Can we talk about blown leads?

[ExCyment]

So blowing leads isn't your issue... it's blowing leads that's your issue?

Getting one or two more 1st downs, or one more defensive stop, etc, is what you have to do to not blow leads.

Blowing leads has definitely been an issue in Campbell's short time here. We blew a lot of 4th qtr leads last year, and now again against Iowa yesterday. It is an issue that needs addressed. I felt like we got that 10 pt lead in the 4th, and then took the foot off the gas a bit and were only trying to kill clock and burn Iowa's TO's.

The other issue we've always had against Iowa is T.O.P., and I think it hurt us again yesterday. The defense was on the field too long, and tired at the very end a bit. As awesome as Butler's 74 yd TD was, which it was, the defense was probably thinking "we have to go back out there again already?".

Two very evenly matched teams yesterday. Stats couldn't be more close. IMO, if something were to happen to Wadley, Iowa would be screwed. He's the only one on their team that a defense has to be concerned about really. I still have no idea how ISU gave up a 46 yd TD on a 5 yd dump off pass with a minute and a half left in the game. That CANNOT happen. In that situation, you have to almost be playing a "prevent" defense.

Park might think this is a different team this year, but yet, we still are finding ways to lose games..... which has been an ISU curse since..... well..... forever.

They were playing a prevent defense, that is why Wadely had the space to make that happen. So many wrong things on the board today. Take a deep breath everyone it will be okay. If this ruined your day yesterday you are doing this sports thing wrong. That was one of the best played games by both teams I've seen in a long time. If we just win the coin flip in overtime maybe we score on fourth down and win in the next overtime. If Iowa had lost would you be questioning everything about Ferentz's coaching? Just be more patient with this team and good things are ahead.

 

[BryceC]

One last thing on this - apparently in Ferentz's almost 20 year career at Iowa, that's his fourth double digit comeback win in the fourth quarter. He's coached 229 games at Iowa. That's how rare this SHOULD be.

We've blown double digit fourth quarter leads in 4 of our last 16 games. The odds of it happening are very low in college football.

 

[cydline2cydline]

In order to win close games, you first have to get the game close. If you con consistently have close games, eventually the ball will bounce your way and be the difference between 4 wins and 7 wins.

 

[Al_4_State]

In order to win close games, you first have to get the game close. If you con consistently have close games, eventually the ball will bounce your way and be the difference between 4 wins and 7 wins.

Again, we've been doing this for years and we aren't getting the wins.

 

[SimpsonCyclone]

Again, we've been doing this for years and we aren't getting the wins.

This. And I'm starting to get fed up with the "be patient" BS - How much more patient can a fanbase be than ours. If we don't start winning some of these close games (let alone blow double digit leads in the 4th) - the players will stop believing in the Trust The Process mantra.

 

[VeloClone]

The other issue we've always had against Iowa is T.O.P., and I think it hurt us again yesterday. The defense was on the field too long, and tired at the very end a bit. As awesome as Butler's 74 yd TD was, which it was, the defense was probably thinking "we have to go back out there again already?".

It isn't just an Iowa TOP issue. It is a depth issue. ISU has blown a lot of late leads because we haven't historically had enough quality depth, especially in the front 7. When you are asking players to play too many snaps throughout the game they are fatigued and much less effective in crunch time. When ISU has quality depth in that front 7 with enough experience to be effective, the starters will be fresher at the end of games and will be able to shut the door on some of these comebacks.

 

[SCarolinaCy]

Why do we go conservative? 3:30 is too long to run out the clock.

We need QB roll outs, to avoid the expected rush, together with short swing passes that are complete for a first down, or thrown out of bounds for the next play. Very disappointing final minutes.

 

[clonedude]

It isn't just an Iowa TOP issue. It is a depth issue. ISU has blown a lot of late leads because we haven't historically had enough quality depth, especially in the front 7. When you are asking players to play too many snaps throughout the game they are fatigued and much less effective in crunch time. When ISU has quality depth in that front 7 with enough experience to be effective, the starters will be fresher at the end of games and will be able to shut the door on some of these comebacks.

T.O.P and lack of depth usually go hand in hand, so I didn't think I had to mention the lack of depth part. Obviously losing the T.O.P battle doesn't really matter if you have awesome depth.

But you're dead right. We don't have the quality depth on defense to lose the T.O.P battle by very much. Especially with your top two safeties already out.

 

[VeloClone]

T.O.P and lack of depth usually go hand in hand, so I didn't think I had to mention the lack of depth part. Obviously losing the T.O.P battle doesn't really matter if you have awesome depth.

But you're dead right. We don't have the quality depth on defense to lose the T.O.P battle by very much. Especially with your top two safeties already out.

I just don't read too much into the TOP when playing Iowa. As one of the slowest paced teams out there the TOP is really deceiving. When a team has the ball almost 15 minutes more than the opponent in a game you expect them to have run a lot more than 10 more plays.

 

[Tre4ISU]

CPR's leads felt hollow. Right now it feels more like 'this is what we want to do, and we're going to do it'.

Some of it is player execution and that comes down to talent.

My main concerns are that players seem to be out of position on defense and not being aggressive on the 2nd to last possession yesterday was tough to stomach. Get one down field past the markers and keep them honest.

It doesn't and it hasn't, in general. We get conservative and lose games we should win. Heacock dropped 8 into coverage and got worked down the field at the end of the game Saturday. It's things like that that lose football games.

 

[clonedude]

It doesn't and it hasn't, in general. We get conservative and lose games we should win. Heacock dropped 8 into coverage and got worked down the field at the end of the game Saturday. It's things like that that lose football games.

If we had 8 back in coverage, then how in the world did we get beat for a 46 yd TD off of a 5 yd pass? That's inexcusable given where Iowa was on the field and the time left in the game. Cost us the game, plain and simple.

 

[Tre4ISU]

If we had 8 back in coverage, then how in the world did we get beat for a 46 yd TD off of a 5 yd pass? That's inexcusable given where Iowa was on the field and the time left in the game. Cost us the game, plain and simple.

I'm not positive we were on that play and I'm not going back to rewatch it but we were extremely passive on that position. I didn't see the first 2.5 quarters but it sounded like we gave up numerous 3rd and longs by way of ******* SCREENS. It's like the most Hawkeye offense ever for them to run screens on third and long, they did it, and it worked more than once. That's ridiculous.

Listen, I like a lot of things Heacock does and he needs a little time here, however, he has a whole secondary returning plus a grad transfer from Georgia in the secondary, at worst, two serviceable LBs and as good of a DL as we have had in a long time from a talent standpoint. He needs time to bring some young guys along but there should be a bunch in that back seven and it seems like we've marginalized Payne in a position he's not great at which is my main personnel gripe right now. I don't understand the move one bit because he's the perfect fit for that hybrid LB/S/CB type thing you'd love to find to play toward the field, especially when you feel you have some good corners.

Note: This is not me saying he should be fired. That's not my opinion at all. I just find the inconsistencies and some of the personnel moves to be odd.