That's the drawback to a season like this. After everything, if we lost a game,it would seem like a lost opportunity disguised as a disappointment.
Losing this game by 3 scores would've been disappointing. This is gut-wrenching, but Iowa certainly proved they belonged on the same field with the team everyone picked to win.
As far as that last drive though.......
- The fuq was Mabin playing press coverage on Burbridge for? I mean yeah, you can't win; we're always complaining about playing too soft and now it's that he was too close, but really that's kind of a misstep there by Mabin or the coaches or whoever it was that put him in that position. Mabin then lost the initial battle on the snap and allowed Burbridge to get behind him just long enough for the throw to drop in, before Mabin recovered. But if he was a yard further back, perhaps he has more time to react to Burbridge's route and not allow as much space on that pass..............but oh well.
- We didn't start stacking the line on the run until it was too late and even then we weren't getting much of a push. Way too much 'just barely meeting' them at the LOS Something to build on for next year I suppose.
- Josey played well, but he allowed himself to get lost in the shuffle and took a wide pursuit angle on the 4th and 2. If he drops down the line, he might've been able to submarine that play and possibly help stop Cook short.
- Then of course the last play....about 3 guys got embarrassed by Scott which is disheartening by itself. Jewell bumped him and fell down, and a couple other guys, including King hit him, but instead of trying to drive him straight back, they allowed Scott to spin around. On the goal line, never allow the ball carrier to get that angle to reach his body out. We flew a little too hard to the ball and never had one guy get a solid wrap on him, thus allowing him to spin enough to stick his arm out. Spears then of course dives low and misses him, instead of just running through him and knocking the ball out (even if Scott would've stuck it across the line beforehand.........f***ing run through and knock it out anyways).
But unfortunately, Iowa doesn't make those kind of plays....
