I know a new thread about the offense?

[FBletterman]

The problem with our offense is not scheme or coaching. The reason we have been at the middle of the pact for years is about talent and depth. This offensive philosophy needs a stud running back to be effective. Coincidentally The Ferentz era has been plagued by injuries at the RB position and because of that the offense has struggled and been middle of the road statistically. You look at the Pro balanced attack of the NFL it's the team with a strong RB that prevail.

Look at the KOK ran offense when Shonn Green or Freddy Russell were clicking on all cylinders. We were very difficult to defend against. This year is no exception and please don't take this as a bash session but Jewel going down was a disaster for this offense. I believe he was a just few games away from getting the rust off. You could just see him beginning to get his timing back. Clearly he has the talent, he is a superstar waiting in the wings he just needs to stay healthy.

This brings me to depth and i know what everyone thinks of the star system but teams like Alabama, Texas & tOSU can really cover there injuries we can't. Now I also know the argument of well Norm can do it year in and year out with his defense, injuries and all, why cant KOK? For the same reason the defense is always ahead of the offense in the Spring. Defensive positions are easier to master than offensive skilled positions. Big tough defensive guys are easier to cultivate than a super star RB. Great RB's do not grow on trees they come along only once in a while.

Sure if we ran more of a spread it would take a lot of pressure of having a stud RB. But, we don't! and as long as Ferentz is here we never will so we need to get over that one. The bottom line is for Iowa, how goes the RB position so goes our offense.

God I hope Coker is great? (fingers crossed)

 

[briankaldenberg]

I have no qualms about our offense because it allows us to get recruits who we might not otherwise get. Recruits that know they'll get a good "NFL" education by coming to Iowa. It is our way of differentiating in the market place. If we were a spread offense, there's many more tradition-laden schools to choose from than Iowa if you're a player wanting to play in a spread offense.

However, schematically at the college level I don't feel like the pro-style uses the entire football field as efficiently as the spread offense does. Pro-style offenses are easier to defend in my opinion because you don't have to defense as much real estate and your linebackers are not put in as many one on one situations in space.

The spread offense also puts your quarterback at risk. At Iowa, more often than not, we don't have the luxury of throwing a second blue-chip into the fire if our starter goes down. And you're right, having a gamebreaker running back is crucial for our offense.

 

[FBletterman]

I agree with you. But, I have to go with a premise that's realistic and that is noway no how will Kirk Ferentz led team ever run the spread, and by spread I'm sure you mean the QB sprint option spread like Oregon or Michigan. Because we certainly have formations that can spread you out we just have an offense that utilizes the TE and has a Full Back like the NFL does.

So based on a Ferentz led KOK offense we need a stud RB or we are average at best.

 

[9YRPLAN]

tell me more about this pact.