**Official 2022 Iowa Football Season Thread**

[L. Wade Childress]

If we are to buy into the narrative that it's Kirk's decision to start Petras, then we must also believe that Kirk is so fucking stubborn that he is OK with completely trashing the prodigal son's future of employment anywhere outside of Ferentz and Sons, Inc.

I'm not sure I buy the second half of that long, run-on sentence. Nothing about this scenario makes any sense to anyone outside of that program.

he doesn’t see it that way though. He thinks he gets to name his successor.

 

[Alan Lomax]

Kirk’s buyout is 0. He’s not taking money to go away, he’s old and will retire and consult if he wishes.

 

[gohawkeyes811]

Brian 100% has to go.

 

[RazHawk]

i don’t agree that Brian HAS to go yet. Just start a different qb that is willing to use the whole field for fucks sake.

What scares me is, if you think this, Kirk almost certainly does. Iowa's offensive ranks in yards per play the past five years under Brian:

2021: 120th
2020: 86th
2019: 87th
2018: 93rd
2017: 108th

That's yards per play, I'm taking out the total offense metric and just looking at efficiency against other offenses. I get they want to play defense and slow the game down, that's fine. But you still have to be efficient in gaining yards.

There is no justification for keeping Brian as the OC based on performance. None.

 

[Revolver]

Brian 100% has to go.

Promote Levar to the OC job. If he is good, make him the coach in waiting.

 

[MikeyJoe]

People were obviously pissed in 2012, and this year could well end up with that kind of record the way the offense is playing, but the mood among the fanbase and the media now seems so much worse. The criticism is just so much sharper and pointed.

That year, the team was just kind of mediocre all over. Now, you have a great defense and special teams, but there's a clear, identifiable problem. The offense sucks, and it's run by your son. And you have a bad quarterback you refuse to bench.

 

[HawkBall23]

I just don't get it. All he has to do is try Padilla for like a quarter. And if he is right about SP being the best option at QB1, we'll see it on the field. Against an incredibly shitty defense and team like Nevada, there shouldn't be any truly insurmountable harm done.

But he just won't do it. Its Petras all the way, absolutely no doubt about it. He just "needs more help".


I just don't get it, KF. Maybe if ....

 

[Bob Sanders]

People were obviously pissed in 2012, and this year could well end up with that kind of record the way the offense is playing, but the mood among the fanbase and the media now seems so much worse. The criticism is just so much sharper and pointed.

That year, the team was just kind of mediocre all over. Now, you have a great defense and special teams, but there's a clear, identifiable problem. The offense sucks, and it's run by your son. And you have a bad quarterback you refuse to bench.

It’s because that roster sucked across the board. Everyone can see how good this defense is and does nothing but increase the anger.

 

[Kamala]

We have a coach who is not interested in exploring all options to make the team better. He just doesn’t care.

 

[Bob Sanders]

 

[HawkBall23]

Kirk, Brian, and the football team - IE, the offense - are doing all the disparaging, themselves.

 

[Renegade_ofFunk]

I just don't get it. All he has to do is try Padilla for like a quarter. And if he is right about SP being the best option at QB1, we'll see it on the field. Against an incredibly shitty defense and team like Nevada, there shouldn't be any truly insurmountable harm done.

But he just won't do it. Its Petras all the way, absolutely no doubt about it. He just "needs more help".


I just don't get it, KF. Maybe if ....

The problem with this is assuming Padilla hasn’t taken a lot of snaps with the 1s (or the tattered remnants of them) he’s invariably going to struggle a bit.

Pick one of the other 2 dipshits, probably Alex and give them a week of reps with the starters and Petras needs to be pulled permanently and only put back in due to injury.

 

[CamelTones]

All indications are that DeJean is making petras look like the retard that he is in practice however.

Everyone should have known when they saw the interception he threw on the BTN Tailgate tour. No pressure, can’t get sacked in practice, throws a terrible pass to no one that is intercepted.

The vibe I got from todays presser is Kirk thought the offense was on track at kids day, then they lost a bunch of starters to injury and none of those players are playing at the level they were at that point but he thinks they will in time.

It just blows my mind that their expectations on defense and special teams are perfection while on offense it’s ‘just get to a punt’

 

[L. Wade Childress]

I just don't get it. All he has to do is try Padilla for like a quarter. And if he is right about SP being the best option at QB1, we'll see it on the field. Against an incredibly shitty defense and team like Nevada, there shouldn't be any truly insurmountable harm done.

But he just won't do it. Its Petras all the way, absolutely no doubt about it. He just "needs more help".


I just don't get it, KF. Maybe if ....

No, he needs to start Padilla and stick with it, so the OC can call an actual game.

 

[Squat Cobbler]

 

[BuffettHawk]

 

[CamelTones]

Actually, as I typed all of that shit, this year reminds me more and more of 2014.

Kirk really loved Rudock and I think would have absolutely kept him and never had played CJ Beathard, but the noise and pressure was just too much for even Kirk to ignore at that point.

I feel like we are nearly there with Kirk this year. The press conference today with him stammering around with no explanation and how uncomfortable everyone is and CLEARLY there being a split in the coaching staff says a lot.

What really stood out for me is when Kirk thought he was going to PWN whoever was asking the question about total scores and Kirk was like "uh wait, what was the bowl game score??" as if he thought they had actually won the game or had scored a lot of points and the guy responded back "20-17, it was one of the 17 point games" and Kirk's response and body language was basically "oh. oh shit that's right. fuck"

I love Kirk, but I think Petras in practice is just clouding his judgement. He likely looks really good and Kirk just can't believe that it doesn't translate over to the field and that if he just gets a couple of receivers back it will all be fine.

He's just flat out wrong and even he is going to run out of credibility soon.

Chad coming back and saying that the team scored 27 and 33 with Padilla at QB almost startled Kirk. He had no comeback at that point. That Minnesota game is also the only game all season where they, um, used Charlie Jones the way they should have always been using Charlie Jones.

 

[Revolver]

I don’t want to fire Kirk or for them to force him out. I will not be upset when he moves on, though.

 

[The Dad]

I just don't get it. All he has to do is try Padilla for like a quarter. And if he is right about SP being the best option at QB1, we'll see it on the field. Against an incredibly shitty defense and team like Nevada, there shouldn't be any truly insurmountable harm done.

But he just won't do it. Its Petras all the way, absolutely no doubt about it. He just "needs more help".


I just don't get it, KF. Maybe if ....

Set. In. Stone.

 

[Pedro]

Around the 9:40 mark….sadly

I encourage everybody to watch this, for at least the first 13 minutes…not sure about the rest as I threw my phone through the wall and didn’t watch the rest.

I'll point out that I didn't make it all the way through that video. While I've been frustrated with Kirk's pressers in the past I've never been so fucking furious listening to one than I was this time. "Body of work", "Nobody knows this team like we do", "We're with them day in, day out"...fucking bullshit. It's a foolish coach that doesn't make necessary adjustments when injuries happen.

He's just fucking stubborn, blockheaded, insolent, and won't listen to reason. No amount of influence, common sense, statistics, empirical evidence is going to change his mind. If Spencer throws three interceptions and we lose against Nevada there will be no changes made.

Kirk says this is our team this year...fucking PERIOD!

 

[CUIHAWK]

Brian just needs to run more reverses.

 

[HawkBall23]

Wish Fran was the OC. He might light some fires. Or at least let the players know what he thinks of their shit play.

 

[Pedro]

I'm just going to lay heavy all season on the under until Vegas figures it out.

At least I'll make some money during this shitstorm of a season.

 

[cloudhawk]

 

[Stu Beagle]

 

[BluesHawk]

We have a coach who is not interested in exploring all options to make the team better. He just doesn’t care.

That's ridiculous. Of course he cares. He just really thinks he's right about this, when everyone else can see he's wrong. That's a mile away from not caring though.

 

[WCFHawkeye]

No, he needs to start Padilla and stick with it, so the OC can call an actual game.

Correct. If he was only given a series or two, it would be two handoffs into a 10-man front, then thrown to the wolves on 3rd and 12.

Repeat the next series, then Kirk would feel "justified" that Petras was just as good or a better option.

 

[gohawkeyes811]

Everyone should have known when they saw the interception he threw on the BTN Tailgate tour. No pressure, can’t get sacked in practice, throws a terrible pass to no one that is intercepted.

The vibe I got from todays presser is Kirk thought the offense was on track at kids day, then they lost a bunch of starters to injury and none of those players are playing at the level they were at that point but he thinks they will in time.

It just blows my mind that their expectations on defense and special teams are perfection while on offense it’s ‘just get to a punt’

It's insanity. If you listened to the Saban clip on the other thread, it's more infuriating. Saban and Kirk seemed to have the same mentality for winning football for many years. Great defense, run the football for more yards than the other team, you most likely win.

Like Saban mentioned, about 5-6 years ago he changed his philosophy because he realized that's not going to fucking work anymore. Even with insanely more talented athletes, he realized that method of college football was dead.

This is all coming to a head at Iowa, in terms of offensive strategy, skill, leadership, style. It's so painfully obvious and having such a great defense and special teams just is so infuriating. I love Kirk and really want him to stay and go out when he wants the right way, but it sure seems like he's in a very precarious situation right now with the program going forward. I also think all the NIL stuff and the way college football has changed is quite jarring for him.

It would be awesome if he somehow sees the light and is able to lead some change going forward. I don't expect it to happen, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

 

[Westside Ray Ray]

 

[Mountain Hawk]

Actually, as I typed all of that shit, this year reminds me more and more of 2014.

Kirk really loved Rudock and I think would have absolutely kept him and never had played CJ Beathard, but the noise and pressure was just too much for even Kirk to ignore at that point.

I feel like we are nearly there with Kirk this year. The press conference today with him stammering around with no explanation and how uncomfortable everyone is and CLEARLY there being a split in the coaching staff says a lot.

What really stood out for me is when Kirk thought he was going to PWN whoever was asking the question about total scores and Kirk was like "uh wait, what was the bowl game score??" as if he thought they had actually won the game or had scored a lot of points and the guy responded back "20-17, it was one of the 17 point games" and Kirk's response and body language was basically "oh. oh shit that's right. fuck"

I love Kirk, but I think Petras in practice is just clouding his judgement. He likely looks really good and Kirk just can't believe that it doesn't translate over to the field and that if he just gets a couple of receivers back it will all be fine.

He's just flat out wrong and even he is going to run out of credibility soon.

In a game, Petras is focused on not getting hit; in practice he isn't. That kind of makes a difference, but KF won't see it.

 

[Kamala]

That's ridiculous. Of course he cares. He just really thinks he's right about this, when everyone else can see he's wrong. That's a mile away from not caring though.

Oh, so he just doesn’t have the football acumen to see the problem?

 

[Hawkstrat]

In the press conference they talked about some guys being good in games but not practice (Hartlieb). The dipshits got it backwards, it isn't that Padilla is secretly a great quarterback, it's that Petras sucks when he is able to get hit.

 

[The Full Monte]

Actually, as I typed all of that shit, this year reminds me more and more of 2014.

Kirk really loved Rudock and I think would have absolutely kept him and never had played CJ Beathard, but the noise and pressure was just too much for even Kirk to ignore at that point.

I feel like we are nearly there with Kirk this year. The press conference today with him stammering around with no explanation and how uncomfortable everyone is and CLEARLY there being a split in the coaching staff says a lot.

What really stood out for me is when Kirk thought he was going to PWN whoever was asking the question about total scores and Kirk was like "uh wait, what was the bowl game score??" as if he thought they had actually won the game or had scored a lot of points and the guy responded back "20-17, it was one of the 17 point games" and Kirk's response and body language was basically "oh. oh shit that's right. fuck"

I love Kirk, but I think Petras in practice is just clouding his judgement. He likely looks really good and Kirk just can't believe that it doesn't translate over to the field and that if he just gets a couple of receivers back it will all be fine.

He's just flat out wrong and even he is going to run out of credibility soon.

Unfortunately, there’s probably a significant portion of his legacy in the “what could have been” chapters of this book. Lots of pissed away wins with horrific personnel decisions and clock management….and more than a few 7-8 win seasons that could have been 9-10 if he could “get out of his own way” as you said.

 

[Alan Lomax]

It's insanity. If you listened to the Saban clip on the other thread, it's more infuriating. Saban and Kirk seemed to have the same mentality for winning football for many years. Great defense, run the football for more yards than the other team, you most likely win.

Like Saban mentioned, about 5-6 years ago he changed his philosophy because he realized that's not going to fucking work anymore. Even with insanely more talented athletes, he realized that method of college football was dead.

This is all coming to a head at Iowa, in terms of offensive strategy, skill, leadership, style. It's so painfully obvious and having such a great defense and special teams just is so infuriating. I love Kirk and really want him to stay and go out when he wants the right way, but it sure seems like he's in a very precarious situation right now with the program going forward. I also think all the NIL stuff and the way college football has changed is quite jarring for him.

It would be awesome if he somehow sees the light and is able to lead some change going forward. I don't expect it to happen, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

Kirk and Saban are not comparable. Kirk’s been great for Iowa, Saban is probably the single greatest college coach ever. The difference you’re describing is as wide as the Pacific.

 

[Westside Ray Ray]

Found @RecreationalGynecologist posting 3rd down on halo, and either @Hawkeye_Pierce or @The Full Monte booing with @CleteyColgate next to them. Couple other non-tavern hok halo posters in the photo too

The complementary football scorecard: Iowa State

We are nearing rock bottom’s basement

www.blackheartgoldpants.com

 

[Westside Ray Ray]

Unfortunately, there’s probably a significant portion of his legacy in the “what could have been” chapters of this book. Lots of pissed away wins with horrific personnel decisions and clock management….and more than a few 7-8 win seasons that could have been 9-10 if he could “get out of his own way” as you said.

And several 11-12 win seasons too. Then just imagine what our recruiting would have led to. Look at the last 3 years alone - each of those would have had us playing for a CFP birth heading into the BIG title game.

 

[The Full Monte]

I'll point out that I didn't make it all the way through that video. While I've been frustrated with Kirk's pressers in the past I've never been so fucking furious listening to one than I was this time. "Body of work", "Nobody knows this team like we do", "We're with them day in, day out"...fucking bullshit. It's a foolish coach that doesn't make necessary adjustments when injuries happen.

He's just fucking stubborn, blockheaded, insolent, and won't listen to reason. No amount of influence, common sense, statistics, empirical evidence is going to change his mind. If Spencer throws three interceptions and we lose against Nevada there will be no changes made.

Kirk says this is our team this year...fucking PERIOD!

I reached a low point this morning when I watched the Nick Saban video; him talking g about the way the game has changed and the things you can/can not do anymore and how they’ve had to evolve. Here is a guy with the most impressive coaching resume perhaps in the entirety of the sport…and Kirk’s all “nah, fuck that, we’re gonna do it my way.”

I reached a new level of apathy with Hawkeye Football at that point.

 

[gohawkeyes811]

I reached a low point this morning when I watched the Nick Saban video; him talking g about the way the game has changed and the things you can/can not do anymore and how they’ve had to evolve. Here is a guy with the most impressive coaching resume perhaps in the entirety of the sport…and Kirk’s all “nah, fuck that, we’re gonna do it my way.”

I reached a new level of apathy with Hawkeye Football at that point.

Right. It's beyond frustrating.

 

[gohawkeyes811]

Kirk and Saben are not comparable. Kirk’s been great for Iowa, Saben is probably the single greatest college coach ever. The difference you’re describing is as wide as the Pacific.

See Monte's post. That's what I'm trying to point out.

 

[The Full Monte]

Found @RecreationalGynecologist posting 3rd down on halo, and either @Hawkeye_Pierce or @The Full Monte booing with @CleteyColgate next to them. Couple other non-tavern hok halo posters in the photo too

View attachment 40004

The complementary football scorecard: Iowa State

We are nearing rock bottom’s basement

www.blackheartgoldpants.com

At one point during second half of the ISU game, when it was crystal clear Petras could not be benched….my brother turned to me, sort of stared and said “I’ve never heard you be this quiet during an Iowa game.” I just couldn’t muster up the give a fuck at that point.

 

[Alan Lomax]

See Monte's post. That's what I'm trying to point out.

I guess that’s my point though. Kirk’s never been that guy, wishing he was now(or ever) is like whipping the waves. That Iowa’s had two coaches over the last 40+ years is fucking awesome. I’m thankful for that and for what Kirk has built. Embracing change while maintaining your principles is really fucking hard. People not as skilled as Saban, like Kirk, need to draw their lines at different places.

 

[Bob Sanders]

Kirk and Saben are not comparable. Kirk’s been great for Iowa, Saben is probably the single greatest college coach ever. The difference you’re describing is as wide as the Pacific.

I think contrasting KF and Saban is helpful. They worked together on one of the greatest coaching staffs in the history of the NFL. Kirk as a foot soldier teaching OL technique and Nick working hand in hand with Belichick as DC.

KF is stuck in a time warp trying to run the same style of offense that Cleveland ran in 1993. This is a problem that many ex-Bellichickians have. They are completely convinced that the schemes they ran with Bill are forever the best way to play.

For Saban and Bellichick himself on the other hand, the only constants are good technique and perpetually evolving schemes over time. They understand the mental game that is played between coaches and will change anything to win. I’m not sure that Kirk would have considered starting Brady after Bledsoe was healthy and I’m not sure that Bill even seriously considered going back to Bledsoe.

 

[thrawn]

Up until Kiffin Alabama was a run first team with generic boring white guy QBs like Greg McElroy and Jake Coker. Saban loved winning games 20-3. Then he evolved.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

. Saban loved winning games 20-3.

That doesn't sound so bad

 

[Alan Lomax]

I think contrasting KF and Saban is helpful. They worked together on one of the greatest coaching staffs in the history of the NFL. Kirk as a foot soldier teaching OL technique and Nick working hand in hand with Belichick as DC.

KF is stuck in a time warp trying to run the same style of offense that Cleveland ran in 1993. This is a problem that many ex-Bellichickians have. They are completely convinced that the schemes they ran with Bill are forever the best way to play.

For Saban and Bellichick himself on the other hand, the only constants are good technique and perpetually evolving schemes over time. They understand the mental game that is played between coaches and will change anything in their scheme to win. I’m not sure that Kirk would have considered starting Brady after Bledsoe was healthy and I’m not sure that Bill even seriously considered going back to Bledsoe.

100% agree. It’s two different continents of coaching. Each with their drawbacks and strong suits. If Saban doesn’t land at Bama, who knows? He does, and his skill set in accelerated. Iowa get maximum Kirk, for good and ill.

 

[Bob Sanders]

Up until Kiffin Alabama was a run first team with generic boring white guy QBs like Greg McElroy and Jake Coker. Saban loved winning games 20-3. Then he evolved.

Manziel and Hugh Freeze changed him forever and he never looked back.

 

[Talkin' Goat]

Heard on the radio the other day that analytics now say the biggest factor in winning games is number of explosive plays (I think that definition is plays of 20+ yards but might be slightly off on that). Anyway, I guess it’s the first time in forever that turnovers aren’t the biggest factor. No idea if whoever was saying it was accurate or not, but if true I would like someone to tell KF and see if his head explodes.

 

[SuperHans]

That doesn't sound so bad

How Ole Miss’ offense convinced Nick Saban to change Alabama’s

"If you can’t beat them, you might as well join them."

al.com

 

[douglasbader]

I think contrasting KF and Saban is helpful. They worked together on one of the greatest coaching staffs in the history of the NFL. Kirk as a foot soldier teaching OL technique and Nick working hand in hand with Belichick as DC.

KF is stuck in a time warp trying to run the same style of offense that Cleveland ran in 1993. This is a problem that many ex-Bellichickians have. They are completely convinced that the schemes they ran with Bill are forever the best way to play.

For Saban and Bellichick himself on the other hand, the only constants are good technique and perpetually evolving schemes over time. They understand the mental game that is played between coaches and will change anything to win. I’m not sure that Kirk would have considered starting Brady after Bledsoe was healthy and I’m not sure that Bill even seriously considered going back to Bledsoe.

The other glaring, gigantic difference is that Saban will hire the absolute best talent in coaching available to him. It doesn't matter if he really knows you that well or if you are a dumpster fire, he will work with you if you can help his team.

Sark and Kiffin were dumpster fires. Saban didn't give a shit. Bill O'Brien and an endless amount of other names have come into that Alabama program and gone on their way when it was time.

Kirk is just the complete opposite. He keeps the same guys around for decades. Loads the staff with former players he knows are 1000% loyal to him. Hires his own son and son in law for major positions. Iowa Football is a family business in every sense of the word. If and when he has gone outside the program, he hires the oldest white milquetoast safest most boring mother fucker ever like Greg Davis.

For the love of fuck, he essentially handed the entire day to day operations of the program over to Chris Doyle, and that was after he got pissed off and nearly maimed for life a bunch of players because they played shitty in a bowl game. The fucking asshole nearly burned the entire program to the ground.

I get that at Iowa the stability and family atmosphere is part of the necessary "evil" to keep a smaller Power 5 school this consistent, but what Kirk doesn't get is you can still have that and hire just a few guys outside the box.

 

[douglasbader]

JUST CHANGE THE SHITTY QB YOU MOTHER FUCKER. DO IT AND DO IT NOW.

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU????