27-17: TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE HORROR
by Adam Jacobi on Sep 19, 2009 8:52 PM CDT
in Football
116 comments
27-17. Feeling pretty good about that, right? As well we ought to be; that Arizona defense was fast. The headlines are probably going to be about Robinson's 100 yards or "OMG 2 FRESHMAN RBS"--maybe even about Stanzi--okay, probably not about Stanzi--but the real story has to begin on the other side of the ball.
Now, you wouldn't normally see a game in which your (underdog) opponent scored 17 points and conclude, "wow, that defense is legit."
But that's exactly what to take away from the Iowa victory today: fear this defense. They... oh, you know what? Put this music on first, then read on (but don't actually watch the video, because it's stupid):
Got it going? All right.
Here's the last two starting quarterbacks' combined stats from when they faced Iowa: 14-36, 129 yards, 0 TD, 5 INT. Oh, and 2 benchings. Austen Arnaud, you are not alone; you may take solace in the fact that while you threw 4 INT in the game, you were able to complete more than 4 passes to your own team. Not so for Mike Scott, who just submitted a stunning 4-14, 1 INT, 50 yard performance. Like, that was his entire day through the air. 50 yards.
Arizona held the ball for only 22:04 of the game today. That number makes sense, considering the team only managed 8 first downs. 2-12 on third down conversions, which is only slightly mitigated by going 2-3 on 4th down.
Put it like this: Arizona's scoring started with a horrific first quarter pick-six by Trevin Wade (who is unimpeachably awesome). It ended with a score on a hurry-up late TD with Iowa protecting a 17-point lead. Inbetween was one field goal off of a 58-yard run to the 1 by Nic Grigsby... and pain. Lots of pain.
The chief agents in Iowa's dissection of the Matt Scott Show were Adrian Clayborn, Karl Klug, and Tyler Sash. Clayborn and Klug were helldemons on the defensive line, continually pressuring Scott and wrecking the point of attack for Grigsby. Clayborn ended with 10 tackles, a sack, another tackle for loss (by running Grigsby down from behind, which a 280-pound man absolutely should not be able to do), and a forced fumble. But if he ended 10 plays, he affected about three times as many; Mike Diaz was little more than a turnstile at LT. Klug, too, had his name called plenty of times, and Sash was EPIC TYLER once again, his 43-yard interception return cementing the end to Scott's day.
As for the offense? Ehh. Ricky Stanzi was fine in the second half, as you might have guessed, but after the opening TD drive in the first quarter, Stanzi looked on the verge of implosion. He threw that interception to Wade, then spent most of the next few drives throwing balls to random places on the field. It was bad. Very bad. But for an utterly improbable 43-yard draw on 3rd and 23, Iowa might have gone into the locker room down at the break. Totally different game at that point? Eh, maybe. Not sure that does anything to the defense's demolition of the UA offensive line.
Also, taking nothing away from the effort-filled performances of Allen Reisner, Colin Sandeman, Paul Chaney Jr., and Riley Reiff... it's really obvious this team could use Tony Moeaki, DJK, and Bryan Bulaga back on the field. Like, soon. Preferably for next week.
Last, we would also be quite remiss if we didn't acknowledge a strong candidate for team MVP, Ryan Donahue. The Redheaded Cannonfoot boomed five punts for an average of 51 yards--2 stayed inside the 20 and another was a 62-yard touchback. Net punting on the day: 46.2 ypp. Considering that Arizona's was only 34.2, that's a significant benefit in the field position fight. Ask Arizona if they enjoyed staring at a long field after every time they held Iowa to a punt. Matt Scott will probably answer, and his response will be uncontrollable tears.
So that's that. 27-17 in the books, and a defense that is starting to look like the fearless ass-kickers we thought they'd be before the season began. Next week, Happy Valley. And the salvos begin firing... now.
Bring it.
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I must admit.
Rambler, you’ve been the most awesome non Iowa supporter on the Interwebz all season long. I stopped by BSD after Iowa’s game and thoroughly enjoyed the “secret team” discussion.
That said, I apologize for the absurd amount of Daniel Murray that you’re likely to see this week.
by The Mexican't on Sep 19, 2009 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions
Thanks
For the record, I like Iowa because a) the fight song’s great, and b) Hayden Fry had an awesome moustache.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 19, 2009 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions
he still does
No self-respecting man from Iowa goes anywhere without beer
by Hayden Fry's Moustache Ride on Sep 20, 2009 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Did You Guys...
Catch Stanzi’s post game comments on the radio? I think someone asked him about his performance, and upon first listen he sounded none too pleased.
In other news…I was impressed that our defense seemed very well prepared for even the “exotics” Arizona ran: the fake FG, the end arounds, and the WR pass. The D-Line got a lot of press after the game, but (aside from what looked like a mis-play on the eventual Iowa INT) I think the LBs stepped up today as well.
He said something to the effect
of “why would I be unhappy? We won, didn’t we?” In his defense, Stanzi only looked to have one bad series, and that was in the 2nd quarter. After that, he was pretty efficient and did what the coaches are asking him to do, which is manage the game. The defense so far looks to be on par with last years edition (shame on that garbage time TD.)
I know Arizona doesn’t exactly have an offense that strikes fear in the heart, but for Iowa to have a 15 minute advantage in TOP is unreal, especially when you consider that Iowa only got the one turnover. Hell, even ISU kept TOP respectable and their QB’s threw nearly as many balls to Sash and Greenwood 5 as their leading receiver had last weekend – 7.
by TarHeelHawk on Sep 19, 2009 10:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Mike Scott?? Don't you mean "Great Scott!"
Good pitcher. Quarterback, not so much.
by Kinnick Stadium is my Graceland on Sep 20, 2009 12:46 AM CDT reply actions
Music
From Ol’ Dirty Bastard to RJD2? You guys are in my iPod right now. Play Kiss the Ring off the new Raekwon next week for Penn State and I guarantee victory.
Penn State is going to crush Iowa
Penn State has a better defense than Arizona, they are not traveling a couple time zones to play OOC AND their offense has multiple times the talent that Iowa has. Iowa fans should soak in the success of last year because now that Michigan is back you’re about to be relegated to 5th or 6th in the Big Ten again. Forget about beating OSU as well 1-11 against OSU in the last 12 meetings. Iowa can not match OSU’s athleticism at any position. Add to that the fact that Iowa hasn’t beat OSU in Columbus in close to 20 years and you’re looking at a minimum of 3 loses in conference play. I’ll still root for the Hawkeyes when they play another conference’s also ran though.
Here come the jealous haters out of the woodwork...just in time for our (first) big showdown.
I love when they use the words, “Talent” and “Athleticism” to try and put us down…almost as ignorant of critiques as the classics, “Lack of S-E-C SPEED” and calling us “White” actually. Next they’ll tell us our 2-star recruits don’t win all the First Team All Big Ten Honors year after year, and can’t accomplish things like Doak Walker Awards. I love it. Guess what idiot? We aren’t playing Ohio State over the last 20 years…we are playing Ohio State this year…and they don’t scare me at all right now. Sorry.
I am a pessimistic person by nature, and I am feeling VERY optimistic about this PSU game…and season.
The game today wasn’t close. It looks close to jackasses that just look at the box score, but really aside from the garbage TD against the prevent zone at the end, we pitched a near shutout. One Stanziball and one big play (that should have been called back as Lowe was clearly held to all of us in the stadium—and replay verifies) never should have happened.
We MAY actually be close to 100% health-wise for the first time this year pending Moaki, Bulaga and DJK getting healthy with the additional rest from this week to get ready. Hopefully A-Rob is nothing serious because I am loving the “Thunder & Wonder” combination at RB right now.
So, running game looks nice…strong inside, and I am really becoming a fan Riley Reiff out there by the way. Weapons are all over that side of the ball…if Rick can get it to them. I am drooling over the defense’s potential the most now. Clayborn waking up is huge. We need to get this type of pressure more consistently because we are flat out stout on the perimeter and deep. This Defense is going to help us shock Penn State again. It’s all coming together. I think the stars are aligning and Stanzi might just skip his warm-up quarter next week and come out slingin’ it. I really want PSU to underestimate us again and expect to walk over us at home in Happy Valley.
If Big Swingin’ Dick is on…watch out world. HERE WE GO HAWKEYES!
Give the ball to Brandon "wond3RBoy" Wegher!
Is it just me or
dos anybody else think Stanzi is better at rolling out and throwing on the un than he is at dropping back? We have a running game starting to really materialize and we need that for the play action. Keeps the LBs where we want them and minimizes the throws into double and OMG triple coverage. Doc Oc had the D performing and making the proper adjustments. PSU is good, but i am feelingmuch better about next week than i did 2 weeks ago
_ They took the bar! The whole fucking bar!-John Blutosky Animal House)
by John Hartlieb is stiil a stud! on Sep 20, 2009 7:16 AM CDT up reply actions
Might that be a function of...
our receivers (TEs included) getting open quicker while they are moving left and right? It seems like Stanzi (and most QBs) will always need a good 5 or 10 seconds of solid protection if we are going vertical.
I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.
-- Judge Smails
by WaterlooChazz on Sep 20, 2009 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions
Penn State won't underestimate Iowa
Mainly because Penn State’s players aren’t idiotic enough to think they’ll win because Iowa is “too slow” or whatever.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 20, 2009 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions
The 2:30 kickoff time
negated the 2 hour time change, as our players are used to kicking off at 11am.
"I'm not doing any good back here."
I actually believe
that it was only a one-hour difference, as Arizona (to the best of my knowledge) is Mountain time.
Yep...
although, they do not observe daylight savings time.
http://www.timetemperature.com/tzus/time_zone.shtml
I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.
-- Judge Smails
by WaterlooChazz on Sep 20, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions
relegated to 5th or 6th in the conference. michigan is back? by whose standards? obviously beating notre dame isnt like it used to be. praising the choking of all chokers…choke choke choke, choke again ohio state? how come youd didnt mention the success we have had against penn state yet you relished in our nonsuccess of ohio state…although I seem to remember a few shockers…..MARV COOK, its an iowa td at columbus and the spanking with who was that ohio state qb a few years back. oh what a statement considering we havent played thee chokers in last two years. wow way to go out on limb there
and who is the 4th team who is going to be ahead of us…michigan choke choke state? or MINNY ha ha or better yet PURDONT??? 5th or 6th? are you originally florida with that braindead post of. northwestern? THE ZOOKERS TEAM? okay now its just getting funny
did you have a sleepover with mark may last night?
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh that speed of the other teams that play us. I cant bare to watch anymore.
minimum of 3 losses in the big ten? are you talking about ohio state or michigan?
penn state has a florida like patsy schedule. let those two play each other in the champs/cramps bowl so florida wont have to leave the state…god forbid and penn state can finally play a team that isnt a basketball school. both of these teams havent impressed me one bit for being so highly ranked and kissed over by every tv announcer that has ever lived.
Im not saying penn state is not good but dont be boasting about teams like we are scared of them or were so overmatched that kirk herbsteit can pick arizona…err penn state without even watching iowa play a game. egg on YOUR face kirk!
gee whiz even craig james finally discovered that IOWA D IS REALLY FAST when he actually sat down and watched a game instead of watching one or two replays of crap they picked out
It's early, but I think what we're learning
is that UNI could be really good.
Otherwise, despite all the bluster that’s going to happen over the next week, for all we know, it could be another shudder 6-4 game.
Or, depending on who has more turnovers, it could be a blowout either way.
Each team has issues. I just don’t know.
It never gets to be easy
How dare you
6-4 was the pinnacle of sports and you should thank the deity of you choice everyday for allowing you the privilege of seeing it.
The only thing that was pinnacle
and about the only part that I allow myself to remember, was the fuck you safety.
It never gets to be easy
by chitownhawkeye on Sep 20, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions
Ballsiest coaching move ever
“Hmmm, we’re only up four? Fuck it; they can’t move the ball on us. Take the safety”
I think UNI is really, really good.
And I’m glad we don’t have to play them again. I think UNI is better than Arizona. I think UNI is better than Temple. And I’d pay money to watch UNI play Penn State.
I wish we could verify this bet: PSU coaches are watching an awful lot of the UNI game this week.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
PSU has one BIG thing going against them
they have no idea how good they are. And NEVER underestimate the impact of uncertainty in a big game. They have explosive ability, sure; but they have not been punched in the nose yet. Tyson was right, everyone has a game plan until they are punched in the nose.
The hubris of the PSU fan is a mask for their anxiety. It reminds me of a dog when a stranger walks up, lots of barking but a lot of back peddling too. It is remarkable to me how invested their fanbase gets in wins and losses. And when you ascribe too much to any action, it makes you nervous. I think this is our greatest asset in this game, we are able to accept a loss but I don’t they can. If this game is tight late, they just might throw it away again.
I really sensed that Arizona thought during that first drive that they were faster and thus it was going to be easy. Then reality hit as we continually matched their speed and hit much harder than they ever expected. Craig James ws right, Iowa is bigger and faster in person. Penn State will learn this too.
Zed: You could be my right-hand man.
Oh: I've seen what you do with your right hand. No, thank you.
We have an inkling of how good we are.
We put up 17 on UNI and held them to 16.
I’m being serious, incidentally. In their last 8 quarters is ahead 96-7, with 1100 yards of offense. Grace has a rating of 175. Anyway, these PSU kids have been playing old school, physical football (Ohio/Pennsylvania football) their whole lives, I doubt they’ll be too surprised to find themselves in a physical contest with Iowa.
(I’d love for someone to do a distribution of high school spread offenses by state, because I think it would be very revealing about regional football cultures.)
Mr. Boh Knows ...
What hubris?
Some of us maybe had some hubris last year, but now? After last year’s disaster?
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 20, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions
On ESPN blogs
there is ample hubris. these blogs bring out a more insightful fan…so point well taken.
Zed: You could be my right-hand man.
Oh: I've seen what you do with your right hand. No, thank you.
Anyone who reads ESPN blogs should do it only for entertainment purposes.
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett
Ya, Grigsby came into the game as the #2 back in the country.
What a joke. He was 10 for 17 yards, plus the one long run. You know the Arizona coaches thought the long run was an accident, or they would’ve kept running him.
Arizona only had three plays in the first half — the pick six, the Grigsby run (which didn’t get them six) and the long pass. That was it. This is an offense coached by Sonny Dykes and a defense that held Southern Cal to 17. Did they do anything that they wanted to do, on offense, all day?
Anyway, the PSU faithful don’t seem capable of crediting us much, like Bozo up above. But they’re a friendly bunch in person, and State College had a pleasant, welcoming vibe two years ago when I drove up for the single most listless performance by an Iowa football team I can remember.
I don’t have any doubt that the PSU athletes and coaches have a sufficient memory (and it’s not just last year) to take us seriously.
I’m a little nervous about mentioning this, being a modest Iowan and all. But we’re not just a team that “overachieves”, “plays hard”, “plays smart”, “executes”. We were a more talented team than Arizona. We outcoached and out-talented them. We have a 285 pound guy who is faster than the then-#2 rusher in the country. This is strange ground for Iowa to walk. Sure, two of our four top safeties are walk-ons, our #2 center is a walk-on, Haganman is a walk-on, if A-Rob is hurt our #2 back is a walk-on, our DT was a flag football or something FB in high school, Reisner got one scholarship offer, and on and on. Reiff’s guy, their main sacker, had a grand total of one assist the entire game (Morehouse calls this a “pile jump”, and that’s a good view of that); that’s playing LT as a freshman. We sat three of our main studs yesterday and outshone, athletically, the other guys.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
Bozo up above
I’d like for that guy to explain his fandom. He just stinks of Columbus.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 20, 2009 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions
By the way, whatever you think of the play...
…I think you should realize that in “analyzing” a RB, it’s not so easy to take away just one big run and say, “If he doesn’t have that…” Certainly in the early part of the season, it’s more acceptable, but still, some backs & offenses are just like that.
Maybe I’ve been under a rock the past couple of years, but when did it become a big deal to be “more talented” than Arizona? Sure, it’s a good win, but I guess I think little enough of U of A to have actually expected that win.
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett
Big plays happen, sure
but far less often than 7 yard runs. His point was well taken, that there was not a reliable run game there. Which changes the whole course of the game. I don’t think too many O-coordinators are scheming around 58 yard runs.
Zed: You could be my right-hand man.
Oh: I've seen what you do with your right hand. No, thank you.
They don't gameplan differently against breakaway guys vs. run hard guys?
Against the stereotype of the latter (big runner w/o breakaway speed who gets 4-5 yds a lot), you want to be aggressive and come downhill hard to keep him from getting that extra yard or two by plowing through the first two tacklers and you’re not as worried about the occasional miss because he’s not going to outrun your entire team. Against the former, it’s better to come in under control and limit the whiffs that would lead to a huge play, and you’re not worried about the guys flying to tackle him because you’ll have confidence that one guy can stop him.
Whether a guy gets the touchdown after running 8 times for 5-7 yards each time on a drive or a TD after getting stuffed a couple of times and then breaking a 50 yarder, the points still count the same.
Yeah, I’d say you’d game plan differently against a Jerome Bettis vs. a Barry Sanders.
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett
We have two D-linemen who are as fast as Griggs.
There was just no way for Arizona to win unless they controlled the LOS, and gave him the space to even think about 4-5 yards a carry. Remember, Stoops believes in muscle at the LOS; he’s not a Leach with O-lineman in two-point stances who back up three yards 65 times per game.
My view, again, is that you throw out the best and worst run an RB achieves, prior to looking at his expected performance per carry. Unless you have a Sanders or Peterson (or a Shonn or a …).
The Phoenix metro area is twice the population of the state of Iowa, and they abut an extraordinarily fertile recruiting state, so yeah, I’m impressed that we have recruited a more talented roster than Arizona. Arizona played USC even last year, and I would like to play USC someplace in January this year.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
THAT PLAY YOU GUYS ARE ARGUING ABOUT...
I don’t know or really care if you can count it in analyzing his performance… but I think you can certainly throw it out in analyzing our defense. It was a hold or it never would’ve happened. It should have come back. Our run defense shut them out and made them look bad. That play ws illegal.
I was in the stands and it was clear that Willy Lowe (#10) had the play strung out and would have made the tackle until the guy blocking him latched onto his shoulder pads and allowed Griggsby to get outside him and into open field.
Nobody on here is mentioning it because it doesn’t look bad on TV and most people on this blog watched it on ESPN/ABC and only got that view. The announcers on the broadcast didn’t point it out and from the TV view it wasn’t as noticable and the camera angles hid the hold, but it was pretty obvious and very blatent in person. On the Kinnick replays we even started a “Bullshit” chant because it showed it was in fact really bad from the stadium camera angles. Watch the game again and watch the reaction from our sideline as the hold takes place. It was a bad hold and missed call… sooooo….. no, that play shouldn’t have ever happened and probably shouldn’t really count against us and probably can be discounted in these discussions actually.
Give the ball to Brandon "wond3RBoy" Wegher!
There is uncalled holding on, like, literally every play
whining about it is dumb as hell.
Not my point.
Point is that was “THE ONE BIG RUN” and it only happened on a WAY MORE THAN typical uncalled hold. Not whining, just trying to tell people that weren’t there and don’t know why/how that big play happened is all.
Give the ball to Brandon "wond3RBoy" Wegher!
Griggs is lite.
We shut him down, his day is done, we’re a lot better. UNI would be Arizona.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
Sorry, UNI would beat Arizona.
Perhaps UNI should join the Pac-10. That would be fun.
Football is a team sport, boys. You have to play as a team, to win.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
I said
O-coordinator (as in offensive).
Zed: You could be my right-hand man.
Oh: I've seen what you do with your right hand. No, thank you.
You did.
Honestly, I assumed it was a typo. I should have clarified. On the other hand, if it’s all you have is a running back that gets tackled easy but has the ability to break a big one (58 yards or 94 yards or 20 yards), don’t you necessarily have to game plan for that? If he’s their best back, how else does the O-coordinator game plan?
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett
I'm more interested in *median* yards per carry, not *average* yards per carry.
Because football is a game, in Iowa City, where the expected value of a play, game plan, scheme or strategy is more important that a TV highlight anecdote. This is also how you make money over time in the markets: by choosing the low-variance (low-beta) outcome, and there is a lot of reason to look at quantitive economics vs. football, because in both situations you are playing for an outcome, not a momentary thrill. Outcomes depend on finding value over time.
Anyway, Tyger1147’s criticism makes sense if you have a Sims or Peterson (or a Shonn or Tavian), but makes no sense at all if you have a guy like Griggs who would be 3rd or 4th string at Iowa. It was clearly a busted defensive play, and again the evidence that Stoops didn’t think he could do it again (like Peterson would) is plain. They stopped giving him the ball. Carlos Anderson is a better back. Griggs has had his 15 minutes of fame.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
I’m not trying to be a cynic here…but let’s be real about this.
The last two QB’s we’ve faced are hardly world-beaters. Do I think this defense is very, very good? Yes. It’s on the verge of becoming great and a top-5 in the nation type great. But the last two QB’s we’ve faced are not good at all. Did we play a large part in this? Yes, but Darryl Clark is 10x better than these guys in his sleep.
But the thing with a bend-dont-break defense is that it forces the other team to beat you. The only bad thing is with talented teams, they can beat you.
If our offense is as anemic as it was mid-late first half and we keep giving PSU chances with a short field, we can only expect so much out of our defense.
Stanzi must have a great game if we want to win. No turnovers, and make the throws that are there. I think we have a chance, especially with Moeaki, DJK, and Bulaga hopefully returning, but it’s going to be a really tough game to win.
Hawkeyes n Cowboys. Bleeding Black, Gold, Sliver and Blue since 1987.
I am beginning to think
That Stanzi does not need to play great for Iowa to win these big road games. He has to play clean. That’s it. No heroics needed. I am beginning to think that.
Zed: You could be my right-hand man.
Oh: I've seen what you do with your right hand. No, thank you.
by StoopsMyAss on Sep 20, 2009 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Which would be typical for us
The offense doesn’t win games, it just needs to not lose them. The defense will do the rest.
It never gets to be easy
by chitownhawkeye on Sep 20, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions
"Playing clean" sounds an awful like...
the QB we got rid of, JC. He always played clean, but he was still terrible.
I think Stanzi needs to have a solid game, complete over 60% of his passes, and not throw picks for us to win. In other words, he has to be better than he’s been in the first three games.
To beat PSU, we need more than a JC-like “clean” performance. But I think Ricky is ready to give us one.
If it's not too much trouble, search your soul--and then ask yourself if maybe I might have a point.
by The Director on Sep 20, 2009 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, JC did play clean in terms of interceptions
but he did not complete passes at an acceptable rate, held on to the ball too long and was sacked relentlessly as a result. So that’s not clean. To be more precise, Stanzi does not need to try to thread the needle down field or squeeze the ball into any tight spaces. With this defense, we can go three and out and see another series. Stanzi played a better game after second review than I originally thought. But, if Robinson does not break that run on third and forever….this may have been another game completely.
Stanzi can play better, needs to play better, and I hope that happens in Happy Valley
Zed: You could be my right-hand man.
Oh: I've seen what you do with your right hand. No, thank you.
Oh don't take my post...
as any sort of wishing JC were back sort of thing. The guy didn’t have “it,” whatever “it” is. Stanzi does have “it”, only he has more “it” when he’s not throwing pick-sixes.
This game will indeed come out on Stanzi: if he’s good, we win. If he’s not so good, like he’s been for most of our first halves, we won’t.
I personally think we will see the good Stanzi.
If it's not too much trouble, search your soul--and then ask yourself if maybe I might have a point.
by The Director on Sep 20, 2009 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions
I like Jake.
I don’t think he was well-coached. You’d probably have to have a teenaged son athlete to know what I’m talking about.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
Penn State has a few weak spots as far as I can tell
WRs are very inconsistent. So much so, I expect a conservative game plan from Penn State if they can get away with it.
Punt returns and Kickoff returns…they are ranked very low and looked very suspect there to me. ould play huge in terms of field position. (thier net punting is okay but 5 yards per punt inferior to Iowa’s, and look at the competition)
They have a negative turnover margin. That shocks me.
Their total rushing yardage number is very mediocre. One would think with such a highly accliamed RB as Royster and playing three blowouts they would have gone mostly to the run in the second half and piled up some numbers. They’re ranked lower than Iowa in this area.
While Clark represents great QBing, I agree that Pat Grace is VERY FUCKING GOOD, and we did okay against him with a far less impressive rush than we have going now.
The game looks very interesting at this point. I just can’t tell if Penn State has as much going for them as thier ranking suggests.
Zed: You could be my right-hand man.
Oh: I've seen what you do with your right hand. No, thank you.
Re: their running game
I think Royster showed last year that’s he’s really good, but they lost a ton talent on the offensive line to graduation, and I think he’s having trouble finding holes. It’s even more pronounced if you look at the numbers of Steph Green, who is tiny and needs a good hole to get anything. Iowa’s defensive line could have a big advantage, especially if Clayborn plays like he did yesterday.
Clark does scare me though. Grace is obviously a good player, but I don’t think he’s at the same level at all. Clark was still fucked up from a concussion when he played us last year, so he’s a lot better than he looked in that game.
Royster will not beat us.
There are three ways we lose:
1. We turnover the ball and self-destruct. This would be full-tilt turnover-whoopee four quarter Stanziball mode. And it is possible.
2. We sputter on offense and lose the field position and possession battle. In other words, 6-4 Penn State.
3. We catch Clark on an accurate day, and he “Grace’s” us with a 30/38 and 350 yard performance with 4 TD’s in the air. We bend AND break with accurate QB’s (still having Curtis Painter nightmares from last year’s almost-loss), give them dozens of easy completions, keep our D on the field too long, and lose.
Of the above, #3 seems most likely. I do not think PSU can beat us on the ground.
If it's not too much trouble, search your soul--and then ask yourself if maybe I might have a point.
by The Director on Sep 20, 2009 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Not to be argumentative
but I think they can ONLY beat us on the ground. I don’t see any team beating us through the air this year (I reserve the right to retract that statement if we sustain any key injuries)
Zed: You could be my right-hand man.
Oh: I've seen what you do with your right hand. No, thank you.
We're over-ranked
I’d put us at #10 or so.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 20, 2009 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Our biggest weakness is the line. Royster finally broke 100 yesterday as the line was finally giving him some holes. But…Temple. It’s going to be tough for us to move the ball.
Secondary is another concern with Iowa’s WR corps as good as it is.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 20, 2009 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Hmm....
Nebraska 2-1, #25/24. Iowa 3-0, #31/30. I’m glad I don’t care that much about rankings. Damned UNI. They win that game by 25, and Iowa is solidly #15 right now; doesn’t matter if UNI is actually that good.
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett
That's bullshit
I’d love to hear the voters justify Iowa not being in the top 25.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 20, 2009 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Momentum
“I’d love to hear the voters justify Iowa not being in the top 25.”
It’s all about momentum—ask Auburn fans of a few years ago how starting from behind in the polls can affect your standing.
Iowa had one bad game against an FCS opponent/close game against an under-rated foe, and whatever the truth of UNI’s actual talent, the perception of Iowa escaping with a narrow home win against them bumped Iowa out of the top 25. Now they have to work their way back, which is in Iowa’s power to do. Problem is, they also have to rely on schools now in front of them losing, which is out of Iowa’s control if they aren’t playing those teams in the #15-25 slots.
Just one more headache of the ranking system.
by Midnight Rambler on Sep 20, 2009 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions
I have to say,
this is the first year of my life I don’t give a shit what the polls say. We are good, and we are hungry, and we have two guys who ran the 100 meters in high school — playing D-line. (That I know of. Klug probably ran the 100, threw the javelin, pole vaulted, and mowed the grass up at Caledonia.)
Mr. Boh Knows ...
Yeah, that's making it sound the worst possible.
The flip side of that coin is: “Started ranked, and are now 3-0 with solid wins over a Pac-10 team and a Big-12 rival on the road.”
I’d personally add “…and the team to beat in the run for the 1-AA Championship.”
Does anybody know, or know where to find out, how many currently ranked teams played FCS opponents? We wouldn’t be alone, I reckon.
by Third Generation Hawk on Sep 20, 2009 10:31 PM CDT up reply actions
We're not alone in playing one, but most ranked teams don't need consecutive blocked FGs to beat them
UNI is a great I-AA team and would probably be competitive in most of the non-BCS conferences, but they’re not a team that should be hanging with a legit Top 25 team, as much as Bellanca talks them up here. Arizona is a totally mediocre Pac-10 team, and ISU is flat out awful, even if they are a rival.
I think this team definitely has the potential to be a Top 25 team, but they haven’t really proven anything yet. It’s hardly an outrage that they’re unranked.
Who cares if we are ranked or not right now?
Say we were ranked 25th… if we beat Penn State this week we would be ranked what, 22nd next week? If we lost this week we would be unranked again next week.
If we beat Penn State this week as an unranked now we will still be probably 23rd next week. So this really changes nothing. I understand the lack of respect, but this doesn’t make a difference really. I am personally more upset Nebraska is still ranked with the loss. I HATE those guys.
Give the ball to Brandon "wond3RBoy" Wegher!
Houston moved up in the rankings
and didn’t even play. Rankings are a joke. Too bad because they influence bowl slotting, which is not to be confused with trainspotting.
Zed: You could be my right-hand man.
Oh: I've seen what you do with your right hand. No, thank you.
Imagine winning being less important than not playing
and you have the rankings.
Zed: You could be my right-hand man.
Oh: I've seen what you do with your right hand. No, thank you.
Student Section Coaches
I was sitting in the student section at Kinnick yesterday—after the Arizona pick-six, the always-fickle undergrad football experts were booing Stanzi and demanding that he be benched.
I can only imagine what the student section sounded like against UNI…
by Midnight Rambler on Sep 20, 2009 2:10 PM CDT reply actions
Pretty much like that
People were by and large pretty pissed, and with some justification as he was making dumb throws all day, and missed some wide open guys in the first half. I’ve never booed him, but I’ve definitely let out my share of “FUCKING STANZI!”s so far this year.
Students weren’t nearly as pissed at Stanzi in the UNI game as they were at the refs when they said UNI had another shot at the FG though. At one point one dude stood up and screamed that the ref was going to killed if he didn’t overturn the call, and most people seemed to be pretty much in agreement.
Since Tate's sophomore year, when he just played superhuman, I think it's fair to say,
our QBs seem to be squeezing the life out of the ball and aiming it while some perverse voice in their heads says, “Don’t make a mistake.”
Fortunately, Stanzi appears to be deaf to that little voice after being knocked around a little.
I just wish we had a D-I or NFL qb as QB coach. That’s the only thing I’d change. I long for Long. But it’s convention in college to have the OC being the QB coach.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
That complaint only really applies to Christensen
Tate was even better his junior year than he was in 2004, and probably would have been good again his senior year had he not been hurt. I have no idea why people think otherwise.
Stanzi’s problem isn’t that he’s too scared of making mistakes. If anything, he forces way too many unsafe passes.
Jake's efficiency score is 160 this year.
Both he and Tate said for attribution that their mechanics degraded in Iowa City. It’s worth considering.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
Shot putting the ball to a better completion percentage, yards per attempt, QB rating, and TD/INT ratio?
The only year that might apply was 2006, and that had more to do with being hurt than anything the coaches were doing.
Also I don't think it's convention to have the OC be QB coach
It’s more common in college than it is the pros, but plenty of schools separate the job. Long actually was QB coach for Ferentz in ’99, before he left to take the same position at Oklahoma.
"I long for Long"...
I smell sit-com.
I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.
-- Judge Smails
by WaterlooChazz on Sep 21, 2009 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions
You mean Drew Tate's junior year???
Stats Overview Passing
YEAR CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA TD INT RAT
2004 233 375 2786 62.1 7.43 20 14 134.67
2005 219 352 2828 62.2 8.03 22 7 146.35
2006 207 352 2626 58.8 7.46 18 13 130.96
Screw the formatting. Anywho… Drew Tate was better his junior year.
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett
I never boo our own players, as it only makes matters worse (as far as confidence)
But that pick was inexcusable. He locked on and lobbed an pass to the sideline against man coverage. You dont make that throw, especially when he had a man open in the middle of the field.
Hawkeyes n Cowboys. Bleeding Black, Gold, Sliver and Blue since 1987.
by HawksFlyHigh on Sep 20, 2009 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions
PSU-Iowa
I’ve been telling people around IC for two weeks that we’ll know more about what Iowa has this year after the Penn State game. We’ll know more about Penn State, too. Until then, I’m refraining from any brash predictions.
by Midnight Rambler on Sep 20, 2009 2:13 PM CDT reply actions
Stanzi is frustrating
Ferentz, if his postgame remarks are any indication. Ferentz hates turnovers and, even more, turnovers for touchdowns or that set teams up for an instant score.
I think Stanzi will improve though. I cannot believe that Penn State’s DBs will be any better than Arizona’s. I do expect a better run defense though. So Stanzi’s play will be critical.
Did anyone notice if Davis played any on Saturday? Or was he down with the flu too? He had no catches…
Zed: You could be my right-hand man.
Oh: I've seen what you do with your right hand. No, thank you.
Davis played
No catches though, and he didn’t get in for a lot of snaps. On McNutt’s big catch-and-run, he was in in made some good blocks.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Iowa's D is frustrating. Wisniewski is frustrated. Clark is frustrated. It's a frustrating game.
We haven’t given up a rushing TD since November 8, 2008, including the Outback.
Meanwhile, Wisniewski is frustrated with the PSU revolving door at guard:
And Clark is frustrated because his friends keep calling him to remind of November 8, 2008, but I can’t find the link now.
This is pretty good. We’re unrated, their stud is wondering if they can run the ball, and Clark is afflicted with a tough loss from the year prior. I don’t think there’s any pressure on us; we’re not supposed to win this game.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
Wiser words have naught been spake, Bellanca.
THIS year is looking an awful like LAST year:
PSU is in the top seven, we ain’t noplace shit.
PSU has the marquee names, we have Tough Nobodies
PSU has the “juice” of Happy Valley, Whiteouts, and the Big ESPN Gameday Experience
We have a miracle win against a “weak” FCS opponenent at home SHOCK HORROR!
They have JOEPA we have a gum-chewing statue
They are expected to clean up in a revenge game; we are expected to be cleaned up in a revenge game.
I dunno. But doesn’t this sound like a script from last year in many ways, except:
In general, PSU was thought to be likely weaker than last year.
In general, Iowa was thought to likely be stronger than last year.
In general, most people recall that Iowa actually won last year’s game.
So why, then, are we expected so much to lose THIS year?
For once, I like the intangibles a little in our favor, in a backwards karma sort of way. For the first time since last year, I’m beginning to think we can win this game.
If it's not too much trouble, search your soul--and then ask yourself if maybe I might have a point.
by The Director on Sep 20, 2009 7:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Iowa is supposed to lose because...
they are Penn State. That’s about it, in my opinion, as always Iowa gets shit on by the national media (Kirk Herbie OSU Ball lickin Herkstreit actually picked Iowa to lost to Arizona, shows how much Iowa is really noticed nationally) as we are not ranked this week after still being 3-0, we are the forgotten team of the Big 10. There are three stars in the Big 10, OSU, PSU, and Michigan, (and sometimes Michigan state because they play Notre Dame) we simply are not one of them so all week all that’s going to be talked about is how Penn State is looking for revenge against Iowa and everyone thinks this is the same Penn State team as last year or the before that, so we are supposed to lose. I’m rambling but it makes me sick how little Iowa gets noticed nationally and how we are consistently expected to lose to the stars of the Big 10, while lame Illinois is still given spotlight and is given a chance to win by the media because of their mongoloid coach and their giant headed QB.
"If Ron Zook were an ice cream flavor, it would be praline and retard"
-Garth Algar
by Tree Meister on Sep 20, 2009 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions
But, but, but
You’re, like, slow and white and stuff.
God, I hate the media.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 20, 2009 9:21 PM CDT up reply actions
More annoyed than anything, but I really should be used to it by now
"If Ron Zook were an ice cream flavor, it would be praline and retard"
-Garth Algar
by Tree Meister on Sep 20, 2009 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions
We've been the whipping boy of the national media...
…since I was born in ‘79 (when Coach came to town). We are SUPPOSED to be good, but ever since the 81-82 seasons people have been looking to put us back in our rightful, no-good place… but year after year our boys find a way to prove everyone wrong (most years at least). The thing that has always struck me, and maybe it has to do with the whole “bullies of the big ten” stuff, but we straight up get shit on all the time. It’s not that announcers don’t pick us to win, it’s that they OCCASIONALLY pick us to win, and then spend the entire broadcast talking about how great the other team is, and how Iowa just doesn’t look like it’s going to compete.
You know it’s true. Look at pre-games from ‘08 PSU, ’06 OSU, ’04 Florida, [etc. through the ages].
My family has always turned down the sound on our t.v. and tuned in to Dauph & E.Po (they arent the best but they don’t badmouth our team starting with the second play of the game). What strikes me most is the blatent cheering that goes on for the other team by almost all t.v. announcers for our games. Seriously, I remember the Big Ben, Miami (OH) game and the announcers were giving verbal felatio after his second pass (he WAS a heisman candidate until “2 words, Matt Fucking Roth”), but it wasn’t until, like, the second half before they started giving US props. I know a lot of this is related to the fact that they pick the commentators out of our opponent’s student section after making sure they know NOTHING about the game of football (or even soccer), but it would be nice if the sportscasters could just get excited when a big play happens, instead of rooting for it to happen AGAINST us. I’m just saying.
Sorry, I’ve been holding that in for a long time.
Oh, while I’m purging… THE REFS AT THE TEXAS AND SECOND FLORIDA BOWL GAMES CAN GET FUCKED!
by Eyeheartfreedumb on Sep 21, 2009 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions
The only reason the media is hyping PSU in this game is because a) it’s a night game, b) the media still thinks Iowa is mediocre, and c) Brent Musburger loves our awesome white shirts.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 20, 2009 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Spake: middle english.
I have studied and used to speak middle english. However, at the moment, I’m trying to understand Norm’s new zone blitz scheme — which PSU didn’t see last year.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
I don't recall
an Iowa team with more NFL-qualified bodies. (There are 10 or 12 on this team.) Do you?
The only reason not to beat PSU is to stay out of the polling mix until christmas, at which point we might get to play somebody interesting. I want Southern Cal or Berkeley. Perchance to dream.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
I’m of the opinion that Iowa will win at least one of the two “impossible” road games they play this year.
I think you have a chance to make the Arm Punter of Columbus look like the Big Ten Player of the Year he truly is.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 20, 2009 10:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Right now,
when you look at the copius amounts of yardage that MSU gives up through the air, you have to look at that game as a win. Wisconsin hasn’t impressed either, as they were taken down to wire by NIU (who beat Purdue) and 2OT by Fresno State.
by TarHeelHawk on Sep 20, 2009 10:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Look back at that 2002 team
when you look up and down the roster, it’s littered with guys who are currently in the NFL. Greenway was freshman special-teamer that year.
by TarHeelHawk on Sep 20, 2009 10:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Question: if EVERYONE is saying there is no pressure on Iowa...
…and that since it’s all Penn St. the Nitt-wits might actually lose, does that then put the pressure back on the Hawkeyes?
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett
Ha. Pryor is a a wide receiver in Iowa City. If he isn't covering punts and kickoffs as a backup strong safety.
He’d be a backup because he should be playing basketball — for Oberlin. On the other hand, he’s 6’6". We like to turn guys like that into offensive tackles.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
Iowa and Ohio State
and maybe Penn State. Those are the only teams in the Big Ten that seem to be capable of playing solid defense week-in and week-out.
If Penn State does in fact have the kind of defense that is stingy and Iowa struggles to get points, then the question is: can they be stopped when on offense? The more I look at Penn State, the less I see the kind of offense that will put up lots of points once they start playing good teams.
I actually look back at Arizona’s defense as an excellent preparation for Iowa’s passing game. While Penn State might get more pressure on Stanzi, I can’t imagine he will see more speed in the secondary than he did with Arizona.
Zed: You could be my right-hand man.
Oh: I've seen what you do with your right hand. No, thank you.
The only player in our secondary who has impressed me is Astorino – the strong safety – who is excellent against the run. I don’t know what to make of him or the rest of them in pass coverage. Against Akron and Cuse, the front four was getting so much pressure that they didn’t really have to worry about covering for long stretches of time like they had to in the horrible-beyond-words second quarter of the Rose Bowl.
We’re basically just running our cover 3 “bend but don’t suck” defense as we always do. So far, we’ve had at least one mental error in each game that has led to a long pass (like one DJK had in last year’s game for a touchdown). Nick Sukay – the free safety – has not made a good impression, me thinks.
Anyway, point is, if your line can provide enough cover, and if Stanzi doesn’t go all Morelli, then Iowa can pass on Penn State.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 21, 2009 8:38 AM CDT up reply actions
All the more reason...
For Stanzi to start hitting PCjr on quick hitches as the hot route to get him the ball quick in space. If they are coming after him get rid of it and get it to someone that can make a difference.
Give the ball to Brandon "wond3RBoy" Wegher!
Delusional.
You guys are seriously delusional. Athletes matter. There is a reason why teams that sign top 25 recruiting classes dominate the top rankings year after year. Ferentz does well with his recruits but he and Iowa are nothing special. Ferentz is just above .500 in the Big 10 for a reason. He gets seriously out recruited by Mich, OSU and Penn State every year. Those programs post double digit wins regularly and have actually won BCS games. Ferentz had a great run of 3 years but has not been able to sustain it because Iowa has average players, So you’re starting out at 4th best in the Big Ten. Now you have coaches like Dantonio, Ferentz, Brewster and Bilema that all have better records in their tenures than Ferentz over the same number of years. So maybe Iowa is the 4th best team in the Big 10 this year but you have no shot at an outright Title meaning you’re fighting for scraps with coaches and athletes that are equal to Iowa’s. At least Iowa isn’t Indiana but 5th-6th is about right.
*sniff* *sniff*
I smell Columbus. Those guys love recruiting rankings.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 21, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, jOsey sounds like OSU to me...
…I detect a whiff of douche. And all I can think of is that game in 2002, when the nuts played at Illinois, and Iowa transfer Jon Beutjer won the game THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES (his receivers were CLEARLY in bounds on two of those three, and looked in bounds the other time), but was awarded no points, may god have mercy on his soul.
Now, I still ask myself… self, do you think the refs were instructed by the Big Ten to blow a call here or there if necessary, just so OSU could advance to the National Championship where they could get beat/ cheat/ have the game handed to them? Hmmm, let’s see… Illinois beats OSU and Iowa is the winner of the Big Ten with an excellent bowl game, OR OSU gets handed the game and go on to a HUGE payday for the big ten… oh, and Iowa goes to an excellent bowl game.
It’s still confusing to me how a team can clearly lose two games in a row and still be undefeated national champions (until their running back turns into a stupid diva).
by Eyeheartfreedumb on Sep 21, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm sorry for this
“Now you have coaches like Dantonio, Ferentz, Brewster and Bilema that all have better records in their tenures than Ferentz over the same number of years.”
So coaches like Ferentz have better records in their tenures than Ferentz? What are you, retarded? Oops…
by imadirtyoldman on Sep 22, 2009 8:26 AM CDT up reply actions
I just scanned, but did I see that Ferentz has a better record than Ferentz?
I think I might have.
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett
Josey is definitely an tOSU fan.
That’s why she threw all that history at us it her last post. Better talk crap now Josey because by the end of the year you and sweatervest are not going to be too happy. Paying your players to come to ColumbusRecruiting can only only get you so far, after that you have to actually show up for the big games, play and coach well. You are in for a long season… you’ll see.
Give the ball to Brandon "wond3RBoy" Wegher!
Want to bet?
Of course recruiting can only get you so far. It’s a combination of recruiting and coaching that wins games. Ferentz is an average coach with average athletes and that has produced average results. 84-74… the truth is in the numbers.
PS, “You pay your players” is the battle cry of the loser, but I do understand that Iowa runs a clean program. You couldn’t pay a top recruit to play in Iowa City ; P
Josey...headed on down to your local grocery store...
Because you’re starting to stink.
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