I Like this O-Line

I

Ickehawk

Well-Known Member
I really like the athleticism and versatility of this line. It's almost a blessing that Daniels missed time in spring because now Welsh can play center and it gives us good depth. Now when Welsh missed a little time Daniels slid into the spot. And once again, don't get hung up on the depth chart, because they will play their 6 best lineman and they can all play multiple spots (Croston, Myers,Daniels, Welsh, Render, Boettger). If Daniels can get up to speed, he will probably settle in at center, which is what they brought him here to play and Render is really coming on and I don't think people realize how much he saw the field last year (not a lot, but definately got his feet wet). So the starting lineup I expect to see is:
LT - Croston
LG - Myers
C - Daniels
RG- Welsh
RT - Boetgger
I think they will be monster run blockers (they certainly showed some of it last year), and you would think they will all have improved in their pass blocking with a year of actual playing experience and another year working on technique. Now some of the problems they had in pass pro was on the backs and coaches. The backs 'should' be better at reading and picking up blitzes as they are more experienced (and I heard CJ mention that one of Wadley's biggest improvements from last year was blitz pickup) and the coaches mentioned that they need to give the Tackles a little help (chip from the TE for example) when an athletic DE is lined up in like a 9 tech (really wide) and gets a big head of steam before he gets to the Tackle that is tough to block (for anyone). Chipping him quickly with the TE etc. would slow him down but still allow the TE to get into his route. I loved it in the Mich. St. game when they 'finally' got tired of Calhoun so they had the TE (I don't remember which one it was) 'crack' block him on a pass play and totally de-cleated him! I think we may see a little more of that this year (chips) to 'slow' down some fellers on the outside.
Now what I love the most about this O-Line is the versatility. Forget the depth chart again, because no matter who gets hurt, Render is coming in and everyone will shift. Trust me. So if Daniels gets hurt you will see this:
LT- Croston
LG - Myers
C- Welsh
RG- Render
RT- Boettger
If Welsh gets hurt:
LT - Croston
LG -Myers
C- Daniels
RG- Render
RT- Boettger
If Croston gets hurt:
LT- Myers
LG - Welsh
C- Daniels
RG Render
RT- Boettger
If Myers gets hurt:
LT- Croston
LG-Welsh
C- Daniels
RG- Render
RT- Boettger
If Boettger gets hurt:
LT Croston
LG Welsh
C Daniels
RG Render
RT Myers
I think you get the point. Now if more than one gets hurt, than the depth chart comes more into play and maybe a Ryan Ward comes into play as he has played both Tackles and both Guards over his going on 5 years of being on campus. As much as some love CJ and Wadley etc.. it all starts up front and if this group can stay healthy, it should allow guys like CJ and Wadley etc.. to really show their stuff!!!
 
I agree. A line really starts to gel when you have an idea of what everyone is supposed to be doing on any given play. It's great to have a bunch of versatile guys who can plug in at any spot and play at a high level. Should be a really good group this year and next, considering we only lose Croston to graduation and should Welsh decide to come back.
 
Just wondering Icke were you a typing champ.Lol. Must be retired.Would love to see some quality depth on the line.
 
GrandpaHawk said:
Just wondering Icke were you a typing champ.Lol. Must be retired.Would love to see some quality depth on the line.
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Well, when I took typing in 1979 on a 'real' typewriter, I typed 85 words a minute with only 6 errors! :) I am 'semi' retired and WON'T put up with the 'young' negative jerks of the world. If that helps you any...:)
 
GrandpaHawk said:
Just wondering Icke were you a typing champ.Lol. Must be retired.Would love to see some quality depth on the line.
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Oh, and I think they are building that depth, but there are so many youngin's that we don't know much about yet that are going to get a few years to develop!!! Like the Paulsen twins, etc... Iowa BUILDS O-lineman if the stay with the program!!!
 
BVHawk95 said:
I agree. A line really starts to gel when you have an idea of what everyone is supposed to be doing on any given play. It's great to have a bunch of versatile guys who can plug in at any spot and play at a high level. Should be a really good group this year and next, considering we only lose Croston to graduation and should Welsh decide to come back.
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Good points! And I forgot that Welsh can play RT if needed like he did last year! And that is huge that we only lose Croston (giving the youngsters another year to get bigger, stronger, and learn the system) and I don't really see Welsh going anywhere, because even though he's 'good', he's not a Scherff, etc. who would be a 1st round pick after his JR. yr. And what makes that even better, is that even though we lose CJ after this year, Wiegers, Wadley, Mitchell, etc..get to execute behind a very good and EXPERIENCED offensive line which will make losing CJ a WHOLE lot easier to deal with. I'll take an O-Line of LT- Myers, LG- Welsh, C- Daniels, RG- Render, RT- Boettger and be successful no matter who my QB or RB's are....(But I think Wiegers will surprise the negative nelly's on this site and we'll have Wadley and Mitchell heading up a really talented and DEEP backfield and our FB's will even be more experienced and like I've said, Kulick is going to be a good one!!!) The future is bright my friends, if only that damn KF doesn't screw things up :)
 
For the most part I thought the run blocking was very good last year. Pass blocking was spotty, especially late in the year, granted there were injuries and a lineup shuffle, but CJB got beat up last year. Bottom line, I am not really worried about the run game.....I having nightmares about teams with athletic d-lines, guys coming off the edge like Calhoun(MSU) wreaking havoc....I am thinking 2016, I am not thinking long term so take it for what it is worth.
 
The OL did an amazing job considering they had 4 new starters really in Croston, Ike, Boone, and Daniels. I think the only thing they really struggled on was negative plays (both sacks and negative run plays). Way too many of those, but considering the youth, and the injuries, I'm sure they will be a lot better this year.
 
the Oline needs to show more explosiveness off the snap. The Stanford DLine moved the LOS into the Iowa backfield way too many times in the rose bowl.
 
I swear to God, I am the only person in America that is not sold on our OL. Like uihawk82 said, Stanford blew us off the line of scrimmage and made us look weak. We need to explode off the snap. And that can help with the pass protection, which was not seen too much. I still think we need more athletic tackles.
 
uihawk82 said:
the Oline needs to show more explosiveness off the snap. The Stanford DLine moved the LOS into the Iowa backfield way too many times in the rose bowl.
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Well, first of all, Iowa was missing Myers and Boettger, so Welsh had to play RT and Daniels ( who is going to be really good, but not last year) had to play LG. Secondly, I don't know what game you watched, but I just re-watched the 1st qtr. and Stanford NEVER moved the LOS into the Iowa backfield ONCE. I heard this stuff against Nebby in 2014, but I don't know what people are talking about? Daniels struggled to MAINTAIN his blocks so the defender was getting off the block but it certainly wasn't in the backfield! They had no negative run plays in the 1st Qtr. Then they brought Myers in for Daniels at LG and he didn't get much movement against their All-conference DT Aziz, but once again they NEVER moved the LOS into the backfield. Stanford was doing a good job of getting off blocks and holding us to 3-5 yd. gains. But Iowa's biggest problem in the 1st Qtr that got us off to a slow start was stupid shit. A false start right off the bat. A missed stunt pickup. A holding call on a really good run. CJ missing the hot route (I can go into more detail on that if you'd like) and staring down the out route and throwing a pick 6. Then the next time he has 3rd and short, he has all day to throw, but get's gun shy and takes a sack (that was not the O-lines fault). So yes, the offense got off to a miserable start, but it wasn't because Stanford moved the LOS into the Iowa backfield!!! Lol, where do you people come up with this stuff? Do you just say anything just to see your words in type and to feel important hoping no one knows what you're talking about (which most don't)? To start the 2nd qtr. Mitchell misses a blitz pickup for a sack, etc...the FIRST time I see them not get movement up front was 12:39 in the 2nd Qtr.!!! Then in that same drive, they have HKC wide open for BIG play, but the ball gets tipped....you want me to go on Mr. 'they moved the LOS into the backfield', Lol.......And don't people give me this, 'that was his opinion' stuff, because if it can be proved wrong (which it can be), it is NOT an opinion. It is an incorrect statement................
 
PawkHawk1 said:
I swear to God, I am the only person in America that is not sold on our OL. Like uihawk82 said, Stanford blew us off the line of scrimmage and made us look weak. We need to explode off the snap. And that can help with the pass protection, which was not seen too much. I still think we need more athletic tackles.
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Show me all these plays that they 'blew us off the line, lol.....I think the fries are up, get back to work...........
 
This is a great offensive line. They are good at both pass and run blocking. They are big, but yet they are not stiffs. Many played other positions in high school such as tight end, and other sports such as basketball. So they are versatile and athletic. Other teams with big stiffs lack the play making ability of the Iowa line. Boone Myers moving to guard is going to benifit this team a lot. To have a powerful blocker with the abilities of a left tackle will be a huge advantage. I look forward to seeing this line dominate this year!
 
Can we move kickoff up by two weeks? I am
ready for some football. If everyone stays healthy we should garner some major attention again this year.

I wasn't real impressed last night when I got home and caught a rebroadcast on the BTC of them visiting Iowa's practice. They did pick Iowa to win the East but one of the B1G announcers covering the Iowa practice stated that the East was much stronger and he compared IOWA to be at the level of Penn State and behind Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan. Couldn't disagree more. IF Iowa stays healthy I think they will be much better this year and totally capable of beating any team in the East division. I'm not being a homer as I really believe that is true. I've never felt that way in the recent past too many times and felt the chances of beating OSU were very remote but I feel this year is going to be different.
 
How are the Paulson twins coming along? I haven't heard much about them. Those two were just the monsters from Moville. I hope they are developing and can maybe crack the two deeps in 2017
 
PawkHawk1 said:
I swear to God, I am the only person in America that is not sold on our OL. Like uihawk82 said, Stanford blew us off the line of scrimmage and made us look weak. We need to explode off the snap. And that can help with the pass protection, which was not seen too much. I still think we need more athletic tackles.
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You're probably not the only one but I get your point. This is certainly one of the most hyped O-lines we've had. I think there's always an assumption a Kirk-led team is going to have a good line so that's always plays into it.

Hope they live up to the hype.
 
PawkHawk1 said:
I swear to God, I am the only person in America that is not sold on our OL. Like uihawk82 said, Stanford blew us off the line of scrimmage and made us look weak. We need to explode off the snap. And that can help with the pass protection, which was not seen too much. I still think we need more athletic tackles.
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I agree with you somewhat. This line is getting a lot of hype, granted there are some really good pieces we just dont know what we have. If history is an indication then they should be above average like many of ferentz's lines in the past.
 
Yes. In addition, I think they are really getting good quality depth behind them as they develop. This will really bode well for when Benjamin and company come to run behind them. No fall-off.
 
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