3-2-1: Filling the void
The Iowa passing game will have to fill the void without top pass catcher Brandon Smith.
Tom Kakert • HawkeyeReport
@hawkeyereport
With Brandon Smith out, there's a pretty significant hole that needs to be filled in the pass game. This week in 3-2-1, we dive into filling that void, where things stand with hoops recruiting, the impact if Bohannon plays, and if there is any hope for Iowa's run game.
THREE THINGS WE LEARNED
BRANDON SMITH IS OUT
I have to admit that I was more than a little skeptical when Kirk Ferentz said after the game on Saturday that he felt positive about Brandon Smith’s injury. While the initial tests were positive, my eyes told me that Smith was in a heck of a lot of pain coming off the field maybe after further examination they might find a problem.
That’s exactly what happened and on Tuesday at his weekly press conference, Ferentz announced that Smith would miss between 3 and 5 weeks. That means best case, Iowa’s leading receiver is back for the Minnesota game. Worst case, maybe Nebraska. While the Iowa offense has struggled to score points in the last three weeks, Smith has been a real bright spot, catching 18 passes for 237 yards.
Now they will be without him, perhaps for the rest of the regular season and almost certainly for the next two games. Who steps up to fill that void?
I think the next three receivers getting the bulk of the work will be Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Nico Ragaini, and Tyrone Tracy. They have done well this year, but perhaps the player who will get the biggest bump in snaps is Tracy, who has moved into Smith’s starting role.
The elephant in the room is does this open the door for Oliver Martin? Logically, I think it does. When Martin transferred to Iowa and was granted a waiver for this season, the expectation was that he would be a more significant part of the offense and passing game than he has been. I think he’s going to get his shot beginning this week at Northwestern. Calvin Lockett could be in the mix as well as Desmond Hutson and I wouldn’t sleep on Max Cooper either. It’s going to be very interesting to see who emerges.
By the way, as much as Iowa will miss Smith as a pass catcher, I think they will also miss him quite a bit as a blocker at wide receiver.
HOOPS RECRUITING PICKS UP
I think it’s fair to say that the most controversial topic this week has been Iowa basketball recruiting. It was no surprise that Iowa picked up a verbal commitment from 2020 shooting guard Tony Perkins. Once the Hawkeyes offered and he scheduled his official visit, it was obvious that he would be a part of this class. Iowa wanted to add a wing guard in this class and Perkins filled that need.
When we broke the news last weekend that Keegan and Kris Murray, the twin sons of Kenyon Murray were going to be on an official visit, you could see the conflict from the hoops recruiting fans. On one hand, they love Kenyon Murray and on the other, his sons really weren’t on their radar and they lacked the big offers that a certain subset of fans judge each prospect.
I do understand the skeptical view from those fans, but I think at this point, Fran McCaffery has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to under the radar prospects. There’s one thing fans should understand about McCaffery is he just doesn’t offer to fill spots. He has been studying and evaluating the Murray twins more seriously really since March. Honestly, Keegan and Kris are certainly intriguing prospects. It’s hard to find kids who are 6-foot-8 (and maybe still growing), with 6-foot-10 wingspans, and the ability to shoot very well from behind the arch. Will they be starters from the moment they arrive on campus? Nope. Can they develop into solid players? Yep and I think that’s the best way to view it. I think it’s a nice upside play.
As much as the hoops recruiting anxiety reached a fever pitch this week, I think it’s safe to say the nerves of the hoops recruiting junkies will be calmed if Iowa could land four star Xavier Foster and/or emerging big man Josh Ogundele.
THE REDSHIRT RULE
It’s been interesting to track the potential redshirts this year.
The bulk of Iowa’s 2019 class is going to end up redshirting this season. Of the true freshman, eight have played this season. There are three players who have already exceeded the four game limit. Those players are: Tyler Goodson, Sam LaPorta, and Jack Campbell. Guard Justin Britt is sitting at four games played and he’s probably going to be the next one to exceed the limit, likely this weekend. Kirk Ferentz said this week that they are full steam ahead with Dane Belton this year, so expect him to play in every game the rest of this season.
What about the rest of the freshmen? Jermari Harris is at two games and it seems like he will remain in the redshirt category. With the injury to Brandon Smith, I think we have to put Desmond Hutson into the maybe coming out of the redshirt bin.
One thing to watch as we get closer to the end of the year is the potential for someone in the freshmen class who has not played getting into a few games at the end of the year.
What about non-freshmen who could end up redshirting?
The leading name in this category is probably Ivory Kelly-Martin. He seems destined to redshirt this year after playing in four games. The only way that plan changes is if there were an injury at running back.
One other offensive player to watch now is Max Cooper. He has a redshirt available and has played in two games. Now that he has taken over as Iowa’s punt returner, it seems likely that he will not redshirt. Also, the injury to Smith opens up playing time possibilities at wide receiver.
On the defensive side, the defensive backfield has some candidates for redshirts this year. Julius Brents has played in one game this season. He’s a candidate for playing later in the year, but keeping him at four games.
Riley Moss has played in three games and it looks like full steam ahead for him playing this season.
Kaevon Merriweather began the season as one of Iowa’s starting safeties. Then he suffered a sprained foot and missed time and Jack Koerner stepped into that role. Merriweather has played in two games and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him play in two more to get up to four games of action.
The Iowa passing game will have to fill the void without top pass catcher Brandon Smith.
Tom Kakert • HawkeyeReport
@hawkeyereport
With Brandon Smith out, there's a pretty significant hole that needs to be filled in the pass game. This week in 3-2-1, we dive into filling that void, where things stand with hoops recruiting, the impact if Bohannon plays, and if there is any hope for Iowa's run game.
THREE THINGS WE LEARNED
BRANDON SMITH IS OUT
I have to admit that I was more than a little skeptical when Kirk Ferentz said after the game on Saturday that he felt positive about Brandon Smith’s injury. While the initial tests were positive, my eyes told me that Smith was in a heck of a lot of pain coming off the field maybe after further examination they might find a problem.
That’s exactly what happened and on Tuesday at his weekly press conference, Ferentz announced that Smith would miss between 3 and 5 weeks. That means best case, Iowa’s leading receiver is back for the Minnesota game. Worst case, maybe Nebraska. While the Iowa offense has struggled to score points in the last three weeks, Smith has been a real bright spot, catching 18 passes for 237 yards.
Now they will be without him, perhaps for the rest of the regular season and almost certainly for the next two games. Who steps up to fill that void?
I think the next three receivers getting the bulk of the work will be Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Nico Ragaini, and Tyrone Tracy. They have done well this year, but perhaps the player who will get the biggest bump in snaps is Tracy, who has moved into Smith’s starting role.
The elephant in the room is does this open the door for Oliver Martin? Logically, I think it does. When Martin transferred to Iowa and was granted a waiver for this season, the expectation was that he would be a more significant part of the offense and passing game than he has been. I think he’s going to get his shot beginning this week at Northwestern. Calvin Lockett could be in the mix as well as Desmond Hutson and I wouldn’t sleep on Max Cooper either. It’s going to be very interesting to see who emerges.
By the way, as much as Iowa will miss Smith as a pass catcher, I think they will also miss him quite a bit as a blocker at wide receiver.
HOOPS RECRUITING PICKS UP
I think it’s fair to say that the most controversial topic this week has been Iowa basketball recruiting. It was no surprise that Iowa picked up a verbal commitment from 2020 shooting guard Tony Perkins. Once the Hawkeyes offered and he scheduled his official visit, it was obvious that he would be a part of this class. Iowa wanted to add a wing guard in this class and Perkins filled that need.
When we broke the news last weekend that Keegan and Kris Murray, the twin sons of Kenyon Murray were going to be on an official visit, you could see the conflict from the hoops recruiting fans. On one hand, they love Kenyon Murray and on the other, his sons really weren’t on their radar and they lacked the big offers that a certain subset of fans judge each prospect.
I do understand the skeptical view from those fans, but I think at this point, Fran McCaffery has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to under the radar prospects. There’s one thing fans should understand about McCaffery is he just doesn’t offer to fill spots. He has been studying and evaluating the Murray twins more seriously really since March. Honestly, Keegan and Kris are certainly intriguing prospects. It’s hard to find kids who are 6-foot-8 (and maybe still growing), with 6-foot-10 wingspans, and the ability to shoot very well from behind the arch. Will they be starters from the moment they arrive on campus? Nope. Can they develop into solid players? Yep and I think that’s the best way to view it. I think it’s a nice upside play.
As much as the hoops recruiting anxiety reached a fever pitch this week, I think it’s safe to say the nerves of the hoops recruiting junkies will be calmed if Iowa could land four star Xavier Foster and/or emerging big man Josh Ogundele.
THE REDSHIRT RULE
It’s been interesting to track the potential redshirts this year.
The bulk of Iowa’s 2019 class is going to end up redshirting this season. Of the true freshman, eight have played this season. There are three players who have already exceeded the four game limit. Those players are: Tyler Goodson, Sam LaPorta, and Jack Campbell. Guard Justin Britt is sitting at four games played and he’s probably going to be the next one to exceed the limit, likely this weekend. Kirk Ferentz said this week that they are full steam ahead with Dane Belton this year, so expect him to play in every game the rest of this season.
What about the rest of the freshmen? Jermari Harris is at two games and it seems like he will remain in the redshirt category. With the injury to Brandon Smith, I think we have to put Desmond Hutson into the maybe coming out of the redshirt bin.
One thing to watch as we get closer to the end of the year is the potential for someone in the freshmen class who has not played getting into a few games at the end of the year.
What about non-freshmen who could end up redshirting?
The leading name in this category is probably Ivory Kelly-Martin. He seems destined to redshirt this year after playing in four games. The only way that plan changes is if there were an injury at running back.
One other offensive player to watch now is Max Cooper. He has a redshirt available and has played in two games. Now that he has taken over as Iowa’s punt returner, it seems likely that he will not redshirt. Also, the injury to Smith opens up playing time possibilities at wide receiver.
On the defensive side, the defensive backfield has some candidates for redshirts this year. Julius Brents has played in one game this season. He’s a candidate for playing later in the year, but keeping him at four games.
Riley Moss has played in three games and it looks like full steam ahead for him playing this season.
Kaevon Merriweather began the season as one of Iowa’s starting safeties. Then he suffered a sprained foot and missed time and Jack Koerner stepped into that role. Merriweather has played in two games and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him play in two more to get up to four games of action.
