Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
I would say the run game or can AJ produce while being double teamed quite a bit
I would say the run game or can AJ produce while being double teamed quite a bit
I agree that I would like to see more big plays from the run game...
but what is interesting to me is...
in 2018 Iowa scored the most points of any team in the Big Ten West
Iowa 405 (31.2)
Purdue 397
Wisconsin 386
Minnesota 376
Nebraska 360
Northwestern 339 (24.2)
Illinois 312 (26.0)
and on Defense, in the Big Ten, only Michigan State gave up fewer points.
[Michigan State (17.2)]
Iowa 231 (17.8)
Wisconsin 294 (22.6)
Northwestern 325 (23.2)
Minnesota 345 (26.5)
Purdue 390 (30.0)
Nebraska 375 (31.3)
Illinois 473 (39.4)
Northwestern won the division despite scoring the fewest points per game among teams in the Big Ten West
so, its my opinion that Iowa has a good enough offense and certainly a good enough defense, to win the West.
2019 is gonna be about the desire to win football games...
especially the close ones.
gotta win the close ones
Yep.You point out some interesting things here. The 2018 Iowa team was quite good, finished 10th in the Sagarin ratings, which take into account margin of victory and strength of opponent. Don't need to go over each of the losses in detail, as everyone is tired of them. But 2018 will always be a mixed bag. 9 wins can never really be considered a "failure" at Iowa, but 2018 will always be a lost opportunity as well.
I don't agree that winning close games is just a matter of "wanting to" or more desire. I thought Iowa gave every last bit of effort against Wisconsin and Northwestern, and for that matter all of the losses. But Groenweg fumbles a punt and Beyer's foot hits a loose punt against Wisconsin, so Iowa turns it over twice and loses the game. That isn't desire, it's making mistakes and the other team making plays. Against Northwestern, IKM and Sargent fumble the last 2 times Iowa has the ball. Both guys were giving great effort. They fumbled. Iowa loses.
If Iowa can find the little margins in the close games this year, they have a great shot to win the division.
I would say the run game or can AJ produce while being double teamed quite a bit
You point out some interesting things here. The 2018 Iowa team was quite good, finished 10th in the Sagarin ratings, which take into account margin of victory and strength of opponent. Don't need to go over each of the losses in detail, as everyone is tired of them. But 2018 will always be a mixed bag. 9 wins can never really be considered a "failure" at Iowa, but 2018 will always be a lost opportunity as well.
I don't agree that winning close games is just a matter of "wanting to" or more desire. I thought Iowa gave every last bit of effort against Wisconsin and Northwestern, and for that matter all of the losses. But Groenweg fumbles a punt and Beyer's foot hits a loose punt against Wisconsin, so Iowa turns it over twice and loses the game. That isn't desire, it's making mistakes and the other team making plays. Against Northwestern, IKM and Sargent fumble the last 2 times Iowa has the ball. Both guys were giving great effort. They fumbled. Iowa loses.
If Iowa can find the little margins in the close games this year, they have a great shot to win the division.
Run game is #1 imo.
Yep.
It all always comes down to whether or not Iowa can get out of it's own f***ing way to win games.
You have a point. But if you look at it from the opponent's point of view it gets interesting. In 2015, Stave from Wisconsin was awful, fumbled on the Iowa goal line after tripping on the guard's foot. Iowa recovers and hold on 10-6. Wisconsin fans would say they gave away the game. Iowa fans say that team "had that little extra" to win. Maybe Iowa did, maybe they didn't. I don't know. But some years it just seems that breaks go your way, other years they don't.
Run game probably. Only 2 B1G schools had poorer YPG last year.
I'm going to walk out on the limb and say Nate puts it all together and has his best season. He will carry the team on his big shoulders. With a better running game we will make a run at the west division championship even with the tough road schedule.Other than the usual things everyone's been talking about--
Nathan Stanley: progress or regress?
Is he ready to carry the offense on his shoulders?
Nate Stanley accuracy AND how he performs on the road. Those two things will determine the success of our 2019 season.
Run game. Handcuffs Nate if run game is contained by opposing D.
Iowa vs. Mississippi State
Rush yards
Young 3 carries 7 yards
Kelly-Martin 5 carries 0 yards
Sargent 7 carries -3 yards
Stanley 21-31 for 214 yards 3 TD's 1 Int
Iowa wins 27-22
And the counter to that popular counter is that Iowa was already in the backfield and would've stuffed the run anyway.You have a point. But if you look at it from the opponent's point of view it gets interesting. In 2015, Stave from Wisconsin was awful, fumbled on the Iowa goal line after tripping on the guard's foot. Iowa recovers and hold on 10-6. Wisconsin fans would say they gave away the game. Iowa fans say that team "had that little extra" to win. Maybe Iowa did, maybe they didn't. I don't know. But some years it just seems that breaks go your way, other years they don't.
I agree that I would like to see more big plays from the run game...
but what is interesting to me is...
in 2018 Iowa scored the most points of any team in the Big Ten West
Iowa 405 (31.2)
Purdue 397
Wisconsin 386
Minnesota 376
Nebraska 360
Northwestern 339 (24.2)
Illinois 312 (26.0)
and on Defense, in the Big Ten, only Michigan State gave up fewer points.
[Michigan State (17.2)]
Iowa 231 (17.8)
Wisconsin 294 (22.6)
Northwestern 325 (23.2)
Minnesota 345 (26.5)
Purdue 390 (30.0)
Nebraska 375 (31.3)
Illinois 473 (39.4)
Northwestern won the division despite scoring the fewest points per game among teams in the Big Ten West
so, its my opinion that Iowa has a good enough offense and certainly a good enough defense, to win the West.
2019 is gonna be about the desire to win football games...
especially the close ones.
gotta win the close ones
Well maybe Wisconsin and Northwestern's defenses should've let us score more.........And scored 27 against Wisconsin and NW combined. Scoring 63 against Illinois and 48 on Minny and 42 on indiana inflated the season offense totals dramatically.
And scored 27 against Wisconsin and NW combined. Scoring 63 against Illinois and 48 on Minny and 42 on indiana inflated the season offense totals dramatically.
Iowa vs. Mississippi State
Rush yards
Young 3 carries 7 yards
Kelly-Martin 5 carries 0 yards
Sargent 7 carries -3 yards
Stanley 21-31 for 214 yards 3 TD's 1 Int
Iowa wins 27-22
4 games... looking forward to it... thanksFor every game you show like this I will show you 4 that didn't go that way. I guess I needed to state the obvious and say "in general". Kind of like turnovers.
Wisconsin fans absolutely feel like they gave that one away. I'm pretty sure Mississippi State fans are feeling the same way about our bowl game last year. It is frequent that fans of a team admit they "gave one away", but you rarely hear fans state their team stole one. I, for one, believe Iowa stole the Outback Bowl last year. It is not a popular opinion this board. At any rate, the above post is a good one.
For all the criticism that Brian Ferentz gets (much is rightly deserved), I don't think he's gotten enough credit for that game.
That was, far and away, the best defense we played all season long, particularly their d-line. Someone pointed out the ugliness of the stats for Iowa's offense in that game. That was reminiscent of 2004 to me. Brian and the offensive staff deserve a ton of credit for realizing the running game was going to be there, and shifting to a pass-centric gameplan with just enough run plays to keep MSU honest.
I disagree that we "stole" that game because I do think the defenses were both dominant and both teams had offenses that were...inconsistent might be the best word. Iowa won that game because the coaches made better in-game adjustments than did the MSU staff. It was a far cry from the Northwestern game, when Brian and co were thoroughly outcoached by Fitz and weren't able to take advantage of a secondary that was down 3 starters.
if you take away those 3 games you mentioned, Illinois Minnesota and Indiana... they account for 153 of the 405 points scored.
that's an average of 25.2 ppg
then take away the other 2 you mentioned, Wisconsin and Northwestern
(252-27=225)
that's an average of 28.1 ppg
in order to make this a valid point, you would then have to apply these same rules to others teams and make the comparison with Iowa.
do you agree?