I would definitely take Bielema' evaluation of OL as being superior to our staff's. We have had individual studs, but mediocre or worse overal lines. Wisconsin had both studs and great overall OL, and he is building same at Arkansas.
Jake Heinrich
- Thread starter hawk_it
- Start date
The O line reputation seems to often exceed the results. The Ferentzs have done a great job getting tackles, especially left tackles, drafted but I can only think of 3-4 drafted guards or centers during his 16 yr tenure. This seems odd to me but also might give a reason why we have had huge issues running the ball and scoring via the run inside the 20. We have simply been weak on the interior and/or play too many small interior o-lineman.
I find it alarming that we would pass on players like Heinrich, Ruhland, Foster. I am always in the camp of taking as many good players at every position that you can and let the cream rise to the top through competition. I would rather spend a scholly on an extra O-lineman or two than the 100th best WR in the country. The value of a great O-line at ALL 5 positions, not just tackle, cannot be understated.
It has the feel sometimes that KF likes to snub talent in favor of finding an overlooked guy that he can mold. When it works this gets him more praise possibly when he finds that 1 in 100 player vs the 4 star OL guy that is already good?
I find it alarming that we would pass on players like Heinrich, Ruhland, Foster. I am always in the camp of taking as many good players at every position that you can and let the cream rise to the top through competition. I would rather spend a scholly on an extra O-lineman or two than the 100th best WR in the country. The value of a great O-line at ALL 5 positions, not just tackle, cannot be understated.
It has the feel sometimes that KF likes to snub talent in favor of finding an overlooked guy that he can mold. When it works this gets him more praise possibly when he finds that 1 in 100 player vs the 4 star OL guy that is already good?
I am not sure that is correct. Gallery - LT, Steinback-LG & Nelson-C. I do not believe Lightfoot was drafted-RG. That would be 2. The only others I can think of that might have been drafted after playing primarily guard or center would be Gettis, Vandevelde, Sobeski, Oleson, Tobin. Besides Gettis & Vandevelde, the others may have been tackles and/or might not have been drafted?
Just took a peek. Sobieski was drafted, but can't remember if he played more G or T on that team? Was kind of the sixth man on that line. If so, then that team had three. Elgin and Olsen were drafted.
Agree. So about double of what I recall. Now do the tackles someone.
Guards-Steinback,Sobieski,Olsen,Gettis,
Vandevelde
Centers
Nelson,Elgin
Tobin-undrafted free agent
They're big, tough, play with a mean streak. They are good wrestlers, which KF loves, proved to the coaches at their camp that they have good feet. Every high school lineman is a project. These two are good prospects. Along with Daniels, Newborg and Waechter, if healthy, this is a good group.
Sobieski played mostly guard, rotating with Lightfoot. As I recall. He did play some at tackle but I would call him an OG
Sobieski-
97-First true freshman to start since 94. Started for an injured Jeremy McKinney.
98- started all 11 games at OT
99- Redshirt due to shoulder injury
2000-struggled with injuries-saw no game action
2001- struggled with injuries, played in limited games
2002- Played mostly at RG
97-First true freshman to start since 94. Started for an injured Jeremy McKinney.
98- started all 11 games at OT
99- Redshirt due to shoulder injury
2000-struggled with injuries-saw no game action
2001- struggled with injuries, played in limited games
2002- Played mostly at RG
I think the past 2 recruiting classes the staff has made a concerted effort to pursue OL that are mean. Nasty. "Aggressive," if you will. I've read a couple posters who offered opinions on Heinrich as both a football player and wrestler. Both made it very clear he didn't fit that mold. I've never seen Heinrich play or wrestle, but that was their conclusion. This is the same thing regarding Sean Foster (per other posters' comments on his film), but why Spencer Williams and Cole Banwart did get offers. As for Bobek, he went to OSU, shortly thereafter transferring to Minnesota, where he's done very little. Keep in mind they've generally seen all of these players in person at camp(s). I like the staff's approach. They definitely needed to do something different, and even if it doesn't work, it can't be much worse than the current 2-deep situation regarding initial scholarship v. walk-on players. (I don't say that to disparage the walk-ons who earned scholarships and positions in the 2-deeps as much as the scholarship guys not developing.)
So in a state that produces very little D1 talent, the top 2 players are going out of state.
Nice
Nice
Maybe Krik and the crew don't see Heinrich as part of the top 2. They obviously like Raridon, but couldn't get him but I'm not sold on Heinrich being the 2nd beat because you and some recruiting services say so. Coaches coach, players play, and recruiting services only speculate
[QUOTE=" Coaches coach, players play, and recruiting services only speculate[/QUOTE]
And posters rationalize.
And posters rationalize.
Beliema knows more about offensive linemen than Kirk does. Fact. Oregon probably has a good idea as well.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...ale-offensive-lineman-jake-heinrich/29702989/
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...ale-offensive-lineman-jake-heinrich/29702989/
So who should feel worse? Helfrich who evaluated him as worthy of an offer but did not get him or KF who didn't deem him as worthy of an offer?
I'm going to go with C. Brett Bielema, who puts linemen in the NFL AND has dominating offensive lines in college.
This is a no brainer
KF who screwed the pooch on this one. Especially now that Heinrich is going to play for a coach who can take his job.
Huh? Bielema should feel worse? How so?
I would think the coach of the top 5 "elite" program who just played in the national championship game would feel the worst. After all, he was not able to secure the commitment of a 3 star (by this site) out of Iowa and allowed a lower tier SEC program to swoop in and steal him.
I would think the posters on the Oregon board would be outraged at this.
I think Swag just worded it poorly. He is going with Bielema's opinion, but he did post that as if Bielema should feel the worst.
Swag, is that correct?
This is correct. Bielema doesn't feel worse however I will take his opinion on offensive line recruits as he has very good units as a coach.
Probably KF, since Helfrich just played for a national title. Something tells me he'll recover from this.
I think Iowa and Wisk consistently produce pretty good OLs. Where Wisky beats Iowa is in running back recruiting. Wisky always seems to have a very talented back. Iowa not so much. A good running back can make a solid line look good and vice versa.
I would agree with this up until the last couple of years. I don't think Wisky's line gets shut down by Ball State or have one of the worst Cyclone D-lines I've seen get into the backfield all day long regardless of who's carrying the ball. Iowa has had some pretty good individual talent but hasn't been nearly as dominant of a unit as earlier in KF's career.
Could you imagine last years Wisconsin team playing ISU? Gordon would've rushed for 450 yards.
Right, and Nebraska had a first round pick on their DL. ISU's defense was atrocious and we didn't even put a total of 300 yards on them. I think Wiesman rushed for like 46, Rudock for like 33, and Bullock for 20 something....
It was pathetic
One of the things I respect about Kirk is that he doesn't air dirty laundry, throw somebody under the bus, or try to justify his decisions when he has taken the high road. Whatever you think about Kirk, it is tough to take heat from people and remain quiet, when if they only knew the full story they would not be giving you heat. Human nature is to justify our decisions to get people off our back. Kirk consistently takes the high road and lets the punches come anyway. Whatever else you don't like about Kirk, this is an admirable quality. Since this is not a post about strategy, I will keep it warm and fuzzy on Kirk.
Rest assured that if an amazing talent is in our backyard and we don't pursue said talent, there is more to the story. We just won't be hearing about it because Kirk doesn't roll that way. We got burned with a few highly ranked kids a few years ago. It seems like Kirk has put renewed focus on making sure a kid fits the Iowa Way at the expense of high rankings. Right or wrong, this seems to be the M.O. recently.
Rest assured that if an amazing talent is in our backyard and we don't pursue said talent, there is more to the story. We just won't be hearing about it because Kirk doesn't roll that way. We got burned with a few highly ranked kids a few years ago. It seems like Kirk has put renewed focus on making sure a kid fits the Iowa Way at the expense of high rankings. Right or wrong, this seems to be the M.O. recently.
I guess I can respect that, but ultimately it will sink the ship. You need talent to compete.
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