Hawks are decimated at Linebacker

ChosenChildren

ChosenChildren

Well-Known Member
According to "HawkCentral", the injury situation at linebacker is becoming critical. Hunter and Tarpinian are really banged up, and both are doubtful. Davis is already out.

Combine that with the absence of your all-world defensive coordinator, and you come to the conclusion that expectations must be lowered. You cannot win in today's college game without an experienced linebacking corps. We don't have that right now.

I think 7-5 and a bowl game would be perfectly satisfactory right now, and in fact would be an excellent season.
 
ChosenChildren said:
According to "HawkCentral", the injury situation at linebacker is becoming critical. Hunter and Tarpinian are really banged up, and both are doubtful. Davis is already out.

Combine that with the absence of your all-world defensive coordinator, and you come to the conclusion that expectations must be lowered. You cannot win in today's college game without an experienced linebacking corps. We don't have that right now.

I think 7-5 and a bowl game would be perfectly satisfactory right now, and in fact would be an excellent season.
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7-5 with all the talent on this team would be a disgrace. If that is all this team ends up to be then it will be the most disappointing season ever in Iowa football history.

That being said with the way the D and special teams have been playing it is very likely that it happens.
 
On one of TOS a Michigan State fan asked for the breakdown on our LB's...after typing this out, it really hit me how we are really banged up at those spots.

Sam (Strongside; I believe Iowa calls this "Leo" as well) LB: Tyler Nielsen, Troy Johnson, Ross Petersen - If we lose Nielsen here, gulp. Johnson has since moved to backup Mike, where he is now starting due to injuries...

Mike (Middle) LB: Jeff Tarpinian, Bruce Davis, Troy Johnson, James Morris - Tarp has been out with what apparently is the world's worst stinger. Davis left to an ACL injury in the Arizona game. Johnson has had some good and bad moments, but has played most of the year. Morris is a promising true freshman who, at times, looks like a true freshman, but also has moments where his play has belied his age.

Will (Weakside) LB: Jeremiha Hunter, Lance Tillison, Shane DiBona - Hunter got dinged up a bit vs. Wisconsin but should be back. Tillison spelled him for a while and did an ok job...but a few people posted that DiBona (RS FR) got in on some meaningful snaps as well.
 
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TChawk said:
7-5 with all the talent on this team would be a disgrace. If that is all this team ends up to be then it will be the most disappointing season ever in Iowa football history.

That being said with the way the D and special teams have been playing it is very likely that it happens.
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It would be terrible if we ended up 7-5. I couldn't put into words how long the offseason would be. This team is too good to end up with that record. Our D needs to step up and our special teams need to get their heads out of their a$$es.
 
The parity in the Big 10 is pretty good. The margin for error at Iowa is not as great as some fans here seem to believe.

7-5 is definitely an outcome that is possible. However, at this juncture, I wouldn't yet claim that it is at all the most likely scenario. Right now, I think that 9-3 and 8-4 are both about equally likely outcomes at this point ... and I consider them to be the most likely scenarios.
 
Well, if you want to finish better than 7-5, then you better solve your linebacking situation quickly. Some thoughts:

1. Play a 5-2 instead of 4-3 (in other words, play all 5 of your stud defensive linemen)?
2. Move Sash to outside linebacker (the kid can run and he can hit; surprised they haven't already thought about that).

You are not going to get consistent defensive stops in this league with redshirt freshmen LBs. Not gonna happen.
 
Right now, our healthy lbs are Nielsen,Morris,DiBonia,Tillison, Kirksey..not sure about Troy Johnson but he was injured also.

This is so typical of Iowa football.....we lose most of our rbs,and lbs. When we get injured, it seems to always hit the same positions.

Gonna be tough on Saturday vs a running team like MSU.
 
Interesting idea on moving Sash to linebacker. I think it would especially make sense against Indiana and NW. However, shifting on the fly and doing something innovative just isn't done around here. Watch Boise St. or the New England Patriots if your interested in such wackiness.
 
EddyP said:
Anyone know the status of Sam, Mike, and Will?
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I know, seems weird. I had to think about it just a moment and I realized what he was doing there. I've never heard that lingo used for strong, middle, weak before. But then again I'm not so much a student of the game as I am a fan.
 
Herkeynerd said:
I know, seems weird. I had to think about it just a moment and I realized what he was doing there. I've never heard that lingo used for strong, middle, weak before. But then again I'm not so much a student of the game as I am a fan.
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Really?

Edited my post...
 
ChosenChildren said:
Well, if you want to finish better than 7-5, then you better solve your linebacking situation quickly. Some thoughts:

1. Play a 5-2 instead of 4-3 (in other words, play all 5 of your stud defensive linemen)?
2. Move Sash to outside linebacker (the kid can run and he can hit; surprised they haven't already thought about that).

You are not going to get consistent defensive stops in this league with redshirt freshmen LBs. Not gonna happen.
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Iowa's 4-3 is already more like a 5-2 against running teams. Our strong-side LB is called a LEO because he's a hybrid DE/LB. While folks have been pretty critical about our LB play ... I still think that Nielsen has been pretty good for a first year starter at the LEO spot. He's definitely gotten beaten in coverage ... however, given the number of times he's lined up on speedy WRs ... what the heck do you expect?

Anyhow, I like Morris at the middle lb (MIKE) spot. Thus, the remaining question is how we're faring at the weakside (WILL) spot. I think that Tillison can probably handle it ... however, he's definitely giving up some experience at the spot.

I am pretty concerned about Hunter allegedly saying that his knee felt "loose" ... I definitely hope that it's not that bad. The implication of a "loose" knee is not good.
 
Seriously those responding to this post saying 7-5 is unacceptable with this talent are not the brightest of people. When I saw Hunter go out in the Wisconsin game I smelled big trouble coming.

Sad news for Iowa. Defensively Iowa is in for a major gut check.
 
HawkPrdatr40 said:
Seriously those responding to this post saying 7-5 is unacceptable with this talent are not the brightest of people. When I saw Hunter go out in the Wisconsin game I smelled big trouble coming.

Sad news for Iowa. Defensively Iowa is in for a major gut check.
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Are you honestly calling people out for thinking that 7-5 would be an ENORMOUS letdown from the preseason expectations? It would be. I'll support the team 100% either way, but 7-5 with this team would make it EASILY the biggest dissappointment in my lifetime.
 
tm3308 said:
Are you honestly calling people out for thinking that 7-5 would be an ENORMOUS letdown from the preseason expectations? It would be. I'll support the team 100% either way, but 7-5 with this team would make it EASILY the biggest dissappointment in my lifetime.
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No responding to those that seem to think even with injuries to key positions Iowa shouldn't finish 7-5. Injuries are part of the game.

Yes 7-5 would be a big disappointment. Unfortunately we are probably closer to a 7-5 team then we are 10-2 or 9-3 team right now. Injuries and special teams is tearing this team down. Win the MSU game and that will change my feelings.

GO HAWKS!!
 
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ChosenChildren said:
Well, if you want to finish better than 7-5, then you better solve your linebacking situation quickly. Some thoughts:

1. Play a 5-2 instead of 4-3 (in other words, play all 5 of your stud defensive linemen)?
2. Move Sash to outside linebacker (the kid can run and he can hit; surprised they haven't already thought about that).

You are not going to get consistent defensive stops in this league with redshirt freshmen LBs. Not gonna happen.
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Yeah lets just scrap our 4-3 and go to a 5-2 that is older then Tom Osborne and his staff that used it back in the 70's and 80's. Then teams will take advantage and throw, throw, throw. You put the next man in as we are doing and hope they get the job done.
 
loesshillshawk said:
Yeah lets just scrap our 4-3 and go to a 5-2 that is older then Tom Osborne and his staff that used it back in the 70's and 80's. Then teams will take advantage and throw, throw, throw. You put the next man in as we are doing and hope they get the job done.
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Agree with this.. IMO you have to rely on the next man in.
 
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