Bill O'Brien Says Riley McCarron Like Wes Welker
- Thread starter RobHowe
- Start date
Joshbrown
Well-Known Member
Let's hope he makes the team. Recruiting WRs at Iowa will become easier when the coaches can point to WRs in the NFL.
GesterHawk
Well-Known Member
Especially when they can point out that he was a walk on that was developed into an NFL player.
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
He had a pretty solid senior year considering he was a slot guy and probably our 3rd WR until MVB went down... and a walk on... it takes those guys longer to see the field typically - and he was hurt seemingly more then healthy most of his career. He's an Iowa success story, I am fairly certain of it.
George Kittle is probable starter at TE for 49ers with CJ Beathard as 2nd team QB. LeShun Daniels and Cole Croston are doing well in Patriots camp. Riley wowing the Texans. Makes you wonder about GD and BK. Brian Ferentz, Tim Polasek, and Kelton Copeland are a YUGE upgrade at Iowa.
HawkGold
Well-Known Member
I seriously think that for a high level athlete it may be the opposite if Iowa is trying to get high level players.
Iowa, where players who don't get much time can be in the NFL. That is a double edged sword.
Imagine, if Wadley wins the Heisman or runner up. Iowa, the place where non starters as a junior can make the NFL.
Or, Iowa where mediocre QBs who the coach doesn't want to start them can make the NFL.
Interesting angle.
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
I think this is all incredibly short sited. Again, just my opinion. Riley was hurt TONS throughout his career, was a walk on - and up until last season, NOT Iowa's best option at WR. That's not a bad thing IMO.
Also - Wadley was a 2 star who's next best offer was what ? Temple? Undersized and now heading into his senior year is considered one the most elusive backs in the country. He's amassed over 2,000 all purpose yards before his SENIOR season? A 2 star. He's on the Doak Walker watch list and considered to be a sure fire NFL draft pick next season. HOW IS THAT even f'ing considered under used or lack of developing into a good player who they utilize?
And don't get me started on either QB Ruddock or CJ - Both were 3 star guys who are likely going to be 2nd string guys in the NFL. Where is Iowa failing in that?
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He was clearly the Hawks most important offensive skill player last year (most total yards, most TDs, dominated touches in highest-leverage situations). Someone would have to have an agenda in order to minimize his contributions by calling him a "non-starter."
HawkGold
Well-Known Member
No, it is what it is. For premier athletes, starting is highly important. He clearly was the better back last year. The agenda is why he didn't start. That is what high level recruits will see, at least part of them.
If you want to get personal, I can engage in that. I have a different opinion as a Hawk fan, that is all.
HawkGold
Well-Known Member
Yes, Riley was hurt. All those things were factors. We could banter back and forth on CJ/Ruddock, but that's already been done.
To be a program that year in and year out is a contender you need top athletes. Top athletes want to start, not just play. Iowa at times does not start the best player. It is obvious it's not a problem of too many top players and the offense is highly working.
Some if not many potential recruits will in fact perceive that Iowa does not give players a fair shake. Note I didn't say there weren't provided that, I said HIGH LEVEL recruits will perceive that.
Will be interesting to see how the new RB will contribute this year.
I personally think RM didn't get to play much as the system is so bent on not making mistakes....throwing to a short receiver is more of a challenge in risk.
Btw, speed kills opponents. Speed increases turnover risk. This is a risk adverse system.
You can have whatever opinion you want, I was just pointing out that is seems odd that one would choose the label "non-starter" as opposed to something like "leader in yards from scrimmage" or "leader in TDs." To each their own, I guess.
I do agree that he was the better back, but I also think the coaches utilized him very wisely. They created an important role for Daniels (probably their 2nd best skill position player once MVB went down, and also a guy with NFL talent), and they kept Wadley fresh and healthy for most of the season. They deployed him heavily when they needed him most (Michigan game, Bowl game).
RobHowe
Administrator
I guess it's somewhat predictable that people around here are going to take a real cool story like McCarron walking on at Iowa, playing a big role in wins at Illinois and against Nebraska last year to finish his career and now impressing coaches in an NFL camp, and turn it into an indictment of the Hawkeye program. Still, it's laughable.
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
i just disagree I guess - and year in year out contender for what? A National Title? I don't think you'll see that ever in your life time. I'm not sure if it's even possible at a developmental program like Iowa. So, if you're hoping for that, I don't know that there's a coach in America who can change Iowa's "lot in life" or pecking order in the food chain. So, we make the best of what we have.
If you mean the B1G West, well, I think Iowa's already there. Iowa takes unheralded kids and turns them into pros - I don't see how that can be perceived as anything but a positive.
Iowa isn't going to routinely attract "top" athletes or get their pick of the liter. I 100% agree with that, but it HAS nothing to do with how they utilize what they have in most cases. Sure, I get WR - that's not Iowa's scheme. Why would any top WR want to come to Iowa - that's not how they win ball games or have had proven success. Sure, there our outliers but Iowa hasn't made it's successful top 25 on average program the last 20 years throwing the ball.
They don't play the best players? They don't put the best kids on the field to give them the best out come of success? That's laughable in my opinion and something that is completely false. They got the QB battle wrong a few times... I bet you could say that about ANY coach in the country. Bill Belichick was playing Drew Bledsoe the first 2 seasons over Tom Brady... what a dope right?
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
what did he say say that was personal?
RobHowe
Administrator
I am trying to right this wrong Rob.
I get that some folks don't like the state of the program. As fans, I get it. And there certainly are some legit criticisms and fans can want something different.
McCarron doing what he's doing, even if he never makes it, is a really cool story. Turning it into a negative about the program is just tired, IMO.
