WR/Offense Question

[24Hawkeye7]

David Bell has made it clear he wants to see the Iowa offense pass more before he commits, I'm sure there are other WR's that feel the same.

So my question is this. While still maintaining their run-first style of offense, what will Iowa do/implement to show these higher rated WR's they will get the ball efficiently and in space? What will it look like compared to the past? Guesses and info. are welcome!

 

[TJHawkeye]

Kirk wil not substantially change our offense for anybody. Minor tweeks are a gift from heaven.

 

[grayhair81]

Good question. It is a chicken vs egg situation. You have to show you can develop and utilize WRs and make them an integral part of your offense. To do that, you need good players. So how do you get those players when you spent years not using WRs in that way? I think the coaches have the "new" angle at their disposal for a small window of time. BF did show the willingness at times last year to be more agressive in the passing game. We need ISM and Brandon Smith to take big strides this year and become legitimate threats to a defense. If that happens, good things will follow.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Tyrone Tracy is going to help as well. It is like a chicken and egg but we have more talent than GD ever had.

 

[24Hawkeye7]

Good question. It is a chicken vs egg situation. You have to show you can develop and utilize WRs and make them an integral part of your offense. To do that, you need good players. So how do you get those players when you spent years not using WRs in that way? I think the coaches have the "new" angle at their disposal for a small window of time. BF did show the willingness at times last year to be more agressive in the passing game. We need ISM and Brandon Smith to take big strides this year and become legitimate threats to a defense. If that happens, good things will follow.

I agree, it seems like the perfect storm. I also like that Bell voiced his concern to the public. It puts pressure -- which I think is a good thing -- on the old(er) regime at Iowa.

* I will always respect the run-game and often prefer it, however, it is exciting to think about an Iowa team with a smash-mouth run game and a couple automatic receivers that can get open whenever they want to go along with the awesome TE play.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

I agree, it seems like the perfect storm. I also like that Bell voiced his concern to the public. It puts pressure -- which I think is a good thing -- on the old(er) regime at Iowa.

* I will always respect the run-game and often prefer it, however, it is exciting to think about an Iowa team with a smash-mouth run game and a couple automatic receivers that can get open whenever they want to go along with the awesome TE play.

Not even the deepest of sand could keep KF's ears from hearing kids want to play a different style of football. Good news, so does Brian. The whole punch them with the run, punch them with the run, beat them with the play action.... works much better when the play action actually has a chance at connecting.

 

[BCRoss89]

Not a good question.

First, we couldn't prove we are going to pass more then we do already, in time to influence a 2019 commitment decision.

While we have recruited 1 - 4 star and 2 - 3 Star QBs thru 2020 and currently play two of the top 10 (in my opinion) receiving TEs in the country, our current receivers, Easley, Smith & ISM with some improvement and more consistency, will provide all the explosion our balanced Pro offensive set needs.

I get why receivers want to play for a "passing" team, but Iowa will not become a 60-65 % Pass over Run offense over night to attract 4 Star receivers.

I don't get what Bell expects to see and by when but it won't be to prove anything to him.

If he is suggesting that he is waiting until fall to see how much Iowa passes all season, I think we should go get someone else.

 

[grayhair81]

Tyrone Tracy is going to help as well. It is like a chicken and egg but we have more talent than GD ever had.

Tevaun Smith and KMM were better than anyone on the current roster have shown themselves to be.

 

[DEREKoh2]

David Bell has made it clear he wants to see the Iowa offense pass more before he commits, I'm sure there are other WR's that feel the same.

So my question is this. While still maintaining their run-first style of offense, what will Iowa do/implement to show these higher rated WR's they will get the ball efficiently and in space? What will it look like compared to the past? Guesses and info. are welcome!

Not a WR, answer = Fant, when he makes an OT catch on the road to beat PSU. Catches a 4th quarter TD to beat Wiscy. And catches 4 TD's against "Go Big Red", to ruin Lost in space's debut in IC, and against his home state.

 

[Hawkdome]

Not even the deepest of sand could keep KF's ears from hearing kids want to play a different style of football. Good news, so does Brian. The whole punch them with the run, punch them with the run, beat them with the play action.... works much better when the play action actually has a chance at connecting.

......
It would help if iowa had the marcus coker type of big back that can move. That is why i am excited to see toren young.. and yes iowa could use a whole new system of offense.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Tevaun Smith and KMM were better than anyone on the current roster have shown themselves to be.

Fair play, I am accounting for consistent growth, but let's see how we are talking about IsM when his 4 years are done.

 

[grayhair81]

Fair play, I am accounting for consistent growth, but let's see how we are talking about IsM when his 4 years are done.

Fair point. But right now, they are all unproven. Hopefully that changet this season

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Tevaun Smith and KMM were better than anyone on the current roster have shown themselves to be.

At least on paper, our WRs looked pretty good in 2014. We had Martin-Manley, T. Smith, VandeBerg, Hillyer, Powell, Willies, and Mitchell (who was at WR at the time).

I suppose it goes to show you how destructive it can be when there is a QB controversy and a WR coach who doesn't inspire the hearts and minds of his position group.

I admittedly am grasping onto hope here .... but I'm excited by Nate Stanley's promise. I'm excited by the promise of our young WR unit. Lastly, I'm hoping that Copeland can do all the things that Kennedy failed to do. At the very least, Copeland is a much better culture fit (than Kennedy), because he's a Jerry Kill protege.

 

[grayhair81]

I think there is reason for hope. ISM showed some skill last year but was inconsistent like you would expect a true freshman to be. Smith just didn't look ready last year. I am still optimistic he can make a difference. I expect this group to be good enough to make a difference this year.

 

[Roy-munson]

In 2009 Iowa had a great mixture of run vs pass... Iowa’s wrs where better then the rbs... so they threw the ball more rather then rely on the run

 

[ICTrojans99]

I think we need to put some more offers out for Texas, Florida, Georgia and Juco WRs. I'm sorry but it looks like if we don't get Bell it will probably be another Henry Marchese FCS level guy and that's disappointing. This year there are a ton of good WRs from St-Louis and we couldn't get one ? If you're going to keep the fullback in the offense that's probably going to hurt your WR recruiting somewhat. That's fine but why aren't you putting offers out for more athletic FBs that can do more than just block. With a Pro Style QB and blocking only FB that's 2 players that you don't have to account for. I could see if we were dominating on the ground but we're really not. So most teams have 6 players you have to account for and we have 4 when using the I-form. I guess we have to hope BF continues the trend from last year of using more 2TE and less I-form

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I think we need to put some more offers out for Texas, Florida, Georgia and Juco WRs. I'm sorry but it looks like if we don't get Bell it will probably be another Henry Marchese FCS level guy and that's disappointing. This year there are a ton of good WRs from St-Louis and we couldn't get one ? If you're going to keep the fullback in the offense that's probably going to hurt your WR recruiting somewhat. That's fine but why aren't you putting offers out for more athletic FBs that can do more than just block. With a Pro Style QB and blocking only FB that's 2 players that you don't have to account for. I could see if we were dominating on the ground but we're really not. So most teams have 6 players you have to account for and we have 4 when using the I-form. I guess we have to hope BF continues the trend from last year of using more 2TE and less I-form

There have been quite a number of excellent DBs in the St Louis area recently too ... and the only one we kept interested in us was Craddieth. The only reason how we managed to intrigue him was the success that King and Jackson had. Until we develop a reputation developing quality WRs ... it will be an uphill climb for us to pull in top WR talent from even nearby states.

 

[Roy-munson]

There have been quite a number of excellent DBs in the St Louis area recently too ... and the only one we kept interested in us was Craddieth. The only reason how we managed to intrigue him was the success that King and Jackson had. Until we develop a reputation developing quality WRs ... it will be an uphill climb for us to pull in top WR talent from even nearby states.

Yes but Phil has been producing top level dbs since sanders, Considine, Johnson etc.. outside of the online production the dbs are prolly he next best

 

[Harbinger273]

Don't get me wrong I want Bell in Swarm19. However, I believe that all we need is some good reliable receivers that do their jobs well (catch everything and block) and can be utilized by the offense. Our Offensive success doesn't depend on getting the highly rated WR recruit, but rather having guys at the position do the little things right and be consistent. Maybe part of Bells rating is his reliability and consistent performance, but we have ISM and B. Smith who are real athletes! They need to put all the pieces together. Tracy can come in and make some noise this season and if he does for 4 years that will help us too.
Some of these big time recruits see themselves and having a #1 option personae. A Braylin Edwards, T.O., Julio Jones type of thing. At Iowa, we seem to becoming more of a numerous receiving option type of attack. No one with big time numbers (over 100 catches, 13+ tds) from the WR group. It may happen in coming years as the personnel changes, but right now the ball is getting spread around to a couple TE's and a couple WR's. Could be part of the decision for some guys coming out of high school. For others I believe there is a program culture misalignment. There is a certain personality type that alot of recievers have that the staff, particularly KF, has an aversion to given past extracurricular negative scenarios.

 

[ICTrojans99]

Harbinger were you reading my mind with the culture personality type thing? I was gonna include that in my rant. So I guess it makes sense that a program that hates cocky players mite struggle with the cockiest position. I don't expect David Bell just 3 star players. I really like Smith,ISM,Easley,Tracy,Cooper,Lockett,Hutson. Nothing personal and hope the best for him but I'd like to think we can do better than Marchese/FCS level guys and it looks like that's what we will get if we don't get Bell. Unless some new guys come on our radar.

 

[Harbinger273]

Lets not count out Marchese just yet. As I recall he had something like 18tds receiving in his senior year of high school. I do get where you are coming from tho. It does look like we are all in on Bell with no other clear targets, but the staff always has other options they are monitoring. We need to get a couple years of consistent production from 2-3 years contributors so names are out there for recruits to see. No need to change the system.

 

[BCRoss89]

Easley is fine but Smith and ISM just need to catch everything that hits their hands (after all, that's why the are called Receivers)...they both have the ability to separate from the defender (ISM due to speed and shiftiness, Smith due to size and strength). It wouldn't hurt if Noah was more consistent catching the ball too. If that happens, the defensive back field won't be able to stop our passing game. With that much more production efficiency, I am sure Brian would be happy to pass the ball more. Isn't that what Bell wanted...and other WR as well (25 to 30 receptions per game spread around the horn).

 

[BirdistheWord]

Don't get me wrong I want Bell in Swarm19. However, I believe that all we need is some good reliable receivers that do their jobs well (catch everything and block) and can be utilized by the offense. Our Offensive success doesn't depend on getting the highly rated WR recruit, but rather having guys at the position do the little things right and be consistent. Maybe part of Bells rating is his reliability and consistent performance, but we have ISM and B. Smith who are real athletes! They need to put all the pieces together. Tracy can come in and make some noise this season and if he does for 4 years that will help us too.
Some of these big time recruits see themselves and having a #1 option personae. A Braylin Edwards, T.O., Julio Jones type of thing. At Iowa, we seem to becoming more of a numerous receiving option type of attack. No one with big time numbers (over 100 catches, 13+ tds) from the WR group. It may happen in coming years as the personnel changes, but right now the ball is getting spread around to a couple TE's and a couple WR's. Could be part of the decision for some guys coming out of high school. For others I believe there is a program culture misalignment. There is a certain personality type that alot of recievers have that the staff, particularly KF, has an aversion to given past extracurricular negative scenarios.

I hear what you are saying, but we have to continue to evolve our offense (even slowly is better than nothing!) and have to EXPECT to recruit higher caliber recivers. There are high character + high quality guys out there. If we can open things up from a play calling standpoint + get a few higher caliber receivers each year, we might even be scratching the surface of, dare I say, sexy?

 

[Hawkdome]

We could use WR in the mold of former hawk scott helverson from des moines east. He got open and never dropped the ball.

 

[TKingpin]

We had him, and he just graduated after a couple of years of foot problems. Hopefully Easley and Groeneweg fill that role this year.

Happel and Helverson may be my favorite WR combo of all time, but you still need a Robert Smith to stretch that defense.

 

[bumpstock]

I'm a big fan of Coach Copeland, and believe that he, too, is "growing" with the Hawks. He doesn't have that much experience as a WR coach, but has improved yearly, and seems to have a good grasp of B1G defenses. Hopefully, Coach Copeland will "challenge" KF & BF on strategy when the need arises, and in time become as good a WR coach as Phil Parker is a DB coach. This must be a very big (breakout) year for Coach Copeland, and the WR Corps!