Voice of the Hawkeyes Board

KF has lost it. Thank goodness Iowa BB is here.

I also think that with the lack of a consistent running game and the OL issues, putting Rudock out there might only hurt his confidence rather then boost it.

This answer is really the only reasonable one I've heard that makes sense to me.

But when that chance to win is gone (getting blown out in the 4th) most college coaches will get the backup some reps. Its a chance for him to play on the road and get that experience. The one and only reason KF doesnt play Rudock in this situation is because he is scared to death that Rudock might look good. FACT. He doesnt want the fans, the team, the media to start the conversation that there might be a competition. Its is an ass backwards way to run a team. He is protecting JVB because hes a nice kid, a great student, a good story, a 5th yr senior. If Iowa Football was a company he would be fired for playing favorites. Im sick of "good stories". JVB played as good as he can play today. At one point in the 4th quarter the announcer said JVB completed his first pass of the day to a wr. Shocking. Takes 3 quarters to get the ball to a wideout.

I agree that JVB should start against Nebraska. He is our best qb. When it gets outta hand(which it will) you get the backups some reps. KF is getting paid just under 1 million dollars per win this year. He needs to make decisions that are best for the program. We had 3 academic all-americans this year. JVB, Morris, Bigach. All 3 have two things in common: smart, and have no business starting in the B1G. KF sticks by these guys cause its a "good story". We need guys with Thug Life tattoos, not guys that are looking at Med School.

End Rant

+1 for KFS* by me.

This. Plus your insiders will tell you they are planning on Sokol next year. Playing Rudock now could create another controversy if Rudock looked good, then Sokol would start next year and struggle. Fans would again question why Rudock wasn't playing.

When you are getting blown out and you can't win the game, the starter no longer is giving you a chance to win.
Even if Sokol is the starter next year, he may get injured. It never hurts to get snaps for any player who may be in a position to be thrown to the wolves at a moment's notice. Giving Rudock snaps on the road, especially in the Big House, would have been valuable.

For those of you who don't believe Ferentz isn't playing Rudock to prevent a controversy, re-examine his past actions. He dislikes the media, he does not like having to do a call in show, we all know his stubbornness...he absolutely did not want to play Stanzi over JC. He is going to stick with Vandenberg because he is not going to open himself up to the chance that Rudock might do well and having to endure the questioning from the media and fans that he loathes.

Sokol is redshirting this year.

You and I are in total disagreement here.

Obviously you already know who will be the starting QB for the 2013 Iowa Hawkeyes, congrats. Some of us have no idea who will start. Us not in the know will probably have to wait and see how spring practices go. Then we will have to see how fall practices go. Then a starter will be named.

How much difference will 10-20 snaps make? It cant hurt imo. We all remember when Stanzi got hurt against NW and JVB was thrown into a game having never taken a snap. I believe his first pass was a pick 6. He finished the game out taking pry 30 snaps and started the next week at The Shoe. Looked like a totally different QB with those 30 snaps. Im not saying give Rudock the keys, but atleast let him get his learner's permit. There is nothing to lose, and you might actually have something to gain.

With that said, in 2012 the 4-8 Iowa Hawkeyes with go the entire season with an offense that ranks in 100's, with a qb who's rating ranks in the 100's, having never played a different QB. Not one single snap.
No way KF plays Rudock in a blow out loss to Nebraska. But its not because he doesnt want JVB to hear the cheers when benched on senior day. Because as you stated, KF doesnt care what 70k "arm chair QBs" think.

I'm not sure as I admit I stopped watching the game after half time, saved myself two hours of pain during my weekend, but why is it just the quarterback being talked about?

Again I don't know who of the backups got in during the second half but I'm assuming that if they had Vandenberg in the whole time they probably had the rest of the 1st team in. So why aren't we up in arms that the 1st string O-line was still playing? Why not the wideouts? Are the linebackers not allowed to get criticized?

Don't get me wrong I would like to see... well I'd like to hear that the backups got playing time while in a blowout, but it just amazes me that it's always the quarterback that gets mentioned and nobody else.

Blowouts, whether you're the blower or blowee, are excellent times to get other players some game experience, so I'm disappointed we didn't see another QB today, or some of the young D-line players as well.

Would I have played Rudock in the 4th if I were in KF's shoes? Yes, but I absolutely do not believe that KF elects not to because he's afraid said player would actually play well, and therefore create some kind of controversy. Everybody is entitled to his/her opinion, but that's simply a theory I don't buy. He's certainly not perfect, nor above criticism, but I honestly don't believe he thinks along those lines.

Even if I don't always agree with him, I do believe KF makes decisions he genuinely feels are right for the program. Whether we label it stubborness or being consistent in his approach, Ferentz has a certain philosophy he subscribes to and believes strongly in the importance of sticking to it. Personally, I would love to see him be a little more flexible, and think outside the box more often, but it's just not in his make-up.

Great post. Summed up my thoughts perfectly.

In a blowout with no chance to win, one would think the coaching staff would give the bench some playing time. Rotate in other O-linemen and d-linemen, receivers, and give your backup QB some reps.

Did anyone notice how Iowa appeared to move the ball a bit better in the 4th quarter. I would think Michigan had some of their bench out playing mop-up. UM backup QB was playing the whole game (with Denard rotating in) because of Denard's injury. This experience for their backup QB will benefit VERY well.

Also read posts about the call in show being cancelled. That makes sense. Ferentz has exhausted the fact this team doesn't execute every freakin week. There's really no reason for Ferentz to put himself through all that when he really can't come out and say that this team lacks talent or they flat out suck. Better off canceling the show.

After observing today's game, Iowa flat out was manhandled by UM in speed and overall talent. Iowa appeared a step slower and weaker at most positions.

Many of us have blamed the coaching all year, but the greatest coach in the world wouldn't have a winning season with Iowa's current talent. The key to turning this debacle around will be to recruit better players and give some of the future starters some playing time in games that are blowouts like today. It would have been a great opportunity.

Why is it that everyone automatically assumes Rudock will be the No. 1 QB next season?

Two of the three QBs who will be in Iowa City next fall are redshirting this year.

Could it be that Rudock is actually No. 3 on the depth chart and the gap between Nos. 1 & 3 is significant?