but the talent was mismanaged.
CHANGE MY MIND
CHANGE MY MIND
We had the talent to make the playoffs this year ...
- Thread starter 3-D_chess
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“Never argue with a fool, he will pull you down to his level and beat you with experience”
we could have made the playoffs and missed it by the skin of teeth but that was despite the talent. we are maximizing production out of the guys we have at least on defense
Wrong
passing offense was not nearly good enough and the defense was too shaky
passing offense was not nearly good enough and the defense was too shaky
OP is an idiot/troll.
Please go away
Please go away
The LBs and DL prevented Iowa from reaching that level. Mark Gronowski was inconsistent throwing the football.
Given the schedule, 8-4 is a successful season IMO. It wasn’t a great season, but it was successful. And even though Iowa is still winless against top 25 teams, they were competitive in every game they played this year.
If Iowa wins their bowl game, it might be the perfect time for Kirk to ride off into the sunset.
Huh. There were a lot of people during the first half game thread insisting that there wasn't any talent out there. They pretty much shut up in the second half.
Who's right. You or them? Or maybe you're all full of shat?
This defense probably wasn’t playoff caliber.
This year’s defense was a major step down. I don’t know how PP got the level of production out of them that we saw. They gave up 170+ yards in one quarter today and Nebraska doesn’t have a very good OL.
Not the talent, no.
But the in-season growth of this team was as radical as we've seen in years.
I think given the expectations (by actual people who have experience evaluating our perceived "talent"), while our projections were right at the 8-4 mark we hit this year, the fact that we were as competitive as we were in every single game, speaks to the job this coaching staff did at get as much as they could out of this roster.
Did we leave stuff on the field? Absolutely.
But the way we looked at the beginning of the year is a far far cry from where we finished.
Too many spots that cost them. I’m pretty excited that Iowa WRs are actually getting open and can make plays. Early in the year it was bad drops. Later Mark wasn’t seeing them or dirt-balling throws. Spend some NIL money elsewhere and Lester needs to develop the QBs on the roster.
Sure three of the four losses involved the defense not allowing 21 points and every loss involved holding the winning team below their season average, it was the defense’s fault.
You think the offense was playoff caliber (I’m reading that correctly) but not the defense? You didn’t exactly say that, but it’s certainly implied.
If Iowa had Higgins and Jackson back on this defense and had 1 difference maker at WR maybe but Iowa's sub par passing game and terrible LB play says this is an 8-4 Team
Lots of teams that lost to all the ranked teams they played likely think the same.
Can’t, you’re right.
The Iowa State game plan was horrendous. And it took them way too long to move off it and open up the offensive playbook. We started to come back once we did, but we ran out of time.
USC, 2nd half game plan was a classic Kirk loss via starting the bunker ball strategy too early.
At 10-2 I think we make it, even without a true bonafide top 10 win.
We had game defining turnovers in every game against ranked opponents, just like we have since 2019. At 135/136 programs that blame gets put on the head coach - but not at Iowa.
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Two reasons I like this:
1) You recognize genius when you see it.
B) Commies suck.
Except for QB. Great runner, **** passer. Give us a decent QB and we're in imo.
Yet we choked it away. It’s fun.
8-4. We’re amazing. Sign Kirk to a 30-year extension.
135/136 programs blame the HC for turnovers?
It would be nice to get off KF's back for a just few hours after pounding the Huskers.
I'll make no effort to change your mind.
IMO this team is not terribly talented. But they played hard and came up with 8 wins. 3 of their 4 losses against playoff teams.
Good season. Could have been better, could have been worse.
I see this season differently. Truly a full team maximing their team performance. Didn’t have a true star on either side of the ball which is really rare for the hawks.
If MG doesn’t get hurt in the Indiana game and if Oregon doesn’t make that incredible catch to get into FG range or god forbid someone (ISU or OR) misses a FG against us, we are in the playoffs this year. No way we lose to USC if we don’t get nut kicked vs Oregon the week before. Heck, if we had RVZ vs ISU I think we win that game for sure.
But that, as KF says, is football. Not quite as close as Stanzi’s crushing ankle injury vs NW in 2009 or the MSU TD in 2015 championship game, but close.
If MG doesn’t get hurt in the Indiana game and if Oregon doesn’t make that incredible catch to get into FG range or god forbid someone (ISU or OR) misses a FG against us, we are in the playoffs this year. No way we lose to USC if we don’t get nut kicked vs Oregon the week before. Heck, if we had RVZ vs ISU I think we win that game for sure.
But that, as KF says, is football. Not quite as close as Stanzi’s crushing ankle injury vs NW in 2009 or the MSU TD in 2015 championship game, but close.
This is the reason many don't believe Iowa is a playoff team. Simple, have to show you can beat good teams.
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The disclaimer anyone should attach to a post like this is: "Considering the talent level of the HC". Because then it is much easier to agree with it.
It just exposed how another season of mediocrity didn't have to happen.
Most people on here know my opinion on certain things when it comes to Kirk Ferentz. But let’s also not pretend Kirk is completely incompetent and doesn’t know how to prepare his team to compete. He certainly knows how to develop low-level talent.
I am ready for Kirk to retire, but Kirk is still a good football coach. I disagree he is a HOF coach, but he has earned his stripes and deserves respect.
I don't think so. We have a great offensive line probably even playoff caliber but after that the only guys that I think go in upper half of NFL Draft are young (Lutmer, and Vonnahme). Most the teams who are serious contenders will have multiple first round picks and a good number in first 3-4 rounds. Just talent wise were probably in the 20 to 30 range.
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When it consistently occurs against every single quality opponent over multiple recruiting cycles, yes, it is on the coaching.
lol. So for 99% of the season it was we had a terrible d line, terrible linebackers, terrible corners, slow running backs and we all know what everyone said about our QB and receivers. The only part of the team that in general that has been praised at all has been the o line. JFC.
Aren't you the same guy who thinks MG is an all time Iowa great and will be in the NFL next year? The Iowa fanbase amazes me more and more with every passing week.
Yeah. The defense was a major step down except for the fact that they allowed way less yards and points against much stronger competition.
Ever feel like you're operating on a different planet with a different reality than everybody else? I know I do lately.
So you haven't read the threads posted since we crushed Debbie? That's on you.
Have you recently been choppered to a hospital after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a car accident?
You give these players to Cignetti and we have 10 wins minimum and you know it.