Do you agree with FOX?

[Joshbrown]

9. Iowa


Not shockingly, Kirk Ferentz should have another really good O-line with the Hawkeyes. He has three starters back with a couple of former walk-ons who have blossomed into good Big Ten players in senior left tackle Cole Colston and Boone Myers the left guard. Junior Sean Welsh can play guard or center, but is expected to anchor the middle and should do so very well. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick by the league's coaches in 2015. Right tackle Ike Boettger (another one-time high school QB-turned-starting Hawkeye O-lineman like former star Brandon Scherff) has developed into being a solid player and strong run blocker after arriving as a tight end. Sophomore guard James Daniels should be a real force for the Hawkeyes in his career although he is coming off a knee injury.

 

[herkeye]

I think the Hawks have the starters in place to be one of the best lines in college football this year, and possibly in the Ferentz era. Iowa more often than not has a stout O-line year in and year out because of the coaching pedigree. Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot of depth this year and an injury or two would derail what could be something special up front for the offense. So to answer your question, yes, if everyone stays healthy (knock on wood); and no, if there are injuries like in 2012.

 

[Joshbrown]

I think the Hawks have the starters in place to be one of the best lines in college football this year, and possibly in the Ferentz era. Iowa more often than not has a stout O-line year in and year out because of the coaching pedigree. Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot of depth this year and an injury or two would derail what could be something special up front for the offense. So to answer your question, yes, if everyone stays healthy (knock on wood); and no, if there are injuries like in 2012.

Eno just twittered me giving the article a thumbs up.

 

[PCHawk]

I'm not so sue about the oline. I think we went 6 straight years with below average running backs due to injury and attrition. Those years made us forget what a good oline can do for a good running back. I think they're good but last year's running game may have had more to do with having really good backs finally. They were just too weak in pass protection for me to be that high on them. Injuries played a part too tho.

 

[BVHawk95]

I'm not so sue about the oline. I think we went 6 straight years with below average running backs due to injury and attrition. Those years made us forget what a good oline can do for a good running back. I think they're good but last year's running game may have had more to do with having really good backs finally. They were just too weak in pass protection for me to be that high on them. Injuries played a part too tho.

I would attribute last years sack numbers to having 2 new starters at LT and RT with little experience, partially from a WR corps that struggles at times to get seperation, and later in the year CJ not being able to scramble to escape sacks he would've were he healthy. They still absolutely destroyed some teams in the run game, and with so much experience inside returning we should have some road graders plus an upgrade from experience at the tackles.

 

[PCHawk]

I would attribute last years sack numbers to having 2 new starters at LT and RT with little experience, partially from a WR corps that struggles at times to get seperation, and later in the year CJ not being able to scramble to escape sacks he would've were he healthy. They still absolutely destroyed some teams in the run game, and with so much experience inside returning we should have some road graders plus an upgrade from experience at the tackles.

I agree that inexperienced tackles were a big factor. It's just unknown how much better they will be with experience at this point. I'm not saying they won't be good by any means. I'mjust not overly confident that they will be yet either.

 

[BVHawk95]

I agree that it's still early, but OL is something that I always give KF credit for and trust his judgement on, and if CJB can stay healthy and keep his mobility, they might not have to be great.

 

[thawks1]

We also had numerous injuries on the Ol last year. I think we had 8 or 9 different starters at times. Croston started I think both tackles. Daniels stated at both guards and RT due to injuries. I could keep going but you get the point.

 

[lightning1]

I would attribute last years sack numbers to having 2 new starters at LT and RT with little experience, partially from a WR corps that struggles at times to get seperation, and later in the year CJ not being able to scramble to escape sacks he would've were he healthy. They still absolutely destroyed some teams in the run game, and with so much experience inside returning we should have some road graders plus an upgrade from experience at the tackles.

Agreed. Pass blocking is harder than run blocking and we had some inexperience on the line. The line play should be much better, barring injuries.

 

[CP87]

Agreed. Pass blocking is harder than run blocking and we had some inexperience on the line. The line play should be much better, barring injuries.

As an individual skill, I think many would agree that pass-blocking is more difficult. However, especially with a zone scheme, I think run-blocking might require more cohesion among the unit. The ability of two (or more players) to work together, read what the other is doing, and make the right split-second decision takes a lot of reps to develop. Hopefully this season we can benefit from both OTs with greater individual skill, as well as more consistency in our week-to-week lineups to develop the kind of cohesion needed for an O-line to become elite.

 

[lightning1]

As an individual skill, I think many would agree that pass-blocking is more difficult. However, especially with a zone scheme, I think run-blocking might require more cohesion among the unit. The ability of two (or more players) to work together, read what the other is doing, and make the right split-second decision takes a lot of reps to develop. Hopefully this season we can benefit from both OTs with greater individual skill, as well as more consistency in our week-to-week lineups to develop the kind of cohesion needed for an O-line to become elite.

Zone blocking schemes require much better timing in the run blocking game. No doubt. The line has to act in unison. Pass blocking requires communication at the LOS and you are at an inherent disadvantage as you are typically backing up and having to move laterally. Blitz pick up calls have to be correct and executed accordingly as the defenses are disguising their packages and over loading sides of the line.

 

[HuckFinn]

Might also wish to add in that there were a lot of really good pass rushers in the BT last year from D ends to DT's to blitzing LB's. Sometimes the bad guys win!

 

[AreWeThereYet]

I can think of a few things that aren't reflected in that article, both positive and negative.

James Daniels seems to have come back to camp healthy and very strong. He's really made an impression at center with Welsh out for a few days. Are the coaches compelled to give Daniels a longer look at center? Center is the position Daniels was recruited for.

The offensive line appeared to be light years ahead of where they were this time last year. Last year at this time Drew Ott was terrorizing an inexperienced offensive line. This year the offensive line appears to be ahead of the defensive line even with Welsh out, Daniels at center, and Render at right guard. That says good things about the offensive line, but it also shows how far the defensive line needs to go.

Keegan Render seems to be really coming into his own at guard. You have to think he will be seeing a lot of time in the rotation.

One big negative to point out is the lack of outside help the offensive linemen will be getting compared to last year. Fullback is a very inexperienced position this year. The Hawkeye's graduated two of their best blocking fullbacks. There are big question marks at tight end blocking. George Kittle is an explosive receiving tight end, but how good is he at his blocking duties. Hopefully Wisnieski doesn't lose the season to knee injury. The tight ends are rounded out with junior walk-on Peter Pekar, a red shirt freshman Nate Vejvota, and a true freshman Noah Fant.

 

[bitmap]

I would attribute last years sack numbers to having 2 new starters at LT and RT with little experience, partially from a WR corps that struggles at times to get seperation, and later in the year CJ not being able to scramble to escape sacks he would've were he healthy...

I think the most devastating blitzes that lead to sacks came on a delay from MBs who waited for the center and right guard to engage, usually in a 3 on 2 situation. With the O lineman engaged and moving the zone to the right the MB would sneak around from behind the RG and pass on Blythe's left to hit CJ straight on.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Iowa went away from a strictly zone scheme and was much more diverse in their line calls. Lots of pulling and trapping compared to previous years, and that, to me, was a big difference. You could no longer see action and bust ass to the left or right depending on which way Iowa was zone blocking. You cheat with some misdirection and Wadley finds the end zone, right NW and Indiana. Certainly the backs were a major upgrade from Weisman. The fact that these guys made people miss and found the seam, then hit it with some burst was a huge departure from previous years of recent memory. Our running game is better for a number of reasons, not just the fact that we have experience...better diversity in line calls and upgrades at RB were big factors also.

 

[Joshbrown]

Holy crap ESPN is now on the bandwagon. If Sports Illustrated puts the O-line on its cover I'll start to get really worried!


Next up:Iowa and Wisconsin

The Hawkeyes could easily qualify here for best of the best. Iowa is a program driven by its offensive line, and that group was a key cog in last year's 12-2 season. Losing Rimington Trophy finalstAustin Blytheand all-conference guard Jordan Walsh stings a bit, but the line is still in good shape with tacklesBoone MyersandCole Crostonand guardSean Welshreturning.

 

[Joshbrown]

I agree that it's still early, but OL is something that I always give KF credit for and trust his judgement on, and if CJB can stay healthy and keep his mobility, they might not have to be great.

I think he's shown what he can do with O-lines and it's impressive. But as far as being unquestioning . . . I learned early in life where that gets people.

I'm gonna look around the board and see if anyone else is as pumped about the O-line as myself . . . OHHHHHH Crap.