They Want Offense? Let's Give Them Offense!

[iowalaw]

Once the official rankings came out and the talking heads gave their two cents, it sounds like even the most objective media members felt that although we have some good wins, our offense doesn't stack up to pretty much anyone else in the top 20. And they're kind of right. We have been winning mostly close games and mostly with defense and running the ball up the middle.

Would it be such a bad thing to absolutely torch indiana through the air this year? They have the worst pass defense in the conference. Having CJ come out throwing and Tevan put up a 150 yard game with a few touchdowns would be a step in the right direction toward legitimizing our run toward the playoffs. Every team this season has put up big points against Indiana. Now is not the time for us to go conservative and win a 10-6 game. If we do that, we will begin a tailspin out of the top 10.

 

[83Hawk]

It would be "dismissed" because they will say Indiana's defense is bad.

 

[StormHawk42]

8-0. Don't change a thing. Win first.

 

[Recruiting Violation]

There's no way that we'll "tailspin" out of the top 10 with non-blowout wins. Teams will be losing around us, and as long as our loss total remains at zero, we'll be fine. Winning and the final rankings are what matters. In any case, a 12-1 Iowa will (most likely) not have to worry about the top 4 anyway. We'd just be waiting to see which of the CFP committee games we'd be assigned.

 

[Kurt Warner]

Plus, with cj like he is I don't think we really can torch Indiana through the air. We probably have a better chance of running all over them. Jmo

 

[thewop]

There's almost nothing we can do to turn the next 4 games into impressive victories, and beating an undefeated team in the CCG will be impressive in itself. The team has to win, and it's our job as fans to continue enjoying the ride. It's great to be mentioned, and to force the conversation nationally. Win this week, and each thereafter, and it'll gradually get more interesting.

 

[nu2u]

Don't be playing games to impress the talking heads.

Ferentz is too smart to fall into that trap.

 

[bagdropper]

I choose "lessen the chance of losing CJ for the rest of the year", Alex.

If Iowa can beat Indiana by running the ball every play, then do it.

 

[broth87]

I choose "lessen the chance of losing CJ for the rest of the year", Alex.

If Iowa can beat Indiana by running the ball every play, then do it.

Just win

 

[kyleparm]

We are not and never will be a high-flying, passing offense. We win games at the line of scrimmage by bullying the other team. Once they load the box then we take our shots. It is working thus far and I see no need to change it. I am very worried about the game this weekend but I see no reason we can't put up enough to win by sticking to what has been working. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 34-27 Hawks

 

[Hawk-A-Doodle-Doo]

Once the official rankings came out and the talking heads gave their two cents, it sounds like even the most objective media members felt that although we have some good wins, our offense doesn't stack up to pretty much anyone else in the top 20. And they're kind of right. We have been winning mostly close games and mostly with defense and running the ball up the middle.

Would it be such a bad thing to absolutely torch indiana through the air this year? They have the worst pass defense in the conference. Having CJ come out throwing and Tevan put up a 150 yard game with a few touchdowns would be a step in the right direction toward legitimizing our run toward the playoffs. Every team this season has put up big points against Indiana. Now is not the time for us to go conservative and win a 10-6 game. If we do that, we will begin a tailspin out of the top 10.

Ol' Doodle's not sure he agrees completely with your "Our offense doesn't match up" comment. Below is the Top 50 in points per game to date. The Top Ten in the CFP is highlighted in red/bold. Other than Baylor and TCU, whose numbers are artificially inflated due to the criminally bad defenses they've faced to date, the rest of the CFP Top 10 is pretty comparable offensively, sitting within about a touchdown, give-or-take, of each other in points per game.

Top 50 in points per game per NCAA.com
1 Baylor 61.1
2 TCU 48.9
3 Memphis 47.9
4 Texas Tech 47.3
5 Houston 45.9
6 Oklahoma 45.6
7 Oklahoma St. 44.0
8 Bowling Green 43.9
9 Western Ky. 42.6
10 Oregon 42.0
11 Clemson 40.6
12 Boise St. 39.9
13 Ole Miss 39.4
14 LSU 38.9
15 Appalachian St. 38.8
16 Cincinnati 38.5
- Ohio St. 38.5
18 Louisiana Tech 38.2
19 Arizona 37.4
20 Southern California 37.4
21 North Carolina 36.9
22 Ga. Southern 36.5
- Notre Dame 36.5
- Stanford 36.5
25 Northern Ill. 36.2
26 Tennessee 36.1
27 Western Mich. 36.0
28 North Carolina St. 35.9
29 California 35.8
- Air Force 35.8
- Toledo 35.8
- Arkansas St. 35.8
33 Southern Miss. 35.7
34 UCLA 35.5
35 Washington St. 35.4
36 Tulsa 35.3
37 Mississippi St. 35.1
38 Middle Tenn. 34.6
39 BYU 34.3
40 Navy 34.0
41 Utah 33.8
42 Georgia Tech 33.6
43 Alabama 33.5
44 Michigan St. 33.4
45 Nebraska 33.3
46 Indiana 33.1
47 Florida St. 32.8
48 Duke 32.6
- Iowa 32.6
50 West Virginia 32.6
.
.
.
57 Florida 31.0

 

[SotaHawk87]

Wait Alabama only averages one more point than Iowa, has a loss and they are worried about Iowa's offense? Gets funnier by the minute

 

[herecomethehawkeyes]

If Iowa did light up the scoreboard against Indiana, the talking heads would just spin their narrative in a way that would not give Iowa any credit to begin with.

 

[TheSasquatch]

We don't get in the position very often.
If they want sexy, lets see if we can give them sexy.
Try to hang a least 50 on everybody we got left.
If it costs us a game, big deal, we'd be going to that same kinda bowl anyway.

 

[IACub]

I choose "lessen the chance of losing CJ for the rest of the year", Alex.

If Iowa can beat Indiana by running the ball every play, then do it.

I think this is how we dominate this game anyway. Pound the ball and eat the clock.

 

[Pepperman]

We don't get in the position very often.
If they want sexy, lets see if we can give them sexy.
Try to hang a least 50 on everybody we got left.
If it costs us a game, big deal, we'd be going to that same kinda bowl anyway.

I am not following this logic. Are you saying we should do that instead of winning every game from here on out by a score of, say, 10-6?

 

[TheSasquatch]

I am not following this logic. Are you saying we should do that instead of winning every game from here on out by a score of, say, 10-6?

Absolutely.
Just winning out will not get us in the playoffs. We will just end up in a NYD bowl.
Winning out with blowouts and they have to pay attention to us like they were to Baylor. SEXY!!!!
If we slip and lose a game cause we were trying to blow someone out, at this point we still end up in a NYD bowl.
So let's try for the playoffs.

 

[timinatoria]

Once the official rankings came out and the talking heads gave their two cents, it sounds like even the most objective media members felt that although we have some good wins, our offense doesn't stack up to pretty much anyone else in the top 20. And they're kind of right. We have been winning mostly close games and mostly with defense and running the ball up the middle.

Would it be such a bad thing to absolutely torch indiana through the air this year? They have the worst pass defense in the conference. Having CJ come out throwing and Tevan put up a 150 yard game with a few touchdowns would be a step in the right direction toward legitimizing our run toward the playoffs. Every team this season has put up big points against Indiana. Now is not the time for us to go conservative and win a 10-6 game. If we do that, we will begin a tailspin out of the top 10.

So you're saying we should try to score as many points as possible.....damn....I think you're onto something!

Have you emailed Kirk with this idea? Why haven't we been doing that all season?!?!?

 

[whatsup13579er]

The offense will be very effective and nearly explosive if CJ can just connect on his longer throws that he has been missing that last few weeks.

 

[Biggus Blockus]

"Just win Baby!"

 

[cedarvalleykid14]

Of course, if CJ were healthy, he wouldn't be missing those throws. I would wager that there are few QBs in the country who would still be able to play at all if they were as banged up as CJ is.

When Beathard is healthy, I wouldn't trade him for ANY other QB in the country. And even with all his injuries, he's willing the Hawkeyes to wins with guts and leadership that may be unmatched on any other campus.

Beathard and his Hawkeyes don't know how to lose. Indiana will soon find out what that looks like.

 

[Hawk68]

Givens: 1. Indiana will load the box with 8 or 9 players. 2. CJ is not mobile and will have to stay mostly in the pocket.

This means Iowa will have a hard time running the ball and they are daring us to pass. With that many players in the box, Indiana will blitz most of the time causing more rushers than the line can block, which will cause CJ to take a pounding if he waits to throw long.

Iowa will try to defeat this by using draw plays, screen passes and short passes mostly aimed at their safeties. Now is the time for KF to come up with a little trickeration such as unbalanced lines, TB pass/run plays and maybe a little wild-cat. Hopefully, CJ is mobile enough to move the pocket in different directions giving him a little more time.

It would be nice to gain a 14 point lead and hope that Wiegers can become a star.

 

[millah_22]

Once the official rankings came out and the talking heads gave their two cents, it sounds like even the most objective media members felt that although we have some good wins, our offense doesn't stack up to pretty much anyone else in the top 20. And they're kind of right. We have been winning mostly close games and mostly with defense and running the ball up the middle.

Would it be such a bad thing to absolutely torch indiana through the air this year? They have the worst pass defense in the conference. Having CJ come out throwing and Tevan put up a 150 yard game with a few touchdowns would be a step in the right direction toward legitimizing our run toward the playoffs. Every team this season has put up big points against Indiana. Now is not the time for us to go conservative and win a 10-6 game. If we do that, we will begin a tailspin out of the top 10.

Iowa has been winning by an average of 16 points per game

 

[Quintana]

If we slip and lose a game cause we were trying to blow someone out...

is this even possible??

 

[icu81222]

Once the official rankings came out and the talking heads gave their two cents, it sounds like even the most objective media members felt that although we have some good wins, our offense doesn't stack up to pretty much anyone else in the top 20. And they're kind of right. We have been winning mostly close games and mostly with defense and running the ball up the middle.

Wisconsin LB Joe Schobert said this about Iowa"

“I put them on par with Alabama, maybe even a little more,” Schobert told the Dubuque Telegraph Herald. “They want to hit you more than Alabama wants to hit you. Alabama is a good, physical offensive line, but I think Iowa kind of takes it to that next step and wants to run at you and wants to physically punch you. We knew that coming in and they lived up to it today. It was just great competition between us and them.” - See more at: http://btn.com/2015/10/10/wisconsin...for-iowa-offensive-line/#sthash.T5eBBd8P.dpuf

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

Wait Alabama only averages one more point than Iowa, has a loss and they are worried about Iowa's offense? Gets funnier by the minute

Yeah, but they played a tough Wisconsin squad....

 

[MadDogC]

I choose "lessen the chance of losing CJ for the rest of the year", Alex.

If Iowa can beat Indiana by running the ball every play, then do it.

That wasn't in the form of question, Connery...

 

[Packer54]

Balance is our greatest weapon. Both rushing and passing we are over 1,600 yards. I think it is only 19 yards apart.

 

[iowalaw]

Indiana has the 117th ranked pass defense in the country out of 117 teams. They start two true freshmen in the secondary. Come on, if ever there was a time to put points on the bar and get the ball in the hands of our playmakers, its this week.

 

[sloehawk]

Indiana has the 117th ranked pass defense in the country out of 117 teams. They start two true freshmen in the secondary. Come on, if ever there was a time to put points on the bar and get the ball in the hands of our playmakers, its this week.

Tim Dwight graduated a long time ago.