Bowl Game Two Deeps Questions

big10fan

Well-Known Member
Hey, sorry if this has been discussed already, but I noticed some weird stuff on Jon's two deep post.
1. Gettis is JV's backup and Koeppel is starting RG? Seemed like we were tearing up the running game with him in and that Koeppel wasn't doing so hot at guard.
2. Apparently Tarp isn't expected to be ready to start for the bowl, has KF said if he'll be ready to play at all?
3. Bernstein not on the two deeps at all? Is he still battling injury or has he just gotten passed up by everyone (I find that hard to believe)?
4. Sandeman not the PR? So, are we just going to fair catch everything then? It would be really nice to actually have someone return a punt.
Thanks for any input!
 
Hey, sorry if this has been discussed already, but I noticed some weird stuff on Jon's two deep post.
1. Gettis is JV's backup and Koeppel is starting RG? Seemed like we were tearing up the running game with him in and that Koeppel wasn't doing so hot at guard.
2. Apparently Tarp isn't expected to be ready to start for the bowl, has KF said if he'll be ready to play at all?
3. Bernstein not on the two deeps at all? Is he still battling injury or has he just gotten passed up by everyone (I find that hard to believe)?
4. Sandeman not the PR? So, are we just going to fair catch everything then? It would be really nice to actually have someone return a punt.
Thanks for any input!

1. I don't get that either. Unless they just aren't healthy, but we saw what the line was like with Koeppel as a starter.
2. Not sure, but it's good to see Hunter is back. Was really hoping to see Tarp
3. I don't think he's ever come back from last year's injury and it has shown. I don't know if he'll ever make it to the top of the depth chart.
4. I wonder if he's gotten his bell rung a few too many times, and now that he's the starting WR we don't want him to get hurt. My question is, will Davis always be McNutt's backup, cause if so he'll only be the starter his senior year. I don't get that.
 
My question is, why is that yet again, Sandemann is called the starter above DJK? Happened before the Minnesota game as well. DJK in the dog house with Ferentz again?!
 
Hey, sorry if this has been discussed already, but I noticed some weird stuff on Jon's two deep post.
1. Gettis is JV's backup and Koeppel is starting RG? Seemed like we were tearing up the running game with him in and that Koeppel wasn't doing so hot at guard.
2. Apparently Tarp isn't expected to be ready to start for the bowl, has KF said if he'll be ready to play at all?
3. Bernstein not on the two deeps at all? Is he still battling injury or has he just gotten passed up by everyone (I find that hard to believe)?
4. Sandeman not the PR? So, are we just going to fair catch everything then? It would be really nice to actually have someone return a punt.
Thanks for any input!

1. It may be that both Gettis and MacMillan are still nursing injuries and may be good to go by bowl game time. I sure hope so.

2. KF said today that they're on schedule to have Tarp ready to go for the bowl game. Of course, that assumes there are no further setbacks, but he should be ready.

3. Don't know what's up with Bernstine. He's been hurt a lot this year and I heard rumblings a few weeks back that he had been moved to receiver and was working with the O but nothing really followed that.

4. I think the Sandeman not returning punts thing has two components. First, they may not want him back there if he's going to be a big part of the offense. Second, they may want to see who we have that can return punts next year. KF has repeatedly said the most important thing in a returner is the ability to make the catch every time. It may be that he just wants to see how others respond so he knows which way to lean for next year.
 
Anybody ever get the feeling that we missed out on Tarp. To bad we had such talented LB when he was there job. If he would of had more playing time I think he would of become a fan favorite. I wonder how the season would of turned out if Tarp and Nelson stayed healthy.
 
4. I wonder if he's gotten his bell rung a few too many times, and now that he's the starting WR we don't want him to get hurt. My question is, will Davis always be McNutt's backup, cause if so he'll only be the starter his senior year. I don't get that.

We had the same issue last year with DJK and McNutt. As far as in-game performance goes, McNutt and DJK were clearly our top 2 receivers last year; however, because they played the same position (Stross started at the other WR spot), they only got on the field at the same time on plays where we went at least 3 wide. What happened this past spring was that they moved McNutt to Stross's old spot (or maybe they moved DJK...same net effect) and we started our 2 most talented receivers.

I watched Keenan Davis in high school and I have seen the limited amount of snaps he has received so far at Iowa...I hope he receives similar treatment this spring as McNutt did last spring so that we can start Davis and McNutt (6'3" and 6'4") next year. I wish they could have worked it in a little for the bowl, but with Ferentz propensity toward playing older players, I understand leaving Sandeman in that spot for Mizzou. Here's my issue, however...if Sandeman gets dinged up, who would you rather have in the game? Nordmann or Davis? While Nordmann certainly is a guy who has busted his tail during his time at Iowa, there isn't any doubt that Davis is the more dynamic and talented receiver.
 
We had the same issue last year with DJK and McNutt. As far as in-game performance goes, McNutt and DJK were clearly our top 2 receivers last year; however, because they played the same position (Stross started at the other WR spot), they only got on the field at the same time on plays where we went at least 3 wide. What happened this past spring was that they moved McNutt to Stross's old spot (or maybe they moved DJK...same net effect) and we started our 2 most talented receivers.

I watched Keenan Davis in high school and I have seen the limited amount of snaps he has received so far at Iowa...I hope he receives similar treatment this spring as McNutt did last spring so that we can start Davis and McNutt (6'3" and 6'4") next year. I wish they could have worked it in a little for the bowl, but with Ferentz propensity toward playing older players, I understand leaving Sandeman in that spot for Mizzou. Here's my issue, however...if Sandeman gets dinged up, who would you rather have in the game? Nordmann or Davis? While Nordmann certainly is a guy who has busted his tail during his time at Iowa, there isn't any doubt that Davis is the more dynamic and talented receiver.

I figure they start KD and MM next year at #1 and #2. Davis will be a 3rd year player and our most experienced receiver with actual in-game PT outside of McNutt (correct me if I'm wrong on this). The interesting thing, to me, will be to see if we stick with a 2-wide base set or go to a 3-wide pro set with an ace backfield. Doing that would allow us to play somebody in the slot (Kevonte Martin-Manley has pretty ideal slot size/speed but I could also see them going to a true freshman like Alex Carr if we offer him) and take advantage of speed mismatches against LBs.
 
I figure they start KD and MM next year at #1 and #2. Davis will be a 3rd year player and our most experienced receiver with actual in-game PT outside of McNutt (correct me if I'm wrong on this). The interesting thing, to me, will be to see if we stick with a 2-wide base set or go to a 3-wide pro set with an ace backfield. Doing that would allow us to play somebody in the slot (Kevonte Martin-Manley has pretty ideal slot size/speed but I could also see them going to a true freshman like Alex Carr if we offer him) and take advantage of speed mismatches against LBs.

Midnight, I think I heard that Alex Carr committed to UNI earlier this week (or maybe late last week). But we do still have Jordan Cotton waiting in the wings as a potential slot player.

*edit for linkage: Here it is
 
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1. My guess is that either MacMillan or Gettis will get the start at right guard if they are healthy enough to play.

2. Tarp will start at LEO if he is healthy. He is a major upgrade over anyone else we can throw out there. Athletic-wise Dakota Getz would be next in line but no game reps so no Pt.

3. No idea about Bernstine. I would guess Tanner Miller is the next Free Safety

4. I would guess that Chaney is going to continue to return punts. I am not a fan but he hasn't muffed one yet. He just looks dangerous in a bad way.
 
1. I dont believe that Gettis is healthy. Hopefully he is, since he was mauling people in the run game.
2. The only reason Tarp would not be on the two deep is that he is not able to play. I also would expect him to play LEO if he was able. That would be a serious upgrade with our LB corps.
3 If Bernstine isnt battling an injury, this says a great deal about the view the coaching staff has of him right now. However, he has had an injury riddled last few years. Since the 2 deeps came out, this was the question I wanted to be answered. I hope it gets addressed at a presser prior to the bowl game. I want to know if Bernstine is hurt, or if Tanner Miller just jumped him, or if they are trying him at a new position.
4. Sandeman is not the PR because he is starting. Its that simple. Chaney isnt the PR because he has a hands issue. Keenan Davis is listed as the PR, and that should be fun to watch.

Lastly, someone mentioned Kevonte Martin-Manley in the slot next year. I didnt realize he was that fast. I looked it up and he ran a 4.58. I am very interested to see how his career at Iowa pans out. Very little recruiting hype, but normally the staff has a good eye for these things. But, if we were going to go three wide, I would prefer it to be McNutt, KD, and Fedor. And Fedor is going to be a huge red zone threat, and I dont really know who you can expect to cover this guy in the slot. LB's wont be able to keep up with him, CB's are too small. It would take a very talented safety in man coverage. And I am not sure next year a zone would work, KVB has a strong arm and can hit the zones soft spots. I think next year will be a lot of fun to watch.
 
Lastly, someone mentioned Kevonte Martin-Manley in the slot next year. I didnt realize he was that fast. I looked it up and he ran a 4.58. I am very interested to see how his career at Iowa pans out. Very little recruiting hype, but normally the staff has a good eye for these things. But, if we were going to go three wide, I would prefer it to be McNutt, KD, and Fedor. And Fedor is going to be a huge red zone threat, and I dont really know who you can expect to cover this guy in the slot. LB's wont be able to keep up with him, CB's are too small. It would take a very talented safety in man coverage. And I am not sure next year a zone would work, KVB has a strong arm and can hit the zones soft spots. I think next year will be a lot of fun to watch.

If we go 3-wide, we could still use CJF as TE. In a pro set with an ace backfield, you have obviously 5 linemen, 1 TE, 3 WR, 1 RB, 1 QB. In that set, we could go with KD and MM on the outside, KMM in the slot, and still isolate CJF against a LB or safety.
 
Yes, there are many different formations you can create matchup problems with. I was just mentioning one I would like to see. The colts run a 3 wide with Clark in the slot, that was the formation I was referring to. The 3 wide with a TE in the ace backfield would work also.
 
A thought on Gettis at Left Guard. Maybe they are trying to give Gettis more work on the left side during bowl prep because they want him to start there next year. That would make for likely starting OL of:

LT: Reiff
LG: Gettis
C: Ferentz
RG: MacMillan
RT: Zusevics

That's a pretty good lineup, and they'll have better depth next year, too. Reason for optimism on that front at least.

It would also improve depth. If MacMillan is ready to go by the bowl game he would start at RG, but they'll probably rotate anyway.
 
Yes, there are many different formations you can create matchup problems with. I was just mentioning one I would like to see. The colts run a 3 wide with Clark in the slot, that was the formation I was referring to. The 3 wide with a TE in the ace backfield would work also.

So then in your setup would we run Herman at TE with CJF in the slot, or would we go with a 3-wide I formation to bring in a FB to block?
 
I suppose you could do it either way. I understand the formation with Herman is the exact same one you just mentioned, but switching fedor and martin-manley. Basically I wanted to put fedor in space rather then in a 3 pt stance. I just feel like he would force the defense to adjust pre-snap, and if not there would be a mismatch. I'll be honest, I am just really looking forward to seeing him play, I thought we would see more of him this year. You seem to be in the loop with our recruits. Is hamilton going to play TE at Iowa? I thought he was, but I also thought they were recruiting Armstead Williams as a LB. I have read a lot of good things about Williams at LB.
 
I suppose you could do it either way. I understand the formation with Herman is the exact same one you just mentioned, but switching fedor and martin-manley. Basically I wanted to put fedor in space rather then in a 3 pt stance. I just feel like he would force the defense to adjust pre-snap, and if not there would be a mismatch. I'll be honest, I am just really looking forward to seeing him play, I thought we would see more of him this year. You seem to be in the loop with our recruits. Is hamilton going to play TE at Iowa? I thought he was, but I also thought they were recruiting Armstead Williams as a LB. I have read a lot of good things about Williams at LB.

I see what you're saying, and since CJF was a WR in HS anyway, he'd be comfortable in a 2-point stance. Then again, we could always just line him up at TE and keep him in a 2-point as well. Either way, he's going to be a size/speed mismatch for whoever guards him. I was excited to see him this year too but KF has a simple rule for TEs: if you can't block, you can't run routes. With CJ's background as a WR, blocking was pretty foreign territory for him and he had to learn on the fly. I expect him to be a pretty good blocker by next year and to take over at TE1.

Hamilton and Krieger-Coble should both stay at TE, with Duzey moving to WR. Hamilton is the real deal and with him and CJF playing at the same time in a couple years, we will have 2 guys that are really hard to plan for. I wouldn't be surprised to see them go to CJ as a receiving option in the bowl game, either. Given 6 weeks of bowl prep, if all he had to do was fix his blocking he should be ready by then.

With regard to Williams, I'd heard good things about him at LB as well. But then again, we have guys like Melvin Spears coming in at LB, and we still have a shot at Ejuan Price so the coaches may feel pretty comfortable with what we have there. I haven't seen a ton of his film as a WR, but it must have been impressive if the coaches never even considered him at LB.
 

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