WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
Truly "The Lord" working his magic for us. There is a God.
2015 best backfield of Ferentz era?
- Thread starter CP87
- Start date
Betts had a 9 year NFL career (3326 yards rushing, 4.1 avg, 15 TDs; 1646 yards receiving, 8.8 avg, 3 TDs; 2085 KOR yards, 24.0 avg, 1 TD)
Greene had a 6 year NFL career (4110 yds rushing, 4.1 avg, 24 TDs; 534 yds receiving, 7.4 avg, 0 TD)
Any guesses on Wadley's career NFL production? Anyone want to bet on over 5000 yds from scrimmage (surpassing Betts and Greene)?
1. 1985 Harmon & Hudson. Hell you could put Corey Haim from Lucas back there with Harmon and they would still get my vote. IMO he is the best WR & best RB in the history of the program. Harmon had 1,700 yards from scrimmage in 11 games that year
2. 1995 & 1996 Shaw & Banks. Shaw was powerful & fast enough. Banks was a one trick pony but that one trick was pretty good. Perfect backup to Shaw
3. 2015 Canzeri, Daniels, Wadley, & Mitchell. All of these guys could get it done. I would toss 2016 in this ranking too. LD & AW we’re the only threats for Iowa that year and they still did well
4. 1990 Bell & Stewart. Great combo and both could catch the ball out of the backfield
5. 2008 Greene & Hampton. Another great combo that complemented each other well. Had a ridiculous OL
2. 1995 & 1996 Shaw & Banks. Shaw was powerful & fast enough. Banks was a one trick pony but that one trick was pretty good. Perfect backup to Shaw
3. 2015 Canzeri, Daniels, Wadley, & Mitchell. All of these guys could get it done. I would toss 2016 in this ranking too. LD & AW we’re the only threats for Iowa that year and they still did well
4. 1990 Bell & Stewart. Great combo and both could catch the ball out of the backfield
5. 2008 Greene & Hampton. Another great combo that complemented each other well. Had a ridiculous OL
RobHowe
Administrator
Love Green. And, I could see ranking ahead of Betts.
I do not agree that Ladell wasn't even in Shonn's league. He played for some bad Hawkeye teams and was productive. He was a better blocker than Greene and a better receiver, IMO.
When it comes to Greene and Betts to me it's just a preference thing. Betts could do a little more as far as the playbook goes. He could catch and block better. But Greene was a monster. Each game that season was worthy of a highlight tape of it's own to him. It's tough for me to say one is better than the other. I'd probably take Greene if your making me choose but if I had to take Betts I wouldn't complain
I remember Shaw and Banks and those two guys just ran roughshod through their time at Iowa. Shaw was pretty healthy and had the benefit of having a ton of touches during his tenure. Fry rode him into the ground it seemed like. May have had something to do with him not having much of a pro career.. If it wasn't for injuries Banks would have done more with his time in the NFL as well. He could just fly.
I remember Shaw and Banks and those two guys just ran roughshod through their time at Iowa. Shaw was pretty healthy and had the benefit of having a ton of touches during his tenure. Fry rode him into the ground it seemed like. May have had something to do with him not having much of a pro career.. If it wasn't for injuries Banks would have done more with his time in the NFL as well. He could just fly.
When it comes to Wegher that dude is a huge 'what coudla been' story. He was just one heck of an athletic dude at his size. Years later when he sorta got his stuff together and played for Morningside he so dominated that level to the point he got to have a cup of coffee in the NFL. Just imagine what he could have done at Iowa for 3 more years with his versatility and speed. That McCaffery kid that destroyed us for Stanford would have been compared to him is my guess...
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
I had the privilege of being in attendance at several games that year. Watching Shonn punish Wisconsin like their RBs have routinely done to Iowa was a thing of beauty. And he had two or maybe three just absolute game breaker runs against Purdue that were magical to watch in person. That kid was a helluva talent.
AreWeThereYet
Well-Known Member
I do like using duel backs rather than one though. It seems to keep the turf monster away.
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
Yes, I guess there is a God and with Creighton becoming the dominant basketball power not named Kansas west of the Mississippi and east of the Rockies combined with Loyola's Final Four run this year and Villanova's monstrous resurgence, I think God has definitively told us that he is Catholic and that Presbyterians are all going to hell.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
AY was the starter, SG would have been sharing reps. But you're right, Jake may have kept the starting job longer, except...even that season, Arvell Nelson had been given the keys, which he dropped through the drainage grate...
Fryowa
Administrator
I had the misfortune to meet Wegher a few times being at the same party when he was home to Sioux City. There was nothing about the guy that wasn’t 100% douche. Total sociopath. One of the times was while he was in trouble for his eluding thing; the guy literally thought he was untouchable no matter what he did. He literally said he could buy his way out of anything and no one could touch him because of his dads money. One of those types. Some people definitely aren’t meant to be born to rich parents and he is one of them.
Maybe the dude is sober now and changed but I highly doubt it. As slimy as he seemed to be the times I came across him, I’d dare bet the image improvement thing was a sham so he could hopefully get an NFL shot, which he did. It was also funny how his baby mama was ruthlessly going after him about child support and custody (even went after his dads construction business because Wegher himself didn’t have a pot to piss in), and magically fell in love again exactly when he had a chance at some pro football money.
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
I think you misunderstood my comment. I said "I can't pull up the highlights (in my mind) that put him in the same league as Greene." Not that he wasn't in his league...he simply wasn't as memorable as Greene. Shonn had stone hands in college and I don't think anyone would put him as a great blocker or blitz pick up guy either. He was just a phenomenal back with speed, size, and vision. He always seemed to make the right cut, to maximize yardage on every run. It was uncanny.
thejumper5
Well-Known Member
I haven't seen 2001 brought up, but in terms of depth of talent, I think it's the best.
LaDell Betts
Aaron Greving
Fred Russell
PLUS
Jeremy Allen at Fullback
Jermelle Lewis academically ineligible
LaDell Betts
Aaron Greving
Fred Russell
PLUS
Jeremy Allen at Fullback
Jermelle Lewis academically ineligible
Adam
Well-Known Member
Shonn Green was the single most talented runner I or any Iowa fan has ever seen in an Iowa uniform. Unfortunately for Shonn he was not here long enough to develop a more complete game. The NFL has no patience for learning curve and doesn't spend alot of time on development. This is why Green did not have a more successful pro career.
Now aside from pure running skill we can talk about best "hawk" RB. This will include length of career and all around skill set. My list is: Harmon, Wadley, Betts and then Green.
Wheger, Adam Robinson and Marcus Coker all had a chance to make that list. They all had talent and potential, but alas AIRBAG made it's hay day against these casualties.
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
The average length of time a RB career lasts in the NFL is 2.57 years. I'm pretty sure the position is main issue Greene only lasted 6 years or so. When you don't shy away from contact...it tends to wear you out quicker.
Adam
Well-Known Member
Well being relegated to a 3rd down back helps too.
