Gerry DiNardo At Hawks Practice Today

[VAHawkFan]

answer my queston what were McNutts #'s as a JR and SR. i am very interested since you claim McNutt was a sure #1 and use those #'s against Davis to try to say he's has a lot to prove himself as being ready to step into that #1 spot. is that so hard to do?

Did I make the claim that McNutt was a sure #1? No. I haven't mentioned him in any of my previous posts. His drop rate as a senior was 9.3% according the article I referenced earlier. I don't know what it was as a junior.

So once again, I will consider Davis a solid number 1 when his drop rate decreases (getting under 10% would be a good start).

 

[Foval21]

so mcnutt had 9.3% drop rate and pro scouts say he needs to get better at not dropping the ball.

davis has a 13.5% drop rate and herby says he is consistent.

i feel davis is solid and will put up good numbers but i do not think 13.5% drop rate is good. i actually feel like kmm will become the go to guy because when i watch him i see djk type skills (just comparing their ability not off field stuff).

i think davis could have 70+ catches this yr which is good numbers but he does drop too many balls.

 

[herbyhawk]

as a jr Davis drop rate was 13.5 and McNutt as a senior had a drop rate of 9.3, you expect davis to perform like a senior. and Soup can't help Davis improve WOW. That is why i would like to see McNutts drop rate as a jr to really compare the 2.
not what a senior did to a jr. but to compare a jr's #'s to jr's #'s to really make a fair judgement who knows maybe McNutt had worse #'s as a jr.. then you can pass judgement on a player

 

[RADMAN]

I expect Hawks to be 6-1 and struggle to get to 7-5. $20mil question is can OC Davis finally get the offense to step up when needed? With such a weak front 7, they will have to carry the D in nearly every game this year. (With exception of 2004, PSU 2009 and 2010 Insight, KOK rarely came through with much more complete offensive talent.)

Such a weak front 7? Can you explain position by position please.

 

[hawkihayes]

I expect Hawks to be 6-1 and struggle to get to 7-5. $20mil question is can OC Davis finally get the offense to step up when needed? With such a weak front 7, they will have to carry the D in nearly every game this year. (With exception of 2004, PSU 2009 and 2010 Insight, KOK rarely came through with much more complete offensive talent.)

Such a weak front 7? Can you explain position by position please.

Not sure what Buster had in mind, but I would say that the LB crew will be above average but if our DL can't occupy the OL of the opposing team, LB flow will be disrupted. If the LBs have to constantly fight through heavy OL traffic the front 7 will struggle to be better then average at best.

 

[JHHawk]

Iowa does not lose in Kinnick to mediorce teams, not recently anyway. Last year by the Big Ten we had lost half our d-line in Nardo and Daniels so we were playing undermanned already...so I do not see us being much worse in the d-line.

We will beat N.Ill,who loses a ton of players,at a neutral site.
We will beat ISU because we do not lose to them at Kinnick.
We will beat N.Iowa,Central Michigan and Minnesota at Kinnick.
That is 5-0.
Purdue and PSU will be tossups in Kinnick but we will win at least one.
At IU is winnable.
At NW is winnable...they lose a ton of players.
That is 7-8 wins.
At MSU,Michigan are probably loss.
Black Friday at Kinnick vs the Huskers is a probable loss,but anything could happen...like Taylor Martinez could be dinged or out by then.

The safe thing is to say 6-6...and that could happen,but I like Iowa to win 8 games,and maybe 9.

 

[STILLBUSTER]

Such a weak front 7? Can you explain position by position please.

Sure ... that I couldn't name more than 2 DL (Cooper and Davis) before looking up the Spring 2-deep and when I looked it up only recognized 3 names (Bigach, Cooper and Gaglione) and 1 I thought would be there isn't even on the 2-deep (Davis) ... that's a lot of inexperience. When your DE's are the size of outside LB's ... that's a pretty tough matchup with a TE, let alone an OT.

I haven't been sold on the LB's since Angerer and Edds graduated. They're small (Hitchens=224, Morris=230, Kirksey=220). While Morris plays with energy and is not afraid to stick his nose in the fray, he routinely gets drug 1-2 yards after initial contact. Kirksey has shown some flashes in pass D but as a unit they are laterally slow and get lost in the underneath space. I don't recall enough about Hitchens limited play last year but do recall, as a unit, they were below average tacklers with more wiffs and bad wraps than you'd expect from the guys who are expected to be your best tacklers.

Honestly, while most are lamenting the DL, I actually have more confidence that the talent and size are there on the interior for Coach Morgan to maybe pull a rabbit out of his hat as the season progresses. Some stunts and aggressive packages could compensate for the undersized DE's. I'm much more skeptical about the LB's, that there just isn't much more to get out of them than what you've seen the last 2 seasons.

Guess we will see.

 

[olddude]

Sure ... that I couldn't name more than 2 DL (Cooper and Davis) before looking up the Spring 2-deep and when I looked it up only recognized 3 names (Bigach, Cooper and Gaglione) and 1 I thought would be there isn't even on the 2-deep (Davis) ... that's a lot of inexperience. When your DE's are the size of outside LB's ... that's a pretty tough matchup with a TE, let alone an OT.

I haven't been sold on the LB's since Angerer and Edds graduated. They're small (Hitchens=224, Morris=230, Kirksey=220). While Morris plays with energy and is not afraid to stick his nose in the fray, he routinely gets drug 1-2 yards after initial contact. Kirksey has shown some flashes in pass D but as a unit they are laterally slow and get lost in the underneath space. I don't recall enough about Hitchens limited play last year but do recall, as a unit, they were below average tacklers with more wiffs and bad wraps than you'd expect from the guys who are expected to be your best tacklers.

Honestly, while most are lamenting the DL, I actually have more confidence that the talent and size are there on the interior for Coach Morgan to maybe pull a rabbit out of his hat as the season progresses. Some stunts and aggressive packages could compensate for the undersized DE's. I'm much more skeptical about the LB's, that there just isn't much more to get out of them than what you've seen the last 2 seasons.

Guess we will see.

Ofcourse you can get more out of them. You act like they peak as a Soph. If we can't expect any more out of them then we have for 2 years, might as well stop playing Jr's and Sr's as they have done all they are going to.

 

[CAARHawk]

Stillbuster's post is sound. The size of the front seven is very disconcerting.

However, this might not be the front 7.

Alston, and the two frosh could make thus unit considerably more stout.

If they go that route, there will be huge growing pains, but the alternative involves repetitive 5+ yard gains on the ground.

 

[herbyhawk]

Sure ... that I couldn't name more than 2 DL (Cooper and Davis) before looking up the Spring 2-deep and when I looked it up only recognized 3 names (Bigach, Cooper and Gaglione) and 1 I thought would be there isn't even on the 2-deep (Davis) ... that's a lot of inexperience. When your DE's are the size of outside LB's ... that's a pretty tough matchup with a TE, let alone an OT.

I haven't been sold on the LB's since Angerer and Edds graduated. They're small (Hitchens=224, Morris=230, Kirksey=220). While Morris plays with energy and is not afraid to stick his nose in the fray, he routinely gets drug 1-2 yards after initial contact. Kirksey has shown some flashes in pass D but as a unit they are laterally slow and get lost in the underneath space. I don't recall enough about Hitchens limited play last year but do recall, as a unit, they were below average tacklers with more wiffs and bad wraps than you'd expect from the guys who are expected to be your best tacklers.

Honestly, while most are lamenting the DL, I actually have more confidence that the talent and size are there on the interior for Coach Morgan to maybe pull a rabbit out of his hat as the season progresses. Some stunts and aggressive packages could compensate for the undersized DE's. I'm much more skeptical about the LB's, that there just isn't much more to get out of them than what you've seen the last 2 seasons.

Guess we will see.

Davis and Alvis are not listed as both are recovering from injuries
the LB'rs were pushed around because the Dline was not solid, Alvis got hurt, Daniel was hurt as well because of this it was easy to DBL team Binns there was very little depth, as there was very little depth in the LB'r corp,
this fall there are 4 RS SO, 4 RSFR and 4 true FR to go with 2 SR and 1 JR. KF is not one to use freshmen unless he has to, this fall he has to.
6'5 310 LB Davis will be a very big body on the DL, and it has been a long time since Iowa has seen someone that big on the D-L, and add in 6'4 300 lb Johnson competing for playing time and that's make a solid middle to protect the LB'rs.
and by some reports is that Poggi will be good to go at 6'2 218, Dibona 6'2 235 and Dakota Getz at 6'4 235 lbs are all healthy giving size and depth at the LB'r spots. the position battles will be very heated. they will be young but they are hardly untalented

 

[MoseSchrute]

Black Friday at Kinnick vs the Huskers is a probable loss,but anything could happen...like Taylor Martinez could be dinged or out by then.

People need to quit with this. Just because it happened once doesn't mean it will again. It's just as likely that we will have one or two important players out with injuries.

 

[vosov]

People need to quit with this. Just because it happened once doesn't mean it will again. It's just as likely that Nebraska will have 3 to 4 DL transfers by that time .

Fixed it for you.

 

[DesMoinesHawki]

Once again, on paper at least, Iowa has a VERY favorable schedule. If our defense can come around this could be a surprise season for us. I think there is new energy in Iowa City -- and how can there not be with the coaching changes. Excited to see what Davis can do with the offense and anxious to see if our defense becomes a "little more" aggressive. We definitely have a lot of question marks. But the future looks pretty good with the guys we have in the program.

Games at MSU and Michigan will be tough ... But if we protect our home turf (which we normally do very well) then this could be a fun season ...

 

[Johnnyhawkeye]

I believe we are about to see something great happen this season...our new coaching staff should put a charge into this team this season. I'm excited, that's all I have to say.

 

[herbyhawk]

just looked at OSU depth chart starting MLB is 6'1 226 so Ryan Shazier, his backup is 6'2 215 lb jr Chris Maxwell. now there are some monster MLB'rs, our Lb'rs will be just fine put some big boys on the DL and let them deal with the OL. rather than having the LB having to fight them off

 

[Hawkfromnorwalk]

I believe we are about to see something great happen this season...our new coaching staff should put a charge into this team this season. I'm excited, that's all I have to say.

I read a very good post over on HR from an "insider" that really elaborates on this point. Needless to say, after I read the post, I felt very excited for the upcoming season and the future. I really think we may be about to witness a total fundamental shift in the attitudes of the coaching staff.

 

[KansasHawkeye]

now that McNutt is gone i expect Davis to improve on his 50 reception as a 2nd option at WR, and KMM to improve on his #'s of 30 reception as the #3 option as the loss of McNutts 83 reception will be split up. not sure why people diss on Davis for not having enough catches, if Davis had the #'s that people ripped on for not having, McNutt would not have had the #'s he did. as for drops all the recievers had their fair #'s of including McNutt as he dropped them himself. My concern is who will step up to be the 3rd option at # 3 for the WR corp. as Davis and KMM established themselves as the top 2 targets going into the fall

Duh. He drops the ball. He can get better, though.

 

[GoHawks24]

just looked at OSU depth chart starting MLB is 6'1 226 so Ryan Shazier, his backup is 6'2 215 lb jr Chris Maxwell. now there are some monster MLB'rs, our Lb'rs will be just fine put some big boys on the DL and let them deal with the OL. rather than having the LB having to fight them off

Gawd, what in the hell is it with you and your obsession with measurables? By your observations, you can pretty much base how good a kid will be off of, #1- his weight, #2- his height, #3- his stars, #4- his 40 time, #5- his weight, #6- his height.

I really wish there was an ignore function for the app, because I feel dumber after reading most of your posts.

 

[herbyhawk]

Gawd, what in the hell is it with you and your obsession with measurables? By your observations, you can pretty much base how good a kid will be off of, #1- his weight, #2- his height, #3- his stars, #4- his 40 time, #5- his weight, #6- his height.

I really wish there was an ignore function for the app, because I feel dumber after reading most of your posts.

i use them to refute the arguement our LB'rs are small how else do you disprove the theory Iowa linebackers are small if you can't use a comparison of another teams player, and the top team in the conferense in OSU. is that wrong?

 

[IowaTeddy]

Davis and Alvis are not listed as both are recovering from injuries
the LB'rs were pushed around because the Dline was not solid, Alvis got hurt, Daniel was hurt as well because of this it was easy to DBL team Binns there was very little depth, as there was very little depth in the LB'r corp,
this fall there are 4 RS SO, 4 RSFR and 4 true FR to go with 2 SR and 1 JR. KF is not one to use freshmen unless he has to, this fall he has to.
6'5 310 LB Davis will be a very big body on the DL, and it has been a long time since Iowa has seen someone that big on the D-L, and add in 6'4 300 lb Johnson competing for playing time and that's make a solid middle to protect the LB'rs.
and by some reports is that Poggi will be good to go at 6'2 218, Dibona 6'2 235 and Dakota Getz at 6'4 235 lbs are all healthy giving size and depth at the LB'r spots. the position battles will be very heated. they will be young but they are hardly untalented

Who is the 6'4 300 Johnson you speak of?