Did the Magic Run Out?

by grillinhawk on Nov 15, 2009 11:08 AM CST Comment 41 comments

So what about this season so far told KF that Iowa doesn't win things in the 4th quarter? Why is it that with :59 on the clock, one timeout in his pocket, and decent field position he decided to just sit on the ball? My understanding of "old school" football philosophy is that on the road you go for the win and at home you go for the tie. Maybe it was just a "who can be more ridiculously conservative" mexican stand off? IMHO Iowa had nothing but a game to win in regulation and nothing but a game to lose going into OT.

Okay, so nothing about the way OSU's defense had played prepared the Iowa staff for the clinic they put on in the 4 downs in OT. They hadn't gotten a lot of pressure on the passer the entire game, sure the running game was stymied but that had been going on all game. With the game on the line KOK pulled out the most anemic plays he could and said to his guys "we're going to 3OT with this offensive scheme because 3rd time is a charm and I want to win!"

Of course Iowa's D did really well in OT doing everything they could to keep OSU as far back as possible. Nobody thought we could block field goals with the game on the line in two different games. As we all know Iowa didn't. I guess I'm just upset that with everything that has happened this year the Iowa coaching staff refused to recognize that the last minute of regulation had a game on the tree ripe for picking. Yes we left points out on the field with dropped passes and a missed FG but it was still and TIE GAME with plenty of time to win. Conservatism be damned! I just wanted to watch Ol' Sweatervest cry! Great game, GO HAWKS!

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How was the OT playcalling conservative?

Because KOK called ONE running play?

My fellow Hawkeye fans, STOP ACTING LIKE OHIO STATE FANS!

by fugeeu on Nov 15, 2009 12:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I didn't say conserative

I SAID ANEMIC! Vocabulary please!

by grillinhawk on Nov 15, 2009 8:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, misread it I guess.

I had something typed out defending the choice to run out the clock but StoopsMyAss said it better than I could so I’ll just leave it at this.

by fugeeu on Nov 17, 2009 2:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't post this to complain

I only posted this because I felt so confident about Iowa having the ball for the last possession and then we just didn’t do anything with it. That’s why I ask “did the magic run out?” Because I don’t think it has! And don’t compare good Iowa fans to OSU fans, that’s just dumb infighting.

by grillinhawk on Nov 15, 2009 8:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Your confidence was misplaced

Iowa had 52 seconds, not 59. Also, Ohio State had three time outs (that is important). Now, on the prvious drive that gave you all your confidence, Ohio State dropped an EASY interception after getting pressure on Vandenberg—who made his worst throws and decisions all night under pressure. Also, KOK and KF had given up on the middle of field as Vandenberg just cannot see that part of the field clearly a this stage. He throws with little touch and does not seem to understand the play of the LBs. That is WITH a base defense. Ohio State had shifted into a dime defense…making it even quicker to the ball.

Also, Murray has been hitting line drive kicks and had missed 3 of his last 5 kicks. So KF has lost confidence in him to hit a pressure packed kick from outside of 40 yards. That means Iowa would have needed to get the ball to the 20-23 yard line for KF (and for me) to be comfortable. That is a 45 yard drive using only the outside of the field, in a two minute drill that the kid failed in miserably the week before and in a situation where if Vanderberg is pressured and makes a bad interception—Ohio State has three time outs.

As for the overtime, they went with the agressive first down call, again, because they did not trust Murray. His technique has hit rock bottom and he was haning his head in the game. He’s yipping his kicks. A for the Adam Robinson run, that was a mistake by our fullback who COMPLETLY WHIFFED for the second week in a row on his blocking assignment. He did not chip on the ankle injury play last week and he missed his block completely and his guy tackled Robinson for a loss. IF he makes that block, Iowa gets 10 yards minimum. I have it on TIVO we all watched it with sadness at my house about 10 times. The FB whiffed.

Finally, you saw the Vandenberg blind spot, when they put pressure on his on the third down play he panicked. He did this three other times in the game. On the almost INT on the final scoring drive, the Moeaki tipped pass interception and on another play where he just threw it away.

Ferentz’s call was a NO BRAINER once you factor in all the serious football decision making stuff. This isn’t EA SPORTS. It was for the Rose Bowl…NOT just another game. We have not been in a Rose Bowl for 18 years.

This game was the biggest Iowa game in Ferentz’s tenure. Bigger than the Orange Bowl…if we win that we just get ranked higher. The Rose Bowl has the biggest BCS payoff by far. Basketball is no longer a revenue producing sport at Iowa. This football team carries the entire athletic department. The Rose Bowl is the biggest game other than the BCS championship game.

This game was massive. To say otherwise is crazy.,

"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz

by StoopsMyAss on Nov 16, 2009 8:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

SMA,

Your analysis is amazing. Initially, I didn’t agree with your opinion regarding the last Iowa possession in regulation time, but after a one day self-imposed prohibition on being critical of KoK/KF, I realize that you are right and think that you should definitely repost your above comment as a front page diary. Also address the Trey Stross issue (I’ve done a 180 on him since my Saturday evening rants), and perhaps what ailed the young man from Dakota Dunes, South Dakota on Saturday afternoon.

KOK, you might be a genius...

by hawkeye_heartattack on Nov 16, 2009 9:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

with several points you make. Just today I was at work thinking about he Murray factor. Obviously that’s why they wouldn’t try to get in FG range…because there’s no point. The confidence I felt was more of a “momentum” thing. I know its easy to criticize when they lose and say nothing when they don’t, but dammit we all wanted this one so bad!

And I do agree with your post below that its really an execution thing, especially at the end. With better run OR pass blocking in OT we could have had a shot. Instead A-Rob is hit for the loss and another then JVB is running for his life next. Oh well. Shoulda, woulda, coulda…

by grillinhawk on Nov 16, 2009 12:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Meh.

With an unpredictable QB, 4th string RS freshman RB backed up by a true Frosh, musical chairs in the OL, injury-plagued WR corps, and that same kicker, we went 9-0, coming from behind in other teams’ stadiums, driving 70 yards in 1:32 in East Lansing, scoring 28 points in the fourth quarter against Indiana, etc. etc. etc.

Everything you say makes sense, SMA, but I guess it just feels like we forgot about the inspiring, magical ability this team has had to just find ways to win, and played the odds, forgetting that those odds were stacked against us. It felt like we had OSU reeling when we got the ball back… every scarlet and gray-clad fan in the stadium (including that glorious douchebag with the rose bowl hat) was in their seats, nibbling at their fingernails, and you know that at least a few of the Buckeye players had that thought in the back of their head: “oh crap, it’s happening to us, just like PSU, MSU, Indiana, UNI, Michigan, Wisconsin…” And every Iowa fan was on the edge of their seat, and I have to think that the Iowa players wanted a chance to make it happen.

It’s a subjective thing, and of course those of us watching from our couches don’t get a paycheck from making those big decisions. But from my couch, and from kinnick stadium, I’ve seen this team do Great Things. Things Ferentz & co. taught them to do. And they won by them.

We didn’t do those things. Instead, we played it straight, gave OSU a chance to catch its breath, and ended up losing. Maybe all this narrative stuff is a creation of the mind, maybe there’s no such thing as magical seasons or charmed lives… but god damn, this season has felt like it. Maybe, sometimes, magic isn’t enough for a football coach to make a living on. But it’s enough to keep me dreaming about Big 10 titles, Rose Bowls and MNCs, and losing to OSU meant those dreams will have to wait another year.

Brunettes not fighter jets

by rockyh on Nov 16, 2009 3:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Also, grillinhawk is my cousin.

Sup, cuz.

Brunettes not fighter jets

by rockyh on Nov 16, 2009 3:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sup Rock

Jermelle Lewis is workin' the Minnesota D like a part time job.

by grillinhawk on Nov 16, 2009 3:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"Great Things", yes, but with Stanzi at the helm.

by Zulu on Nov 17, 2009 2:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

thanks, I needed to read this

Perfect analysis – I am so SICK of hearing all this other negative crap about KFz “giving up on his team” blah, blah, blah! Can you send this to Doxie and Keeler?

by GMcNhawkeye on Nov 16, 2009 6:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Stoops My Ass,

I am in awe of your ability to convey football knowledge, especially specific situational football knowledge. Frankly, I thought Ferentz was nutting up and “playing not to lose” (and having a hard time wondering why) but after reading your breakdown I’m all about “Why didn’t I think of that?”

We run into each other in Tempe, I’ll buy you a drink. Several in fact. KUTGW.

by Zulu on Nov 17, 2009 2:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The wifey green lighted Tempe this morning

Go Oklahoma! In Tempe I would do Margies and whatever is the special at the misc. Mexican restaurant we happened to get shit faced at.

"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz

by StoopsMyAss on Nov 17, 2009 7:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I was surprised by KF's throttling down.

My take was he thought the following:

a) Murray’s gotten twisted in the head.
b) JV had thrown two picks, one of which was an ugly-ball.
c) Our defense is very, very tough on the compressed short field of OT.
d) Tressel had clearly decided not to throw the ball — at all — so our red zone advantages go up further.
e) Their kicker is a 26 year-old walk-on of unknown ability.

As it turned out, KF’s decision probably looks a lot worse in hindsight (just as Belichick’s looks crazy in hindsight today), given the generalized fire-drill that was our OT series. And their kicker did the job and that’s why they play the games. OSU deserved that win.

Mr. Boh Knows ...

by Bellanca on Nov 16, 2009 10:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I've looked all over on the internet

but can’t find a clip of Iowa’s overtime series. But, our FB missed a block, that he was in position to make, horribly. It cost Adam Robinson a big gain. In a nutshell, that is the difference in this game. We had a shot and our execution fell a bit short.

The notion that schemes are always the answer is a flawed one. Sometimes you just need to make a play. I know you were at the game but they showed Murray after his miss and I thought, crap, that kid may miss the football entirely next time. He looks utterly despondent. And Ferentz I am sure saw that. It was…sad.

I just wish Kirk had ripped Mossbrucker’s redshirt off at Indiana. You just don’t get a season like this very often. I knew Murray was going to brick a FG against Northwestern…and coming to Columbus? Please. Did anyone not see this coming. It’s not his fault, we still had a chance. We just didn’t make the plays in OT.

"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz

by StoopsMyAss on Nov 16, 2009 10:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Bellanca’s point (d) cannot be overstated. Tressel was not going to allow Pryor to throw. KF had to know this, and was happy to take his chances on holding osu and their 26 yo nonscholarship kicker who had missed badly on his most recent try, to 3, while relying on his 19 year old rs freshman who had shown him a little something something in the previous 60 minutes of game time. Tough to take with the way it turned out, but I’m not complaining about the strategy.

by txhawkeye on Nov 16, 2009 3:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Since you mentioned their kicker

Will someone explain to me why he could play professional soccer and then be eligibile to play football, when Jeremy Bloom at Colorado a few years back lost his eligibility because he was skiing professionally? I feel like I must be missing something here.

It's not that I'm lazy, Bob, it's that I just don't care

by Colteyes on Nov 16, 2009 7:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Because soccer's not a sport

//America, fuck yeah!

by YouCanPutYourEddsInIt on Nov 16, 2009 9:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Valid Point

It's not that I'm lazy, Bob, it's that I just don't care

by Colteyes on Nov 17, 2009 7:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing

Hopefully they’ll rule him ineligible this week, take away all of his points, recalculate all of the OSU scores and decide new winners accordingly.

No self-respecting man from Iowa goes anywhere without beer

by Hayden Fry's Moustache Ride on Nov 18, 2009 10:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds plausible.

by icculus on Nov 19, 2009 12:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's all I ask

It's not that I'm lazy, Bob, it's that I just don't care

by Colteyes on Nov 19, 2009 6:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The EA Sports thing

People keep saying “this isn’t madden/ea sports” all over these blogs! I know it’s not, everybody here knows its not. I haven’t even played one of those games since NCAA 02. But just maybe being aggressive would have ENDED that 18 year Rose Bowl drought. I’m done with the “what ifs” and I know it was the smart thing to do at the end. It just FELT right, easy to say from the couch at home…

by grillinhawk on Nov 16, 2009 12:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Of course...we are all playing the what if game

there is all kinds of literature on the notion of “action” versus “no action” as strategy when confronting crisis. It is all there in philosophy, etc. In western world there is an underlying assumption that taking action is always justifiable. That is what is at work here I believe. Because this was a failure in the face of crisis (as the language of this goes) the reaction is “action” was needed. When something doesn’t work out in western culture but action was taken it is always seen more positively than when no action was taken. “Do something, do anything!” so to speak. BUt, when no action is taken and it works out it is often kind of skimmed over. Westerner and Americans in particular are people of action.

Ferentz is too sophisticated for that notion and his very success is a product of the many, many things he chose not to react to. The coaching world is filled with action packed guys who are one trick poneys. I look at people like Mike Martz…as one example. Sure, with tons of talent and all his action taking, it all worked out. But, he also lost a Super Bowl that in my mind is one of the biggest talent disparity losses in history.

"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz

by StoopsMyAss on Nov 16, 2009 1:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thumbs up

sir!

Jermelle Lewis is workin' the Minnesota D like a part time job.

by grillinhawk on Nov 16, 2009 1:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with everything you said, but

please explain to me why this sequence was not worth a try after the 1st down run.

1) Try to run Adam one more time.
2) Call time out with 8 seconds left or less.
3) Go DJK, McNutt and Davis in trips wide side and have Vanderberg throw the ball as far humanly possible.

Of course it probably not going to work, but it might.

Ankles! We don't need no stinking ankles!

by three and out the kok story on Nov 16, 2009 3:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think #1 was my biggest question.

I understand the concern about moving the ball through the air with a RS Frosh QB, yadda, yadda. I think it made sense to run the ball on first down to see what happens and minimize mistakes. What was curious to me is why we didn’t at least run the ball on second down for the same reason.

by Abbas_Cincinnatus on Nov 16, 2009 4:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Kirk doesn't do half assed

remember, he got burned on the attempted punt return against indiana trying to “test” the final seconds of the first half…bottom line, I’m sure he felt his conservative would be better than Tressels in the OT, but we got punked on the ARob run and then Vandy (who many thought was going to play mistake free in the two minute drill to win the game magically) made a hugely boneheaded move and got sacked. It happens…it happened.

"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz

by StoopsMyAss on Nov 16, 2009 6:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I am convinced SMA that you are on the Hawks pay roll. I am not saying that you do not have some legit points but it seems you are ALWAYS defending the shitty coaching decisions of Ferentz and KOK.

I remember Ferentz punted at home against Wisconsin a few years ago on 4th and short around the 50. Wisky took the ball on the ensuing for a GW TD drive.

The conservative decision can always be defended but does not make it the correct one.

"You taught me a lesson, I was going to give someone the benefit of doubt, and I almost did, then something said, no don't, don't, its not for you, its not my thing" Larry David,

by Mac G on Nov 17, 2009 3:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait...I have been all over Ferentz for

not pulling the red shirt off of Mossbrucker after the Mich St. game. I was also all over the coaching staff from the start of the season (particularly after UNI) to open up the offense and going deep…and to their credit, they have. And are among the best in the country in that dept. in fact.

But they went 9-0 to start and suffered a devastating injury to their QB in mid-game…so what do you want? To act like Charlie Weis is coaching us? They are running two victories ahead of my expectations and right on track for my dream season prediction. I’m just not a guy to jump on the blame game bandwagon because isolating something out of context and holding it up to the light will always show flaws. We have to look at these things in context.

I have been in shoes of enormous responsibility…human error occurs and you could argue that our FB has cost us two losses (missed block at OSU and missed chip block vs. jNU). I prefer to critique mistakes that show lack of thought, lack of preparation, or fundamental flaws in assumptions.

Ferentz is not a a trick it up guy, nor does he run on emotional reactions. So I would be killing him if he suddenly did that. He is playing true to form. But, give him credit for a few changes he made this year (albeit he didn’t have a ton of choices, but I think he is changed forever here): he is playing freshmen at a higher rate than ever; he is willing to throw in the red zone and go deep between the 20s; he has let the players play (no more handcuffs).

"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz

by StoopsMyAss on Nov 17, 2009 7:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And there are also people who think Fox News is too liberal.

Considering your history of unrestrained invective against everything the coaches do on offense, I’m going to go ahead and side with Stoopsy here.

I got more rhymes than Wade Lookingbill's got dunks

by Oops Pow Surprise on Nov 17, 2009 11:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

There is a very smart anthropoligist out there named Victor Turner

who wrote about this notion of structure and anti-structure. In a nutshell, all this criticism of Ferentz not going for it at the end of regulation can be explained by Turner’s notion of structure and anti-structure. In other words, becasue Ferentz is seemingly predictable and routine oriented we want him to be chaotic and unpredictable somewhere to balance this all out.

Then you look at someone like Mark Dantonio who is very emotional and always changing his mind and team routines and QBs and runs trick plays…well, look at his team’s record this year. One game they are in a defensive dogfight and the next they are winning a shootout. Some would argue he needs to be more structured.

I think Ferentz has been type-cast a bit though. I think he by and large is rightly the natural counterbalance to a college football season and team. At the end of the day, the season itself creates enough anti-strcuture when so many injuries occure forcing all kinds of its own chaos. And that, at the end of the day, is Ferentz’s strategy. He knows that shit happens, so why manufacture it. He knows young people are impulsive and undisciplined generally, so why add to that with all kinds of unpredictablity.

And I believe him when he says that if Stanzi is QB he is thinking a whole different way.

"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz

by StoopsMyAss on Nov 18, 2009 12:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Dude

You continue to step it up this season. I was a little skeptical in September when you waded a little too deeply into our living room with your poking stick, but my feathers were admittedly a little sensitive to ruffling that week.

But your thinking and writing level is skyrocketing these past few months and I sincerely hope you continue to bring these fresh angles to our favorite sport. Believe me when I tell you there are college football fans out there who are craving—Starving—for more than the standard tripe. Feed me more east/west philosophy with sides of anthropology and I will clean my freakin plate.

Please, please, please keep bringin this great work.

"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69

by jtothep on Nov 19, 2009 11:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you're very kind...

I have a whole thing on Turner I could write…in the off-season I think I will or between the end of season and bowl game.

It has to do with ritual and culture and how societies organize themselves around group behaviors and how all that plays into coaching and campus life. In contemporary society they’re hard to see. Rituals from 1000s of years ago were so obvious and simplistic (vision quests and sacrifices, etc.) but they have become very difficult to identify. But the’re there if you know what to look for.

Ferentz is terrifically smart about it all too, as many coaches and leaders are, from what I can see. And young people, particularly at the age of transition (which is what most rituals are centered on—from life to death in the form of a funeral, from single to married in a wedding, etc.) which the age of 16-24 is all about. Transitioning from a child to an adult. This age is very open to if not hungry for ritualistic stuff.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback and I will take you up on this!

"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz

by StoopsMyAss on Nov 19, 2009 12:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Write it sooner rather than later…sounds interesting!

by cutlassbob on Nov 20, 2009 12:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The original attitude

of this post was not to imply that the coaches decisions were “shitty.” It was just to imply that I felt like we had them beat in regulation since we decidedly outplayed them. I mean we did leave 10 points on the field and were still tied at the end. I just felt that the inspirational victories we achieved earlier this year aren’t felt by the staff. Which in retrospect is logical, which in turn is what a coach like KF is; logical. His decisions are based on tried and true strategy and not emotion, like mine are about “what I would do if I was the coach” from my couch.

If Iowa had gone for it at the end and thrown that dreaded game ending pick 6 I probably would have posted something like “those idiots suck for trying to be aggressive and losing the game.”

In all reality it just wasn’t meant to be. I only posted out of emotion because I wanted this one. Correction: WE ALL WANTED THIS ONE SO BAD!

GO HAWKS!

Jermelle Lewis is workin' the Minnesota D like a part time job.

by grillinhawk on Nov 18, 2009 9:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs