The Tim Lester Effect. More Scoring (15.4 PPG in 2023; 29.4 PPG in 2024). 3rd Down Conversions: 29% in 2023 (129th); 45% in 2024 (37th)

[Old Uncle Teddy]

The offense is better but has a way to go.

The offense is very much better than the last 3 seasons. [Deleted error] What was Iowa's offensive yards and point standing last year, 134. Now, Iowa's scoring 29.2 ppg so Iowa has to have jumped around 60 teams, and we are going into the weaker part of the season. Plus 30 against Sparty and plus 40 against NW will push the team totals even further. Those are my expectations (Iowa 37-Sparty 14 & Iowa 47-Wiley 13). Putting up over 40 on the final Pac ? Champs is a great thing.

 

[Old Uncle Teddy]

Forgiven. Lester is who I hoped he would be. The offense is getting better each game, minus the OSU game.

The OSU game was a typical Iowa tOSU game. Going back to the 19th century I think, Iowa's record is 15-68-3. Really hard to blame the 1st year OC for such a result.

 

[KFsdisciple]

Agree. We will have zero top 25 wins even if we win out with the possible exception being Nebby if they keep winning.

I know they're ranked now in the coaches poll, but I'm not sold on Nebraska getting bowl eligible.

Their remaining schedule:

@ Indiana
@Ohio State
UCLA
@USC
Wisconsin
@Iowa

 

[ICWestfan]

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Could one say that 3rd down conversion rates can be tied to shorter down and distances on 2nd and 3rd down? Not having a 2nd and 10-11 or 3rd and 6-10 is huge.

 

[Franisdaman]

Genuinely impressive stat. Going from the bottom 5 teams to top 40 could be considered a miracle. And I think the offense will only continue to get better. More reps, more time practicing and learning Lester's scheme, etc. will only make the offense better. I still think Sully works way better with this scheme, but we can only hope Cade can become more accurate as time goes on. But being in top 50% of converting on third downs is huge for this offense.

Could one say that 3rd down conversion rates can be tied to shorter down and distances on 2nd and 3rd down? Not having a 2nd and 10-11 or 3rd and 6-10 is huge.

I wonder what our average yards to go on 3rd down was under Brian compared to Lester.

 

[Franisdaman]

3 years too late aargh but better late than never

Luckily Beth stepped in and fixed the mess

 

[Franisdaman]

Forgiven. Lester is who I hoped he would be. The offense is getting better each game, minus the OSU game.

7-0 at halftime. 3 turnovers in the 2nd half killed us. Well, Ohio State's overwhelming talent killed us, too

And when was the last time Iowa played 2 QBs consistently in EVERY GAME?

Again, the Tim Lester effect.

 

[Franisdaman]

The offense is very much better than the last 3 seasons. [Deleted error] What was Iowa's offensive yards and point standing last year, 134. Now, Iowa's scoring 29.2 ppg so Iowa has to have jumped around 60 teams, and we are going into the weaker part of the season. Plus 30 against Sparty and plus 40 against NW will push the team totals even further. Those are my expectations (Iowa 37-Sparty 14 & Iowa 47-Wiley 13). Putting up over 40 on the final Pac ? Champs is a great thing.

Before the season began, Lester said he wanted to cut all of those offensive rankings from last year that were in the 120's in half.

So far, so good?

 

[KFsdisciple]

Before the season began, Lester said he wanted to cut all of those offensive rankings from last year that were in the 120's in half.

So far, so good?

Reasonable goals. Perhaps even a stretch goal considering where they were and where they wanted to be.

 

[HawksRule73]

Reasonable goals. Perhaps even a stretch goal considering where they were and where they wanted to be.

I think Lester said his goal was to cut the rankings in half over the next few years. So going from 132 to 66 in Year 1 and then from 66 to 33 in Year 2.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Old Uncle Teddy]

I know they're ranked now in the coaches poll, but I'm not sold on Nebraska getting bowl eligible.

Their remaining schedule:

@ Indiana
@Ohio State
UCLA
@USC
Wisconsin
@Iowa

I agree. While we are entering the easy half of Iowa's schedule, Nebraska is entering the harder half of its schedule. They are dead at tOSU. If Indiana is for real, they are dead there as well. Dead at USC and dead at Iowa. Nebby is going 1-5 down the stretch, maybe 2-4.

 

[desihawk]

I agree. While we are entering the easy half of Iowa's schedule, Nebraska is entering the harder half of its schedule. They are dead at tOSU. If Indiana is for real, they are dead there as well. Dead at USC and dead at Iowa. Nebby is going 1-5 down the stretch, maybe 2-4.

i haven't watched nebraska so my take is based on their record and vibe from mostly threads here -- other than osu i have the impression they'll put up a fight against the rest and have a shot in those games...kind of like iowa. hope you are right of course.

 

[Old Uncle Teddy]

i haven't watched nebraska so my take is based on their record and vibe from mostly threads here -- other than osu i have the impression they'll put up a fight against the rest and have a shot in those games...kind of like iowa. hope you are right of course.

Nebs has a very hard schedule coming up. Played 1 good team to date.

 

[Franisdaman]

2 QBs playing in EVERY game.

At IOWA??? Under Kirk Ferentz???

The Tim Lester Effect.

 

[Franisdaman]

slightly different from the last couple years....

 

[HawkMachine]

That motion on the Moulton run was truly impressive. Split second timing on the fake end around and hand off. Truly a thing of beauty.

100% agree.

I actually think that is the play that Lester said Moulton was the best at.

He mentioned it before the season started.

Said there was an important play to the offense that took a lot of timing.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[BonzoFury]

I know they're ranked now in the coaches poll, but I'm not sold on Nebraska getting bowl eligible.

Their remaining schedule:

@ Indiana
@Ohio State
UCLA
@USC
Wisconsin
@Iowa

They played tOSU within a TD on their home field. They only have to win 1. They'll probably get it next week.

 

[TRHawkeye145]

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Who would have thought? Lol not kirk

 

[SA_Hawk]

Last year Iowa scored 0 points three times.

This year Iowa has scored 40 points three times.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[SI_NYC]

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And this is with a D that isn't getting the ball back to the offense as much as in the past few years. Lester has been fantastic.

 

[Franisdaman]

And this is with a D that isn't getting the ball back to the offense as much as in the past few years. Lester has been fantastic.

great point.

and how many ppg did the defense score last year? and if they didn't score, think about the good field position they always seemed to leave with the offense.

 

[SI_NYC]

great point.

and how many ppg did the defense score last year?

That's another point to add on. The offense under BF was atrocious.

 

[Franisdaman]

That's another point to add on. The offense under BF was atrocious.

I really hope that the next Iowa HC is a current (or recent), successful (not Brian!), OC.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[TRHawkeye145]

I really hope that the next Iowa HC is a current (or recent), successful (not Brian!), OC.

And with noodle arm Cade.... could be adding 3-7 more points a game to that average with Sullivan or once TL gets his own guys in his system

 

[Franisdaman]

And with noodle arm Cade.... could be adding 3-7 more points a game to that average with Sullivan or once TL gets his own guys in his system

I just hope the QB & WR rooms are on track; the schedule gets a lot more difficult next year

 

[Old Uncle Teddy]

And with noodle arm Cade.... could be adding 3-7 more points a game to that average with Sullivan or once TL gets his own guys in his system

I think we've seen the end of Cade McN.

 

[Grumpy Old Hawk]

The offense is very much better than the last 3 seasons. [Deleted error] What was Iowa's offensive yards and point standing last year, 134. Now, Iowa's scoring 29.2 ppg so Iowa has to have jumped around 60 teams, and we are going into the weaker part of the season. Plus 30 against Sparty and plus 40 against NW will push the team totals even further. Those are my expectations (Iowa 37-Sparty 14 & Iowa 47-Wiley 13). Putting up over 40 on the final Pac ? Champs is a great thing.

I think the offensive talent is virtually the same, so the coaching improvement deserves credit.

 

[Old Uncle Teddy]

I think the offensive talent is virtually the same, so the coaching improvement deserves credit.

The numbers are even better after last Saturday's baby seal clubbing win over the Mildcats. I saw we moved up to 56th so Iowa has jumped about 68 or so teams and averages 30 ppg a game rather than 13. I think we are about to see another little jump into the top 50.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Shafthawk]

The biggest difference is that everything on Offense doesn’t appear painfully difficult anymore.

The BF years, moving the football looked like a monumental task.

 

[Franisdaman]

The biggest difference is that everything on Offense doesn’t appear painfully difficult anymore.

The BF years, moving the football looked like a monumental task.

Under BF, the defense knew what was coming.

Under Lester, the defense has to play more honest; and now they have to account for a mobile QB and the RPO.

It's maddening that it took Beth to step in & force a chance at offensive coordinator.

 

[swihawk]

Looks like Kirk made a great hire in Lester. I guess Kirk knows football.