Play Calling

[Eternal Return]

Offensive play calling in last night's game was as good as I've seen under Kirk Ferentz. Reminded me of the 2002 and 2009 teams. They mixed it up like crazy. That is what I was hoping to see this year and what I thought they would be capable of executing.

 

[SotaHawk87]

Just said the same thing to my buddy.. GD GD is rolling!

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

The play-calling has generally been quite good with Greg Davis at the helm ... it just helps even more when you have a QB at the helm like Beathard. If you make the right call ... but your QB doesn't make the throw or your QB doesn't trust the WRs ... then the finished product just won't look as good.

What we're observing is not only good play calling ... but excellent execution as well. Massive props are deserved all-around to the PLAYERS and the COACHES on this one. Beathard has been making terrific decisions with the ball ... he's been doing a great job of getting us into the right plays ... and the rest of the players on O have been doing a great job of buying completely into what Greg and CJ want to do ... and the end result is both a highly efficient AND explosive offense!

Attaboys all-around ... from props to Wadley for making moves that break defender's ankles ... to an OL that gets great push ... to WRs who both catch the ball AND block down-field. Keep up the good work ... but also push forward to refine your craft ... because it's not going to be nearly so easy moving the ball against Wisconsin's or Michigan's Ds!

 

[latenighter84]

I do not like when they put the reserves in and do the simple base plays that were hard for the 1st team to execute when ISU knew they were coming. It doesn't give them a good chance to show what they can do.
Otherwise it was good but I'm not sure CJ wasn't responsible for much of that.

 

[anon_01irjibf16qqj]

I feel like for once everyone is firing on all cylinders.

Maybe it's an over reaction...but I love what I am seeing.

 

[grosie#2]

CJ did a lot of check downs last night. I guess it just goes to show how good Iowa's offense can be with some quality players running it. Especially when Iowa has a QB with a high football IQ.

 

[Banks Fan]

Great execution makes an OC look pretty good. Does anyone understand the empty backfield series early in the second half? Maybe it was an opportunity to do a litthe experimentation? Coaches should have some film from this that they can use to do some teaching.

 

[td77]

CJ did a lot of check downs last night. I guess it just goes to show how good Iowa's offense can be with some quality players running it. Especially when Iowa has a QB with a high football IQ.

Exactly. If we're going to give Davis credit, it's for allowing and trusting CJ to make adjustments. Last night was all CJ getting us into good situations.

 

[MepoDawg#]

CJ had great audibles for the most part. And his passes make GD look good.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I do not like when they put the reserves in and do the simple base plays that were hard for the 1st team to execute when ISU knew they were coming. It doesn't give them a good chance to show what they can do.
Otherwise it was good but I'm not sure CJ wasn't responsible for much of that.

Iowa's first-teamers would get good positive yards on a lot of the same "simple base plays." You give the lower-teamers the plays that they've proven IN PRACTICE that they can execute. If the lower-teamers want a longer leash ... they need to get proficient with larger segments of the play-book. It's called teaching ... you let guys work at what they seem to be good at ... against opponents who are a little more unpredictable than the D they're used to facing ... and then you get quality tape to learn from. Next time ... they'll execute out of their base-sets better. That will lead to a stronger and better team down the road ... that will pay FAR MORE dividends in the longer run.

 

[latenighter84]

Iowa's first-teamers would get good positive yards on a lot of the same "simple base plays." You give the lower-teamers the plays that they've proven IN PRACTICE that they can execute. If the lower-teamers want a longer leash ... they need to get proficient with larger segments of the play-book. It's called teaching ... you let guys work at what they seem to be good at ... against opponents who are a little more unpredictable than the D they're used to facing ... and then you get quality tape to learn from. Next time ... they'll execute out of their base-sets better. That will lead to a stronger and better team down the road ... that will pay FAR MORE dividends in the longer run.

Yes, Kirk I know. Doesn't mean I like it.

 

[TKingpin]

Very much agree with a well-called offensive game. My only exception would be the first series of the 2nd half. All 3 downs were empty backfield plays, which were clearly going to be passes. Why not continue to POUND that running game at them and continue to wear them down.

nitpicky, I suppose. Just seemed curious at the time.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Yes, Kirk I know. Doesn't mean I like it.

Yes son ... but it also is responsible for getting guys prepped to be an effective "next man in." And that is critical for success as a team ... the more depth you have ... the better you can weather the body-blows. Because they are coming ....

 

[Slappy Pappy]

Very much agree with a well-called offensive game. My only exception would be the first series of the 2nd half. All 3 downs were empty backfield plays, which were clearly going to be passes. Why not continue to POUND that running game at them and continue to wear them down.

nitpicky, I suppose. Just seemed curious at the time.

I'm assuming they were going against tendencies as a strategy to keep both ISU and future opponents off balance. Defenders who can predict an offense can then successfully substitute personnel and schemes to take advantage of it. Iowa going against their own tendencies can exploit the D this way. It could also be good 'real time' practice for an aspect of the offense that needed work.

We were up 28-3, not a time to question their strategy.

 

[JBJRFL]

I'm assuming they were going against tendencies as a strategy to keep both ISU and future opponents off balance. Defenders who can predict an offense can then successfully substitute personnel and schemes to take advantage of it. Iowa going against their own tendencies can exploit the D this way. It could also be good 'real time' practice for an aspect of the offense that needed work.

We were up 28-3, not a time to question their strategy.

In the interview after the game with Beathard he said exactly that. That is why Wadley ran inside and Daniels outside. Also the empty backfield sets

 

[Herky T Hawk]

In reference to that 5 wide series, my guess is that the staff wanted to do some experimenting. ISU wasn't doing anything of importance against our defense, so why not get some time in with the first team offense testing new plays against an unfamiliar defense. I'm guessing that we wouldn't have done that in a real game.

 

[pharmdfd]

In reference to that 5 wide series, my guess is that the staff wanted to do some experimenting. ISU wasn't doing anything of importance against our defense, so why not get some time in with the first team offense testing new plays against an unfamiliar defense. I'm guessing that we wouldn't have done that in a real game.

Or because we had some WR's high on our list and wanted to show we throw the ball and look sexy to them. Nothing to lose at that point in the game as ISU had nothing for us.

 

[Roy-munson]

Or because we had some WR's high on our list and wanted to show we throw the ball and look sexy to them. Nothing to lose at that point in the game as ISU had nothing for us.

It was a no huddle so my guess is they wanted to practice the 2 minute game plan. And also get more time for scheel and smith.

 

[Eternal Return]

Great execution makes an OC look pretty good. Does anyone understand the empty backfield series early in the second half? Maybe it was an opportunity to do a litthe experimentation? Coaches should have some film from this that they can use to do some teaching.

It was great execution, definitely, but I was also faked out while watching plays develop quite a few times and I cannot remember the last time I experienced that watching Iowa--had to be back in the Hayden Fry days. Part of it was CJ's audibles, but some -- according to CJ himself -- was the play call by the OC (Wadley's wheel route TD, as an example). There were a few plays where I started thinking "No, don't run that, it's right into the teeth of the defense!" and then my jaw would drop because they ran a perfect fake toward the teeth of the defense and made a great play. Execution is one thing, but actually trying to out-coach and out-think the defense ... THAT made me very happy!

I think Iowa was just trying new wrinkles at the beginning of the second half, maybe trying to give CJ a chance to shine. I remember a quote from the week before when CJ said GD wanted 4 to 8 plays that CJ wanted to run for each week. Maybe CJ wanted a series of spread, no back formations. Don't know otherwise.