T1B

I sometimes wonder if anyone actually watches football games or just looks at stat lines. Iowa CB Shaun Prater was named Big-10 defensive player of the week for his performance against Michigan State. He had 10 tackles and an interception.

Here's the thing........he played a truly pitiful game. He was our weaklink. MSU was picking on him all day. That's the ONLY success their offense had was throwing at Prater. His interception was a great play. I will give him that. But he got those 10 tackles because he couldn't recognize a 5 yard slant route that they were constantly throwing at him. 10 tackles for a CB means they were playing shitty. MSU's biggest play of the game also came on a pass play where Prater made the worst play on the ball downfield I think I have ever seen.

I spent the whole game bitching about how bad Prater was playing. Now I see dude got defensive player of the week in the Big-10. What the fuck? We win 37-6 and the one guy that played like crap gets a weekly award?

Who the fuck is watching these games and selecting these awards? If you watched that game and thought Prater played well, you just don't know football. It was similar to our LT Bryan Bulaga being an All-American last year when the truth was he pretty much sucked balls most of the season (due to injury), but got the recognition because of preseason hype.

It really amazes me what people say about Iowa. The things Ferentz' teams get credit for is usually the things they actually don't do all that well, and the things they get criticized for are usually the things they are doing well. People just look at stats and think it tells you everything.

I do watch a fist full of Iowa games (mostly due to the 11A.M. starts) and I've particularly kept an eye on Prater throughout his career because quite frankly, I can't understand how he could be a starter for a D1 team. I watched him play for Central and while he was a solid H.S. player, I never thought dude would ball in the BIg 10.
Didn't his twin brother go to Iowa as well?

I would think a lack of a stat line says more about CB play than tackles.

I reckon you spend a lot of time looking at stats, Jon.

R-Jack wrote:I would think a lack of a stat line says more about CB play than tackles.

Exactly, which is why I'm not sure what the heck they were thinking voting him defensive POW.

Cornhusker wrote:I do watch a fist full of Iowa games (mostly due to the 11A.M. starts) and I've particularly kept an eye on Prater throughout his career because quite frankly, I can't understand how he could be a starter for a D1 team. I watched him play for Central and while he was a solid H.S. player, I never thought dude would ball in the BIg 10.
Didn't his twin brother go to Iowa as well?

I don't know what the heck ever happened to Shane, his twin brother. He played sparingly a couple years ago. I don't even think he's still on the roster.

Shaun was actually a very good corner for us last year. I wouldn't call him a lockdown corner, but he did a nice job. Good athletcism, didn't get beat deep. But he's taken a step back this year like a few guys on the defense.

Here's the thing........he played a truly pitiful game. He was our weaklink. MSU was picking on him all day. That's the ONLY success their offense had was throwing at Prater. His interception was a great play. I will give him that. But he got those 10 tackles because he couldn't recognize a 5 yard slant route that they were constantly throwing at him. 10 tackles for a CB means they were playing shitty. MSU's biggest play of the game also came on a pass play where Prater made the worst play on the ball downfield I think I have ever seen.

Prater was giving the receiver about a 10 yard cushion and keeping the play in front of him....because that is what he was supposed to do, so, yeah, they completed some short slants...BFD.

He was doing that because he had no help over the top and was on an island all day. They do that because Hyde needs more help right now and Sash is always covering over the top on Hyde's side of the field. Prater played a damn good game and made the tackles. E.O.S.

I spent the whole game bitching about how bad Prater was playing.

So you're one of those guys? Color me fucking shocked. :roll: You should quit bitching about things you know nothing about.

Now I see dude got defensive player of the week in the Big-10. What the fuck? We win 37-6 and the one guy that played like crap gets a weekly award?

He got the weekly award because he deserved it.