Post by NotMyKid on Dec 15, 2014 16:03:16 GMT -6
This might be the most spot on article written about KF. Both good and bad. I don't agree with 100% of everything in the article (and warning it is long) but overall it is very well done and makes all the points as to why the football program is where it is at currently.
www.blackheartgoldpants.com/2014/12/15/7364529/thats-football-kirk-ferentz-iowa-hawkeyes
Just a taste-
Iowa doesn't have better talent than many of the teams it faces, and so slow tempo is a survival mechanism, a chance to let variance work in its favor. When coupled with reduced negative variance due to execution, it's a recipe for staying in the fight against the Ohio States and (formerly) Michigans of the world, and Ferentz's record of wins and closer-than-expected losses against those programs speaks to its general success.
Of course, when you use it against lesser opponents, it lets those opponents stay in the game, as well. The dogmatic adherence to slow-down offense that keeps Iowa within a touchdown of Ohio State is the same dogma that has Iowa losing to 2-10 Iowa State or 4-8 Central Michigan or 2-10 Minnesota, et cetera. Over a long enough timeline, Iowa should have enough talent and experience to win those games. But when the timeline is compressed and variance like Steele Jantz happens, those games can be (and too often are) lost.
www.blackheartgoldpants.com/2014/12/15/7364529/thats-football-kirk-ferentz-iowa-hawkeyes
Just a taste-
Iowa doesn't have better talent than many of the teams it faces, and so slow tempo is a survival mechanism, a chance to let variance work in its favor. When coupled with reduced negative variance due to execution, it's a recipe for staying in the fight against the Ohio States and (formerly) Michigans of the world, and Ferentz's record of wins and closer-than-expected losses against those programs speaks to its general success.
Of course, when you use it against lesser opponents, it lets those opponents stay in the game, as well. The dogmatic adherence to slow-down offense that keeps Iowa within a touchdown of Ohio State is the same dogma that has Iowa losing to 2-10 Iowa State or 4-8 Central Michigan or 2-10 Minnesota, et cetera. Over a long enough timeline, Iowa should have enough talent and experience to win those games. But when the timeline is compressed and variance like Steele Jantz happens, those games can be (and too often are) lost.
