Can anyone else think of a team where you could argue that the best player on both sides of the ball on the whole team doesn't even play 50% of the snaps. Epenese and Fant. For the record I'm not convinced that Fant is the best offensive player on the team but you could argue that he is and I wouldn't argue to much with you.
Weird season at iowa
- Thread starter tvandam
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One could say the success they are seeing is because the coaches are putting them in the best situations for them to succeed. If Fant were playing on more run plays where he is expected to block, that might expose a weakness. I'm not sure that would diminish the production he has had while receiving the ball, I'm sure people would bitch about it. Same with AJ on the defensive side as well.
Some good points here. Both Fant and Epenesa are big play machines, but they both are not complete players yet. It kind of depends on how you define "best player". Do you value an explosive player with weaknesses or a solid all around player who makes good plays consistently. I'm a more conservative guy, so I'd rather have a stable of Hockensens than Fants if I had to choose. Having both is a recipe for success when used wisely, which BF is doing to a 'T'.
AJ is explosive player, but he is not our best defensive player.
I agree that the role they are playing is allowing them to flourish but I still believe they would flourish with an expanded role we just don't require them to play that expanded role because of the talent at the position ahead of them but I still believe AJ is our best defender and Fant is our best weapon on offense
Who do you consider the best defender if not AJE?
I'd list Hooker and Hesse as better defenders right now. I'm not saying that Epenesa isn't a great player and has much more upside, but he has things in his game he needs to fix before he can be an every down player.
I like the way they are being utilized. Keep them fresh and healthy and bring them in and turn them loose. They are like our clean up hitters on both sides of the ball. Pretty impressive that we have the luxury to do this!
He does one thing - rushing the passer - extremely well. Maybe better than any Hawkeye under Kirk Ferentz. He isn't good against the run though. Yet.
I don't he is bad against the run by any means. I just think Hesse plays the run better than he does.
Who's "best" is so subjective, there is no real answer. Pro potential? Impact in Iowa games? Toughest guy for our opponents to handle? If I'm picking MVP's right now, I'm going with Stanley and either Hooker or Nelson. I do love our TE's without a doubt, but I think Stanley is almost being taken for granted. He checks all the boxes - real pro potential, most influence on games, and opponents "bounce off him" according to the IU coach. Even with flubs considered, Nate's been great (Hall of Famers throw picks too).
BUT...why I'm so jacked about this team is all the talent we have throughout. This is the 2015 Hawks on steroids.
BUT...why I'm so jacked about this team is all the talent we have throughout. This is the 2015 Hawks on steroids.
The most important thing is team success. I do think Epenesa would do fine with more PT. All this stuff about not playing the run isn't really the case. The staff is in a tough spot as Hesse is a very good Big 10 player who has started like 50 games. Don't know what that would do to the locker room if you just tell him you are playing 20-25 snaps. Iowa bumped AJE up to 34 snaps this week, which was nearly 50% of the defensive snaps. He will be crucial whether Iowa can win at Penn State and Purdue, and home against Northwestern. Iowa will need the ability to pressure the passer in all those games. The workload for AJE is setting him up for success down the stretch. When he's in, he can go all out and not need to pace himself. The overall message is that Iowa has developed depth at some positions like they haven't had before.
Everyone is saying Epenesa struggles in run defense and we must be watching different games. I have not seen aj have any issues with run d this year. Last year h3 needed improvement there but this year he looks stout against the run. That doesn't mean hesse isn't also strong against the run and perhaps limited snaps allows aj to be a stronger pass rusher.. that is common in the NFL.
I also think Fant is our best offensive player. Hockenson is a good tight end but some of his success in receiving is due to defenses favoring fant and having limited coverage on TJ. Defenses just can't cover both which is why two elite tight ends is such an advantage. I still think tj is one of the best tight ends in the big ten but fant is the top in the nation. Tj is a very strong run blocker though
I also think Fant is our best offensive player. Hockenson is a good tight end but some of his success in receiving is due to defenses favoring fant and having limited coverage on TJ. Defenses just can't cover both which is why two elite tight ends is such an advantage. I still think tj is one of the best tight ends in the big ten but fant is the top in the nation. Tj is a very strong run blocker though
Fant has been limited on snaps in the last couple of games likely because he's been dinged up.
I don't have a problem with AJ getting about half the snaps when Hesse and Nelson are playing the way they are. If they were stinking it up then fine... but ultimately... this rotation method is good for the group as a whole... especially as the season goes on. If you don't agree... go back and watch Adrian Clayborn against Northwestern in 2010...
I don't have a problem with AJ getting about half the snaps when Hesse and Nelson are playing the way they are. If they were stinking it up then fine... but ultimately... this rotation method is good for the group as a whole... especially as the season goes on. If you don't agree... go back and watch Adrian Clayborn against Northwestern in 2010...
I never said the rotation we have going is a bad thing. I was just saying that it is unusual.
You think this guy is better than Epenesa??? Get out of here with that......
Focus on Golston if you haven't been. Never quits on a play. Valuable backup to Nelson and you can see he knows he belongs out there.
Remember, Fant was on concussion protocol last week. Very little practice. In KF's system, limited practice = limited snaps and involvement in game plan the next game. He obviously made pretty good use of the snaps he got.
AJE is going to be interesting to watch next year. He has incredible athleticism for his size. He has been used thus far mostly in passing situations. In run situations, he has made some good plays and a couple not-so-good ones. He has shown the willingness to take on an OT and maintain gap integrity. Playing every down is a lot different than being a specialist. Will playing every down diminish his burst off the edge? I doubt it.
AJ is definitely a talent ... but like a lot of inexperienced players at DE ... he has a tendency to lose his lane and get sucked inside (he crashes to the interior). When that happens, you lose outside contain ... and if the ball can get outside of you ... then you've effectively run yourself out of the play and the ball is going AWAY from your help. Those are big defensive no-nos versus the run. Just against IU ... there was a pretty important 3rd down ... and AJ got sucked in ... but got bailed out by Gervase coming up and making the play.
I love Golston's pursuit. It's been pretty fascinating watching his development too. His foot-speed seems a lot faster than it was last year.
I think that the best player on the O is Stanley. Fant, Hock, and the others are huge in terms of generating mismatches ... but Stanley is critical in making sure that we're in the right play, in the right protection, etc ... he's the trigger man. He's the guy who MAKES IT HAPPEN!
As for the best player on D ... I'd probably have to go with Anthony Nelson. Spend some time watching the DL play ... and watch all the extra attention he typically gets from the O-linemen. All the same, he's still quite productive.
As for the best player on D ... I'd probably have to go with Anthony Nelson. Spend some time watching the DL play ... and watch all the extra attention he typically gets from the O-linemen. All the same, he's still quite productive.
Regarding Fant, having him on the field makes defenders take notice. Even if blocking is a weakness for him, he can be just as effective drawing defenders away from the running game. Send him in motion and linebackers and safeties will follow. That puts them out of position to make a play.
