Hawkeyes Shows Signs of Life in Win vs UNI
Iowa beat Northern Iowa 27-16 on Saturday in a game they were favored to win by roughly ten points according to some offshore lines.
The Iowa offense made some strides this week over what we have seen from the first two games, and for as bad as things were in those first two games, you’ll take any progress you can get.
Iowa put up 429 yards of offense against the Panthers, including 43 carries for 201 yards before they took a knee on the final play, losing a few yards. The Iowa offensive line was dominant all day long, their best performance of the season. The 4.8 yards per carry is something to be pleased with, especially when you consider that Wisconsin had 47 rushes for just 165 yards against these Panthers in the season opener at Madison two weeks ago.
A new ‘star’ was born on Saturday in the form of fullback converted tailback Mark Weisman. The walk on transfer from Air Force, who is not on scholarship, had 24 carries for 113 yards and three scores as he filled in for injured running backs Damon Bullock and Greg Garmon. Bullock was hurt early in the second quarter after his head collided with the knee of a tackler. He was knocked unconscious on the field and never returned. Garmon was knocked out of the game in the second quarter after he injured his elbow, appearing to have dislocated it when he fell on the ground after being tackled.
Enter Weisman, the back his teammates call ‘Juggernaut’ from X-Men comics fame, and he was too much for the Panthers to handle given how the Iowa offensive line was opening holes. Weisman made several Panther tackles pay the price for bringing him down, lowering his head and driving them into the ground; he knocked two Panthers out of the game. Before he was injured, Bullock was on his way to a career day having amassed 77 yards on 13 carries.
The Iowa defense, as it has the first two games, struggled in the first quarter. They allowed 10 points to the Panthers, more than Iowa State scored the entire game last week. However, they played much better in the second half, which has also been the case in each of the first two games. They held UNI to just three points in the second half and put up back to back three and outs to start the second half.
Iowa will have to get a lot better on offense if it wants to win more Big Ten games than it loses, but there were still plenty of plays to be made on this day that weren’t converted. They can get better and the offensive line will feel real good about themselves as they continue to get better.
Plenty to be pleased with but still a lot of work to do.
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Jon, what in the world is in that Kool-Aid that your drinkin’? There is nothing good about this years Hawkeye team. The lines, both defense and offense have holes so obvious that my grandson (10 yrs old) pointed out from his footbal coaching that were “not tolerated”.
We’re out of running backs! Our fullback is all that’s left. Didn’t do a bad job playing UNI, but, what happens against other Big 10 teams? I never understood before this season how “slow” our remaining wide recievers were. McNutt was super fast and drew all the defense, freeing up everybody else. Gone, now Chaney and Martin-Manley have to get open on their own, consistantly, and just can’t do it because they have no speed. Tight ends are also a mess. Fidorowitze ( or however ya spell it ) has very little ability as a tight end. He has diffuculty with the routes, seems to be half afraid to block (part of the problem with the running game) and is very lumbering and unathletic after his catch. I don’t see how anyone could consider him an “ALL AMERICAN” tight end. I know he was recruited as this “hot shot” tight end out of high school, but he don’t look all that good from what I’ve seen so far. Probably too late and too “pussy” to turn him into anything but a mediocre tight end at best.
Vandenburg, now there’s a story in it’s self. What in the world is with him? I think his weaknesses are just coming to the forefront. Can’t scramble well and doesn’t have good field vision. When his slow receivers do get open, he doesn’t seem to be able to find them. He’s alway had a great line to protect him,and give him lots of time in the patst His drop-back style might have been OK for O’Kieff, but it’s long since been passed up by successful programs. We’d better start looking for Brad Banks style quarterbacks, or enjoy our return to the perenial bottom of the BIG 10. See how you like this year fits. If we’re anything but the cellar, I’ll be surprised. My prediction: No Big 10 wins this year. We’re that bad. We simply stink as a Div 1 football team.
No one ever said that Iowa will be great, but some things you brought up (ie. C.J. F. being no good, and Chaney at WR–wtf–graduated) are completely lacking in having a grasp on the game of football. Its people like you who blow up message boards in low times, and cheer your ass off when times are good. This bandwagon is heading in the right direction given the youth of this years team, chances are you’ll jump back on when that happens. Chaney comment…..laughable. Im rather pissed myself that edgar cervantes missed all those blocks today……get out and stay out Jacobi (JABRONI)!!
Chaney has been gone for a few years now. Don’t you mean Davis. If anything stinks, it is you as a fan. Go away…
You my friend, are a moron.
It sounds like Bullock and Garmon are okay. Sure hope so. Garmon gave us about the most exciting returns we’ve seen in I don’t know how long, even though one called back.
Look’s like we’ve got company at the bottom. Our friends from the north, Wisconsin, don’t look too good this year either. Seem to be very confused as to what they want to do Offensive line looks bad. Terrible blocking for the run or the pass. New Quarterback plays like a “scared rabbit”. Lot’s of passes thrown before the timing in the routes. Just like Iowa, absolutely no timing, If we played each other this year, it would be a battle of the field goal kickers!
Dick, you’re obviously a badass. When did you play division 1 ball?
I don’t agree with Mr. Jacobi. Our receivers made some good catches today, especially Martin-Manley. We showed signs of life in every aspect of the offense and the defense was very good again. Bullock and Garmon do not appear to be badly hurt (knock on wood), and Weisman could provide us with an interesting option for the rest of the year, as long as we get one of the scat backs — both of whom looked good today before they got hurt — in the backfield with him. I agree on Fedorovitz (??). I really think he’s a good catch, but every time he catches the ball he just falls to the ground like a sack of boulders. We’ll see on that. Since when was Marvin all that fast? He was a big target, was a great catch in all situations, and ran well with ball when he caught it. My jury is still out on VDB. Awful the first two weeks, better today, though surely not good enough yet.
Jacobi or however you spell it. Drink less coffee and chill out. Cj was the second rated tight end in the country out of high school genius. Would love to see you on the field.
Unfortunately, it is what it is! We may get better, but we are not very good right now. Our offense remains predictable. Can we run more than 10 plays? I do think our defense is playing better than I antisipated, especially the line. Oh well, wait until next year!
Our offense doesn’t look as predictable to me as it has in recent years. Still, here’s a way for it not to be so predictable: Put two runners in the backfield and actually use both for ball carrying. This is something that was done for about a hundred years in college football but hasn’t been done for about, what? forty years? Line up in the “I” formation or in the “pro set,” but don’t just use Weisman for blocking; actually give him the ball like on a fourth, say, of the running plays. Make the freaking linebackers doubt who is going to get the ball on a running down. Then once in awhile fake a belly play to Weisman over the right guard/tackle (Bullock should be still at this point back and to VDB’s left). Now as W hits the hole pretending (just pretending!) to have the ball, Kevonte M-M comes from the right slot. VDB, having faked to W, turns back to his right and gives it to KMM, who has Bullock ahead of him blocking as he sweeps left. This is called a “counter” play, used to be called a “cross buck.” You can do it very quickly and, now that we know what we have in Weisman — a fullback whose threat as a ball carrier must be respected — you can do a lot of things and not be so predictable. Ferentz is so very old school. This vista — two backs at once who both take the ball sometimes — should appeal to him. As rarely as it used in football today, you would think it was against the law or that the Supreme Court had interpreted the Commerce Clause as prohibiting it, but I have checked. Actually, you can do it, and inasmuch as the defenses haven’t seen it for about forty years, there would even be an element of surprise. Go Hawks.
This really bothers me! This article should have just one sentence….Iowa Clobbers UNI 45-6…Next. No, Iowa has to show just signs of life….against UNI!!!! Although a good program, UNI should be in a lesser tier than Iowa. This is frickin ridiculous!! UNI is now being talked about on the same level as Iowa and Iowa State! Is this basketball? C’mon, we should not be having these conversations!! Under Barta, Iowa has totally sucked in sports. Every year we are in the bottom tier in the Director’s Cup!!! The two biggest money making sports are average at best, but we pay coaches as if we are Michigan, Ohio State or Alabama. What ever happened to pay for performance! Sorry guys, but Ferentz is “coasting”. He does not have the energy anymore. I am tired of “recruiting in Iowa is challenging” statement. Nebraska can’t be much easier and Osborne let them to 3 national championships. I am being negative but this is getting old.