Sunday, September 11, 2011

Thoughts on Iowa State Game

Well, I told you so. An uninspired Iowa team rolled into Ames and got steamrolled by a better coached, better Iowa State team in arguably the most exciting game in the Cy-Hawk series.  Here are my thoughts.

Defensive Front.  The all points bulletin is still out for Lebron Daniel and Broderick Binns.  Even though I said before the game that Daniel would be challenged against Kelechi Osemele, it was even worse than I thought.  The inability of the Iowa defensive line to put pressure on Steele Jantz or to close on him for making a sack or a tackle for loss is going to be a movie that Iowa fans will likely watch more than one time this season.  I do not know if the answer is have a linebacker spy the quarterback or continue to be more aggressive with blitzes, but something needs to change because this Iowa defensive line looks like the Iowa defensive line of 2005 when Mitch King, Matt Kroul, Bryan Mattison, and Kenny Iwebema were all first year starters.  Name me the last time when an Iowa defense surrendered 100 yards to a running back in consecutive contests.  I do not have the energy to look, but I would guess that it has been a long time.

Playcalling.  I have never been a Ken O’Keefe hater.  As fans we have no idea what play was called and whether the quarterback misread the defense to audible out of the play or make an adjustment.  With that said, I think O’Keefe had a pretty decent game plan yesterday that faltered when Iowa continued to run the ball against an eight man front rather than allowing James Vandenberg to throw short routes in an effort to loosen up the Cyclone defense for Marcus Coker.  The reverse call in overtime was quite possibly the dumbest calls I have seen in some time, but it ended up not mattering.  Oh, and another thing, despite gaining over 100 yards, Coker still looked very tentative hitting the hole.  Although he will continue to improve as the season progresses, I also think that Iowa fans need to temper their expectations of what type of back Coker is, which is to say that he is not blessed with breakaway speed and is not an imposing physical back.  He is a serviceable, solid running back who will likely have a respectable career at Iowa, but will probably not become the savior that Iowa fans expected after his performance in the Insight Bowl.  In the coming weeks I hope that O’Keefe puts more trust in Vandenberg to throw on first and second downs in an effort to make defenses defend the pass, which in theory would lighten the load for the Iowa offensive line and Coker.  At some point, the Iowa coaching staff also needs to allow Jason White, DeAndre Johnson or Damon Bullock to have some carries because Coker will not last through the Big Ten season carrying the ball 30 plus times a game. 

Great Expectations.  In one of my entries prior to the start of the season, I caught serious grief from several of you who thought my 7-5 prediction was too low and negative.  I made that prediction based on the fact that we have a young quarterback, an inexperienced defensive line, and questions at several positions—due in large part to the exodus of sixteen Hawkeyes into the NFL over the past two years.  So many unrealistic, what have you done for me lately Hawkeye fans have just come to expect that Iowa will finish anywhere from 9-3 to 11-1 each year.  The Iowa coaches have done a great job of recruiting diamond in the rough players who they take and turn into solid players, but Iowa will not ever be able to lose players to the NFL and simply reload at positions.  The Iowa staff certainly has the penchant to work their magic during a five year career of most players to turn most of them into either draft picks or guys that have a chance at making an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent.  With that in mind, however, fans need to remember that there will be years that are better than others.  Be sure to keep that in mind for the rest of the games this season.  Enjoy the fact that you are watching an Iowa game and just go in with an expectation that this team is not going to challenge for a Big Ten championship and you will feel a lot better both after the wins and losses this year.

Remember how I said that Iowa’s kickoff coverage was suspect last week?  After another solid performance on Saturday, Iowa’s kickoff coverage team now ranks 103 out of 120 FBS teams in yards allowed on kickoff.  Do not be surprised to Shaun Prater, Micah Hyde, and other starters migrate to the kickoff coverage unit in the coming weeks.  Finally, you have to tip your cap to Paul Rhoads and the rest of the ketchup and mustard players from that other school.  They flat out beat Iowa by playing with more emotion and making plays when it mattered.  Unfortunately, I think we are going to see more days like this past Saturday this season, which is why you should relax going into a game, enjoy the atmosphere of your tailgate or other Saturday pre-game rituals and hope for a well-played game but do not be upset if the Hawkeyes continue to struggle like they did against Iowa State.  

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