I think it's universally accepted that Iowa needs to recruit better wide receivers now and in the future. I think it's also universally recognized that Iowa needs to develop our wide receivers better. It is my hope that the development part will come with new and better coaching. The recruiting part SHOULD also improve with new coaches. The entire staff needs to do their part with the recruiting. Kirk, Brian, the new WR coach, and whichever coach recruits the areas our wide receivers are coming from need to work together to identify, recruit, sign, and develop better WR.
However I don't think our WR problem is as drastic as some of the resident coach haters make it out to be. Yes losing Scheel didn't help, but getting MVB back was huge. He is/was our best wide receiver in every facet. Obviously we know the offense moving forward isn't going to be a 5 wide air raid attack. It is going to be a prostyle offense predicated on ball control that leans on a strong running game and stout defense. That will be even more obvious in 2017 with the return of Wadley and our entire OL. Do I think we will throw the ball more than last year? Yes. Will we throw the ball more effectively? Yes. Will our passing game make us want to puke? I hope not.
The point of all this is that Iowa doesn't have to have a wide receiver depth chart that goes 7-10 deep. Would it help to have 10 really good wide receivers? Absolutely it would. Just like it would help to have 5 quarterbacks that are really good. However 3-5 of those wide receivers still wouldn't see much playing time.
Iowa only had 5 wide receivers catch passes in 2016 and only 7 total who played snaps. In 2015 (12-2 season) we only had 6 total wide receivers catch passes and 113 of of our 125 catches by wide receivers came from MVB (65), Tevaun (32), and Hillyer (16). I wouldn't consider Hillyer an extremely talented WR. He was a great blocker who picked up a key first down here and there. In 2009 (Orange Bowl) we only had 7 wide receivers catch passes with 110 of the 136 catches coming from DJK, McNutt, and Trey Stross. Stross wasn't considered a stud WR while at Iowa. In 2002 (Orange Bowl) we only had 5 wide receivers catch passes with 108 of 127 wide receiver catches coming from CJ Jones, Mo Brown, and Ed Hinkel. Can you believe only 5 WR caught passes on that team?
It's obvious that no matter how much offensive talent/depth we have that Iowa just isn't going to use a large group of wide receivers. We've won a lot of games using that formula. We've coaxed production from Riley McCarron, Jacob Hillyer, KMM, Andy Brodell, Trey Stross, Ed Hinkel, Warren Holloway, and so many more. We have a WR (Jerminic Smith) on our current roster who had more high school production and a much better group of offers than many of our best receivers under KF. With that being said let's look at our WR production and depth.
2016 catches
Riley McCarron - 42
Jerminic Smith - 23
Matt Vandeberg - 19
Jay Scheel - 5
Ronald Nash - 2
Adrian Falconer
Devonte Young
2017 Depth Chart
MVB (Sr), Falconer (Jr), Parker (Sr)
Smith (Jr), Nash (Jr), Dafney (So), Cooper (Fr)
Young (So), Smith (Fr), Easley (Jr), Boyle (So)
2018 Depth
Smith (Sr), Falconer (Sr), Dafney (Jr)
Smith (So), Nash (Sr), Easley (Sr)
Young (Jr), Cooper (RFr), Boyle (Jr)
2019 Depth
Young (Sr), Dafney (Sr)
Smith (Jr), Boyle
Cooper (So)
Judging by our current roster and past results we can assume 5-7 WR will play meaningful snaps (Barring injury) this season. I'm very comfortable with MVB and Jerminic. Jerminic has shown flashes but struggles with consistency. I think he's been poorly coached and he seems poised for a big year. I liked what I saw from Nash and Young in their limited opportunities this year. I think they can provide depth. The real wildcard is Brandon Smith. He COULD be the WR savior we need but history shows us he probably won't be ready in year 1. I actually like Cooper, but don't see him contributing his first year. Our depth also depends on where Oliver Martin goes and IF we get Marsette. I'm not counting on much from Falconer and Parker. There is lots of opportunity for the IWCC kids Dafney and Easley.
Moving forward we HAVE to get Martin or Marsette. We can't finish with a 2017 WR class of Smith, Cooper, and Marchese. I also think we need at least 3 WR in the 2018 and 3 in each class moving forward. Better wide receivers and more competition in practice will breed better players which will help lead to a more effective passing game. However I am a believer that a better scheme will make everybody look better. Overall we need a new scheme, increased recruiting, and better coaching and development. Improving each of those 3 areas just a little bit would pay huge dividends IMO.
However I don't think our WR problem is as drastic as some of the resident coach haters make it out to be. Yes losing Scheel didn't help, but getting MVB back was huge. He is/was our best wide receiver in every facet. Obviously we know the offense moving forward isn't going to be a 5 wide air raid attack. It is going to be a prostyle offense predicated on ball control that leans on a strong running game and stout defense. That will be even more obvious in 2017 with the return of Wadley and our entire OL. Do I think we will throw the ball more than last year? Yes. Will we throw the ball more effectively? Yes. Will our passing game make us want to puke? I hope not.
The point of all this is that Iowa doesn't have to have a wide receiver depth chart that goes 7-10 deep. Would it help to have 10 really good wide receivers? Absolutely it would. Just like it would help to have 5 quarterbacks that are really good. However 3-5 of those wide receivers still wouldn't see much playing time.
Iowa only had 5 wide receivers catch passes in 2016 and only 7 total who played snaps. In 2015 (12-2 season) we only had 6 total wide receivers catch passes and 113 of of our 125 catches by wide receivers came from MVB (65), Tevaun (32), and Hillyer (16). I wouldn't consider Hillyer an extremely talented WR. He was a great blocker who picked up a key first down here and there. In 2009 (Orange Bowl) we only had 7 wide receivers catch passes with 110 of the 136 catches coming from DJK, McNutt, and Trey Stross. Stross wasn't considered a stud WR while at Iowa. In 2002 (Orange Bowl) we only had 5 wide receivers catch passes with 108 of 127 wide receiver catches coming from CJ Jones, Mo Brown, and Ed Hinkel. Can you believe only 5 WR caught passes on that team?
It's obvious that no matter how much offensive talent/depth we have that Iowa just isn't going to use a large group of wide receivers. We've won a lot of games using that formula. We've coaxed production from Riley McCarron, Jacob Hillyer, KMM, Andy Brodell, Trey Stross, Ed Hinkel, Warren Holloway, and so many more. We have a WR (Jerminic Smith) on our current roster who had more high school production and a much better group of offers than many of our best receivers under KF. With that being said let's look at our WR production and depth.
2016 catches
Riley McCarron - 42
Jerminic Smith - 23
Matt Vandeberg - 19
Jay Scheel - 5
Ronald Nash - 2
Adrian Falconer
Devonte Young
2017 Depth Chart
MVB (Sr), Falconer (Jr), Parker (Sr)
Smith (Jr), Nash (Jr), Dafney (So), Cooper (Fr)
Young (So), Smith (Fr), Easley (Jr), Boyle (So)
2018 Depth
Smith (Sr), Falconer (Sr), Dafney (Jr)
Smith (So), Nash (Sr), Easley (Sr)
Young (Jr), Cooper (RFr), Boyle (Jr)
2019 Depth
Young (Sr), Dafney (Sr)
Smith (Jr), Boyle
Cooper (So)
Judging by our current roster and past results we can assume 5-7 WR will play meaningful snaps (Barring injury) this season. I'm very comfortable with MVB and Jerminic. Jerminic has shown flashes but struggles with consistency. I think he's been poorly coached and he seems poised for a big year. I liked what I saw from Nash and Young in their limited opportunities this year. I think they can provide depth. The real wildcard is Brandon Smith. He COULD be the WR savior we need but history shows us he probably won't be ready in year 1. I actually like Cooper, but don't see him contributing his first year. Our depth also depends on where Oliver Martin goes and IF we get Marsette. I'm not counting on much from Falconer and Parker. There is lots of opportunity for the IWCC kids Dafney and Easley.
Moving forward we HAVE to get Martin or Marsette. We can't finish with a 2017 WR class of Smith, Cooper, and Marchese. I also think we need at least 3 WR in the 2018 and 3 in each class moving forward. Better wide receivers and more competition in practice will breed better players which will help lead to a more effective passing game. However I am a believer that a better scheme will make everybody look better. Overall we need a new scheme, increased recruiting, and better coaching and development. Improving each of those 3 areas just a little bit would pay huge dividends IMO.
