Offensive 2Deep Projection for 2018

[Harbinger273]

Looking at the offense for 2018, no surprises here at the QB position. Job is Stans to lose and Mansell is the #2 with experience and a relatively strong spring game performance. No surprises at RB either for the most part unless we bring in a grad transfer as no one seems to have an inkling who that might be. Ross is strong at FB and I think rolling the FB's in with TE's under BF's tutelage is partly due to the tendency for Iowa to throw to the FB. It will be interesting to see how the 2 positions mix it up with formations and so forth. Receiver remains to be seen. Really just need some solid playmakers to step up and be consistent in every facet. At OL I think we expect strong tackle play barring injury and need the interior to gel. Levi Duwa will be fun to monitor at the OC position. Recinos is a stong asset for the team!

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Looking at the offense for 2018, no surprises here at the QB position. Job is Stans to lose and Mansell is the #2 with experience and a relatively strong spring game performance. No surprises at RB either for the most part unless we bring in a grad transfer as no one seems to have an inkling who that might be. Ross is strong at FB and I think rolling the FB's in with TE's under BF's tutelage is partly due to the tendency for Iowa to throw to the FB. It will be interesting to see how the 2 positions mix it up with formations and so forth. Receiver remains to be seen. Really just need some solid playmakers to step up and be consistent in every facet. At OL I think we expect strong tackle play barring injury and need the interior to gel. Levi Duwa will be fun to monitor at the OC position. Recinos is a stong asset for the team!

View embedded media

Duwa is still in development mode from the sounds of things. He has a good "starter kit" though. I'll be interested to see if he turns out to be more of a Mike Elgin or an Adam Gettis type of interior lineman. I for him to start contributing more in '19.

I look for all of the '18 class O-linemen to redshirt ... and then I'm looking for somebody to surprise us and emerge ... possibly winning a starting spot as a RS FR (in '19).

The primary O-linemen I look to be "on the cusp" for us as it relates to contributing are Banwart (he's probably our current #5 guy on the OL), Levi Paulsen (when healthy, he's pushing for the #5 spot ... otherwise, he's likely at #6), and Mark Kallenberger (he's still a little undersized, but he's clearly "in the plans" ... he's likely our top OT backup ... however, if a tackle goes down, I'd initially look for Levi to go in at RT. It sounded like Landan Paulsen might have been doing some emerging ... so perhaps he's pushing for the #7 or 8 spot. I would guess that neither of our top OGs will be completely "entrenched" as starters ... so if the #6 and 7 guys can earn enough trust of the coaches ... we could definitely see some rotation at both guard spots.

With Kullick gone ... our main returning FB with experience is Ross. Ross is a mack-truck ... it will be fun to see him continue to improve at the position. I'll be curious to see if a second FB emerges ... or if Brian simply continues to have TEs play as H-backs more. Given our depth at TE ... if the guys can get down the multiple responsibilities (and execute well) ... our TEs will be able to be lined up all over the place.

The WR situation is a pretty interesting story. The coaches clearly like the guys we have ... it's just all about getting the guys to continue to improve ... and to improve their consistency. I think I have an idea of what to expect from Easley, ISM, and B. Smith ... however, guys like Groeneweg, Cooper, Ragaini, and Tracy are still relative "unknowns" ... and could potentially surprise and earn quality reps. Coach Copeland regularly speaks about rewarding guys who produce on tape ... so if a guy can earn quality reps ... that might blossom into more if the guy can prove reliable.

Lastly, Stanley was really impressive last year ... in spite there being so much "newness" at WR ... and in spite having his 2 top OTs go down for the season. If we can enjoy a little bit more continuity on the OL ... and if the receiving targets can continue to develop ... it's exciting to contemplate what we might end up seeing from Stanley in '18. To supply a parallel ... suppose we consider the gains made by Alex Hornibrook going from his first season of starts to his second season of starts ... he was a little hit or miss in his first year (as a RS FR) ... but then in his 2nd year of starting he was clutch at the end of games and was far more consistent. If we see the same sort of gains by Stanley ... then the implication being that we'd be far less likely to see duds like the Wisconsin or Boston College games. Furthermore, we'd likely see a better completion percentage ... which should equate to more sustained drives and a greater time of possession.

To be honest, I'm really excited about the prospects of our '18 O. However, my excitement is also contingent on the health of a collection of key players.

 

[BirdistheWord]

Commentary on RB's was a bit thin. Huge fan of Young and feel his style is much better fit as every down type back vs Wadley. But one of our biggest keys will be change of pace by Ivory Kelly-Martin. Catching screens, running on passing downs, Quickly getting to edge,etc.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Commentary on RB's was a bit thin. Huge fan of Young and feel his style is much better fit as every down type back vs Wadley. But one of our biggest keys will be change of pace by Ivory Kelly-Martin. Catching screens, running on passing downs, Quickly getting to edge,etc.

Perhaps a surprising observation concerning Kelly-Martin ... on 24 touches ... he scored 4 TDs (3 rushing, 1 receiving).

 

[Harbinger273]

Sounds like we won't be bringing in a grad transfer RB, so it'll be interesting to see who becomes the 3rd and 4th backs. Geil will probably end up burning the shirt and then is Kyshaun Bryan or Cam Harrell. I'm not real excited about our depth after Young and IKM right now.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Sounds like we won't be bringing in a grad transfer RB, so it'll be interesting to see who becomes the 3rd and 4th backs. Geil will probably end up burning the shirt and then is Kyshaun Bryan or Cam Harrell. I'm not real excited about our depth after Young and IKM right now.

We didn't know what to expect behind Wadley or Butler last year .... but then both Toren and Ivory demonstrated that they were capable of being more than competent. Geil ended up getting an offer from Michigan State .... and I think that Iowa and Michigan State are typically pretty decent at evaluating guys at RB.

 

[wcbtee]

Love our potential at RB this year, hopefully they can stay healthy because we are dangerously thin in ‘18.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

I'm hoping by talking about it there is never an issue but I REALLY worry about the interior of the O-line this year. James D made things happen I dont think we have really appreciated yet. I think naturally Stanley will be better and quicker with his reads but I worry some of that will be out of necessity resulting in an overall push. I know you guys are bullish on the RB's but color be skeptical. I cannot take anything done against a vastly outmatched NTexas, in the 2nd half, or an already submitted NE serious. I imagine they both have a ton of potential but to.label them anything other than unproven seems unrealistic. I am however extremely bullish on the passing attack.

 

[Harbinger273]

I'm hoping by talking about it there is never an issue but I REALLY worry about the interior of the O-line this year. James D made things happen I dont think we have really appreciated yet. I think naturally Stanley will be better and quicker with his reads but I worry some of that will be out of necessity resulting in an overall push. I know you guys are bullish on the RB's but color be skeptical. I cannot take anything done against a vastly outmatched NTexas, in the 2nd half, or an already submitted NE serious. I imagine they both have a ton of potential but to.label them anything other than unproven seems unrealistic. I am however extremely bullish on the passing attack.

The RB's will depend on the ability of the OL to get them on their way down field so we will have to see. Interior OL is a concern and it may be a big one. Their ability on the interior will also effect the passing game. Can't have Stan getting roughed up by DT's and stunting DE's but could be an issue as well. We'll have to see how it works out. Dangerously thin at RB is why I want to take 3 in Swarm19, even though I realize its not likely. I'm not convinced Cam Harrell or Bryan really provide depth at this point.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

The RB's will depend on the ability of the OL to get them on their way down field so we will have to see. Interior OL is a concern and it may be a big one. Their ability on the interior will also effect the passing game. Can't have Stan getting roughed up by DT's and stunting DE's but could be an issue as well. We'll have to see how it works out. Dangerously thin at RB is why I want to take 3 in Swarm19, even though I realize its not likely. I'm not convinced Cam Harrell or Bryan really provide depth at this point.

I suppose we have to be willing to be critical about some things. Frankly, I'm more concerns about the young guys at OT than I am about the veterans on the interior. Wirfs and Jackson may have high end talent - however, they haven't been executing from within our blocking schemes for that long. In contrast, on the interior line we have Render and Reynolds ... one who is a multi-year starter and the other who played starter-quality reps last year ... both of whom are 5th year seniors. Furthermore, we have Levi Paulsen, who is a 4th year Junior ... a guy who has seen several career starts AND has been a regular backup for 2 years now.

In addition to the above, we have 2 younger guys who the coaches are very high on ... Banwart and Kallenberger. Banwart has seen some quality game-reps ... and Kallenberger is clearly a guy who is "in the plans." Probably not unlike Riley Reiff, Kallenberger might be highly regarded enough to earn high-quality reps on the interior before he ultimately slides to the outside at OT (which is arguably his "natural" position). Also, unless Kirk and Polasek are lying ... word has it that Landan Paulsen has been making developmental strides too. If he's a guy who can help supply us quality depth on the interior - then that is huge!

Anyhow, I won't dispute that compared to last year we're potentially seeing a slight downgrade on the interior OL ... but that should be compensated for by gains made by the unit as a whole (all the guys playing are more experienced than they were last year ... and presumably better as a result as well).

I'm always worried about the OL ... particularly in the preseason when guys are reported to be injured. Going into '17, I was really bothered because it was clear that Myers was compromised in terms of health ... and even Daniels was entering the season dinged.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

If either Pualsen can make it through a season without getting injured I'll eat my shoe.

 

[HuskerBaby2005]

I suppose we have to be willing to be critical about some things. Frankly, I'm more concerns about the young guys at OT than I am about the veterans on the interior. Wirfs and Jackson may have high end talent - however, they haven't been executing from within our blocking schemes for that long. In contrast, on the interior line we have Render and Reynolds ... one who is a multi-year starter and the other who played starter-quality reps last year ... both of whom are 5th year seniors. Furthermore, we have Levi Paulsen, who is a 4th year Junior ... a guy who has seen several career starts AND has been a regular backup for 2 years now.

I went back and watched all the games this off-season, paying particularly close attention to line play. Jackson and Wirfs had some slight growing pains at the beginning of the season, but they would also maul people at times. I thought Wirfs looked a bit better and more consistent than Jackson, but Jackson got 1st team Freshman all American so what do I know. One more year in the system and they will be rock solid, barring injury.

One thing I did notice was that 9 times out of 10, if a play is blown up at or behind the line of scrimmage, it was Render's fault. He would often get beat physically, and also made quite a few mistakes leading to missed blocks. If he was truly the best of the remaining interior line after Daniels and Welsh, then we're in for one of the worst offensive line performances in the Ferentz era, even with elite NFL tackles.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I went back and watched all the games this off-season, paying particularly close attention to line play. Jackson and Wirfs had some slight growing pains at the beginning of the season, but they would also maul people at times. I thought Wirfs looked a bit better and more consistent than Jackson, but Jackson got 1st team Freshman all American so what do I know. One more year in the system and they will be rock solid, barring injury.

One thing I did notice was that 9 times out of 10, if a play is blown up at or behind the line of scrimmage, it was Render's fault. He would often get beat physically, and also made quite a few mistakes leading to missed blocks. If he was truly the best of the remaining interior line after Daniels and Welsh, then we're in for one of the worst offensive line performances in the Ferentz era, even with elite NFL tackles.

We'll have to see how things play out. There were times when I though Render was the one who made the mistake ... but then I had to correct myself because the guy who was in was 59 instead of 69. Furthermore, I noticed plenty of issues where there were issues with communication - when guys were passing off blocks. I know on a few occasions I saw that happen with exchanges between Daniels and Welsh and also between Daniels and Render.

You have to remember that going into the season, we were trying to prep the OL to have Myers be our guy who was in playing at OG. Ultimately, the decision was made that his play wasn't good enough on a dinged ankle to keep him in. Consequently, I wouldn't be shocked if part of the "issue" we may have seen with Render is that he was considered our auxiliary O-lineman ... and he would get placed as the next man in ANYWHERE on the interior OL. I'm just spit-balling here .... but perhaps with Render ONLY working at C ... maybe that will help him to become an "expert" at least at one spot (rather than being a master of none). Besides guys really tend to improve as they gain more experience. Furthermore, our O-linemen, when healthy tend to play their best ball as SRs. Hopefully this is the case with Render.