The Quickest Slants

Kirk Ferentz on the B1G teleconference. He straight references Minnesota's tagline 'Brick by Brick.”

We had former Iowa TE Allen Reisner on 'On Iowa Live” last night (he was terrific, definitely worth your time when it gets posted). He referenced 'Break the Rock.”

Some of these taglines are really good.

Opening

- Didn't play as well as we need to. Illinois is playing hard and probably happy to get its QB back.

Haven't played Illini since 2008, change prep - It's a little like playing Maryland or Pitt. That's the parallel. We know some of the names on the roster, but competing will be totally new.

Spearman

- Competition at every position. He started the season because Jewell had a broken hand. Josey has won it by default this time. Play it from ear, but Jewell starts.

What's in store for OSU at Minnesota

- The team we played was outstanding. They did their job, we didn't. The score surprised me. But if you pay attention to what coach Kill has done up there, it's been an ongoing process. They built that thing brick by brick. They're a good football team.

On Mike Dudek

- He's an excellent football player. He's their most productive guy offensively. Good in routes and catching the football.

Receiver a tough position for frosh

- All positions are tough for a first-year player. It's not easy. The difference is the farther you get away from the ball, the maturity level doesn't factor as much.

On SS John Lowdermilk

- A hard-working guy, a great team member. Earned his way on special teams. Tough-minded, hustles. Respected by all the guys on the team.

Minnesota video, kick return

- The biggest thing is we didn't field the ball cleanly. We had tremendous respect for Minny special teams. I think they were second in the B1G covering kicks.

Winds?

- Not sure if that was or not. This time of year, it's going to be windy. Can't use that as an excuse.

We're all a little crazy about sprotz

. . . I get into the Iowa submarine sometime in July and don't come out fully until January.

You say a lot to me and a lot at me. I see a lot of the stuff out there, the opinions and the quick reactions. Some are well-reasoned and some are people getting something off their chest. Both are fine. Both are what it's all about.

I will tell people they're wrong when they goof facts, and that happens. I try to never shout down an opinion. I try to listen or take it in and then offer my own.

We do this on Twitter, on the podcast and a lot of different places.

I don't think the 'fire everyone” response is realistic - I imagine it's somewhat therapuetic - but that's not endemic to Iowa.

Let me introduce you to my friends at @JSComments.

It's a Twitter account that curates the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel comments section for the most outlandish, lunatic thoughts in Packer fandom.

I am not among the Journal Sentinel commentariat. (My dad might be.) Believe it or not. It's not because I don't have crazy fan thoughts. I'm pretty sure I said at one point that I wanted Joel Quennville fired. He just won two Stanley Cups after the Blackhawks went 49 years without. Yeah, idiot, fire him. Fire the that guy. Sigh, I sadly digress.

You might've noticed that the Packers beat the downtrodden Bears on Monday night, 55-14. It was glorious. It was fun being a fatted English king, gorging on bear and indiscriminately saying, 'Off wit der ‘ed.” Why a king would be speaking in Cockney accents, I don't know. Just go with it.

That didn't stem the HOT SPROTZ TAKEZ from @JSComments.

Here are some of the beauts:

- If Tyler Dunne (Journal Sentinel Packers beat writer, yes, we have each other's backs) can't find anything worthy of writing about with the present team, he should look for another job.

- Flynn was sloppy, late with the ball his passes lacked zip.

- Is it just me or did the Packers literally stand down so the Bears could make a final touchdown?

- I'm getting sick of watching McCarthy keep having Masthay on the active roster game after game and not even use him. (Tim Masthay is the punter. The Packers haven't needed him. I hope this one is a joke. If it is, it's pretty great.)

- We've certainly shown the ability to blow out bad teams. Of course, if playoffs started today, GB would still be out.

- The extension Mark Murphy gave Ted [Thompson, the GM who built the 2011 Super Bowl champs) is the one that will cost Murphy his job and send this team into a death spiral. Ted's time is over.

- TT needs to go sign Incognito right now. Watching the Saints game Lane Taylor is not an NFL caliber player.

And the coup de grace:

- I'd take Favre in a heartbeat. Physically tougher and could actually bring Packers back to win games. Rodgers is good but he ain't no Favre

Cue the calliope.

So, we're not alone. We're all a little crazy when it comes to our sprotz teams.

The answer to the 'Fire Ferentz” question is, BTW, he calls his shot and when that shot comes, he'll know it. Let's say if it's not on championship caliber after 2016, maybe it'll happen. Let's just say that. I'm sure the discussion will continue and let's by all means keep it going.

I'll tell you when you're wrong, just as you'll tell me. (I really do appreciate the back-and-forth. It's fun, funny and helps me see angles I don't see myself.)

Today's schedule

. . . Kirk Ferentz speaks on the Big Ten teleconference at 11:40. At 12:45, that's when the Iowa main news conference begins. It should be fun for all.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com