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Post by NOTTHOR on Sept 28, 2008 16:24:32 GMT -6
Let's look at the facts.
Fact: We've lost two in a row to Indiana (with a blowout in IC last year).
Fact: We've lost three out of four to Northwestern.
Fact: We got damn lucky against Illinois last year, but they have turned it around and gotten better.
Fact: We got absolutely shredded by Purdue (a spread team that will probably crush us again this year) and Penn State last year.
Fact: Although we missed them this year and last year, we haven't beaten Michigan since 2003 and OSU since 2004.
Fact: We've dropped a few straight to Wisconsin.
Fact: We got damn lucky last year against MSU, but they have deeper talent than we do at most positions.
Fact: We've split the last two years with Minnesota, but they're the only program who I think we might be better than, but even they are trending up with their new coach.
A good barometer for the status of a B10 program is how it fares over a course of years against Indiana and Northwestern. We have gotten dominated by those teams. We had one decent win last year against Illinois. I think we deserve a little better for the salary Ferentz is getting, but at this point, we just have to face facts, we have the weakest schedule we've had in years and we are 3-2 and are clearly one of the worst teams in the Big 10, our program is either 9th, 10th or 11th in the Big 10. Hayden Fry would have never started 3-2 with this cupcake schedule.
Barta better force some changes this year. Bend but don't break defense is no longer optimal with the prevalence of west coast/spread type dink and dunk offenses. Even though the offense sucked yesterday, the playcalling wasn't that bad, but we've seen enough Kweefe to know he has no upside potential.
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Post by Solar Stud on Sept 28, 2008 21:51:14 GMT -6
But you still want to go see them against Wisconsin....right?
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Post by Saggitariutt Jefferspin (ith) on Sept 28, 2008 22:02:41 GMT -6
You paint a pretty bleak picture, but arguing with facts is an exercise of futility.
You're right...I'm not ready to jump ship on this year quite yet, but as was repeated many of times at the post tailgate gathering:
YOU DON'T FUCKING LOSE TO NORTHWESTERN AT HOME!!!!!!!!!!!! Period.
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Post by NOTTHOR on Sept 28, 2008 22:24:56 GMT -6
But you still want to go see them against Wisconsin....right? As usual, subject to work, I'll be there. |
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Post by NOTTHOR on Sept 28, 2008 22:27:41 GMT -6
You paint a pretty bleak picture, but arguing with facts is an exercise of futility. You're right...I'm not ready to jump ship on this year quite yet, but as was repeated many of times at the post tailgate gathering: YOU DON'T FUCKING LOSE TO NORTHWESTERN AT HOME!!!!!!!!!!!! Period. Northwestern is a private school that charges $40k in tuition a year and they wear fucking purple. You schedule them or Indiana for homecoming. Well, we know how that's worked out for us. BTW, SpartacusMaximus told me today that we are MSU's homecoming game. When gutter programs like MSU schedule you for homecoming, you know you suck. |
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Post by detlef on Sept 29, 2008 9:01:58 GMT -6
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Post by twinegarden on Sept 29, 2008 9:39:42 GMT -6
Let's look at the facts. Fact: We've lost two in a row to Indiana (with a blowout in IC last year). Fact: We've lost three out of four to Northwestern. Fact: We got damn lucky against Illinois last year, but they have turned it around and gotten better. Fact: We got absolutely shredded by Purdue (a spread team that will probably crush us again this year) and Penn State last year. Fact: Although we missed them this year and last year, we haven't beaten Michigan bince 2003 and OSU bince 2004. Fact: We've dropped a few straight to Wisconsin. Fact: We got damn lucky last year against MSU, but they have deeper talent than we do at most positions. Fact: We've split the last two years with Minnesota, but they're the only program who I think we might be better than, but even they are trending up with their new coach. A good barometer for the status of a B10 program is how it fares over a course of years against Indiana and Northwestern. We have gotten dominated by those teams. We had one decent win last year against Illinois. I think we deserve a little better for the salary Ferentz is getting, but at this point, we just have to face facts, we have the weakest schedule we've had in years and we are 3-2 and are clearly one of the worst teams in the Big 10, our program is either 9th, 10th or 11th in the Big 10. Hayden Fry would have never started 3-2 with this cupcake schedule. Barta better force some changes this year. Bend but don't break defense is no longer optimal with the prevalence of west coast/spread type dink and dunk offenses. Even though the offense sucked yesterday, the playcalling wasn't that bad, but we've seen enough Kweefe to know he has no upside potential. That is a very humbling post, BTR. Definately putting the Kool Aid down after reading that one. |
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Post by NotMyKid on Sept 29, 2008 10:03:59 GMT -6
Dominated by Northwestern? I wouldn't go that far, I will give you that they kicked our ass in 06 but the other 2 games we should have won.
I don't think it's as bad as everyone thinks. We should have beat Pitt and NW plain and simple but didn't. Are we going to go 10-2 this year? Not a chance in hell but the O is a lot better at this point in the season then it was last year at the same time. Stanzi is only going to get better.
We turned the ball over 5 times. Not many teams can do that and be in the came or even still have a chance to win the game.
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Post by NOTTHOR on Sept 29, 2008 10:14:45 GMT -6
Sorry dude, but I consider losing 3 out of 4 to a team to be "getting dominated." So yeah, 2005 and 2008 came down to the final minutes, but Northwestern is a team that should never take even a decent Big 10 team down to the final minute. The fact of the matter is that quality Big Ten programs destroy Northwestern and Indiana, we've lost regularly to them the past few years.
We had some unforced errors, but Fitzgerald has instilled a hard hitting attitude in his defensive players that helped them get 5 turnovers.
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Post by cmonhox on Sept 29, 2008 10:15:48 GMT -6
Call me crazy, but I have a better, more positive feeling about this team after the NW loss than I did after the Pitt loss. At least with this loss, most of it boils down to mistakes that are correctable (sp?).
With Pitt, I felt the coaches really didn't put them in positions to win. Didn't see that as much in the NW game. Felt like the coaching was adequate but as Hoffa mentions, too many turnovers.
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Post by 101 on Sept 29, 2008 10:38:52 GMT -6
In the Pitt game, they were giving Jake is "last chance" to make an impact. I think you'll see from this point forward, Jake's shots are through, barring any catastrophe from Stanzi. Call me crazy, but I have a better, more positive feeling about this team after the NW loss than I did after the Pitt loss. At least with this loss, most of it boils down to mistakes that are correctable (sp?). With Pitt, I felt the coaches really didn't put them in positions to win. Didn't see that as much in the NW game. Felt like the coaching was adequate but as Hoffa mentions, too many turnovers. |
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Post by cmonhox on Sept 29, 2008 11:00:59 GMT -6
While that is true, I was thinking more along the lines of putting the team in positions to win by:
*going for it & converting on 4th and 4 or 5 around our own 35 on the first drive. BTW, while I love that call (same play as the Banks-Clark 2002 win over Purdue), we may want to use that in non 4th down situations going forward to eliminate a possible tendency.
*the ability of the offense to move into scoring position on the last drive. While we didn't pull it out, at least we're not completely one-faceted/inept on that side of the ball.
*along with that, the ability of our O to stretch teams now that the long ball is a possibility.
*the defense to hold a spread team to 22, especially given all of the short fields NW had to work with.
*finally, getting the best players in the right positions: Mossbrucker at placekicker, Stanzi at QB. Not sure why it took 4 games to get there, but that's another post.
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Post by isu is shit on Sept 29, 2008 11:30:08 GMT -6
Good teams win close games, especially at home. We lost a close game both on the road and at home. We are not a good football team. I'd say our defense is OK at best, but still we can't stop the short passes. We have a lot of work to do this year to be considered for a bowl, and I can all but assure we won't be in a January bowl game.
I agree that Iowa is one of the worst programs in the Big 10. Unfortunately.
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Post by cmonhox on Sept 29, 2008 11:43:22 GMT -6
Don't get me wrong or misconstrue my comments about the NW game as my overall view of the program.
I still see us in a downward decline and something needs to be done. We should NEVER lose to a Western Michigan especially with a bowl on the line. And losing to NW, Indiana or ISU IS unacceptable.
Guess I'm just saying, I saw more red flags, and was more frustrated after the Pitt loss than I was with the NW loss. Yes, it sucked to lose, but I can see some upside after Sat's loss. Didn't feel that way about the Pitt loss.
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Post by thunderhawk on Sept 29, 2008 13:08:30 GMT -6
Our head coordinators are still head coordinators for a reason, namely that nobody else wants them.
NO'Keefe has exactly as much imagination as that stupid slack-jawed look on his face suggests he does.
And Norm, well, Norm is good for a chuckle but not so good on getting his D off the field on third and long.
Ferentz better get his act together, and fast.
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Post by NotMyKid on Sept 29, 2008 13:29:18 GMT -6
We had some unforced errors, but Fitzgerald has instilled a hard hitting attitude in his defensive players that helped them get 5 turnovers. What game were you watching? Stanzi's fumble- unforced Stanzi's pick- right to the guy he obviously didn't see Brodell's fumble- trying to do to much (but I will give you that one) Spivey's fumble- unforced (don't even get me started) Greene's fumble- helmet to helmet hit (not many guys would have held onto the ball after that illegal hit, but I will give you that one as well) So 2 of the 5 TO's NW hard hitting D created, one should have never happened if Brodell would have just realized he wasn't going anywhere and the other was the result of an illegal hit (actually I wouldn't be saying this but since it happened right after we got called for a helmet to helmet hit that should have been called as well) We only turn the ball over twice and we win by 10-14 points. |
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Post by socal on Sept 29, 2008 13:33:29 GMT -6
Sorry dude, but I consider losing 3 out of 4 to a team to be "getting dominated." So yeah, 2005 and 2008 came down to the final minutes, but Northwestern is a team that should never take even a decent Big 10 team down to the final minute. The fact of the matter is that quality Big Ten programs destroy Northwestern and Indiana, we've lost regularly to them the past few years. We had some unforced errors, but Fitzgerald has instilled a hard hitting attitude in his defensive players that helped them get 5 turnovers. You're trippin again... While you appear to be adept at bandwagon jumping for other "leaders", I didn't think this would expand to Ferentz. The only things I saw were the total inability to stop an offense where a receiver is running sideline to sideline (unless it was a high/low throw). And the unbelievably terrible series of events after halftime. The only thing Ferentz needs to do - is be more public with his yelling. The nice guy/quiet coaching is nice when things are going good. But when things turn, chewing out something besides his gum may lead to more effective results. |
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Post by NotMyKid on Sept 29, 2008 13:36:57 GMT -6
The only thing Ferentz needs to do - is be more public with his yelling. The nice guy/quiet coaching is nice when things are going good. But when things turn, chewing out something besides his gum may lead to more effective results. I agree 100%. Not that I want him calling players out but to get pissed at a presser like Hayden did every now and then would be a welcomed change. |
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Post by idrinkthereforeiam on Sept 29, 2008 14:18:47 GMT -6
I would just like to see KF mad again, just once... it'd be nice to see.
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Post by socal on Sept 29, 2008 14:22:53 GMT -6
I would just like to see KF mad again, just once... it'd be nice to see. At least have one yelling session at a non-referee. Just to let us know he's into it too --- and not one of those "love everyone" hippies like BTR. |
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Post by NotMyKid on Sept 29, 2008 15:13:41 GMT -6
Good teams win close games, especially at home. I guess Florida didn't get that memo this weekend, they lost at home and only had 3 TO's. |
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Post by NOTTHOR on Sept 29, 2008 20:35:45 GMT -6
Sorry dude, but I consider losing 3 out of 4 to a team to be "getting dominated." So yeah, 2005 and 2008 came down to the final minutes, but Northwestern is a team that should never take even a decent Big 10 team down to the final minute. The fact of the matter is that quality Big Ten programs destroy Northwestern and Indiana, we've lost regularly to them the past few years. We had some unforced errors, but Fitzgerald has instilled a hard hitting attitude in his defensive players that helped them get 5 turnovers. You're trippin again... While you appear to be adept at bandwagon jumping for other "leaders", I didn't think this would expand to Ferentz. The only things I saw were the total inability to stop an offense where a receiver is running sideline to sideline (unless it was a high/low throw). And the unbelievably terrible series of events after halftime. The only thing Ferentz needs to do - is be more public with his yelling. The nice guy/quiet coaching is nice when things are going good. But when things turn, chewing out something besides his gum may lead to more effective results. I agree that Ferentz has no emotion. We lose games and it's like he has a fucking book of excuses, but no fucking action. He needs a little more Bobby Knight in him, he's got to get fired up. But the problem is that he's got so much cash now he doesn't have anything left to put on the line. He's just not hungry anymore. |
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Post by Norm "racerhawk" Parker on Sept 30, 2008 6:57:49 GMT -6
The only thing Ferentz needs to do - is be more public with his yelling. The nice guy/quiet coaching is nice when things are going good. But when things turn, chewing out something besides his gum may lead to more effective results. Good points. My concern is that under Ferentz, Iowa is basically a decent team at home (save a few examples), and a terrible road team. That was not true under Fry. We beat only NW last year on the road. My hope is that this trend reverses itself, but Iowa has been a really bad road team, and that matters when you're trying to crack the upper division in the b10. Because of Saturday's debacle, we'll have to do something special on the road to end up with a halfway decent season, and history has proven that Iowa has had monumental trouble winning on the road. I hope I'm wrong...starting Saturday.  I agree 100%. Not that I want him calling players out but to get pissed at a presser like Hayden did every now and then would be a welcomed change. |
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Post by isu is shit on Sept 30, 2008 7:50:49 GMT -6
Good teams win close games, especially at home. I guess Florida didn't get that memo this weekend, they lost at home and only had 3 TO's. Neither did Georgia, but they played a good team. It's true though, good teams win at home, bottom line. |
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