Lorbeck did play in “mop-up time” in couple games. Not a lot but he did playNope.
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Lorbeck did play in “mop-up time” in couple games. Not a lot but he did playNope.
Hoping he comes back. Wasn’t overly impressed him last season but he’s really turned it on this year. Same with Heflin...he needs to come back.VanValkenburg is a 5th year SR this year (he completed 3 years at Hillsdale college before transferring over to Iowa). The issue is that he was still learning Iowa's system in '19 ... so is production was somewhat muted. Obviously he put up pretty good tape in 2020 ... albeit, in an abbreviated season. So the question is ... does he feel like he's too old? ... or does he want to put up another really good season of tape?
Hoping he comes back. Wasn’t overly impressed him last season but he’s really turned it on this year. Same with Heflin...he needs to come back.
Don't forget about Lorbeck, the other transfer from Northern Illinois. He's expectd to contribute at DE beginning in the spring.I think our LBs will be really good.... I think our defensive backs will be really good-both have talented experience returning....the DL very very little.
Shannon could be really good. Black looks huge and got some time. Waggoner was a highly rated recruit but we’ve seen very little of him...then is it Joe Evans that has gotten some time in pass rush situations.... but I don’t think this group stacks up....
If ZVV and Heflin decided on another year I would feel a little better...but I think we need help.
Add to that we should be very good at LB, so as long as the DL is solid, then we'll be fine in the front seven. Don't be shocked if someone like Bruce or Jones or Black BLOW up next year though. Almost no one knew who Nixon was before this year either, and we've been totally turning the DL over for the last four years, and here we are.....Yeah ... in 2021 we won't have a guy on the DL who takes over things like Nixon could.
However, I cannot help but remember back to the 2015 DL. On paper ... especially given that Ott was only healthy enough to play in a few games that year ... it's hard to have expected much from that DL. The DL was powered by the leadership of Ott (mostly from the sideline) and Meier ... and Meier's toughness on the field. Bazata and Johnson were first year starter at DT. Hesse was in his first year starting that year ... playing as an undersized RS FR at RDE.
On top of that ... the 2015 DL wasn't terribly deep either ... Matt Nelson was the first guy off the bench at DE when Hesse was a starter (otherwise Hesse was the first guy off the bench ... when Ott was healthy). Ekakitie was our #3 DT ... but he was still a bit undisciplined ... so he didn't play that much. We were just played 6 guys on the DL that year (when Ott was out) ... two of whom were RS FR (Nelson and Hesse) and one who was a SO (Bazata).
Those guys did their job ... and then we were able to rely more upon the playmaking of our back 7 (a group that included Josey Jewell and Desmond King) to fill the void.
So yeah ... if we can field a competent committee ... and the guys do their jobs ... I think the back 7 can fill the void.
It's exciting to contemplate the level of play that we'll see out of the likes of Campbell and Belton. Also, I think that safety play will be a strength of the D in '21 too ... credit to Merriweather for his improvement. Koerner and Moss are rock solid too.
...or his coach is going to the NFLI doubt it ... a situation like this is often an indicator that either a younger talent is surpassing him OR he wants to play closer to home.
Nixon DID still have something like 29 tackles and 5.5 TFLs on limited snaps last season. I was predicting for him to have a great year this season. My main concern was about him playing his responsibility and not trying to do extra free-lancing. Sometimes when you have a big guy like him ... who can move like that ... they sometimes try to make every play. That obviously can lead to blown gap assignments. That's part of the reason why Bell kept on mentioning being a "good teammate." To the credit of BOTH Bell and Nixon ... Nixon played disciplined ball, was a great teammate, and still made plays all over the place. Really happy for the young man!Add to that we should be very good at LB, so as long as the DL is solid, then we'll be fine in the front seven. Don't be shocked if someone like Bruce or Jones or Black BLOW up next year though. Almost no one knew who Nixon was before this year either, and we've been totally turning the DL over for the last four years, and here we are.....
LB will continue to be a strength for the Hawks in '21. Certainly, Benson played really solidly for the Hawks.Nobody mentioning Benson...if someone did I apologize. The kid had a terrific year and I think he and Campbell are our starters. Niemann will be missed he had a great year and will be a pro.
I can see Bensen staying at MLB and playing along side Campbell (Leo) and Jacobs (weakside) when we have 3 LBs in the game. Otherwise I could see Bensen and Campbell with a Cash, with Jacobs rolling in at the weakside to spell that position. Lots of talent in these 3..
LB will continue to be a strength for the Hawks in '21. Certainly, Benson played really solidly for the Hawks.
Even when guys were healthy, we were seeing a lot of LBs seeing positional action. Wade saw reps ... as did Benson, Campbell, and Niemann.
I expect that Jacobs has a good chance and grow his role at LB. And then we'll see an active rotation with Campbell, Benson, and Colbert.
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LB will continue to be a strength for the Hawks in '21. Certainly, Benson played really solidly for the Hawks.
Even when guys were healthy, we were seeing a lot of LBs seeing positional action. Wade saw reps ... as did Benson, Campbell, and Niemann.
I expect that Jacobs has a good chance and grow his role at LB. And then we'll see an active rotation with Campbell, Benson, and Colbert.
Is there a question about Colbert?And there's the question about D. Colbert. That will be interesting.
Maybe Nixon will come back
Continuity and experience at MIKE will continue to help our DL be aligned correctly. That is a benefit in itself.I can see Bensen staying at MLB and playing along side Campbell (Leo) and Jacobs (weakside) when we have 3 LBs in the game. Otherwise I could see Bensen and Campbell with a Cash, with Jacobs rolling in at the weakside to spell that position. Lots of talent in these 3.
Why?Between Colbert and Jacobs, guessing one of them won't be on the roster next fall
Jacobs is listed as the backup to Niemann this year, this that role next year. Just a guess.Continuity and experience at MIKE will continue to help our DL be aligned correctly. That is a benefit in itself.
I can see Jacobs being the one playing more at LEO ... as I recall, Wallace tries to train the guys at each of the spots.
Our ILB spots are the ones who will see the most snaps ... and Benson and Campbell are guys who will see a lot of the snaps there.
Just airing ideas here ... but I'm still surprised that Black saw more snaps than Lee and Lorbeck combined.
Do you suppose that was simply because he was "better" than those 2 ... OR was it because Bell and Niemann figured that it was a necessary step to expedite the overall development of our DL?
Obviously, part of it is that the see the young man having an exceedingly high potential.
However, I still found the utilization fascinating.
Podcast (can’t remember which one) said he will have his masters degree after this year. Don’t see him coming backVanValkenburg is a 5th year SR this year (he completed 3 years at Hillsdale college before transferring over to Iowa). The issue is that he was still learning Iowa's system in '19 ... so is production was somewhat muted. Obviously he put up pretty good tape in 2020 ... albeit, in an abbreviated season. So the question is ... does he feel like he's too old? ... or does he want to put up another really good season of tape?
I see Benson and Campbell as starters. We only play 3 lbs about half the time. Doesn't leave much for them. With today's transfer portal, I think there's a good chance one moves onWhy?
I recall that quote too. I also remember Ferentz saying that Black had one of the best DL camps that they had ever had with a prospect ... part of the reason why he was such a priority recruit out of high school.i think Black was doing better in practice so got more reps. I recall KF making a comment that Black “needs to stop asking permission” to beat the OL in games as he is not hesitant in practice. ThT is not exact quote but inference was he was being too nice in game reps
Jalen Hunt is up to 340lbs at MSU. He was a loss and so was Aaron Witt to Wisconsin.Do we have any 400 pounders we could just park in the middle?
This.....after so many years of high level play on defense, Phil needs to be given the benefit of the doubt.I have never worried about Iowa's defense...period. Phil will continue to fill in the positions and produce top 20 defenses.
GO HAWKS!
Four more years?Nixon's chances of coming back are only slightly higher than Richard Nixon's reputation making a huge comeback. So, cherish the memories (of Daveyon Nixon, not Richard Nixon, that is)
I don't remember anyone saying that, ever.How many times have we discussed the upcoming team and said "The offense looks potent this year, they may have to carry the defense...at least early in the season."?
Yeah ... I was very disappointed about what transpired with Jalen. I thought he was the gem of that class ... so it stinks that he didn't end up a Hawk.Jalen Hunt is up to 340lbs at MSU. He was a loss and so was Aaron Witt to Wisconsin.
Kirk made a comment that was something to the effect of “Black is one of the most impressive true freshman they’ve had in fall camp the last 20 years.”Just airing ideas here ... but I'm still surprised that Black saw more snaps than Lee and Lorbeck combined.
Do you suppose that was simply because he was "better" than those 2 ... OR was it because Bell and Niemann figured that it was a necessary step to expedite the overall development of our DL?
Obviously, part of it is that the see the young man having an exceedingly high potential.
However, I still found the utilization fascinating.