All-Ferentz Team: Defensive Back
- Thread starter RobHowe
- Start date
Ree4
Well-Known Member
Jesus we've had some amazing defensive backs. It's funny that the top 2 only received Iowa offers (P5) and the 2nd best free safety was a walk on. Just goes to show that offer lists and lack of stars doesn't mean a whole lot in terms of potential at Iowa, but that's not new information.
Northside Hawk
Well-Known Member
No question about it. Bob Sanders was the single most important player of the Ferentz era (with Shonn Greene possibly second). The coaches had to frequently hold him out of practice for fear of injuring his own teammates. Once he anchored the back end of the defense the tone was set. The winning soon followed. I don't know if Hayden even had a comp for a Sanders type player.
Former Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome, who didn't have a first round pick in the 2004 draft, set his sights on Sanders in the second round. He worked the phones looking to move up. He was about to agree with a deal with the 49ers to move up about five or six spots when word came that Indianapolis had drafted Sanders.
Picture a Ravens defense with Terell Suggs on the DL, Ray Lewis at linebacker, and Sanders and Ed Reed at tandem safeties. Ben Roethlisberger may still be looking for his first Super Bowl ring. Chad Johnson may have had a shorter career. And the Patriots may have really had to cheat to get to all those Super Bowls.
Former Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome, who didn't have a first round pick in the 2004 draft, set his sights on Sanders in the second round. He worked the phones looking to move up. He was about to agree with a deal with the 49ers to move up about five or six spots when word came that Indianapolis had drafted Sanders.
Picture a Ravens defense with Terell Suggs on the DL, Ray Lewis at linebacker, and Sanders and Ed Reed at tandem safeties. Ben Roethlisberger may still be looking for his first Super Bowl ring. Chad Johnson may have had a shorter career. And the Patriots may have really had to cheat to get to all those Super Bowls.
Northside Hawk
Well-Known Member
Tyler Sash record for interception return yards would have been even higher if not for his lateral to Micah Hyde (who then scored) in the 2010 Michigan State game. In fact, he would probably have approached 450 return yards.
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
You are correct. Spievey was probably the best corner the program has had under Ferentz, but even if you disagree with that, there is probably a tie for best among some combo of Spievey, Dez and Josh Jackson.
Hyde had some flashy returns and gets love for those, but in terms of being able to put a guy out there and take away stars players, Spievey was great. I think he got torched in that PSU game when they caught him sleeping on like the first or second play, but after that, he was freaking dominant.
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
Anything ever come of those two bodies where Baltimorenthal got investigated?
CB is such a unique position in football and really across all major sports. When you see an incredible talent, you know. But statistical analysis is subjective. I firmly believe that great CBs don't get thrown at for two reasons: 1) QBs know where they are and don't want to play with fire, kind of like running the ball away from monster DEs. 2) their opposing receivers simply aren't open. But, when a CB does pull down a lot of INTs (and produces incredible INT returns and/or TDs), you remember those plays.
I think Micah Hyde deserves to be in the 1st team. He's had an incredible pro career. He produced a few of the most amazing plays and highlights in Iowa football history. Watching Hyde, it seemed like he could play any position: CB, S, OLB, WR. QB, KR, PR. He was an amazing player that I'll always remember. I think of Micah Hyde almost as a skill player on the defensive side. He had incredible ball skills, body control in the air, hands, route reading, and magical ability to run after the catch. As a pure corner... maybe Jovon was better? But Micah Hyde is an iconic Iowa player and the kind of guy you want on your team.
I think Micah Hyde deserves to be in the 1st team. He's had an incredible pro career. He produced a few of the most amazing plays and highlights in Iowa football history. Watching Hyde, it seemed like he could play any position: CB, S, OLB, WR. QB, KR, PR. He was an amazing player that I'll always remember. I think of Micah Hyde almost as a skill player on the defensive side. He had incredible ball skills, body control in the air, hands, route reading, and magical ability to run after the catch. As a pure corner... maybe Jovon was better? But Micah Hyde is an iconic Iowa player and the kind of guy you want on your team.
tksirius
HN's Love Doctor
Agreed
I think I trusted him more to lock down a good receiver more than I ever trusted King or Jackson. He was a beast in run support too. A disclaimer here is Jackson wasnt around long enough to build up that much trust. For the most part, teams didn't ever even throw towards Spievey. He was just too good.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
He didn't get "torched" so much as he didn't get the safety help required. That said, Spievey is the best open-field tackler of any DB we have have had in the JHF/KF Era.
