Leistikow: In one decisive sequence, Iowa lost their composure — and maybe their season

[Franisdaman]

Agree?

Leistikow: Hawkeyes lose their composure, control of their season
Chad Leistikow, cleistik@dmreg.com8:04 p.m. CDT October 1, 2016


Iowa City - Kirk Ferentz often refers to Kodak moments — snapshot images that represent the real story.

Saturday, we might have seen the one that unraveled Iowa’s 2016 football season.

The Hawkeyes trailing Northwestern by a touchdown, Josey Jewell stopped Northwestern’s Justin Jackson for a 2-yard gain on the last play of the third quarter, but was flagged for a face mask.

Fifteen yards, automatic first down.

Defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson made it worse, saying something to an official he shouldn’t have.

Unsportsmanlike conduct: Another 15 yards.

And the most important fourth quarter of Iowa’s season began with Northwestern suddenly across midfield after 30 gifted penalty yards. The Wildcats punched in a touchdown six plays later and shocked the heavily-favored Hawkeyes, 38-31, in front of a wet and feisty crowd at Kinnick Stadium.

In that decisive sequence, the Hawkeyes lost their composure — and maybe their season.

Unless something changes — and fast — that’ll be the lasting image of what’s shaping up to be a disappointing year.

Johnson’s outburst might be to 2016 what Wisconsin's fake punt was to 2010.

“I just think maybe we’re a little undisciplined right now,” Jewell said afterward, and that was just one of many concerning quotes that emerged Saturday.

Cornerback Desmond King, Iowa’s best player in the game: “They really out-coached us in the passing game. We did what we could.”

Quarterback C.J. Beathard, after being sacked six times and throwing a last-minute interception as Iowa tried to drive for the tying touchdown: “Right now, we’re not playing well enough in any aspect of our game.”

Receiver Riley McCarron, after more offensive inconsistency: “It’s hard to execute plays when your quarterback is getting sacked.”

And Johnson himself, who was apologetic about his mistake: “I can’t really sit here and tell you what the issue is, because I really don’t know.”

Take your pick on any of those quotes. None of them say anything good about the direction of this Hawkeye season.

Ferentz agreed with King, by the way, on being out-coached.

“Ultimately, we didn't play well enough. We didn't coach well enough,” the 18th-year coach said. “And Northwestern did a better job today.”




The whole story: http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...-jewell-jaleel-johnson-desmond-king/91183966/

 

[Phenomenally Frantastic]

and 7 or 8 refs on the take.

 

[anon_2zMXH429BhxV1Npk]

Love seeing King say we were out coached. Iowa has a case of "if it's broke, don't fix it" when it comes to coaching and schemes.

 

[SotaHawk87]

Love seeing King say we were out coached. Iowa has a case of "if it's broke, don't fix it" when it comes to coaching and schemes.

Especially on defense.. however even when it's super broke they're so damn stubborn they pretend like it's not..

 

[rfgiowa]

Agreed.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

it has been coming for 4-5 years, don't blame it on this game alone. they have been on a downhill slide since stanzi graduated

 

[parker01]

it has been coming for 4-5 years, don't blame it on this game alone. they have been on a downhill slide since stanzi graduated

The loss of Norm Parker was the beginning of the end for this staff.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

How much will the players hearts stay in it after they most likely lose to minny next weekend? These are still not yet mature young men and at least some of their play comes down to the not yet tempered emotional responses of young men.

 

[K OKeefe]

and 7 or 8 refs on the take.

The game, putting it mildly, was officiated very poorly; however, to say that the officials cost Iowa the game is creating a false narrative. The true narrative is that Iowa is not good enough. Northwestern should have never been in this game. Iowa struggled with Rutgers and OSU crushed them. Iowa's struggles begin and end with their offensive line and defensive lines getting dominated. The domination is not restricted to teams having better athletes in the trenches. Both lines are being pushed around by stronger players playing better schemes than Iowa right now. If Iowa, supposedly offensive line U, cannot field 6 or 7 offensive linemen that can compete with FCS NDST then someone needs to be held accountable. It is time for Coach Ferentz to revamp his staff, starting with Coach Doyle.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

The loss of Norm Parker was the beginning of the end for this staff.

Yes it was and I really don't give a f***. Everyone of you needs to stop bringing that up. Norm is dead. Deal with it and move on for f***'s sake. Sick of hearing about that f***ing excuse regardless of its debated accuracy. It is a f***ing excuse. Stop it.

You're welcome.

 

[GunnerHawk]

The game, putting it mildly, was officiated very poorly; however, to say that the officials cost Iowa the game is creating a false narrative. The true narrative is that Iowa is not good enough. Northwestern should have never been in this game. Iowa struggled with Rutgers and OSU crushed them. Iowa's struggles begin and end with their offensive line and defensive lines getting dominated. The domination is not restricted to teams having better athletes in the trenches. Both lines are being pushed around by stronger players playing better schemes than Iowa right now. If Iowa, supposedly offensive line U, cannot field 6 or 7 offensive linemen that can compete with FCS NDST then someone needs to be held accountable. It is time for Coach Ferentz to revamp his staff, starting with Coach Doyle.

Iowa's poor d-line play, no pressure on the QB and can't stop the run is a killer. That said, the Hawks got hosed yesterday. Critical no calls on an obvious pass interference call against NW but Iowa called on a similar play that set up a NW TD drive. Face mask not called when CJ had his head rotated 180 degrees but on the next series Iowa is called and then the unsportsmanship call. What is not said, at that point the Hawk crowd was in a frenzy. I know why Johnson lost his head. The ref's stunk up the place but all Kirk said is penalties happen. His team got screwed at he took it, the fans deserve better.

 

[parker01]

Yes it was and I really don't give a f***. Everyone of you needs to stop bringing that up. Norm is dead. Deal with it and move on for f***'s sake. Sick of hearing about that f***ing excuse regardless of its debated accuracy. It is a f***ing excuse. Stop it.

You're welcome.

Hope that childish rant made you feel good.

It isn't an excuse, it is a fact that this staff has had poor bowl showings, and a noticeable dip in defense since he retired and it got even worse once he was no longer consulting. Norm Parker was always the backbone of the Ferentz led Iowa program. Last year was by and large an outlier that apparently convinced Barta otherwise.

Norm Parker was a great man and left a large imprint on Hawkeye football and many young men that represented the Hawkeyes. He should be regularly brought up and remembered with reverence, regardless of what you think.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Hope that childish rant made you feel good. (Better than you, if you're gonna back up your comments...)

It isn't an excuse (it is a fact AND and excuse. It can be both. Deal with it and stop posting about it.) , it is a fact that this staff has had poor bowl showings, and a noticeable dip in defense since he retired and it got even worse once he was no longer consulting. (Aside from last year minus the Stanford game) Norm Parker was always the backbone of the Ferentz led Iowa program. (Yeah if the defense was bad then Iowa was bad...........Oh wait) Last year was by and large an outlier that apparently convinced Barta otherwise. (Is that your opinion or are you gonna pass that comment off as fact because you believe it?.....Try harder.)

Norm Parker was a great man (yeah) and left a large imprint on Hawkeye football (yep) and many young men that represented the Hawkeyes (mm hmm). He should be regularly brought up and remembered with reverence (which isn't what you did fwiw), regardless of what you think. (Sorry but the I'm right and you're wrong argument isn't one you're gonna win.)

Don't forget that the post I first quoted said that Norm's departure was the beginning of the end for this staff. I agreed with your post in the sense that there is merit to it. But two things:

1. It will never be the biggest reason, no matter how much you want it to be

2. People need to move on from that excuse. There's plenty more to complain about in the now. I suggest you do that and heed your own advice and leave the memory of Norm Parker for one of reverence, and not as an excuse for why this staff got worse.

Deal with it.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Sounds like a bunch of sheep and no sheep dogs to round them up. They are all lost and no leadership to take control. They all seem to accept it and are just fine with moving on. I don't know, but something has to be fixed.

Glad they are going on the road the next two weeks. Hopefully getting them out of Iowa City will do them good. Maybe they can find their mojo in Minneapolis or West Lafayette.

 

[K OKeefe]

Iowa's poor d-line play, no pressure on the QB and can't stop the run is a killer. That said, the Hawks got hosed yesterday. Critical no calls on an obvious pass interference call against NW but Iowa called on a similar play that set up a NW TD drive. Face mask not called when CJ had his head rotated 180 degrees but on the next series Iowa is called and then the unsportsmanship call. What is not said, at that point the Hawk crowd was in a frenzy. I know why Johnson lost his head. The ref's stunk up the place but all Kirk said is penalties happen. His team got screwed at he took it, the fans deserve better.

Blaming the refs is nothing more than an excuse for an Iowa team that has stunk up Kinnick twice this year.

 

[BioHawk]

Nah, the season ended much earlier than that. I'd say the very shaky holding call that turned back Daniels' huge run against NDSU. The team fell apart after that and the same thing happened against Rutgers (although they managed to find a way to win that one). I think that is just a microcosm of the team. Great teams don't let stuff like that affect them. Of course, great teams don't need to rely on one great play to make the difference between winning and losing. So, even if it wasn't a mental thing, Iowa just isn't good enough to produce enough great plays in a game to withstand one of them getting overturned.

 

[iasooner1]

You are only one or two Vandenburgs and a better offensive and defensive line away from a better record possibly, very similar to my favorite team...

 

[kcgolfer]

The game, putting it mildly, was officiated very poorly; however, to say that the officials cost Iowa the game is creating a false narrative. The true narrative is that Iowa is not good enough. Northwestern should have never been in this game. Iowa struggled with Rutgers and OSU crushed them. Iowa's struggles begin and end with their offensive line and defensive lines getting dominated. The domination is not restricted to teams having better athletes in the trenches. Both lines are being pushed around by stronger players playing better schemes than Iowa right now. If Iowa, supposedly offensive line U, cannot field 6 or 7 offensive linemen that can compete with FCS NDST then someone needs to be held accountable. It is time for Coach Ferentz to revamp his staff, starting with Coach Doyle.

Nah, the season ended much earlier than that. I'd say the very shaky holding call that turned back Daniels' huge run against NDSU. The team fell apart after that and the same thing happened against Rutgers (although they managed to find a way to win that one). I think that is just a microcosm of the team. Great teams don't let stuff like that affect them. Of course, great teams don't need to rely on one great play to make the difference between winning and losing. So, even if it wasn't a mental thing, Iowa just isn't good enough to produce enough great plays in a game to withstand one of them getting overturned.

And his son. This OL is pathetic and unathletic.