Defensive Line Surprises

Wow...what were you saying when JVB was making the plays he did last year. It's all luck. The fact of the matter is, he didn't show good pocket presence last year against complex blitz packages and he doesn't feel pressure well. I'll give you that, but that also could be an experience thing...with some coaching thrown in there.

The reality though, and one you fail to appreciate, is that he doesn't play the games by himself. When your offense is predicated on running the ball and setting up play action to be successful, you better freaking be able to run the football. Well, in all the games you speak of, we couldn't run the football...so what happens. We are behind the chains and our play selection becomes really predictable...especially with O'Sleep running the ship. To lay all that on JVB is ridiculous...and moronic to say the least. I'll give you that he has some shortcomings that he can improve upon...but he manages the game, and if he has time...he can deliver it accurately. I think he makes a huge leap this year with a less predictable offense...and one that sounds like will try to set up the run with the pass.

Don't forgot all the drops. PSU and ISU were winnable without so many drops. Also KFs decision to kick a 3 instead of going for a td in overtime was a killer against ISU.

Vandeburg has his flaws but a huge problem is that he was being asked to play a system not to his strengths. His strength is being in the shotgun in a quick pace pass first offense.
 


He also had the lowest YPC average of any starting Big 10 running back.

Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Minnesota starters had less than 4.9 YPC.

I don't want to be overly defensive of Coker because I believe most decent RB's will do pretty well at Iowa, but I don't think it's fair to down play what he did too much either. He was asked to shoulder a load at Iowa which few RB's have been able to do while staying healthy.
 


Pray Alvis and Davis come back healthy and Davis comes on strong. Iowa cannot expect to compete in the Big 10 with the defensive line they had in the spring. The front 7 on defense is borderline scary and not in a good way.
 


Pray Alvis and Davis come back healthy and Davis comes on strong. Iowa cannot expect to compete in the Big 10 with the defensive line they had in the spring. The front 7 on defense is borderline scary and not in a good way.

I really don't think there is anything wrong with the LB's. A little undersized maybe, but they should all be 5-7 pounds heavier come fall and they all can run. With the spread and running QB's all over the league...this is a very good thing. We have three guys that can cover and hit you. I like it.

If we really are going to be more aggressive on 3rd down and be sure to get pressure...I like the fact that these guys can get to the QB quickly.

The concern is whether our DL can develop to occupy people and not do a backward dance at the line of scrimmage. If they do, our LBs will be very good.
 






Are you joking? Kirksey is one of the fastest LB's we have ever had, and Morris and hitchens both have well above average speed. This is the most mobile groups of LB's ferentz has ever had.

Ok. Look around the Big 10 and see how Iowa's LB's measure up to the rest of the conference.
 


Ok. Look around the Big 10 and see how Iowa's LB's measure up to the rest of the conference.

What's your point? Kirksey and Morris are both top ten LB's in this conference. Hitchens has the athleticism to become a top-flight LB but was stuck behind Nielson. Plus they are still really young as a collective unit.
 


Prediction: This year we surprise people and go 8-4 in regular season and win our bowl game to finish 9-4. Next year we'll be 11-2 and find a BCS Bowl.
 


<<Penn State worries me more than Nebraska>>

Not seeing this. Nebby returns some horses. PSU? New coach, etc., etc.

Problem is, it's very possible we lose both in ugly fashion.
 


<<Penn State worries me more than Nebraska>>

Not seeing this. Nebby returns some horses. PSU? New coach, etc., etc.

Problem is, it's very possible we lose both in ugly fashion.

I tend to lean this way, but if PSU ever figures out how to develop QB's we better watch out.
 




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