Nice read from The Gazette on IKM being the starting RB and then some
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anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba
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Nice story. Thanks for posting. IKM as the No. 1 back is interesting because he's more of a game breaker, Wadley type rather than a bruiser. Remember when Damon Bullock and then Mark Weisman were Iowa's starting RBs? Loved both kids. They played hard and did their best, but they were not the kind of RBs you need to win Big Ten titles.
And at the end of the article, BF says that the best lesson that could come out of the OL suspensions is that the suspended players would lose their jobs because other guys stepped up in game one. I agree 100 percent, and I hope it happens. Getting Wally Pipped would be a lesson they might never forget.
And at the end of the article, BF says that the best lesson that could come out of the OL suspensions is that the suspended players would lose their jobs because other guys stepped up in game one. I agree 100 percent, and I hope it happens. Getting Wally Pipped would be a lesson they might never forget.
Now if the week one starters actually played so well, and truely outplayed Wirfs and Jackson to keep those spots, then they'll really have a story to write in mid-Sept........
I believe that Kelly-Martin better fits a new scheme that Brian Ferentz is trying to implement, namely: more frequent use of the RB as receiver...… at least I hope so. Along with the TE feature this is, as I understand it, the so-called NE Patriot model that has been referenced by others.
In any event, it also seems pretty clear that all three RBs will get plenty of work. How much work each RB gets will likely vary depending upon the opponent, the game situation, or performance (BF's "hot hand"), not to mention health.
BF also specifically mentioned "balance" as a skill that he is looking for - the ability to take a hit and stay on your feet, a skill that he attributed to IKM and Sargent. Not to worry though, Toren will get a lot of carries and coaches love his leadership qualities.
Ponder this ... suppose that Tyler Goodson is too good to keep off the field in 2019. Obviously this isn't a given ... but maybe his speed and versatility are factors that distinguish from some of the others.
What happens with how the RBs get utilized? Toren, Ivory, and Mekhi will each be JRs.
I'm thinking out loud here ... but maybe might Toren become a hybrid RB/FB? He could still be our short distance back ... but maybe he picks up more snaps if he also is willing to add being a lead-blocker to his repertoire? Given how positive Foster was about Toren's receiving skills this past fall ... could Toren become the mythical sort of fullback we've been hoping for since we last had it in Jeremy Allen?
Just thinking out loud ... but I love how such a "slight" transition could make our O more "multiple."
Anyhow, I'm getting ahead of myself ... we need to see how the distribution of carries works out for our top 3 RBs in '18. All the same, interesting stuff ....
What happens with how the RBs get utilized? Toren, Ivory, and Mekhi will each be JRs.
I'm thinking out loud here ... but maybe might Toren become a hybrid RB/FB? He could still be our short distance back ... but maybe he picks up more snaps if he also is willing to add being a lead-blocker to his repertoire? Given how positive Foster was about Toren's receiving skills this past fall ... could Toren become the mythical sort of fullback we've been hoping for since we last had it in Jeremy Allen?
Just thinking out loud ... but I love how such a "slight" transition could make our O more "multiple."
Anyhow, I'm getting ahead of myself ... we need to see how the distribution of carries works out for our top 3 RBs in '18. All the same, interesting stuff ....
I’ve been hoping the Hawks would do this for some time Ghost. Weismann would have been ideal. Have thought with all our talent at TE that Weiting may be a candidate to convert to FB and be a little more of a weapon in the receiving game.
I love the idea.
I completely understand you are just thinking out loud, and so am I, but wouldn't he need to gain some serious weight to be effective? I could be way off, but I'm thinking most FBs are in the 230 range?
Toren used to be in the 230 ball-park ... but has slimmed down more recently. We used to have Rogers play FB ... and he wasn't much bigger (weight-wise) than Toren.
As I was saying, I don't think that Toren would have to be a full-blown full-back. He just needs to be able to be a lead blocker for up to 10 snaps a game. After all, Brady Ross still has 1 year of eligibility left (after the '18 season) ... and he's a beast-mode FB.
I just happen to think that Toren has the requisite toughness ... and he has a really nice tailback skill-set too. Thus, that could give Brian some real flexibility in terms of personnel groups. As a lone back, he's still a solid RB ... and could tote the rock if called upon. Furthermore, if Foster was telling the truth ... he could catch the ball out of the backfield too! However, if he can also line up as a FB ... then we could conceivably have Toren and Ivory or Toren and Goodson lined up in the backfield at the same time. The multi-back sets could allow us to line up in a jumbo set ... within either the I-formation or the offset I-formation. Alternatively, a versatile guy like Ivory or Goodson could split out wide ... and then Toren could still line up as one tough hombre at RB. That's certainly the sort of thing that Brian is looking for ... to utilize the versatility of his personnel to create mismatches against the D.
He's not under appreciated, hell most of you guys thought he should start. You compare IKM to Bullock, Sims,Canzeri. He's way more violent.
Ikm has a burst once he hits the hole that I haven’t seen from an Iowa back. Wadley had great lateral quickness, ikm has some serious straight line speed
All three will get some good run. I’ve been an adamant IKM Guy. If Toren can block than that would be really interesting. Jeremy Allen ish type guy? I know Toren can catch too. I think Brian will think out of the box. I like the shuttle changes.
Loved this quote at the end of the article by Brian F:
“In a perfect world, the best lesson we could teach some of these guys not playing in game one is if they didn’t have a job in week 2,” Ferentz said. “Boy, it’d be great if some guys stepped in and took their jobs over. I would have no issue with that.”
“In a perfect world, the best lesson we could teach some of these guys not playing in game one is if they didn’t have a job in week 2,” Ferentz said. “Boy, it’d be great if some guys stepped in and took their jobs over. I would have no issue with that.”
I don't know if I ever used any of those as comparisons, did I?
I have kind of thought Sims might be the best comparison, but I also see some Jewel Hampton in him. I am pretty sure most Hawk fans loved Hampton?
As for Young, I think he is like Shonn Greene.
