No passes to IKM, no trick plays vs. Wisconsin

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

I thought one reason IKM is the starting RB over Toren Young is his overall skill set--including catching the ball out of the backfield--but where were those plays vs. Wisconsin? And BYU, as you know, scored a TD vs. Wisconsin on a halfback pass, yet Iowa tried no trick plays, not even a flea-flicker, against the Badgers. We did launch a sneak play, but that's not quite what I have in mind.

Iowa needs to get the ball to IKM in space and let him do his best Wadley impression. Iowa ran the ball well against the Badgers but were never able to quite break one. That's what the short passing game to the RB is for, but it does no good when it isn't used.

And on the trick play front, MSU scored a TD vs. Indiana last week on a fake FG. You see trickery all over college football every Saturday, and after Iowa's success with trickery vs. MSU and OSU last year, I am still shocked that, in the most important game of the year, Brian chose to ignore that part of the game. That's a shame.

Anyway, I hope we see IKM in space with the passing game the rest of the year, and I hope--but do not expect--to see a trick play or two every damn game.

 

[Hawk_82]

Iowa is who they are. This is not going to change. They may add a few wrinkles here and there but KF still runs the show and believes in his philosophy.

We have never used a short play book early to surprise a team. We use a short play book because that's what the team is good at running.

Don't hold your breath on seeing any trick plays. We play solid fundamental football. And when we don't, then we lose, like we saw last week

 

[And1Hawk]

If we need to ‘trick’ opponents then that likely means we are not that good. The trick plays come out when the game is in hand.

 

[mvhomerj]

Bye weeks suck. Bye week after a loss, suck more.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

If we need to ‘trick’ opponents then that likely means we are not that good. The trick plays come out when the game is in hand.

Huh.....

 

[Harbinger273]

If we had executed the games plays better we would have won the game. We were ok n the game and Winning, but lost down the stretch when they executed and we did not. The plan was good enough to win.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Bye weeks suck. Bye week after a loss, suck more.

I could use a week off, so could my blood pressure

 

[83Hawk]

Second and 2 on Iowa's next to last possession would have been the perfect situation for a screen to IKM, instead of trying to run wide which was doomed to failure.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

The jet sweep does not fit this team, especially on 3rd and goal from the 2. Once he went in motion you could see it coming. Wasn't fooling anybody.

I think Wisconsin's D is better suited than most to cover the RB pass, but I too was surprised we didn't use it with IKM back.

We didn't need gimmicks to beat them. Remove 2 stupid turnovers and a decent play call near the goal line and we likely win.

 

[Kurt Warner]

Agree with the op, IKM is the best big play threat in the back field that the hawks have. Need to get him the ball in space.

 

[icantfindausernamethatisntused]

Iowa averaged 7.48 yards per play against Wisconsin. They didn't need trick plays.

The offense actually played very well, yet only scored 17 points for the following reasons:

• Field position: the best field position Iowa had all day was at their own 25.
• Turnovers: two special teams turnovers killed momentum, and the first was particularly costly as we were set up to have our best field position of the entire game. The last minute interception obviously hurt as well, but it was going to be difficult to drive down the field for a touchdown even if that ball had been caught.
• Lack of Possessions: Iowa only had 10 possessions in this game, 3 of which came with less than a minute to go before half time / end of the game. That means Iowa only had 7 "regular" (i.e., not time-constrained) possessions. That's about 3-4 less possessions than a normal game. The cause of this was two-fold: special teams cost us 2 possessions, and both teams ran the ball well which bled the clock.
• Redzone Execution: Two possessions inside the Wisconsin 10 yard line netted us 3 points. I think the most questionable play call was the QB sneak. Other than that, I didn't have a huge issue with the play calling inside the 10. In hindsight, I think there are things they could have done differently - i.e., throw the ball to Fant when he has 1-on-1 coverage, perhaps use Toren Young on short yardage plays, or use Brady Ross on more short yardage plays (I think he has a 100% conversion percentage thus far). With that said, I still saw two possessions where the players were put in positions to succeed, but the execution was lacking. There looked to be a few cut-back lanes that IKM missed, and on the toss sweep it looked like a good set up but Ross missed the block and IKM couldn't make a defender miss.

I do agree that we should get IKM more involved in the passing game. He did have 1 reception, which almost gave us 1st and goal from the 4. He isn't the playmaker that Wadley was, but I think he can be an asset in the passing game. Given our limitations at WR, we should be looking to as many other options as possible.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

I thought one reason IKM is the starting RB over Toren Young is his overall skill set--including catching the ball out of the backfield--but where were those plays vs. Wisconsin? And BYU, as you know, scored a TD vs. Wisconsin on a halfback pass, yet Iowa tried no trick plays, not even a flea-flicker, against the Badgers. We did launch a sneak play, but that's not quite what I have in mind.

Iowa needs to get the ball to IKM in space and let him do his best Wadley impression. Iowa ran the ball well against the Badgers but were never able to quite break one. That's what the short passing game to the RB is for, but it does no good when it isn't used.

And on the trick play front, MSU scored a TD vs. Indiana last week on a fake FG. You see trickery all over college football every Saturday, and after Iowa's success with trickery vs. MSU and OSU last year, I am still shocked that, in the most important game of the year, Brian chose to ignore that part of the game. That's a shame.

Anyway, I hope we see IKM in space with the passing game the rest of the year, and I hope--but do not expect--to see a trick play or two every damn game.

I can't lie.....I didn't bother to read this.
Bottom line is if we had executed and not made some foolish mistakes we would have easily won the game.
We didn't need trick plays to win, we just needed to avoid big mistakes, which we didn't.


Yes I said "WE", sure I was out there on the field

 

[pink shizzle]

If we need to ‘trick’ opponents then that likely means we are not that good. The trick plays come out when the game is in hand.

Doesn't matter how we beat them, as long as we beat them.

And you think we should use trick plays once we are up by a lot?

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Iowa averaged 7.48 yards per play against Wisconsin. They didn't need trick plays.

The offense actually played very well, yet only scored 17 points for the following reasons:

• Lack of Possessions: Iowa only had 10 possessions in this game, 3 of which came with less than a minute to go before half time / end of the game. That means Iowa only had 7 "regular" (i.e., not time-constrained) possessions. That's about 3-4 less possessions than a normal game.

Wow, that's mind-blowing. You might say Wisconsin beat us at our own game, keep away.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Doesn't matter how we beat them, as long as we beat them.

And you think we should use trick plays once we are up by a lot?

Not saying trick plays don't have a role, they do. Just saying we could (and probably should) have won without them last week.

 

[Stranded Hawk]

Not saying trick plays don't have a role, they do. Just saying we could (and probably should) have won without them last week.

I thought all our trick plays were used on Punt Return, but they didn't work.

 

[John Thompson]

Iowa should try a trick play once or twice in close games. It keeps the defense guessing. Which generally opens up the offense and allows the game plan to execute easier. Iowa is one of the easiest teams to defend because opposing teams know what's coming with it's very vanilla offense.

We'd all like to see the team just execute every play to perfection and bully the defense and that just isn't going to happen against teams with similar talent. Trick plays are there for a reason. Creative play calling is needed. Football is a chess match, not just pushing each other around. Playing tough and playing hard doesn't just win games, but playing smart can.

 

[RocknRollface]

Second and 2 on Iowa's next to last possession would have been the perfect situation for a screen to IKM, instead of trying to run wide which was doomed to failure.

For some reason Iowa doesn't use regular screen passes to the backs.

 

[Hendy hawk]

Wow, that's mind-blowing. You might say Wisconsin beat us at our own game, keep away.

How many possessions did Wisky have?
My guess is about the same only they had the help of special team errors.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Iowa should try a trick play once or twice in close games. It keeps the defense guessing. Which generally opens up the offense and allows the game plan to execute easier. Iowa is one of the easiest teams to defend because opposing teams know what's coming with it's very vanilla offense.

We'd all like to see the team just execute every play to perfection and bully the defense and that just isn't going to happen against teams with similar talent. Trick plays are there for a reason. Creative play calling is needed. Football is a chess match, not just pushing each other around. Playing tough and playing hard doesn't just win games, but playing smart can.

When you say "trick play", meaning the bummerooski or a halfback pass - I disagree. If you mean something surprising - like a middle screen to the fullback or a well-executed reverse,sure.

 

[Suterman]

How many possessions did Wisky have?
My guess is about the same only they had the help of special team errors.

Wisky had 12 possessions to our 10.

 

[Hendy hawk]

Wisky had 12 possessions to our 10.

So in reality they only had 10 like Iowa but the 2 turnovers by special teams was the difference in the game.

 

[Hawk fan in MN]

If we had executed the games plays better we would have won the game. We were ok n the game and Winning, but lost down the stretch when they executed and we did not. The plan was good enough to win.

Spot on. Wisconsin made the plays when they needed to. Iowa didn't. Unfortunately that feels like one of the big differences between Iowa and Wisconsin they make the plays at the end of games to win

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

If Iowa had run "trick" plays that didn't work, this thread would be about Brian getting cute and not sticking with what works.

 

[Capital1Hawk]

I thought one reason IKM is the starting RB over Toren Young is his overall skill set--including catching the ball out of the backfield--but where were those plays vs. Wisconsin? And BYU, as you know, scored a TD vs. Wisconsin on a halfback pass, yet Iowa tried no trick plays, not even a flea-flicker, against the Badgers. We did launch a sneak play, but that's not quite what I have in mind.

Iowa needs to get the ball to IKM in space and let him do his best Wadley impression. Iowa ran the ball well against the Badgers but were never able to quite break one. That's what the short passing game to the RB is for, but it does no good when it isn't used.

And on the trick play front, MSU scored a TD vs. Indiana last week on a fake FG. You see trickery all over college football every Saturday, and after Iowa's success with trickery vs. MSU and OSU last year, I am still shocked that, in the most important game of the year, Brian chose to ignore that part of the game. That's a shame.

Anyway, I hope we see IKM in space with the passing game the rest of the year, and I hope--but do not expect--to see a trick play or two every damn game.

What are you talking about? Don’t you remember 3rd and 9 and we ran a reverse that was sniffed out? I love that play just didn’t work this time or the previous 99 times but it keeps the D at home and honest.

 

[FlickShagwell]

The coaches have said that Toren Young and Sargent are both better receivers than IKM, for what it’s worth.

 

[Kurt Warner]

The coaches have said that Toren Young and Sargent are both better receivers than IKM, for what it’s worth.

Fake news

 

[Pepperman]

Sometimes I'm left to believe Hawkeye fans just don't watch the games. Iowa's offense was fine running the ball and for the most part had some good passes with opportunities for more passes that simply missed (lack of execution). The difference by far was the two special teams turnovers. Eliminate those and the Hawks probably win.

 

[steventrelain]

Sometimes I'm left to believe Hawkeye fans just don't watch the games. Iowa's offense was fine running the ball and for the most part had some good passes with opportunities for more passes that simply missed (lack of execution). The difference by far was the two special teams turnovers. Eliminate those and the Hawks probably win.

Honesty:
Aren't you arguing that Iowa has to be mistake free to win? Are teams that reach their potential perfect? Or do they have an ability to overcome mistakes? I remember 02/04. Iowa wasn't perfect (except NW in 02) in any game. A little luck mixed with an ability to overcome challenges. Like in 04, they had a RB issue just as we have a WR issue. Question: For a run-first team, which would be harder to overcome - no RBs or no WRs?

 

[kcgolfer]

I thought one reason IKM is the starting RB over Toren Young is his overall skill set--including catching the ball out of the backfield--but where were those plays vs. Wisconsin? And BYU, as you know, scored a TD vs. Wisconsin on a halfback pass, yet Iowa tried no trick plays, not even a flea-flicker, against the Badgers. We did launch a sneak play, but that's not quite what I have in mind.

Iowa needs to get the ball to IKM in space and let him do his best Wadley impression. Iowa ran the ball well against the Badgers but were never able to quite break one. That's what the short passing game to the RB is for, but it does no good when it isn't used.

And on the trick play front, MSU scored a TD vs. Indiana last week on a fake FG. You see trickery all over college football every Saturday, and after Iowa's success with trickery vs. MSU and OSU last year, I am still shocked that, in the most important game of the year, Brian chose to ignore that part of the game. That's a shame.

Anyway, I hope we see IKM in space with the passing game the rest of the year, and I hope--but do not expect--to see a trick play or two every damn game.

LOL. You mean the QB sneak on fourth and a long one was not a trick play? LOL. We've been doing that for years and everybody, including Wisconsin knew it was coming. BF should be flogged for that play call.

 

[Dick Rambone]

If we had executed the games plays better we would have won the game. We were ok n the game and Winning, but lost down the stretch when they executed and we did not. The plan was good enough to win.

Scoring 17 points was not good enough and isn't good enough against a good team. That's the only stat that counts . Defense game up very little till last minute of the game.

 

[Pepperman]

Honesty:
Aren't you arguing that Iowa has to be mistake free to win? Are teams that reach their potential perfect? Or do they have an ability to overcome mistakes? I remember 02/04. Iowa wasn't perfect (except NW in 02) in any game. A little luck mixed with an ability to overcome challenges. Like in 04, they had a RB issue just as we have a WR issue. Question: For a run-first team, which would be harder to overcome - no RBs or no WRs?

You have a point but if you look at the two punts we gave away, those are like giving up a long pass play on 4th down. Horrible for T.O.P. and field position. Just can’t have that kind of mistake happen twice in about 20 mins of game time.