McNamara Remains the Starter Despite Turnovers, Lack of Production

[Eliot Clough]

KF is sticking with McNamara -- despite Brendan Sullivan's success in limited snaps and all of McNamara's issues to start the year.

STORY:

McNamara Remains the Starter Despite Turnovers, Lack of Production

Cade McNamara hasn't been good to start the 2024 season. For now, Kirk Ferentz still believes he's Iowa's best option.

iowa.rivals.com

 

[Thunderlips71]

 

[swihawk]

He stuck with the turnover machine last year. Kirk is stubborn like that.

 

[sabula]

He stuck with the turnover machine last year. Kirk is stubborn like that.

It's like if he makes a switch he is somehow admitting he was wrong to start with. If that's his thinking, what a convoluted thought process.

 

[Shafthawk]

One of the reporters should ask who makes that decision.

 

[swihawk]

One of the reporters should ask who makes that decision.

Why? Kirk does.

 

[blhawk]

Kirk played a cruel trick on us with Brad Banks

 

[jonesy5960]

Completely shocking development.

 

[desihawk]

It's like if he makes a switch he is somehow admitting he was wrong to start with. If that's his thinking, what a convoluted thought process.

i’m thinking he knows the next guy is better but worries we’ll drop a couple games if we transition qbs during the season. even if that’s the case he should play sullivan situationally at least and gradually increase his time on field. we just don’t have the defense any more to ride a non-qb to 10+ wins.

 

[ClarindaA's]

I remember in fall camp it was 1A and 1B....what the eff has McNamara done positively since the Illinois State game?

 

[pistachio1999]

Michigan fired Cade. Northwestern fired Sullivan.

 

[Shafthawk]

KF must be on a mission to win less than 10 games this year. Gotta try to make junior look good somehow.

 

[desihawk]

Michigan fired Cade. Northwestern fired Sullivan.

from what i can tell without intel from stallions nw qb > mich qb

 

[jonesy5960]

KF must be on a mission to win less than 10 games this year. Gotta try to make junior look good somehow.

Nah. It's about improving draft position.

 

[elipse]

Shocked I tell ya - shocked!!

 

[denmar81]

Having players on the field that gives you the best chance to win. How many times do we have to hear that pile of crap?

 

[spiderland]

Kirk played a cruel trick on us with Brad Banks

Probably the most painful thing Kirk has ever been forced to do.

Don’t forget that Aaron Greving was the returning starter at RB coming into that season but gave up football if memory serves. While Aaron was absolutely a solid and established back, he was nowhere near as explosive as either Fred Russell or Jermelle Lewis.

I’m sure it gnaws on Kirk incessantly to this day how pedestrian that 2002 offense could have been.

 

[2D_]

 

[the24fan]

At this point I hope Iowa gets their a$$ kicked from here on out.
If it takes a complete implosion to move the needle to change then so be it!
There I said it

 

[swihawk]

Having players on the field that gives you the best chance to win. How many times do we have to hear that pile of crap?

Listen to any coach at any level. Coachspeak is universal, not copyrighted by Kirk.

 

[swihawk]

At this point I hope Iowa gets their a$$ kicked from here on out.
If it takes a complete implosion to move the needle to change then so be it!
There I said it

Our remaining opponents feel the same. Sounds like you need to buy some Tosu gear. Might make you happier.

 

[amahawk]

Not surprised at all.

 

[AEG82]

Annnnnnnddddd?

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

If Kirk was in charge of the DNC, Biden would still be your candidate...

 

[the24fan]

Our remaining opponents feel the same. Sounds like you need to buy some Tosu gear. Might make you happier.

lol. Ok sport. Will get right on that .

 

[mro1978]

union card kirk

 

[Rambler Hawk]

At this point I hope Iowa gets their a$$ kicked from here on out.
If it takes a complete implosion to move the needle to change then so be it!
There I said it

Unfortunately Parker will keep us in all remaining games….🥲 I was at my wits end last season, now I am just numb…

 

[DewHawk]

KF is sticking with McNamara -- despite Brendan Sullivan's success in limited snaps and all of McNamara's issues to start the year.

STORY:

McNamara Remains the Starter Despite Turnovers, Lack of Production

Cade McNamara hasn't been good to start the 2024 season. For now, Kirk Ferentz still believes he's Iowa's best option.

iowa.rivals.com

I would laugh if Tim (OC) told Ferentz to stick it next year and I would not blame him at all.

 

[DewHawk]

He stuck with the turnover machine last year. Kirk is stubborn like that.

Not stubborn, arrogant and stupid!

 

[the24fan]

Unfortunately Parker will keep us in all remaining games….🥲 I was at my wits end last season, now I am just numb…

Unfortunately you’re correct

 

[jonesy5960]

There is little doubt in my mind that Cade will look better this week, but he'll still be the same guy with the same lack of mobility, questionable arm, and accuracy problems. It's just who he is and nothing can change that. Strangely enough, this is why Kirk will stick with him. He sees a guy with very limited ability who's doing all he can to win games, and that's good enough to hold on to the position. Nothing else really matters. I'm 100% certain that he could have Tom Brady sitting on the bench right now and he wouldn't make a change. Like Cade, that's just who he is.

 

[HawkBall23]

If driving fans toward apathy was the main goal of his contractual obligation, no university on Earth could begin to afford to pay KF his due.

Sticking with Bacon Hill last year and now sticking with McNamara. Playing two guys who could barely move for whatever reason, behind an OL who can't even block a breeze.


It's been a good number of years now, Kirk -

 

[Heathen Raider]

Standard Kirk , Makes My belief He promised Cade QB1 and will sink the team before breaking His word. Cade is washed , No other Coach in America would not have given Sullivan a start by now . It is time for a HC change.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Water is wet.
Fire is hot.
KF picks a QB1 and sticks with him no matter what.

 

[Bow.to.the.Narrative]

At this point I hope Iowa gets their a$$ kicked from here on out.
If it takes a complete implosion to move the needle to change then so be it!
There I said it

Just beat Nebraska. That's all I really care about at this point. But they probably won't. Everyone else can pull Kirk's pants down for all I care.

 

[2D_]

Despite my earlier comment, I don't think Sullivan would do that much better than Cade. Sure, he can run, but we're talking about a guy who was a backup at Northwestern. I think the real problem lies at the OLine and wide receivers unable to get open. Gill has been far and away the most reliable WR we've had in years, and RVZ is a true freshman. Cade has been pretty accurate, with some nice passes against OSU's elite secondary.

 

[Shafthawk]

The toughest place to move the football is the red zone.

I know he has only handed off on some of the scores. But, you can’t complain about the TD to FG rate that Sullivan has so far this year.

If he can be successful in the red zone, it seems likely he would find success when there is more of the field to use.

 

[Beattheohiostate]

Anyone who thinks Sullivan wouldn't be a major upgrade over old man McNamara doesn't know much about football.

Name ONE other team . . . FBS or FCS . . . that would start McNamara again this week after the way he's played so far. Yah, I can't think of a single one either.

 

[WestCoastHawkI]

Despite my earlier comment, I don't think Sullivan would do that much better than Cade. Sure, he can run, but we're talking about a guy who was a backup at Northwestern. I think the real problem lies at the OLine and wide receivers unable to get open. Gill has been far and away the most reliable WR we've had in years, and RVZ is a true freshman. Cade has been pretty accurate, with some nice passes against OSU's elite secondary.

He was a starter at Northwestern and was probably going to start again this season

 

[Zooropa_NCR]

Kirk played a cruel trick on us with Brad Banks

I think Kirk back then leaned more heavily on his assistants, and he had great ones. He had something to prove. The team was fun and explosive, something he clearly isn’t. But also Kirk was way more animated back then too. Age does slow us down but Kirk was a hot head. Now he chews gum

Once he achieved the success he did and his assistants moved on…he dug in a lot more.

Now he’s surrounded by guys who are collecting a paycheck and don’t have any ambition for greater things. So Kirk has total control and we’ve got this product