Passing on 1st Down

[speed4power]

It would be interesting to know the percentage of times we passed vs ran on 1st down Saturday night in the first 3 Q's, and throughout a season in general. I would guess we ran on 1st down 90% of time in 1st-3rd Q's on Saturday, and >75% of the time throughout a season. This sets us up for a lot of 2nd/3rd and longs, and in my opinion cripples our offense against good run defenses.

It would also be interesting to know the percentage of times high octane offenses pass on 1st down. I would guess it's a lot higher, or at least more balanced.

 

[StormHawk42]

I hope it's a change we see from BF. I think he's dialing up some excellent pass plays (drops are another story). It's like sacrilege at Iowa to use the pass to set up the run, but we've been effective when forced to go that route.

 

[icantfindausernamethatisntused]

Through the first 3 quarters, Iowa passed the ball 40% of the time on first down (i.e., 6 passes, 9 rushes on first down).

 

[RogerKint]

I would also like to know how many teams run the ball on second down if they pass it on first down and it is incomplete. Honestly, I bet that 90% of the time when teams throw incomplete on first down, they run it on second down.

 

[speed4power]

Through the first 3 quarters, Iowa passed the ball 40% of the time on first down (i.e., 6 passes, 9 rushes on first down).

Did most of that come at the end of the 3rd Q? What were the stats for the 1st half?

 

[icantfindausernamethatisntused]

Did most of that come at the end of the 3rd Q? What were the stats for the 1st half?

Iowa passed on 44% first downs (i.e., 4 of 9) in the first half.

 

[Pepperman]

If the defense is stacking the LOS, I want to see more passing on first and second down... but let's not get TOO caught up in looking at just the PSU game. For one, being backed up in your own territory tends to tighten things up a bit and then secondly Iowa's WRs didn't catch every ball they could have. It snowballed and for much of the first half the offense just couldn't do anything. That won't always be the case.

 

[David1979]

yeah, definitely weren't just running on first down. The problem in the first half was there were several drops and a few of them came on first down passes.

 

[David1979]

Also, If I remember right the pass to run ration was pretty good through the first 3 games on first down. The OPs perception is pretty far off from reality.

 

[scotthawk1964]

All I know is that I was yelling at the TV Saturday early on for Brian to throw the ball since Penn St. was stuffing everything. I think were going to have to pass to set up the run, and it looks like Stanley has been good enough to do that. I for one am excited that we have a competent passing attack now.

 

[speed4power]

I just checked the stats myself. We passed 5/15 times on 1st and 2nd down in the first half. We ran 10/15 times (67%). Each time we ran we got basically zero or negative yards, setting up a lot of 2nd/3rd and longs.

Also throughout the entire 1st half, we never had 2 passes in a row on 1st and 2nd down, which again I feel like is a pattern for Iowa football. When we do pass on 1st down and it's incomplete and we have been having no success running, I would like to see them pass again on 2nd down. Rather than running and virtually assuring a 3rd and long situation.

I think teams know this, so they sell out on the run when playing us. I know Penn St was just one game, but this is a feeling I get quite often watching Iowa football.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Through the first 3 quarters, Iowa passed the ball 40% of the time on first down (i.e., 6 passes, 9 rushes on first down).

FIRE EVERYONE!!!

 

[iahawks10]

yeah, definitely weren't just running on first down. The problem in the first half was there were several drops and a few of them came on first down passes.

I remember two drops (both Vandeberg). A third drop (Fant?) was negated by a PSU penalty.

Am I remembering that correctly? I feel like I'm missing one and I haven't had the courage to go back and watch it again.

 

[HawkLogic]

I just checked the stats myself. We passed 5/15 times on 1st and 2nd down in the first half. We ran 10/15 times (67%). Each time we ran we got basically zero or negative yards, setting up a lot of 2nd/3rd and longs.

Also throughout the entire 1st half, we never had 2 passes in a row on 1st and 2nd down, which again I feel like is a pattern for Iowa football. When we do pass on 1st down and it's incomplete and we have been having no success running, I would like to see them pass again on 2nd down. Rather than running and virtually assuring a 3rd and long situation.

I think teams know this, so they sell out on the run when playing us. I know Penn St was just one game, but this is a feeling I get quite often watching Iowa football.

I recall reading Wadley had 35 yards on his 1st 18 carries. Basically wasted plays.

 

[iahawks10]

I recall reading Wadley had 35 yards on his 1st 18 carries. Basically wasted plays.

I don't recall a play action pass mixed in there either.

 

[TKingpin]

I remember two drops (both Vandeberg). A third drop (Fant?) was negated by a PSU penalty.

Am I remembering that correctly? I feel like I'm missing one and I haven't had the courage to go back and watch it again.

MVB dropped 2. The other drop was ISM, but would have been wiped out, anyway because Iowa was charged with a penalty.

Both of MVBs drops really hurt us. So uncharacteristic of him. If he catches those we would have gotten a little relief from our horrendous field position.

Another pass that was WIDE open was the very first pass. Stanley overthrew what would have been a big gain. ( Easley, maybe). If we connect on those 3 passes, all of which were great calls by BF, it changes the complexion of our field position, time of possession and probably opens up BFs play calling a little more.

No one is talking about the PSU punt that should have been Fair caught at the 10 yard line. It bounces down to the one and pins us so deep we get Akrum caught behind the goal line for a safety. (How many points did we lose by?). Jackson HAS to get to that punt and fair catch it. People on this board used to lament all the fair catch punts we didn't return. Sometimes that fair catch can save your ass. Huge mistake.

 

[RocknRollface]

I would also like to know how many teams run the ball on second down if they pass it on first down and it is incomplete. Honestly, I bet that 90% of the time when teams throw incomplete on first down, they run it on second down.

This is a bigger issue imo.

Iowa almost always runs on 2nd and 10 after an incompletion.

 

[RocknRollface]

Also, If I remember right the pass to run ration was pretty good through the first 3 games on first down. The OPs perception is pretty far off from reality.

Yeah seems like allot of people think this and think the run to pass ratio is allot further apart than in reality.

 

[RocknRollface]

I just checked the stats myself. We passed 5/15 times on 1st and 2nd down in the first half. We ran 10/15 times (67%). Each time we ran we got basically zero or negative yards, setting up a lot of 2nd/3rd and longs.

Also throughout the entire 1st half, we never had 2 passes in a row on 1st and 2nd down, which again I feel like is a pattern for Iowa football. When we do pass on 1st down and it's incomplete and we have been having no success running, I would like to see them pass again on 2nd down. Rather than running and virtually assuring a 3rd and long situation.

I think teams know this, so they sell out on the run when playing us. I know Penn St was just one game, but this is a feeling I get quite often watching Iowa football.

Agree on second down, Iowa becomes extreemly predictable on second downs.