Yes and no IMO i think he should have kicked the field goal. The old coaching adage is "on the road take what the defense gives you". Fortunately Starrett last minute TD makes this a mute point, but some day.....
Secondly, in my humble opinion, the play calling seemed very conservative the entire game except at the end of the first half and at the end of the game , when in both instances we moved the ball very quickly down field and scored decisively. Our advantage was our passing game and their poor secondary, all day long.
Third it was quite apparent very early on Iowa had timed the "silent count" with the right guards hand motion, putting our OL in jeopardy. We need to change up the count on the signal or something more unpredictable. I know that brings in more of our own mistakes but those poor linemen were really abused.
BEAT PURDUE
We need to figure out a way to be able to audible in loud away stadiums. What we did Saturday with regard to that, is not going to cut it against Oregon and PSU.
Agree on all accounts. A grinder game like this comes down to under a touchdown win. Kick the field goal. We ran the ball way too much. Did Khobie Martin play.? I didn't get to watch every minute of the game
and the snap count... didn't we have the same problem against Ohio st last year ?
Seeing Coogan completely miss the defender come around reminded me of Katic vs Ohio State last year. Coogan didn't touch anyone the entire play and the guy went right past him. Michalski allowing that guy through on the 4th and 1 play was AWFUL. His defender about took the handoff.
@hoosiers94 Don't think Martin was in for a snap. I'd hoped we would see him some, but maybe in more blowout situations. He's looked really good when in, and could give us that 3 back backfield. But last year he really pared it down to 2 so maybe that's the decision he's already made.
I swear I thought Coogan had a concussion... Camera had a zoom in right on that play and he looked so confused, he just stood up, eyes flickering and zero attempt to do anything.Seeing Coogan completely miss the defender come around reminded me of Katic vs Ohio State last year. Coogan didn't touch anyone the entire play and the guy went right past him. Michalski allowing that guy through on the 4th and 1 play was AWFUL. His defender about took the handoff.
He's a really good lineman. Glad we have him. That was very strange.
Michalski I think that was more a bad scheme. He's needs to out-quick a much smaller defender? Man, pull in tighter before the snap or something. He had move and lean to cover too much space and the guy was gone by then. Yeah, poor block, but...
maybe so. And I agree what I've seen of him he's been great. He can flat out run the ball.
I like Hemby but Black to me is too slow.
Fans were grumbling in the stands about the IU defense letting Iowa dink & dunk us to death. Upon reflection, I think the defensive strategy was sound. Make Iowa work for it's yards and bet that the IU defense could make them punt more often than not.
I think we were outcoached with our offensive game plan though. I will never understand trying to go into Kinnick and beat Iowa at their game of slow-it-down, field position, grinding football. I'm not sure if the offense was designed to be so conservative or whether there were a bunch of RPOs where Iowa was dictating the runs. I just didn't like it.
IMO, with the understanding that I know very little, I would have wanted IU to really press the issue with our first full possession (up 7-0). I think if we go up two scores early, especially two touchdowns, then Iowa gets out of their gameplan and they have to start playing our game. And I think it wouldn't have been a close game if they had to start slinging it downfield.
I'm glad things worked out, but it was a stressful couple of hours.
@tmft I suspect Iowa's ability to pressure Mendoza played a role in this. I don't fully understand the various keys and decisions involved in RPO offenses. But the name implies there are options on most plays to both run, or pass. Iowa defended the pass portion of that, very well, I would say. IU was actually better at running the ball on 1st and 2nd down, than I would have thought they would be, on Iowa's defense. IU had a TON of 3rd and short situations. Running the ball often put them in good short yardage situations.
Where I think the staff misplayed the playcalling, badly, were all those 3rd and short, and 4th down play calls. With Mendoza, Sarratt, Cooper, Williams... after the first couple failed run attempts, they should have been game planning to pick up 3rd downs via passes, rather than running up the gut.
I wouldn't call it too close to the vest. He coached scared and admitted to being Spooked by a pass rush early in the game. That can't happen. If IU is coaching or playing scared Oregon will run them off the field.
He also said, if I heard him correctly, there were no RPOs on the short yardage. Only called runs, due to our expectations about noise and communication.
Which is scary. 🙁 Come on. A tough road game is exactly when your adjustments need to work.
I assume other plays were either called pass or run, no check offs. But he only said so specifically when asked in the presser about the 'short yardage' plays.
@openwheel Yeah, heard that too. It's a legitimate concern. The staff is better than they showed last week. It's a bit head scratching
But I think we'll be happy living with Cig and staff, warts and all.... 
A different thread someone mentioned whether we have the depth to go 10-2 most years yet, and though 'no not really'. What a great problem to have though. I said when Cig was hired I had total belief that "in a few years' Cig could have us really rolling with consistent really good 8, or 9 wins seasons.
WAY ahead of my expectations! Or hopes! And if we do become a consistent 9-3 or some years better level team, that's big boy football.
I wouldn't call it too close to the vest. He coached scared and admitted to being Spooked by a pass rush early in the game. That can't happen. If IU is coaching or playing scared Oregon will run them off the field.
This is what threw me off. They were bringing the house, so get quick slants and make them need to at least hesitate enough to protect us from connecting on those. If we can get them to just hesitate any longer, it helps with other things like the run game. The point is, there is a counter move to whatever scheme they are using so why not build in things that punish them for their approach.
I know, easier said than done but Mendoza had the look of someone who was a little overwhelmed in that type of environment.
I wouldn't call it too close to the vest. He coached scared and admitted to being Spooked by a pass rush early in the game. That can't happen. If IU is coaching or playing scared Oregon will run them off the field.
So confusing that this staff gets nervous/conservative in these big road games. It seems so out of character.
Anyways, they’re a smart bunch and we can only hope they learn.
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