Defensive line....concerns...or not?

[perryhawk]

I apologize if this has already been discussed a ton....I don't spend much time on the football board. That said, here is my concern.

I don't buy into the line of thinking that just because we have replaced defensive lines previously without much difficulty that it will automatically happen again.

From the video I have seen and the things I have read about it appears that our defensive line has some experience, but a number of spots have very little real playing time. Then in the open practice our offensive line, with young tackles, provided the most offensive production we have seen in the preseason. That is not the norm.....particularly with those new O tackles.

I realize that Noah Shannon didn't play and I recognize that could be a significant factor....but if Noah is that big of a factor it doesn't say much for our depth. I read somewhere that Y Black has missed time with an injury and he seemed to get stood up quite a bit in that scrimmage.....

IF our defensive line is young and not ready to go...those first two games on the schedule will be a major problem....and beating a Wisconsin or PSU later in the year will be huge challenges (they are already).

So, I'm hoping for some words of encouragement that come in the form of information I am not aware of or reasoning that I am wrong. I am hoping for those types of posts....otherwise I am worried that what appears to be a talented young Hawkeye team has a significant weakness that will drag the season down.

 

[nu2u]

This has been discussed extensively.

Concerns - yes. Big concerns - no

 

[OILCHECKER]

Yes, definitely a concern. No space eaters inside. From what I saw at the scrimmage, black spent quite a bit of time on the ground. He looks like he could easily add another 20 lbs to his frame.
I think we end up rotating quite a few guys. More concerned with stopping the run and getting pressure with basic front four vs rotating guys in and mixing up pressure schemes.

 

[Mountain Man Hawk]

I think most agree that this is the biggest question mark on the team. Just hope for no injuries and hope the young players mature quickly.

As you said, we’ve replaced 3 starters on the Dline several times lately and been fine, but it seems like those years the new guys were older and a bit more experienced. This year other than Noah Shannon it seems to be mostly young and inexperienced players.

 

[83Hawk]

Yes, I am concerned. If they can stop the run and put even a little pressure on the qb, then the Hawks should have one of the better defenses in the nation. If not, it is going to be a long year.

I expect the line to struggle early but get better as the season progresses.

 

[Mountain Man Hawk]

I’m a bit surprised they didn’t opt to move Waggoner inside given his size. Maybe they do still intend to have him play some snaps inside as the season goes on and we need depth.

 

[perryhawk]

This has been discussed extensively.

Concerns - yes. Big concerns - no

I checked the first two pages of the board and didn't see anything in terms of thread titles....not up to speed on the search functions.

Right now I feel like these are pretty big concerns........I hope I'm wrong.

 

[mazda1]

Tackle on both offense and defense are the weak links. If we can’t run or stop the run it’s a long year. There should be holes in the middle for the backs, but if we can’t pass block they’ll be nothing but 8 & 9 in the box.

 

[Greenway4Prez]

Oh yeah, definitely a concern.

We are not, at any position group, in a position where we simply “reload”. We have good stretches with position groups, but as we saw with TE as a few years ago, the well does run a bit thin.

There are a few teams on our schedule with the capability of grinding us down up front. The back 7 is good enough, and Parker a brilliant enough coordinator, that we can scheme around those deficiencies to some extent. But ISU and Wisky could control us along the LOS.

 

[GoUIowa]

Big concerns.

 

[desihawk]

PP probably wishes he had held on to Linderbaum at DT as he watches him decimate DTs instead.

Might be a season where early on the offense has to put up a lot of points while Phil is forced to gamble to get his guys off the field.

 

[jonesy5960]

I think most agree that this is the biggest question mark on the team. Just hope for no injuries and hope the young players mature quickly.

As you said, we’ve replaced 3 starters on the Dline several times lately and been fine, but it seems like those years the new guys were older and a bit more experienced. This year other than Noah Shannon it seems to be mostly young and inexperienced players.

I thought quarterback was the biggest question mark on the team.

 

[hexumhawk]

If our D-Line is average to good, the overall defense should be really good.

 

[ichawk24]

Zero concerns. Some of you guys are real wimps if you sit around and worry about position groups.

 

[PD5277]

I have a lot of confidence in Coach Parker to get the job done. I see us using several players during the games to keep our guys fresh, because we simply don't have much size up front compared to most schools. We use the speed of these young guys to cause havoc and let our linebackers clean up. IMO

 

[FWIW4922463]

Maybe Linderbaum could be a two-way guy and get 10-15 snaps a game at DT, especially in the first couple of games.

 

[Nagarunja]

If Shannon can be a poor man's Nathan Bazata and at least eat up blocks, we should be ok.

 

[nu2u]

I checked the first two pages of the board and didn't see anything in terms of thread titles....not up to speed on the search functions.

Right now I feel like these are pretty big concerns........I hope I'm wrong.

perry, I think my reply to you could be interpreted as an attack against you. That was not my intent.... and your question is certainly legitimate.

 

[unoHawkeye]

I would be more concerned if I didn’t have as much confidence in our backers and DB’s being able to back them up. Maintain your gaps and let Benson, Campbell and Jacobs clean up

We seem to only get coverage sacks anyways with blitzing as a rarity, so not super worried on the pass rush front

 

[fezzador]

Cautiously optimistic. I think the potential is there to gel and become a solid unit, but a general lack of bodies and experience does not bode well when Iowa is not afforded the benefit of a tuneup game or two. Neither Indiana nor ISU are the auto-wins they used to be, and in fact, are two of the toughest teams the Hawks face. Beat those two teams and Iowa could be in for a special season as long as everyone stays healthy.

 

[perryhawk]

Zero concerns. Some of you guys are real wimps if you sit around and worry about position groups.

I don't think that exercising intellect, giving thought to the potential of players and positions, has anything to do with being a "wimp".......in fact, I would bet that coaches Parker and Ferentz spend some time sitting around and worrying about position groups....they just won't say it in public because they are trying to build the confidence, effort, and skills of these players.

 

[nu2u]

I would be more concerned if I didn’t have as much confidence in our backers and DB’s being able to back them up. Maintain your gaps and let Benson, Campbell and Jacobs clean up

That's a point I've been trying to make in other threads on this topic. I would be much more concerned if Iowa was not returning veteran LBs. Benson is a very smart player, he will be the Def. QB out there and he is a tackling machine. Campbell is big, fast, and a punisher.. If they stay healthy, IMO Iowa's run D should be no worse than top half B10. Its as if no one is familiar with Phil Parker's track record.

 

[Simbahawk4]

It appeared they tried to get help via TP however there unfortunately wasn’t any takers! Realize that Iowa traditionally isn’t a big beliver in Jucco transfers (sure Hefflin & Lorbeck NIU) however in this senario for 2021 it should of been a priority especially knowing (Gholston, Nixon, Hefflin) would not be available and limited experience. So the best shot at success IMHO is rotating 8-9..allocating the most min’s to VanValkenburg. Starting: DE’s VanValkenburg, Waggoner, DT’s either Black/Logan Lee, Shannon.
Rotation: DE Joe Evans (more than just 3rd down pass rush..difficult to block), DE Van Ness (will be really good once weight is gained), DT/DE Craig, DT Isaiah Bruce.

 

[GoUIowa]

Zero concerns. Some of you guys are real wimps if you sit around and worry about position groups.

Ummmm…..okay. Sorry for taking an objective look at experience, depth, and potential when asked a question about it. I should’ve just said, “All-Americans!” so as to not be a “wimp”.

 

[unoHawkeye]

That's a point I've been trying to make in other threads on this topic. I would be much more concerned if Iowa was not returning veteran LBs. Benson is a very smart player, he will be the Def. QB out there and he is a tackling machine. Campbell is big, fast, and a punisher.. If they stay healthy, IMO Iowa's run D should be no worse than top half B10. Its as if no one is familiar with Phil Parker's track record.

We also forget that, yeah, we lost some people up front, but VanValkenburg is a preseason first team All B1G DE. Both Waggoner/Evans have substantial experience at DE as well.

So we really just need the two big guys in the middle to plug their holes and let others fill. No need for Daviyon Nixon part two here (as much as I wish we had Daviyon Nixon part two). Noah Shannon at 6’0 290 is no joke either. Probably not a guy who’s gonna get pushed around a ton and has some experience himself. That second DT spot is a huge question mark. Black had quite a bit of acclaim coming out of high school so hopefully he can be that guy

 

[Hawk_4shur]

In Phil We Trust.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I apologize if this has already been discussed a ton....I don't spend much time on the football board. That said, here is my concern.

I don't buy into the line of thinking that just because we have replaced defensive lines previously without much difficulty that it will automatically happen again.

From the video I have seen and the things I have read about it appears that our defensive line has some experience, but a number of spots have very little real playing time. Then in the open practice our offensive line, with young tackles, provided the most offensive production we have seen in the preseason. That is not the norm.....particularly with those new O tackles.

I realize that Noah Shannon didn't play and I recognize that could be a significant factor....but if Noah is that big of a factor it doesn't say much for our depth. I read somewhere that Y Black has missed time with an injury and he seemed to get stood up quite a bit in that scrimmage.....

IF our defensive line is young and not ready to go...those first two games on the schedule will be a major problem....and beating a Wisconsin or PSU later in the year will be huge challenges (they are already).

So, I'm hoping for some words of encouragement that come in the form of information I am not aware of or reasoning that I am wrong. I am hoping for those types of posts....otherwise I am worried that what appears to be a talented young Hawkeye team has a significant weakness that will drag the season down.

A few comments ...

• The DL likely would have been further along had injuries (particularly in the spring - and prior) not slowed the development of guys like Lee and Black [among others]
• VanValkenburg has the single largest number of starts
• Evans and Shannon each have a good bit of back-up experience
• Waggs is oddly a veteran ... but he's really seen shockingly little playing time [injuries through his career has hampered BOTH his amount of playing time AND his development]

Given the overall experience-level of the group ... they're definitely one of the larger concerns on the squad. Particularly since our run D will be highly dependent upon how clean the DL can keep our LBs. I don't care how big of a superman folks expect Campbell to be ... if O-linemen are draped all over him ... his effectiveness WILL get limited.

The GOOD NEWS is that the DL is a group that has the OPPORTUNITY to improve at a rate that is greater than most of the other position groups. If you're lower on the learning curve ... you have the opportunity to ascend it! However, that also means that while other position groups will be refining things and honing their craft ... the DL will still be learning on the job! That's a recipe for some UPs and DOWNs (i.e. inconsistency).

Given the status of the DL ... I expect that the Hawk D will start off being a little better than marginal. However, I think that the defensive unit has the capacity of developing into a pretty elite unit by the end of the season. However, that will rely upon them truly embracing having a "growth mindset" ... and it also relies upon them being adequately healthy.

It's worth noting that the offense put up pretty nice numbers last season - scoring over 30 points per game ... and that's despite having a much maligned QB. Apart from at OT ... we're looking at an offense that really could be pretty good. We rarely can say that about our Hawk O.

Lastly, we have our secret weapon! Tory Taylor is a freaking hero ... look for him to be a team MVP! His leg is the difference between Ws and Ls for this team!

 

[David1979]

As long as Shannon and Black are healthy I’m not worried

 

[BBHawk]

There is depth on the dline, just not a lot of experience inside. The competition from the depth will give Iowa the strength it needs to be respectable up front.

 

[michael.nelson311]

Anything Reese Morgan and PP touch..I am 1000% not worried about

 

[RomanHawk]

I thought quarterback was the biggest question mark on the team.

It is.

 

[RomanHawk]

It appeared they tried to get help via TP however there unfortunately wasn’t any takers! Realize that Iowa traditionally isn’t a big beliver in Jucco transfers (sure Hefflin & Lorbeck NIU) however in this senario for 2021 it should of been a priority especially knowing (Gholston, Nixon, Hefflin) would not be available and limited experience. So the best shot at success IMHO is rotating 8-9..allocating the most min’s to VanValkenburg. Starting: DE’s VanValkenburg, Waggoner, DT’s either Black/Logan Lee, Shannon.
Rotation: DE Joe Evans (more than just 3rd down pass rush..difficult to block), DE Van Ness (will be really good once weight is gained), DT/DE Craig, DT Isaiah Bruce.

Since the shortage is space-eaters, I wonder if they try to get Pittman ready.

 

[nu2u]

Anything Reese Morgan and PP touch..I am 1000% not worried about

There is a joke in there somewhere....

and Reece is probably pretty comfortable in retirement.

 

[Pat McGroyne]

For the past few years, we knew we had one upcoming guy who we were pretty sure was going to blow up, along with one or two guys next to him who we knew would be solid. We don't really know for sure what we have this year.

 

[Auger]

I apologize if this has already been discussed a ton....I don't spend much time on the football board. That said, here is my concern.

I don't buy into the line of thinking that just because we have replaced defensive lines previously without much difficulty that it will automatically happen again.

From the video I have seen and the things I have read about it appears that our defensive line has some experience, but a number of spots have very little real playing time. Then in the open practice our offensive line, with young tackles, provided the most offensive production we have seen in the preseason. That is not the norm.....particularly with those new O tackles.

I realize that Noah Shannon didn't play and I recognize that could be a significant factor....but if Noah is that big of a factor it doesn't say much for our depth. I read somewhere that Y Black has missed time with an injury and he seemed to get stood up quite a bit in that scrimmage.....

IF our defensive line is young and not ready to go...those first two games on the schedule will be a major problem....and beating a Wisconsin or PSU later in the year will be huge challenges (they are already).

So, I'm hoping for some words of encouragement that come in the form of information I am not aware of or reasoning that I am wrong. I am hoping for those types of posts....otherwise I am worried that what appears to be a talented young Hawkeye team has a significant weakness that will drag the season down.

Black's problem is an easy one to fix. He stands too high and doesn't extend his arms enough. He more or less leans in and keeps a high pad level that makes him easy to block. In HS he could get away with that but not in college. As soon as he learns proper technique which is pretty basic it will improve his game a lot. The fact he wins 50% of his battles with his current technique of leaning shows the high upside he has. He could be a force.

I agree about Shannon. The guy hasn't really been able to put together consistent play over the past seasons. He was a favorite last year to get a lot of minutes but was passed up and got little time. I think it's concerning the DL success is dependent on him right now. I don't mean that to sound harsh but he seems like a better backup then starter. Waggoner had similar issues last year so I really hope he has finally taken that next step this year.

 

[The Deplorable Sleeping Dog]

Its a question mark group but when was the last time Iowa's defensive line was inadequate? Our back 7 will be outstanding, which may compensate for some growing pains upfront.

 

[Auger]

For the past few years, we knew we had one upcoming guy who we were pretty sure was going to blow up, along with one or two guys next to him who we knew would be solid. We don't really know for sure what we have this year.

I agree. VanValkenburg will be one of the better DL'men in the B1G this season but Iowa lacks that other consistent performer on the DL. Also the young up and comer really is probably a few months away at the earliest and may very well be a season away. DL is likley going to give us some headaches some games. Lucky for Iowa the back 7 is top 5 in the B1G good. Maybe even top 3.

 

[grayhair81]

Isaiah Bruce is going to become a standout soon. How long is Logan Jones out?

 

[michael.nelson311]

There is a joke in there somewhere....

and Reece is probably pretty comfortable in retirement.

If you know anything about practice...he is still very very active in coaching. Just cuz he's not on the payroll doesn't mean he can't attend practice. They showed Dallas Clark instructoring LaPorta just yesterday. nictry tho

 

[herkhatescy]

Since the shortage is space-eaters, I wonder if they try to get Pittman ready.

he looks ready in the practice photos.