The New Wide Receivers Coach At Iowa

Hot damn!  Erik Campbell is a Hawkeye coach.  He’ll be coaching the wide receivers.

Erik Campbell managed an 8 year stretch as the Michigan wide receivers coach where each year the team had a 1,000 yard receiver and the year the streak ended there were 3 guys that all caught for more the 500 yards.

Not too shabby.

Of course, there were a lot of ridiculously talented receivers that were just begging to play for Michigan during that time.   The real test will be to see how well he can make the receivers that play for Iowa and whether he has the ability to help recruit some of those types of athletes for Iowa.

The current crop at Iowa showed flashes where they seemed to really get what was going on and the lots of moments where it was clear they were not quite ready for a season in the Big 10.

I’m sure all of the receivers are pumped up about the opportunity to work with a man who has been responsible for so many great NFL careers.  Hopefully, Campbell has a few new tricks to increase the players ability to catch the ball and complete their routes since I am certain that he will have their total attention right off the bat.

I expect with one full season as the full time quarterback under his belt Jake Christensen will have a little better luck getting them the ball as long as Campbell can help get the wide receivers to the spots they need to be and get them to actually catch the ball.

Football Season Recap

Ouch. What a bummer of a football season. Going 6-6 is disappointing but losing at home to Western Michigan kind of sucks.

Unlike Pat Harty, I’m not ready to turn into a complete cry baby and start saying that Ferentz better turn things around or else.

Check this out:

History shows that it’s hard enough turning around the fortunes of the Iowa football program once, but to do it twice with the same coaching staff is asking a lot, maybe too much.

Hayden Fry is probably the only Iowa coach to come close to rebuilding the program twice. The first time occurred in the early 1980s followed by another resurgence in the mid-1990s.

But it wasn’t as good the second time around under Fry.

Apparently it is time for Ferentz to accept one of those pro job offers and bring in a new Hawkeye coach. Whatever.

The team has a fair amount of extremely young talent. I think a summer of getting some practices in are going to result in a team that can score some points next year. Besides the crazy youth and inexperience at QB and WR, the offensive line was normally 1 JR, 2 SO, and 2 FR. They’ll be bigger, stronger, faster, and meaner next year.

The defense has been pretty solid for a while now as long as the offense can keep them off the field for more than 3 plays and a punt. The punter seems to be pretty solid after a season that saw him set the Iowa record for most punts in a season as a freshman.

One coach and position that I would like the team to really look at is whoever is in charge of the cornerbacks and safeties. It seems like when the opposing offensive line gives their QB any amount of time at all, he normally has no trouble throwing that ball about 10-20 yards down field which is a problem Iowa has had for several years now. I would love for Iowa to tighten down that area of their defense and really start making 3rd and long a punishment instead of an opportunity for the other team.

Anyway, hopefully there will be no bowl game and the team can head straight to the weight rooms and start watching game tape and the rest of us fans can move on to basketball.

Iowa Is Playing Western Michigan Right Now

The game isn’t on TV here, so I logged into Yahoo Sports to see what is happening.

Iowa started with a 3 and out. So at least some things never change. I really am amazed at how often Iowa goes 3 and out.

Then Iowa gives up what sounds like an easy touchdown because Western Michigan apparently knows that to beat Iowa, you try to pick on the secondary.

After the touchdown, and missed extra point, W. Michigan kicks off and Iowa fumbles.

What a horrible start. I think I’m glad it isn’t on TV. I still expect Iowa to be able to win this game but they really need to work on not collapsing so badly right at the opening kick off of games.

Here’s hoping Iowa gets to go to a bowl game so that we’ll have the extra few weeks of practice for next year.

All You Need To Know About The Most Recent Hawkeye Loss

Here is the only stat you need to know about Iowa - Purdue game.

Christensen ran the ball 8 times. Young ran the ball 7. They did let Sims run 11 times but I can pretty much guarantee that anytime Christensen is running the ball more times the Young, Iowa will lose.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Young needs at least 20 runs and Sims needs at least 15 runs. Every game. Whether they get 0 yards or 200. They give Iowa the best chance to win the game. They give Iowa the best chance to get first downs and give the defense a chance to rest. They give Iowa the best chance of not sending the punter out onto the field. They give Iowa the best chance of not having a receiver drop the ball or not be able to reach a ball thrown two yards behind them.

I don’t care if Iowa is down by 50. Young and Sims need to be running the ball.

Okay. Let’s hope they follow the game plan in next weekends game.

Will the road kill the offense

Over the last couple years, the Hawkeye team that goes on the road trips is not the same team that plays at Kinnick Stadium. Sure the players are the same, but they just don’t play with the same confidence or toughness.

This year, the offense has been pretty pathetic at home and away until they started moving the ball last week against Illinois. But now they are back on the road against Purdue and the Iowa offense is only a week older than they were last week.

The good news is that Purdue gives up nearly 400 yards a game. 250 through the air and 143 on the ground and they have given up 21 TDs in their 7 games. So the odds look good for the offense having some possibility of moving the ball.

Plus, Purdue lost handily to Michigan and Ohio State which happened to be the only two good teams they played. All of their wins were against some pretty sketchy teams and even those teams didn’t have too much trouble scoring some points.

But, can the Hawkeyes, with all of the young players on offense, actually move the ball at Purdue. One way or another, this appears to be a pivot game for the Hawkeyes. It is probably the toughest game left on the schedule and after this game 3 of the last 4 games will be at home.

I’m going to predict the Hawkeyes move the ball well enough, scoring 20 points when they actually let the field goal kicker play a few more times than against Illinois. Then the defense will pounce and hold Purdue to 13.

But I’ve been wrong before. Tune into ESPN2 at 11am tomorrow to see what happens.

Can the Hawkeyes get to a bowl game?

So, Iowa managed to beat Illinois.  They finally got around to really running the ball, play after play and getting first down after first down.  I have been begging for more running plays all season.  Don’t worry, Hawkeye coaches.  I don’t expect any compensation for helping you tweak your game plan.

And as I’ve been saying all along, that Iowa defense is pretty insane when given the chance to catch their breath every now and then.

And just like that, people are starting to talk about the Hawkeyes chances of a bowl game which is probably actually fairly reasonable given the insane number of bowl games and the fact that you just need to win half your games to be eligible for one of those bowls.

The good news is that with Minnesota and Western Michigan at the end of the schedule, there is a great chance at getting at least 2 more wins which would make the Hawkeyes bowl eligible.

In the other 3 games, Iowa plays Purdue, Michigan State, and Northwestern.  Slam dunks right?  That would leave Iowa a very respectable 8-4.

Michigan State has scored 32 TDs.  Purdue has 30 TDs.  Northwestern only has 24 TDs but most of those have come during wins the last two weeks where they scored 48 and 49 points.  Iowa has only scored 14 TDs.

Iowa’s defense should do just fine but in addition to just moving the ball, the Hawkeyes are going to need to actually get the ball into the end zone which is still a problem with all the injuries and youth on the offensive side of the ball. Hopefully, they will continue running the ball a lot and start breaking a couple plays a game.  I don’t think 10 points will end up beating Purdue, Michigan State, or Northwestern.

I’d really like to jump on the bandwagon but this is still a team that has only beaten one team not named Syracuse or Northern Illinois, is second from last in the Big Ten and still has not won a real road game.  However, if the offense can show some ability to actually get the football in the end zone on the road against Purdue I’ll probably start feeling a lot more confident about doing a little trash talking.

How do you beat the Hawkeyes?

Just throw the ball more than 15 yards every single time.  We have no idea how to stop it.  In fact most of the time, there won’t be a Hawkeye anywhere near the receiver.

Disturbing Stat From the Iowa - Indiana Game

Young ran the ball 15 times for 95 yards (6.3 yards per carry).
Sims ran the ball 7 times for 38 yards (5.4 yards per carry).
Christensen ran the ball 15 times for -13 yards (-0.9 yards per carry).

I officially want 25+ carries from Young each game and 15+ carries
from Sims each game.  I want fewer than 5 runs from Christensen.

Sure, Christensen had a lot of yards in the air (308) but this team
MUST commit to running the ball.  Both backs averaged over 5 yards a
carry.  Run the ball.  Then run it again.  There were plenty of
opportunities for Young and Sims to run the ball before that game got
into desperation mode.

I want them to run the ball on almost every 1st down and almost
every 2nd down and almost any 3rd down shorter than 3 yards.  I would
be willing to bet that we end up with a lot fewer 3rd and 8+ yards.

Hoosier Daddy

Some quick notes at halftime of the Hoosier/Hawkeye game

When does doing a flip into the end zone mean you are being an ass?  Is ti when you jump or when you land?  If it is when you jump than that was not a dead ball penalty and should not have been a TD.  But what a stupid rule anyway.  Man up and take your well deserved taunting.  Or maybe do something to shut them up.

Some requests for the second half.

• No flea flickers.
• No shovel passes.
• No bubble screens.
• No passes.

Just run the damn ball down their throat.  Every time we do, we end up gaining 4 to 15 yards.  I’m happy with that.  Every time we don’t run the ball, bad things happen.

I don’t care how many defenders are in the box.  Put in 2 tight ends and a full back and keep running right behind the tackle and guard.

And can we please switch to the 10 guys on Hardy defense that I recommended last night? Or at least get him to agree to send 10% of his NFL paychecks to the Iowa booster club since we will go a long way toward boosting his draft position?

Also, can we please get the ball to start the second half someday?

Can we please just fair catch every punt the rest of the game…and maybe the season?

And Christensen.  With seconds to go and the clock running and everybody covered…just throw the ball away so you can have as many attempts as possible before the half.

But, nice odd play on the Hail Mary.

But, when did spiking the ball make them throw the “You’re an ass” penalty?

Can the Hoosiers Beat The Hawkeyes

To hell with Coach Alford’s alma mater. I hate Alford and his Hoosiers. What? The Hoosiers have a football team? It’s not time for the Iowa/Indiana instant classic national TV basketball game?

Well, Illinois had a running back dance around for 214 yards on 27 rushes last week. Rumor has it that he broke a sweat on those last few runs and the dirty, rotten cheater Zook recommended Mendenhall tryout for cross country after the spectacular distance performance.

All of those yards came in whatever city that Hoosier school is located in these days and on a day when the Illinois quarterback only completed 13 of 28 passes for 98 yards (with 2 TDs and 2 INTs). Seriously. What kind of productivity can you expect from a man named Juice.

Now the Hoosiers come to Iowa to get thumped.

I know you might try to point out how badly the Hoosiers beat Iowa last year. Let’s face it, Hardy beat the Hawkeyes last year. The rest of the Hoosiers could have stayed home and played XBox and the outcome would have been the same.

We’ve learned our lesson. The game plan this year calls for one man in the box and 10 playing downfield to make sure Hardy doesn’t try to get funky again. It’s foolproof.

The Hawkeyes are going to win by 3 TDs. Unless the team continues to not run Young and Simms as much as they should. If that happens they will win by 2 TDs and a field goal. Unless the field goal kicker kicks it into the defender’s belly again for a third week in a row. If that happens, the Hawkeyes win by 2 TDs.

For the record, if the Hawkeye RBs are averaging over 3.5 yards per carry with 8 guys in the box, let them keep running the ball.

Technorati Tags: Iowa Hawkeyes, Indiana Hoosiers, college football, sports