Bet you Derby would be better LB than Morris...

[shonblatt]

Here's my argument for Tate over both Stanzi and Banks:

Banks had Iowa's best offensive line, best tight end, and best kicker ever. He also had either the best or second best WR group of the Ferentz era and the second best runningback group of the Ferentz era.

Stanzi had not one, not two, but three years with an elite defense. He also had the best runningback of the Ferentz era and had a top 5 Ferentz era WR group in both 2009 and 2010. Stanzi was also the benefit of three of the 5 best offensive lines of the Ferentz era.

Here's what Tate had going for him: one strong defense that helped him lead his team to 11 wins and #8 in the country, the weakest offensive lines since 2001, and the worst set of receivers of the Ferentz era.

The one year he had a good defense and his receivers didn't drop the ball like they were allergic to it, they went 11-2. Even that year his o-line wasn't great.

In 2004, the Hawks won with an elite defense and great special teams. Examine the game stats from that season - Tate had a couple decent games, but week after week we won mostly with stellar D and Kyle Schlicher booting field goals.

Tate got all the headlines because of the RB situation. He also had Clinton Solomon, Ed Hinkel, and Scott Chandler to throw the ball to - I wouldn't call that group the weakest of the Ferentz era.

You just have a man-crush on Tate.

Stanzi was a much better leader and player than Tate.

 

[CAARHawk]

I don't know about that. Given the status of Iowa's DL in '12 and the fact that so many Big 10 teams are spread teams now ... we're using our 3-4 look more and more. We're obviously NOT going to move away from the 4-3 as our base set .... however, I do believe that we could use the 3-4 enough to keep A LOT of our LBs pretty satisfied.

Besides, Derby, Alston, Poggi, and DiBona each have the sort of body-type that they could potentially also transition over to DE. Given how short-handed we're going to be at DE in the very near future ... those guys could definitely have a shot to find a legit home there too. Alston himself explicitly stated that the coaches definitely thought that he could potentially grow into a DE.

Yeah, not predicting someone will leave, just saying it could be possible. And yes, I have noticed the 3/4 look more and more, which is what prompted my comment, but still don't see going away from the base 4/3. Would be nice to see the Hawks continue to develop good flexibility between the different schemes.

 

[homerHAWKeye777]

Yeah, not predicting someone will leave, just saying it could be possible. And yes, I have noticed the 3/4 look more and more, which is what prompted my comment, but still don't see going away from the base 4/3. Would be nice to see the Hawks continue to develop good flexibility between the different schemes.

Given the size and skill set of guys like Alston and Derby ... Iowa could almost use them like a "Bandit" in a 4-3 scheme. In Iowa's 4-3 D ... the LEO is a hybrid LB/DE that is lined up most of the time like a LB. Thus, it allows Iowa to kinda give a 5-2 look against running teams ... which can help us to shut down the run that much better (provided the front 7 each does their respective jobs). However, in a 4-3 with a "Bandit" ... the "Bandit" is a hybrid LB/DE that spends more of the time lined up at DE. However, depending on what the D reads ... the "Bandit" can drop back and the D transitions from an even front to an odd front ... being much more like a 3-4.

Anyhow, given Iowa's current personnel, I'd love Iowa to tap into that look.

 

[dyerhawk]

More importantly, why would you wish that on the football program you supposedly root for.

ostrich

 

[DJL]

It does not matter how good our LBs are if our defensive line gets blown off of the ball. That's why I like using the 3-4 look a little more. The Penn State game, especially in the second half, really made me worry about the Michigan and MSU games. The D must find an answer before those games or those teams will run for a lot of yards.

 

[Clark]

In 2004, the Hawks won with an elite defense and great special teams. Examine the game stats from that season - Tate had a couple decent games, but week after week we won mostly with stellar D and Kyle Schlicher booting field goals.

Tate got all the headlines because of the RB situation. He also had Clinton Solomon, Ed Hinkel, and Scott Chandler to throw the ball to - I wouldn't call that group the weakest of the Ferentz era.

You just have a man-crush on Tate.

Stanzi was a much better leader and player than Tate.

lol that's great. I wonder who played with more NFL players, Tate or Stanzi?

Also, you can't just name the receivers and tell me that's not the weakest of the Ferentz era. Name a weaker one. It certainly wasn't Clark, Jones, Brown that Banks played with. It wasn't DJK, McNutt, Moeaki that Stanzi played with.

 

[CloneHawk]

Are you saying Stanzi was a better QB than Tate, or a bigger D-Bag?

QB. Anyone who hates hippies is good in my book

 

[eveningnewsteam]

It does not matter how good our LBs are if our defensive line gets blown off of the ball. That's why I like using the 3-4 look a little more. The Penn State game, especially in the second half, really made me worry about the Michigan and MSU games. The D must find an answer before those games or those teams will run for a lot of yards.

True, but hopefully the Iowa offense can help a little more than they did at Penn State. That was so pitiful

 

[homes]

Why would you wish that upon anyone?

Maybe Hawkforce is the owner of a certain bus that has 1 less window.

 

[DJL]

True, but hopefully the Iowa offense can help a little more than they did at Penn State. That was so pitiful

I agree with you there. Our offense was sooooo conservative. It seemed like the game plan was to try not to make any mistakes on offense because Penn State's offense was so bad. Hopefully we won't be that conservative ever again. We need to stretch the field and score points. The D will give up some scores, that's just the way it is this year.

 

[homerHAWKeye777]

I agree with you there. Our offense was sooooo conservative. It seemed like the game plan was to try not to make any mistakes on offense because Penn State's offense was so bad. Hopefully we won't be that conservative ever again. We need to stretch the field and score points. The D will give up some scores, that's just the way it is this year.

What are you talking about? When we tried to go no huddle ... we ended up having some unsuccessful drives that took little to no time off the clock and essentially gave our D no rest!

Also, apart from continued poor tackling against PSU ... the problem that our D had in the 2nd half was 2-fold:

- Nardo and Morris were injured (among others)
- The D had already been on the field too long because the O wasn't sustaining drives (due to poor execution ... missed blocks, dropped balls, and some poorly thrown balls particularly coming to mind).

 

[superfan12]

Morris at WILL, Nielsen at MLB, Derby at LEO...Done. Insert Alston to MLB next year.

Um... I think you are fogetting someone. Kirksey has probably been our best LB this year how/why is he getting overlooked?

I agree 100%

 

[superfan12]

Um... I think you are fogetting someone. Kirksey has probably been our best LB this year how/why is he getting overlooked?

I agree with you. Bench Morris. Insert Kirksey

Disagree 100%, don't replace the starter with some unknown QB wannabe.

 

[superfan12]

Actually AJ is widely known, I meant how he will do at LB, that is unknown.

 

[DJL]

What are you talking about? When we tried to go no huddle ... we ended up having some unsuccessful drives that took little to no time off the clock and essentially gave our D no rest!

Also, apart from continued poor tackling against PSU ... the problem that our D had in the 2nd half was 2-fold:

- Nardo and Morris were injured (among others)
- The D had already been on the field too long because the O wasn't sustaining drives (due to poor execution ... missed blocks, dropped balls, and some poorly thrown balls particularly coming to mind).

Sure we went no huddle, and even moved the ball a little the first drive, but how many times did we through the ball down the field? How many times did we dump the ball to Coker? Is that on Vandy, or the coaching staff? I don't know. It seemed in the second half, with the expception of a couple of plays, we refused to attempt to stretch the defense. After that game I saw the breakdown of the pass attempts, and the thing that jumped off the page was how little we threw something deep. The same could be said for the ISU game. First play of the game, we through a nice deep route for a big gain, and we never really went back to it. However, Vandy was not as sharp that day. So again I ask, is this Vandy not trusting himself as much on the road, or the coaches? Or am I just imagining all of this, and the offense has been pretty much the same every week?

 

[DJL]

- Nardo and Morris were injured (among others)
- The D had already been on the field too long because the O wasn't sustaining drives (due to poor execution ... missed blocks, dropped balls, and some poorly thrown balls particularly coming to mind).

As far as the defense is concerned, yes we had injuries and we spent too much time on the field, but I watched the game again a week or so ago, and it was very clear we were getting blown off the ball. They looked better last week, and they spent a lot of time on the field. Let's hope they keep improving.

 

[DesMoinesHawki]

I never blew Morris' horn. Not that there's anything wrong with it.

How can you possibly know what kind of LB Derby is? That is just wild conjecture on your part.

I agree I think fans are jumping the gun in assuming Derby is going to be an all-world linebacker. We don't know that. He has been learning the qb position for two seasons. Yes, he is a good athlete but I am surprised at fans who are ready to name him as an all Big 10 linebacker (okay, stretching it here, but you know what I mean) ...

 

[SeattleHawkeye]

As far as the defense is concerned, yes we had injuries and we spent too much time on the field, but I watched the game again a week or so ago, and it was very clear we were getting blown off the ball. They looked better last week, and they spent a lot of time on the field. Let's hope they keep improving.

I felt essentially the same way after PSU, and agree w/ your earlier 3-4 sentiment. The DL was collectively blown off the ball repeatedly, in particular the 2nd half, and that created havoc w/ the LB's not freeing them up to make plays. I like the idea of a 3-4, particularly w/ OLBs like Nielsen, Alston, Kirksey and Hitchens and some of the younger DEs coming off the edge. I don't think it will ever happen, but it would be good to see them flash more looks to give opposing offenses something to consider. I also think Morris' best LB spot may be the Will in a 4-3 or as an ILB in a 3-4 w/ more beef up front to protect him. I also agree that some of us are giving Derby a ton of credit as a LB when we have nothing but potential to get excited about - not saying he won't be a stud, as he was supposedly a fantastic athlete, but to date I don't think anyone has seen anything indicating he'll be a great collegiate LB.

And I love the argument that the PSU game was the offense's fault, Homer. The offense clearly didn't sustain drives, but the defense repeatedly had opportunities to get off the field. All they had to do was make a 3rd down stop against a very conservative, run-oriented offense, and they couldn't get the job done. That game was akin to ISU - a collective fail by both units. It's comical blaming 1 unit for that collective failure, in particular w/ the ridiculously conservative passing game IA was operating.

 

[Texashawk17]

I like the fact he is switching to d. He was a beast on special teams in the army all American game few years back.

 

[RADMAN]

I for one hope derby becomes the.biggest recruiting bust we have ever had.

I've ready most of your posts and everyone is BS. You knock coaches, players and the hawkeyes. Find a different board!