The Hawks win a 20-19 barn burner against an undefeated Wolverine squad at Michigan Stadium! With the Folgeris hitting his last second 3 pointer to knock off #1 seed Florida in the NCAA tourney + this win in the Big House, Hawk fans have experienced a decade's worth of joy in just a few short months. It doesn't get much better than this. What a win!
Hawks Win DESPITE Same ol' Ultra Conservative Coaching. Kirk set the Ferentzian tone on first drive. The Hawks drove 30 yards and crossed midfield with ease. But then, inexplicably, on 4th and inches from Michigan's 45 yard line, the Hawks lined up to go for it. Then Kirk pissed down his leg, called timeout, and opted to punt the ball away, sending a message to his offense that he doesn't trust them. That first drive turned out to be the best drive of the entire first half. The even bigger head scratcher came at the end of the game. The Hawks with the ball in Michigan territory down 5. There were just 3 minutes to go and the Hawks faced 4th and 6. 99.9% of coaches go for it in that situation. But conservative Kirk sends out his walk-on first year kicker to kick a 51 yarder that...best case scenario, would cut Michigan's 5 point lead to 2 and give Michigan the ball back with 3 minutes to play and the lead. In other words, it would accomplish nothing. Make or miss the kick, Iowa would still need Michigan to go 3 and out then drive down and score again in 3 minutes.
Welcome to the Big 10, Jaylen Watson. Watson was a high potential recruit that a lot of Hawk fans have been waiting to see. What a way to get your first Big 10 start. At the Big House against a team that produces NFL caliber WR talent year in and year out. Watson held his own matching up against Michigan's best WRs on each down. While Michigan's QB seemingly couldn't miss (he was the #1 recruit in the entire nation a few years back), Watson was right there in the mix on a lot of passes and had 3 deflections when targeted. Another year in the system and Watson could be all-Big 10.
Let It Sink In: the Hawks Will Be Saddled With Another Prototypical Mediocre QB For the Next 2 Years. At 6'4, 214 lbs and slow as molasses, Kirk and crew recruited yet another Spencer Petras to lead the Hawks for the next two years. It's been painful to watch the assembly line of 6'4 QBs at Iowa who valued limited turnovers, few big plays, and an inability to make plays with his legs. Since Brown is now firmly entrenched, that's the way it's going to stay. To be clear, Brown hasn't thrown an INT all season, which is fantastic. He went 21/35 for 227 yards and 2 touchdowns. While 227 yards isnt much at most schools (Michigan's QB threw for 280 yards on 7 fewer pass attempts), we need to put it into context. It had been THREE long years since a Hawkeye QB threw for 200 yards (Deacon Hill vs. Rutgers). Highly paid Gronk and McNamara never managed to cross the lowly 200 yrd threshold. Hopefully Brown gains some confidence from that last drive and realizes he doesn't need to check down on every pass play.
Red Zone Defense Rises to the Occasion. The biggest difference in the game is that Michigan scored touchdowns on only one of four red-zone trips. Deshaun Lee intercepted his high school teammate Underwood near the end zone, and Buffington absolutely stuffed them on a huge fourth-down stop. Had they simply kicked field goals it would be game over.
Moulton Still Isn't a Big 10 Caliber RB 1. IowaLaw said it all year last year and he's saying it again. Moulton runs hard and can get you 2 or 3 yards when needed, but he just doesn't have the break away speed, the strength to break tackles, or the vision to see holes that any other Big 10 starting tailback possesses. 13 rushes for 44 yards (3.4 yards per carry) after he laid an egg against Iowa State 15 rushes for 57 yards (3.8 yards per carry). The staff needs to stop randying around and reconsider some of their ineffective playing time decisions at RB like they did on their botched punt returner decision when they started the season with a 6'4 hybrid tight end returning punts. LJ Phillips ran for 2,000 yards last year...if he's 90% healthy, he needs to be getting touches. McNeil and Braeden Jackson look the part...give them a shot. But Moulton's 3.4 yards per carry behind an all-Big 10 OLine just won't get it done when Iowa lacks a passing attack.
Discipline Beats Talent. At the end of the day, Michigan can have all their 5 star athletes and their massive talent advantage. But when you're committing 8 penalties for 75 yards, including the dumbest personal foul in Big 10 history on Iowa's last drive, you're allowing inferior opponents to stay in games. Great deal for Iowa...brutal for Michigan fans.
Hawks Win DESPITE Same ol' Ultra Conservative Coaching. Kirk set the Ferentzian tone on first drive. The Hawks drove 30 yards and crossed midfield with ease. But then, inexplicably, on 4th and inches from Michigan's 45 yard line, the Hawks lined up to go for it. Then Kirk pissed down his leg, called timeout, and opted to punt the ball away, sending a message to his offense that he doesn't trust them. That first drive turned out to be the best drive of the entire first half. The even bigger head scratcher came at the end of the game. The Hawks with the ball in Michigan territory down 5. There were just 3 minutes to go and the Hawks faced 4th and 6. 99.9% of coaches go for it in that situation. But conservative Kirk sends out his walk-on first year kicker to kick a 51 yarder that...best case scenario, would cut Michigan's 5 point lead to 2 and give Michigan the ball back with 3 minutes to play and the lead. In other words, it would accomplish nothing. Make or miss the kick, Iowa would still need Michigan to go 3 and out then drive down and score again in 3 minutes.
Welcome to the Big 10, Jaylen Watson. Watson was a high potential recruit that a lot of Hawk fans have been waiting to see. What a way to get your first Big 10 start. At the Big House against a team that produces NFL caliber WR talent year in and year out. Watson held his own matching up against Michigan's best WRs on each down. While Michigan's QB seemingly couldn't miss (he was the #1 recruit in the entire nation a few years back), Watson was right there in the mix on a lot of passes and had 3 deflections when targeted. Another year in the system and Watson could be all-Big 10.
Let It Sink In: the Hawks Will Be Saddled With Another Prototypical Mediocre QB For the Next 2 Years. At 6'4, 214 lbs and slow as molasses, Kirk and crew recruited yet another Spencer Petras to lead the Hawks for the next two years. It's been painful to watch the assembly line of 6'4 QBs at Iowa who valued limited turnovers, few big plays, and an inability to make plays with his legs. Since Brown is now firmly entrenched, that's the way it's going to stay. To be clear, Brown hasn't thrown an INT all season, which is fantastic. He went 21/35 for 227 yards and 2 touchdowns. While 227 yards isnt much at most schools (Michigan's QB threw for 280 yards on 7 fewer pass attempts), we need to put it into context. It had been THREE long years since a Hawkeye QB threw for 200 yards (Deacon Hill vs. Rutgers). Highly paid Gronk and McNamara never managed to cross the lowly 200 yrd threshold. Hopefully Brown gains some confidence from that last drive and realizes he doesn't need to check down on every pass play.
Red Zone Defense Rises to the Occasion. The biggest difference in the game is that Michigan scored touchdowns on only one of four red-zone trips. Deshaun Lee intercepted his high school teammate Underwood near the end zone, and Buffington absolutely stuffed them on a huge fourth-down stop. Had they simply kicked field goals it would be game over.
Moulton Still Isn't a Big 10 Caliber RB 1. IowaLaw said it all year last year and he's saying it again. Moulton runs hard and can get you 2 or 3 yards when needed, but he just doesn't have the break away speed, the strength to break tackles, or the vision to see holes that any other Big 10 starting tailback possesses. 13 rushes for 44 yards (3.4 yards per carry) after he laid an egg against Iowa State 15 rushes for 57 yards (3.8 yards per carry). The staff needs to stop randying around and reconsider some of their ineffective playing time decisions at RB like they did on their botched punt returner decision when they started the season with a 6'4 hybrid tight end returning punts. LJ Phillips ran for 2,000 yards last year...if he's 90% healthy, he needs to be getting touches. McNeil and Braeden Jackson look the part...give them a shot. But Moulton's 3.4 yards per carry behind an all-Big 10 OLine just won't get it done when Iowa lacks a passing attack.
Discipline Beats Talent. At the end of the day, Michigan can have all their 5 star athletes and their massive talent advantage. But when you're committing 8 penalties for 75 yards, including the dumbest personal foul in Big 10 history on Iowa's last drive, you're allowing inferior opponents to stay in games. Great deal for Iowa...brutal for Michigan fans.
Last edited:
