Questionable Play Calling Dooms Iowa Against Northwestern

Iowa Coach Ferentz has often said that there is no team on his schedule he feels that he can’t beat but there is also no automatic win on his schedule.  All season his team has rewarded their coach for his faith in them running out to a 9-0 start. 

Unfortunately, a few questionable calls in the second quarter coupled with an injury to their starting quarterback and the Hawks found out the hard way that their Coach was right that there are no automatic wins on their schedule.

All started well for Iowa against Northwestern. The offense hit a homerun early scoring on a 74-yard touchdown pass from Ricky Stanzi to Marvin McNutt in the first minute of the game.  On their second possession Iowa scored another 3 points after a nice 6 play 41 yard drive. 

The defense was doing its part making Northwestern’s offense look ineffective.  The Iowa front four recorded two sacks and the defense limited Northwestern to only 3 first downs. One of Northwestern’s first downs was due to a penalty by Iowa.

Iowa appeared to have the game against Northwestern well in hand after marching out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.

On Iowa’s first possession of the second quarter, Stanzi threw an interception on the first play.  The throw was late, in double coverage and an omen of bad things to come.

Northwestern was not able to capitalize on the turnover but was able to pin the Hawks deep on their 6 yard line with a punt. The first play for Iowa was a handoff to Running Back Brandon Wegher which resulted in no yardage.

On second down and 10 from the 6 yard line, Iowa’s offensive coordinator made his first questionable call of the game. Iowa dialed up a naked bootleg for Stanzi.

What made the play questionable was field location and running the play at the strength of Northwestern’s defense. 

Any naked bootleg has inherent risk as the quarterback in order to effectively sell the fake has to turn his back to the defensive line. On the 6-yard line, a properly executed bootleg will also result in the quarterback standing in his own end zone. 

Finally, an effective bootleg play is a slow developing play. If you rush the bootleg play, the defense isn’t sold on the deception.

Why call a slow developing play which puts your quarterback in the precarious position of being in your own end zone after having his back to the defense?

Even more troubling was that Iowa ran the bootleg toward Northwestern’s best defensive player, Corey Wootton. Wootton’s name will be called on the first day of the NFL draft as he is one of the best defensive ends in college football.

Wootton stands 6’7 and 280 pounds and as most great players do when given the opportunity, he made a play. Wootton bent Stanzi like a pretzel in the end zone causing a fumble and creating a touchdown for his team.

Stanzi left the game with what has now been diagnosed as a high ankle sprain.  Freshman James Vandenberg then came into the game. Vandenberg had seen very limited action throwing only 3 passes in mop up time against Iowa State.

At this point, Iowa was up 10-7. The defense was playing well. The offensive game plan seemed clear, rely on your running game and run simple passing plays to allow Vandenberg to develop some confidence during the course of the game.

Iowa’s first possession in the Vandenberg era began with two running plays with Wegher picking up a first down. First down and 10 at the Iowa 45, Iowa called the second questionable call of the game. 

Iowa called a passing play requiring their receivers to run into the middle of the field.  The play was questionable because it failed to appreciate that Northwestern zone coverage defense and how difficult it is for someone with little experience to execute such a pass coming off the bench cold.

A pass over the middle generally requires the quarterback to throw a touch pass over the arms of the linebackers and ahead of secondary coming to the ball.

The play was not horrible but given that Vandenberg’s palms were likely still sweaty why not start him out with a screen pass or a designed roll him out such that he only has one or two options. 

The offensive line gave Vandenberg enough time to survey the field. Unfortunately, he made a freshman mistake in not throwing the ball out of bounds or tucking the ball and sliding for a 3 or 4 yard gain.

Vandenberg locked his eyes on his receiver and threw an easy interception to the Wildcats which was returned into Iowa territory. The momentum now belonged to Northwestern as they would march down the field to score the go ahead touchdown, 14-10. 

Northwestern would score a late field goal to push the final margin to 17-10.

Was the offensive play calling for the entire game a mess?  No.

In the second half, Iowa called passing plays in which receivers were open down field.  On a couple of occasions, Hawkeye receivers got behind the secondary of the Wildcats.  Unfortunately, Vandenberg could not deliver the ball to the open man to allow Iowa to get back into the game.

Two plays for Iowa this Saturday resulted in turnovers which subsequently lead to two touchdowns. Iowa simply couldn’t overcome the points off of turnovers.

Coach Ferentz has often said this season that the margin for victory for his team was relatively small. 

Any game on the schedule could be lost by Iowa. The Northwestern Wildcats proved Coach Ferentz right upsetting the Hawkeyes 17-10.

Iowa can beat Ohio State this week.  The players, coaches and fans need to remember that they are a quality team that has won nine games. Win the turnover battle, play good defense and make a couple of big plays and Iowa will be the 2009 Big Ten Champion.

Remember, what Coach Ferentz said at the beginning of the year - Iowa can win any game on their schedule this year.