On Iowa by Marc Morehouse
Last Call — Indiana
Posted on Nov 01, 2009 by Marc Morehouse.
Iowa's Brandon Wegher is tackled by Tyler Replogle (46) and Justin Carrington (25) of Indiana during the third quarter at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, October 31, 2009. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Wegher week 1 — The Iowa running game is doing enough to be effective. It’s not a juggernaut and likely won’t be this season, but it’s good enough and freshman Brandon Wegher has proven himself perfectly capable.
When it doesn’t work — 38 yards in the first half — it’s because defensive coordinators still want to make QB Ricky Stanzi beat them with his arm.
Opposing linebackers are running to the line of scrimmage. One or both safeties are creeping toward the line of scrimmage. This sets up the play-action, which popped big in the fourth quarter, but the key phrase here is “set up.”
Iowa’s idea is to bang, bang, bang and then hard fake and play to Stanzi’s strength, throwing on the run.
Even in the fourth quarter, when Iowa trailed by 10, Indiana was gunning the line of scrimmage. Iowa couldn’t afford to spend the time to “set up.” The playcalling went right to the hard play-action fake.
“We had to do something,” Ferentz said. “. . . we had to do something. And they were kind of up in there. They made it tough for us to run the football.
“Again, they were up in there pretty good. We felt like that gave us our best shot, so we just went with the hard play-action. And then Rick did a good job putting the ball where it had to be and those guys finished the runs which was just great to see. I thought that guy was going to get McNutt, but then he kind of pulled out of it and showed a little bit more speed than we all thought he had.”
It took 92- and 66-yard TD passes for the Hoosiers’ defense to loosen up, but when it did Wegher took advantage, gaining 73 of his career-best 118 yards, including a 27-yard TD run to close out IU.
Ferentz was asked early in the week if Wegher was a 20- to 25-carry back. Well, Wegher finished with 25 carries for 118 yards and three TDs — all career highs.
“He’s in a lot of sticky situations when he’s been in there, but it didn’t mean he’s not a good back, and this guy’s got a hardness to him,” Ferentz said. “I think he rises to the competition. You know, I think he embraced the challenge this week.
“So, it was really good to see him do what he did, but I’m not shocked. It was great to see him get that last touchdown. It’ll be a good confidence booster for him.”
“Biggest bonehead play of the year” — Indiana punted from its 46 with about 30 seconds left before halftime. The Hoosiers had the wind and let loose one of those funky rugby punts that went end over end down the Iowa sideline to cornerback Amari Spievey.
Ball was clipping along fairly well, probably would’ve gone into the end zone. But Ferentz said he called for a return and so Spievey picked it up and took off. Collin Taylor stripped him of the ball and Jammie Kirlew recovered. First down, Indiana at Iowa’s 12 with 26 seconds left.
Ben Chappell hit Demarlo Belcher for a 9-yard TD with nine seconds left for a 21-7 halftime lead.
Ferentz let Ferentz have it over that one.
“You’re talking about the biggest bone head play of the year – or maybe the day,” he said. “But that was me. I got greedy. I was hoping we could get a return, get a spark there and take a couple shots down the field and get three points. You know, as soon as we did it I just, you know, that’s my fault. That was just a stupid play, you know. I was hoping they’d bail me out. Thank goodness they did because that was stupid. That was really stupid.”
On the coin flip, the Hawkeyes won and, shockingly, deferred, letting IU decide if it wanted the ball or the wind (17 mph out of the WNW) to start the game.
IU took the ball and then took it 69 yards on 11 plays for the TD and a 7-0 lead just more than five minutes into the game.
Ferentz didn’t let Ferentz off the hook for this one, either.
“We did it against Michigan State in ’03 and got the same result,” he said. “They took the ball and drove it for a touchdown. So, that might have been my second dumbest decision today.”
Credit Ferentz for humilty, or for taking one for the team.
Pass efficiency lunacy — The yards per attempt component in the NCAA’s pass efficiency must be the mother fulcrum in the formula.
You know where we’re going here. As it turned out, Stanzi’s pass efficiency actually improved after Saturday’s run-of-the-mill 337-yard, five-interception game (both career highs, by the way). The numbers compute to 145.8. For comparison, Penn State’s Daryll Clark went into Saturday’s games leading the Big Ten with 148.4.
Stanzi’s 12.96 per attempt Saturday is gargantuan. An extremely healthy YPA is 9.0. This helped Stanzi go from 126.9 to 128.78. By the way, Stanzi’s third quarter (4 of 11 for 48 yards with four interceptions) rated out at .29. In the fourth quarter (3 of 3 for 177 and two TDs), Stanzi rated 815.59.
What do you make out of the efficiency stat? Winning QBs tend to be listed among the national leaders:
1 Kellen Moore, Boise St. QB SO 8 227 153 67.40 2 .88 1905 8.39 24 10.57 171.02
2 Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame QB JR 8 257 172 66.93 2 .78 2318 9.02 18 7.00 164.25
3 Bill Stull, Pittsburgh QB SR 8 196 132 67.35 4 2.04 1654 8.44 16 8.16 161.09
4 Case Keenum, Houston QB JR 8 398 285 71.61 5 1.26 3293 8.27 25 6.28 159.32
5 Max Hall, BYU QB SR 8 247 170 68.83 11 4.45 2231 9.03 17 6.88 158.50
6 Andy Dalton, TCU QB JR 8 187 118 63.10 3 1.60 1642 8.78 14 7.49 158.36
7 Tony Pike, Cincinnati QB SR 6 199 128 64.32 3 1.51 1633 8.21 15 7.54 155.11
8 Tim Tebow, Florida QB SR 8 153 99 64.71 4 2.61 1323 8.65 10 6.54 153.68
9 Ryan Mallett, Arkansas QB SO 8 237 129 54.43 3 1.27 2148 9.06 18 7.59 153.09
10 Nathan Enderle, Idaho QB JR 9 259 161 62.16 9 3.47 2404 9.28 15 5.79 152.29
So, food for thought. Really, that’s about all that is.
Special sliding — You had Spievey’s fumble. Freshman WR Keenan Davis also fumbled a punt return. You had K Daniel Murray’s line drive failure of a 44-yard field goal attempt. And then there was Ryan Donahue’s 8-yard punt, which gave IU field position at Iowa’s 35, which ended up in the end zone.
The take here is that Iowa might have a big-time problem replacing WR Colin Sandeman at punt return. Forget his 10.6 yards a return. He caught the ball, and sometimes that’s enough. Spievey was still receiving at the end of the game and appears to be the choice, for now.
Also, the world now knows (at least ESPN’s Bob Davie does) that Murray is struggling with trajectory. Yes, Iowa has lived through it, but file this. It could factor in a blocked kick sometime down the road.
“You know, for us to win, we need to play well on special teams,” Ferentz said. “We certainly struggled there today.”
Inside the numbers
350 — Safety Tyler Sash returned an interception 86 yards for a TD against IU, the fifth-longest INT return in Iowa history. He holds the Iowa record for interception return yardage at 350.
100 — Iowa has outscored its opponents 100-38 in the fourth quarter this season.
1,600 — Iowa WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos passed 1,600 career receiving yards with 117 yards on three catches vs. IU. He now has 107 catches for 1,611 yards. His 66-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter was the longest of his career. He is now tied for 15th on Iowa’s career receptions list and is 13th in receiving yards.
4 of 4 — Iowa made all four of its third-down conversions in the fourth quarter.
1st down — On 27 first downs, Iowa averaged 10.96 yards a play. In the first half, Iowa gained 81 yards on 13 first downs. The big plays were a 32-yard Stanzi completion to Marvin McNutt and a 37-yarder to DJK. Wegher scored a 1-yard TD on a first-and-4. Stanzi’s 92-yarder to McNutt and 66-yarder to DJK in the fourth quarter were on first down.
Overall, Iowa rushed 18 times on first down for 32 yards (1.7 yards per). Stanzi completed 7 of 11 for 268 yards and two TDs. Stanzi was also sacked three times on first down.
Two – Indiana had two plays in Iowa’s end zone reviewed. The first one was a 10-yard pass to Terance Turner, who looked like he might’ve beaten Spievey for a 10-yard TD. He was called out of bounds, it was reviewed and upheld.
The head-scratcher came with 5:41 left in the third. Turner again seemed to beat Speivey along the Indiana side of Iowa’s end zone for an 11-yard TD. He caught the ball while sliding out of bounds. On the field, it was ruled a TD. The review wiped it out, giving the Hoosiers a fourth-and-6 at its 11. Kicker Nick Freeland pushed a 28-yard field goal wide right staved off a 28-14 deficit.
Side judge John Hayes was in perfect position to make the call. Turner landed on the wide OB line, that was clear. But did he drag his right foot on the pitch black FieldTurf just before he landed? The front angle shows maybe no. But there’s also a shot from over the top that shows particles kicking up, suggesting that Turner did indeed drag his foot.
The baseline for overturning a call is indisputable evidence. Going on that, there probably wasn’t enough there to overturn the call.
Indiana would’ve eventually led 31-14.
Would that have stabbed Iowa in the heart? Would that have changed the direction of the 17 mph wind? Improved an Indiana secondary that was missing senior corner Ray Fisher after kickoff? Stopped Iowa from eventually scoring 42 points?
No. No. No. And no.
There wasn’t enough to overturn, but Indiana didn’t do anything to help itself in the fourth quarter.
Next — The No. 8 Hawkeyes (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten) play host to Northwestern (5-4, 2-3), which is coming off 34-13 home loss to Penn State.
Northwestern QB Mike Kafka injured what looked to be his left hamstring in the second quarter and didn’t return. The Chicago Tribune reported Sunday that Kafka’s dad received a text from his son saying he would be OK and ready to play Iowa.
The Wildcats averaged just 4.1 yards a play under backup Dan Persa against the Nittany Lions.
Kafka is about 300 percent of Northwestern’s offense. He finished the PSU game having completed 14 of 18 passes to raise his season completion percentage to 66.8 percent. He is also NU’s leading rusher, with 248 yards and six touchdowns.
How long until they at least consider giving Mossbrucker a shot on FGs? Murray hasn't totally killed them or anything yet, but every FG he kicks anymore is an ugly, line drive, sideways-spinning mess. That miss on Saturday was honestly one of the worst I've ever seen. I'm not sure it would have been good from 15 yards. It just seems almost inevitable that he's going to get one blocked or shank on in a big spot at some point. I'll always love him for the Penn State game, but he's not playing well at all.
That's a great question and one that will most certainly be asked this week.
I imagine he's starting to make them nervous.
That's a great question and one that will most certainly be asked this week.
I imagine he's starting to make them nervous.
All I've seen of this game is when Clayborn was laying on the ground and then we started going off. Was playing in a scramble and after we got done had to watch with a room full of IU fans, that was some serious hazing….
After reading everything about the rest of the game I don't know if I want to watch Q's 1-3.
No, you need to do it, E. It's painful but it ends well.
Iowa covers!
Alright, just got done watching it and am glad I knew the result prior to viewing. They were win aided picks and kudos to the D for a relatively good job considering how much they were on the field.
How we covered, and OSU was -44.5, AND COVERED, is beyond me. Sometimes stuff like that makes you wonder……..
HIs technique looks off. He stood stright up on that long miss. He strikes me as having serious technique issues…which is his history. Very streaky dude. I would rip the shirt off Mossbruker in a NY minute. But I think it is too late. Mossbruker deserves some kicks before Ohio State, and that does not appear to be likely. I think ohio State is going to be a kick-fest. And you can't just drop Mossbruker in there after a Murray miss. He would need a low stress kick first. Assuming Iowa does anything low stress.
Once again, excellent post, aboo.
I think it is too late, unless this turns out to be something Murray can't get over. He is 5 of 8 from 40-49. Is that acceptable? I think it is, but it could be better. Before Saturday's miss, Murray had a streak of six.
Do we have to run every single first down the first three quarters to set up the play-action in the fourth quarter? This is like the third game in a row that the opponent has put 7 or 8 guys in the box and we kept running on first down for nothing, which forced us to pass on second down. I know that other teams are forcing Stanzi to beat them with his arm, but geez, we were so predictable that even my dog was hiding her head on first downs.
I agree that Mossbrucker should be getting some game experience. He should have kicked the extra point on the last touchdown for sure. Maybe KF doesn't want to shake Murray's confodence any more.
In the first half, Iowa threw six times on first down, including completions to McNutt (32 yards) and DJK 37. But that came only after falling behind 14-0.
The passes work because linebackers fly to the run.
I think Murray is a pretty confident guy. I think it is a technique issue, which I imagine is akin to the yips in putting.
I think Ferentz blaming himself for deferring is taking one for the team. The wind obviously made a difference in the game, and Ferentz obviously deferred to get it in the second and fourth quarters. It would be great to get it early and score quick but that's clearly not how this team works. You can practically take it to the bank that our opponent's first or second drive will be sustained and into Iowa territory, score or not. Further, Iowa typically emphasizes its first drive and has done well over the years on the first drive, but not this team. Wish it would change, but right now, that's how it is.
To me, this game had some uncharacteristic signs of impatience. Ferentz wanting to force a punt with Indiana near midfield, all the deep passes into the wind in the third quarter, seem to reflect how "off" the team was for most of the game, and their recognition of it. I don't think anybody, particularly MSU, came out of the game at East Lansing unscathed. Also, it makes me wonder if this team has a problem with morning games. I have family members who don't seem to have their act together until early afternoon, so I've seen this before.
Bob Davie had a great comment towards the end of the broadcast–Iowa's fans surely have "aged " this year. As memorable as each more improbable win has been, I'm ready to get off the Tilt-a-Whirl for a while. It's November, and time to win conventionally. While we can count on nothing this year, Northwestern, with Kafka a little banged up, may the be best opportunity we will have to do that.
Great points on impatience, Scott. I think Stanzi's throws into the wind were ultimately his decisions. He had receivers open underneath, but went long, which was open, wide open, but the balls were held up and picked.
Unfortunately, I don't see the Tilt-a-Whirl slowing anytime soon. Iowa is 1-3 in the last four against the Cats. At Ohio State is a generational victory, maybe. And you saw the Gophers. They have some exlosiveness to them.
I was at the game on Sat, sitting on the east side, north end. The wind was a huge factor, and deferring was a great decision (remember last year against Penn State)! What I could not understand were the long throws into the wind. It was obvious that the wind was messing with the ball in a very bad way. At least 3 of the intertceptions were wind aided. The others are on Stanzi.
The picks should be on Stanzi, but not for a poor decision. Both times he was picked going deep to DJK, DJK was WIDE open and Stanzi made the right read to go to him. Good decisions. But he didn't throw it hard/well enough to counteract the wind. Bad (horrible) throws. This allowed the DBs to recover and get back into the play, with obviously bad results. Obviously, a quarter I'm sure Stanzi would like to have back. But you got to admire the guts the kid has and his ability to shake it off, to realize what has happened doesn't matter in the now, all that matters is completing the next one to give us a chance.
Boji — Yes! At least three of those picks were wind-aided.
The long ball was there, yes. DJK was open, yes. Those were the right decisions, but not the smartest. Take the shorter routes and methodically go about it. Don't let the wind factor.
But yes, it's very easy for me to sit here on a Tuesday and write that on my computer. Iowa as trailing and it was go time. I'm not faulting the passes or the aggression.
As for the Turner non-touchdown catch, has anyone talked to the replay ref about what he was looking at? Everyone is talking about wether his foot was draggin in bounds, yes I believe it was with the particles of the turf rising into the air, but that is not what you should be looking at. If you watch him catch the ball he catch's it on his finger tips and then the ball skips down further just below his wrists where he then brings it into his chest. Yes I believe his foot was in, but not when he had control of the ball, he did not establish possession until his foot had already went OB. Therefore, correct call. As for the first one out the back of the end zone, same thing he didn't have possession until he was out of bounds, simple calls with the benefit of replay.
I believe the replay ref is Verle Sell. I'm not even sure they do talk to the media, Wise.
Great point on where the ball is. The replay official must've spotted a deal breaker in there somewhere. That is what they're trained to do. I didn't see it, but that's just my opinion.
I thought the one in the back of the end zone was a no-brainer and the right call.
I'd say VERY wise not to talk to the media.
The overturned one's camera angle from the back of the end zone was the one that even convinced an Indiana fan next to me that he hadn't established possession. The other two angles were inconclusive but that was the only one that showed the ball moving down his hands.
I thought the officials did great and I'm an Iowa Stater.
It amazed me how much their coach was on the field the whole game. At halft-time we were joking that he was probably going to play in the band too. The thing is he was running and jumping and yelling at the ref's the whole time, where as Ferentz was calm the whole game. What I'm getting at is that the players feed off a coach and the Indian team had to be exhausted by the 4th quarter because the coach had their adrenaline flowing the whole game where Ferentz had them calm and ready to strike at the right time. Very good coaching.
I would agree with that, Wise.
I always think the team with the coaches who jump up and down and high five is just a bit more unstable. Don't have any explanation, really, but I think you're right. It's an energy thing and I don't think it's crazy to suggest that a coach, and his staff, is the emotional core of his team.
That said, I believe Paul Rhoads at Nebraska was as pure as it gets. And it came after the game.
Thanks for posting!
“The front angle shows maybe no. But there’s also a shot from over the top that shows particles kicking up, suggesting that Turner did indeed drag his foot.”
The IU player did drag the foot (and kick up some turf), but it lifted when he stretched to catch the ball. If you look at the replay from the endzone to the corner angle, you can see the air between ankle and turf as his hip slides out-of-bounds.
Anybody know why ESPN cut away to Coach Lynch so much during the game? He was relentless in working over that officiating crew. I wonder if Coach may have hurt the Hoosier cause a bit?
Agree w/ OkobojiHawk, especially the last INT at the end of the 3rd Qtr, we are moving the ball, BW has a great 15 yd run, then w/ 40 sec left in the 3rd Qtr into the wind we throw a deep pass on a similar route that got picked earlier, why not run out the Qtr take the wind and then throw the ball, that INT seems to be on KOK.
Also, what is the the deal w/ Davis, he seems to get tangled up in running his routes (runs into Ref, gets flagged or Offensive PI, ets) more than anyone. I know he is a true Freshman, but is this just poor route running or poor field awareness? I hope it is just poor route running as hopefully that can be corrected, not sure if the other can be, he has a lot of talent and has made some nice catches earlier in the season.
I don't know, LT. That was odd. I wonder if running into the ref shot his confidence, or maybe the coaches' confidence in him. He was in the game, but he wasn't getting any looks after that.
Stick w/ Murray. Daniel is having some issues with his kicks and that will work out…. Iowa's coaches will see to that. What the latest on Norm Parker?
Norm was back in the hospital on Saturday night, receiving antibiotics on the foot.
Don't know much after that. He's 68, has had troubles with diabetes and will probably be forced to gear down a bit in the coming weeks.
just by the nature of this season, I can't pick against the Hawks in any of the last three games. they were supposed to lose at Penn State…vs Michigan…at Wisconsin…and at Michigan State. they won all four, even as people continued to throw out historical stats about how "Iowa hasn't won here since '95," "we don't match up well historically here," etc. those stats don't mean much to me this year. any team that can overcome a terrible 3 quarter game and score 28 straight points in one quarter seems to be having a destiny-type season, to me. bottom line, they always find a way to win. I'm sure that they could drop one or more of their last three games if they continue to play so inconsistently, but they do happen to be consistent in one thing, winning. that's all that matters, in the end. I'm not betting against them.