Very important that we get after guys in the portal. We don’t seem to be developing guys as well as we used to along the OL. I do have to think our OL won’t be much different from this year’s simply because some of those guys were so bad. It’s crazy to me you have 3 and 4 year starters that may be UFA’s. Need to get some defensive guys for sure.
Next Year's Team
- Thread starter sabula
- Start date
Maybe Lester can bend Kirk a bit more outside his comfort zone, including portal strategy, in the twilight of his career. I’m skeptical. The guy is stubborn to a fault.
What version of Kirk are we currently on? 3.0, maybe the new user agreement will get us there...lol
As for Doll I'd say he has a great opportunity to contribute as a returner if Wetjen leaves.
Lets have some fun with the starting lineup. This is what it looks like if we don't include extra year guys, incoming and outgoing portal guys. I plugged in starters with guys who have rotated in this year. You guys fill in the blanks and make a guess considering the tougher schedule next year.
QB- Sully, Lainez, Stratton
RB- Moulton, Jaz
FB- RVW
WR- Gill, Buie, RVZ, Howard, Anderson
TE- Ostrenga, Ortwerth
LT- ?
LG- Stephens
C- Pieper
RG- ?
RT- Dunker
DE- Max L
DT- Pittman
DT- Graves
DE- Allen Jr
LB- Harrell
LB- ?
Cash- Nestor?
CB- Hall Jr
CB- DLee
S- Nwankpa
S- Entringer
K- Stevens
P- Dakin
Lets have some fun with the starting lineup. This is what it looks like if we don't include extra year guys, incoming and outgoing portal guys. I plugged in starters with guys who have rotated in this year. You guys fill in the blanks and make a guess considering the tougher schedule next year.
QB- Sully, Lainez, Stratton
RB- Moulton, Jaz
FB- RVW
WR- Gill, Buie, RVZ, Howard, Anderson
TE- Ostrenga, Ortwerth
LT- ?
LG- Stephens
C- Pieper
RG- ?
RT- Dunker
DE- Max L
DT- Pittman
DT- Graves
DE- Allen Jr
LB- Harrell
LB- ?
Cash- Nestor?
CB- Hall Jr
CB- DLee
S- Nwankpa
S- Entringer
K- Stevens
P- Dakin
I'm still mystified how a veteran defense could regress this much?
Maybe the secondary never was anything but average and DLinemen like Evans covered up their deficiencies?
The pass rush certainly was horrible.
Maybe the secondary never was anything but average and DLinemen like Evans covered up their deficiencies?
The pass rush certainly was horrible.
secondary, but primarily the d-line. They didn't get the push up front and didn't have the depth. Max L. has a solid future, Graves will need to take a massive step next year.
We had a better pass rush last year and I think DeJean was just that good. We hit the QB more and one half of the field was effectively shut off
I'm just going on how they didn't play over the guys that were playing and our defense was just ok this year (Well, probably above average really when you compare it to other teams but clearly not what the defense was the past 3 seasons). We've been spoiled with elite defenses but if they weren't better than the guys that were playing this year, I'm not sure how things are supposed to get better next year. I guess we could have some amazing athletes riding the bench who just didn't have the experience, but they will still be inexperienced next year. I'll be happy to see if they are really athletic though. Experience can be gained. You can't teach speed.
If Nwankapa returns, I really like the Safety unit. Also, I believe Zach Lutmer could provide quality depth. LB is a WIP. Would love to see at least one experienced CB transfer in and earn playing time.
I think you need a starter level transfer at QB, Maybe OL, DL, LB, CB.
I'd say WR but I don't think we can get one nor do any of the current guys have the stats to transfer out.
I agree. I thought Graves was going to have an All-Big Ten season. I was surprised by how much our DL got pushed around in games.
I know I am changing subjects, but for whatever reason our passing scheme seems to suck compared to every other college team in modern football. I honestly question if an accomplished Tom Brady could excel in our offensive scheme. For me, it has come to the point as to whether it is the qb or the scheme. We never throw it deep and seem to focus our efforts continuously on the short throws to the sidelines where YAC are very limited.
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I would hope Lauck, who was in the two deeps, a 4 star, and a guy with very good offers including TOSU and Michigan, could not only be a starter, but a good OL at his position as it will be his third year in the program.
And at the guard spot opposite Stephens, I know the staff is really high on Leighton Jones. I would guess it comes down to a competition between Jones, Myslinski and Elsbury (if he returns) for that guard spot.
I honestly think it's the QB. Sometimes on passing plays everyone is going to be covered. It even happens in the NFL. All I know is during games this year there were guys open and opportunities to throw guys open which brings me back to the QB.
Cade is clearly broken and there were multiple passes a game where he just flat out missed a guy. Sully is more of a runner than passer. Lainez seems to be the same as Sully. Resar played QB for Iowa for about 10 minutes and Lester saw enough to move him to WR, and finally we have a walkon transfer in Stratton who seems to try his best but just isn't it.
I think a more polished passer simply makes everything look better. I think they can't overthink the QB position. Go get a productive G5 guy or go get one of the top FCS QB's in the portal. I know we hate the Gophers but Max Brosmer would have been great to have with this year with how well we ran the ball.
I bet everyone here would take 2,600 yards, 17 TDs, 5 Ints, 67 Comp% out of the QB position this year.
Yeah. I'm not sure that the defense doesn't take a significant step back because of a lack of experienced production, but I'm confident that the players coming back with will be solid performers, because that's what this defensive staff does.
Agree that the DLine was bad most of the season.
What should worry Iowa fans was there were no underclassmen able to win the positions!
The reserves must really suck.
While I agree with this idea, it's not like Ferentz hasn't made underclassmen ride the bench because of a lack of experience and they turn out to be far better players than the upperclassmen. We only complain about the QB since its such a visible position.
Lutmer is obviously on the rise. He has seen the field quite a bit.
Joe Evans was vastly underrated as a college DE.
Me thinks he was vastly underrated as a run defender also.
Parker gets a pass because he's had a hell of a run.
But you already knew that.
Honestly, I think it would be difficult to keep your guys from "going off" on the offensive players because of their extreme underperformance.
Graves had a pretty good year & he was double teamed often. He may declare for the draft.
I wouldn’t say that, especially when it comes to the OL. I am actually looking forward to seeing new faces on the OL. I do think that experience is highly valued by KF even more so than actual production. The OL is not an area where a starter loses his job in KF’s tenure. The lack of growth people like Jones, Dejong, Richman, and Colby made while starting for 3-4 years, I am hoping that guys like Lauck, Pieper, and others can grow and develop like we used to develop OL.
On D, I feel really good about DE. Max and Allen are really good. Graves will have another year under his belt, but we need a high quality 2 gap DT in the portal. Pittman is okay but small for a DT and there’s no other guys behind him that are ready for B1G play, LB is obviously going to take a step back, but if we can fast track the athletic young guys, I think they’ll surprise. At CB, let’s be honest, we’re screwed unless we can pick up a couple portal guys. Safety looks good with X, Lutmer, and Koen.
On O, the key will be the development of the young talent. However, been hearing things that Logan is coming back, so having Jones, Stephens, and Dunker makes a good starter kit. Plug Pieper in at RG and Lauck at LT and I think that makes for a pretty decent starting 5. RB will take a step (or two or three) back, but I think Lester will have a big jump in the passing game with a full offseason so we hopefully won’t need to rely so much on the run game to generate any offense. The key, obviously, is what we can get in the portal at QB. I do like Sullivan as a red zone change of pace guy, but not a full 60 min starter.
We will be elite on ST. Two high quality kickers and Wetjen back as a returner should give us a clear advantage in every game.
On O, the key will be the development of the young talent. However, been hearing things that Logan is coming back, so having Jones, Stephens, and Dunker makes a good starter kit. Plug Pieper in at RG and Lauck at LT and I think that makes for a pretty decent starting 5. RB will take a step (or two or three) back, but I think Lester will have a big jump in the passing game with a full offseason so we hopefully won’t need to rely so much on the run game to generate any offense. The key, obviously, is what we can get in the portal at QB. I do like Sullivan as a red zone change of pace guy, but not a full 60 min starter.
We will be elite on ST. Two high quality kickers and Wetjen back as a returner should give us a clear advantage in every game.
What cost Sully was an incompetent O-line. UCLA ate their lunch.
Your username and avatar and what they represent are provocative. Again, you're aware of this.
You knew that not everyone would care for it, and I happen to be one of those people. Again, it is what it is
We will be better than you think, you’re being a negative Nellie.
I believe he was injured at Maryland. He will almost certainly be a starter next year, it would be strange if he transferred.
Bad news is we’ll be average - above average talent for the league but the schedule is brutal.
I think Iowa can find 7 wins out of these 8 opponents: UAlbany, UMass, isu, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Rutgers, and Wisconsin.
Did he change his last name as well?
Or is the name ‘meet the Hawkeye Ferentz’ ?
Thise that have that option should use it, I don't see any being drafted, only free agents.
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