Can Offense manufacture wins without KJ?

[desihawk]

Let’s face it, right now KJ is our offense. Yes the OL and blockers have to play their parts but he seems to be the only guy with a nose for the end zone. His presence and additional pass catching threat lets other cogs operate better as well. RB is also the position on O with higher chance of getting dinged. Basically I think we’ll need to manufacture a win or more this season with KJ on the bench.

Is the Iowa O capable? How would they pull off something like that? Really hope Lester already has a plan for such scenarios and has signoff from kf in advance.

 

[hawkandroll]

why are you putting this into the universe? Have you already forgotten AIRBHG?

 

[LIV4GOD]

Change the silly title. One can interpret it as our offense just having lost KJ.

 

[desihawk]

why are you putting this into the universe? Have you already forgotten AIRBHG?

you have a point but putting it out there hopefully jinxes the possibility. i thought of it coz of the upcoming night game at EL and my recollection of all the hard hitting that went on there in the 2009 night game.

 

[desihawk]

Change the silly title. One can interpret it as our offense just having lost KJ.

ok done but no matter how i word it the possibility is painful to consider yet must be accounted for (at least by the staff)

 

[jonesy5960]

No. Now stop posting shit like this.

 

[uihawk82]

Let’s face it, right now KJ is our offense. Yes the OL and blockers have to play their parts but he seems to be the only guy with a nose for the end zone. His presence and additional pass catching threat lets other cogs operate better as well. RB is also the position on O with higher chance of getting dinged. Basically I think we’ll need to manufacture a win or more this season with KJ on the bench.

Is the Iowa O capable? How would they pull off something like that? Really hope Lester already has a plan for such scenarios and has signoff from kf in advance.

I think Moulton and Jazz together would keep the running game going. Maybe not as many home runs and 40-50 yard runs but Jazz has had a couple of them and Moulton is a very good runner as his strong 16 yard run to the 6 yard line set up an early TD agaisnt UWAsh.

Plus I wouldnt even think about this unless for some reason KJ cant go

 

[desihawk]

I think Moulton and Jazz together would keep the running game going. Maybe not as many home runs and 40-50 yard runs but Jazz has had a couple of them and Moulton is a very good runner as his strong 16 yard run to the 6 yard line set up an early TD agaisnt UWAsh.

Plus I wouldnt even think about this unless for some reason KJ cant go

jaz and moulton can be adequate against some of our opponents but against a really athletic d like msu or il i think they’ll struggle. that said, rotating both qbs (more than we have) is all that i can think of.

also Very tough crowd this afternoon. i was hoping to see some creative schematic or personnel ideas that could compensate.

 

[sarduci]

jaz and moulton can be adequate against some of our opponents but against a really athletic d like msu or il i think they’ll struggle. that said, rotating both qbs (more than we have) is all that i can think of.

also Very tough crowd this afternoon. i was hoping to see some creative schematic or personnel ideas that could compensate.

Nothing like putting the cart before the horse,

 

[Slappy Pappy]

The big issue is not having a starting QB that can put the team on his shoulders and manufacturer a game winning drive or few. Been the big problem with this team now for a few years.

 

[HawkAlum2002]

We had less offensive talent last year and Kaleb was basically invisible minus one great run to beat Illinois but still won 10 games, so based on Kirk's history, we'd still find a way to go at least 4-2 down the stretch. But let's not tempt fate!

 

[Buffalo43]

They did last year homes

 

[uihawk82]

jaz and moulton can be adequate against some of our opponents but against a really athletic d like msu or il i think they’ll struggle. that said, rotating both qbs (more than we have) is all that i can think of.

also Very tough crowd this afternoon. i was hoping to see some creative schematic or personnel ideas that could compensate.

Well as far as schematic or personnel ideas using the jet sweep and shovel pass to generate rushing yards come to mind. More wide receiver screens are like long handoffs/pitchouts and also screen passes are like a running play.

 

[Zooropa_NCR]

Without the big play threat of KJ, i think this offense is near the same level as 2022/2023

The passing game cannot hit the big pass for a score, so it’s up to the offense to manage 35 play drives of near perfection or hope for penalties to extend drives.

I have liked seeing more passes over the middle of the field but there’s still WAY too much sideline throws for 3 yards. It gives us ZERO opportunities for YAC and seems like a difficult pass to complete consistently

One reason I’d like to see Sullivan is his completion % at NW is about 20 points higher than anyone we’ve had since Ricky’s senior year.

Its not always the 30+ yard bombs we need every game, but consistently hitting those 10-15 yard passes which extends drives and depending on the route has chance to break into a bigger gain

We do not have that ability with Cade.

 

[jonesy5960]

I think Moulton and Jazz together would keep the running game going. Maybe not as many home runs and 40-50 yard runs but Jazz has had a couple of them and Moulton is a very good runner as his strong 16 yard run to the 6 yard line set up an early TD agaisnt UWAsh.

Plus I wouldnt even think about this unless for some reason KJ cant go

So, just to help clarify things..

Kaleb 7.9 ypc
Jaz 4.7 ypc
Moulton 4.4 ypc

That's a pretty steep drop-off right there. If that 7.9 average for Kaleb's carries dropped to an average of 4.5 or 4.6 between Jaz and Moulton, that would be a big problem today. Kaleb is carrying this team on offense. He HAS to stay healthy for this offense to function.

 

[uihawk82]

So, just to help clarify things..

Kaleb 7.9 ypc
Jaz 4.7 ypc
Moulton 4.4 ypc

That's a pretty steep drop-off right there. If that 7.9 average for Kaleb's carries dropped to an average of 4.5 or 4.6 between Jaz and Moulton, that would be a big problem today. Kaleb is carrying this team on offense. He HAS to stay healthy for this offense to function.

I dont think you see the whole picture or really read the part I said that Kaleb has had more big yardage runs but he also has many more carries per game to have a chance for bigger runs.

First, look back at the last few years of Iowa football running avgs. IIRC, as a team the hawks were averaging about 3.5 yards per carry which is low for Kirk's time here. There were way more negative yardage runs the last few years. So Jazz and Moulton, at their averages, are performing better than recently. If they share 35 carries a game the law of averages is they will bust one or two big runs just like Kaleb does which moves their averages up to 5-7 yards per carry.

Second, Kaleb's larger number of carries gives him more chance to bust a big one which brings his average up by a few yards per carry. So everything staying the same, the blocking, the one out of every 10 carries having blocking that opens a bigger whole for a long run should still be there for Jazz and Moulton. They have to make the right reads and cuts and they probably will.

 

[Greenway4Prez]

Dude.

 

[Packer54]

Let’s face it, right now KJ is our offense. Yes the OL and blockers have to play their parts but he seems to be the only guy with a nose for the end zone. His presence and additional pass catching threat lets other cogs operate better as well. RB is also the position on O with higher chance of getting dinged. Basically I think we’ll need to manufacture a win or more this season with KJ on the bench.

Is the Iowa O capable? How would they pull off something like that? Really hope Lester already has a plan for such scenarios and has signoff from kf in advance.

You sound like a fun person to be around.

 

[jonesy5960]

I dont think you see the whole picture or really read the part I said that Kaleb has had more big yardage runs but he also has many more carries per game to have a chance for bigger runs.

First, look back at the last few years of Iowa football running avgs. IIRC, as a team the hawks were averaging about 3.5 yards per carry which is low for Kirk's time here. There were way more negative yardage runs the last few years. So Jazz and Moulton, at their averages, are performing better than recently. If they share 35 carries a game the law of averages is they will bust one or two big runs just like Kaleb does which moves their averages up to 5-7 yards per carry.

Second, Kaleb's larger number of carries gives him more chance to bust a big one which brings his average up by a few yards per carry. So everything staying the same, the blocking, the one out of every 10 carries having blocking that opens a bigger whole for a long run should still be there for Jazz and Moulton. They have to make the right reads and cuts and they probably will.

Jaz and Moulton are good serviceable backs with nearly 70 carries between them. That's a big enough sample. Kaleb is an elite back. No amount of carries by Jaz and Moulton is going to change any of that.

 

[General Tso]

Let’s face it, right now KJ is our offense. Yes the OL and blockers have to play their parts but he seems to be the only guy with a nose for the end zone. His presence and additional pass catching threat lets other cogs operate better as well. RB is also the position on O with higher chance of getting dinged. Basically I think we’ll need to manufacture a win or more this season with KJ on the bench.

Is the Iowa O capable? How would they pull off something like that? Really hope Lester already has a plan for such scenarios and has signoff from kf in advance.

No. Next question

 

[stanzithemanzi12]

Let’s face it, right now KJ is our offense. Yes the OL and blockers have to play their parts but he seems to be the only guy with a nose for the end zone. His presence and additional pass catching threat lets other cogs operate better as well. RB is also the position on O with higher chance of getting dinged. Basically I think we’ll need to manufacture a win or more this season with KJ on the bench.

Is the Iowa O capable? How would they pull off something like that? Really hope Lester already has a plan for such scenarios and has signoff from kf in advance.

No, but with KJ they can manufacture wins.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

I think they'd go at least .500 even without KJ. The remaining schedule is that bad.
But I'd rather not see them have to.
I'd prefer to see KJ hit the 2k mark for the season and be a high draft pick.

 

[swihawk]

Let’s face it, right now KJ is our offense. Yes the OL and blockers have to play their parts but he seems to be the only guy with a nose for the end zone. His presence and additional pass catching threat lets other cogs operate better as well. RB is also the position on O with higher chance of getting dinged. Basically I think we’ll need to manufacture a win or more this season with KJ on the bench.

Is the Iowa O capable? How would they pull off something like that? Really hope Lester already has a plan for such scenarios and has signoff from kf in advance.

No.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

why are you putting this into the universe? Have you already forgotten AIRBHG?

 

[Old Uncle Teddy]

Let’s face it, right now KJ is our offense. Yes the OL and blockers have to play their parts but he seems to be the only guy with a nose for the end zone. His presence and additional pass catching threat lets other cogs operate better as well. RB is also the position on O with higher chance of getting dinged. Basically I think we’ll need to manufacture a win or more this season with KJ on the bench.

Is the Iowa O capable? How would they pull off something like that? Really hope Lester already has a plan for such scenarios and has signoff from kf in advance.

Dude, you're Never Ferentz Bitter Ender is really on display. Now you're inventing a world that does not exist and may never exist as an excuse to complain. I cannot imagine constant negativity is good for you.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

I think we all have to remember that, no matter how good KJ is, he needs room to run. Better play design and better blocking has created some space for him to put up some numbers.

No question he is the best back the Hawks have. But others are pretty good too.

 

[ItsAllBallBearingsNowadays]

 

[desihawk]

Dude, you're Never Ferentz Bitter Ender is really on display. Now you're inventing a world that does not exist and may never exist as an excuse to complain. I cannot imagine constant negativity is good for you.

I have made poor posts and will certainly make more but one thing i am not is a kf hater. kf imo was and is a fantastic coach. he has warts but overall he’s the perfect guy for iowa (for that matter at a lot talent laden places he almost certainly would have produced multiple NCs).

 

[BonzoFury]

KJ is an exception player, but the run blocking schemes have been great too. What can't continue is a one-dimensional offense. Lester has to develop a passing attack.