bashed the D for PSU and MSU losses.

I was curious as to Iowa’s record when holding the other team to 10 points or less. Since 2013, in conference play, Iowa is 10-1 in that scenario. I think that is what is the most bothersome about yesterday’s game, that holding a conference foe to 10 points or less was a winning formula no matter how much the offense sputtered.

 

[mvhomerj]

Read quite a few of these responses, not all. When it's said it done, is there really a difference between GDGD and BFBF? BnGbleeder is right, Kirk does the same thing, year in and year out. Iowa doesn't have what it takes in the trenches to do that. I hope it ends up at least 6-6.

 

[BetterLuckNextTime]

But yet KF said if we would have held NW to fewer points Iowa would have won

Well if KF said it, then it MUST be true.

 

[Eternal Return]

"We are a much better football team when we can run the football"

In other news, the sun set in the West just as it has every day for the billionth year in a row.

 

[Eternal Return]

Weren't both Meyers and Boetger both walk ons? If so, it is awesome for those young men that they became starters. I'm just not sure you want your starting tackles to be walk ons and I'm not sure they were really tackles. I'm hopeful these two freshmen become dominant players.

More importantly, because they were walk-ons there should be plenty of depth behind them. If there isn't then that's on coaches for failing to recruit better players and/or develop them into B10 caliber lineman. How can they have so little depth at the one position they supposedly recruit and train well?

 

[BetterLuckNextTime]

More importantly, because they were walk-ons there should be plenty of depth behind them. If there isn't then that's on coaches for failing to recruit better players and/or develop them into B10 caliber lineman. How can they have so little depth at the one position they supposedly recruit and train well?

They were hoping no one would notice