Benching players

NCHawker

Well-Known Member
Can anyone on this forum give me insight about how often they substitute on the O-Line? I wonder as I see a player out there getting beat bad, why the staff does not sit the young man down for a series or two, if not for the game. Could it get any worse?

Is the depth that poor that they can't take an O lineman out? Was the recruiting that bad in years gone bye? Is the player development that slow?

Seems to me that if someone isn't playing well, they should lose their position - Is this just and Iowa thing?

I know they sub a fair amount on defense, so I'll leave that one alone.
 
Subbing on the O-line is different than any other position. They work as an unit and there is a lot of unspoken chemistry that gets developed. You very rarely see substitutions at any level on any team in the O-line other than for injury.
This isn't to say that someone can't be benched and lose their spot. I think it's time to look at doing that as there needs to be some accountability for making the same mistakes over and over again. When I coached I told kids all the time that if you constantly make the same mistake over and over again, it means one of two things: either you don't care or you physically can't do it. Either way you would get replaced.
 
Subbing on the O-line is different than any other position. They work as an unit and there is a lot of unspoken chemistry that gets developed. You very rarely see substitutions at any level on any team in the O-line other than for injury.
This isn't to say that someone can't be benched and lose their spot. I think it's time to look at doing that as there needs to be some accountability for making the same mistakes over and over again. When I coached I told kids all the time that if you constantly make the same mistake over and over again, it means one of two things: either you don't care or you physically can't do it. Either way you would get replaced.
I don't know about the chemistry of the line, but what they're doing isn't working. However, the inability of the coaches to make in-game adjustments to help the Oline get its job done is as concerning as the poor play on the field. If your left tackle is getting worked over like a rented mule, get the damn mule some help. Am I missing something here?
 
I don't know about the chemistry of the line, but what they're doing isn't working. However, the inability of the coaches to make in-game adjustments to help the Oline get its job done is as concerning as the poor play on the field. If your left tackle is getting worked over like a rented mule, get the damn mule some help. Am I missing something here?

How do we know that adjustments are not being made? It is my opinion the major issue for the entire team is the players are just not getting it done. Whether it be missing blocks, dropping passes, missing tackles, or making line calls. Not to mention the penalties. I am by no means giving a pass to the coaches but at some point the players need to make a play and like you stated if they cannot make the play then they need to be replaced.
 
I don't know about the chemistry of the line, but what they're doing isn't working. However, the inability of the coaches to make in-game adjustments to help the Oline get its job done is as concerning as the poor play on the field. If your left tackle is getting worked over like a rented mule, get the damn mule some help. Am I missing something here?

Bingo. the LT was getting beat badly, 4 sacks, 5+ QB hurries, 4 tackles for loss. What did the OC do to help his LT and by extension his QB and offense.....Nothing. KF may be ultimately responsible, but firing Greg Davis TODAY doesn't hurt us one bit. I guarantee there is some offensive mind on that staff that can fill in and probably do better, maybe Much better.

I have less issue with Phil than I do Davis, but we need to see something on that side of the ball other than line up in base zone 2 deep.
 
How do we know that adjustments are not being made? It is my opinion the major issue for the entire team is the players are just not getting it done. Whether it be missing blocks, dropping passes, missing tackles, or making line calls. Not to mention the penalties. I am by no means giving a pass to the coaches but at some point the players need to make a play and like you stated if they cannot make the play then they need to be replaced.

I know for a fact they didn't help out the left tackle, at all, by either covering his side with a TE, or moving away from him. No need for X and O experience to see we didn't help out a young man getting blown up. Start by helping him out...then go from there.

I refuse to call out individual players, but i'll admit there are too many mental mistakes happening.
 
Iowa has a history of working a rotation at the OG spots but not at OT. In the past Iowa has been able to successfully work in some younger guys at the OG spot. Guys like Gettis and Vandervelde(think Reiff, Bulaga & Scherff did too) started out in a rotation and worked themselves into very good, starter level players on the inside. Daniels rotated in at OG last year some as well, especially early in the year before injuries set in and it was just whoever was healthy played.
 
Last year Dave Aranda called it Arrogance in Pass Protection. Meaning that Iowa NEVER provides help for it's tackles in pass protection. It expects its tackles to win the one-on-one battles. Consequently, that's why CJ was sacked something like 7 times against Wisky last year and at least that many in the last 2 games of the year (MSU and Stanford). And why it's an issue again. Teams realize that in obvious passing downs, all you have to do is send numbers at Iowa's tackles and it's all over.

And like most things KF, he's too GD stubborn to deviate from his "formula" and he'd rather have his QB get mauled by a backup DE than provide help for his tackles. It's like the playbook is so rigid that it doesn't allow for any customization.
 
Can anyone on this forum give me insight about how often they substitute on the O-Line? I wonder as I see a player out there getting beat bad, why the staff does not sit the young man down for a series or two, if not for the game. Could it get any worse?

Is the depth that poor that they can't take an O lineman out? Was the recruiting that bad in years gone bye? Is the player development that slow?

Seems to me that if someone isn't playing well, they should lose their position - Is this just and Iowa thing?

I know they sub a fair amount on defense, so I'll leave that one alone.


So is CJ a friggin porcelain doll back there now. Needs to feel pressure, make quicker reads, throw WRs open, throw in small windows and/or move his a$$ and scramble and/or look to run. This is his last year as a college QB and he needs to stop getting free passes and play with aggression again. Maybe its the pressure of pending fatherhood, the aspects of an NFL career or GDGD telling him to only throw if WRs are wide open. The year is right now. What's it gonna be 8-4 or 4-8?
 
How do we know that adjustments are not being made? It is my opinion the major issue for the entire team is the players are just not getting it done. Whether it be missing blocks, dropping passes, missing tackles, or making line calls. Not to mention the penalties. I am by no means giving a pass to the coaches but at some point the players need to make a play and like you stated if they cannot make the play then they need to be replaced.
Probably accurate. Breakdowns in multiple areas.
 
I know its sad but its just the truth in college sports, you can't fire the players. Even when they don't accept the coaching and make mistakes on purpose and try to lose games and get their coach fired.
 

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