If we cannot give our QB time to throw the ball, and the other team stacks up to stop the run, we are not going to be able to compete at the top level. They need to start to get some better OT recruits in.
Need better Tackle O-Line recruiting
- Thread starter TonyTheTiger.1865
- Start date
Games are won and lost in the trenches. The skill players get the numbers but the blockers make it possible.
I think we need a step up at all 5 positions. It's clear that when we face a top 15 program we are no match in the trenches. There's a reason we have been outscored a combined 98-0 in the first half of our last 4 bowl trips against Oklahoma, LSU, Tennessee and Stanford. We are not big enough, strong enough and physical enough to move the ball and score points against these programs.
We saw this against MSU in the title game and also against Nebby who had 2 stud DLs on the interior. We were fortunate to pop 2 long Canzeti runs otherwise our yards would have been meager. We were 0-9 on third down conversions.
Time for KF & Brian to take a hard look at their OLine approach. It's holding us back.
I think we need a step up at all 5 positions. It's clear that when we face a top 15 program we are no match in the trenches. There's a reason we have been outscored a combined 98-0 in the first half of our last 4 bowl trips against Oklahoma, LSU, Tennessee and Stanford. We are not big enough, strong enough and physical enough to move the ball and score points against these programs.
We saw this against MSU in the title game and also against Nebby who had 2 stud DLs on the interior. We were fortunate to pop 2 long Canzeti runs otherwise our yards would have been meager. We were 0-9 on third down conversions.
Time for KF & Brian to take a hard look at their OLine approach. It's holding us back.
I know a certain Oline recruit who redshirted this season who only played when he felt like it in high school. Hopefully he changed his mentality now he's on a full ride.
I agree with all of the above and I know a walk-on makes for a good story but when you get to the Rose Bowl you need a kid that can handle the speed rusher off the edge. Love the effort hard work and determination by those said kids. It has become evident pass protection issues surface against the elite teams. Amazes me with Iowa's OL reputation that more 4-5* kids are not lining up to come play on the O-line at Iowa.
Serious question. Hasn't the O Line been our most successful position group as far as moving on to the next level?
I see many posts about Iowa being O Line U, and how great the Iowa staff has been at developing offensive linemen.
We obviously were beaten up front the last two games. How does that play into Iowa Fans perception of the offensive line?
I see many posts about Iowa being O Line U, and how great the Iowa staff has been at developing offensive linemen.
We obviously were beaten up front the last two games. How does that play into Iowa Fans perception of the offensive line?
I am doing this from complete memory but I think it was SI that did a huge analysis story ranking all of the position groups across all of college football about a year or two ago. They did a great job. They gave points to things like all-conference, all-Americans, NFL drafted, etc. I think we made the top 10 in 2 or 3 position groups. I believe in OL we were around 8 or 9? I think we were high top 10 in DL or LB maybe but I think we were ranked # 2 in TE's. TE's was our best ranking by far. In OL we trailed the blue bloods like Bama and I think either Wisconsin, OSU, MSU or some combination from the B1G. They also listed others I think that made the top 25 in each group. As you can guess we did not score highly in WRs, RBs & QBs from memory.
I'll have to see if I can find that article because it's really good.
I think our program does a fabulous job developing O-Lineman from a technique and discipline standpoint and we tend to have a really great player or two on the line each year but I question how good we are across all 5 spots as a unit. We also run the zone scheme and we seem to emphasize guys who are a little smaller and/or more athletic as you have to move. The problem I see is when we hit the big time programs they usually have some huge and nasty DTs or guys with major quickness/burst. We seemed to get over powered at the point of attack and everything falls apart from there. Now Stanford was only 63rd against the run and not that big. Those are teams we usually run over but to their credit they simply punched us in the mouth and we looked unprepared to handle it.
Personally I'd like to see more size both in height and weight across all 5 spots. What we play at tackles often size wise should be our prototypical guards, our guards should be centers, and our best smallest guy at center. That's just me but I want to overwhelm teams with size and physicality. It really matters when you take on the best 10-15 programs in the country especially when you are not flush with tons of elite offensive skill players.
Very well said and I couldn't agree more. This year was a perfect example of that. We were strong at C and G but our T's left a lot to be desired.
While I don'the disagree that we need to improve, my guess is we will see some position changes on the o-line and that our tackle play was impacted greatly by health issues. Inexperienced and injured is not a receipt for success.
We have some red shirts that will be in the two deeps and just like saying we need to recruit game breakers at the wide outs wishing doesn't make it so.
We have some red shirts that will be in the two deeps and just like saying we need to recruit game breakers at the wide outs wishing doesn't make it so.
Don't forget about the injuries suffered by our tackles. Next year we have a lot coming back not to mention a good incoming group of freshmen.
Didn't look good on Friday but Stanford really staked the box all day.
Didn't look good on Friday but Stanford really staked the box all day.
I think we have been over-recruiting guard types in numbers. Blythe, Walsh, Welsh...6'3 guys that can only play inside effectively. We took a JC from W. Iowa Simmons I think, at 6'2 that could only play inside when we were facing this upcoming void at OT. He's a JC and never been used. You don't turn down a 4-star Daniels, but again he is an inside guy. Recruit bigger guys with OT size and athleticism and you can always move them inside if they can't cut it at OT. Most of the Walkons are better suited for inside.
Croston, good genes, good effort but I don't think he has the quickness to play OT. He is better suited at guard.
Have not forgotten about it. Still trying to find it again and hoping they updated it. I think it was based on the last 10-15 years up until 2013 or so. Great read.
Stanford and Utah are two very physical B1G style teams in the trenches from the PAC. I agree Iowa in the trenches just isnt what it used to be. The only teams in the B1G that had a pulse in the trenches this year were Michigan, Ohio St, MSU and Wisconsin. Luckily we only played 2 of those teams. Wisconsin and Nebraska both had down years this year, If Iowa is going to improve and compete against top teams we will need to improve in the trenches again otherwise get used to the blowout bowl games.
Physically talented high school OT's are hard to find. The size and feet needed to play OT is more rare than interior OL. And we've had a heck of time recruiting highly rated OTs. Donnal might be the last one actually.
Croston was punching out of his weight class against Stanford. He simply was getting physically overpowered. No amount of technique or fundamentals was going to permit Croston to block his guy. Plus Croston and Daniels were not handling Stanford's twist games, which is more attributable to coaching and lack of experience.
Agree that if we are going to beat Top 10 teams, then our offensive and defensive lines need another step up. Even our DL was largely smoke and mirrors. Meier was undersized and survived solely on guts and effort. Batza and Hesse were just placeholders and did little to impact games (those two really need to take a big step in the offseason). Johnson was the only thoroughbred.
Croston was punching out of his weight class against Stanford. He simply was getting physically overpowered. No amount of technique or fundamentals was going to permit Croston to block his guy. Plus Croston and Daniels were not handling Stanford's twist games, which is more attributable to coaching and lack of experience.
Agree that if we are going to beat Top 10 teams, then our offensive and defensive lines need another step up. Even our DL was largely smoke and mirrors. Meier was undersized and survived solely on guts and effort. Batza and Hesse were just placeholders and did little to impact games (those two really need to take a big step in the offseason). Johnson was the only thoroughbred.
Iowa's OL this season was very good in the interior. Walsh/Welsh/Daniels/Blythe were very good and at times I would argue Welsh/Blythe/Walsh were as good as any G/C/G combo out there. There was a glaring falloff in talent at the Tackle position this season, IMO. Ike/Myers/Croston would all be very capable guards but they just don't have the physical skills at this point to be good against above average rush ends.
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