Why Tim Lester is in the Press Box & not the sideline
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
Thanks for improving the offense and your commitment to improving the pass, Tim!
Maybe the development of a passing game will continue to upgrade our ability to recruit better skill players, or is that above your thought process?
Maybe it will.
And maybe that also won't result in more wins.
But as long as a certain amount of passing yardage is gained, fans will be happy
All I know is everything I predicted, at the time of the OC change, has come true.
1. The offense would "improve".
2. Less games would be won.
3. And the level of fan complaint would be less
If anyone is interested in the factual statistics of our offense the past three years, you can find the complete numbers here:
www.on3.com
Thanks to Lester, our offense has seen improvements in every aspect of the game. This comes at the right time as we are no longer in the lowly B1G West, but instead playing a much tougher schedule year over year. Our SOS over the past three seasons is also covered in that thread as well.
I always enjoy listening to Lester's perspective, and I'm excited to see what he's going to cook up this year, as we saw some flashes of trickeration throughout last season.
Thanks for making Iowa a better team, Tim!
By the Numbers: Offense - 2023/2024 to 2025 (Updated after the Reliaquest Bowl)
UPDATED: The 2025 regular season has come to an end. While we still have a bowl to play, I wanted to give everyone the updated numbers for the offense in the meantime. Once again, Tim Lester has improved the offense, going from #72 in the nation to #54. This puts us higher than programs like...
Thanks to Lester, our offense has seen improvements in every aspect of the game. This comes at the right time as we are no longer in the lowly B1G West, but instead playing a much tougher schedule year over year. Our SOS over the past three seasons is also covered in that thread as well.
I always enjoy listening to Lester's perspective, and I'm excited to see what he's going to cook up this year, as we saw some flashes of trickeration throughout last season.
Thanks for making Iowa a better team, Tim!
I like Lester, ive got to talk with him a few times. He's very knowledgeable and a nice guy. A big change in the offense was getting comp percentage up. While the passing yards and passing TDs were somewhat comparable to the past handful of years (Petras had 2500 yards in 21). The comp percentage was in the 60% + as a team which hasn't happened since 2015.
Part of that higher percentage is how Lester uses the run game/motion/RPO to help the passing game. Iowa has ran the ball at a higher percentage of plays the last 2 years (2024 64.8%, 2025 63.7%) then any season since the 2002.
Part of that higher percentage is how Lester uses the run game/motion/RPO to help the passing game. Iowa has ran the ball at a higher percentage of plays the last 2 years (2024 64.8%, 2025 63.7%) then any season since the 2002.
This is the exact thing I'm talking about. Can always count on 2D to come through.If anyone is interested in the factual statistics of our offense the past three years, you can find the complete numbers here:
By the Numbers: Offense - 2023/2024 to 2025 (Updated after the Reliaquest Bowl)
UPDATED: The 2025 regular season has come to an end. While we still have a bowl to play, I wanted to give everyone the updated numbers for the offense in the meantime. Once again, Tim Lester has improved the offense, going from #72 in the nation to #54. This puts us higher than programs like...
Thanks to Lester, our offense has seen improvements in every aspect of the game. This comes at the right time as we are no longer in the lowly B1G West, but instead playing a much tougher schedule year over year. Our SOS over the past three seasons is also covered in that thread as well.
I always enjoy listening to Lester's perspective, and I'm excited to see what he's going to cook up this year, as we saw some flashes of trickeration throughout last season.
Thanks for making Iowa a better team, Tim!
AGAIN, there has NOT been improvement in "every aspect of the offense". It is a "factual statistic" that under Lester, the Iowa offense has gotten worse at its most important stat, wins.
I feel sorry for anyone who gives a darn about strength of schedule. Winning is ALWAYS hard.
Even for those who value SOS, it still isn't nearly important enough to justify the the lack of respect the team got for its winning, pre-Lester. It's not nearly important enough to justify the level of negativity around the program, pre-Lester.
And it isn't nearly important enough to justify the statement that, "Lester has made Iowa a better team". At least match the level winning that happened, pre-Lester, and a discussion can then be had about whether Iowa is a better program, and what that can be attributed to. I promise you every '25 team member would have traded their season for the '23 season of 10-4 with a division title. Players and coaches don't give a **** about SOS
God you're dumb. You know Iowa would have still won the West Division if it existed last year? I'm sure every team member would gladly trade last year to get shutout repeatedly in '23, idiot. 31-0, 26-0, 35-0. I'm sure they all thought after narrowly losing to two playoff teams including the eventual national champion that they could just go back to the glory days of getting beat like a rented mule.
The only thing I like better about being on field was there were many times I watched KOK talking with QB and WRs on the sideline together.
It is hard to win these big ten games especially because the other teams are trying hard to win.
Iowa historically has a team winning percentage of 55%, we only win 55 out of every 100. Things have been better since Hayden and Kirk. Iirc, pre-Hayden Iowa was winning at about a 45% rate if that
It surprises me how many fans, when complaining, miss that point. The other team really wants to win too.
Good post.
And another example of how clueless fans can be.
Very few fans would believe that Iowa has actually been much more run heavy under Lester.
They peddled a "run, run, pass" narrative for decades that simply wasn't accurate.
Unfortunately (imo), the pass frequency will increase quite a bit this season. My fear is that Iowa falls too far from who they need to be. I'd love to be proven wrong, whether it's a greater commitment to the run than I'm expecting, or whether it's an ability to win more games than I expect without a certain commitment to the run.
Even with more rush frequency under Lester, it's been shown that a rushing identity isn't what's in his heart. At several keys moments, he has chosen cute shot plays, rather than capitalizing on opportunities to pound on the defense.
Iowa's defense was spectacular in short yardage situations last season. The offense is going to have to at least stay good in those situations. And it will be without the benefit of a power running QB. To me, that means Iowa better be committed to pounding on the D. Again, I have my doubts and am glad to be proven wrong.
Good news is, I expect a really good defense. And if the special teams are also really good, Iowa will win about the same amount of games regardless of what the offense looks Iike
It’s an interesting concept that only offense can deliver wins. I also enjoyed the ‘would trade their season for winning the west’ when the west didn’t exist. Solid trolling.
Very few fans would believe that? For someone who is always harping on "false narratives", you keep pushing one about fans.
We all saw the QB struggles and dominance of Kaleb Johnson. And we all watched Gronowski struggle to pass for most of last season while setting a record for rushing td's.
Your posts are repetitive and you sound arrogant AF.
Yea because we play Oregon, Indiana, and USC last year, instead of the Big Ten West. Get back to coaching those tight ends at Fresno State Brian. And get off the message boards. The Bulldogs need you!
While I agree the most important stat is W/L there is a stat that really can't be measured and that is the enjoyment/entertainment level. Backyard football is much more entertaining than 3 yards a cloud of dust. So.... one 9-4 record can be can much more entertaining from another 9-4 record and I think that's what Lester brings to the table.
So the defense not being great and the some uncharacteristic special teams blunders doesn't compute in the wins/losses? Nice slanted assessment Sparky
I wasn't aware that wins were solely an offensive statistic. I'll be damned. Dropping more knowledge that only you were privy to.
There is no offensive stat for wins. That's because football consists of more than the offense. "Wins" is a team stat.
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eyesofhawk continues to enlighten all of us with his supreme wisdom and insight
Yup, Iowa has a 50% to win every game... Either they win or they don't. It doesn't matter if they're playing Ohio St or Northern IAThere isn’t an Offensive stat for wins, just a Team stat.
It’s almost like they recruit, try to hire quality assistants, have strength programs, etc just like we do.
I pretty much have him pegged as someone that enjoys taking the wrong side of a debate and see what he can do with it.
Put it this way, there isn't a single member of the '23 team that would trade for the '25 season.
Yes, that '23 defense beat people like a rented mule. The excellence of a 10-2 regular season rewarded Iowa with two elite opponents in the postseason.
Blowouts are not noted in the final record column
You're giving fans more credit than I.
I've certainly seen fans that are shocked to learn Lester has run it more.
Again, they pushed a laughable "run, run, pass" narrative for decades
Is it BF’s burner? Like wtfeyesofhawk continues to enlighten all of us with his supreme wisdom and insight
This 2025 team would have won 11 games in 2023. And actually scored against the three good teams we played.
He also dismisses strength of schedule. Apparently he believes all opponents are equal.
Yeah, a contrarian for attention. Or a d'pshit. I suppose we can all agree (except for her)...... both.
strength of schedule, slight decrease in the Defense turning the ball over. Last years offense on the 2023 team makes the playoff
"Ignore" is the greatest feature ever. I have no idea what that dipshit is saying, and thank God for that.