FOOTBALL RELOAD?

skinnykilmer17

skinnykilmer17

Well-Known Member
This talent. All this talent. How does KF sleep at night? Are we at the point where we can honestly say we are in reloading vs. rebuilding mode? We have lost some key players but don't we feel good about these incoming guys regardless of their ranking? Will we look back in a couple of years and point to this class as evidence? Or has reloading already been taking place?
 
The answer is "No".

In fact, there should be much concern regarding the offensive line...Iowa has struggled replacing major OL losses in the past, and there's no certainty 2010 will be an easier transition. The OL MAY turn out to be adequate, or even above average, but it will almost certainly NOT be the equal of the 2009 line...which was well above average.
 
Mesaclone said:
but it will almost certainly NOT be the equal of the 2009 line...which was well above average.
Click to expand...

I think it a healthy line next year could easily end up being equal to 2009. Last years line was continuously hampered by injuries and never really gelled
 
I am not sure we will ever be at the point of just reload, but I feel good we will have another strong team next season for sure. I think Iowa can play in another BCS game for sure and that is what Iowa should strive for consistent excellence. The recruiting class is good but it is always a toss up on that for sure, and KF builds teams and that is what Iowa is successfull at.
 
Mesaclone said:
The answer is "No".

In fact, there should be much concern regarding the offensive line...Iowa has struggled replacing major OL losses in the past, and there's no certainty 2010 will be an easier transition. The OL MAY turn out to be adequate, or even above average, but it will almost certainly NOT be the equal of the 2009 line...which was well above average.
Click to expand...

No, it wasn't. If the 2009 line was anything, it was a patchwork of whomever was healthy enough to play that weekend. They started the best 5 guys all of 3 times last year - Wisconsin, the first 3 minutes of the MSU game (Dace broke his leg), and the bowl game. The line was a revolving door, and was never able to establish any continuity because of injuries.

If the 2010 line can avoid the injury bug, they should be just fine by the time conference play start.
 
Mesaclone said:
The answer is "No".

In fact, there should be much concern regarding the offensive line...Iowa has struggled replacing major OL losses in the past, and there's no certainty 2010 will be an easier transition. The OL MAY turn out to be adequate, or even above average, but it will almost certainly NOT be the equal of the 2009 line...which was well above average.
Click to expand...

Mesaclone -

Decent argument, however, you haven't adequately done your homework.

It's definitely TRUE that Iowa has difficulty reloading on the OL in the past .... when we've lacked experienced depth.

The key difference here is that while the Iowa OL is admittedly lacking overall starting experience, they're really NOT lacking experience.

- Vandervelde, Reiff, Gettis, and Orne each have D1 starts under their respective belts
- Vandervelde, Haganman, and Koeppel are each experienced veteran 5th year SRs
- Reiff, MacMillan, and possibly Ferentz have college superstar written all over them ... thus, the squad will NOT be lacking elite talent
- Gettis, Zusevics, and Orne are each 4th-year JRs who own game experience ... they aren't inexperienced nubies
- On top of having talented and experienced upperclassmen, Iowa has plenty underclassmen who are very promising. Thus, there will be hungry young guys who are capable of pushing the upperclassmen for action ... and that will push forward the development of the entire unit!
 
clicheusername3 said:
2007. that is all.
Click to expand...

disagree 100%

Do you understand the context of the 2007 season?

That was necessarily a rebuilding year due to the 2006 implosion. When you combine the implosion to the injuries of the 2007 season ... in addition to the distraction of all the off-field transgressions ... I still find it shocking that the Iowa squad even managed to pull off a .500 campaign.

Frankly, what the 2007 season taught us is that even when the program hits rock bottom ... and we hit rock bottom between 2006 and 2007 (due to attitude in 2006 and due to youth/inexperience in 2007) ... we're still no worse than a .500 squad. Our worst is still a lot better than a lot of teams "good."
 
I think the program has enough talent now that there shouldn't be that much of a fall-off from one class to the next. However, recruiting to Iowa City will always be a challenge and I'm not sure the program will ever be at a point where we can just say "reload" if we lose a bunch of top players to injury, grades, the draft, whatever.

We are fortunate to have a stable staff that knows what kind of player its looking for, can usually get the kid and develop them into a top-notch D1 player and possibly an NFL prospect.

This is never going to be a destination school where the level of talent is a given, where the program re-generates itself almost automatically. KF and his guys are going to have work every year to get the players, develop them and have them ready to play each Saturday.
 
I feel were starting to get some quality depth that we haven't had in the past.Competition for playing time is more intense and that's what we want.
 
we have the depth now, the oline will be fine. i don't think we are a team right now that has to rebuild because the recruiting classes thus far have held up and are getting on the field when they should be, exposure as underclassmen and major contributors as juniors and seniors, with the occasion exception here and there
 
homerHAWKeye777 said:
disagree 100%

Do you understand the context of the 2007 season?

That was necessarily a rebuilding year due to the 2006 implosion. When you combine the implosion to the injuries of the 2007 season ... in addition to the distraction of all the off-field transgressions ... I still find it shocking that the Iowa squad even managed to pull off a .500 campaign.

Frankly, what the 2007 season taught us is that even when the program hits rock bottom ... and we hit rock bottom between 2006 and 2007 (due to attitude in 2006 and due to youth/inexperience in 2007) ... we're still no worse than a .500 squad. Our worst is still a lot better than a lot of teams "good."
Click to expand...

QB youth/inexperience of 2007 compared to next year with a proven winner at QB with 2 years under his belt and a lot of big game experience. That fact alone makes it a big difference when comparing 2007 to next year.
 
EddyP said:
QB youth/inexperience of 2007 compared to next year with a proven winner at QB with 2 years under his belt and a lot of big game experience. That fact alone makes it a big difference when comparing 2007 to next year.
Click to expand...

That's right, because had Jake panned out, Ricky would be going into his first year as a starter.
 
Homer,
Essentially Iowa has four guys back who have any serious experience on the OL.

I'm not saying they have no chance to have a pretty good line...but any team returning 1.5 starters and 4 guys with a little experience, should be worried. Iowa certainly has talent, but Offensive Lines are very organic...there's no telling how they'll mesh until they play together for a bit. Just putting 5 decently talented player on the field is no more than a beginning. Having an excellent staff helps that process, of course, but even for Iowa...sometimes a group will gel, and sometimes not.

I'm optimistic for Iowa's OL...but 2-3 moderately serious injuries and you may have a disaster on your hands. Last year, Iowa had the depth to weather a few injuries...I think that depth is dangerously lacking AT THIS POINT in 2010.
 
tweeterhawk said:
I think the program has enough talent now that there shouldn't be that much of a fall-off from one class to the next. However, recruiting to Iowa City will always be a challenge and I'm not sure the program will ever be at a point where we can just say "reload" if we lose a bunch of top players to injury, grades, the draft, whatever.

We are fortunate to have a stable staff that knows what kind of player its looking for, can usually get the kid and develop them into a top-notch D1 player and possibly an NFL prospect.

This is never going to be a destination school where the level of talent is a given, where the program re-generates itself almost automatically. KF and his guys are going to have work every year to get the players, develop them and have them ready to play each Saturday.
Click to expand...

Great responses. Strong arguments from both sides. I agree with what Tweeter says which in my opinion gives credence to both the yay and nay argument. He sums it up well. And your picture is almost as creepy as mine Tweeter.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Share this page

Top