Hawkeyes seeing progress but not victories
Lots of vitriol out there today.
During The Gazette's live blog Saturday, a link to a Fire Kirk Ferentz site popped up. It's an anonymous vehicle that gives voice to the fringe. But is it still the fringe? Three straight losses by nine points, the Hawkeye (3-3, 0-2 Big Ten) bandwagon is emptying and the fringe is taking applications.
Jon Miller, co-host of WHO's postgame call-in show "Soundoff,"
described Saturday's show as "predictably frustrated"
with a lot of arrows aimed at offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe.
O'Keefe was requested for interviews after Saturday's 16-13 loss at Michigan State. He didn't accept. He'd be walking into a buzz saw.
You can say "all is lost;"
no one's going to blame you. Or you can take Mitch King's point of view.
During Saturday's postgame he explained why he thinks it's just getting good.
"Me personally, I'm excited to be a part of this defense,"
King said. "It's so young and has so much room for growth. I'm excited to see where it is. Knowing what these young guys are going through, they're excited to be out on the field, they're excited to play every game."
This is a fifth-year senior who's invested a lot into this. You'd think the results from three weeks of bitter losses would have him doing that emotional senior crazy-talk. But no, he smiled Saturday. He acknowledges the challenge and he's not shrinking from it.
The four-year starter knows there are a few underclassmen taking their cues from him, but he doesn't think his mates on defense need it.
"It's their first year, second start or second season playing. They're still energized. They're still excited to be out there,"
King said.
"I remember when I was that age and that experience, I didn't need any motivation. I didn't need a guy to tell me to get excited to play a game."
"To answer your question, I'm not that guy (the emotional pillar). On the defense, we don't need that guy. Everybody's excited to be out there laying it on the line."
Quarterback Ricky Stanzi is the fault line between the bandwagon and the fringe.
In his first Big Ten road start, the sophomore completed 15 of 22 for 158 yards, a 31-yard touchdown to Andy Brodell and an interception at Michigan State's 4-yard line.
Up to MSU's 20, Stanzi looked like the veteran game manager Iowa needs him to be, making enough plays with his arm to complement outstanding play from running back Shonn Greene and Iowa's offensive line, which herded the Spartans like goats for much of Saturday's game.
Inside the Spartans' 20, where the Hawkeyes need to cash in with TDs, Stanzi looked every bit the sophomore making his first Big Ten road start.
In four trips to MSU's red zone, Stanzi had two turnovers, a fumble at MSU's 13 and the interception, and produced two Trent Mossbrucker field goals (25 and 33 yards).
Iowa had another drive die at MSU's 27, when Stanzi threw to Derrell Johnson-Koulianos for a 3-yard loss on fourth down. And of course there was the killer, when MSU linebacker Adam Decker put Greene on the turf on fourth-and-inches at MSU's 21 with 2:10 left in the fourth quarter.
Stanzi said it on Tuesday before the Michigan State game. He needs to finish, and by finish, he means he needs to lead the Hawkeyes into the end zone.
He said it again Saturday.
"It's the exact same thing, you've got to finish,"
Stanzi said. "You can't be sitting in the red zone with two opportunities to score and turn the ball over twice. Turnovers are definitely the thing."
Stanzi started and finished his second straight game. He's been handed the keys and there doesn't seem to be any going back. Ferentz won't go to the bullpen and former starter Jake Christensen.
Stanzi has moved the offense, but hasn't finished. Christensen didn't move the offense, but didn't turn the ball over. Ferentz said as much during his postgame.
Growing pains, yes, but Ferentz prefers the light at the end of the tunnel.
"(Stanzi) showed some upside, he made a great throw for a touchdown,"
Ferentz said. "He can stand in the pocket and deliver the ball where it has to be put. I thought he did a good job with awareness, knowing what was going on in all phases of the game."
"We are seeing growth there. He is one of the guys I am referring to with regards to things going in the right directions."
Bandwagon or fringe, where you go with "seeing growth"
is totally up to you.
