WR Talent

[KennyPloen]

The possible emergence of Boyle, coupled with a lack of any WR commitments sort of crystallizes
our ongoing WR talent situation.

We have been unable to attract recognized top tier talent (pick your reason-style of play, ineffective recruiting, location,etc) and have done a poor job of evaluating lower tier talent. In fact our best success stories have been guys (McNutt, DJK. and even Vandenberg was a grayshirt until the last week) that weren't brought in as highly sought WRs, but guys we stumbled into.

It occurs to me that a new plan of attack may be in order. What if we, after screening for academics, and character, identify the 20 most athletic HS QBs in the country that can't throw well enough to get QB offers? We then have an assistant coach visit each one to evaluate their pass catching ability (many, if not most, of even high level athletes are not great or even good pass catchers-it's an innate skill that can only be improved marginally) and, if they play BB, evaluate their rebounding effectiveness (that physicality and feel for spacial relationships (DJK lacked that) is also a key component.

That process should yield 3-5 excellent prospects for which we would have very little competition. QBs would be the concentration because they tend to be intelligent and the best or among the best athletes on their team and they have developed a strong feel for how a WR makes himself a great target for the QB.

Also these guys would not be 2 or 3 year projects. A redshirt year may be necessary to learn the system and learn to block and then they could hit the ground running.

1 KennyPloen, Thursday at 10:05 AM

 

[MepoDawg#]

What about blocking?

 

[Freyvet]

The possible emergence of Boyle, coupled with a lack of any WR commitments sort of crystallizes
our ongoing WR talent situation.

We have been unable to attract recognized top tier talent (pick your reason-style of play, ineffective recruiting, location,etc) and have done a poor job of evaluating lower tier talent. In fact our best success stories have been guys (McNutt, DJK. and even Vandenberg was a grayshirt until the last week) that weren't brought in as highly sought WRs, but guys we stumbled into.

It occurs to me that a new plan of attack may be in order. What if we, after screening for academics, and character, identify the 20 most athletic HS QBs in the country that can't throw well enough to get QB offers? We then have an assistant coach visit each one to evaluate their pass catching ability (many, if not most, of even high level athletes are not great or even good pass catchers-it's an innate skill that can only be improved marginally) and, if they play BB, evaluate their rebounding effectiveness (that physicality and feel for spacial relationships (DJK lacked that) is also a key component.

That process should yield 3-5 excellent prospects for which we would have very little competition. QBs would be the concentration because they tend to be intelligent and the best or among the best athletes on their team and they have developed a strong feel for how a WR makes himself a great target for the QB.

Also these guys would not be 2 or 3 year projects. A redshirt year may be necessary to learn the system and learn to block and then they could hit the ground running.

1 KennyPloen, Thursday at 10:05 AM

DOESNT YOUR STATEMENT MEAN WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF EVALUATING LOWER TIER TALENT! "have done a poor job of evaluating lower tier talent. In fact our best success stories have been guys (McNutt, DJK. and even Vandenberg was a grayshirt until the last week) that weren't brought in as highly sought WRs, but guys we stumbled into."

 

[IowaNiceHawk]

Ryan Boyle gives the staff about 4 years cushion of bringing in some talent at
WR

 

[NevadaHawk]

I think Smith and Falconer have the potential to become very good receivers. Just need some seasoning. It is going to be fun watching those two blossom into high level players.

 

[David1979]

I think Smith and Falconer have the potential to become very good receivers. Just need some seasoning. It is going to be fun watching those two blossom into high level players.

I think we can be cautiously optimistic about Scheel as well.

 

[IowaNiceHawk]

I think we can be cautiously optimistic about Scheel as well.

Oh no, cautious? I'm wildly optimistic about Jay.
#3 in your Hawkeye program, but #1 in our hearts

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

Lets not get carried away with Boyle quit yet, he played what-10 snaps in Spring game. Biggest problem we have is not pumping the breaks on Spring Game sensation and/or Prime Time league performances.......he could be good, but let's not anoint him until he goes out and performs on Saturdays

 

[BuckRussel]

You already made this exact same thread once. Why?

 

[ichawk24]

Is Ryan Boyle as good as Cameron Wilson?

 

[nu2u]

It occurs to me that a new plan of attack may be in order. What if we, after screening for academics, and character, identify the 20 most athletic HS QBs in the country that can't throw well enough to get QB offers? We then have an assistant coach visit each one to evaluate their pass catching ability

If I understand you correctly, you are displeased with the present level of talent at WR. So, in order to remedy the situation, you propose that the Iowa coaches make multiple recruiting trips to evaluate the pass catching ability of various high school QBs without college offers who never played the position?

Takes me back to my old college days smoking weed and all the interesting and innovative schemes we devised. It could work, I suppose. I still maintain that I would be a billionaire today if we would have just wrote down those schemes instead of laughing our asses off at how ridiculous they sounded at the time.

 

[Packer54]

I saw enough of Boyle at the spring game that I know I want to see more. Same with Scheel. Not discounting the others at all but I really liked what I saw with both of them. If nothing else the potential of depth is there and if they can get open I like our chances of CJ finding them.

 

[The Sleeping Dog]

Lots of room for field time at the position. Hawks really need to find ways to get bigger plays in the passing game and we've had several seasons now with mediocre to poor wide receivers.

 

[DutchyFunStar]

Hinkel, McNutt, DJK, Clinton Soloman, Boyle and Scheel were all HS QBs. I think the OPs strategy is already well used and not just by Iowa. Heck, even Andy Brodell was a HS RB moved to WR.

 

[Proud_Illini_Native]

Hinkel, McNutt, DJK, Clinton Soloman, Boyle and Scheel were all HS QBs. I think the OPs strategy is already well used and not just by Iowa. Heck, even Andy Brodell was a HS RB moved to WR.

Yep I remember when Iowa recruited a high school QB from TX named Michael Crabtree