Just read a nice write up about David Johnson on his visit back home. Now, I rarely talk about the coaching staff 'missing' on a kid, but they did on him. Can you imagine if the Hawks had him in the backfield as opposed to a walk-on transfer FB (I'm trying not to throw Wiesman under the bus, as he was a great hawk). Or even having them in the same backfield, etc.... The Hawks may not have suffered such 'down years' at that time.......
David Johnson
- Thread starter Ickehawk
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MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
He's definitely a stud and NFL caliber talent. He's proved he can be an every down back in the NFL. I can't recall his recruiting path or story. Diamond in the rough.
He was a stud at UNI and they really did a good job of using him in creative ways. The only reason he went to UNI was Iowa wanted to grey shirt him I believe right? He sure had a big game against us that one game. (How much you want to bet Stanford watched UNI game tape on us from that year when how to use a RB out of the backfield)
So, did Kirk think he had him in the bag? How did Farley end up with him? That was a huge steal.
DBAHawkFan
Well-Known Member
When I went to the Rose Bowl, got talking to the people around us and I brought this game up to them. I said they have a dynamic RB, and Stanford most definitely watched that game. DJ had over 200 yards receiving against us, and our LB are not the best in coverage (they're OK, but against a talent like DJ or McCaffry, no chance)
And first play of the game, what do they do???? Rest is history. So frustrating
Iowa had offered him a gray shirt I believe which meant he would have to wait a semester or two before being on scholarship so he went to UNI. A ton of people missed on him not just Iowa. Same with Kurt Warner, same with Bryce Paup.
I think it was just hurt feelings. He wanted a full ride and UNI (which actually rarely offers full rides to instate kids usually they offer partials and full rides to the out of staters) was happy to get him. He put up video game numbers in HS it really is crazy that he slipped through the cracks. Iowa at least did want him. Lots and lots of schools missed the bus on him completely.
I believe ya. Cause as the Rose Bowl was going on that UNI game popped up in my head too. Iowa shut DJ down rushing the ball but man our LBs that year were just bad in coverage.. That MLB we had was about the worst of the KF era I believe... And he was a senior that year...
That first play of the game was so bad..... I mean how does any player (let alone the RB that should have won he Heisman) get that wide open and have nobody within like 10 yards of him from catch to end zone.. I put some of that on the coaches too schematically. But that's neither here nor there now.
For some reason, I didn't think he had the grades to get on scholarship right away (or maybe they weren't sure he'd have the grades, and didn't want to commit a roster spot to him).
I could be completely remembering this wrong, though ... it's possible I'm just making excuses for the coaching staff. A you can tell, I don't really know how the whole recruiting process works. But I'd hate to think our coaches missed so badly for no reason. I guess it happens.
AreWeThereYet
Well-Known Member
I remember reading exactly that after the Rosebowl. I can't remember where the article was. Basically it stated that the Stanford staff thought their offense had distinct similarities to the Northern Iowa offense and that they could utilize McCaffry in similar fashion to David Johnson against Iowa's defense. They used the game film from the 2014 Northern Iowa game to plan out their strategy and specifically exploited the outside linebacker in coverage.
I don't know if they specifically knew that Ben Neimann's was out with an ankle injury from shortly after the Michigan State game. My understanding is Neimann tried to play in the Rose Bowl after little preparation but only stayed in several plays than Bo Bower played the rest of the game.
Iowa was obviously over matched but trying to cover McCaffry with a backup made things worse.
99topdawg
Well-Known Member
This is what I was going to post as well. Not positive of it, but I remember hearing it somewhere.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
Reese Morgan really tried to get David to Iowa. He said he was the most talented kid in Iowa that year, and he of course turned out right like he always does. I think since then if Reese likes an Iowa kid a lot, KF offers said kid a scholarship.
This is one of the many reason I laughy so hard at IowaLaw who tried to tell us a year ago that we were getting too many Iowa kids in last years recruiting. Now what is the board all up in arms about? A Iowa kid who 2 month ago nobody cared about might not be coming to Iowa, which by the way would put us at 6 Iowa kids in this class.
This is one of the many reason I laughy so hard at IowaLaw who tried to tell us a year ago that we were getting too many Iowa kids in last years recruiting. Now what is the board all up in arms about? A Iowa kid who 2 month ago nobody cared about might not be coming to Iowa, which by the way would put us at 6 Iowa kids in this class.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
What state did David Johnson come from when in HS? City?
I can see that. They released McCafrey about the same way. Coaches don't make up 'new' stuff, they find stuff that worked against a defense. Last year, I think it was Minnesota, ran a play that killed us in our 1/4,1/4,1/2 coverage and then the next 3 teams ran a similar play with great success......
Except that they didn't pick on the outside LB (leo) on the first play. They just beat Lomax one on one (I think Lomax thought he had help from the WILL (Fisher) on the inside, but Fisher didn't read the QB well and then slipped). The LEO was way to the left of the formation (his right) and had the TE in the flat away from the play. Nice try, but you're absolutely wrong. P.S. UNI (Johnson) beat the MIKE LB (Alston) twice, not the LEO or WILL.
Listen, the Stanford game was just kind of a perfect storm. They picked on a hurt Lomax for the first 2 TD's and then it just snowballed with our 'All-Americans" not playing like it. Punt coverage breakdown, CJ uncharacteristically throws a horrible pass for a pick six and then King got burnt horribly on the 'fake fumble' pass....so in a few short minutes the game got out of hand...it can happen...especially to a dinged up team that didn't bounce back well from their only loss of the season...a heartbreaking, last minute loss with a chance to go to the BCS playoff!!!
ThunderHawk
Well-Known Member
Johnson played at Clinton. IIRC when he was being recruited Iowa was already stacked at RB. Too bad, dude is legit, probably would have been an All-American here.
ThunderHawk
Well-Known Member
Yep. Total quicksand game. Over-analyzing it is a waste of time.