How Does the Loss of Coker Imact The Offense?

spudhawk

spudhawk

Well-Known Member
It is hard to understand what is going on with the Coker situation. But this is going to have dire results on the field. Will Iowa adjust the offense to become more pass heavy with at least two spots being manned from new offensive lineman? Will this offense resemble 2004 or 2007? Coker's loss cannot be overstated statistically. You expect young players to grow from season to season and assuming that Coker would have improved only slightly the Iowa offense should have projected to take a step forward next season despite replacing three starting offensive lineman. That won't be the case next year unless KOK and company are willing to design a more aggressive offense.

Coker's stats for 2011:
Rush Yards YPC TD Rec. Yards TD
281 1,384 4.9 15 21 157 0

Coker rushed for 77.3% of Iowa's rushing Total (1,790), only QB James Vandenberg is left on the roster with a rushing TD (3 last season), and then next highest rusher was Jordan Canzeri who rushed for 114 yards on 31 carries. Coker accounted for 66% of Iowa's carries last season (sacks subtracted from rushing attempts) and likely closer to 70% subtracting scrambles.

Iowa has the following options at Tailback for next season- Jordan Canzeri, Damon Bullock, Brad Rogers, DeAndre Johnson, Jason White and incoming freshman Greg Garmon. It was already disturbing this season that no back up emerged to spell Coker this season and the loss of Coker has an effect on the passing game as well- obviously the staff didn't have confidence in the other backs to protect on obvious passing downs. Bullock has bounced between receiver and tailback, but will likely have to remain at tailback. Canzer doesn't seem to have the size to be and every down back, and Johnson basically was passed by both in the weeks leading up to the bowl.

Iowa's rushing attack wasn't even that potent this year- Iowa ranked 12 in rushing offense, 7 in total offense, 6 in ppg, T. 9 in rushing TDs, T. 9 in ypc. This was with an offensive line that consisted of basically four returning starters and a top ten NFL draft quality left tackle.

Iowa is going to have to score more points next season, not less and this is a huge blow to the offense. Iowa scored 45 TDs last season and Coker and McNutt accounted for 27 of them.


What is the solution?
 
I believe Kirk said that one of his problems is playing younger guys before there is a need because he fears what might happen.
 
There's a lot of potential in those guys you listed that are still with (or will be with) the team. Wouldn't surprise me one bit to see any one of those guys rush for 1000 and 10. I'm honestly more worried about losing a recruit like Jaleel Johnson. IMO the RB isn't the most important part of a running game, the O line is.

But hey, I'm a half full guy.
 
While the loss of Coker will hurt I don't think it is going to have a crippling impact on the team like some peple on these boards do. I think we have a variety of competent players both existing and coming into the program. The real key is whether or not they can stay healthy. The coaching staff has shown in the past it will only play the guys that seem to be at or near 100% health and if that is only one guy then so be it.

While Coker was tough and reliable he had a tendency to fumble at the start of the year, his speed was mediocre, his hands were average and his blocking ability was good. I think all of those can be improved upon whether it be by two guys or three or more I think as long as healthy we will be fine. RB is one of the easiest positions to replace in football.
 
kameltoez102 said:
While the loss of Coker will hurt I don't think it is going to have a crippling impact on the team like some peple on these boards do. I think we have a variety of competent players both existing and coming into the program. The real key is whether or not they can stay healthy. The coaching staff has shown in the past it will only play the guys that seem to be at or near 100% health and if that is only one guy then so be it.

While Coker was tough and reliable he had a tendency to fumble at the start of the year, his speed was mediocre, his hands were average and his blocking ability was good. I think all of those can be improved upon whether it be by two guys or three or more I think as long as healthy we will be fine. RB is one of the easiest positions to replace in football.
Click to expand...

You'd think we as a fanbase would understand this by now.
 
I think out helps us in long run. Will miss Coker, but we need to be playing more than one back per game anyhow. Next man in!
 
Patrick, losing Coker will hurt. He was a tough running back and solid on pass protection. The younger guys will have to step up and I'm sure they will. But it's difficult to replace skill and experience without playing time and suffering through all the mistakes younger players inevitably make.

I'm more upset that the program is losing a player who apparently was ready to come back and play, and who the football staff would have welcomed back, but who got caught up in a web of politically correct policies and procedures, regardless of whether he actually did anything wrong.
 
I am on record in other threads that next year's offensive line has the potential to be at least average and feel they could grow into an above average unit. But Iowa's rushing attack was already sub-par with Coker. I don't think he will be easy to replace, because he rarely took negative yardage (-33 on the season), was very good in the red zone and was actually a better receiver than I expected.

One thing Iowa has going for it is that the schedule is Charmin soft- literally. NIU, ISU, and UNI suffer significant losses on the defensive side of the ball and Central Michigan and Minnesota visit Kinnick before a bye. Coker lacked a second gear and didn't score on a run over 13 yards and that was his only TD run over 10+ yards. It is possible the new back(s) will be more homerun hitters and give the rush offense the explosion it has lacked, but Coker's 5 ypc is going to be tough to replace. He carried at that clip despite rarely breaking off a 20+ run last season.
 
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