Howe: The To-Do List for Hawkeye Football This Spring
- Thread starter RobHowe
- Start date
To do list:
Stanley is experienced and talented. Allow/teach him to be more accurate, allow him some more risk, don't "de-tune" (AKA Ferentz) his talent.
Beat Wisconsin, Beat Wisconsin, Beat Wisconsin, Beat Wisconsin...you can't return to where you were if your main rival who replaced you in the lineup beats and embarrass you like a listless punk.
Coaches need to lead/teach the team to not puke up games they have "in hand" by making stupid mistakes.
Same goes for the learn as you go, OC.
Figure out how to get more than 3 yards per carry on running plays.
Stanley is experienced and talented. Allow/teach him to be more accurate, allow him some more risk, don't "de-tune" (AKA Ferentz) his talent.
Beat Wisconsin, Beat Wisconsin, Beat Wisconsin, Beat Wisconsin...you can't return to where you were if your main rival who replaced you in the lineup beats and embarrass you like a listless punk.
Coaches need to lead/teach the team to not puke up games they have "in hand" by making stupid mistakes.
Same goes for the learn as you go, OC.
Figure out how to get more than 3 yards per carry on running plays.
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
Rob, just a note you wrote Chauncey Golston on the inside but I believe you meant Cedrick Lattimore
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
I think you pretty much nailed it. Interior OL for sure the biggest thing. WRs need to step up.
I’m not that concerned about the Dline. Think that group will be very good actually. I’m more interested / concerned with safety depth.
I’m not that concerned about the Dline. Think that group will be very good actually. I’m more interested / concerned with safety depth.
RobHowe
Administrator
Good lord, you're miserable.
RobHowe
Administrator
Robowe
Well-Known Member
Open up the passing playbook more, (risk), be more accurate on your passes (Stanley has the ability)Improve accuracy and allow more risk? How exactly does that work?
Good article!
Robowe
Well-Known Member
To me, logic dictates, if you want to open the passing playbook more, and you lose 2 possible first round TEs (who get the easiest passes to catch), and a WR who had 52 catches (that's your 3 leading receivers), then it's possible accuracy may suffer. I hope not, but it wouldn't shock me.
Perhaps I am too hopeful.
RobHowe
Administrator
I think it remains to be seen of NS can be consistently accurate. He has some games where he falls apart and misses too many makables.
There are variables that go into that. He can be rattled with pressure. And he’s had a lot of inexperienced receivers on the outside the last two seasons.
Now is his time. In his third year starting, he has to raise up everyone around him consistently.
hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
The seems like a regular theme, but I'm optimistic about the receivers this year. B Smith showed some pretty solid play last year and I think some of the other guys know the playing time is there for the taking...plus we won't be as tight end focused as last year. TE still key to our O, of course, but I think this is a great opp for WRs.
Linderbaum could be key, he was so physically dominant at the HS level, I think he's ready. Center is so key to this offense...and giving Nate time and comfort back there.
We'll be beastly again in the Dline.
Linderbaum could be key, he was so physically dominant at the HS level, I think he's ready. Center is so key to this offense...and giving Nate time and comfort back there.
We'll be beastly again in the Dline.
NS would be a much "better" passer if the running game was more proficient. Hopefully that will be improved this year.
I like him but he is inconsistent, as you mention. He is also an athlete that I would describe as one who "plays nervous." Cook falls into this category in a similar way as did MG from the past BB teams.
If I was working a game plan vs NS it would consist of constant pressure, with the risk of giving up some big plays. He doesn't tend to think well on his feet, under duress, and isn't nimble. Some of his passes are astoundingly off target for some reason.
And, perhaps with more experienced and talented receivers (who know their routes) he will be much better in this his year to shine for Iowa and for his possible NFL future. He has the ability, but can he put it together under duress. Will the OC be able to make this happen?
The QB position is similar to a center in hockey, or a PG in BB, they need to make others around them better and do well, and if needed, carry the team at times. Will an experienced and less nervous and more confident NS be able to make this happen. I hope so, it will go a long way to making Iowa a top ten team.
If he sputters, give some of the talent behind him a chance. They are the future.
RobHowe
Administrator
Penn State brought the heat and it rattled him. There was a point where he came to the sideline and BF tried to calm him down. You could see BF smiling and trying to take off some pressure.
KF said a few times during the season that NS just needed to relax and have fun. He certainly did in some of the games. And it showed. It can get himself wound too tight.
It’s college football. Guys improve in all kinds of areas. By all accounts, the kid works tirelessly. Looking forward to see what he can do as a senior.
KF said a few times during the season that NS just needed to relax and have fun. He certainly did in some of the games. And it showed. It can get himself wound too tight.
It’s college football. Guys improve in all kinds of areas. By all accounts, the kid works tirelessly. Looking forward to see what he can do as a senior.
Sometimes I get hung up and throws that Stanley has missed, and I forget all of the great throws he has made, and then I stumble upon the highlight videos from our receivers:
The guy can wing it.
I wonder what percentage of his bad misses were on throws to Fant? It seemed like at least half. For whatever reason, it seemed like those 2 guys were often on different pages. Maybe they were not seeing defenses the same way. Maybe Stanley after failing to connect a few times early in the season, Stanely started to feel more pressure in throwing to Fant and tightened up.
The guy can wing it.
I wonder what percentage of his bad misses were on throws to Fant? It seemed like at least half. For whatever reason, it seemed like those 2 guys were often on different pages. Maybe they were not seeing defenses the same way. Maybe Stanley after failing to connect a few times early in the season, Stanely started to feel more pressure in throwing to Fant and tightened up.
Fant did have an issue with working back to the ball or adjusting his route. A lot of the time though, teams were keying in on him big time. I know Nebraska made a huge effort of putting a safety over top of him nearly the entire game.
And that is what is going to be missed most about Fant (like Tevaun Smith before him). Not the production per se, but the attention and opening things up for the rest of the offense.
HawkeyeDenis
Well-Known Member
Nate Stanley has thrown 52 TDs in two years. (?) Not to bad. But one has to wonder what the effect of Hockenson, Fant, Easley leaving is going to have on the offense. That's a lot of production.
On the upside. The offensive line has two experienced NFL caliber tackles. And some good guards in the pipeline. The running backs will have a solid year of experience.
The defense should be fine. The linebackers have a solid year of experience. Defensive line rotation is smaller. But there are some positives there. Especially at defensive end. This should be AJ's year to shine. If they double him, the opposite side will benefit. Defensive backs are a good group but we've been spoiled with Jackson, Hooker, King. Time for the next star to emerge.
This spring needs to be about the receivers, TE's, Slot receivers and wide outs.
On the upside. The offensive line has two experienced NFL caliber tackles. And some good guards in the pipeline. The running backs will have a solid year of experience.
The defense should be fine. The linebackers have a solid year of experience. Defensive line rotation is smaller. But there are some positives there. Especially at defensive end. This should be AJ's year to shine. If they double him, the opposite side will benefit. Defensive backs are a good group but we've been spoiled with Jackson, Hooker, King. Time for the next star to emerge.
This spring needs to be about the receivers, TE's, Slot receivers and wide outs.
Watched the 30 for 30 on ESPN where Dan Marino was the subject. He had a not so good senior year at Pitt and tremendous Sophomore and Junior years being right in the mix at the top of college football. His senior year he had a horrendous game against penn state. He threw 5 picks. His quote was once you throw 3 picks in a game the rest just don't matter. Even the great ones have bad games. All should remember that.
