Do we have the playmakers?

I have a hard time seeing where our speed is going to come from. I know we never have elite speed but it seems to be a little worse than usual this year. Its always nice to have that one burner who can keep defenses honest.

Never have elite speed? A little worse than usual? Because why? We're not in the SEC? Give me a break.
 


It's been a long time since I thought a team Iowa has played showed considerably more speed. Georgia Tech was supposed to, nope. Missouri was supposed to...and they went to a short accurate passing game to beat us...not stretching the field.

I believe we have plenty of speed in the backfield if daylight presents itself. Coker showed that in the Insight...and a run or two against OSU. The film of the freshmen coming in also showed speed. McNutt has speed, he gets behind people and they don't catch him.

Norm said in the spring, this will be the fast overall defense he thinks he's put on the field. Iowa has done a great job over the past 4-5 years of recruiting speed, and more importantly, developing it through their training programs.
 


Thanks for posting. I am getting very excited for this season. Iowa has the playmakers to have a great season. If they stay healthy, it will be awesome! I am especially looking forward to watching the O line - Reiff and Zus. Also Coker, McNutt, and CJ. On defense, I want to see Daniels step up. I am also looking forward to seeing the big boy Davis have is break out year. Go Hawks!
 


Unfortunately a lot of the guys you mentioned are very untested:

Vandenberg, Davis, Lowery, CJF and others that depend a lot on others

Coker--OL
Davis/McNutt- Vandy

etc.

so it's a crap shoot right now.
 


Unfortunately a lot of the guys you mentioned are very untested:

Vandenberg, Davis, Lowery, CJF and others that depend a lot on others

Coker--OL
Davis/McNutt- Vandy

etc.

so it's a crap shoot right now.

- In 2008, Stanzi was completely untested ... and yet were it not for his tendency to fumble the ball, Iowa would likely have only been a 1-loss team! Fortunately Vandenberg already has starts under his belt and had the entire summer working with the #1s ... a luxury that Stanzi didn't have. My bet is that Vandenberg takes good care of the ball in '11.

Furthermore, in '08 ....

- Pat Angerer was untested. He kinda "blew up" during the spring ... however, he hadn't received any prior starts or much of any prior quality positional reps. Anyhow, without question, Angerer definitely EMERGED as a big-time player for us.

- Amari Spievey was untested. He looked good as a starter at Iowa Central ... however, he was a whole year removed from the Hawks. Obviously, Spievey EMERGED as a big-time player for us.

- Shonn Greene was actually relatively untested. The most Shonn flashed before was in Iowa's '06 game against Purdue. Some folks might say that they liked what they saw from him in '05 against Ball State ... but that was also a heavily depleted Ball State squad ... and Shonn still ran a bit too upright and still didn't look too comfortable with his newly acquired weight. Obviously, Greene did a lot more than just EMERGE in '08 ... his performance was like a nuclear blast.

- Brandon Myers had a year of starts under his belt in '07 ... however, it wasn't clear how good he really was. In '08, Myers was REALLY impressive and a big weapon for us ... both with his blocking AND his receiving!

- Tyler Sash was but a lowly 3rd stringer during the spring of '08. Then, early in the season he quickly emerges as our undisputed top SS. While his green play definitely made us a little exploitable against the pass early in the season ... in the latter portion of the season he was playing at a VERY high level (although he still didn't completely know what he was doing then).

- Jeremiha Hunter wasn't even slated to be the starter in '08 ... Tarp was. All the same, Hunter played really solid ball for the Hawks ... and was particularly strong against the run.

..... the list goes on and on ....
 


Bernstine was NOT starting as a sophomore. He and Prater were listed as co-starters in Spring, but all the talk was that Prater had passed him and that was the case coming out of Spring camp and from that point forward.

I really don't mean to rip on your thread, but you stated that incorrect fact twice.

When Bernstein was a sophmore (08), Spievey and Fletcher were the starters.

Bernstein was supposedly ahead of Spievey at one point but got injured/outplayed. Prater and JB both played about equal time as backups that year but Prater would not have even been on campus for that spring.

The next year, 2009, was when they were competing for a spot opposite Spievey and JB broke his ankle. The rest is history.
 




The OP asked if Iowa has (enough) playmakers this year. This year won't be any different than any other year at Iowa. IMO, Iowa usually doesn't.
Many fans pride Iowa's program on not having a lot of playmakers, yet still winning games - as if having a great athlete is somehow bad. Ask OldDude about that.

When the Iowa gets the most out of its recruits comment is spoken (and it's spoken by many people) I'm not sure what kind of compliment it is.

Is it a gushing compliment about Iowa's program or is it a backhanded compliment?

If you buy into the philosophy that the Hawkeye football program is the greatest, it's a baldfaced compliment.
If you want to compare Iowa's football program to most every other school's football program it's a backhanded compliment - for the lack of athletes, Iowa sure has a good record year end and year out.

Iowa has plenty of playmakers.

McNutt obvious, should arguably be the best receiver in the conference.

Davis, has potential to be better than McNutt. More of a true long ball threat.

I dont see many teams having that kind of size and athleticism at both receiver spots.

Coker, again, should be one of the best in the conference.

Herman and CJF, Herman should be good and CJF could be one of the most impressive physical specimens to ever play in the big ten. I hate the overused word freak but for once it actually applies.

Iowa may not be deep or experienced but the starters at the "playmaking" positions are as big and athletic as anyone in the country.
 


Yes, I really like McMillan and Zusevics (spelling). Can't wait to watch them all move left and right together, Coker just waiting for the hole, then gone... 15 and 20 a pop!
 


Thanks for posting. I am getting very excited for this season. Iowa has the playmakers to have a great season. If they stay healthy, it will be awesome! I am especially looking forward to watching the O line - Reiff and Zus. Also Coker, McNutt, and CJ. On defense, I want to see Daniels step up. I am also looking forward to seeing the big boy Davis have is break out year. Go Hawks!

When Bernstein was a sophmore (08), Spievey and Fletcher were the starters.

Bernstein was supposedly ahead of Spievey at one point but got injured/outplayed. Prater and JB both played about equal time as backups that year but Prater would not have even been on campus for that spring.

The next year, 2009, was when they were competing for a spot opposite Spievey and JB broke his ankle. The rest is history.


My bad on bernstein. Spievey told me he took his starting spot so I figured he was starting but he must have meant his pre-season spot. Anyway, IMOO I think he will surprise a few people this year along with the entire d-back group. Another player told me Lowery will surpise people this year. I dont think d back group will be a problem. hopes are high
 


- In 2008, Stanzi was completely untested ... and yet were it not for his tendency to fumble the ball, Iowa would likely have only been a 1-loss team! Fortunately Vandenberg already has starts under his belt and had the entire summer working with the #1s ... a luxury that Stanzi didn't have. My bet is that Vandenberg takes good care of the ball in '11.

Furthermore, in '08 ....

- Pat Angerer was untested. He kinda "blew up" during the spring ... however, he hadn't received any prior starts or much of any prior quality positional reps. Anyhow, without question, Angerer definitely EMERGED as a big-time player for us.

- Amari Spievey was untested. He looked good as a starter at Iowa Central ... however, he was a whole year removed from the Hawks. Obviously, Spievey EMERGED as a big-time player for us.

- Shonn Greene was actually relatively untested. The most Shonn flashed before was in Iowa's '06 game against Purdue. Some folks might say that they liked what they saw from him in '05 against Ball State ... but that was also a heavily depleted Ball State squad ... and Shonn still ran a bit too upright and still didn't look too comfortable with his newly acquired weight. Obviously, Greene did a lot more than just EMERGE in '08 ... his performance was like a nuclear blast.

- Brandon Myers had a year of starts under his belt in '07 ... however, it wasn't clear how good he really was. In '08, Myers was REALLY impressive and a big weapon for us ... both with his blocking AND his receiving!

- Tyler Sash was but a lowly 3rd stringer during the spring of '08. Then, early in the season he quickly emerges as our undisputed top SS. While his green play definitely made us a little exploitable against the pass early in the season ... in the latter portion of the season he was playing at a VERY high level (although he still didn't completely know what he was doing then).

- Jeremiha Hunter wasn't even slated to be the starter in '08 ... Tarp was. All the same, Hunter played really solid ball for the Hawks ... and was particularly strong against the run.

..... the list goes on and on ....


Yep, you just never know who is going to become a playmaker. Every D1 team is full of all staters, all americans, and unknowns that can surprise people if given a chance. Hopefully are proven playmakers, combsined with some unknowns, will give us a complete team. Hope is high
 


Thanks for posting. I am getting very excited for this season. Iowa has the playmakers to have a great season. If they stay healthy, it will be awesome! I am especially looking forward to watching the O line - Reiff and Zus. Also Coker, McNutt, and CJ. On defense, I want to see Daniels step up. I am also looking forward to seeing the big boy Davis have is break out year. Go Hawks!

Thanks for the positive post (sometimes hard to get around here).
Definetly some people I am excited to see play this year. Hawk and proud
 


Coker has decent speed and i'm a huge fan of coker. I wouldn't say he has college football elite speed by any means (remember he is 230lbs). Do you know his 40 time? I didn't say he was slow either so back off and quit reading into something I did not say.
Well, you only mentioned McNutt, and he is not even the fastest guy on the offense. I didn't think I was jumping on you.
 


You didn't see Coker basically outrun everyone else on the field on his long Insight run? He's not slow, and I don't think Davis is either.
For Keenan Davis, speed shouldn't be the question. The question, much like I think is with Shumpert, is whether or not those two guys can get their route running and catching ability to be up to a high enough level where they can impact games this year. I think Shumpert is a guy who could easily earn his way onto the field, but he'll need an impressive camp to do it. Clearly Davis should be the #2 reciever right now, but I think Shumpert could step into a #3 or definitely a #4 receiving role.
 
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If Keenan can produce on the opposite side then McNutt will have a great year.
However, if Keenan or another reciever doesn't step up, it is going to limit the offensive options, which may lead to defensive problems.
 


If Keenan can produce on the opposite side then McNutt will have a great year.
However, if Keenan or another reciever doesn't step up, it is going to limit the offensive options, which may lead to defensive problems.
If the offense can really control the clock with a strong running game and some long drives behind that offensive line, I don't think we should have any problems. We don't need an all star #2 reciever, just a respectable target to loosen things up a little bit for McNutt, and I think our tight ends will get a fair share of balls.
 


Iowa excels in OL and defense. When it comes to skill positions (other than TE) Iowa doesn't produce elite playmakers like the other recent top 10 teams.
 


Iowa excels in OL and defense. When it comes to skill positions (other than TE) Iowa doesn't produce elite playmakers like the other recent top 10 teams.

Sorry, I agree with very little of this.

First, Iowa is not an elite top ten team.

You say Iowa excels on defense, but IMO, a lot of Iowa's defense isn't elite. You've got to be specific.
Iowa's team concept is to have agressive DLs.
When players follow the team concept, I'd agree Iowa will have some playmakers at DL.
Iowa's DLs didn't follow this team concept last year.

Because of the team concept for DLs, Iowa's LBs are overloaded with responsibility in the run and pass.
For Iowa's defense to be good, It's necessary that Iowa's LBs be good.

The team concept has Iowa's DBs usually playing a form of prevent defense the whole game. I'd understand prevent maybe the last minutes of each half, but not the whole game.
IMO, Iowa's DBs are rarely elite.


Iowa has made strides at RB. Runners run hard. They block. ARob could adequately catch the ball.

Iowa has made strides at QB.

I'll need further evidence to decide if Iowa's WRs are making strides.
Last year, the long bomb pass was successfully used when it was a surprise measure.
When their defense was expecting a pass play, Iowa's WRs didn't make many plays.

Iowa excels in producing elite OLs and TEs.
 
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Sorry, I agree with very little of this.

First, Iowa is not an elite top ten team.

You say Iowa excels on defense, but IMO, a lot of Iowa's defense isn't elite. You've got to be specific.
Iowa's team concept is to have agressive DLs.
When players follow the team concept, I'd agree Iowa will have some playmakers at DL.
Iowa's DLs didn't follow this team concept last year.

Because of the team concept for DLs, Iowa's LBs are overloaded with responsibility in the run and pass.
For Iowa's defense to be good, It's necessary that Iowa's LBs be good.

The team concept has Iowa's DBs usually playing a form of prevent defense the whole game. I'd understand prevent maybe the last minutes of each half, but not the whole game.
IMO, Iowa's DBs are rarely elite.


Iowa has made strides at RB. Runners run hard. They block. ARob could adequately catch the ball.

Iowa has made strides at QB.

I'll need further evidence to decide if Iowa's WRs are making strides.
Last year, the long bomb pass was successfully used when it was a surprise measure.
When their defense was expecting a pass play, Iowa's WRs didn't make many plays.

Iowa excels in producing elite OLs and TEs.

Well Bob Sanders, Sean Consindine, Charles Godfrey, Amari Spivey, Bradley Fletcher, and Tyler Sash would probably beg to differ.

Iowa generally fields one of the best defenses in the conference and puts more players in the NFL than anyone on that side of the ball other than OSU.

FYI, Iowa has more defensive lineman in the NFL than any school in the country right now.

You seem to not know what your talking about much.

I would describe Iowas scheme as it concerns the D line to be the opposite of aggressive. Its very controlled actually.
 


If Keenan can produce on the opposite side then McNutt will have a great year.
However, if Keenan or another reciever doesn't step up, it is going to limit the offensive options, which may lead to defensive problems.

yes, i really think we need at least two receivers regularly making catches, game in and game out. On top of theat we need 1 to 2 other receivers who can make catches here and there. Hopefully MM and KD will be regular players making plays and a Shumpert, MManley, or Herman can add something to the mix. I think our run game could be strong, but you have to have balance as well or as you all know they load the box and its three and out...
 




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