Solution for Iowa Offense
Iowa's offense isn't just terrible, but an absolute liability, putting its stellar defense in horrible positions.
Today, we've seen their defense play admirably well to hold the Buckeyes to mostly field goals despite 5 turnovers by their offense, including a pick 6 and 2 picks inside the 25 of Iowa territory.
My short term solution: WildCat Now
Just go to the wildcat. Get an extra blocker in there and run 3 plays, or 4 if its 4 and 1, and try to just grind out the game and even better, keep winding the clock to keep your stellar defense as fresh as possible. Even Iowa's defense will get exhausted - as we saw agains our Wolverines...help give them a break with a couple first downs on the ground.
Long term solution: Triple Option Offense
Because they refuse to develop, evolve, recruit, or fire coaches (Kirk's son), they should run the triple option going forward.
1) We have seen the triple option give really good teams fits as nobody really prepares for it.
2) Imagine if every team had to prep mid year for an Army or Georgia Tech type offense mid-year.
3) Even Brian Ferentz can't F that up? It would wind the clock and shorten the game.
4) It would help protect their stellar defense and minimize turnovers
5) No need to develop any offensive skill players (which they can't) or devise a modern offensive scheme (which they can't)
What say you? Is this an absurd idea? Maybe...but I don't think it is more absurd than what Iowa's offense is putting on the field right now which handicaps their entire team.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:30 PM ^
At least they finally benched Petras, not that it matters, because Padilla also sucks musty rhino ass.
October 22nd, 2022 at 4:25 PM ^
To quote Bill Parcells, at some point you are your record (in the slophouse B1G West, no less) and Iowa is 3-4. They don't have an elite defense. They have a disciplined, hard-working defense that gets sold down the river by an abominable offense. Elite defenses, even with crappy offenses, aren't 3-4 in the B1G West. There are, maybe, 2-3 elite defense a year in CFB, and Iowa has never been one of them. Tired of the media fawning about Iowa's defense, and fawning over their linebacker whose groin was split by a Corum juke. That guy epitomizes Iowa. Strong, sound, doesn't quit, but not elite.
October 22nd, 2022 at 7:13 PM ^
I am surprised the defense hasn’t quit on the team yet. Why bust your ass for the offense to only put you in a bind the next time you go on d?
six turnovers? Including the very first play from scrimmage? Doesn’t seem worth it.
October 22nd, 2022 at 8:53 PM ^
Because those players want to get to the league and the film don't lie.
October 22nd, 2022 at 7:13 PM ^
I am surprised the defense hasn’t quit on the team yet. Why bust your ass for the offense to only put you in a bind the next time you go on d?
six turnovers? Including the very first play from scrimmage? Doesn’t seem worth it.
October 22nd, 2022 at 4:52 PM ^
Scheme issue, coaching issue ie fundamentals and as well talent issue. We totally called off the dogs when Petras hit a few plays he never does and the same with the last drive they had. It’s bad offense.
Iowa needs to put jr Ferentz to an assistant position. They need a legit offense and play caller. They also need to get a qb coach. Likely OC/QB coach. I watched them against our defense, osu’s defense and tbh they had several plays each game where the pass should have been completed. A swing pass to the outside overthrown by both Petras and Padilla. Firing that pass only to float an int 20yds down field, like son this is not hs!
October 23rd, 2022 at 12:00 PM ^
Agree with everything except Kirk needs to tell Brian to get his real estate license he has no business working on a football team (except i guess helping them look for off site storage or something.)
October 22nd, 2022 at 11:17 PM ^
100% on the coaches for not getting a serviceable transfer. everyone knew their current QBs sucked. that said, their OL is terrible too.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:31 PM ^
Brian Ferentz has them right where he wants them.
October 22nd, 2022 at 10:26 PM ^
I don't know how to imbed a tweet, so here's the link:
https://twitter.com/ramzy/status/1578487248797908993?s=20&t=xw6RQvHzN-xIQIH973m96A
October 22nd, 2022 at 10:54 PM ^
Ya gotta appreciate his commitment to the bit! 🤣🤣🤣
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:33 PM ^
It’s a place where McNamara could step right in. It’ll be really interesting to see where he ends up going.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:37 PM ^
Why would you wish Ferentz & Son on Cade?
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:39 PM ^
Cade could call his own plays and have more success. Then Ferentz can claim it was his idea.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:52 PM ^
I imagine they’ll make some changes before next season, but they’ve been better in the past.it’s not clear how much of what we’re seeing now is because of really bad QB play. Competence could make a big difference.
October 22nd, 2022 at 8:30 PM ^
Not many people know this, but if you look at the fine print, Ferentz is owed a pound of flesh as part of the trade package for Ruddddock back in 2015. Come off season, he will collect him a Cade.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:38 PM ^
IF he goes anywhere, I predict he goes closer to home.
October 22nd, 2022 at 3:01 PM ^
If he wouldn't mind downshifting academically, I've long felt that U Nevada (Reno) would make lots of sense.
October 22nd, 2022 at 3:44 PM ^
The best life choice is to stay at Michigan and get his degree.
October 22nd, 2022 at 4:33 PM ^
He may be graduating this semester. He will have his degree and be a graduate student wherever he goes next.
October 22nd, 2022 at 5:16 PM ^
He graduated this past spring
October 22nd, 2022 at 7:03 PM ^
He should finish his Masters then. Maybe get a second.
October 22nd, 2022 at 10:12 PM ^
Vanderbilt? WKU?
October 23rd, 2022 at 9:01 AM ^
Purdue runs a QB friendly offense and Aiden is a 6th year.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:39 PM ^
Cade McNamara could be the most vile and toxic person in all of D1 football and I still wouldn't wish being coached by Brian Ferentz on him.
October 22nd, 2022 at 4:14 PM ^
so he can hand the ball off?
October 22nd, 2022 at 5:16 PM ^
Step right in and fail? Iowa is a horrible situation for a QB like Cade to walk into.
October 22nd, 2022 at 7:02 PM ^
He has the perfect amount of mobility to jog off on 4th and 13, high-fiving the punter on his way to put on his useless headset.
October 22nd, 2022 at 8:55 PM ^
I think Purdue would make a lot of sense for Cade.
October 22nd, 2022 at 11:16 PM ^
Much better suggestion than somewhere like Iowa. Cade would thrive in one of two situations.
1. A program with a solid defense and a strong running game, allowing him to regain that game manager type role. Illinois would be a good example of a lower end P5 school in that mold where he would be the guy.
2. a high-octane offense that is built around short passes and pre-snap reads. Cade struggles with intermediate throws so an offense like Purdue that wants to get the ball in space to their slot bugs would be a great fit.
I keep seeing Iowa suggested and it blows my mind. A team with an awful OL, no running game and no weapons on the outside is a terrible situation for a QB that struggles to create on his own to walk in to.
October 23rd, 2022 at 1:08 AM ^
What “high octane” offense is built around short passes?
October 24th, 2022 at 9:04 PM ^
Well Oklahoma State, Purdue, Ole Miss for starters. Lots of smaller schools are also employing various forms of Air Raid which rely on short passing yet yield high yardage/point output.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:38 PM ^
They should punt on first down. I really think it’d be a closer game
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:55 PM ^
It literally would. Significantly closer. Five turnovers (one pick 6) and a botched fake punt. To work clock they should take kneel downs before punting though.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:55 PM ^
The result of their 4 possessions in the first quarter were, in order of success:
- Punt (48 yards)
- Failed fake punt
- Fumble
- Interception
No first downs, about 12 yards of offense and somehow there were only down 16-7 at the end of the first.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:41 PM ^
At the end of the day I'm going to have newfound respect for Iowa's defense - not for their level of play, which is of course quite good, but for somehow not walking out of their football facility Monday morning and boycotting their offensive counterparts.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:41 PM ^
Take heart Iowa fans: only seven more seasons to go with Kirk after ths one.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:48 PM ^
Until his inevitable next extension!
October 22nd, 2022 at 3:34 PM ^
They're going to end up paying Kirk's estate, mark my words.
October 22nd, 2022 at 9:58 PM ^
He has a Bobby Bonilla deal with his trust. For 175 years.
October 22nd, 2022 at 4:15 PM ^
and to think he could have been ours
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
My solution? Human sacrifice. Even if it doesn't work, it makes everyone (else) feel better.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:46 PM ^
They won 10 games last year with this offense.
October 22nd, 2022 at 4:19 PM ^
That was then, somehow they took a giant step backwards. Blame their OC or blame anyone else. The 2022 Iowa offense is a train wreck.
October 22nd, 2022 at 8:50 PM ^
While the offense definitely wasn't any good last season, it wasn't the utter abomination that it is this season. Calling Brian Ferentz an offensive coordinator is tantamount to fraud at this point.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:48 PM ^
I don’t give a shit about the Iowa offense or what they can do to be better. They’re an abomination. What I do care about is Iowa’s defense and their blueprint to playing the Ohio St offense.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:57 PM ^
What about cyanide?
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:57 PM ^
Arm punt 3x / punt 1x
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:59 PM ^
Two words. Josh. Gattis.
Read em and weep Big Ten West. Hide your kids. Hide your moms.