Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Football: Searching for offensive answers; Kirk Ferentz & Cade McNamara comments

Starting point is 00:00:00 As Kirk Ferentz speaks yesterday, we hear from the head man. We're searching for answers offensively. Did he give us any? And Cade McNamara sounds off on play calling today. Locked on Hawkeyes. You are locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome in.

Starting point is 00:00:41 I'm Trent Condon, and this is the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We're available wherever you get podcasts. You can also find us on YouTube. While you're there, make sure you hit that subscribe button. It helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. Today's episode is brought to you by eBay Motors. A championship team is about each player being a perfect fit. Same with your vehicle. So for the parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBayMotors.com.

Starting point is 00:01:15 Let's ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit, only available to U.S. customers. Eligibility items only. Exclusions apply. Let's get into it as we hear from Kirk Ferentz in the weekly press conference over at Kinnick Stadium. We get an opportunity to hear from the head man as we're all searching for answers. Looking back at last week and the disappointing effort against Penn State, the frustrations that obviously continue to build about his much maligned and despised at time offensive coordinator and his

Starting point is 00:01:45 son, Brian Ferentz, what is happening on that front. So as we're searching for answers, the way that it's set up is like this, is first we hear from the players. The people that are on the Hawkeye beat get interviews with some of the players. We get to hear from Cade McNamara, some interesting comments from him. Nicaragi Eaney was out there and a few other players. And as we hear from these different guys, we know for the most part, there isn't going to be anything too wild, too damning. It's just not the way that Iowa football is built. We've talked about this in the past with LaShawn Daniels, former Hawkeye running back. And he has mentioned that they go through and they're coached on what to say. What are the things that you're able to talk about? How should you work with the media when these questions are out there?

Starting point is 00:02:29 So we've had some fun things that have popped up. There's been what has proven to be maybe billboard material in the past. You go way back to Fred Barr before they played Iowa State back in the early 2000s and talking about his hatred of the color red. Julian Vandervelde, he had something very similar. Talking about that. Speaking of Iowa State, the same kind of thing that, but the entity that is Iowa State that he hates something like that. So there's some fun moments, but for the most part, it's pretty milk dose, right? We don't get a whole lot that comes out of it, but I think we got something yesterday from Cade McNamara. So Cade McNamara, when he's talking, before Kirk speaks,

Starting point is 00:03:06 the question was asked of him about, obviously, the issues that we're seeing offensively. And we continue to see this popping up in a big-time way. It is a big concern with this. This is what Cade McNamara had to say. Quote, I'm just a quarterback. I'm not calling the plays or any of that. That's not my decision. I'm going to run the play as called, and I'm going to throw it to the open guy, unquote. Throwing it to the open guy maybe proves difficult. We've talked about the scheme, what Iowa is trying to do schematically, and this continues to be, I think, one of the biggest questions for me as I watch this team and I watch them offensively. what are they trying to do?

Starting point is 00:03:46 And it should be something simple, right? Run, pass, balance, complementary football. We've heard these terms that have been thrown out there. But the run game, we've seen an evolution. We've seen them at least trying to do things differently. Understanding that the zone blocking scheme and the new rules of college football that have been implemented now five years ago, you can't zone block the same way because you can't cut off that outside backer. You can't cut back and get that defensive end.

Starting point is 00:04:16 They're coming through there unscathed. And because of that, the zone blocking scheme, it just doesn't work. Certainly not at the same level in the college game that it once did. We've seen what both Army and Navy have done with their offensive systems because of that, that have a lot of zone blocking and what they do in the triple option. So you have that component of it. And Iowa's tried to advance it forward. And we talked about the counterplays and more hat-on-hat blocking, more ISOs, doing those different kinds of things. Okay, good. We got it. They're trying. They're understanding the change, and at least they're trying to do something.

Starting point is 00:04:49 What about in the passing game? What is what Brian Ferencz is trying to do in the passing game? It is something that I can't understand. I don't understand what his philosophy is. Eight years in now as an offensive coordinator, I don't know what he's trying to do. And at times, it doesn't feel like he knows what he's trying to do. When you look at the passing game, there's nothing easy.

Starting point is 00:05:12 There's nothing that's schemed up. There's some nice play calls. There are things that work. But there's no identity. There's no understanding of what you're trying to do. And when your quarterback says that, I'm not calling the plays or any of that. That's not my decision. That says to me that the quarterback doesn't believe that Brian Ferentz knows his ass from

Starting point is 00:05:33 his elbow. That's how I read it. You can say it's overstating just one simple little comment from Cade McNamara. I don't think that is. I think his frustration is growing. I thought he believed that he was going to come in here and see some kind of competency from a guy that was an offensive coordinator for a guy that, what, threw 70 touchdowns in Nate Stanley. We're not seeing that.

Starting point is 00:05:56 And I brought up the theory that maybe the loss of Ken O'Keefe has proven to be bigger than what we actually believe. That could be something there. Because since he's departed, this thing is absolutely cratered. How are you getting wide receivers involved? It's been a huge topic this week. 14 catches in four games from wide receivers. 35 targets in four games to wide receivers. What are you doing to get them football? And not just in terms of simple things, right?

Starting point is 00:06:24 Dump it out there, get a screen play, get the ball in the hands of a playmaker, get a guy with some speed out there and try to find some space for him. Not just that, but also what you're trying to do in the middle of the field, not just outside, not just running a go route. What are you trying to do in the middle of the field

Starting point is 00:06:39 for wide receivers? Outside of some shallow crossing routes, you don't see that happen with wide receivers. And when we shallow crossing routes, you don't see that happen with wide receivers. And when we hear from Brian Ferentz, and we will hear from him at some point this season, I think that's a pertinent question. What are you trying to do to get wide receivers involved? Obviously, what they're doing is not working. Whatever the scheme was early in his tenure, especially years two through four, it's gone. We're not seeing that happen anymore. Amir Smith-Marset, Brandon Smith, both those guys, they had nice, solid careers as wide

Starting point is 00:07:13 receivers in the Iowa system. That's not happening. And I just, I cannot believe that the wide receiver position is so void of talent that they can't do anything to get them the football. We'll see. We'll see if he's got answers this week. And not just in the scripted plays, not just early on, because as we told you the numbers in the past, it's not the scripted plays have worked fine. They work fine against Penn State. That's what happens after that. What happens in game? And that continues to be the concern. Cade McNamara with the quote, I'm just a quarterback. I'm not calling the plays or any of that.

Starting point is 00:07:50 That is true. I would personally like to see somebody else calling the plays. We know that's not going to happen. Speaking of Kirk Ferentz and his press conference, a question was asked of him about a change in a play caller. Now, again, living in a reality, which we like to do here on Locked On Hawkeyes, living in a reality and not what we'd like to see,

Starting point is 00:08:05 that's not going to happen. Brian Ferris is not going to be stripped of his play-calling duties. They could have another performance this week where they don't get to 100 yards against a bad Michigan State team, and he still wouldn't be stripped. We know what the reality is, and it sucks for us as fans, and it sucks having to watch this crappy offense out there week after week, but this is the reality. And the question was asked, and no, that's not what we do, and we'll evaluate on

Starting point is 00:08:30 Sunday as we do after each and every game, yada, yada, yada. What other thing on the Kirk press conference? You know, and reading through the transcript, listening to a couple of the different pieces of the press conference. And Kirk frustrates me at times, right? I think for most of us, if you're an invested fan, and if you're here, I know you're a very invested fan. There are parts that grow frustrating. And the offense and what we've seen, and his inability to see how bad his son is at being an offensive coordinator, that's frustrating.

Starting point is 00:09:03 But boy, there's still those little nuggets. Still get you. He had a couple of quotes in there that just got me chuckling. I respect the guy so dang much. I really do. I respect Kirk. And I know there's plenty of you guys out there that want to see him gone and are ready for a change,

Starting point is 00:09:20 and whatever that change proves to be. But I respect the guy. I really do. The nepotism angle, it's hurting his legacy. In fact, we're going to talk about that a little bit more as we continue here on Lockdown Hawkeyes. We're going to take a look at that legacy. What's happening right now?

Starting point is 00:09:38 How much it's tainting it? And what does this mean going forward for Iowa football? We'll do that and also take a peek forward to Michigan State in the next matchup for the Hawkeyes as we will go through and take a look at everything going on on the Hawkeyes. That's what we do here on Lockdown Hawkeyes, your team every day on the Lockdown Network. We'll be back with more in a moment.

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Starting point is 00:11:42 As we talked about Kirk Ferentz and his legacy and where this program is and where it's going to go and what the future holds, we're at a bit of a crossroads. Now, we'll see how the season plays out. Look, if Iowa wins the next couple of weeks, goes to Wisconsin and wins, they win the division title, they make it a game in the championship game, most of this is going to be forgotten. If that happens and Iowa doesn't get to 25 points per game, Brian likely will be brought back. We're going to see more of the same. But when you talk about legacy, and I see this show up a ton on the comment side on YouTube, and a lot of people checking in over there, and a lot of people that are ready for a change of Kirk Ferentz. And I'm

Starting point is 00:12:25 not there. Even as my frustrations grow at times. A season ago during the downturn, the losses to Iowa State and Illinois getting absolutely whacked by Ohio State. There were plenty of times that my frustrations boiled over. Last Saturday night was not one of those moments for me that Kirk's got to go. Now we've seen enough. I'm not there. And maybe I'll get there. We'll see. But I'm not there right now.

Starting point is 00:12:51 And for older people, I know we got a lot of young people that listen and watch the show. But for people 40 and above that remember the transition from Dr. Tom Davison to Steve Alford. And when you look at just how much the basketball program has stepped back, and now even though they've been successful, they've been to the tournament more times than not, Fran McCaffrey has done a good job. Iowa basketball is not the same thing that it once was. Although Iowa football in terms of investment,

Starting point is 00:13:25 in terms of fan engagement, is great. I was there during the transition from Hayden into Kirk. I was there for the downturn. At 98 and 99 and 2000, those three years, there were plenty of good seats available. There were still plenty of good seats available in 01 when they made it back to a bowl game. And even 2002 when they went on to win an Orange Bowl. Now that epic game with the Dallas Clark touchdown to beat Purdue. And Adolpho Shelton having the interception that sealed it. That game was not sold out. And we're talking about a couple of successful years.

Starting point is 00:14:01 And that game wasn't sold out. And when you look at the future of the Big Ten and what it's going to be and the difficult nature with the additions of USC and UCLA and Oregon and Washington and knowing that you don't have the buffer that you once had with the crappy Big Ten West, yes, you'll still play Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska every single year. But there's no more every single year getting Illinois, Purdue, and Northwestern. We know those programs as a whole, not very good. Not very good.

Starting point is 00:14:34 That buffer is gone. And with the wrong coaching hire, and a changing environment, and a state with 3 million people, and a state that does not produce a ton of Division I talent. And with programs that are relevant, Wisconsin's got a lot of excitement. Illinois, with Bielema, is as good as it's been. Minnesota, at least, has become a consistent winner under Fleck. And Nebraska, we'll see what Matt Rule can do. And with all that happening around you, At Nebraska, we'll see what Matt Rule can do. And with all that happening around you,

Starting point is 00:15:08 Kansas State, another program that Iowa butts heads a lot, how good they've become under climate. Iowa State, at least keeping their head above water. This is a different environment. Where I go to is with the wrong coaching hire and going back to basketball. Steve Alford absolutely was the wrong person to hire. He didn't care about Iowa. He cared about himself. And if Iowa makes a mistake with their next coach and they push Kirk aside, look, Iowa is a lot more likely to take a step down than they are to take a

Starting point is 00:15:41 step up. The likelihood that Iowa finds the right person that can elevate this program from what it is right now, a program that is a consistent winner, a program that's going to win eight games, even in a down year, a program that year after year is consistent and gives themselves a chance. And the likelihood it's going to elevate

Starting point is 00:15:59 to become a consistent nine, 10 game away a year winner, it's not very likely. And because of that scar tissue that's built up, because of the memories of what basketball went through, and then cratering under a lick lighter, and how ugly it is in Iowa, even with a successful coach in Fran McCaffrey, and with the National Player of the Year in Luka Garza,

Starting point is 00:16:19 and with NBA draft picks in the Murrays, and on and on and on. People haven't got back. And I would hate to see the same thing happen for Iowa football. That's not to say that Kirk Ferentz is at the top of his throne looking down and he can do whatever he wants, though for the most part he can. He's earned the right to walk away at a certain level. There's been too much good to just throw it out.

Starting point is 00:16:49 But I know, and tell me why I'm wrong on the comments section, because I know there's a lot of people that can't get there. They can't get to that point, that their frustrations have got to a level where they're just ready for a change. And there's the other side. People that understand what is behind door number two might not be as good. But you know what?

Starting point is 00:17:09 At least it'll be entertaining. At least it'll be fun to watch. Because as Iowa has won all these games over the years, and all the games when you stack them up over the last five years, top 10 in terms of wins in all of college football, yet it hasn't been real fun. The bad moments have been really bad, especially the last couple of years.

Starting point is 00:17:32 And even the good moments haven't been that much fun. And those people that are just ready to see an evolution, to see something different. And even if it does mean that maybe we're going to have a couple of four and eight years in there, there's going to be those downturns and they're going to be more significant than we're used to. They're okay with that because they want to be entertained. I said that Saturday night after the game. This is still entertainment. And this team, even when they're winning, the entertainment's really gone. Coming back, it's a chance at a bounce back. It is Michigan State.

Starting point is 00:18:08 And the news today, Mel Tucker has officially been fired. We'll take a quick peek ahead to Michigan State. Sparty comes in for the night game. We'll do that as we continue on the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. Today's episode of the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast is brought to you by Jace Medical. Everyone should be empowered to care for themselves and their loved ones during the unexpected. That's why Jace Medical offers the Jace Case. The Jace Case provides five life-saving antibiotics for emergency use to give you peace of mind

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Starting point is 00:19:21 LOCKEDON at checkout at jacemedical.com. That's Jace, J-A-S-E, medical.com. Trent Conner back with you again on the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. Remember, coming up on Friday, it is, of course, our big, big Friday live show, College Football Live, hitting you up every single day from 10 until noon as we hit all the big storylines happening in college football.

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Starting point is 00:20:17 So finally, Michigan State. Mel Tucker has been fired today. That has come down. Sparty is reeling. It was a Michigan State team that lost Keon Coleman before the year. Lost a quarterback before the season. It had not been going very well for Mel Tucker already. And then you have what happened in that.

Starting point is 00:20:40 What a look. That aside, this is a bad football team. This is a bad football team that Iowa really should be able, not to name their score, because Iowa has their own set of issues, but there just isn't a whole lot there. Offensive line, not very good. Running back room, okay. Nathan Carter might be the guy you worry about.

Starting point is 00:21:00 Noah Kim, their quarterback, he can run around a little bit. I mean, that's what you have there. It's a bad offensive team. It's a bad defensive team. They're bad. And not only are they bad, but they're dealing with what's happening with their coach. And you put all that together, you have this one other scenario that I'm looking forward to finding out a little bit more. And coming up on tomorrow's show, we'll be talking to the host of Locked on Spartans. We'll do a crossover episode. We'll talk about this game more in depth. But one thing I want to know is this will be their fifth game of the season.

Starting point is 00:21:39 How many guys that have played the first four games this year are going to opt out? They can put their name in the transfer portal now that Mel Tucker has officially been fired. Now that that has happened, they can put their name in the transfer portal. And no, they're not eligible to play right away at whatever college they go to. They can start looking around.

Starting point is 00:22:02 And how many of those players that have played those four games are going to say, you know what? I have a redshirt year available. I'm not going to play. How many guys are going to make that business decision and saying, I'm looking out for me? It's not going to be here, or at least not likely to be here, depending on who the new coach is going to be.

Starting point is 00:22:24 How many of the players are going to opt out of this game and probably the rest of the season to maintain that redshirt status? I don't think it's going to be a significant number, but I'm going to guess there's a few guys right now that are probably going through practice still with that lingering in the back of their mind. Am I actually going to sit out this week and the rest of the season? You're played a little bit as a freshman, playing more as a sophomore, but you're starting to look around. And you know you're not going to finish your career in East Lansing. I think that's going to be a big one to take a look at. We'll talk more about Sparty again.

Starting point is 00:22:57 A night game at Kinnick Stadium should be a great environment. It always is with the disappointment. Let's get things rolling. Let's get that offense going. We will talk about that more. Also, LaShawn Daniels will stop by later in the week. We will talk with him about if he has anything we can see to potentially save these issues and what this offense is.

Starting point is 00:23:19 We'll do that here on the Lockdown Feed. Your team every day on the Lockdown Network. That's what we do. We got you covered. Doesn't matter if it's your favorite professional NFL team, MLB team, Twins fan like me, Locked On Twins. Listen to it every single day and get a look at my Minnesota Twins. We got you covered here with Locked On Hawkeyes.

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Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Football: Searching for offensive answers; Kirk Ferentz & Cade McNamara comments

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