Levar Woods Outstanding Coaching Job Special Teams

[Iowa Hog]

Nothing more demoralizing than scoring a touchdown and have the other team run the ball back for a touchdown or to midfield. Iowa this year has shut down the opposing team run backs on punts and kickoffs. Besides Levar Woods, Phil Parkers adjustments with all the injuries to linebackers is
impressive. As for Brian Ferenz the change from last year and early this year is impressive. On this Board a football coach said you can't tell if Brian Ferenz will be good until his second year. It looks
like Brian Ferenz has developed into a fine offensive co-ordinator. I think Iowa has finally realized
Iowa needs to score a lot to avoid close losses.

 

[Hawk fan in MN]

Nothing more demoralizing than scoring a touchdown and have the other team run the ball back for a touchdown or to midfield. Iowa this year has shut down the opposing team run backs on punts and kickoffs. Besides Levar Woods, Phil Parkers adjustments with all the injuries to linebackers is
impressive. As for Brian Ferenz the change from last year and early this year is impressive. On this Board a football coach said you can't tell if Brian Ferenz will be good until his second year. It looks
like Brian Ferenz has developed into a fine offensive co-ordinator. I think Iowa has finally realized
Iowa needs to score a lot to avoid close losses.

The trick plays we have had out of the field goal team the last couple of years has been great too.

 

[greenelite]

Lavar has been winning his battles this year. Recinos, Rastetter, and coverage teams have been suburb so far.

 

[Slappy Pappy]

Are we starting to block on kicks instead of waiting to be jumped over?

 

[Sett1997]

I agree, our special teams are the best I can remember. Kick coverage has been great.

 

[goodbyebobby]

Our coaching, period, has been fantastic. KF has got to know he has a one loss team this season, we are that good.

 

[rivercityjazzman]

Coach Woods has done a great job. Our ST unit is showing an unusual breadth of scoring capabilities, capable of scoring TDs out of variety of circumstances. These strengths complement our defensive and offensive capabilities immensely. This forces our opponents to spend a big chunk of time in their game prep having to prepare for ST, stealing time from other things.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

For a long time from about 2002-2013ish? (Somewhere in there) Iowa always had exceptional special teams. I feel like Iowa is getting back to that level. Its exciting!

 

[Hawkfan_08]

Coach Woods has done a great job. Our ST unit is showing an unusual breadth of scoring capabilities, capable of scoring TDs out of variety of circumstances. These strengths complement our defensive and offensive capabilities immensely. This forces our opponents to spend a big chunk of time in their game prep having to prepare for ST, stealing time from other things.

Congrats to your son for adjusting to the crappy weather conditons. I'm a soccer coach and I know how much wind sucks for playing balls in the air and having to make several adjustments in strategy. I would rather play in snow or rain than wind.

 

[chodehawk]

1. Check out how many penalties were called on our special teams during first 4 games

2. Special teams blew the Wisky game

 

[vacuum_cleaner]

Are you on crack? No. Not at all. He should be demoted. Our ST are terrible. Special teams is the sole reason we lost the only meaningful game we've played this year. We haven't blocked a kick or punt in 2 years (3 years? 4?). Our special teams used to be elite (so many memorable blocked punts/kicks, great returns). Haven't had a good return all year. Or last year. Haven't blocked anything in that time.

For whatever reason, our Special Teams have gone from one of our strengths to a unit that is either outright horrible and loses us games (Wisconsin) or is just irrelevant in other games.

 

[rivercityjazzman]

Haven't had a good return all year. Or last year.

For whatever reason, our Special Teams have gone from one of our strengths to a unit that is either outright horrible and loses us games (Wisconsin) or is just irrelevant in other games.

Among returners with greater than 5 returns each, Smith-Marsette is ranked third nationally, with 37.4 yards/return.
https://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/stats/leaders/NCAAF/KICKRETAVG

In the Iowa State game, our two FGs accounted for our entire scoring, and the lead in the game, until 4:47 remaining in the 4th quarter.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=401012863

Get your facts straight next time. On second thought, get any facts.

 

[vacuum_cleaner]

Lol. So he has 5 kick returns in 7 games. Small sample size. None of the returns have been game breakers. Not a single one has been returned past the 50. I'm not knocking the guy at all...but our return game isn't near what it's been in years past.

Sure, Recinos is a great kicker. One of our best ever. That has nothing to do with the special teams coach.

Since you love stats so much, how about you find this stat...How many kicks/punts did we block from 2002-2006?

Now, how many kicks/punts have we blocked from 2014-2018?

Here's a hint: off the top of my head, I can remember about 7 blocks from 2002-2006. I'm sure there were far more. And I honestly don't know if we've had a single block over the past 4 years. That's all coaching (or lack thereof).