UNI down one against Iowa

[TheJON]

Nope. We played hard, just didn't execute. I get pissed off 1 time like 4 years ago and you're still bringing that up? Kinda lame, but whatever floats your boat I suppose.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

JON, I think you're downplaying your team's performance. It's not like Iowa just looked rusty for a couple quarters and let UNI hang around, only to bury them at the end. No, UNI was a freaking FG away from WINNING THE GAME. I'd be extremely concerned if I were you.

[TheJON]

Why should I be concerned? We never play well the first game and we went up against a team that probably spent their entire offseason preparing for Iowa. Not only that but we were without our starting CB, top WR, both guards, and our) is out leaving no experience at that position. What should we have expected from a team in its opener given these facts? It will take a couple weeks for this team to gel and to start getting key players back from injury/suspension. Talk to me in a couple weeks and if we're still playing poorly then I will be worried. UNI played out of their minds and we were rusty. Remember when Michigan LOST to App St? They went on to win the CapOne Bowl. It's far from panic time. Stanzi will play better, the line has the starters coming back soon, DJK will get out of Ferentz' doghouse and get back to playing, and we will find a decent enough RB. If you take away all the mental mistakes, this wouldn't have been a very close game even with all the injuries. We will get that stuff up. Football is not a one game season. Am I disappointed in the play yesterday? Of course I am. Dropped balls on 3rd down, bad turnovers, missed tackles from some of the best tacklers in the Big-10, etc. But I'm not about to panic. They're gonna be fine.

[TheJON]

Paki O'Meara is obviously not the answer to the running back position, although I think he has a role as the 3rd down back, and I think the Robinson kid has earned himself a start in the backfield.

I don't think Paki has a spot ANYWHERE on the field. He just does not have the natural instincts to play the position. From my view in the stands, it sure looked like he had some holes to run through quite often but just ran straight into a defender instead. And that fumble was just pathetic. Why no Wegher? I know Brinson was injured too so he couldn't play, but I would have liked to have seen Wegher get a few carries.

There were more positives from this game than people want to mention. I was real impressed with the 2nd half intensity upgrade. I thought we were a couple of dropped balls and a fumble away from blowing them out in the 2nd half. McNutt's drop on 3rd down when we were driving setting up a missed FG. Then if Stross makes that easy catch on our final possession, UNI never gets a chance to drive down the field at the end. So while those are frustrating, we must remember that this is McNutt's first time playing WR and he did a GREAT job yesterday considering. Ran clean routes and caught every ball except that one big one. And Stross is a quality WR when healthy, so I'm not going to get too worried about him.

Same goes for Stanzi. He just played a TERRIBLE first half but he's better than that. He proved it in the 2nd half. He missed a lot of easy throws in the first half and that's a big part of the reason we couldn't put it in the end zone.

To be honest, the thing I was most disappointed with was the overall coaching. I thought the offensive and defensive coordinators did a piss poor job in play calling. O'Keefe's gameplan was fine, but when we were in clutch spots he really fucked up. UNI had no timeouts and Robinson had run the ball okay, so on our final set of downs why did we not run the ball on 2nd and short to keep the clock moving? That incomplete pass really hurt. That's a big 30 seconds we could have taken off the clock. The decision by Ferentz to kick a 49 yard FG was horrible. Daniel Murray is not making that kick 8 times out of 10. Just go for it or take a delay of game and punt. And then running the same damn running play on 3rd and 4th and short when UNI's ENTIRE defense had stacked the middle of the line. They telegraphed those plays. I was begging for a 4th down playaction bootleg. Dude behind me goes "too risky, just run it up the middle". I told him it won't work, and I was right. That was a key drive in the game and a HUGE play for the UNI defense.

Defensively, again.......I thought Norm had a great gameplan. I was disappointed in the execution at times by players that we know are capable of doing better. The 50 yard pass early in the 2nd half because Greenwood and Sash fucked up in coverage. Those guys rarely do that and we rarely allow big pass plays because of it. I thought Angerer missed some tackles and that's really surprising because he was one of the best tacklers in the country last year. If he's got a shot to make the stop, he does- EVERY TIME. Well, every time except yesterday. Overall the defense played really well. UNI's yards came on a couple of possessions. The rest of the game we pretty much shut them down. But that final drive, I really thought Parker's strategy was just terrible. 2:30 in college is an eternity, even without a timeout........considering they only needed a FG. We played to prevent a TOUCHDOWN, which makes no sense considering they were down a point! We needed to be more aggressive. Rushing 3 and dropping our LB's deep into coverage was just plain stupid. The 10-12 yard out was WIDE open. You can't do that. I love the strategy if they need a touchdown because we know how physical Iowa's defense is and once you get inside the red zone we're tough to score on. Fortunately, we blocked their FG and held on. But we were very lucky given the strategy of our coordinators.

I am really excited to see how this team responds in Ames next week. I think they'll be more ready to play. ISU better not watch too much Iowa-UNI game film. If they do, they're going to be sadly mistaken about what team comes onto the field on Saturday.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Why should I be concerned? We never play well the first game and we went up against a team that probably spent their entire offseason preparing for Iowa.

Except during the off season I could've sworn you were trying to get everyone to buy into the idea that since Iowa finished strong in 2008, that that would carry over into 2009 and they wouldn't skip a beat. It seems in reality we're back to square one and Iowa's "progression" in 2008 didn't actually mean a damn thing. And please, don't give me the injury excuses; which you railed against Van for re: USC/Stanford, yet are now using that same argument/excuse since it's convenient for you. I don't care about injuries when we're talking about UNI, and even the regular starters who were healthy and on the field played like crap.

And this notion that Iowa plays sooooooooo much better in the 2nd half of the year - well, ya, when you play like absolute garbage the first few games of the year there is nowhere to go but up. I'm sorry but you don't get kudos for sucking it up against D1AAs, Iowa St, and Big Ten slappies only to pull it together and play the way you should be playing in week 8.

[TheJON]

Mgo, injuries played a major factor yesterday. Injuries did not play a major factor EVER when USC is playing a team like Stanford. They're freakin' USC. They've got backups better than almost every other team's starters. So no, that's not an excuse for USC losing to such a horrible team. If teams like Iowa and MSU lose players like that, then it is a major factor. We don't have their backups. Like I've been saying, I'm not going to start melting down claiming the season is over because of 1 piss poor performance. I said before the game that in 2002 after the opener I was pissed and thought we wouldn't even make a bowl. We won 11 games. In 2004 I wanted to fire Ferentz after we got beat by 30 to ASU and then lost to Michigan. We then won our last 8 games. You would have been claiming we wouldn't have won more than a couple conference games after our 2-1 start. Did you think Iowa was going to finish off 9-4 with a win over Penn State after our 5-4 start? Doubtful. Again, get back to me in a couple of weeks and then make your assessment of Iowa's team.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Again, get back to me in a couple of weeks and then make your assessment of Iowa's team.

Oh, I have no doubt Iowa will improve. Like I said, they start out so flat and uninspiring they don't really have anywhere else to go but up. I just don't think they should get props for that. That being said, I'd still be concerned over that performance.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

JON may not be concerned about Iowa but I have to admit that I am somewhat concerned. How does a ranked D-I team narrowly escape a I-AA team AT HOME in a game they could have, and should have, lost?

Yeah, that just didn't seem like typical game 1 rustyness to me. You know, like a 23-10 type of win where team A is hanging around on the scoreboard yet team B is never really in serious jeopardy of losing the game. No, this wasn't quite like that...shit, if UNI recruited a kicker who could clear 10 feet this thread would have a much different tone.

[M Club]

it's too bad all these teams devote their entire lives to beating iowa while iowa can't even be bothered to get out of bed. think of all the things they would have accomplished by now.

[H4ever]

it's too bad all these teams devote their entire lives to beating iowa while iowa can't even be bothered to get out of bed. think of all the things they would have accomplished by now.

Which is why, technically, they have won 12 straight MNC's, along with Cal.

[PSUFAN]

No doubt it was a poor performance by the Hawks...but blocking two fg tries to win was purty epic.

[H4ever]

I want to take this opportunity to remind Jon of the smack he leveled against Nebraska and their prospects this year.

Considering Nebraska's dismantling of Florida Atlantic and Iowa's performance against UNI, I want to know his thoughts of the outcome of a Nebraska vs. Iowa game, right now?

I know it's early and Nebraska could step all over their dicks while Iowa could run the table, I liked what I saw the first game out. Pellini's players are playing like they truly respect their coaches and want to dominate again. Haven't seen that since Osborne left. I guess we'll know more after the V-tech game.

[TheJON]

Considering Nebraska's dismantling of Florida Atlantic and Iowa's performance against UNI, I want to know his thoughts of the outcome of a Nebraska vs. Iowa game, right now?

Well obviously Nebraska would win 800-0. I mean, NU rolled in their season opener and Iowa didn't so obviously the Huskers are destined for a national title and Iowa will go 1-11.

Jon, are you staying with your 9-3 call?

Or 10-2.

They had no running game and the offensive line play was disappointing

The running game will be horrible regardless of the O-line play if Paki is in. I do not think we see him ever again in a meaningful situation beyond next week. But I thought the O-line did a good job considering they were without 2 of their best players. Put Calloway and Vandevelde on the line and it's a different story. The O-line does not worry me at all. These guys are proven players and this is going to be one of the best lines in the nation again once healthy. I feel confident especially with Bulaga at LT. He's as good as an OL as there is in the country.

You know, like a 23-10 type of win where team A is hanging around on the scoreboard yet team B is never really in serious jeopardy of losing the game. No, this wasn't quite like that...shit, if UNI recruited a kicker who could clear 10 feet this thread would have a much different tone.

Iowa played well in the 2nd half actually. We dominated them for most of that half. UNI came out with national championship game intensity and we couldn't match it. This was their Super Bowl. 69 players on that roster are Iowa kids and their campus is an hour away from Iowa's. They beat ISU 2 years ago and always play them tough. Coach Farley has those kids fired up beyond belief for these games. The only reason we were ever in jeopardy of losing is because of mistakes. That's one of the main reasons I'm not too worried. You can clear that stuff up. The dropped balls, the bad fumble, the missed tackles by sure-tacklers. Michigan did the same thing 2 years ago except they lost. They didn't take them as serious as they should and just could not match their intensity. When you let a team that's probably spent their entire offseason preparing for this one single game and you let them hang around because of some mistakes, you run the risk of losing the game. Fortunately, Iowa held on. Hallgren is actually a decent kicker but he kicks line drives. His other kicks in the game were line drives and Iowa took advantage of that.

[minorthreat]

This was their Super Bowl.

I thought it was our Super Bowl?


sin,

Iowa State

[TheJON]

This was their Super Bowl.

I thought it was our Super Bowl?


sin,

Iowa State

It is.

By the way, minor, what's your pick for the game Saturday?

Iowa 20
ISU 14

That's mine. I like Iowa to play like crap but hold on at the end. In typical Iowa-ISU fashion, Clones will have a potential game winning drive stalled around midfield and Hawks will escape. But I'm hoping for a 56-0 game too!

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

It doesn't matter if you win or lose, but how well you travel.

[minorthreat]

This was their Super Bowl.

I thought it was our Super Bowl?


sin,

Iowa State

It is.

By the way, minor, what's your pick for the game Saturday?

Iowa 20
ISU 14

That's mine. I like Iowa to play like crap but hold on at the end. In typical Iowa-ISU fashion, Clones will have a potential game winning drive stalled around midfield and Hawks will escape. But I'm hoping for a 56-0 game too!

I'll go the opposite....ISU-20, Iowa-14. I don't see either team winning by more than a touchdown.

I'm hoping to see some more 5 wide sets by ISU. For some reason Iowa refuses to bring in a extra corner to cover it. They bring in a LB. ISU has the WRs this year. Iowa's O-line should dominate ISU's D-line, but their RB's need to step it up.Neither team can afford any turnovers.

[TheJON]

I'm hoping to see some more 5 wide sets by ISU. For some reason Iowa refuses to bring in a extra corner to cover it. They bring in a LB.

I try not to criticize Norm because his record speaks for itself. We're very good defensively almost every year. But yeah, I don't understand the LB's covering WR's so much. At times we even have them covering the opposing teams TOP WR. In the ISU game, I'm not sure we could throw in an extra CB even if we wanted to. With Bernstine out for the year and Prater suspended, the options are limited.

I don't see either team winning by more than a touchdown.

Definitely agree with this. It's probably going to be a close game, either way. I don't think Iowa or ISU fan should be too overconfident going into this and I could see either team winning. I think Iowa wins IF we match ISU's intensity from the start of the game. I'm thinking after the game we'll be looking back on 1 turnover being the difference in the game. I'm just hopeful that turnover benefits Iowa and not ISU.

ISU has the WRs this year.

I'm still not as impressed with these WR's as some are. Hamilton is good but lacks speed. Darks has the athleticism but I was watching him last week and his routes were not very crisp. I don't even remember him catching a pass. That Reynolds kid looked pretty solid though. I think Franklin could be a difference maker at TE if they can get him the ball. Both teams have outstanding TE's. There were quite a few dropped balls from the receiving corps and there were quite a few last year. Arnaud did not have his best game but there were some balls thrown behind WR's that could have been caught. I know it's not easy to catch a slant pass thrown behind you but good receivers make those catches. Something tells me they'll be making those catches on Saturday!