Play Calling tells story of the season

by Greg Hollingsworth on Nov 22, 2010 2:09 PM CST

In Iowa's 7 wins this year, the play calling has been fairly balanced, averaging 25 passes and 30 rushes. In the Hawks' 4 losses, that trend is totally reversed (it also fell this way in the game against IU, which they were handed by D'amarlo Belcher's slippery fingers) averaging out at 35 passes and 21 rushes.

By itself, this might not really mean anything, if they had been playing from behind a lot (which they haven't been), it might be understandable. But what this Hawk fan doesn't get is why, especially when they've had a lead, do they completely abandon the run on possession downs?

Setting aside the Arizona game, which saw Angry Stoops' crew jump out to a 14 point lead, Iowa has had a lead in the 4th quarter of all of their losses (and the near loss to IU). In those 4 losses (and 1 should've lost) Iowa has averaged 21.8 points. In their 7 wins they've averaged 33.4 points. To me, the most obvious difference (as well as the most inexplicable) is the disappearance of the running game in the 4(5) losses.

My question, I suppose, is when the hell did IA decide that it was a pass first team. Gone are the play-action ball fakes that Stanzi is so good at making, gone is the pounding ground game that is Iowa football. Gone are the hard earned victories gutted out by the big uglies in the trenches.

Instead, what this fan has seen the last 3 Saturdays are long passes on 1st down, followed by short runs over right tackle on second down, leading to long (and unfortunately rarely converted) third downs and punts. Adam Robinson who is averaging over 100 yards per game and Marcus Coker (who in the games he's seen significant playing time is showing shades of Shonn Green), have been marginalized for the sake of long, often incomplete passes.

Saturdays game was a prime example. 1st quarter they come out running, Coker picks up 43 yards on 7 carries (6.1 yds per carry). 2nd quarter, Robinson rushes the ball twice for 8 yards. 3rd quarter, Robinson carries 4 times for 4 yards. 4th quarter, Robinson carries twice for 11 yards, Coker twice for 27 yards. I remind you that Iowa was leading (or tied) during 3 of 4 fourth quarter possessions.

Yes, it's more than the offense. Special teams have been pretty bad all year and the defense is really missing a solid linebacker corps, but I think the play calling has been a significant part of the problem all season. More than that, it's a problem that has gotten little or no attention, at least from what I've read, in the press or the blogosphere. Iowa's offense has routinely failed to produce long drives when they needed them, even when they do score. The disappearance of the running game, in my opinion, has a lot to do with that.

Unless otherwise expressly indicated by BHGP editors, this FanPost is strictly the viewpoint of the author and is not endorsed by BHGP in any way.

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Comments

I agree.

I would also throw in some clock management issues.

by ChryslerKinnick on Nov 22, 2010 3:24 PM CST reply actions

Clock management

There have certainly been clock management issues, but let’s be honest. Clock management is only important in close situations. I would say that the real reason that clock management is an issue is because of the play calling.

NW was a perfect example. Iowa has the ball and a lead with 6:30 minutes to go. What do they do? They go 5 and out (3 passes, 2 runs) and punt. If they had stuck with the run game (against the 69th rated rush defense in the country) they might have mounted a drive. Instead, they go run-pass (1st down)-run-pass-pass and have to punt.

NW presented their own issues for the defense that is a whole different story. But on paper their defense shouldn’t have been able to stop us, and the play calling played right into their hands.

by Greg Hollingsworth on Nov 22, 2010 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

In light of Leshoure's explosion

I think back to the Northwestern game and wonder why we weren’t running the ball every down, AIRBHG be damned.

by LowcountryHawk on Nov 23, 2010 12:27 AM CST up reply actions

Defense deserves its share of the blame

After Saturday’s loss, I read a quote from Terrelle Pryor that the plan on the 4th-and-10 play was for him to run all along. To me, that says the Iowa defense has become so predictable that OSU knew they could send all their receivers downfield, and drag all our safeties and linebackers right along with them, freeing up plenty of room for Pryor. There’s no way their O-line was going to let one of our D-line guys bust up the middle after Pryor. They just steered our guys wide and let Pryor get flushed out of the pocket, expanses of green in front of him in all directions.
Where was a spy? I realize our LB corps is terribly thin and less athletic than in previous seasons, but maybe that means we should have brought in another DB. Let Sash come up and spy Pryor. If a team has the balls to go deep on 4th-and-10 with the game on the line, I say let em. Deep help shouldn’t be the focus on a 4th-and-10.
But what do I know. I never played the fucking game.

by LowcountryHawk on Nov 23, 2010 12:41 AM CST reply actions

Play Calling

As you point out, clearly a number of anomolies did in the 2010 Hawkeyes. I can’t help but hink that we pull at least two games out with better play calling. I was in the endzone seats at the jNU game and when I saw Stanzi flail the wounded duck towards the goal line and Brian Peters circling under it……I knew it was over. I am sure KOK would have liked to have that one back. In near history (2005, 2010) we have lost nice 4th quarter leads to lose at jNU…

Hate Northwestern, Hate OSU, Michigan State, Michigan too...you get the picture.

by RetroHawk on Nov 27, 2010 10:42 AM CST reply actions