Apparently Tracy nor Lockett are ready. Groenweg hasn't shown much. Cooper needs to eat some more groceries.
Hey David Bell, think Iowa can throw the ball around?
Hey David Bell, think Iowa can throw the ball around?
Iowa Is Really Thin at WR
- Thread starter Johnsoda123
- Start date
It depends on what you consider a receiver; we have two all-american TEs who are essentially receivers and three actual WRs in ISM, Smith, and Easley. Sure, we'd be stretched real thin if the WRs were all we had, but we don't. Stanley threw 6 TDs to 5 different guys on Saturday, including the backup FB. I think its safe to say that the biggest concern going into the season probably isn't even our 2nd or even 3rd biggest problem right now.
The last time Iowa was deep at wide receiver was.....the Eisenhower administration? Never?
How do we know they're not ready? We have 3 receivers playing pretty damn well right now, why would we play others?
I wouldn't say that. Easley is more than solid, Smith and ISM are breaking out as we speak, and Max Cooper and Kyle Groeneweg are both seeing action as well. Cooper had a nifty little sweep for a first down saturday, you can see he's got some serious wheels.
And actually, I think it's good they'll likely be able to redshirt both of them, provided Tracy doesn't play in more than 3 more games. They both have potential IMO (especially Tracy), but both could likely use some offseason work. Lockett is listed at 170, which is rail-thin for his height, so it'd be good to put some weight on him.
And actually, I think it's good they'll likely be able to redshirt both of them, provided Tracy doesn't play in more than 3 more games. They both have potential IMO (especially Tracy), but both could likely use some offseason work. Lockett is listed at 170, which is rail-thin for his height, so it'd be good to put some weight on him.
Good thing we're stacked at fullback.
Probably just in case of emergency, but didn’t Tracy work with the running backs last week?
I know you're joking, but 2010 was an outstanding group. DJK, McNutt, Sandeman, Davis, plus KMM waiting in the wings. And you can't forget all-time spring standout Donny Nordmann.
I had not heard that, but it wouldn't surprise me, as I thought they brought him in as an athlete. Might have to do with another rumor that Samson Evans is hurt.
The fact that Iowa is making teams accountable for every area of the football field makes me believe that the guys they are running out there are playing pretty darn good right now.
Not only that, football is a cycle of tendencies etc. What some thought was Iowa's weakness (pro style offense) is becoming their strength. In that I mean that teams have spent the last how many recruiting classes gearing to stop the spread. Iowa is able to accomplish the same passing threat as those spread teams with one huge difference....that being Iowa is a threat to play power football out of their sets. Iowa can attack a finesse defensive package without changing their personnel while doing the opposite if a team brings in their best run stopping package.
Don't get me wrong, there is no better feeling then spreading a team out and running the ball between them as a coach out of the spread. So I am by no means saying that a spread team can't run the ball....just a totally different mentality (if that makes sense) and preparation.
Not only that, football is a cycle of tendencies etc. What some thought was Iowa's weakness (pro style offense) is becoming their strength. In that I mean that teams have spent the last how many recruiting classes gearing to stop the spread. Iowa is able to accomplish the same passing threat as those spread teams with one huge difference....that being Iowa is a threat to play power football out of their sets. Iowa can attack a finesse defensive package without changing their personnel while doing the opposite if a team brings in their best run stopping package.
Don't get me wrong, there is no better feeling then spreading a team out and running the ball between them as a coach out of the spread. So I am by no means saying that a spread team can't run the ball....just a totally different mentality (if that makes sense) and preparation.
I would disagree with that. I think it was a strength just a while back when in 2010 we had McNutt, DJK, Sandeman, Chaney, Cotton, KMM, Davis. Maybe we have different definitions of a 'very long time'. I don't really think it was our weakest position in 2015 either. I thought they were stronger than our O-line that year, especially OT. We had a good stable of backs that year, that helped our O-line in the run game. If you're in your 20's I guess 8 yrs. ago is a 'long' time ago, if you're an old fart like me, it's only a blink of the eye.
I am fine with what is going on currently.....much more than fine
A 'pro style' offense is a pretty generic term. Most pro teams have outside zone as their 'main' running play, but they don't run it every other play.
We are starting to look more like the Patriots in my opinion, which isn't a bad thing. KF's is so good and comfortable coaching the outside/inside zone, that I think he got a little too 'married' to it, but Brian has convinced him that it should be part of the weapons, not 'the' arsenal. The few times we ran outside zone last week it was pretty effective, almost caught them off guard, especially the nice 3rd and 3 (If I remember right) conversion. As defenses gear more towards speed to stop spread attacks, Iowa needs to run more and more power right at those speed guys!
Has anyone heard about Marchese's progress? Seems like he's getting buried on the depth chart. I know he's just a freshmen and still learning, but I wonder if he would switch to baseball.
BFs offense is really taking shape and...... SURPRISE!!!!! It’s remarkably similar to the Pats offense. I am no Pats fan but they sure have a sweet offense. I’m loving what is happening right now.A 'pro style' offense is a pretty generic term. Most pro teams have outside zone as their 'main' running play, but they don't run it every other play.
I also agree with a previous post, running a pro style tight end heavy offense is the new oddity in college and is an advantage for us. It also doesn’t hurt that we have not one but two Gronks.
I remember one year, quite a few years ago, the Hawks were having a great year. A post-game radio show caller complained that the cheerleaders needed some new cheers- he was tired of the same old cheers.
This thread feels a little like that. Not as bad, of course, but similar. You know the Hawks are having a good year when folks are concerned about the 2nd and 3rd team WR's.
This thread feels a little like that. Not as bad, of course, but similar. You know the Hawks are having a good year when folks are concerned about the 2nd and 3rd team WR's.
WTF is it with our fanbase wanting players to leave? These same fools complain when we lack depth.
Evans had surgery to clean up a bad ankle that was giving him issues from high school play as reported from a local paper in IL where he and Jenkins are from and were back for a Friday night game.
Wasn't it during the bye week when Ferentz had stated something to the effect that Tracy had been doing "nifty" things at both RB and WR?
Right now, I think that Tracy was helping to ensure that we had depth at both positions ... but I think that the coaches wanted to make sure that they'd have enough quality reps to go around if they were going to burn his redshirt. I don't think that they feel like they'd be able to give him enough quality reps in "games that mattered" ... so they're probably banking on giving him reps in blow-outs.
Iowa was really thin at WR last year. I think that Iowa is trending in the right direction. Iowa will have to replace Easley next year, but Brandon Smith and ISM are establishing themselves. We have seen redshirt freshman snaps for Ragaini and Tracy. Both did well in those limited snaps (but I am still glad that Brandon Smith and ISM are getting the bulk of the snaps so that they experience continued growth in their starting roles). Cooper is behind Easley, but is getting good experience in the slot. It is a whole lot better than last year, when we had MVB as the sole returning WR with any D1 snaps.
I think that the coaches are perfectly happy with Tracy. I think that the bigger issue has to do with whether we have snaps to give out to the guys.
You have to remember that we're playing with 2 TEs on around at least 40% of our snaps. If we play with a fullback ... that means that we only have 1 guy out wide. When we're playing with only 1 back in the backfield (21 personnel) - then we have 2 guys out wide.
Usually when we're using our 11 personnel, we'll go 3 wide ... but then our top WRs are Smith, ISM, and Easley.
We've been going empty a little bit too ... often with our 11 or 21 personnel ... in such cases, we often just put the RB out in the slot. Thus, instead of using extra WRs lined up on the outside ... we're often lining up TEs or RBs out wide. The point of doing so is to be more "multiple" with our personnel groups. Presumably the objective is to find and exploit mismatches ... and to force the opposing D into different personnel groups.
I agree ... I think Cooper is getting very valuable reps. He'll be a much bigger contributor to the O next year. Also, I think that we'll see Tracy enter the fray next year too ... and give us quality snaps.
The five wide set with a running back lined up out wide is a great scheme. First, you don't tip your hand in substitutions by bringing in a third or fourth receiver (even more of a problem with two TEs on the field). Then you can shift the running back next to the QB to give a threat of a run or use him as an extra blocker in pass pro seconds before hiking the ball, this doesn't allow for defensive adjustments pre-snap. Patriots use this set all the time with James White. This set, which i believe you have alluded, is why we have seen more IKM And Mekhi when they are healthy, because they offer a slightly greater threat than Toren outside.
I don't want him to leave, I was curious if anyone knew how he was progressing and if it's not working out if he would join the Iowa baseball team. Wasn't trying to be negative at all.
No one said anything about nationally. The poster said it was IOWA's weakest position for a LONG TIME. Why are you creating an ulterior argument?
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