Iowa

The Morning After: What Do We Have?

Published

2 months ago

September 15, 2024

What do we have with this team, exactly? Does anyone know?

This is an Iowa team that, rightly, can hammer teams on the ground. They are indisputably better in that arena than what we’ve seen at Iowa in four years. We’ve seen Iowa struggle on the ground against teams at Troy’s level in the past. Not this year. Iowa has a good line when it comes to the ground game. They have a great stable of backs, highlighted by Kaleb Johnson (man crush levels are HIGH with that guy).

They can get after the quarterback in pass situations. They’re good up the middle. They can stop the run.

Iowa has what looks like a kicker that has returned to form. They have a punter with a big leg. He’s not Tory Taylor (yet), but he’s got the ability. They have a top-level return man.

But the quarterback play has been…shaky. Pass protection has broken down more than once. The defense gives up big plays. That’s consecutive weeks they’ve been burned. It’s made worse by the fact that they give up those plays right after Iowa scores. The special teams had a blow up. This was a 3-point game in the 4th quarter against Troy.

We’ve seen Iowa show their superiority for maybe 4 quarters of play scattered over three games. Their best stretch of play offensively was a game in which Kirk Ferentz was at home with a grandson making eggs. He gets back and the governor is re-inserted. That should rightly be a huge caution flag for everyone.

What is this team?

Whatever they are, they better figure it out quickly. The numbers look good overall. They had nearly 300 yards rushing Saturday. The offense still has struggles, but they’re better than they’ve been since about 2020. They have a professional play caller now, a guy that seems to start slow in the scripted portion of the game but that’s by design to feel an opponent out and set things up later in the game (Brian Ferentz, by contrast, would nail the script then still have 9 or 10 drives to figure out and he had no idea how to do that). They’ve shown they can get it done on the ground. But they are shaky in areas, and some of them are uncharacteristic of recent Iowa vintage.

League play starts next week. Do you feel comfortable about any of that through 3 games? I know I don’t.

Other Thoughts:

– My viewing experience for this game was again a bit choppy. I had another kid’s birthday party to attend – the dad has booze on hand at all times; a good friend indeed – so I got my first experience with Gary Dolphin and Pat Angerer on radio on the way there. I have to say – better than I thought it would be! Angerer’s still feeling his way through this so there’s some dead time that Ed Podolak would’ve filled, but without Ed it’s made Dolphin have to step up more to support a new guy in Pat. It might be the best thing that’s happened to Gary. It felt a little sharper from Dolph than I remember. He’s always struggled with basketball, but football? He’s ok. Angerer brings some younger fan energy to this – at one point on Kaden Wetjen’s kick return to start the second half, Angerer kept yelling “COME ON WETJEN!” It was great. Better than I thought it’d be.

– Cade. I don’t know. I just don’t know on him. There’s a new package for Brendan Sullivan inside the 20. That’s good for the team…but it’s not exactly a ringing endorsement of Cade and where he is right now. And to get the ball after Devonte Ross’s punt return with 1:00 left in the half and one timeout and sit on the ball…that won’t cut it, guys. It just won’t cut it. It’s poor clock management, and it’s made worse by the message it sends. You can’t get it done against Troy, with a 6th-year player under center? If you don’t trust him in that situation, when will you trust him?

– Special Teams breakdown on the punt. Everyone got sucked into the middle. That was as easy a return as I can remember.

– The big TDs allowed – is some of that inexperience for a player like TJ Hall? He hasn’t played a ton despite being a third-year player. Iowa gave up 253 yards of offense to Troy, and 125 of that came on two long plays. 128 yards allowed on everything else. The defense was good overall, but the two long plays make it look worse than it was.

– Kaleb Johnson will be on the list of finalists for the Doak Walker award. He’ll be in the final 3. 479 yards and 6 touchdowns through three games (really 2 1/2) will do that. Enjoy this season with Kaleb while you can – a year from now, he’ll be in the National Football League. I honestly can’t wait to see what he does up there.

– Good to see Jaz Patterson and Kaleb Brown back in the army. Cade’s best throw may have been the 18-yarder to Brown to keep the drive that ended in Patterson’s touchdown alive.

Also – did we know Cade is a laces out guy? I didn’t! I’d never noticed this before!

– The offense is more fun to watch. Truly, it is! I like having a professional play caller in the chair. As painful as some of it’s been, I actually want the defense getting off the field so I can see what this offense will call. It’s variety we haven’t seen in years. They are using a second quarterback, and in one instance, they called stuff out of pistol for him! I find that side interesting again.

– That said – Kirk’s back. The interest in that side can evaporate immediately with him back.

Source link

Related Topics:black but Featured Football front page gold Hawkeyes Heart improve in Iowa is outlook pants s season Troy vs.What win

Click to comment

Iowa

Pick ‘Ems: Iowa-Maryland, Iowa State-Utah, Indiana-Ohio State

Published

4 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Pick ‘Ems: Iowa-Maryland, Iowa State-Utah, Indiana-Ohio State

There is a 4-way tie atop our season standings between John Steppe, Jeff Johnson, Rob Gray and Beth Malicki

Indiana celebrates after defeating Michigan in an NCAA college football game in Bloomington, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

The Gazette’s Pick ‘Ems for Week 13 of the college football season including long road trips for Iowa and Iowa State and the top-five showdown between Indiana and Ohio State.

Iowa (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) at Maryland (4-6, 1-6)

11 a.m. Saturday (BTN)

Line: Iowa -6.5

Mike Hlas (2-1, 24-12) — Iowa’s No. 3 quarterback for this game is a Maryland blue crab. Iowa 24, Maryland 14

John Steppe (2-1, 26-10) — My editors are excited for a deadline-friendly 11 a.m. start. I’m just excited to use Washington’s outstanding Metro system. Iowa 20, Maryland 13

Jeff Johnson (3-0, 26-10) — Hey, Coach Ferentz. I’ve got some eligibility remaining if you need a quarterback. I specialize in the Tush Push. Maryland 21, Iowa 17

Rob Gray (3-0, 26-10) — Can the return of Cade McNamara save the Hawkeyes’ season? Maybe. But can the “clouds” settle and put Jackson Stratton into the starting spot? It appears possible. Iowa 14, Maryland 10

Beth Malicki (3-0, 26-10) — I’m hosting Thanksgiving and don’t want anyone to bring their own darn food. This isn’t a potluck. This is my chance to show off and stress out. Iowa 20, Maryland 17

Todd Brommelkamp (3-0, 25-11) — Maryland has a single B1G win (by just one point) and gives up almost 30 points a game yet somehow Iowa’s final road trip of the year has become very unnerving. Iowa 28, Maryland 19

No. 22 Iowa State (8-2, 5-2 Big 12) at Utah (4-6, 1-6)

6:30 p.m. Saturday (Fox)

Line: Iowa State -7.5

Hlas — Once I was in a bar in the old Denver airport waiting to catch a flight to Salt Lake City. Someone dropped a quarter in a jukebox and played a Hall and Oates record. At that moment, the most amazing thing happened to all of us there. (Continued on Page 13C). Utah 21, Iowa State 20

Steppe — Utah has more national parks than college football wins this year. Iowa State 23, Utah 20

Johnson — “Is it possible the two Utes …” “The two what?” “What?” “Did you say two Utes?” “Yeah, two Utes.” “What is a Ute?” “Oh, excuse me, your honor. Two youths.” Iowa State 28, Utah 10

Gray — If the Cyclones can stop the run, a path to 9-2 swiftly materializes. If they can’t, this is a four-quarter game. Iowa State 27, Utah 17

Malicki — Why am I wearing a splint on each wrist when I sleep? Self-induced carpal tunnel from robust cleaning. Iowa State 31, Utah 24

Brommelkamp — Utah’s controversial loss in the Holy War two weeks ago was the final straw in a lost season for Kyle Whittingham’s team. Make it seven straight setbacks for the Utes. Iowa State 25, Utah 21

No. 5 Indiana (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) at No. 2 Ohio State (9-1, 6-1)

11 a.m. Saturday (Fox)

Line: Ohio State -12

Hlas — This is the biggest Indiana football game of our lives, then we have turkey dinner five days later. So delay that move to New Zealand for another week. Ohio State 35, Indiana 28

Steppe — My mother is an Indiana grad. I hope she does her Christmas shopping for me before reading this pick. Ohio State 41, Indiana 31

Johnson — Indiana is a great story, but let’s get real. Hoosiers have played exactly ONE team with a winning record, and that’s Washington, which is a mere 6-5. Ohio State 31, Indiana 14

Gray — Heck, let’s blow it all up. Bluebloods be damned. Er, wait. On second thought … Ohio State 27, Indiana 14

Malicki — I cannot wait for all three of my adult kids to come home so I can be so overwhelmed with delight I can’t sleep so in all the pictures I have “crazy eyes.” Ohio State 34, Indiana 23

Brommelkamp — It’s clear ESPN and the CFP aren’t fans of Curt Cignetti’s upstarts. I am. The Hoosiers will (hopefully) make this a game and prove their many doubters wrong. Ohio State 31, Indiana 24

Source link

Iowa

Decatur County duo arrested after alleged robbery in Iowa Wednesday, police say

Published

13 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Decatur County duo arrested after alleged robbery in Iowa Wednesday, police say

WEST DES MOINES, Ia. (WCTV) – Two people from Decatur County were arrested in Iowa Wednesday, and face charges related to an alleged robbery, according to a press release from the West Des Moines Police Department.

Daniel Mathes of Bainbridge is charged with robbery in the second degree and theft in the first degree. Lisa Haire of Climax is charged with aiding and abetting robbery in the second degree and aiding and abetting theft in the first degree.

Daniel Mathes and Lisa Haire, pictured above in their mugshots.(West Des Moines Police Department)

Late Wednesday afternoon, police responded to a call of a robbery at a bank, according to authorities. No one was injured, and police determined Mathes and Haire suspects related to the incident, police say.

They were later pulled over by Iowa State Patrol on I-80, and arrested without incident, according to authorities.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook and X (Twitter).

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Write us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

Keep up with all the biggest headlines on the WCTV News app. Click here to download it now.

Source link

Iowa

Iowa State vs. Utah score prediction by expert football model

Published

22 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Iowa State vs. Utah score prediction by expert football model

A notable late-season Big 12 matchup kicks off this weekend as No. 22 Iowa State goes on the road against Utah. Let’s check in with the latest prediction for the game from an expert analytical football model that projects scores and picks winners.

Iowa State sits in a two-way tie for third-place in the Big 12 standings after a two-game losing skid that came to an end last weekend, but the Cyclones need help getting to the league title game.

Utah was the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 Championship Game, but slid to just 1-6 in conference play and is on a six-game losing streak, not having won since late September, against Oklahoma State, the other worst team in the league this season.

What do the analytical models suggest for when the Cyclones and Utes square off in this Big 12 matchup?

For that, let’s turn to the SP+ prediction model to get a preview of how Iowa State and Utah compare in this Week 13 college football game.

As expected, the models are siding with the Cyclones against the Utes, but by a close margin.

SP+ predicts that Iowa State will defeat Utah by a projected score of 24 to 20 and to win the game by an expected margin of 4.1 points in the process.

The model gives the Cyclones a solid 60 percent chance of outright victory against the Utes.

SP+ is a “tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency” that attempts to predict game outcomes by measuring “the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football.”

How good is it this season? So far, the SP+ model is 315-293-8 against the spread with a 51.8 win percentage after going 23-30 (43.4%) last weekend.

Iowa State is a 7.5 point favorite against Utah, according to the updated lines posted to FanDuel Sportsbook for the game.

FanDuel lists the total at 41.5 points for the game (Over -110, Under -110).

And it set the moneyline odds for Iowa State at -280 and for Utah at +225 to win outright.

If you’re using this prediction to bet on the game, you should take …

If you do, you’ll be in the company of a minority of bettors, most of whom expect the Cyclones to dominate the Utes, according to the latest spread consensus picks for the game.

Iowa State is getting 62 percent of bets to win the game and cover the spread in the process.

The other 38 percent of wagers project Utah will either win outright in an upset or keep the game under 8 points in a loss.

Most other analytical football models also favor the Cyclones against the Utes this weekend.

That includes the College Football Power Index, a computer prediction model that uses data points from both teams to simulate games 20,000 times to pick winners.

Iowa State is the favorite in the game, coming out ahead in the majority 63.2 percent of the computer’s most recent simulations of the matchup.

That leaves Utah as the presumptive winner in the other 36.8 percent of sims for the game.

How does that translate to an expected margin of victory in the matchup?

Iowa State is projected to be 4.8 points better than Utah on the same field in both teams’ current composition, according to the model’s latest forecast.

Iowa State is fourth among Big 12 teams with a 9.5 percent chance to qualify for the College Football Playoff, according to the FPI’s metrics.

That model forecasts the Cyclones will win 9.3 games this season.

Colorado (34.3%) leads the Big 12 in the playoff race, according to the index projections, followed by BYU (31.1%) and Arizona State (13.5%).

Utah has two games left to become bowl eligible, but the index doesn’t foresee that happening.

FPI projects the Utes will win 4.7 games and have an 11.9 percent chance to make a bowl game.

When: Sat., Nov. 23
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah

Time: 6:30 p.m. CT | 5:30 p.m. MT
TV: Fox network

–

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

–

More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | Teams