Since Brian took over as our run-game coordinator (2013), Iowa's rushing O has been at its most consistent EVER during Kirk's entire tenure as head coach. Maybe some credit here is due to Greg Davis - I'm not certain. However, I do know that when Greg was in charge of running game, Iowa's average number of rushing yards per game was 50 ypg lower than it was with Brian as run-game coordinator.
However, as Iowa fans are acutely aware, Iowa's passing game has been the biggest issue since Greg took over. With Greg at the helm, Iowa's passing O has managed to average over 200 ypg only twice in a span of 5 years. Thus, only 40% of the seasons under Greg would we get 200 ypg or higher. In contrast, 76.9% of seasons under O'Keefe, the Hawks would average 200 ypg or higher. What is the implication here? Perhaps O'Keefe's system in the passing game is easier for WRs to understand? Perhaps the reads are easier for the QB?
So, my question is this ... with O'Keefe mentoring Brian in the passing game AND with Brian still at the helm of the running game ... are we going to see the "best of both worlds?" Or is there a caveat? Maybe Greg's passing game sucked at Iowa ... but it at least opened up the running game? I don't really buy it ... but it is a possibility. Similarly, maybe O'Keefe's passing game is good at Iowa ... but maybe it makes it easier to defend Iowa's running game? Again, I don't really buy that scenario either - we've seen plenty of evidence with O'Keefe offenses where the running game could be perfectly proficient (although it certainly seemed to be personnel-dependent).
Here is what I do know about O'Keefe passing games ... even in Kirk's first year in '99 ... the Hawk passing game still managed to average 206.8 ypg. That suggests that O'Keefe's passing game can be installed rather quickly. Iowa's worst passing year under O'Keefe was the '03 season ... and that year the WR personnel was comparable to the '16 WR personnel, the TEs may even have been weaker (in the receiving game), AND O'Keefe also had Nathan Chandler as a first-year starter! The '03 injury to Mo Brown was a close analog to the '16 injury to Matt VandeBerg. All the same, the '03 passing O still averaged 8 yards per game MORE than the '16 passing O!
In addition, there is other "NEW BLOOD" on the coaching staff for the Hawks on the offensive side of the ball. Kelton, the WR coach, is a protege of Jerry Kill ... an offensive-minded guy. Kelton was a QB as a player - and a mobile QB who set school records for rushing yards. Tim, the OL coach, was an OC for two years at NDSU and was also a passing-game coordinator for a time while at Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Tim also was a QB as a player - a prolific passing QB who set school records in several categories. Knowing how Kirk runs the program - he gives his assistant coaches great freedom - and they all get input into what Iowa does. The point here being that the "NEW BLOOD" could help influence Brian and impact the finished product that we see on the field. Heck, even O'Keefe, with his experiences with the Dolphins ... he's an old dog who's presumably learned some new tricks. Thus, the passing O likely won't be O'Keefe version 2.0.
While the '17 season necessarily will be a "transition year" for the passing game - and with it will come the usual problems associated with "transition years," there is also the advantage that opposing Ds will need new film in order to adapt to whatever might be Iowa's new tendencies. While I am tempering my expectations ... I still believe that in the longer-term things are looking brighter for the Iowa O!
However, as Iowa fans are acutely aware, Iowa's passing game has been the biggest issue since Greg took over. With Greg at the helm, Iowa's passing O has managed to average over 200 ypg only twice in a span of 5 years. Thus, only 40% of the seasons under Greg would we get 200 ypg or higher. In contrast, 76.9% of seasons under O'Keefe, the Hawks would average 200 ypg or higher. What is the implication here? Perhaps O'Keefe's system in the passing game is easier for WRs to understand? Perhaps the reads are easier for the QB?
So, my question is this ... with O'Keefe mentoring Brian in the passing game AND with Brian still at the helm of the running game ... are we going to see the "best of both worlds?" Or is there a caveat? Maybe Greg's passing game sucked at Iowa ... but it at least opened up the running game? I don't really buy it ... but it is a possibility. Similarly, maybe O'Keefe's passing game is good at Iowa ... but maybe it makes it easier to defend Iowa's running game? Again, I don't really buy that scenario either - we've seen plenty of evidence with O'Keefe offenses where the running game could be perfectly proficient (although it certainly seemed to be personnel-dependent).
Here is what I do know about O'Keefe passing games ... even in Kirk's first year in '99 ... the Hawk passing game still managed to average 206.8 ypg. That suggests that O'Keefe's passing game can be installed rather quickly. Iowa's worst passing year under O'Keefe was the '03 season ... and that year the WR personnel was comparable to the '16 WR personnel, the TEs may even have been weaker (in the receiving game), AND O'Keefe also had Nathan Chandler as a first-year starter! The '03 injury to Mo Brown was a close analog to the '16 injury to Matt VandeBerg. All the same, the '03 passing O still averaged 8 yards per game MORE than the '16 passing O!
In addition, there is other "NEW BLOOD" on the coaching staff for the Hawks on the offensive side of the ball. Kelton, the WR coach, is a protege of Jerry Kill ... an offensive-minded guy. Kelton was a QB as a player - and a mobile QB who set school records for rushing yards. Tim, the OL coach, was an OC for two years at NDSU and was also a passing-game coordinator for a time while at Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Tim also was a QB as a player - a prolific passing QB who set school records in several categories. Knowing how Kirk runs the program - he gives his assistant coaches great freedom - and they all get input into what Iowa does. The point here being that the "NEW BLOOD" could help influence Brian and impact the finished product that we see on the field. Heck, even O'Keefe, with his experiences with the Dolphins ... he's an old dog who's presumably learned some new tricks. Thus, the passing O likely won't be O'Keefe version 2.0.
While the '17 season necessarily will be a "transition year" for the passing game - and with it will come the usual problems associated with "transition years," there is also the advantage that opposing Ds will need new film in order to adapt to whatever might be Iowa's new tendencies. While I am tempering my expectations ... I still believe that in the longer-term things are looking brighter for the Iowa O!
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