Howe: Ranking the Top Linebackers of the Kirk Ferentz Era
- Thread starter RobHowe
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#1DieHardHawk
Well-Known Member
Tough list to compile.
I think a lot depends upon how you prioritize the qualities you look for in a LB, and whether you're looking at career stats or how good the final product was. Personally, I think Greenway is #1 because he was the complete package. Amazing athlete for his size. His game simply had no weaknesses at all.
Jewell, Hodge, Barr and Angerer were thumpers but all four could get isolated and taken advantage of in space. Hodge especially struggled with coverage, which is why he washed out so quickly at the next level.
I'd probably rank Hitchens just behind Kirksey, and slide Hodge to behind Hitchens. Hitch didn't have a string of great seasons, but he grew into the position and left Iowa as a very talented LB.
I think a lot depends upon how you prioritize the qualities you look for in a LB, and whether you're looking at career stats or how good the final product was. Personally, I think Greenway is #1 because he was the complete package. Amazing athlete for his size. His game simply had no weaknesses at all.
Jewell, Hodge, Barr and Angerer were thumpers but all four could get isolated and taken advantage of in space. Hodge especially struggled with coverage, which is why he washed out so quickly at the next level.
I'd probably rank Hitchens just behind Kirksey, and slide Hodge to behind Hitchens. Hitch didn't have a string of great seasons, but he grew into the position and left Iowa as a very talented LB.
Interesting. I have no problem with either of those things and if anything I'd have maybe put Morris a little higher. Morris played/started pretty much 4 years and did pretty darn well. Some of our good players on that list have less than 2 yrs of starting PT. Granted circumstances such as the roster depth chart and injuries play into that. I just enjoy how folks can look at things and yet see something totally different.
Hawkalum2002
Well-Known Member
I'd have Hunter on the list instead of Niemann, but pretty good list. Glad to see Hodge and Barr get the credit they deserve. Klinkenborg did a really good job at MLB when he started also, shame that injuries cut his last year short, or he may he deserved this list as well.
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
If I'm looking at guys I just wouldn't want any part of having to block all day, Greenway would be at the top of my list. Crazy athletic, size, smart, and he liked to dominate you. He was just relentless. Angerer was one of my favorites, and a great linebacker in his own right...like Jewell, but damn...Greenway was a special combination of talents.
SpiderRico
Well-Known Member
Even though Angerer only played 2 seasons, they were two of the more dominant seasons an Iowa middle linebacker has ever had, so I don't think you can punish him for that. Also, he's far and away the best cover MLB ever under Ferentz.
My Top 5 would be:
1. Jewell
2. Greenway
3. Angerer
4. Hodge
5. Barr
My Top 5 would be:
1. Jewell
2. Greenway
3. Angerer
4. Hodge
5. Barr
hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
Man, lots of great LBs on that list. I did get a chuckle out of one of the "honorable mentions".
Only one of them? The last 3 on his honorable mentions list I wouldn't exactly jump up and down about... Mostly Alston I thought he wasn't that great of a MLB the other two weren't terrible by any means just hard to rank them above many others...
Looking ahead, what position group do you think will be toughest to rank?
RobHowe
Administrator
Off the top of my head, probably offensive line.
I think the majority will be difficult. I look forward to doing it after the season. It will be interesting to see how much Fant and Stanley move up at their respective positions.
Tough list to make for sure. I think you definitely have a bracket, say x, y and z are probably top three then the next bracket. But it's pretty tough to say what order they fall in.
Good write up though.
It's going to be a fun position to watch going forward as well.
Hawkalum2002
Well-Known Member
Alston did earn second team all-B10 though from coaches. His biggest problem (more exactly bad timing) was having freshman in Bower, Spearman, and Jewell (who missed half the year) on his outside and you can't cover for everyone's mistakes. If Senior level Alston plays the year before with veteran guys like Kirksey and Hitchens around him instead, totally different story and he probably has 130 tackles, and first team all league. Timing is everything sometimes.
It also says a lot about our LB play if guys like Alston, Hunter, and a host of other dependable guys are "only" honorable mentions on this list.
When lists like this come out, I tend to think they are of poor quality, but this one was pretty damn good. It's good to see Abdul Hodge get the respect he deserved. He get overshadowed by the more popular player in Greenway, but he was every bit his equal at the college level. I'd have a hard time ranking one ahead of the other and pretty much think of them as a tandem as opposed to individuals.
