Howe: Iowa Football '20 Position-By-Position Outlook 2.0
- Thread starter RobHowe
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Motigerhawk
Well-Known Member
I like how this team looks. A lot.
This is the first time in the KF era in which I've felt as good or better about the offense than the defense going into a season.
The losses on the DL and Welch do concern me quite a bit.
AJE can't be replaced, once in a quarter-century type player.
Welch & Lattimore are 2 of the most underrated great Hawkeyes of the KF era. And Stone & OJ had great seasons in the secondary.
The losses on the DL and Welch do concern me quite a bit.
AJE can't be replaced, once in a quarter-century type player.
Welch & Lattimore are 2 of the most underrated great Hawkeyes of the KF era. And Stone & OJ had great seasons in the secondary.
Agreed. I think one of Campbell/Doyle needs to bulk up and move to DE. I think they are both explosive, playmaking athletes, and I think that is the vacuum left behind by AJE that needs to be filled. No one guy can step in and replace him, but we have seen Nate Meier- and Parker Hesse-types be successful in that transition, and I think that can be part of the compensation.
We would still have a loaded LB room.
kameltoez102
Well-Known Member
Don't necessarily need to replace AJE with one guy. If we can get his production or better out of a couple guys we will be in good shape. Without him sucking up double and triple teams it will give some of the others a chance to make some plays and for the most part they will be under the radar.
Welch is my biggest defense concern at this point because of his consistency and football IQ. I think we have some good young talent but will they be able to get in and pound against the run when we need it and be quick to recognize the plays?
I am not sure what to think about Colbert. He became a huge liability in the passing game and unless he improves I think you have to go with other guys. He looks slow and often out of position. Would he be a better fit as a special package edge rusher maybe fullback?
The major key for any Iowa team is can they stay healthy. Especially with the last few years of guys leaving early the injuries at key positions leave no depth with playing experience. As the players develop through the year we see good gains but those early injuries hurt us, especially on the O-line. If we can stay healthy all year along the o-line it will be a major plus to help Petras learn and stay comfortable. If he starts the year needing to scramble consistently or take multiple hits it is going to be a long year.
We have the horses on the outside this year and the focus should be on using the passing game to open the running game
Keep in mind that we now know Colbert played the majority of the season with a torn labrum.
Niemann and Colbert are unquestionably our best LBs (in that order), and have the most experience. They need to be on the field imo.
Zstatman
Well-Known Member
I have some concern about replacing the freakish athleticism of AJE but there are plenty of candidates to fill the spot and do an adequate job.
Experience at QB is always important but Petras seems ready to step in.
Punter could be an issue. One coming off injury, another transferring in, and an Aussie that has never played American football although he is coming out of a punting school leaves a lot of unknowns here and we all know how important this position is. Let's hope the off season answers the questions.
All in all it feels like there are plenty of good football players across the board. The Hawkeye football program seems to be in very good shape to me. I expect us to be as tough as last year.
Experience at QB is always important but Petras seems ready to step in.
Punter could be an issue. One coming off injury, another transferring in, and an Aussie that has never played American football although he is coming out of a punting school leaves a lot of unknowns here and we all know how important this position is. Let's hope the off season answers the questions.
All in all it feels like there are plenty of good football players across the board. The Hawkeye football program seems to be in very good shape to me. I expect us to be as tough as last year.
Fryowa
Administrator
Had surgery on a torn labrum in 2013. Could not imagine playing P5 football that way. It hurt putting groceries away ffs.
And the PT afterwards was the most miserable thing I've ever been through.
When you coach baseball, do you still throw overhand? Labral repairs don't have the greatest success rate.
Fryowa
Administrator
Left shoulder.
But...my surgeon told me I wouldn’t have any restrictions and didn’t have to baby it, and to this point I haven’t. It does get sore with weather fronts, and if I sleep on it. Other than that I still hit in the cage, lift weights, etc. Throwing isn’t a natural motion so maybe I’d have trouble with that if it was my other shoulder.
One thing I did do was stay religious with PT appointments and at-home stuff too. I heard horror stories of people who didn’t work hard at rehab and they had nothing but trouble later.
Maybe I should go easier on it, who knows.
Weird fact, I had the same surgeon Jared Allen had for his torn labrum. I used to remember the other athletes he worked on; he had a bunch of jerseys and signed balls and stuff in his office and lobby. I don’t know if there’s really much difference but I guess medicine is just like anything else. There are over and under achievers probably.
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
My thoughts:
-I think Britt is a starter on the OL.
-I’m hoping Niemann moves to the middle and Jacobs takes over his LEO spot in 4-3.
-Secondary is very interesting. I’m thinking Belton slides back to safety to take Stone’s spot so he can be an every down player. Brents locks down the second corner spot. DJ Johnson struggled a bit at cash but he will have a second chance at it, also like to see Merriweather in that mix there. Moss in the dime looks. Overall I think the group will be solid, but if the pass rush takes a step back that could be a concern.
-I think Britt is a starter on the OL.
-I’m hoping Niemann moves to the middle and Jacobs takes over his LEO spot in 4-3.
-Secondary is very interesting. I’m thinking Belton slides back to safety to take Stone’s spot so he can be an every down player. Brents locks down the second corner spot. DJ Johnson struggled a bit at cash but he will have a second chance at it, also like to see Merriweather in that mix there. Moss in the dime looks. Overall I think the group will be solid, but if the pass rush takes a step back that could be a concern.
RobHowe
Administrator
I could see Britt winning a spot. Who in my five of AJ, Kallenberger, Linderbaum, Schott and Cronk is benched in your scenario?
Moss beat out Brents last season. Both were injured. Maybe Brents' injury held him back more. We'll see.
I wonder if Moss and/or Brents gets a look at Cash. They're bigger than DJ.
Moss beat out Brents last season. Both were injured. Maybe Brents' injury held him back more. We'll see.
I wonder if Moss and/or Brents gets a look at Cash. They're bigger than DJ.
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
They are all fair points. Maybe it’s partially something I hope to see moreso than anything.
I could see Britt beating out Schott just because Schott is just undersized for the position. He did an admiral job last year but could that have been more of the product of an empty cupboard? Who knows. Just my opinion but I think KF and the staff talked about Britt in similar ways that they talked about Linderbaum. Britt played in the first game last year what a year removed from tearing his ACL? To me that’s pretty impressive. Hopefully it doesn’t happen but there also could be an injury somewhere.
Did Moss end up preserving a redshirt last year? I know Brents did. I think they rushed him back and then realized he was still banged up so just figured it would make more sense for him to be shut down. That’s going to be an interesting battle for sure.
RobHowe
Administrator
I'm high on Britt as well and could see him winning a spot. I think the competition on the OL will be fascinating.
Maybe Kallenberger ends up being a better RT than Cronk and the latter moves inside. Cody Ince is an overlooked kid. Wirfs told me he's a freakishly good athlete. He could emerge. Then Banwart is coming back.
I would say AJ and TL are locks. After that, it's wide open.
The secondary also should be fascinating. Iowa has done a nice job adding versatile pieces back there.
Also, maybe Jacobs is good enough at LEO that Iowa leans towards the base 4-3 more because nobody emerges at Cash if Belton's best spot is SS.
I'm getting excited for football. I need something to distract me from these temperatures in Iowa City today.
Maybe Kallenberger ends up being a better RT than Cronk and the latter moves inside. Cody Ince is an overlooked kid. Wirfs told me he's a freakishly good athlete. He could emerge. Then Banwart is coming back.
I would say AJ and TL are locks. After that, it's wide open.
The secondary also should be fascinating. Iowa has done a nice job adding versatile pieces back there.
Also, maybe Jacobs is good enough at LEO that Iowa leans towards the base 4-3 more because nobody emerges at Cash if Belton's best spot is SS.
I'm getting excited for football. I need something to distract me from these temperatures in Iowa City today.
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
XFL!
I’ll have to do my second annual spring ball storylines thread in a couple weeks. That could actually be a good piece or question for a future podcast.
Tough question: maybe a Kallenberger/Schott/Britt rotation is the way to go? Last year Schott seemed to be ahead of Kallenberger, but you would have to think Kallenberger has higher potential based upon his frame and recruiting rankings. Tough call.
People have wanted to throw dirt on Moss' grave since he first saw the field, not sure why. He is probably the fastest guy in the DB room, and he has good size. As with Schott, he didn't come with a lot of accolades, but he has acquitted himself nicely thus far. He got beat a few times as a true frosh, but it was always a technique/ball-skills thing: i.e. he was in position, just failed to get his head around or play the ball properly. But I love Brents' potential like everyone else. I hope they find a way to get all of this potential performing at a high level and on the field.
How many legit CB do they have (i.e. guys that could step in without a huge dropoff)? I would say Hankins, Brents, Moss, DJ Johnson, and Roberts. Jermari Harris got some game action last year as a true frosh as well.
How many legit safeties? Probably just Koerner, Merriweather, and Belton, but Craddieth, Castro, and Bracy are interesting based solely upon recruiting accolades.
