Some thoughts now that some dust has settled

[David1979]

Good insight here on how NDSU offense was beating Iowa defense in the second half.

Hawkeye Gamefilm ‏@hawkeyegamefilm 20h20 hours ago


Looked back a little NDSU's attack vs Iowa: same hallmarks Iowa has struggled with in past: back-field action & misdirection

Hawkeye Gamefilm ‏@hawkeyegamefilm 20h20 hours ago


Other thing that really makes it hard on Iowa LBs & S: QB run threat; jet motion + zone read action really fuzzest their keys out there

Gary Czerniakowski ‏@GCzerniakowski 20h20 hours ago


@hawkeyegamefilm and yet Iowa continues to not keep an LB in middle of defense versus empty backfield, giving up QB keeper up middle.


Hawkeye Gamefilm ‏@hawkeyegamefilm
@GCzerniakowski product of playing 2 high safeties; expecting those guys to step up vs draw is tough if they're back-pedaling at snap tho

 

[Nick Ma]

Basically, NDSU's offense does all of the things I wish Iowa's offense would do. Iowa should seriously take a hard look at what NDSU does. The type of personnel Iowa gets would do really well in NDSU's scheme. It's still power running, but not clumsy and predictable.

I kept wondering at what point Iowa would bring a safety up to cover the inside receiver and move the linebacker covering that guy back into the box. As good as NDSU's running game was, they were zero threat of throwing down field.

 

[David1979]

Basically, NDSU's offense does all of the things I wish Iowa's offense would do. Iowa should seriously take a hard look at what NDSU does. The type of personnel Iowa gets would do really well in NDSU's scheme. It's still power running, but not clumsy and predictable.

I kept wondering at what point Iowa would bring a safety up to cover the inside receiver and move the linebacker covering that guy back into the box. As good as NDSU's running game was, they were zero threat of throwing down field.

This. Could have solved a lot of the issues in the second half. Iowa was too scared of getting burned over the top on play action. I would trust my CBs and in that instance and commit to stopping the run because it was just demoralizing the defense.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

It looked to me like NDSU reverse engineered our keys on both sides of the ball. When they were on D, they knew how to give a look that would trigger a predictable change by CJ, then played to that call.

Similarly, when on offense, they knew how we'd react to given formations/motion and leveraged that against us.

In short, it seemed to me like they knew every play we'd run on both sides of the ball ahead of time.

I have to think that comes from an outrageous amount of prep/film study. Couple that with a team that's pretty damn solid and you get what you saw: impotence from Iowa on both sides of the ball.

 

[David1979]

Beathard said today they counted 17 mental errors in the NDSU game. 10 combined in the first two. So basically they played about as poor as they could and were missing a couple of important players. That is a recipe for a loss against a good team.

 

[latenighter84]

It looked to me like NDSU reverse engineered our keys on both sides of the ball. When they were on D, they knew how to give a look that would trigger a predictable change by CJ, then played to that call.

Similarly, when on offense, they knew how we'd react to given formations/motion and leveraged that against us.

In short, it seemed to me like they knew every play we'd run on both sides of the ball ahead of time.

I have to think that comes from an outrageous amount of prep/film study. Couple that with a team that's pretty damn solid and you get what you saw: impotence from Iowa on both sides of the ball.

I'd call it a.coach who is so consistent in what he does he handicaps his players.
The simple TE leaking out completely screwed NDSU both times. It really isn't brain surgery to mix things up and take the opponent out of their game plan but you can count on o e hand the times dur I ng the course of am Iowa game KF is going to deviate from the same things they have done for years. It's flat out dumb coaching.
CJ started tearing them up via the pass why not keep it up until they prove they can stop it. Our DL would not have been gassed near as much and a 21pt lead is hard to make up in 3 min of the 4th qtr.
Yes, I said 21pt lead. That's exactly what I felt Iowa could have done if they took was the D was giving.

 

[Eternal Return]

1. CJ misses wide open Kittle on the 1st play
2. Kittle gets a bad call on a hold on Daniels long run
3. CJ hit in the back and leads to a somewhat lucky pick 6
4. Crucial dropped passes
5. 40% of the OL out for this game

These are things that didn't happen in 2015 for the most part.

In the final analysis, NDSU was more physical than Iowa. Hard to believe, but true IMO. They lined up and ran the ball down our throats.

Agree, but you have to add the offensive play calling on the last series -- I don't recall KF and coaches trying to do something the team hadn't been able to do all game when the game was on the line in 2015. If they get credit for the play calling on Smith's drop (it was a great route, bad hands) and Wadley's drop (ditto) then they have to take the blame for running the ball into a line overmatched by 9 or 10 guys stacked in the box when up only 2 with 4 minutes to play. If Iowa had been up 4 or more, yes, but NDSU only needed a field goal. You HAVE to be more aggressive in that situation, not just hope to run out the clock--there was way too much clock being up only 2 points!!! It was stupid, a rookie coaching mistake, horrible end-of-game clock management. Clock management has never been a strength of KF (I'm being kind), but this was especially bad. Last year was one of the only years I can remember where I thought the clock management was good. But Saturday was a huge regression back to scared-to-lose stupidity.

 

[David1979]

Agree, but you have to add the offensive play calling on the last series -- I don't recall KF and coaches trying to do something the team hadn't been able to do all game when the game was on the line in 2015. If they get credit for the play calling on Smith's drop (it was a great route, bad hands) and Wadley's drop (ditto) then they have to take the blame for running the ball into a line overmatched by 9 or 10 guys stacked in the box when up only 2 with 4 minutes to play. If Iowa had been up 4 or more, yes, but NDSU only needed a field goal. You HAVE to be more aggressive in that situation, not just hope to run out the clock--there was way too much clock being up only 2 points!!! It was stupid, a rookie coaching mistake, horrible end-of-game clock management. Clock management has never been a strength of KF (I'm being kind), but this was especially bad. Last year was one of the only years I can remember where I thought the clock management was good. But Saturday was a huge regression back to scared-to-lose stupidity.

I think first down would have been a great time for play action on that last drive. They were expecting run it was clear.

 

[HoundedHawk]

I dont disagree, but still shouldnt have happened. Iowa underestimated NDSU

I don't know about that.

Perhaps the Ferentz Fear Factor spread to the players. Perhaps they played afraid. They sure didn't look loose with Beathard overthrowing, dropped balls, etc.

 

[HoundedHawk]

Why wouldn't you run play action pass on the first play of the last series. Get kittle in the open and go for the win. Dumb play calling in my opinion.

Exactly. There's ZERO reason to think a run will work at that point. Open it up. If we punted after three aggressive calls then reasonable fans would understand. You don't try twice what isn't working in that crucial of a moment.

 

[Dauminator]

My thoughts on your points, where I have them.

- Love Nathan Stanley even more now, and am excited to see him grow and mature! Yes! CJ's great; maybe Stanley can be, too. Lots of upside, and he'll have good competition coming behind him to keep him sharp (I hope).

- Mends back in??? Careful what you wish for. If Bower was able to overtake him, what does that say about Mends? Then again, could rotating him in for some plays hurt at this point?

- They exploited our beaten up and patched together O-line.... Iowa's second teamers should be able to handle a lower league opponent. And how about adjust your playcalling at least sometimes?

- Even though they emphasized it all week, the entire team overlooked NDSU... I don't know how that's possible but they did. Maybe that swagger the Hawks had this year was more cockiness than confidence? And from the looks of it, I now fully believe the Marty & Marty info that Beathard yelled at the team this week. Marty and Miller, I assume? Didn't hear that. I don't know how to take this. Coaches and players said all the right things going in. But saying and doing are different things. I can't believe anyone would be surprised with what NDSU did. And former football players always say that a player is ready to go every game. You get so few that being pumped up is rarely a problem.

Maybe it was just one of those days? It happens to anyone, we're human. What's most befuddling is the way it happened. They just lined up and owned us physically. The only thing I can think is that this is such a monumental game for them that they were gigged up for it. And they know exactly what strings to pull in this situation, having done it so many times. Meanwhile, if Iowa takes an everyday, professional approach, we're on the back foot. And the coach is too darned stubborn to make any adjustments.

And that's ultimately where I land. Coaching. It's happened too many times over too many years. There's only one common thread: coaching. We're afraid to lose, stuck in our habits, and overly careful. As a supposed Belicheck disciple, KF is not like him at all. Big Bill is a master of adapting to the opponent's strengths and weaknesses, and making adjustments. And while he knows the percentages (the real ones, not the traditional misconceived ones), he's also got the cajones to play aggressive. This is what frustrates me about Ferentz and why I'm done with him. It's too bad we just signed him to an extension (stupid, stupid, stupid). He does a lot of things well, and I recognize we could end up like basketball when we fired Tom Davis, but I would much rather have a coach that wants to try to win. Seems like everyone else does.

- We talk a lot about old vs. new KF.... I don't think theres an old vs. new, I think there is a KF fighting to keep his job vs. comfy Kirk...? One has to wonder. His seat was getting hot going into 2015. He "reinvents" himself, the breaks fall our way, and we get a decent run. We resign him, things are safe, fans are happy, and he clams up.

- After I thought about all of this and especially what the teams mentality now is, I think this will ultimately be a kick in the ass, I dont think they'll stay down on themselves. I think they now go into B1G play with a very fresh and new fire. I hope they play out of their minds for the rest of the year. And like I saw someone comment somewhere, this year still has potential to be an amazing year... We now officially have 4 ranked opponents on our schedule and are still B1G championship hopefuls This is possible, and is the response I hope we see. But we've seen Iowa teams get complacent after success. And with Comfy Kirk in charge, will we have the aggressive mentality to do that? Or do we shrug and continue plodding along as we were?

I liked the old "Break the Rock" motto. I never realized we were hitting the rock with our heads.

 

[Dauminator]

I don't know about that.

Perhaps the Ferentz Fear Factor spread to the players. Perhaps they played afraid. They sure didn't look loose with Beathard overthrowing, dropped balls, etc.

I think this is a critical point. We have some key leaders and great players (CJ, Des, Outlaw) and we're all excited about the Class of Eno coming in. But meanwhile, a lot of our roster is made from guys who were recruiting while we were in the doldrums. I'm not convinced our overall talent level is high.

CJ is a good college QB and appears to be a solid leader. When he's on point, he elevates the offense. His throwing and efficiency were almost perfect the first two games. He was off Saturday. Whether some mental issue, bad lasagna, or just having an off-day, when CJ is off, our talent deficiencies show. Add in an O-line that's definitely a work in progress and you've a recipe for a plodding offense.

As much as I went off on Ferentz in my last post, a lot of our ills Saturday may just come down to CJ being off.

 

[KujawaFan]

Christ ESPNU is now doing a frickin deal on FCS teams catching up with of course ND St and Iowa being front and center. For all the people that think this will just pass you are f'n nuts. It will not leave. No luck bounce or Hail Mary, domination. This is really going to be bad.

 

[DewHawk]

new kirk never actually happened, it was a dream

agreed

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Agree, but you have to add the offensive play calling on the last series -- I don't recall KF and coaches trying to do something the team hadn't been able to do all game when the game was on the line in 2015. If they get credit for the play calling on Smith's drop (it was a great route, bad hands) and Wadley's drop (ditto) then they have to take the blame for running the ball into a line overmatched by 9 or 10 guys stacked in the box when up only 2 with 4 minutes to play. If Iowa had been up 4 or more, yes, but NDSU only needed a field goal. You HAVE to be more aggressive in that situation, not just hope to run out the clock--there was way too much clock being up only 2 points!!! It was stupid, a rookie coaching mistake, horrible end-of-game clock management. Clock management has never been a strength of KF (I'm being kind), but this was especially bad. Last year was one of the only years I can remember where I thought the clock management was good. But Saturday was a huge regression back to scared-to-lose stupidity.

Yes, I agree with most of your point. I was, and still am, disappointed with the last series on offense. I thought they should have been much more aggressive in an effort to get a least one first down, especially when you consider we have a senior QB with excellent decision making ability. Add to that our defense was gassed and being pushed around - you can't give them the ball back without at least trying to get a first down.

But, I am not going to call it fear and stupidity. It was a judgment call that didn't work. It was a conservative play to run the clock and was unsuccessful. The sack on the last play made matters worse.

 

[Jonesingforhawkeyes]

As bad as the last series of the game was if you take the pick 6 out we win by 5. We would not be having this discussion.

 

[latenighter84]

As bad as the last series of the game was if you take the pick 6 out we win by 5. We would not be having this discussion.

Shows just how easily Iowa could have won even playing crappy most of the day.

 

[hawkster03]

The absolute worst thing was spanking ISU.

 

[Chewback]

4 carries for 20 yards is the hot hand.

Depends how you look at it. 1 of those 4 carries went for 18 yards. the other 3, not so much.

 

[SoDakHawk]

Oh look, SportsCenter doing a segment on NDSU beating Iowa now, on a freaking Tuesday night.

Anybody who thinks this stinker of a loss is going away is WRONG. This nightmare will be replayed over and over and over

 

[SoDakHawk]

Showed some film study with some NDSU players on that segment. They were breaking down where they scored their last TD. Those players were trying not to break out laughing at how easy it was to break down Iowa's defense.

Yep, one team was prepared last Saturday, it wasn't the Hawkeyes.

 

[HoundedHawk]

new kirk never actually happened, it was a dream

Oh, it happened, and was a dream come true.

The nightmare is that Old Kirk resurrected last game.

 

[David1979]

Rewatched the game.

First half D was good.

Offense was just meh the whole game with a ton of mistakes. Blocking was bad especially by the 2nd stringers. There were times when if one of those guys would have gotten their block it would created a huge hole and big gain for the RB.

Daniels looked like he had never learned blitz pickup.

Holding call on Kittle was borderline but he still didn't need to do that. If Kittle wouldn't have hooked his arm around he still would have affected him enough that Daniels would have been gone.

The botched snap when Iowa had it passed the 50 yard line in the second half was a killer.

On NDSU's second TD drive in the second half there was an obvious false start by NDSU that was missed. Announced correctly said there was movement before the snap. Really bad miss by the refs.

Again, as said previously, safeties were bad in both run support and in coverage. Snyder has allowed some big pass plays this season because of his lack of awareness. Their passing TD in the second half was on him. The 4th and 2 was on Taylor for missing the tackle.

Looking at the last plays again. The first run would have gotten a few yards if Daniels wouldn't have fallen down. The second run was really poorly blocked and the so was the 3rd down passing play obviously.

Their offensive lineman definitely tackled Jewell by the legs and then held onto Jewell's legs tripping him up on the QB draw. Ref in the middle of the field got turned around and wasn't even looking where the action was.