WR recruiting

[HumbleP1e]

Does anyone have an idea in terms of prioritization what skills the staff looks for?

I don't mean this as a dig, but it seems we go for projectable athlete over pass catcher. IF true - and I fully admit the coaches know much more than I ever will - I contend catching a football is like hitting a baseball...you can work hard and get much better, but at the end of the day you're a natural or you're not when facing good competition. I can't remember the last truly "stick'em good" receiver we've brought in. I say this for the good of the future. We're not going to sniff Bell. It seems clear he really likes the team, coaches, etc., but he's elite, and you can't not throw to receivers and get a guy like that. I, also, don't fault BF. Dude called a NE offense for 3 series, and then had to get out of it. You can't throw passes to get the running game openings if you don't move the ball. He called a good day given circumstances. I counted 4 plays in the first quarter that if executed could've been TDs ( passes taking receiver our out of stride drops, etc.). The missing link is catching. And, it's not new to the program. Tate had at least 25 TWO HAND DROPS that season before I lost count. We have to get this straightened out to be a legit national offense.

It's one game, so maybe a bit of an overreaction, but program history supports the trend.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

I don't think our guys are terrible but it is hard to recruit top of the line kids if the majority of our receptions go to tight ends. We also are pretty run heavy. If I were a top wide reciever I would look at the big 12 or pac 12. Air raid offenses and poor defenses.

 

[spbc7]

If you can't recruit stud receivers, then you have to be able to develop them. The staff has failed at this for years.

Iowa can be an attractive place for a guy like Bell. Pro-style offense and he'll get ton of targets if he's truly that good. It's on the staff to sell that

 

[grayhair81]

It is the classic chicken vs egg scenario. You have to show elite recruits they will be emphasized and utilized at Iowa. To do that, you need players that are good enough to throw to at critical times throughout the game. It will take one ice-breaker type signing to change the status quo here.

 

[Walleye70]

Our smith boys always seem to make cornerbacks look like all-Americans. 21 catches in 13 games last year. Can’t get open and hands of stone. Our slots get open, TE’s get open.

 

[staygoldponyboy]

TL DR

From ESPN, so you know this info is bogus and many of these guys were QBs. But it provides a general outline. Here are the WR recruits.

06 -- DJK; Dom Douglas; Paul Chaney; James Cleveland (talent was there, maturity wasn't)
07 -- Abe Satterfield; Colin Sandeman; Zach Furlong; Cedric Everson; Marvin McNutt (some talent wasted, some realized)
08 -- Khalif Staten; Shane Prater; DeMarco Paine (oh the pain)
09 -- Keenan Davis; Jordan Cotton; Josh Brown; Stephane Mgoumou (pair of top 50 WRs, woefully under-used)
10 -- K-Mart (developmental player who delivered)
11 -- Marcus Grant; Jacob Hillyer; Jake Duzey (a TE, a Gamer and the mystery surrounding Grant never answered)
12 -- Cam Wilson; Tevaun Smith; Greg Mabin (an NFL defensive back, an NFL WR and another mysterious disappearance)
13 -- DMX; Damond Powell; Derrick Willies; Vandenberg; Anjeus Jones (Vandenberg reliable and the least impressive physical specimen, so of course he gets most of the touches)
14 -- Jay Scheel (injuries)
15 -- Emmanuel Ogwo; Adrian Falconer; Jerminic Smith; (Holy Moses, 3 strikes you're out)
16 -- Emmanuel Rugamba; Devonte Young (future lesson, no more guys named Emmanuel)
17 -- ISM; Max Cooper; Brandon Smith; Henry Marchese (Easly came in with these guys and he's the best of the bunch, and he was a walk-on. That should tell you something)
18 -- Calvin Lockett; Samson Evans; Nico Ragaini; Tyrone Tracy (looks like a hell of a lot of potential, how many will leave before the end of their soph year?)

So what are we to make of the list? Athletes-TEs-QBs-DBs-RBs? Yep. That may be why it feels like most of these guys weren't even WRs in high school. Secondly the ones with the big talent usually came with big egos and usually were gone after year 2. Sorry kid, but this program has room for one big ego, and yours isn't it. It's weird that a school in Lincoln Nebraska famous for the option play gets top WRs and Iowa doesn't. Well at least we stock up on talented RBs and QBs and TEs.

 

[HumbleP1e]

That's my point though. I believe our coaches are coaching them up. Guys were open yeaterday early. I'm asking where "hands" fit in the scheme of recruiting. Honestly. Not as a "change what you're doing" passive aggressive plea. I'm developing an opinion. Need the facts.

 

[HumbleP1e]

My hope is Bell takes a risk, comes to Iowa City, we get it to him, and history is made, setting up years of positive lists. Be a HAWK, Bell!

 

[kcgolfer]

Boring offenses don't attract top flight talent.

 

[herkiesrevenge]

Brandon Smith and Smith-Marrsette both needed a RS year,
Brandon out of talent rich Missippippi had these for stats and end of season Accolades
1st Team All State as a JR and SR Named to the states dandy dozen [top 12 players in the state]
had 80 catches for 1509 yards and 19 TD's as a SR
had 78 catches for 1382 yards and 15 TD's as a JR.

GEE whiz willikers can't you at least wait a while before condemning the kid who is a 1st year starter. to many are expecting him to avg 150 yards receiving right out of the gate.

 

[HumbleP1e]

Good point. I hope for significant improvement in the whole corps from game 1 to 2. This could be a special year if the whole offense comes together.

 

[Herkmeister]

The Question: Does anyone have an idea in terms of prioritization what skills the staff looks for?

The Answer: I'd play guys who can't catch a pass. Then everybody you recruit will feel certain they'll play year one.

The Conclusion: Sadly we are on track after game #1

 

[herkiesrevenge]

The Question: Does anyone have an idea in terms of prioritization what skills the staff looks for?

The Answer: I'd play guys who can't catch a pass. Then everybody you recruit will feel certain they'll play year one.

The Conclusion: Sadly we are on track after game #1

do you always throw 1st year starters under the bus after 1 game?

 

[Herkmeister]

do you always throw 1st year starters under the bus after 1 game?

No. Let me help you a little since it appears you're new.



Not everything is as it appears fellow Herk.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

WR needs to make a BIG improvement this year or the coach needs to go, that is all I have to say

 

[H4wkfan4life]

Brandon Smith and Smith-Marrsette both needed a RS year,
Brandon out of talent rich Missippippi had these for stats and end of season Accolades
1st Team All State as a JR and SR Named to the states dandy dozen [top 12 players in the state]
had 80 catches for 1509 yards and 19 TD's as a SR
had 78 catches for 1382 yards and 15 TD's as a JR.

GEE whiz willikers can't you at least wait a while before condemning the kid who is a 1st year starter. to many are expecting him to avg 150 yards receiving right out of the gate.

I can agree on slowing the roll on the hate train BUT.....
expecting a guy to catch a ball or two isn't the same as expecting 2000 yards receiving in a season lol

 

[Walleye70]

Calling the two smiths first year starters is wrong- they played as many snaps as anyone last year and combined for 21 total catches. Add Saturday’s three catches and you have 24 in 14 games ☹️

 

[Herkmeister]

ISM made some great catches against ISU last year too. Honestly, I think we'll see these guys make some plays this year.

They just need to get the confidence up. It wasn't like Nate threw his best passes to Brandon Smith.

 

[StormHawk42]

I think Kilroy has subtly returned

 

[Hawktagonapus]

I don't see what Imhir has done to get lumped in with Brandon other than have the same name. Easley and B. Smith had by far the most snaps at WR on Saturday and neither caught a pass. At least ISM caught 3/4 thrown to him.

 

[scotthawk1964]

Put yourself in a stud high school WR. Why would you want to go an Iowa, or Wisconsin when you know both going to pound the rock the majority of the time, and most of what they will get to do is run off coverage or block. The majority of college teams run the spread, and the majority of them pass more then they run, so it makes sense that they would be choosing other schools over Iowa.

 

[millhawk]

I don't see what Imhir has done to get lumped in with Brandon other than have the same name. Easley and B. Smith had by far the most snaps at WR on Saturday and neither caught a pass. At least ISM caught 3/4 thrown to him.

This is true but didn't he drop one on the sideline right before half? I'm cheering hard for BS but still want an expanded role for K Groeneweg.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

It is the classic chicken vs egg scenario. You have to show elite recruits they will be emphasized and utilized at Iowa. To do that, you need players that are good enough to throw to at critical times throughout the game. It will take one ice-breaker type signing to change the status quo here.

This is my feeling as well. We need that "breakthrough" type recruit to get the ball rolling as far as receivers go. Talent finds it's way to the NFL regardless of system...see Georgia Tech kid back from the Orange Bowl...played in a run heavy option offense and was still drafted highly.

 

[JEDN]

The Badgers attract much better wide receivers than Iowa!

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

NIU had two WRs drafted last year--one in the first round. Now I've been to DeKalb, and it's pretty awesome, and I know the MAC is an amazing conference, and who wouldn't want to be a Huskie, but even so, why would receiver talent like that end up at NIU and not the U of I?

And as we see teams of all levels and abilities around the country, I am astounded every year to see almost every one of them have WRs that are both faster and more sure-handed than Iowa's, and it's not unusual to see some of those teams with true freshmen starting at WR and playing well. They know how to run routes and they catch the damn football. But I will admit, I have no idea if they can block...

 

[newhawk17]

I don't see what Imhir has done to get lumped in with Brandon other than have the same name. Easley and B. Smith had by far the most snaps at WR on Saturday and neither caught a pass. At least ISM caught 3/4 thrown to

Brandon and ISM played 40 snaps each. Easley played 17 snaps.