When was the last season Iowa's O-line dominated?

[HocDawk]

When was the last season that you feel Iowa's O-line gave our QB "all day" to throw AND dominated the running game?

I feel like we've had some really nice lines over the years but the last time I'd say they DOMINATED was with Gallery. Would that be '03 or '04?

 

[Hawkeyestate81]

Rose Bowl.

 

[HocDawk]

Rose Bowl.

Not the last time they WERE dominated!

 

[Zooropa_NCR]

2008 OL was pretty good. But they were def better with the run blocking. Also helped to have the last stud RB (I think Wadley could be next)

Otherwise 2002 was best OL we've had under KF.

2015 jelled for running but CJ was lit up. One thing I've never understood is how our OL can look so clueless on blitz

 

[Hawkeyestate81]

Not the last time they WERE dominated!

haha yeah i completely misread that. good question 2008 was dominant with Greene/Stanzi, 2009 legit as well with the run we went on.

 

[WORTHYWISH]

It's been awhile, but if they stay healthy this year, they can at least give him enough time to go 12-0 again. Probably get beat by 20 to Ohio State in the champ game, but 12-0 is 12-0.

 

[hoffmkr]

2008 OL was pretty good. But they were def better with the run blocking. Also helped to have the last stud RB (I think Wadley could be next)

Otherwise 2002 was best OL we've had under KF.

2015 jelled for running but CJ was lit up. One thing I've never understood is how our OL can look so clueless on blitz

Last year, Iowa had GREAT Guard/Center play. The problem was the tackles were average and that means below average by Iowa standards. Blitzes caused problems starting at the outside and worked their way back towards the middle since rarely could a RB help inside pickup.

Hopefully we have the growth from the tackles this year to meet Iowa standards and show was a true Iowa O-Line can due versus just 1-2 dominant players.

 

[meatloaf55]

2008/2009 had pretty dominant oline play.. 2014 had great linemen but I wouldn't say they were a dominant force

 

[Hawkeyes4Life247]

The Northwestern game last year, especially the second half, was complete domination by the oline. It seemed like they wore the defense out in the first half and did whatever they wanted in the second.

 

[Roy-munson]

2009 when it was Bulaga, Vandervelde, Eubanks, Richardson, Calloway with Reiff coming off the bench. Heck even when Reiff started it was good. They allowed 2 freshman rbs to each run for over 800.. Outside of the sack against northwestern that line was good..

 

[bravelittletoaster]

That sack was the worst playcall in the history of Iowa Football. Was at the game and saw it coming the whole time

 

[iowalaw]

In 3 words...pre Brian Ferentz. In that time, we've had dominant DLs, dominant DB play, dominant LB play, dominant special teams play...yet the guy who coaches the historically mediocre/underachieving unit (given the amount of 4 stars and pros we've had on our OLs) seems to be the guy that gets more credit than anyone else. Last name goes a long ways in sports.

I would say our last dominant OL was back when we had Vandevelde, and the Army All Americans on it. The OL Freddie Russel ran behind was INSANE. Brad Banks had all day to put up pinball stats.

 

[J_Heater]

That sack was the worst playcall in the history of Iowa Football. Was at the game and saw it coming the whole time

Did you see it coming against indiana earlier that season as well or did you know that was a td to McNutt the whole time

 

[Hawkeyecurtis81]

In 3 words...pre Brian Ferentz. In that time, we've had dominant DLs, dominant DB play, dominant LB play, dominant special teams play...yet the guy who coaches the historically mediocre/underachieving unit (given the amount of 4 stars and pros we've had on our OLs) seems to be the guy that gets more credit than anyone else. Last name goes a long ways in sports.

I would say our last dominant OL was back when we had Vandevelde, and the Army All Americans on it. The OL Freddie Russel ran behind was INSANE. Brad Banks had all day to put up pinball stats.

I'm sensing you don't like Brian Ferentz? I'm not saying we've had great lines and last year there were some poor performances. Some of that had to do with inexperience and injuries.
I'm also trying to recall dominant dl play? I feel the last few years have been very average. If Ott could have been healthy that might have been different. I feel the lack of dl depth cost us in the championship game.
Who would be a better name to coach our ol?

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I'm sensing you don't like Brian Ferentz? I'm not saying we've had great lines and last year there were some poor performances. Some of that had to do with inexperience and injuries.
I'm also trying to recall dominant dl play? I feel the last few years have been very average. If Ott could have been healthy that might have been different. I feel the lack of dl depth cost us in the championship game.
Who would be a better name to coach our ol?

iowalaw is a general sower of discontent. Sometimes, in the process of playing the devils advocate, iowalaw makes decent points. However, usually its his/her own unique brand of trolling.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

The 2013 OL was impressive in pass-pro, only giving up 15 sacks through 13 games. However, part of that was also attributable to Rudocks ultra-quick decision making.

The 2009 OL was one of the most impressive "on paper." Unfortunately, the group had health issues that led to a slow start ... and once they did get rolling ... injuries derailed them after. The only guys on that OL that seemed to remain healthy (relatively speaking) through the entire season was Reiff and Eubanks. All the other guys, Bulaga, Vandervelde, Richardson, and Calloway each contended with injuries. Richardson missed the entire final 3rd of regular season and Bulaga missed nearly the initial quarter with his thyroid issue. However, even "off paper," there were times when that '09 OL was outright dominant. Too bad they were stuck with freshman RBs running behind them.

The 2008 OL was one of the most surprising units. Our RBs that year had the highest ypc since 2002 (if memory serves).

 

[DrVenkman]

OL was best in '09 and '02

DL was best in '09 but followed closely by the '04 DL that went to the Cap One bowl against LSU. I think that "04 OL was awfully good as well. they kept Drew Tate upright when Iowa had absolutely no running game.

 

[Dauminator]

That sack was the worst playcall in the history of Iowa Football. Was at the game and saw it coming the whole time

-Shovel pass vs. Michigan '05.
-Jailbreak screen vs Pitt '08.
-Numerous punts when at midfield or in opp. territory for the past 17 seasons.
-Kneeling out for OT against OSU '09.
-Not attacking MSU's weakened secondary all day in '15.
-Not going for two when we tied Florida in '05.
-Not covering the obvious fake punt vs Wisconsin '10.
-Letting Pryor run for it on fourth down without a spy, OSU '10.

Nope, this one doesn't rank up there for me.

You are right that we went to the well with that play one too many times, in hindsight. But I think your sentiment is based mostly on the injury, which I don't think you can blame on the playcall. It just happened.

If it worked like against Indiana, you'd have never said a word against it.

 

[Freyvet]

That sack was the worst playcall in the history of Iowa Football. Was at the game and saw it coming the whole time

You r an idiot! That is the stamp of the ignorant fan - "i saw it coming the whole time". So on this particular play you wanted a "predictable"run??? If they had run you would known that was coming as well - i know how you work!

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

That sack was the worst playcall in the history of Iowa Football. Was at the game and saw it coming the whole time

On the play-action boot, it's still the QBs responsibility to check to see if the DE crashes inside or stays home (and pursues the QB). People don't want to blame the "victim" ... but much of the problem with that play was Stanzi's delayed recognition concerning Wooten. If he recognized things sooner, he would have been able to throw the ball away sooner - then Wooten would either be getting hit for a late hit OR Wooten would be easing back. In the former case, Stanzi still might have gotten injured ... but we'd have been in a better position to still win that game. In the latter case, Stanzi wouldn't have gotten injured and while the Wildcats would have been getting the ball back in decent field position ... the Hawks still would likely have won.

 

[Hicksy87]

The years Iowa has had dominant O Lines is the years that there has been continuity in the line with very few injuries. Last year had potential but injuries made the coaches do a lot of mixing and matching which influences the continuity. The line needs time to work together to know each guys assignment and tendencies especially in blitz situations.

 

[Edenprairiehawk]

The problem has never been Iowa's line. We just don't seem to Be able to recruit the deep threats that force teams to keep their linebackers and safeties out of the box.