The Biggest Thing Iowa is Missing...
- Thread starter HawK + i
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Missing 4 star players.... a big difference in games against top 10 teams... big difference.
Nothing against Meier as he plays with heart and Hesse is just too young but I think DE was a major weakness. I'm not sure how many B1G teams they would start on. I'm optimistic that Hesse will develop into a good player.
One of the things about weak recruiting means you have to go into your developmental depth before players are ready.
I also thought our OT play was pretty poor all year long. They were ok in the run game but consistently beat in pass blocking.
One of the things about weak recruiting means you have to go into your developmental depth before players are ready.
I also thought our OT play was pretty poor all year long. They were ok in the run game but consistently beat in pass blocking.
Missing? A damn game plan for the special challenges Stanford presents.
After the first play from scrimmage it was obvious we had not game planned to stop McCaffrey. How could this be?
On offense we had no answer to their defensive speed
What was our game plan? Wing it and see what happens?
After the first play from scrimmage it was obvious we had not game planned to stop McCaffrey. How could this be?
On offense we had no answer to their defensive speed
What was our game plan? Wing it and see what happens?
I'd say it's some WRs with a little speed. That's been the most consistent recruiting failure going back ten years or so. Any time we play top shelf competition, it's like pulling teeth getting guys open. Sure, we've gotten the ol' dependable guys who can make a catch, or a guy who can run but not catch, but not both. Our OL has to hold blocks longer, and unless you've got studs, we see how that's worked out.
SPEED! That is and has always been the Achilles heal of Iowa. We have far inferior speed and talent compared to other big name programs. To compete year after year, Iowa needs to recruit better.
Iowa has some glaring weaknesses against elite teams. Team speed has been a problem and always will be with the kids Iowa recruits. Skill position players seldom play at schools not considered "helmet" schools.
I agree the tackling was atrocious. In some ways it resembled the game against Tennessee. Stanford simply had too much offense for us The killer was the pick 6. I wasn't resigned to a loss before that play.
I agree the tackling was atrocious. In some ways it resembled the game against Tennessee. Stanford simply had too much offense for us The killer was the pick 6. I wasn't resigned to a loss before that play.
Stanford line is huge and they gashed us all day. FWIW, McCaffrey was the best I have seen in some time. The young man has elite speed, great vision, can start and stop on a dime, great hands. He juked at least a dozen Hawks out of their jocks today.
We got to see who should have won the Heisman. He can do it all.
It has been a long season, hate to say it but I am footballed out for awhile.
We got to see who should have won the Heisman. He can do it all.
It has been a long season, hate to say it but I am footballed out for awhile.
When we had Bob Sanders, we had a guy that ran 4.4 and could run down guys. We haven't had speed at safety for awhile now.
However, the DL is the key...if you have 4 athletic huge guys like Alabama, they are unblockable. The guys we have are easily blocked. A Drew Ott would help,but he has never shown elite speed. There has been zero pass rush from the front 4 ever since Daniels graduated. In past Iowa had stout Dlines, but we have whiffed for awhile now. We haven't really had a dominant, sacking, TFL DL since 2009.
Hesse is a skilled guy, but not an elite speed guy. Meiers was hurt and hasn't made plays since he was hurt this season. Those holes McCaffery ran through were huge..you can make guys miss in space if you have space. Not sold that McCaffery is elite. That Stanford OL mauled Iowa.
sure Iowa can be proud of season, but getting whooped kind of says our soft schedule made us, not our ability.
Offensive line hold blocks longer? Hell, as much as I think this group has potential, they didn't get to blocks most of the time. 4 out of 5 guys made their assignment on most plays. The 5th guys assignment then proceeded to destroy our RBs and QB. They played a piss poor game, particularly in pass pro. This is the result of many injuries and never getting a chance to become a cohesive unit during the season. They will be improved next year. Hopefully injuries stay away and we'll see a rock to build on.
The receivers are slow. Vandeberg is a great slot. Sure hands, great routes. What he needs is a legitimate deep threat to compliment what he can do 7-15 yards down the field. Then Iowa could stretch the field vertically and horizontally. Because Iowa can't stretch the field vertically the safeties are able to sit over the top on the middle of the field and provide help to the linebacker in zone or nickel backs in man to man.
DE is pretty weak. Drew Ott was on schedule to have a big year, and his injury caused some huge problems. He was good enough that teams were going to have to double team him to stop him, which meant that the others were going to get one on one match ups. I don't think Meier, Buzata, or Johnson were the types that would light up their guy all game long, every game. But I think if they are always in a one on one because Ott gets the double, they were good enough to beat there guy a few times per game and, at the very least, force a quicker throw than normal. Take those odds and multiply by three and I think Iowa would have found pressure from other places than just Drew Ott.
The receivers are slow. Vandeberg is a great slot. Sure hands, great routes. What he needs is a legitimate deep threat to compliment what he can do 7-15 yards down the field. Then Iowa could stretch the field vertically and horizontally. Because Iowa can't stretch the field vertically the safeties are able to sit over the top on the middle of the field and provide help to the linebacker in zone or nickel backs in man to man.
DE is pretty weak. Drew Ott was on schedule to have a big year, and his injury caused some huge problems. He was good enough that teams were going to have to double team him to stop him, which meant that the others were going to get one on one match ups. I don't think Meier, Buzata, or Johnson were the types that would light up their guy all game long, every game. But I think if they are always in a one on one because Ott gets the double, they were good enough to beat there guy a few times per game and, at the very least, force a quicker throw than normal. Take those odds and multiply by three and I think Iowa would have found pressure from other places than just Drew Ott.
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