Anyone worried about lack of leadership on D?

DuffMan

DuffMan

Well-Known Member
Is anyone else worried that Angerer the leader will be missed much more than Angerer the football player? I feel confident in the players filling his shoes in the position but I think filling his shoes as the leader of the D will be a bit more challenging.

I have no doubts that we will have talent, but leadership could be another story. As I recall lack of leadership was the main thing that cuased Iowa problems during its 3 year blip from 05-07.

Who steps up to lead the D. Thoughts?
 
It's possible but just because they are the best players doesnt necessarily make them a leader. From what I've seen Clayborn is a pretty soft spoken guy, he definately leads by example but Angerer was the kind of guy who could get you excited to run head first into a meat grinder. I don't know who fills those shoes.
 
DuffMan said:
Is anyone else worried that Angerer the leader will be missed much more than Angerer the football player? I feel confident in the players filling his shoes in the position but I think filling his shoes as the leader of the D will be a bit more challenging.

I have no doubts that we will have talent, but leadership could be another story. As I recall lack of leadership was the main thing that cuased Iowa problems during its 3 year blip from 05-07.

Who steps up to lead the D. Thoughts?
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Clayborn.
 
Firstly ... Clayborn is the GENERAL on the DL! Thus, Clayborn will continue to lead the troops there ... and you can expect that the rest of the guys on the DL are feeling a good bit more veteran and will step up in leadership roles too.

Also, to my understanding, Angerer was a really good guy to younger guys ... and when you have a well liked and highly respected guy like Angerer setting an example ... it's a safe assumption that his influence will rub off. Furthermore, from what I recall reading, I believe that Angerer has hung out some with Sash and Johnson ... and it certainly does hurt to know that Sash is a starter and that Johnson will be poised to push for significant playing time.

Thus, I think that it's a no-brainer that we'll get good leadership from Greenwood, Binns, Ballard, and Klug ... and I expect a little bit of an extra "spark" coming from Clayborn, Hunter, and Sash.

Lastly, I wouldn't sleep on Bernstine. Bernstine is a really talented guy who got aced out of a starting gig by Spievey in 2008 due to injury ... and then injury knocked him out for the entire season in 2009. Thus, I'm willing to bet that he's one HUNGRY young man! And, as we learned from guys like Spievey, Greene, and Richardson ... that hunger that a guy gains from being away from the game he loves ... it tends to really drive them forward! So again .... I wouldn't sleep on Bernstine ... I suspect that he's a guy who could end up providing the D with a little extra "spark" too!
 
A good question, but no, I'm not worried.

Case in point:


ac.jpg
 
Bucketochicken said:
A good question, but no, I'm not worried.

Case in point:


ac.jpg
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This would be the winner so far. I guess the main reason I ask is I'm not around the team on a daily basis. From the outside sometimes it's hard to see who the real leaders are and how the team interacts with each other. Often times the real leader isn't the best player or who you would expect. Case in point the Cubs. I'm a huge Cubs fan and my buddies and I had always assumed D Lee was the leader of the clubhouse. However it became apparent last year the real leader was Mark DeRosa, D Lee was more of a quiet lead by example guy, DeRosa was the outspoken lets do this kind of guy.


Jon do you have any thoughts on how we sit in terms of leadership on the defensive side of the ball?
 
This whole defense is full of leaders.... not worried at all...
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My point too. We have a team full of leaders again. Angerer was a great leader and vocal. Some of the best leaders are not as vocal and lead by example. AC fits that mold but plenty others do too.
 
Every year, at every college program across the country .. players enter the program .. players leave the program .. new guys step in to fill the void left by others .. I think this program is not at the "next man in" level ... With all of that experience returning on defense, I am guessing a Mr. Sash, or a Mr. Clayborn ... or for that matter, a Mr. Klug, will fill any void nicely ... Will Angerer be missed? Of course ... Will we field a very talented defense next year filled with many (experienced) leaders? Yes ...
 
Wasn't it Clayborn that called a players only meeting early in the season and got some things ironed out.Worried hell no,we have a lot of vocal leaders on Def. and after playing a year with the same guy next to them were only going to be better this year.How many of you thought with our road games that we had that we would finish 2nd in the Big Ten.
 
I was just thinking back about the off season and I recalled two posts that I made that seemed somewhat prophetic. This one in particular stood out because I think not only did it end up valid for the D, it was an issue team wide.

Teams with adequate leadership simply don't have these kinds alleged of issues. They don't have issues with drugs. They don't have division in the locker room. They find a way to win when it's all on the line.

Teams without adequate leadership tend to fall just short when it counts, and I think that's been true of both units for a big part of this season.
 
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