Voice of the Hawkeyes Board

Execution?

My analogy on KF is: when we have good teams it's like we are a pretty girl that doesn't wear make up or dress up but you can tell she is still cute. When we have bad teams we are like an ugly chick that doesn't even try to be pretty............... If you understand that analogy you'll understand the KF problem.

I give you an up vote.

I gave the same analogy to a friend a few weeks back, but used the Ferentz analogy about "not being the prettiest car on the lot" which he said himself years ago.

Ferentz doesn't even want to try to be the Bentley of football. He's happy being an old Datsun that sometimes runs well and sometimes doesn't.

I'll start by saying that I'm glad the lambasting of KF following press conferences isn't as bad here as it is on some of the other sites. With that said, Einstein was quoted as saying that the definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." To that, I'll venture a new question, "Do any of you who read Kirk Ferentz's press conference transcripts honestly expect him to single out a person, coach, position group, or anything that might emphasize that some, or someone, might be responsible, good or bad, for the outcome in a game?" In 13+ years, I haven't heard it, and I don't expect it to start now. I can understand venting frustrations about "cookie cutter" answers about execution and wanting it more, but the truth is that what he is saying is true, just not what we want to hear. I think any play executed perfectly by all 11 guys will be successful, even if the other team knows its coming. Every player on every play has a responsibility of course, and when done correctly, leads to positive plays. When we lose to the likes of Indiana, Cental Michigan's, etc., people's knee jerk reaction when taking an outside perspective towards the situation is to want to see head's roll! They want Tanner Miller called out and criticized, bashed, stoned and what not infront of every reporter, TV camera, message board enthusiast and the rest for not being able to tackle or whatever the case may be, thinking that if this doesn't happen, he'll never know how bad he played. (Just using Miller as an example of course, but could be applied in real life in some regard) The breakdown of every play is not as simple as looking at results. It is much more complex, something often spoken of by Ferentz and discarded by most as coach speak. Unless you sit in on the meetings and study the playbooks, you would never be able to fully understand why somethings happen throughout a game, and if your waiting for Ferentz to say, "James was supposed to throw the 10 yard curl to CJF on that 4th down instead of the 1 yard out to Derby. Not sure what he was thinking there," because it seems like some want it to be that cut and dry. As fans, were all invested, some more than others, but none more than Ferentz, the staff, and the players.

It leads me to my next question, does anyone here think they are more invested in the outcome of these games then Kirk Ferentz is? And if so, I would love to hear how you might think this is true. Questioning tactics, play calls, personnel groupings, referee calls, etc., you name it, its free fire on an internet message board. But, when your invested into something on a day to day basis, every single day of your life, the way Kirk Ferentz, his staff and his players are, you learn to choose your words carefully when spoken in the public forum. I would venture a guess that if any of us had the opportunity to sit in that locker room during half time of the game today, many of us would have a different perspective on how Kirk Ferentz thinks these games are won and loss. But we won't ever see that side of Ferentz, for good reason. That type of speech is reserved for those within the program for a reason.
I don't mean to call out any one person for ranting after another "so-called" unacceptable loss, but more to emphasize the coach speak aspect of the job, and how its utilized on an individual basis. Hear at Iowa, we have three very unique personalities that all use different methods when addressing the media in Ferentz, McCaffery, and Brands. This is not a cry to back off Ferentz, but more or less just a nudge to realize that the staff and players are more than aware of whats going on, despite whats said at the press conference. Do yourselfs a favor, save yourselves some meds, and don't read it if your expecting anything other than coach speak from Ferentz.

It's a double-edged sword with coaches in general. Each has a different demeanor and philosophy when dealing with players and the media. You don't want a coach who is a raving lunatic on the sidelines and throws everybody under a bus at the pressors, but you also don't want a coach who is so guarded with the public that they give the appearance of someone who either doesn't care what's going on, or worse, doesn't realize what's going on.

I've always been a staunch supporter of KF, not necessarily because I think he's a great coach, but more because I believe as a program, Iowa couldn't do much better. In that analysis, you have to rule out coaches who would come in and use the program as a stepping-stone. He's been a solid but unspectacular coach over the years, who is far from perfect.

That said, I would like to see something in-between with him. I truly believe that fans feel more connected with coaches who show some emotion, good or bad, at times. That applies to in-games and the pressors. You can be frank about a player who struggled without coming across as cruel, and it doesn't hurt to get in a players face every now and then on the sidelines after a bone-headed play. One, it shows the players that mediocrity will not be acceptable, and, two, it shows the fans that you are into the game. Of the current Iowa coaches, Fran in particular has struck a nice balance with this.

What has to be eating at Ferentz this season is the lack of tangible results after his so-called intensive review of the entire program in the off-season. By all accounts, he and the staff went back to the drawing board and analyzed and tweaked just about everything within the program. It has to be disheartening to have this kind of result after all that effort, and you have to wonder what his mindset will be for this next off-season. Normally, I would expect little in the way of major changes, just knowing how Ferentz operates, but after losing the last six games of the season, which I expect will happen, I now wouldn't be surprised to see more turnover or maybe even a resignation.

Coachspeak isn't the issue. Have been hearing the same ish out da mouth of my (soon to be ex) NFL leader for the better part of 15 years.

Coaching incompetence at every level is the issue. Frustration for fans here is that the exorcism isn't looking to be as easy in IC.

If our coach knew anything about coaching we would know what our next QB had because we would have seen him this year. He should be fired for this alone!!! The only team in the BIG to NOT play the back up QB and one of the few teams in the country. This is nothing other than poor coaching and not having his teams best interests at hand. He is afraid JR will come in and do well and then he will really take heat for not pulling JVB!

I can tell you now that is absolutely and unequivocally false. As Hwkfan4life said, no one is more invested in this team than Ferentz. He will undoubtedly play the guys he feels give Iowa the best chance to win. Whether or not he's right in who gives Iowa the best chance to win is up for debate, but his desire to win isn't.

Oh I don't disagree, I think a lot of the lack of preparation falls on the shoulders of the head coach. I was just saying that it doesn't make sense for justifying Rudock not playing as Ferentz being afraid he'll do well.

Exactly what I was thinking while reading that rather long rant from HwkFn.

Oh Herk you know you love reading 8 mile posts

You never said that, but franfan did.