Two Deeps/Game Notes for Iowa vs. Northwestern

[Blair Sanderson]

Linked below.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/hawkeyesports.com/documents/2017/10/16/Notes07_at_Northwestern.pdf

OFFENSE
SE - Matt VandeBerg, Brandon Smith
TE - Noah Fant, Nate Wieting
LT - Alaric Jackson, Boone Myers
LG - Keegan Render, Ross Reynolds
C - James Daniels, Cole Banwart
RG - Sean Welsh, Levi Paulsen
RT - Tristan Wirfs, Levi Paulsen
TE - T.J. Hockenson, Peter Pekar
WR - Nick Easley, Ihmir Smith-Marsette
QB - Nate Stanley, Tyler Wiegers
FB - Drake Kulick, Brady Ross
RB - Akrum Wadley, Toren Young/Ivory Kelly-Martin

DEFENSE
LE - Anthony Nelson, Sam Brincks
LT - Cedrick Lattimore, Brady Reiff
RT - Nathan Bazata, Matt Nelson
RE - Parker Hesse, A.J. Epenesa
OLB - Ben Niemann, Kevin Ward
MLB - Josey Jewell, Kristian Welch
WLB - Bo Bower, Aaron Mends
LC - Josh Jackson, Matt Hankins
RC - Michael Ojemudia, Manny Rugamba
SS - Miles Taylor/Amani Hooker, Jake Gervase
FS - Brandon Snyder, Amani Hooker

SPECIAL TEAMS
K - Miguel Recinos, Keith Duncan
P - Ryan Gersonde, Colten Rastetter
LS - Tyler Kluver, Jackson Subbert
H - Colten Rastetter, Ryan Gersonde
PR - Josh Jackson, Matt VandeBerg
KR - Ivory Kelly-Martin, Akrum Wadley

 

[Muskie5]

It looks like Boone hasn't healed yet or they don't anticipate him to. I wonder if this is one of those injuries that will nag him the whole year. The dreaded 'high ankle sprain'?

 

[hawkandroll]

SS - Miles Taylor/Amani Hooker, Jake Gervase
FS - Brandon Snyder, Amani Hooker

I wish this said:

SS - Amani Hooker, Brandon Snyder
FS - Brandon Snyder, Amani Hooker

 

[hknation]

Link: https://www.landof10.com/iowa/iowa-depth-chart-amani-hooker-miles-taylor-still-competing-strong-safety

 

[Gonzo Bloor]

JFC. So basically Hooker needs to bite on the play action more often and get burned deep the way Taylor has in order to win that position?

So stupid that this is even a question. Taylor has no business starting over Hooker.

Talent > Seniority. Please?

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

JFC. So basically Hooker needs to bite on the play action more often and get burned deep the way Taylor has in order to win that position?

So stupid that this is even a question. Taylor has no business starting over Hooker.

Talent > Seniority. Please?

Both played snaps against Illinois ... if I recall correctly, I believe Hooker played more snaps. Regardless of what anybody thinks or worries about - both will play against Northwestern. Anybody lamenting about Hooker not playing enough is complaining about a non-issue.

 

[Gonzo Bloor]

Both played snaps against Illinois ... if I recall correctly, I believe Hooker played more snaps. Regardless of what anybody thinks or worries about - both will play against Northwestern. Anybody lamenting about Hooker not playing enough is complaining about a non-issue.

I'm lamenting over Taylor playing at all.

 

[bojihawk44]

I'm lamenting over Taylor playing at all.

Same here. I think he's clearly been outplayed by Hooker.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I'm lamenting over Taylor playing at all.

DBs have to run a lot. Most programs have guys rotate to some extent. I don't think that it is a bad thing to help keep Hooker fresh.

In terms of team morale, I don't think that the coaches can afford to kick a team-guy like Taylor to the side of the road. The mantra of the Hawks is about the team over the individual ... Taylor has been taking his reduced role with grace.

Also, folks fail to recognize that while Taylor has his issues ... he also gives us plenty of quality snaps too. In his reduced role - hopefully we benefit from the quality reps ... and then he's not playing enough to give us the bad.

 

[DodgerHawki]

JFC. So basically Hooker needs to bite on the play action more often and get burned deep the way Taylor has in order to win that position?

So stupid that this is even a question. Taylor has no business starting over Hooker.

Talent > Seniority. Please?

Watch what happens in the game, not what some depth chart says. I would be shocked (barring injury) if Hooker doesn't play the vast majority of safety snaps. Parker said as much in his bye week assessment saying that Snyder and Hooker were the guys going forward.

The whole roster is littered with places where the older guy isn't playing just because they are older. Receivers ISM, B Smith, Cooper are all ahead of Falconer and D Young. Wirfs and Jackson are starting tackles ahead of lots of older guys. Hockenson and Fant are playing vast majority of TE snaps when Iowa had Pekar play most of the snaps last year. Ivory Kelly Martin and Toren Young are ahead of Akinribade and Joly. Stanley is ahead of Wiegers.

Taylor is a 2.5 year starter, so replacing guys like that isn't as easy as just tossing them to the side. These are real people and team dynamics we are dealing with. It could easily be a nod to Taylor to show him some respect by leaving him on the OR line. But what really matters is who plays in the game.

 

[SLarew]

Obviously Gonzo hasn't been an Iowa fan long if he is reacting to 2-deeps. Hooker is still learning the position but he will play plenty. Taylor will play too in situations. Phil Parker knows what he is doing

 

[OutbackBowl2017]

Taylor will get burnt early then Hooker will come in and Taylor will sit. Let it play out.

 

[anon_2zMXH429BhxV1Npk]

Taylor will get burnt early then Hooker will come in and Taylor will sit. Let it play out.

The problem I see, at least in my opinion, is this is more likely to happen than not. And the concern is hopefully Taylor getting burned does not hurt us overall in the game. We've seen through 2.5 conference games that Iowa likely isn't going to be involved in and win many shootouts, so points (as always with most Iowa teams) should be taken at a premium. Giving up a long play/touchdown or two could change the game for Iowa at the expense of giving Taylor his shot.

 

[hexumhawk]

Taylor has been a great run stopper in previous years but he has even been a liability in that realm this year. He has always been a sub average coverage safety but that is usually the case with most of our people in that spot.

 

[kceasthawk]

Watch what happens in the game, not what some depth chart says. I would be shocked (barring injury) if Hooker doesn't play the vast majority of safety snaps. Parker said as much in his bye week assessment saying that Snyder and Hooker were the guys going forward.

The whole roster is littered with places where the older guy isn't playing just because they are older. Receivers ISM, B Smith, Cooper are all ahead of Falconer and D Young. Wirfs and Jackson are starting tackles ahead of lots of older guys. Hockenson and Fant are playing vast majority of TE snaps when Iowa had Pekar play most of the snaps last year. Ivory Kelly Martin and Toren Young are ahead of Akinribade and Joly. Stanley is ahead of Wiegers.

Taylor is a 2.5 year starter, so replacing guys like that isn't as easy as just tossing them to the side. These are real people and team dynamics we are dealing with. It could easily be a nod to Taylor to show him some respect by leaving him on the OR line. But what really matters is who plays in the game.

Couldn't have been stated any better. Its amazing their are still people complaining that this staff favors seniority,(union card), over talent, when that isn't remotely whats actually going on.

 

[jloop]

Taylor should not play. Look back when he got hurt and Gair came in and took better angles and wrapped up tacklers. Taylor doesn't wrap up, goes for the big hit and is always out of position which leads to taking poor angles on plays.