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Wadley Decline

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Nihilist Rodgers

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May 29, 2001
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expected more from him this year.. he is looking like a 5th-6th rounder.. is the OL too out of sync?

He is a great WR for a RB.. but it's almost like he is becoming less of a RB each week. His primary weakness would be between the tackles.. like the Maryland guys he can hit a crease, but gets bottled up pretty easy in traffic. Is he returning KO's/Punts??

Who is the next bell cow on the roster.. as good as Wadley is in the open field, he doesn't have the overall toughness that I'm used to seeing out of Iowa RB's. Is he stealing snaps from a kid who can give you 4.7-4.9 yards a carry in the base offense? Some of the Hawk falloff is that there haven't been any Shonn Greene's around lately. The Whisky frosh would is the type of kid I'm used to seeing at Iowa when you guys are good. I really noticed this last year vs Penn State, he really wasn't up to it between the tackles and the PSU front 7 was pretty average last year.
 
They are trying to run up the middle into 9 man fronts out of clear power run formations, where the entire defense is coming forward expecting run. Heck many times, even the FS is only playing 6-7 yards off the los. No one would have much success running the ball and gaining yards, but especially a scat back like Wadley, trying to be a power back.

That’s on the coaches, not him. You have to hit TE’s over the top of the LB’s to keep them on their heels and change the formations from which you run out of, such as running out of the spread, to spread the defense out and give a back like Wadley some wiggle room, and move him to the slot on occasion, with Young or IKM as the back, more play action out of the power set, and more screens, etc. etc. Instead we are very predictable, in trying to ram it up the gut play after play, series after series.
 
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IAHWKGUY said:
They are trying to run up the middle into 9 man fronts out of clear power run formations, where the entire defense is coming forward expecting run. Heck many times, even the FS is only playing 6-7 yards off the los. No one would have much success running the ball and gaining yards, but especially a scat back like Wadley, trying to be a power back.

That’s on the coaches, not him. You have to hit TE’s over the top of the LB’s to keep them on their heels and change the formations from which you run out of, such as running out of the spread, to spread the defense out and give a back like Wadley some wiggle room, and move him to the slot on occasion, with Young or IKM as the back, more play action out of the power set, and more screens, etc. etc. Instead we are very predictable, in trying to ram it up the gut play after play, series after series.
Click to expand...
Careful don't say the coaches don't know what their doing or you'll be called an idiot yourself.
 
sg out west said:
expected more from him this year.. he is looking like a 5th-6th rounder.. is the OL too out of sync?

He is a great WR for a RB.. but it's almost like he is becoming less of a RB each week. His primary weakness would be between the tackles.. like the Maryland guys he can hit a crease, but gets bottled up pretty easy in traffic. Is he returning KO's/Punts??

Who is the next bell cow on the roster.. as good as Wadley is in the open field, he doesn't have the overall toughness that I'm used to seeing out of Iowa RB's. Is he stealing snaps from a kid who can give you 4.7-4.9 yards a carry in the base offense? Some of the Hawk falloff is that there haven't been any Shonn Greene's around lately. The Whisky frosh would is the type of kid I'm used to seeing at Iowa when you guys are good. I really noticed this last year vs Penn State, he really wasn't up to it between the tackles and the PSU front 7 was pretty average last year.
Click to expand...

The combination of these pieces show you aren't actually watching. You say he is looking like a 5th or 6th rounder but then ask questions that are obvious even to the casual viewer. He has been hit behind the line of scrimmage way more often than he should be. I think unless the line can start giving more room, Ferentz will have to continue to call more draws and counters like what worked against Penn State and Michigan St, because just beating up on the DL and LB straight up isnt working this year.
 
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Wadley needs a set up guy like Daniels was last year. Wadley's explosion is amplified later in games when legs are tired. I was hoping that Butler would start games giving Wadley rest and patience to rip up the D later in the game
 
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Wadley is not a "bell cow." That, and the lack of a consistent downfield pass attack, are your culprits. Wadley isn't any less talented than before.
 
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sg out west said:
expected more from him this year.. he is looking like a 5th-6th rounder.. is the OL too out of sync?

He is a great WR for a RB.. but it's almost like he is becoming less of a RB each week. His primary weakness would be between the tackles.. like the Maryland guys he can hit a crease, but gets bottled up pretty easy in traffic. Is he returning KO's/Punts??

Who is the next bell cow on the roster.. as good as Wadley is in the open field, he doesn't have the overall toughness that I'm used to seeing out of Iowa RB's. Is he stealing snaps from a kid who can give you 4.7-4.9 yards a carry in the base offense? Some of the Hawk falloff is that there haven't been any Shonn Greene's around lately. The Whisky frosh would is the type of kid I'm used to seeing at Iowa when you guys are good. I really noticed this last year vs Penn State, he really wasn't up to it between the tackles and the PSU front 7 was pretty average last year.
Click to expand...
LOL. WTF
 
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Hawkfan5220 said:
I don't know what games you are watching, but Wadley isn't the problem for the decline in the running game.
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I wonder if people watch games sometimes. His average per carry is way down, but my goodness it's not on him. The two 5th-year senior tackles have barely played. That as much as anything is the reason for Wadley's drop in yards per carry. If the line can just get him to LOS without being buried, he's a very good back.
 
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David1979 said:
Wadley isn't the problem. He is gitting hit in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage too often because of bad blocking.
Click to expand...

Agree. The O-Line has been a revolving door this year due to injuries. Let's hope the bye week gave them some extra opportunity to come together with the current crew.
 
It is a combination of terrible offensive line play and the coaches not using Wadley in ways that take advantage of his skill set vs. the defensive alignments they are facing.
 
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Personel and play calling...Wadley is not the type of back you send between the tackles with a stacked box on every 1st down. Iowa needs the pass to set up the run again this year...even just flat passes that gain 2 or 3 yards would help as the game winds on. Get those safties to back off or spread out more...
 
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Wadley is a victim of the lack of pass offense consistently distracting/misdirecting the D. If the opposing D can stack the box regularly, how does he have room to operate? Couple that with an o-line that has not come together well run blocking and a run attack that is more suited to a battering ram than a scatter back and this is what you get.

As far as NFL draft status, seems likely he would have been a late 3rd rounder to 4th rounder at best in any event.
 
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Wadley is one of the few play makers on offense. Having to make cuts behind the line of scrimmage is not his fault.

I think he plays on Sunday's in a role like Dave Meggett or Darren Sproles. Just don't see him as an every down back.
 
It would be nice if he had better yds per carry but opposing defenses have stacked the box and sold out to stop the run. Look at Wadley's receiving stats. He'll likely surpass his 2016 total within two more games.

Either your expectations were too unrealistic or you aren't looking at the full picture. Wadley should be in the top 3 in the league for all purpose yards.
 
so.. some call me an idiot.. no problem.. from reading here
1) he is not a between the tackles every down RB in the classic Iowa sense.. my original thought
2) lack of vertical passing game has turned the LOS into the I-405 South

My point.. Wadley is a great player, but change of pace.. I feel the lack of set up man (as mentioned above) is limiting his effectiveness as a ball carrier.

As far as the Iowa O it seem the QB is not trusted on 3rd and 7+. Makes defending the team much easier. I think your QB will be OK eventually, prior to the PSU game some were call him Iowa's greatest potential QB ever LOL.. he'll be OK, but I doubt he exits the best for Hawkeye QB, at least no to fans over 16 years old. I was pretty disappointed in the MSU game, as suspected your D was gassed from PSU the week before, while your well-rested Offense never woke up. Wish you guys played Michigan this year, I think you would beat them again.

NW will be a game that I watch. NW will shut down your run game, and make you beat them over the top (their Corners are not the most athletic bunch.. like many 2nd tier BIG teams they run fast in a straight line, but fall apart when they have to flip their hips.) I'm just not sure you guys have enough O.. I would say 31-24 NW at this point. Your best bet is to dump the ball off to Wadley in the 2nd level.. he'll feast on their back 4.
 
IAHWKGUY said:
They are trying to run up the middle into 9 man fronts out of clear power run formations, where the entire defense is coming forward expecting run. Heck many times, even the FS is only playing 6-7 yards off the los. No one would have much success running the ball and gaining yards, but especially a scat back like Wadley, trying to be a power back.

That’s on the coaches, not him. You have to hit TE’s over the top of the LB’s to keep them on their heels and change the formations from which you run out of, such as running out of the spread, to spread the defense out and give a back like Wadley some wiggle room, and move him to the slot on occasion, with Young or IKM as the back, more play action out of the power set, and more screens, etc. etc. Instead we are very predictable, in trying to ram it up the gut play after play, series after series.
Click to expand...
If a team has a '9 man front', lol, how can they have a FS? Are they playing without corners? When we use 2 tight ends or a FB we are seeing 8 'in the box' at times, but we have never seen a '9 man front', lol, except on extra points and FG's. Teams are just 'sending' people from different spots and our O-line is not doing a very good job of picking it up and not executing and getting off combo blocks fast enough. Wadley also has been impatient lately and missing cut backs. I think Iowa should run more of their power and gap scheme at some of these D's because teams are using smaller, faster players who can move laterally. How do you beat speed? You run right at and over it.
 
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MitchL said:
At least they are weeding out the less talented upper classmen and starting the guys that have a higher ceiling.
Click to expand...

I personally don’t even think it’s the Oline. It’s mostly play calling in my mind. I don’t care who you are, good luck running against a team who is playing against the run, with LB’s who are thinking run, out of formations that scream run, and the defense is stacking 9 men in the box, sometimes 5 on the line (strong safety cheating up to los) with 3 LB’s only 2-3 yds off the ball, the Corners playing up on their receivers on their inside, and the FS only 5-6 yds deep off the los.

5 lineman and a TE can’t block the entire defense. And that is especially true early in games when the defense is 100% fresh, and our OL hasn’t worn them down at all. Then things snowball if not much success early. We are a possession team, if we have multiple three and outs, or at a minimal short drives, the defense remains fresh, and our big OL and run game dosnt have a chance to wear the defense down.
 
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Muskie5 said:
If a team has a '9 man front', lol, how can they have a FS? Are they playing without corners? When we use 2 tight ends or a FB we are seeing 8 'in the box' at times, but we have never seen a '9 man front', lol, except on extra points and FG's. Teams are just 'sending' people from different spots and our O-line is not doing a very good job of picking it up and not executing and getting off combo blocks fast enough. Wadley also has been impatient lately and missing cut backs. I think Iowa should run more of their power and gap scheme at some of these D's because teams are using smaller, faster players who can move laterally. How do you beat speed? You run right at and over it.
Click to expand...

Lol, seriously, you do realize that front is a term not specifically used to refer to the down linemen on the los of scrimmage only right, but more similar in terminology to in the box. In fact I used front here, and in the box in a separate post, really referring to the same thing. I referred to 9 which as you not is more on the extreme end, as could have two TE’s and a FB. So only one split end, so other corner is cheating into the line, or, FS is cheating up so far that he would be considered in the box. But probably more commonly 8.

Sorry terminology wasn’t clear enough, but you clearly knew what I meant, so not sure why the big rant about it.

https://joedanielfootball.com/50fronts/
 
I think the problem is that Iowa has been good in the past at running against 8 man fronts, when the line is at full strength and healthy. But when you have a RS Freshman at LT and a true Freshman starting at the RT, your going to have blocking growing pains. The play calling is some of it, but it's the make shift line that is causing the problems. The coaches need to throw more to set up the run. I would dump a lot more passes off to Wadley where he sneaks through the line and breaks towards a sideline, LB's cannot stay with him on those routes. I think eventually Stanley will get dialed in on the deep passes to Fant, at least that is my hope, it would sure take a ton of pressure off the run game. Do they get Butler back this week? That, and use Toren more up the gut will save Wadley's legs for the second half. I think if they used this bye week wisely, Northwestern will have there hands full.
 
IAHWKGUY said:
I personally don’t even think it’s the Oline. It’s mostly play calling in my mind. I don’t care who you are, good luck running against a team who is playing against the run, with LB’s who are thinking run, out of formations that scream run, and the defense is stacking 9 men in the box, sometimes 5 on the line (strong safety cheating up to los) with 3 LB’s only 2-3 yds off the ball, the Corners playing up on their receivers on their inside, and the FS only 5-6 yds deep off the los.

5 lineman and a TE can’t block the entire defense. And that is especially true early in games when the defense is 100% fresh, and our OL hasn’t worn them down at all. Then things snowball if not much success early. We are a possession team, if we have multiple three and outs, or at a minimal short drives, the defense remains fresh, and our big OL and run game dosnt have a chance to wear the defense down.
Click to expand...

Well then you would be wrong unless you mean it is the oline and the TE's.
 
no the problem is to many posters acting like they know everything and yet they don't know anything
2016 thru 13 games he gained 1396 total yards
2017 thru 6 games he has gained 741 total yards Wadley is on pace to surpass what he had in 13 games in 12 games
against the #4 team in the country at the time gained 155 total yards, against Illinois Wadley recorded his 3rd 100+ rushing game on the season.
in 13 games Iowa rushed for 2234 yards in 13 game and Iowa had a pair of 1000+ yard rushers
thru 6 games Iowa has rushed for 832 yards with the #2 rusher out for the season because of a elbow injury, with a 2nd SR RB out and relying on a RSFR and True FR to many have these have these over bloated expectations

Stanley thru 6 games is avg'ing 215 ypg which puts him on pace for 2580 yards thru 12 games.. check the record book Stanley is on pace to do more as a 1ST year SO QB than most of the rest. if Iowa plays a 13th game he might end up with 2795 yards passing

some of you need to reevaluate what you are either Demanding or expecting.
 
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myteamcanbeatupyourteam said:
Well. If you actually think coaches don't actually know what they are doing, you just might be an idiot.
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I don't think our coaches are idiots BUT I do think our coaches are stubborn as hell sometimes and continue trying the same thing over and over again even though it doesn't work.

But, I've heard that somewhere before. "Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result". What do they say that is?
 
nitewing said:
no the problem is to many posters acting like they know everything and yet they don't know anything
2016 thru 13 games he gained 1396 total yards
2017 thru 6 games he has gained 741 total yards Wadley is on pace to surpass what he had in 13 games in 12 games
against the #4 team in the country at the time gained 155 total yards, against Illinois Wadley recorded his 3rd 100+ rushing game on the season.
in 13 games Iowa rushed for 2234 yards in 13 game and Iowa had a pair of 1000+ yard rushers
thru 6 games Iowa has rushed for 832 yards with the #2 rusher out for the season because of a elbow injury, with a 2nd SR RB out and relying on a RSFR and True FR to many have these have these over bloated expectations

Stanley thru 6 games is avg'ing 215 ypg which puts him on pace for 2580 yards thru 12 games.. check the record book Stanley is on pace to do more as a 1ST year SO QB than most of the rest. if Iowa plays a 13th game he might end up with 2795 yards passing

some of you need to reevaluate what you are either Demanding or expecting.
Click to expand...
Damn, you're still alive.
 
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sg out west said:
expected more from him this year.. he is looking like a 5th-6th rounder.. is the OL too out of sync?

He is a great WR for a RB.. but it's almost like he is becoming less of a RB each week. His primary weakness would be between the tackles.. like the Maryland guys he can hit a crease, but gets bottled up pretty easy in traffic. Is he returning KO's/Punts??

Who is the next bell cow on the roster.. as good as Wadley is in the open field, he doesn't have the overall toughness that I'm used to seeing out of Iowa RB's. Is he stealing snaps from a kid who can give you 4.7-4.9 yards a carry in the base offense? Some of the Hawk falloff is that there haven't been any Shonn Greene's around lately. The Whisky frosh would is the type of kid I'm used to seeing at Iowa when you guys are good. I really noticed this last year vs Penn State, he really wasn't up to it between the tackles and the PSU front 7 was pretty average last year.
Click to expand...
Oh, so it's Wadley's fault he has nowhere to run. You make the pointy-haired boss in Dilbert sound like Einstein.
 
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The OL has been a huge disappointment this year. Add to that trying to run into 8-9 man fronts as a result of poor play calling.
 
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Plain and simple. Akrum Wadley is a change of pace back that is meant to get 15 carries per game. He isn't a workhorse in the way that Adrian Peterson has been, or Ron Dayne, or other backs that can handle 30 carries every game. When Iowa lost Butler, it lost a part of what Wadley can do. When the freshman stepped up in that game where both guys got hurt I thought that was going to be the thunder, to wadley's lightning. Unfortunately, the young back didn't get near the carries expected.
 
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