CJ Beathard: there is no way teams can load up against the run this year.

[OtayLake Hawkeye]

• Jeff Grimes: LSU
• Bob Connelly - USC
• Steve Greatwood - Oregon
• Dave Christensen - Texas A&M
• Brandon Jones - California

That's gonna leave a mark

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

@hawkeyegamefilm: Iowa WR Tevaun Smith didn't drop a pass on 63 targets in 2014. Only other B1G WR w/0 drops in '14 on 50+ targets, Rutgers Leonte Carroo

Can we target this Guy twelve times a game this year?

Yes please! Although TS needs a side quick. Otherwise the double teams will shut him down a lot of the time.

 

[thejazzcat]

As goofy as it sounds, I think that Greg Davis has a bad habit of overthinking things. A lot of offensive coordinators get caught up caring so much about being "multiple" - that they forget that ultimately it just matters about getting the ball in the end-zone. Thus, with the intention of making Iowa more "multiple" ... Iowa has put the ball in the hands of many different guys ... thereby forcing opposing Ds to have to defend EVERYBODY. While that sounds great, as you pointed out, it takes the ball out of the hands of your top playmakers. Of course, the flip-side can also happen ... you can focus so much at getting the ball to a single guy that it effectively makes you easier to shut-down. For instance, in our 2011 bowl game against Oklahoma, our passing game was so reliant on getting the ball to McNutt ... that when Oklahoma shut him down ... our O effectively had no other answer.

As for getting the ball to Smith more last year ... that still ultimately depends on the QB. The coaches can call a play where Smith is the primary look ... however, if the QB makes a pre-or post-snap read and decides that he's not seeing the coverage he wants ... that ultimately dictates where the ball will get thrown. After all, we DON'T want our QB to lock onto a single target ... that's way too easy to read as a defender.

I came to this same conclusion last year. I can't recall the specific game last year, but it was a loss (WI maybe??) and Tevaun got like 3 touches. We even had a WR recruit tweeting about it. It was just so glaring it was top of mind when I watched Alabama later.....wondering how many touches Amari Cooper would get. The D obviously focused on him, held him in check for a while.....and then boom. He had over 15 catches. I'm certainly not saying Smith is equal to Cooper, but I'm just as certain that when teams were putting 8-9 in the box, they weren't focusing on Smith. IMO, the way Smith was underutilized last year - for whatever reasons - is simply something that can't be repeated. And watching the new film released this week just reinforces that opinion.

 

[Cougar63]

There was a reason Brian Ferentz was given the title run coordinator in the off season, a title I have never heard before with the Iowa program and not really sure I have with any other program either. Bullock was put on the field too much by the position coach.

That's a bold move, Cotton, let's see how it plays ou--

• Jeff Grimes: LSU
• Bob Connelly - USC
• Steve Greatwood - Oregon
• Dave Christensen - Texas A&M
• Brandon Jones - California

Oooh. Not well.

 

[MadDogC]

Hope its okay to copy this Guy's stuff as He's a great resource on twitter...more food for thought...

@hawkeyegamefilm: Statistical oddities from '14 w/Iowa's QB numbers: JR had ~3% of his pass attempts batted, CJB 0%, Dropped pass %: JR 5%, CJB 9%

@hawkeyegamefilm: CJB is much closer to James Vandenberg skill-set wise than Jake Rudock; GD struggled to put JVB in positions to succeed, hope lesson learned

 

[TouchdownHawks]

Since the early 2000,Iowa teams have been predominantly a ball control team that depended on long drives that slowed the game and kept us in tight games. We played offense like our defensive philosophy "bend not break", however, our drives especially in the last 4 years have been breaking. We couldn't be perfect and it was so damn frustrating to watch. I 'm hoping that with this Qb we have a "bigger play" offense that we can buy into. I'm willing to live with the gunslinger mentality much like we had with Drew Tate. If we want to keep this current recruiting class together and build the momentum for the next few years, Kirk, Barta, students and all Hawk fans better pray for a CJ revival. This team's success is riding on him.

 

[icu81222]

I agree with those saying Tevaun Smith needs targeted over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.

I believe he is one of the top WR'S in the B1G and also think he will be drafted.

If they want to be able to go after good WR recruits with a straight face, they have to show they can feature a premiere receiver like top programs do.

This is an important time for iowa football with so many positives going for it that this year could break some ground with perception

 

[MadDogC]

I agree with those saying Tevaun Smith needs targeted over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.

I believe he is one of the top WR'S in the B1G and also think he will be drafted.

If they want to be able to go after good WR recruits with a straight face, they have to show they can feature a premiere receiver like top programs do.

This is an important time for iowa football with so many positives going for it that this year could break some ground with perception

Yah, Moeaki was visiting to watch Chandler and Tate shred Purdue...we ahould impress WR croots the way we used to impress TE croots...

 

[shoot_the_three]

My biggest concern with CJB is that the coaching staff will turn him into the same type of QB that we have seen every year since GD has been at Iowa. Number one priority is to not turn the ball over so take the safe pass and protect the ball at all cost. That is why KF was so hesitant to play CJB last year. The last thing KF wants at QB is a gunslinger which is what all of us fans are hoping to see.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Here is the scenario that does not work. Weisman for 3 yrds, Weisman for no yards, now its 3rd and 7 with a good but not great QB. And that scenario happened over and over the last two years.

How about RB gains 7 yards on 1st down? Now the D has to be ready for everything. Of course, CJ completing a pass for 7 yards works too.

The ability to move the chains consistently is what makes big plays possible. Suddenly LB's have to blitz on 2nd down and are exposed to big plays. Their defense has to stay on the field, instead of ours. Better field position.

I'd love to see a stat for yards on 1st down and see how that translates into total offense. Same with defense. I'll bet it's a huge indicator of success.

Yeah, I know it's out there. Just lazy

 

[frydaze]

I just don't see it happening like in the past few years.

Yeah, you can argue that the greg davis 3 yd out offense will prove that wrong but I just don't see CJ sticking to that script. He will take shots. A lot of shots and teams will absolutely have to respect that.

There is enough speed at WR and TE to force that issue too.

Plus, I see Davis opening it more vertically. I really do.

That's not to say there won't be some inexplicable 3 yd outs to the short side of the field on 3rd and 7.....there will, but I really believe CJ will more often than not take the shot on a deeper route.

We may see quite a bit of feast or famine halves of football. But that big play capability is going to keep many more teams honest and that should bode well for our faster backfield this year and hopefully will take some pressure off those new tackles.

I think there will be alot of fun times on offense the next 2 years.

Some of you think CJ Beathard is going to be the second coming of Peyton Manning.

 

[Bigfann1966]

I have a bad feeling we're going to need more than CJ at QB this year. Obviously, I hope I am wrong - or if I'm right, the backup is ready for the challenge.

I agree! I'm not 100% convinced our defense will be that good.....

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

Some of you think CJ Beathard is going to be the second coming of Peyton Manning.

I know. Talk about a pedestal. It will be a long fall, if he is even average...

 

[WORTHYWISH]

Some of you think CJ Beathard is going to be the second coming of Peyton Manning.

Pffft. Think bigger!