Post Orange Bowl game thoughts: HT Iowa
by Winfield Featherston on Jan 8, 2010 8:00 AM EST
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Pre-Game thought blitz: It was COLD in Miami, Miamians love dance music, Iowa travels ridiculously well, the trip to Miami was the most relaxing trip of the year, and finally, there was no pre-game chaos with the Reck unlike Tampa.
Post-Game Thoughts:
its like we had a hot ferrari
but the race was on a gravel road
We are not there yet.
The negatives of the game came because of what Iowa did. After watching and thinking about the game, we didn't play sloppy ball (like we've done) and our defense played better than expected. We just could not hold our own against Iowa's monstrous offensive and defensive lines. Penalties may have killed momentum but that would be my best "excuse" for dropping an egg.
From the getgo, it was known that the Hawkeyes were not going to let Nesbitt or Dwyer beat them. Every time Josh tried to do something with the ball, or run the infamous midline option, the defense was keyed in on him. And they did it with their usual front 7, very rarely bringing in an 8th man to plug a gap.
The matchup between our offensive line and their defensive line highlighted some major issues for us at this time. I once saw Claymore Clayborn grab Uzzi, throw him in the air and grab Josh and then tackle him to the ground. We were simply outmanned and outweighed in the trenches and THAT is how we lost the Orange Bowl.
I think back to the season and I have to laugh. The Orange Bowl is a bittersweet memory because of how we lost. But we must remember, that just two years ago, we were averaging 7 wins and going to bowl games that absolutely no one cared about. In two years Paul Johnson has taken our football program to a new level, the level where we are earning our right to participate with the elite programs. But what about to compete and to win these games? We simply aren't "there" yet and that's the answer as to what I think about the Orange Bowl loss. We didn't play sloppy and make ridiculous errors like dropping punts. Iowa just played significantly better.
We'll get there. Just give it a little more time.
9 more months until football begins again...
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FYI
Informative and entertaining post game pie chart and bar graph posted on BHGP.
Just have to share the fun.
by Stay thirsty, my friends. on Jan 8, 2010 9:03 AM EST reply actions
In the middle paragraph you have "Claymore" throwing Uzzi to the ground.
Clayborn?
In the past 10 years, just four team owners have not paid a luxury tax and are not on pace to pay one this year: Donald Sterling, Jerry Reinsdorf, Chris Cohen (Golden State), Bob Johnson (Charlotte).
Two owners’ teams averaged an operating income of over +$10 million per year while their teams have lost over 60% of their games: Donald Sterling and Jerry Reinsdorf.
Same thing, really.
Bully football is winning football.
by Bucketochicken on Jan 8, 2010 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
Name FAIL
The college football season is so fragile. It's like a glass ball being pushed around from stadium to stadium by a rhinoceros.
by Winfield Featherston on Jan 8, 2010 10:11 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Nice post, Winfield. Thanks.
I watched the game again last night, and man… your scoring drive in the 4th quarter was a thing of beauty. Once Johnson really gets his system firmly in place with his players, and shores up the D a little bit… holy crap.
Good game, and congrats on a terrific season. Best of luck next year. And thanks for letting all of us come on here and annoy everyone.
Bully football is winning football.
Congrats Guys
I watched the Orange Bowl again on Wednesday night when I got back to Chicago from Miami. While I agree that it appeared that you were outmatched throughout the game, the drive that you guys scored on was a heck of an adjustment. Johnson must have seen something with how Binns and the left side of Iowa’s defense were covering your guys because every time you went that direction on that drive, it gained you a chunk of yards at a time.
I think I speak for all Iowa fans when I say, we know how it feels to be in this position. Ferentz had been coaching Iowa for three years when we made our first Orange Bowl appearance, and except for the opening kickoff that we took back for a touchdown, our team was completely dominated by USC in that game. Trust me, looking at how Ferentz has prepared from bowl games since that loss, Paul Johnson will use this as a learning experience, and you will see your team come out for many of your future bowl games looking more prepared than they did for this game.
It’s been a lot of fun guys, hopefully we can meet in a future bowl game soon.
They took the bar, the whole fucking bar!
by recoveringfratguy on Jan 8, 2010 10:25 AM EST reply actions
Totally.
The kick-out blocks your A/B/C/etc Back made on the corner/safety as the ball carrier came around the corner was absolutely gorgeous to watch. Flawless.
Bully football is winning football.
by Bucketochicken on Jan 8, 2010 1:22 PM EST up reply actions
A few thoughts
The entire day tailgating, I wanted to hate your fans. Nothing personal, really, just wanted to get fired up for the game. This was, however, an almost impossible task as every GT fan I came across was beyond nice. We made friends with at least two sizable GT crews, had fun gettin’ our drink on, talked some shit and so on. My hat, if I were wearing one, goes off to you all.
I second RFG’s post ahead of mine. I think you guys will get there. The second half adjustments that were made had me nervous. :)
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