**Official Iowa vs. Minnesota Football Thread - 2:30pm - FS1**

[Hawk&Balls]

Long story short, both QB's are terrible and why they were ran out of their previous scholarships. They've both been here 2 seasons now and fully in Lester's super awesome system and still suck. There is little chance they improve enough to ever be worth a shit. Unfortunately, the other 2 QB's that are supposedly more talented are a 1st and 2nd year players, so we likely are at least 2 more seasons from figuring out if Iowa will have a QB that can walk and chew gum at the same time for more than a single game in a row.

What a thrilling future to look forward to, by the time we MIGHT figure out if we have a good QB we will be a decade removed from having anyone worth a shit for an entire season.

 

[Renegade_ofFunk]

This offense has consistently looked its best with mid to late season Mark Gronowski, who if he didn’t miss spring due to a pre-existing shoulder injury (whoops) probably beats Iowa State last year and maybe Oregon and more than likely lands Iowa in the playoff.

I’m not sure it’s totally necessary to have a guy learn it for 3 years, but it seems absolutely necessary to have a QB that is a running threat, not a drooling pants shitting retard and can throw the ball to guys that are open.

We’ll never know the truth but it would be interesting to hear why they thought either of these guys could carry them through this season.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Their players generally stay in the program long enough to learn it.

Thats why I want them to start one of the young guys. It might not be pretty but let someone that's going to be here 3 more years figure it out.

 

[douglasbader]

It actually is a brilliant strategy, given all the reasons you list. I know you are still on one of your usual 24 hour post loss manias, but Iowa is uniquely qualified to run a highly complicated but effective offense. They don't get blue blood talent. Their players generally stay in the program long enough to learn it. There will be bumps in the road, but Iowa is miles better now than 3 years ago. Lester is great and I have complete faith in him.

No one in college football runs this. It's impossible to prepare for.

LOL! It's impossible to prepare for!

Seemed like it was really easy for Iowa State, Michigan, Ohio State and Minnesota to prepare for when Lester's system averaged 15 points per game against it, with some of that coming off turnovers and short fields.

 

[Monster]

LOL! It's impossible to prepare for!

Seemed like it was really easy for Iowa State, Michigan, Ohio State and Minnesota to prepare for when Lester's system averaged 15 points per game against it, with some of that coming off turnovers and short fields.

When executed properly, yes.

Are we about 12 hours out from your post mania 180 where everything is great and we are heading in the right direction?

 

[douglasbader]

It actually is a brilliant strategy, given all the reasons you list. I know you are still on one of your usual 24 hour post loss manias, but Iowa is uniquely qualified to run a highly complicated but effective offense. They don't get blue blood talent. Their players generally stay in the program long enough to learn it. There will be bumps in the road, but Iowa is miles better now than 3 years ago. Lester is great and I have complete faith in him.

No one in college football runs this. It's impossible to prepare for.

Oh, and I agree that Lester's system is great in theory AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A FUCKING QB TO RUN IT!!!!!!!!!!

That's the whole point, the Gang of 59 looked at these QB's and said "nope, we're good" instead of going out and buying a QB that is capable of running it. It's fucking criminal in hindsight. They knew both of these guys sucked and they went full MacGruber and said "fuck it, let's just see what happens, gonna wing it".

 

[Monster]

Oh, and I agree that Lester's system is great in theory AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A FUCKING QB TO RUN IT!!!!!!!!!!

That's the whole point, the Gang of 59 looked at these QB's and said "nope, we're good" instead of going out and buying a QB that is capable of running it. It's fucking criminal in hindsight. They knew both of these guys sucked and they went full MacGruber and said "fuck it, let's just see what happens, gonna wing it".

Perhaps they tried?

 

[Saul Berkley]

Long story short, both QB's are terrible and why they were ran out of their previous scholarships. They've both been here 2 seasons now and fully in Lester's super awesome system and still suck. There is little chance they improve enough to ever be worth a shit. Unfortunately, the other 2 QB's that are supposedly more talented are a 1st and 2nd year players, so we likely are at least 2 more seasons from figuring out if Iowa will have a QB that can walk and chew gum at the same time for more than a single game in a row.

What a thrilling future to look forward to, by the time we MIGHT figure out if we have a good QB we will be a decade removed from having anyone worth a shit for an entire season.

They need to get a portal QB this offseason. Let both of these guys go. Hopefully you keep Bessinger and Sullivan. Get a QB who is good and let those two fight for the number 2 spot. I've seen enough of Heck and Hank. Neither is the answer.

 

[Shawneemicks]

I think they knew it & thought the OL would hide it. Turns out the OL ain’t good either

 

[douglasbader]

When executed properly, yes.

Are we about 12 hours out from your post mania 180s where everything is great and we are heading in the right direction?

It's not a 180 and I've made no statements that other morons make like Iowa going to lose out or finish 6-6. It's the opposite, they will likely finish 9-3 and we can (once again) play the what if game looking back on Minnesota and being pissed it kept ups out of the playoff.

But the thing that you and others don't seem to grasp is that Iowa does this every single year in spite of the offense and because the defense is so spectacular they allow Iowa to compete. Being this bad on offense in 2026 is a choice. That's the entire point.

It's funny as well, Iowa predicates their defensive success on running what everyone largely considers the simplest and most consistent defense in the country. They run their stuff and dare the other team to be more patient. Nothing fancy, just line up in their usual sets and play the game.

For some fucking RETARDED reason Iowa insists on doing the exact opposite on offense. "Hey, fuck running a simple system that plays to our strengths that we can plug and play people into every year, let's get the most complicated offensive system in sports and see if we can perfect this monstrosity."

They can't, and it fails and it's the polar opposite of how Phil Parker operates. It's madness and why Phil and his staff should beat the shit out of Kirk and the offensive staff at some point.

 

[Whatever]

I would like to add running on second down what seemed like 37 times for negative 23 yards into a stunting and blitzing 8 man box. Minnesota was forcing Iowa to throw and yet Iowa didn't and wouldn't throw in those situations. That is a reflection of trusting the QB1, which obviously the staff doesn't have in either.

Iowa ran 9 running plays and 14 passes on 2nd down.

 

[douglasbader]

Perhaps they tried?

No. NO. They didn't try. Did you not see the 15,000 interviews that Tyler Barnes gave sucking his own dick about how they made a conscience choice to not go after a QB in the transfer portal? Lester's 17,000 podcast interviews bragging about it? They were super proud of themselves for that, same as they were super proud they only went after mostly FCS guys that were younger and lightly recruited and made the excuse they are smarter than everyone but also somehow broke.

 

[The Dad]

Iowa ran 9 running plays and 14 passes on 2nd down.

Scrap desperation time when we needed a TD in the 4th, how many of those 2nd down passes came after passes on 1st down?

 

[douglasbader]

Anyways, all of this is fucking stupid. Iowa is averaging 15 points per game against anyone with a pulse. The only reason they aren't sitting with a losing record at 3-4 is because the defense is fucking awesome. Period.

 

[The Dad]

Complete retardation to think that rather than searching for developmental value in the portal we should engage in an arms race with programs with way more money than us.

 

[shoot-the-three]

Other programs have true freshman and second year players playing all the time in much better offenses, but it's somehow impossible for a QB in one of the worst offensive programs in modern college football to possibly understand such a complex system.

Could you imagine Drew Tate trying to play at Iowa in the year 2026? Kirk would lose his fucking mind.

It transcends coaches as well. O'Queef, Greg Davis, Kirk’s son, Kirk’s son, Brian Ferentz, Tim Lester are somehow the most complex offensive minds in the history of football that only 3rd, 4th or 5th year QB's are capable of grasping it.

Do you guys know how difficult it is to throw for 140 yards per game or handoff 30 times to a RB? Take only 1-2 shots down field each game? Dump passes off to a TE on the same route over and over? It takes YEARS of experience for a QB at Iowa to master it.

It's coaching every natural instinct out of a QB that takes two or three years.

 

[MikeyJoe]

Iowa has been doing the "oh you don't get it our system is so complicated" thing going all the way back to like Greg Davis. This isn't a Lester thing.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

 

[Hawk&Balls]

FUCK

 

[The Dad]

It's coaching every natural instinct out of a QB that takes two or three years.

This is correct. Kirk’s risk adverse tendencies are the real killer for us offensively.

 

[douglasbader]

Complete retardation to think that rather than searching for developmental value in the portal we should engage in an arms race with programs with way more money than us.

I don't even believe that, Iowa is just like most midwestern bumpkins, they're fucking cheap and Kirk doesn't want to pay. They want to develop because they do think they are brilliant at it. They aren't wrong, they are mostly, but not at QB.

They need to finally admit they have no clue what they are doing with QB's and buy one every year. It's the only thing holding them back from being Wisconsin in the 2010's.

 

[douglasbader]

Iowa has been doing the "oh you don't get it our system is so complicated" thing going all the way back to like Greg Davis. This isn't a Lester thing.

It's because dorks like @Monster fall for it every single time. "You aren't in practice" type nonsense.

 

[Monster]

Iowa has been doing the "oh you don't get it our system is so complicated" thing going all the way back to like Greg Davis. This isn't a Lester thing.

The difference now is it just isn't Iowa saying it. This offense is universally recognized for it's complexity.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

I don't even believe that, Iowa is just like most midwestern bumpkins, they're fucking cheap and Kirk doesn't want to pay. They want to develop because they do think they are brilliant at it. They aren't wrong, they are mostly, but not at QB.

They need to finally admit they have no clue what they are doing with QB's and buy one every year. It's the only thing holding them back from being Wisconsin in the 2010's.

But we don't have any money says the coach making 7+ mil a year

 

[Whatever]

Scrap desperation time when we needed a TD in the 4th, how many of those 2nd down passes came after passes on 1st down?

First half it was 5 runs and 9 passes.

 

[MikeyJoe]

This is correct. Kirk’s risk adverse tendencies are the real killer for us offensively.

It's also weird though because at times it's felt like they've just pre-decided who the 'safe' choice is before the season and then never change their minds. Like Bacon Hill turned the ball over plenty and seemed to have an incredibly long leash vs. apparently Hecklinski.

 

[The Dad]

Kirk saw first hand what a Brad Banks could do offensively and made the intentional decision to move in a different direction for the next 20+ years.

Our offensive struggles 100% lay at his feet.

 

[Monster]

It's because dorks like @Monster fall for it every single time. "You aren't in practice" type nonsense.

I don't fall for shit. I just choose not to react like a hysterical junior high girl after every loss.

 

[The Dad]

First half it was 5 runs and 9 passes.

We passed the ball 14 times on 1st down in a half?

I find that hard to believe.

 

[The Dad]

I don't fall for shit. I just choose not to react like a hysterical junior high girl after every loss.

Oh sometimes you fall for things, buddy boy.

*Jake Christensen*

 

[Hawk&Balls]

It's also weird though because at times it's felt like they've just pre-decided who the 'safe' choice is before the season and then never change their minds. Like Bacon Hill turned the ball over plenty and seemed to have an incredibly long leash vs. apparently Hecklinski.

That's why it was weird they were acting like this was an open competition all off season. We all knew it was going to be Brown.

 

[Monster]

Oh sometimes you fall for things, buddy boy.

*Jake Christensen*

Lol yes, yes, 20 years ago. I sure did.

 

[douglasbader]

I don't fall for shit. I just choose not to react like a hysterical junior high girl after every loss.

I famously don't react like this, you even said it earlier. I'm the one telling people calm down and lol'ing at them declaring Iowa won't win again.

So consider that the culmination of all of their QB stupidity for the last 7 years is finally too much. They fucking suck at developing QB's and they need to admit that forever.

 

[The Dad]

It's also weird though because at times it's felt like they've just pre-decided who the 'safe' choice is before the season and then never change their minds. Like Bacon Hill turned the ball over plenty and seemed to have an incredibly long leash vs. apparently Hecklinski.

Kirk a QB Nazi and tall, durable plodders are his Arian Race.

 

[Whatever]

We passed the ball 14 times on 1st down in a half?

I find that hard to believe.

You said throw out garbage time. I did.

 

[The Dad]

I famously don't react like this, you even said it earlier. I'm the one telling people calm down and lol'ing at them declaring Iowa won't win again.

So consider that the culmination of all of their QB stupidity for the last 7 years is finally too much. They fucking suck at developing QB's and they need to admit that forever.

 

[Monster]

I famously don't react like this, you even said it earlier. I'm the one telling people calm down and lol'ing at them declaring Iowa won't win again.

So consider that the culmination of all of their QB stupidity for the last 7 years is finally too much. They fucking suck at developing QB's and they need to admit that forever.

Lol I didn't admit that.

This is what you do. React hysterically after each loss. Pound out about 50,000 words on your keyboard for 24 hours straight, explaining in detail what is wrong with each aspect of the team and program. Then, you gradually shift to a more positive tone once you get it all out of your system.

 

[douglasbader]

Lol I didn't admit that.

This is what you do. React hysterically after each loss. Pound out about 50,000 words on your keyboard for 24 hours straight, explaining in detail what is wrong with each aspect of the team and program. Then, you gradually shift to a more positive tone once you get it all out of your system.

False.

 

[The Dad]

Lol I didn't admit that.

This is what you do. React hysterically after each loss. Pound out about 50,000 words on your keyboard for 24 hours straight, explaining in detail what is wrong with each aspect of the team and program. Then, you gradually shift to a more positive tone once you get it all out of your system.

Nlp levels of self awareness out of Douglas.

 

[douglasbader]

Laugh it up you bald fuck, you're the one that acts like that every time.

 

[douglasbader]

Nlp levels of self awareness out of Douglas.

NLP levels of self awareness out of The Dad. You act like that more than anyone.

 

[Monster]

Spidermanpointing.jpg

 

[The Dad]

LAWLZ!!!! Ol’ levelheaded Dougie. That’s what he’s known for round these parts….

 

[The Dad]

NLP levels of self awareness out of The Dad. You act like that more than anyone.

Considering I just took a dig at myself in this very thread, I’d say my self awareness is just fine, buddy boy.

Aware-er than YOU!

 

[cloudhawk]

It actually is a brilliant strategy, given all the reasons you list. I know you are still on one of your usual 24 hour post loss manias, but Iowa is uniquely qualified to run a highly complicated but effective offense. They don't get blue blood talent. Their players generally stay in the program long enough to learn it. There will be bumps in the road, but Iowa is miles better now than 3 years ago. Lester is great and I have complete faith in him.

No one in college football runs this. It's impossible to prepare for.

I mean this in the most respectful manner, Monster....but come the fuck on....lulz

 

[douglasbader]

Considering I just took a dig at myself in this very thread, I’d say my self awareness is just fine, buddy boy.

Aware-er than YOU!

More hair-er than YOU!

 

[douglasbader]

I mean this in the most respectful manner, Monster....but come the fuck on....lulz

Come on Cloudhawk, you haven't heard the whispers from all levels of coaching about how everyone is terrified to face Iowa on offense because it's just impossible to prepare for them?? Strikes fear in the heart college football!

 

[The Dad]

More hair-er than YOU!

It’s the only thing you have a surplus of on that big dumb head of yours you big dummy!!!

 

[douglasbader]

Anyways, all of this is fucking stupid. Iowa is averaging 15 points per game against anyone with a pulse. The only reason they aren't sitting with a losing record at 3-4 is because the defense is fucking awesome. Period.

This again here is all that matters. Iowa has no QB, the offense sucks and the only reason Iowa is what they are overall with 8+ wins every year is because the defense is fucking incredible. If they were even just "really good", Iowa would be a .500 program.

It's criminal that Kirk Ferentz hasn't fixed this in the NIL era. Go door to door begging for money for a QB, give back $1m of your salary, do whatever you need to do to get a proven QB that can run and pass. DO NOT get one that is coming off a major injury or about to have surgery.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

False.

100% true.