#1 factor going into the bowl game.

[AreWeThereYet]

Iowa's offensive line flat out stinks at zone run blocking and they are mediocre at best at their zone pass blocking schemes. They aren't going to suddenly get good at it in the remaining time. If K.F. tries to turn the bowl prep into a zone blocking mini-camp, they are going to get stuffed just as badly as they have all year. Not only do they have two inexperience offensive tackles, the interior line has had its troubles going back to the end of 2015. If they waste too much effort trying to fix it (especially in the run schemes), they are going to embarrass themselves.

 

[HawksMN]

Iowa's offensive line flat out stinks at zone run blocking and they are mediocre at best at their zone pass blocking schemes. They aren't going to suddenly get good at it in the remaining time. If K.F. tries to turn the bowl prep into a zone blocking mini-camp, they are going to get stuffed just as badly as they have all year. Not only do they have two inexperience offensive tackles, the interior line has had its troubles going back to the end of 2015. If they waste too much effort trying to fix it (especially in the run schemes), they are going to embarrass themselves.

And this is exactly what KF is doing as we speak....

 

[cincyhawk]

And this is exactly what KF is doing as we speak....

I don't know what other choice he has, tbh. It's not like the speed force is going to inhabit Nick Easly's body at this point.

 

[uihawk82]

I don't know what other choice he has, tbh. It's not like the speed force is going to inhabit Nick Easly's body at this point.

Well they have the choice to run straight ahead with power and some counter action with some pulling linemen like did at Nebraska. I think this Off Line might actually be much better at power blocking because we havent been able to run wide all year.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

There are other running schemes that are easier for offensive linemen to understand and execute than zone blocking. Iowa has been mixed them in, to an extent.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

It's not like you have to abandon it. Just don't make it the absolute center piece of the entire offensive philosophy. When the talent and experience have been there the zone blocking can be very good, although there have been relatively few years the offensive line has been really good at both run and pass blocking. It has usually been strong on either one or the other, or one side of the line is much better than the other.

 

[HawksMN]

So knowing what you just said.....

Expect a steady dose of stretch short in a few weeks.

 

[BlackNGold1982]

So knowing what you just said.....

Expect a steady dose of stretch short in a few weeks.

Wadley between the tackles for a big 3 yard gain and a busted knee.

 

[HomerChampless]

It's not like you have to abandon it. Just don't make it the absolute center piece of the entire offensive philosophy. When the talent and experience have been there the zone blocking can be very good, although there have been relatively few years the offensive line has been really good at both run and pass blocking. It has usually been strong on either one or the other, or one side of the line is much better than the other.

Don't you realize you're referring to KF when you lament that Iowa always uses a certain scheme as the centerpiece of any part of Iowa's gameplan?

 

[AreWeThereYet]

Don't you realize you're referring to KF when you lament that Iowa always uses a certain scheme as the centerpiece of any part of Iowa's gameplan?

It might be something of an overstatement to call KF a glorified offensive line coach, but at the heart of it, KF is a glorified offensive line coach. For good or bad it is the essential element around which his coaching perspective and philosophy have been built. KF prays to the "zone blocking" deity when he brushes his teeth each morning and evening.