Jesus Christ, no he is not.
Tough guy though. Good competitor. Appreciated him bringing some offense to our progrum. Good job, Mark.
Mark Gronowski
- Thread starter BringBackBradBanks
- Start date
Tough guy though. Good competitor. Appreciated him bringing some offense to our progrum. Good job, Mark.
I’d give him a “reasonably good” overall grade to go along with “very poor passer.”
He’s not in the category of those other dudes.
Tommy Busch was pretty darn good FB too!
No, he isn't. Not even close.
Did Beathard even have a game winning touchdown drive at Iowa?!? I guess Michigan he gets credit in 2016 but the punt return set up that field goal. He didn’t have a game winning drive against Minnesota or Nebraska in 2015. I guess he gets credit for the field goal against Pitt.
I misremembered NE, I would consider a TD drive to go up 2 scores with 5 mins left against MN a game winning drive TBH. I guess it depends on your definition.
Mark has a damn good clutch factor, but that doesn’t make up for his other deficiencies. At least not enough to put him in the top tier of Iowa QBs.
He was a tough son of a b****. Reason I go with Allen is because of his versatility at the perfect time when Iowa was a total pro style offense.
We were running sets with just a FB in the backfield that would be foreign languages to younger fans today..........and I'm only 39 btw.
What if he had the receivers they had in their best years?
Tate was hot garbage in 2006. Put up better numbers but with worse W/L results in 2005 (but some of that was the step down in defensive play in all honesty). But in '06 our receiver room basically had to start over after the '05 class departed, and a few injuries essentially left us with young guys who weren't quite ready yet.
Iowa didn't have a Tevaun Smith this year and our TEs came on at the end of the year, but Kittle was coming into his own as a Jr and Kreiger-Koble had a great SR season as well.
Gronowskui's struggles were exacerbated because of our WR inadequacies, but that has to be taken into account when placing him among the others in the KF era.
His WR room was undoubtedly the weakest/unproven of all those he's up against (among the upper tier anyways).
But the one thing he did have compared to everyone but Banks was his running ability (and yes, he was a better runner than Beathard, although I'll accept the argument that we missed out on more of that aspect to CJB because of his constant groin injury struggles).
And as some of the podcasts have stated today and throughout the season, this should......SHOULD.......solidify to Kirk Ferentz, without a doubt, that he NEEDS a QB with mobility in 2026 and for as long as he remains our head coach.
Never again should we be trotting out a pocket rocket statue unless injuries force our hand, or this guy is already the hand to God proven second coming of Peyton Manning..........
Just saying.
Its funny, he had some issues in many games throwing and YET in some really big moments he made great throws. The one today to RVZ, the one against MSU to RVZ, the TD to Gill, the TD to RVZ in the Minn. game.
I mean it depends on your definition.
The thing about the 2015 team, outside the Pitt game, which he gets credit for, was that they were always driving to go up TWO scores in their tight regular season games.
It would then be the defense that would give up a late drive to make the score look closer than it was, like with Minnesota.
Iowa found the perfect formula in 2015. Just always maintain a two score lead and force the opponent's hand against our defense.....and traditionally that's a recipe for disaster for most teams.
It's just too bad we haven't been able to replicate that formula, offensively, since then.
Some of that can also be placed on our defense too, especially when you look at our ranked losses in that stretch since 2015...............and f***ing Purdue with f***ing Jeff Brohm.
Beathard threw a TD to McCarron that gave Iowa a 24-17 lead with a little over two minutes to go in the 2015 CyHawk game.
TL;DRWhat if he had the receivers they had in their best years?
Tate was hot garbage in 2006. Put up better numbers but with worse W/L results in 2005 (but some of that was the step down in defensive play in all honesty). But in '06 our receiver room basically had to start over after the '05 class departed, and a few injuries essentially left us with young guys who weren't quite ready yet.
Iowa didn't have a Tevaun Smith this year and our TEs came on at the end of the year, but Kittle was coming into his own as a Jr and Kreiger-Koble had a great SR season as well.
Gronowskui's struggles were exacerbated because of our WR inadequacies, but that has to be taken into account when placing him among the others in the KF era.
His WR room was undoubtedly the weakest/unproven of all those he's up against (among the upper tier anyways).
But the one thing he did have compared to everyone but Banks was his running ability (and yes, he was a better runner than Beathard, although I'll accept the argument that we missed out on more of that aspect to CJB because of his constant groin injury struggles).
And as some of the podcasts have stated today and throughout the season, this should......SHOULD.......solidify to Kirk Ferentz, without a doubt, that he NEEDS a QB with mobility in 2026 and for as long as he remains our head coach.
Never again should we be trotting out a pocket rocket statue unless injuries force our hand, or this guy is already the hand to God proven second coming of Peyton Manning..........
Just saying.
Since it is the season..If Ifs and But's were candy and nuts, oh what a season we'd have.
This puts Gronowski in the category of great QBs like Banks, Tate, Stanzi, and Beathard? He’s a good QB and certainly an upgrade over the last five years. I’ll 100% agree on that, but Iowa is still yet to win regular season game with him as QB against a ranked opponent. Hard to put him in the great category when your best win is a 5-6 PSU team or @ Nebraska.
Last edited:
Norm Granger. He had 43 receptions and Gronowski only has one, although it was a TD...
Weisman did pretty well as a runningback/fullback.
With Mark G. Iowa goes 8-4 and some would say a few plays and points from 12-0!!!
Without Mark G., Iowa probably goes 4-8 on the low end and 6-6 on the top end!!!
Mark G. only played one season at Iowa so that probably limits his Iowa All time greatness!!!
Mark G. came into an era of Iowa Football with an offense that was pretty bad and low scoring over the last several years and some would say a laughing joke across the country in D1 college Football!!!
Mark G. leaves Iowa Football with an offense that started slow but progressed to be interestingly different, somewhat competent and scoring points!!!
Mark G. did not get to participate in Spring Ball because of surgery and was not ready to play at a high level against ISU otherwise probably an Iowa win in Ames over the Cyclones and had he not got injured early in the fourth quarter it's probably an Iowa win at home over the Hoosiers!!!
Mark G. benefited from a really good Iowa offensive line and a I think a competent Offensive Coordinator in Tim Lester!!!
Mark G. and the G. stands for Gamer!!! Mark G is a Gamer!!!
The Final Analysis: Mark G. is a Winner!!!
Go Hawks!!!
Without Mark G., Iowa probably goes 4-8 on the low end and 6-6 on the top end!!!
Mark G. only played one season at Iowa so that probably limits his Iowa All time greatness!!!
Mark G. came into an era of Iowa Football with an offense that was pretty bad and low scoring over the last several years and some would say a laughing joke across the country in D1 college Football!!!
Mark G. leaves Iowa Football with an offense that started slow but progressed to be interestingly different, somewhat competent and scoring points!!!
Mark G. did not get to participate in Spring Ball because of surgery and was not ready to play at a high level against ISU otherwise probably an Iowa win in Ames over the Cyclones and had he not got injured early in the fourth quarter it's probably an Iowa win at home over the Hoosiers!!!
Mark G. benefited from a really good Iowa offensive line and a I think a competent Offensive Coordinator in Tim Lester!!!
Mark G. and the G. stands for Gamer!!! Mark G is a Gamer!!!
The Final Analysis: Mark G. is a Winner!!!
Go Hawks!!!
No chance.What if he had the receivers they had in their best years?
Tate was hot garbage in 2006. Put up better numbers but with worse W/L results in 2005 (but some of that was the step down in defensive play in all honesty). But in '06 our receiver room basically had to start over after the '05 class departed, and a few injuries essentially left us with young guys who weren't quite ready yet.
Iowa didn't have a Tevaun Smith this year and our TEs came on at the end of the year, but Kittle was coming into his own as a Jr and Kreiger-Koble had a great SR season as well.
Gronowskui's struggles were exacerbated because of our WR inadequacies, but that has to be taken into account when placing him among the others in the KF era.
His WR room was undoubtedly the weakest/unproven of all those he's up against (among the upper tier anyways).
But the one thing he did have compared to everyone but Banks was his running ability (and yes, he was a better runner than Beathard, although I'll accept the argument that we missed out on more of that aspect to CJB because of his constant groin injury struggles).
And as some of the podcasts have stated today and throughout the season, this should......SHOULD.......solidify to Kirk Ferentz, without a doubt, that he NEEDS a QB with mobility in 2026 and for as long as he remains our head coach.
Never again should we be trotting out a pocket rocket statue unless injuries force our hand, or this guy is already the hand to God proven second coming of Peyton Manning..........
Just saying.
98% of the time, Mark throws a pretty bad, wobbly ball.
It least your mommy and daddy gave you self esteem, they missed the boat teaching you class or timing.
Cheers Little Man!!
No chance?
So the 2% of the time were the passes he completed today?
If you care, he had 6 INTs this year, maybe half that in lost fumbles on the season, although I'd need to dig a bit more for that stat.
Stanzi had 15 INTs alone in his "we win if he plays" season....................
It's okay to be wrong that Gronowski/Iowa would've done better with some of the best WRs of the KF era. I won't tell anyone.
Tate's career passer rating at Iowa was 137 and averaged over 2,700 yards in his 3 seasons. MG's passer rating is 122 and he threw for 1,527 yards this year. There's just no comparison between the 2.What if he had the receivers they had in their best years?
Tate was hot garbage in 2006. Put up better numbers but with worse W/L results in 2005 (but some of that was the step down in defensive play in all honesty). But in '06 our receiver room basically had to start over after the '05 class departed, and a few injuries essentially left us with young guys who weren't quite ready yet.
Iowa didn't have a Tevaun Smith this year and our TEs came on at the end of the year, but Kittle was coming into his own as a Jr and Kreiger-Koble had a great SR season as well.
Gronowskui's struggles were exacerbated because of our WR inadequacies, but that has to be taken into account when placing him among the others in the KF era.
His WR room was undoubtedly the weakest/unproven of all those he's up against (among the upper tier anyways).
But the one thing he did have compared to everyone but Banks was his running ability (and yes, he was a better runner than Beathard, although I'll accept the argument that we missed out on more of that aspect to CJB because of his constant groin injury struggles).
And as some of the podcasts have stated today and throughout the season, this should......SHOULD.......solidify to Kirk Ferentz, without a doubt, that he NEEDS a QB with mobility in 2026 and for as long as he remains our head coach.
Never again should we be trotting out a pocket rocket statue unless injuries force our hand, or this guy is already the hand to God proven second coming of Peyton Manning..........
Just saying.
Great leader and overall the best qb since Stanley, but terrible at seeing the field and with accuracy. One more year would have been great!
Off the top of my head on his interceptions:No chance?
So the 2% of the time were the passes he completed today?
If you care, he had 6 INTs this year, maybe half that in lost fumbles on the season, although I'd need to dig a bit more for that stat.
Stanzi had 15 INTs alone in his "we win if he plays" season....................
It's okay to be wrong that Gronowski/Iowa would've done better with some of the best WRs of the KF era. I won't tell anyone.
Wietjen fell down against Iowa State
Tipped ball against Indiana
Ball bounces off Gill’s knee against USC
Bad throw against Wisconsin
So at least three of those interceptions were either unlucky or not Mark’s fault.
I'd take a better passer even when that comes with more interceptions 10 times out of 10. i.e. Ricky Stanzi.
Higher risk, higher reward is what I prefer.
Higher risk, higher reward is what I prefer.
‘Geez, what a baby. If me sharing my opinion that mark is an average qb is so devastating to you then you should rethink posting on these boards. I simply find it funny we are claiming all time great after a whopping 8-4 season. Holy mediocrity Batman. But, have at it if you wish.
I would say maybe 7th best of the ferentz era and that’s me putting zero effort into researching at all because I don’t care enough to. Chandler and Stanley were far more impactful to this program than gronowski has been. But keep being a sensitive little ***** because you don’t share my opinion.
It would have been interesting to see what he could have done in a year 2. It didn't appear as though he was mentally/physically ready to play at the beginning of the year.
Totally agree, his passing has imprproved recently, granted Van Zee is healthy and that helps. His running and mobility is very good and I think he still is not 100%. You can only wonder about a year two if it was available.
I think this is true. I would add that although his accuracy seems to have improved over the course of the season, IMO he still lacks the arm talent of better FBS QB's. I think that off season surgery impacted him more than anyone knows or was willing to admit.
Last edited:
Agreed, the not seeing the field is my biggest issue with him. Truly could have been unbeaten if he sees open receivers
Pretend I already knew all of this when I made my post..................and therefore, if I already knew all of this and still said what I said, does that mean that there actually is valid comparison between the two?
Aside from the fact that Gronowski went 8-4 his senior year while Tate went 6-6 in the regular season and got benched during and ugly loss at Minnesota?..............
Don't just look at career and season statistics, add them up, and say
Please.