[NU Sports] I've seen enough ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Iowa may come back to win this game, but after last
weekend's game at Michigan and today's first half at
Iowa, I know this much ...

* Pat Fitzgerald is our coach. Do not underestimate
the job our young coach has done with this team the
last two weeks. The X's and O's can be learned, the
emotions and personal side of coaching can not. You
either got it or you don't and Fitz has "got it." We
all felt how devastating the MSU loss was - to head to
Ann Arbor and Iowa City following that loss, the
biggest task was not to just get blown out of the Big
House and Kinnick. Not only has this team held
together, they've gotten better. That fight, unity,
drive and bond can all be credited to our leader on
the sidelines. This man is ready to be a coach, my
friends. He'll have to tinker with coordinators and
play calls and learn a lot there, but he has the
biggest thing in a coach - he has his team and his
players will play for him.

* C.J. Bacher can run this offense. We saw what a big
difference the loss of Baz made in the first half of
the season. In the last 3 games, we've seen what a big
difference a CJ can make in getting the O back to
where it should be. This guy's our quarterback, and he
has a couple more years left!

* When the offense is balanced by a solid QB, Tyrell
Sutton is one heck of a running back. His numbers will
show sophomore slump, but he hasn't lost a step from
last year when the offensive rhythm is established and
has even added some strength in running over foes.

* Long offensive drives rock! And they let the defense
rest to rush more! Just as Fitz is finding his groove,
our OC appears to be finding his way rather nicely.
Now just don't let up on offense with a lead! Oh yeah
- and on 3rd and 1, do NOT run an option to the SHORT
SIDE of the field, especially when Brewer doesn't yet
know how to make the defender commit on the option.

* Our defensive players have a lot of heart and
hustle. I'm not sure Colby deserves to be back next
year, but it's nice to see our players hustling and
fighting hard - with the right schemes they can be
effective and we can hopefully add to the talent pool.

* Special teams is still a glaring weakness on this
team. The missed FG hurts and thankfully the
interception wiped out a horrible punt that set Iowa
up for a TD. We really need to focus on improving this
area ASAP.

* We have our own excuses this year, so I don't want
to keep hearing about the weather in Ann Arbor or
Iowa's slew of injuries. We have our own injuries and
trials.

* If we had had this team on the field in place from
the start of September, we may be thinking Phoenix
right now ... not the BCS bowls, but the Insight Bowl.

Much like the 1997 team where an early injury (Bates)
really killed the season, we were hurt at the start of
this year by Walker's death and injuries. But we're
really playing decent football right now and looking
like a much improved team - the opposite of what you'd
expect would happen after a loss like the MSU game -
so that has me optimistic for next year and the
future.

Oh yeah, one more thing I know ...

* WE WILL BEAT ILLINOIS in two weeks!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!


 
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