2016 Projected Starting Lineup

K

KatoZenti

Well-Known Member
I saw what the 2016 starting lineup could look like as follows:

OFFENSE

SE-Jerminic Smith
LT-Ike Boettger
LG-Boone Myers
C-James Daniels
RG-Sean Welsh
RT-Cole Croston
TE-George Kittle
WR-Matt VandeBerg
QB-C.J. Beathard
FB-Drake Kulick
RB-Akrum Wadley
PK-Mick Ellis

DEFENSE

LE-Matt Nelson
LT-Jaleel Johnson
RT-Nathan Bazata
RE-Parker Hesse
OLB-Ben Niemann
MLB-Josey Jewell
WLB-Aaron Mends
LC-Greg Mabin
SS-Miles Taylor
FS-Brandon Snyder
RC-Desmond King or Josh Jackson
P-Colton Rastetter

Any thoughts?
 
Strong line up! I think we see Ott in there also. The competitions between Bower/Mends and Gair/Snyder will be intense too hard to tell this early who will win on those. Don't count out Lane Akre at fullback either.
 
ClintonIAfan said:
Strong line up! I think we see Ott in there also. The competitions between Bower/Mends and Gair/Snyder will be intense too hard to tell this early who will win on those. Don't count out Lane Akre at fullback either.
Click to expand...

I think the competition will be Hockaday/Mends and not Bower/Mends
 
DJL said:
I think RB is Daniels/Wadley
Click to expand...

I think all three running backs can carry the bulk of the load but Wadley and DMX are maybe better inside and outside.

Daniels seems to run better more straight ahead between the tackles or just off tackle. Daniels doesnt run the outside zone as well but we have seen him go for big runs if the hole is there.
 
DJL said:
I think RB is Daniels/Wadley
Click to expand...

DMX will get more time as well. I think he's underrated. If he puts on a little more weight, he can be a Very solid all purpose back that can shift to slot, line up in 5 wide, carry from backfield, and block.

Dude runs hard and explosive. 8 was very impressed almost every time he got the ball.

If Graham develops, we could have 4 solid options, with 2 of them able to shift to SE.
 
BlackAndGold3 said:
Call me crazy but if king comes back I wouldn't mind seeing him get some touches on offense !
Click to expand...

Not crazy at all. Not only should we have a few packages with him in there, the coaches should absolutely pitch that to him to help his decision to stay. Why not.

I'm not saying we go crazy and have him play Ironman football, but 5-6 plays a game...absolutely. He's maybe the most complete skill position athlete we have.
 
OmaHawk13 said:
What are the odds we actually get BOTH King and Ott back?
Click to expand...

Personally, I think they may be connected. If Ott can come back, it promotes King coming back. When Ott went out, Kings production went down, that's not a coincidence. A DB's best friend is the front 4 being able to get pressure and rush throws. Also, if the front 4 and LB can contain outside run game, takes a lot of pressure off secondary and they can be more aggressive.

50/50 at this point. I'd be huge if they both return.
 
HawkeyeWalker said:
Personally, I think they may be connected. If Ott can come back, it promotes King coming back. When Ott went out, Kings production went down, that's not a coincidence. A DB's best friend is the front 4 being able to get pressure and rush throws. Also, if the front 4 and LB can contain outside run game, takes a lot of pressure off secondary and they can be more aggressive.

50/50 at this point. I'd be huge if they both return.
Click to expand...
Yeah suppose that's possible. However what kind of timeline is there for those decisions? I bet King makes his before Ott finds out.... I don't see King waiting too long to decide. We all know how fast the NCAA is at deciding anything and I don't think Ott will find out for awhile.

I don't know much about the full back or kickers. I'm also curious about what other WRs enter the fray along with TEs. I'd like to think Scheel will have a role along with Wisnewski at TE. I think we'll be ranked to start the year. Not top 10ish but we'll be ranked in top 20ish. CJ and our running game along with the core of a good defense will see to that.

I've seen some Hawk fans crying about how the national pundits were 'right' about us after losing to Stanford. Well between the two story lines the national media would have most likely been talking about the other from the start of the season being KF is so overpaid and only still there because of his contract.... I'll take option one. Not many schools end their seasons on the high notes they'd like. And as KF likes to say "that's football"
 
Based off of what I saw against Stanford, both Hesse and Croston are not even serviceable. Hesse weighs the same at Shalique Calhoun but has the edge speed of Jaleel Johnson; this cannot be fixed.

Croston was pounded all game as well, against a defense that was ranked 7th in the PAC-12 against the run. We were the only team that couldn't run on Stanford all year.
 
Undefeated said:
Based off of what I saw against Stanford, both Hesse and Croston are not even serviceable. Hesse weighs the same at Shalique Calhoun but has the edge speed of Jaleel Johnson; this cannot be fixed.

Croston was pounded all game as well, against a defense that was ranked 7th in the PAC-12 against the run. We were the only team that couldn't run on Stanford all year.
Click to expand...

Cause, as we all know, young players don't develop and get better, especially linemen, at Iowa.

And you just compared Hesse, a freshman who is listed as LB first, to a guy who is a 5th year senior and draft pick. By the way, Calhoun is listed currently at 6'5", 260....Hesse is 6'3" and 240 soaking wet. You think he isn't going to gain 15-25 pounds and gain a step?

Both players you mentioned did quite well this year as very inexperienced players, who were thrown in due to injuries. Neither was a starter until injuries, and both will be better next year. Hesse might be very good.

Relax.
 
Last edited:
HawkeyeWalker said:
Cause, as we all know, young players don't develop and get better, especially linemen, at Iowa.

And you just compared Hesse, a freshman who is listed as LB first, to a guy who is a 5th year senior and draft pick. By the way, Calhoun is listed currently at 6'5", 260....Hesse is 6'3" and 240 soaking wet. You think he isn't going to gain 15-25 pounds and gain a step?

Both players you mentioned did quite well this year as very inexperienced players, who were thrown in due to injuries. Neither was a starter until injuries, and both will be better next year. Hesse might be very good.

Relax.
Click to expand...


I get we are developmental. He can put on some weight but I doubt he is going to get faster. Calhoun as an example was quick 2 or 3 years ago.

I believe our offensive line troubles are coming from a commitment to get better receivers a few years ago and we are still suffering from the same problems that plagued us 3 years ago at that position as well. I'd liked to see the Paulsen twins get some reps in the off-season and see if they can play next year.
 
Undefeated said:
I get we are developmental. He can put on some weight but I doubt he is going to get faster. Calhoun as an example was quick 2 or 3 years ago.
.
Click to expand...

They can get faster and more importantly improve those first two steps, that is what weights and conditioning do plus reps and experience.
 
Undefeated said:
Based off of what I saw against Stanford, both Hesse and Croston are not even serviceable. Hesse weighs the same at Shalique Calhoun but has the edge speed of Jaleel Johnson; this cannot be fixed.

Croston was pounded all game as well, against a defense that was ranked 7th in the PAC-12 against the run. We were the only team that couldn't run on Stanford all year.
Click to expand...

We are in trouble at both defensive ends. I'm sorry, but just because a player gets more experience doesn't mean they're going to be that much better. If the talent isn't there, then development only goes so far. Same with the Oline. Product of poor recruiting. Recruited a bunch of receivers, and we are still down in talent there as well. I think Daniels will be a good player, but the others on the Oline, I just don't see it. Our pass protection has been horrid all year.
 
HawkeyeWalker said:
DMX will get more time as well. I think he's underrated. If he puts on a little more weight, he can be a Very solid all purpose back that can shift to slot, line up in 5 wide, carry from backfield, and block.

Dude runs hard and explosive. 8 was very impressed almost every time he got the ball.

If Graham develops, we could have 4 solid options, with 2 of them able to shift to SE.
Click to expand...

Mitchell does not need to put on more weight. My god he's the perfect size for a rb right now, and should be getting a lot more carries. KF needs to decide on 2 backs, and play them the majority of the time. As it is now, nobody plays long enough to get in the flow of the game.
 
Caddy said:
We are in trouble at both defensive ends. I'm sorry, but just because a player gets more experience doesn't mean they're going to be that much better. If the talent isn't there, then development only goes so far. Same with the Oline. Product of poor recruiting. Recruited a bunch of receivers, and we are still down in talent there as well. I think Daniels will be a good player, but the others on the Oline, I just don't see it. Our pass protection has been horrid all year.
Click to expand...

Blah, blah, blah.....Last year we were in trouble at both offensive tackles, TE (Duzey was injured), WR (Willis the savior was gone, and all we had was Smith and that garbage player Vandenberg), DT (lost both of those), and LB (2* kid taking over at MLB, and two new guys that were ?? at the other two LB spots).

I'm sure you told us Jewell was a 2* garbage nobody last year, that KF plays untalented kids like Vandeberg, that a walk on tackle can't play, that Walsh and Welch had sucked up to this point, etc., etc. The simple fact is we have more depth and talent there than we have in a long time. We return the following with experience: Daniels, Croston, Myers, Ike, Welch (when is the last time we have returned 5 guys who made starts the previous year).
 
Undefeated said:
I get we are developmental. He can put on some weight but I doubt he is going to get faster. Calhoun as an example was quick 2 or 3 years ago.

I believe our offensive line troubles are coming from a commitment to get better receivers a few years ago and we are still suffering from the same problems that plagued us 3 years ago at that position as well. I'd liked to see the Paulsen twins get some reps in the off-season and see if they can play next year.
Click to expand...

This I agree with all around. All except one thing, top end speed can't be vastly impoved, but burst and quickness, especially for a lineman, can be. I'm not saying Hesse will be all American or playing in the league, but with more weight, technique, experience, he's already quick enough to make a big jump. Weight and leverage increases will be huge for him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Share this page

Top