Last nights game was a heart breaker and reading the posts after the game you can see many angry fans looking for answers or someone to blame. I don't think we should be angry...disappointed yes. Before the game I told my wife I hope Iowa doesn't get embarrassed on national TV. Though Penn State racked up 600 yards of offense and Barkley (should win Heisman) ran roughshod over the defense, I think the Hawkeyes earned a lot of respect last night. They showed heart and gave 100% on every play. The Hawkeyes can hang their heads high!
The Morning After
- Thread starter Razorhawk2
- Start date
It's always disappointing to lose a game like that, but what a game!! I have to rest that I can accept that I watched a fantastically exciting game with tremendous playmakers. Iowa took the lead in the final 2 minutes. WOW! It didn't finish how I wanted it to, but I can't let it make me bitter. Not that bitter, anyway.
I'll say this, I DO think that we're growing as a program (and last night was an inch away from being a program corner turning moment). Here's looking forward to the day when smug Herbie and Fowler won't be able to characterize Iowa as the little brother that uses tight sideline gimmick's to pull top 5 upsets out of their arse. Eff that. I want a Rose Bowl win or Natty someday to shut these eff'ers up. You get what you earn and here's to Iowa earning more respect.
I was in Times Squre this morning and now I'm here (isn't that incredible/aren't I amazing?!) to either watch Iowa get embarrassed or to see this little bro eek out another last second victory against a Top 5 opponent only because they're at home and they use cute gimmicks like pink locker rooms and tight sidelines = PUKE!
And Iowa has been on the other end of those types of games. It happens. The fact is Saquon Barkley is the Christian McCaffery of the B1G (and might even be a bigger impact player). I mean, it seemed Iowa did a fairly decent job of containing him the whole night and he still put up a bunch of yards.
If there's one criticism I would have, though, it's that Iowa stubbornly stuck to the game plan of trying to establish the run for almost 3 full quarters. Clearly, Iowa's offensive line was not going to wear them down. Plus, PSU's linebackers were flying to stop the run from the snap of the ball on every 1st down. Wasn't it Hayden Fry who said, "We'll scratch where it itches."? Gotta go play action on 1st down. Pass to establish the run.
Because Iowa chose to continue to try to pound the football they had too many 3 and outs. I get that Iowa had terrible field position a lot, but c'mon, at some point you have to play to win a bit. That doesn't mean do anything crazy, but at least break some tendencies to pick up some 1st downs to keep the defense reasonably fresh. To me, although the defense still played valiantly in the second half, they were gassed, especially on that final drive. I blame the stale, inept offensive game plan for that.
Oh, and the pitch out to Wadley on the goal line was incredibly stupid. Lol I can't believe they ran that play the way PSU was flying to Wadley the whole night. Hopefully they learn from this and move on. At least the team knows they can hang with anyone in the conference now.
If there's one criticism I would have, though, it's that Iowa stubbornly stuck to the game plan of trying to establish the run for almost 3 full quarters. Clearly, Iowa's offensive line was not going to wear them down. Plus, PSU's linebackers were flying to stop the run from the snap of the ball on every 1st down. Wasn't it Hayden Fry who said, "We'll scratch where it itches."? Gotta go play action on 1st down. Pass to establish the run.
Because Iowa chose to continue to try to pound the football they had too many 3 and outs. I get that Iowa had terrible field position a lot, but c'mon, at some point you have to play to win a bit. That doesn't mean do anything crazy, but at least break some tendencies to pick up some 1st downs to keep the defense reasonably fresh. To me, although the defense still played valiantly in the second half, they were gassed, especially on that final drive. I blame the stale, inept offensive game plan for that.
Oh, and the pitch out to Wadley on the goal line was incredibly stupid. Lol I can't believe they ran that play the way PSU was flying to Wadley the whole night. Hopefully they learn from this and move on. At least the team knows they can hang with anyone in the conference now.
Fwiw (while fully realizing this wasn't BF's thinking), I would argue though that the safety was a blessing. We would have ended up quick punting from the back of the end zone...leading at min to a PSU 3 points. I'd much rather take 2 and have Miguel's leg kicking to their end.
Yeah, I agree. But unfortunately those criticisms won't go away until Iowa stops the whole "3 yards and a cloud of dust" approach to these big games. I think you can be a pro-style offense predicated on chewing up clock without completely going into a shell.
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anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba
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When Hayden's offense was buried near its own goal line, rather than try a pitch to an RB for a safety, he would punt on second or third down. That way you don't get a rush on the punter because it could be a fake. It worked every time. I'll take that over giving up two points in a 21-19 loss any Saturday.
Yep, in hindsight you're right. But obviously not what you plan for when calling plays in the moment.
I have seen punters intentionally take safeties before, but usually at the end of a game
And of course Iowa would have kicked the PAT twice. So there's 4 points right there as a result of that safety when you think about it.
It still hurts. But what hurts even more is that no one outside the Hawkeye fan base will ever bring up our effort against Penn State. The only thing any news outlet will talk about is Barkley and the last play of the game.
Also knowing ESPN’s narrative about Penn State will continue also makes me ill. Nothing we can do but move on and focus on winning.
Also knowing ESPN’s narrative about Penn State will continue also makes me ill. Nothing we can do but move on and focus on winning.
Yes you could hear the media's huge collective sigh of relief when PSU won that game. Definitely some clenched bum holes before that final play though.
Although I understnd people's concerns about the play calling in the first half, I don't think it's the reason Iowa lost the game. When your offensive line struggles to establish the LOS, your offensive is going to struggle. The speed of Penn State's front 7 gave Iowa fits for the most of the game, until Iowa was finally able to get some clean blocks later in the contest. By then, it was too late to save our exhausted defense.
