Vanilla

[MidwestHawk]

Best describes Iowa Football last 27 years.
Some years we get to add a little sprinkles or chocolate syrup.
But the ice cream will always be vanilla.

I don't want coaching changes.
I don't want current assistant coaches fired.
We have a good crop of coaches on this team.

I would like to see a change to our offensive/defensive scheme.
It's the same every game and every year.
Playbook needs a couple additional pages.
Defense is a tough bunch, but they play soft coverage

 

[speed4power]

Offensive and defensive scheme will never change as long as this coaching staff is at Iowa.

 

[WhoaNellieCy]

ya, you are what you emphasize
- OL/DL line play
- bend but don't break defense
- conservative offense

 

[thewop]

I would say an outsider might go toward "respectable." Aside from an occasional game here and there, you can pretty much expect Iowa to be in any game with anyone. Teams generally know they're in for a fight when they play Iowa. Personally, it's a perception I've grown to appreciate.

I used to hate the bend/don't break defense, but even after the two losses, you can say in both cases that the defensive strategy worked. Expecting at least 21 points from the offense is NOT too much to ask.

I can appreciate the run first style of offense too, and understand why it makes sense for Iowa, and why it complements the defensive style too. But MAN it's been brutal to watch for much of this season so far. Even in winning efforts, the run game has produced very little per carry, relying on the home run here and there to make it look respectable. Generally, I'd much rather see the line moving the defense backwards off the ball and consistent gains of 3-7 yards than 1.5 yds/carry on 23 carries and 110 yards on the other 2. In the end, only points matter, but I hate that the defense is spending so much time on the field. That never seems to end well for us, particularly in November.

 

[RonnieHarmonshands]

Best describes Iowa Football last 27 years.
Some years we get to add a little sprinkles or chocolate syrup.
But the ice cream will always be vanilla.

I don't want coaching changes.
I don't want current assistant coaches fired.
We have a good crop of coaches on this team.

I would like to see a change to our offensive/defensive scheme.
It's the same every game and every year.
Playbook needs a couple additional pages.
Defense is a tough bunch, but they play soft coverage

 

[RonnieHarmonshands]

I like Vanilla...and a few sprinkles once in a while. this game could have used a little something..maybe five original plays to get MSU off guard? maybe this opens things up for Wadley...KF is having a hard time letting go..clearly some of those calls were his and I'm sure he overruled his son on numerous occasions. It's kind of like the old man and the successful family business. He has almost two decades of success to point to and I think it makes the old guy a little arrogant....all that said...I still like vanilla

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

I've been down the "vanilla" schemes complaint path. The "game has passed them by" complaint. I was hanging around reading posts here and buying into it completely back in '05-07. Then '08 and '09 happened. We weren't running a different scheme. We weren't playing a pansy ass schedule. We simply executed well.

So many of you hate this, but the scheme works. This offensive approach coupled with this defensive approach work quite well...especially given that we simply don't have the cream of the crop prospects busting down the door to get in here. Teams who do have the top tier recruits have done much worse than we have (look at Michigan, Texas, for example).

We have two losses. We don't control our destiny for winning the division. That's the way it is. No meltdown required. It happens....even to the best teams. Very few thought we were likely to get there anyway...especially given Wisconsin's incredibly easy schedule.

It's likely not our year. Deal with it. Meltdown not required. I'd say we have the most fickle fan base ever, but I suspect they all do this. We should rise above it.