Howe: Prevailing Thoughts on Eve of Hawkeyes Opening Camp
- Thread starter RobHowe
- Start date
RobHowe
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AreWeThereYet
Well-Known Member
One more day for players to get arrested for something stupid at the local bar. It's been a rather uneventful off season. No arrests for multiple drunken linemen on a motor scooter or letting themselves into the back of a squad car.
homes
Well-Known Member
Hey, they said there would be no cameras.
SteveGarvey1
Well-Known Member
Well, you've just jinxed it. Now it's gonna happen.
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
Good stuff Rob.
I’ve been watching some highlights from last season and some of the throws Nate Stanley makes are next level throws, but then you remember the stinker games and some of the completely boneheaded decisions. First and foremost he needs to play with confidence this year and make good decisions. I’d also like to see him use his feet to pick up 3rd downs when the play breaks down. Hopefully this is the year he can put it all together.
I’m stuck in between being excited about the WR core and nervous. I’m nervous because we really haven’t had that much success at that position. Smith and ISM have shown flashes but they have their shortcomings as well. I’m very high on Tracy and hope the coaches get his kid touches in different ways. I also think Nico R will be solid. I guess at this point we just need to see this group prove it on a consistent basis. Oliver Martin becoming eligible would certainly be a nice shot in the arm for this group.
The Oline is kind of interesting. Both tackles are getting a ton of hype, but to me they haven’t necessarily played to that level to date. Projecting well at the next level because of their frames doesn’t always mean they are dominant college players. Hopefully they can live up to the hype. Barwart is solid in there and I think TL will play well. This team has to improve on the ground or it’s going to be a tough year.
I’ve been watching some highlights from last season and some of the throws Nate Stanley makes are next level throws, but then you remember the stinker games and some of the completely boneheaded decisions. First and foremost he needs to play with confidence this year and make good decisions. I’d also like to see him use his feet to pick up 3rd downs when the play breaks down. Hopefully this is the year he can put it all together.
I’m stuck in between being excited about the WR core and nervous. I’m nervous because we really haven’t had that much success at that position. Smith and ISM have shown flashes but they have their shortcomings as well. I’m very high on Tracy and hope the coaches get his kid touches in different ways. I also think Nico R will be solid. I guess at this point we just need to see this group prove it on a consistent basis. Oliver Martin becoming eligible would certainly be a nice shot in the arm for this group.
The Oline is kind of interesting. Both tackles are getting a ton of hype, but to me they haven’t necessarily played to that level to date. Projecting well at the next level because of their frames doesn’t always mean they are dominant college players. Hopefully they can live up to the hype. Barwart is solid in there and I think TL will play well. This team has to improve on the ground or it’s going to be a tough year.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
Listening to Deace yesterday, he says to temper the Martin enthusiasm with the fact he only got here in May/June. It's not like he's had a Spring camp and all of Summer to adjust, let alone not having his first two years here. As for the waiver, I (personally) will be shocked if he gets it. On the positive, if OM gets the waiver, having that kind of talent available is never a "bad" thing. He actually said that, while not on the actual same level as Tim Dwight, that with OM you are definitely talking the same "type" of athleticism. And as far as I'm concerned, if he can return kicks/punts just half as good as Dwight, I'd be REAL pleased.
Linebackers need to progress, too. IIRC, Fitzgerald was quoted after that game that he thought he saw a weakness at LB and could attack Iowa’s defense there. Naturally, their freshman RB had a career day.
I know the back 5 are very good. POSSIBLY the best as an entire unit from an athletic standpoint in Ferentz’s tenure. If the front 4 can be as dominating as we hope they will be, we need to get that solid, run-stopping LB play.
If that happens, we may just suffocate teams this year. Ground and pound their defenses with superior line play and you get big margins with Time of possession. Make them desperate to throw in the 4th quarter and AJE will have them right where we want them.
I know the back 5 are very good. POSSIBLY the best as an entire unit from an athletic standpoint in Ferentz’s tenure. If the front 4 can be as dominating as we hope they will be, we need to get that solid, run-stopping LB play.
If that happens, we may just suffocate teams this year. Ground and pound their defenses with superior line play and you get big margins with Time of possession. Make them desperate to throw in the 4th quarter and AJE will have them right where we want them.
I think that showed up vs. Wisc as well when Taylor kept cranking out 5 yards a pop. Our LBs would make the tackle, but not the drive-changing no-gainers that Jewel would come up with.
So much of Jewell's success was in recognition, and it was unrealistic to expect that of our 1st year starters last year. But they showed promise and talent, and they will certainly improve this year. There is also great depth at that position.
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
If OM got eligibility I wouldn’t expect him to instantly be a starter, but I don’t think 10-15 snaps per game early on would be out of the question. That would only add to the depth and talent of our WR group.
RobHowe
Administrator
Thanks.
I’m with you on the OL. The hype around the tackles I think is generated from NFL potential and one of the two being a weight room freak. That tells me the potential is there but has to come together on the field.
Also agree on the running game. I think Sargent started to become more patient in the zone scheme last year and then found some success. But then again, a lot of it came against Illinois and Nebraska’s Swiss cheese D.
Chickenlounge
Well-Known Member
RobHowe
Administrator
There’s no making sense of the NCAA’s decision making or timing. Seems completely random.
I have not heard any updates on Martin’s case.
seepig
Well-Known Member
Prevailing thoughts! I'll give you a couple. First how the holy hell can you justify Doyle's new paycheck. Don't get me wrong if someone is going to pay me whatever I should be able to make it right?! <See KF's last contract extension> . It's a little like what's going on with Insulin prices. Even though the process has been around for 100 years and you need it to live, someone has convinced or fooled someone that the price of insulin is now worth $350/vial. Same with a Strength Program. You need a good Strength program but where is the clinical evidence Chris is that much better than Balis at ND or Cochran at Bama? Even better, did I see it correctly, BF gets the LARGEST pay raise on the staff?! Again what's the clinical evidence?! Haven't we been like 100+ ranked rushing the past 2 seasons?! What's the OC doing?! Is our line that bad? Is our OL coach that bad? Are our RB's that bad? Again smiling GB at the helm.
Those are my prevailing thoughts! GO HAWKS!!
Those are my prevailing thoughts! GO HAWKS!!
D
DDThompson
Guest
D
DDThompson
Guest
Chris Doyle deserves every penny of what they are paying him. Yes, he deserves more than his counterparts at Bama and Clemson and ND.
He is the only contact on the staff these kids have between January 1 and the start of fall camp (except for the very short Spring training camp in March).
Iowa is a developmental program. Universally recognized in the business as one of, if not thee best at developing these boys from 2 and 3 star prospects into Championship caliber players who are ready for the pros. The above-named schools have much more highly rated kids coming in that are “plug and play” ready as freshmen. Certainly more so than Iowa. That is where he earns his money.
Also, I believe it was a few years ago when KF made the decision that the strength and conditioning coach is as important to this program as the OC and DC. Given this fact, they should all be paid the same. So, Doyle’s larger salary compared to these blue blood programs reflects the elevation of S&C Coach to the coordinator level. KF was And is the pioneer of that thinking. Will other programs eventually follow suit or will Iowa be alone in this thinking? Time will tell.
But if you ask any of the current players or coaches, or any past players and past coaches of this program, they will identify Chris Doyle as the reason for the success and culture of the program more than ANYONE else on the staff except for Ferentz himself. ( who earns 5 times as much)
He is the only contact on the staff these kids have between January 1 and the start of fall camp (except for the very short Spring training camp in March).
Iowa is a developmental program. Universally recognized in the business as one of, if not thee best at developing these boys from 2 and 3 star prospects into Championship caliber players who are ready for the pros. The above-named schools have much more highly rated kids coming in that are “plug and play” ready as freshmen. Certainly more so than Iowa. That is where he earns his money.
Also, I believe it was a few years ago when KF made the decision that the strength and conditioning coach is as important to this program as the OC and DC. Given this fact, they should all be paid the same. So, Doyle’s larger salary compared to these blue blood programs reflects the elevation of S&C Coach to the coordinator level. KF was And is the pioneer of that thinking. Will other programs eventually follow suit or will Iowa be alone in this thinking? Time will tell.
But if you ask any of the current players or coaches, or any past players and past coaches of this program, they will identify Chris Doyle as the reason for the success and culture of the program more than ANYONE else on the staff except for Ferentz himself. ( who earns 5 times as much)
