thejumper5
Well-Known Member
This assumes that all current commits do in fact come to Iowa and no other players do. It takes into account Adam Robinson's dismissal and assumes that Brad Rodgers will be back to full strength soon.
If Rodney Coe plays running back and Torrey Campbell plays defense:
Marcus Coker
DeAndre Johnson
Brad Rodgers
Rodney Coe
MiKail McCall
Coe and McCall would have the opportunity to move up the depth chart during camp, but I see a mixture of styles at the #1 and #2 spots, with Coker and Johnson (who has a year in the system), being the top choices. In this scenario, McCall and Coe would probably jet past Rodgers, who will likely continue to focus on the full back spot, where he will likely start.
If Rodney Coe plays defense and Torrey Campbell plays offense:
Coker
Johnson
Rodgers
McCall
Campbell
I could see Campbell starting out giving RB a try considering that Iowa will be relatively deeper at corner than tailback next year (whether or not Prater returns, IMHO). In this situation, I see McCall and Campbell competing with Johnson for the scat back spot behind Coker, but I also see Rodgers sticking with tailback a little bit so that they have a second "thunder" option, should Coker go down.
If Coe and Campbell BOTH play defense.
Coker
Johnson
Rodgers
McCall
In this scenario (which, prior to Robinson's dismissal, I thought was the most likely), Rodgers is the X-factor. He will almost have to be ready to play tailback at any moment simply from a depth perspective.
In any scenario, I see Coker, when healthy, getting about 70% of our carries (not including QB sacks), a top scat back getting 20% of our carries, a third back getting about 4%, and WRs, FBs, and QBs getting 6%. Assuming 400 carries next year (about 33 runs in each of 12 regular season games), here are some random, made-up stats that are just for fun and assume 2008-level health from our backs:
Marcus Coker: 280 carries, 1540 yards (5.5 ypr), 14 TDs
DeAndre Johnson: 80 carries 352 yards (4.4 ypr), 3 TDs
#3 Back (McCall, Coe, or Campbell): 16 carries, 72 yards (4.5 ypr) 1 TD
WRs, QBs, and FBs: 24 carries, 120 yards (5 ypr), 3 TD
At the end of the day, it is pretty obvious that Marcus Coker's health is key to the Iowa running game (and in turn the Iowa offense) in 2011. If he can stay healthy and get Shonn Greene level touches, the Hawks should put up points and Coker will take the pressure off a new quarterback (see 2008 for blue print). That is the best case scenario. In the worst case scenario, Iowa will be unable to land another running back this winter, Coe and Campbell will play defense, Coker will get hurt, Rodgers will be inconsistent in his fullback, tailback juggling act and Johnson and McCall won't be able to handle the load (see 2004 for blue print). Although, Rodgers has been having heart trouble lately, so really, it could always get worse.
If Rodney Coe plays running back and Torrey Campbell plays defense:
Marcus Coker
DeAndre Johnson
Brad Rodgers
Rodney Coe
MiKail McCall
Coe and McCall would have the opportunity to move up the depth chart during camp, but I see a mixture of styles at the #1 and #2 spots, with Coker and Johnson (who has a year in the system), being the top choices. In this scenario, McCall and Coe would probably jet past Rodgers, who will likely continue to focus on the full back spot, where he will likely start.
If Rodney Coe plays defense and Torrey Campbell plays offense:
Coker
Johnson
Rodgers
McCall
Campbell
I could see Campbell starting out giving RB a try considering that Iowa will be relatively deeper at corner than tailback next year (whether or not Prater returns, IMHO). In this situation, I see McCall and Campbell competing with Johnson for the scat back spot behind Coker, but I also see Rodgers sticking with tailback a little bit so that they have a second "thunder" option, should Coker go down.
If Coe and Campbell BOTH play defense.
Coker
Johnson
Rodgers
McCall
In this scenario (which, prior to Robinson's dismissal, I thought was the most likely), Rodgers is the X-factor. He will almost have to be ready to play tailback at any moment simply from a depth perspective.
In any scenario, I see Coker, when healthy, getting about 70% of our carries (not including QB sacks), a top scat back getting 20% of our carries, a third back getting about 4%, and WRs, FBs, and QBs getting 6%. Assuming 400 carries next year (about 33 runs in each of 12 regular season games), here are some random, made-up stats that are just for fun and assume 2008-level health from our backs:
Marcus Coker: 280 carries, 1540 yards (5.5 ypr), 14 TDs
DeAndre Johnson: 80 carries 352 yards (4.4 ypr), 3 TDs
#3 Back (McCall, Coe, or Campbell): 16 carries, 72 yards (4.5 ypr) 1 TD
WRs, QBs, and FBs: 24 carries, 120 yards (5 ypr), 3 TD
At the end of the day, it is pretty obvious that Marcus Coker's health is key to the Iowa running game (and in turn the Iowa offense) in 2011. If he can stay healthy and get Shonn Greene level touches, the Hawks should put up points and Coker will take the pressure off a new quarterback (see 2008 for blue print). That is the best case scenario. In the worst case scenario, Iowa will be unable to land another running back this winter, Coe and Campbell will play defense, Coker will get hurt, Rodgers will be inconsistent in his fullback, tailback juggling act and Johnson and McCall won't be able to handle the load (see 2004 for blue print). Although, Rodgers has been having heart trouble lately, so really, it could always get worse.
