Well our scheme is supposed to have a back that can cut back, and we don't have a back that has the vision, or footwork/quickness to do so as evidenced by the horrid running game last year. Granted the blocking wasn't good either, but our backs are not high quality backs for this conference. Couple that with no receiver that can stretch the field, and a qb that can't throw an accurate pass consistently past 10 yards, and we aren't going to have a running game. Unless our receivers have improved by leaps and bounds over last year, then we are in big trouble this year without 2 first round draft picks at TE.
If Running Game Doesn’t Improve...
- Thread starter NikeHawk21
- Start date
Jesus great argument. Exactly who did we beat?
Where does that offense rank in the conference? Yeah he's on the right track alright. We win because of our defense, period. He wouldn't have a job if daddy wasn't the head coach.
NCHawker
Well-Known Member
As I understand it, Iowa does not run exclusively zone blocking. Since Brian took over they mix it up with other approaches. Regardless, I've grown a little bit apathetic with Iowa football - I think others have too. Its the damned offense that is so underwhelming year in and year out.
You do realize that if daddy wasn't the coach, we might not have a defense
HuckFinn
Well-Known Member
We beat 9 teams that were on our schedule in 2018, idiot.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't say the running backs are inadequate and for this conference. I do agree that we used to run a counter that was effective as hell. Shonn Greene ran it very well for his size even. They don't seem to call that as much but kind of do this angle cut to the opposite hand off kind of play that I think they think is similarly effective, but I don't think it is. I would like to see more counters as you point out.
I think it is more not having the wideout game the past few seasons to loosen up the running game. I think that is the biggest culprit. Teams are just loading up that box and making Iowa audible to a run.
I need to take an opportunity to plug The Athletic...
I used up a free trial about a month ago reading some Hawk content, and then for the past week they have been teasing me with this Iowa and Wisconsin O-Line breakdown. I resisted for awhile, but this morning I gave in, subscribed for a year, and read the article. Outside of their statement that both programs have been equally effective (just patently untrue regarding on-field production with Wisc far outpacing us; somewhat true if you look at things like drafted NFL lineman), this was just a great read. I won't give away all of their content since it is subscription-only, but I will do a bit of marketing for them with select tidbits and quotes:
The article talks about how Iowa's blocking style was developed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, adopted by Joe Moore, taught to KF, and brought to Iowa in 1981. From the article...
Just great stuff. And don't even get me started on the Mike Leach article from a week or so ago. Get the Athletic, you will thank me.
I used up a free trial about a month ago reading some Hawk content, and then for the past week they have been teasing me with this Iowa and Wisconsin O-Line breakdown. I resisted for awhile, but this morning I gave in, subscribed for a year, and read the article. Outside of their statement that both programs have been equally effective (just patently untrue regarding on-field production with Wisc far outpacing us; somewhat true if you look at things like drafted NFL lineman), this was just a great read. I won't give away all of their content since it is subscription-only, but I will do a bit of marketing for them with select tidbits and quotes:
The article talks about how Iowa's blocking style was developed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, adopted by Joe Moore, taught to KF, and brought to Iowa in 1981. From the article...
In 1981, at 25, Ferentz became Iowa’s offensive line coach. He scrapped an ineffective blocking style with linemen in four-point stances and implemented the Radakovich/Moore scheme. Iowa immediately saw a 60 yard-per-game jump in rushing yards, and the Hawkeyes won a Big Ten title for the first time in 23 years.
In the four NFL drafts before Ferentz’s hiring, the Hawkeyes had one offensive lineman picked, and that was in the 11th round. In the next three drafts, the Hawkeyes had five offensive linemen selected and four played at least 10 years in the NFL.
Brian Ferentz quotes:In the four NFL drafts before Ferentz’s hiring, the Hawkeyes had one offensive lineman picked, and that was in the 11th round. In the next three drafts, the Hawkeyes had five offensive linemen selected and four played at least 10 years in the NFL.
Then [Brian] Ferentz compared the perfect block to a 2001 trip to Wisconsin when Iowa’s bus obliterated a deer on Highway 151.
“It looked like somebody shoved a hand grenade up the deer’s ass,” he said. “It was just gone. It was like vaporized. It wasn’t even like you call the state patrol. ‘Hey, you’ve got to come move this carcass.’ No, we’ve got to wash the bus. That’s how it should be when you block guys.”
“It looked like somebody shoved a hand grenade up the deer’s ass,” he said. “It was just gone. It was like vaporized. It wasn’t even like you call the state patrol. ‘Hey, you’ve got to come move this carcass.’ No, we’ve got to wash the bus. That’s how it should be when you block guys.”
Just great stuff. And don't even get me started on the Mike Leach article from a week or so ago. Get the Athletic, you will thank me.
ChosenChildren
Well-Known Member
Wisconsin runs a tremendous amount of counter and misdirection. Iowa needs to incorporate more of that to keep the LBs honest.
ChosenChildren
Well-Known Member
Iowa's other problem is that teams in the West are now matching their physicality. Wisconsin has done it. Northwestern is doing it. Minnesota and Purdue are catching up. Nebraska may be catching up.
I know Kirk wants to overpower teams, but it is hard winning more than 7 or 8 games with that strategy. We need to be more diversified and harder to defend on offense.
Our defense has been very good for many years. I don't see that changing a whole lot.
I know Kirk wants to overpower teams, but it is hard winning more than 7 or 8 games with that strategy. We need to be more diversified and harder to defend on offense.
Our defense has been very good for many years. I don't see that changing a whole lot.
The answer is most certainly a combination of all of the things already mentioned and not just one thing.
I went back and watched some clips of some of our successful running plays and backs in the KF era. The thing that jumps off the screen at me is that in almost every play if not all of them, our offensive line has moved the defensive line off the ball 3-5 yards before our back ever hit the hole. The other thing in most situations, we are running against a base 4-3 defense in a single tight end set. It isn't like coaches were stupid back then, there was a reason why they ran a base defense and that was they respected our WR's. And while we were a running team, and teams knew we would run, we were able to mix the run/pass out of the same look successfully a lot of the time. So compared to what we have seen at times in the KF era:
1. Our wide receivers have not been respected to consistently beat 1 on 1 coverage.
2. We have had great TE;s, however, when your best receivers are TE's it puts more defenders in the box which naturally makes it harder to run.
3. Our OL last year was much better at pass blocking then run blocking. Our tackles are NFL talents, but they were no Gallery on the edge for us. Worse though was the interior of our line, it has been average at best in relation to the talent on the opposite side of the ball.
4. Our backs may not be as talented, however, its hard to place the blame all on them when they are getting hit in the backfield when they receive the hand off. None of them have the wiggle of Akrum, but who does? I think you put Greene or Russell behind that line last year in those schemes and you wouldn't see a dramatic difference.
5. Play calling. Brian needs to be more proactive than reactive. I think there is a conflict there in that we want to run the ball to control the clock and limit possessions, however, if you take what the defense gives you and they are giving you 1 on 1 coverage on the edges, you have to take it. That puts us in a lot more 35-31 games than 21-17 type games, but the defenses have shown they arent going to let us line up and dictate tempo.
I went back and watched some clips of some of our successful running plays and backs in the KF era. The thing that jumps off the screen at me is that in almost every play if not all of them, our offensive line has moved the defensive line off the ball 3-5 yards before our back ever hit the hole. The other thing in most situations, we are running against a base 4-3 defense in a single tight end set. It isn't like coaches were stupid back then, there was a reason why they ran a base defense and that was they respected our WR's. And while we were a running team, and teams knew we would run, we were able to mix the run/pass out of the same look successfully a lot of the time. So compared to what we have seen at times in the KF era:
1. Our wide receivers have not been respected to consistently beat 1 on 1 coverage.
2. We have had great TE;s, however, when your best receivers are TE's it puts more defenders in the box which naturally makes it harder to run.
3. Our OL last year was much better at pass blocking then run blocking. Our tackles are NFL talents, but they were no Gallery on the edge for us. Worse though was the interior of our line, it has been average at best in relation to the talent on the opposite side of the ball.
4. Our backs may not be as talented, however, its hard to place the blame all on them when they are getting hit in the backfield when they receive the hand off. None of them have the wiggle of Akrum, but who does? I think you put Greene or Russell behind that line last year in those schemes and you wouldn't see a dramatic difference.
5. Play calling. Brian needs to be more proactive than reactive. I think there is a conflict there in that we want to run the ball to control the clock and limit possessions, however, if you take what the defense gives you and they are giving you 1 on 1 coverage on the edges, you have to take it. That puts us in a lot more 35-31 games than 21-17 type games, but the defenses have shown they arent going to let us line up and dictate tempo.
I get what your saying, and Iowa needs to get better at moving the LOS. But watch this video:
You will see some great LOS movement, but you will also see Greene getting a lot of "Emmitt Smith" yards. Not from outstanding physicality, but from a hesitation here, setting up a block there, finding a crevice. He had an awesome OL, and he had awesome physicality, but he also had a "sense" that he did not have as a younger back. We can only hope some of our guys are developing that sense as well.
I strongly agree with your points 1, 2, and 5.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
As I pointed out above, look how far back he lines up from the line of scrimmage. This allows the OL to move players creating a hole and Greene hits it with some speed. The sea opens right before the RB gets there. Was the same way with Freddy Russell.
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
I was at that Wisconsin game in '08. It was a clinic. Our lines are just not as good as they were back then.
racerhawk
Well-Known Member
I generally attend most or all of the home games, and sit fairly close to the field. In the past few years, I'm impressed (not in a good way) with how aggressively defenses play Iowa. If Iowa shows run after the opposing team puts 8-9 in the box and is creeping forward pre-snap, it's not shocking when the back is met at the LOS by 3 defenders who are already there.
I hope that our run blocking is better, and that the running backs see holes better this year.
Having said that, I REALLY hope we can finally exploit defenses who are looking in the backfield every damn play. Purdue, for example was super aggressive on defense two years ago in Kinnick and succeeded. We have to get better at making teams pay when they throw the kitchen sink. I hope our senior quarterback and hopefully improved WR corps (vs corpse) are able to do it.
racerhawk
Well-Known Member
This!. Scratch where it itches, a wise man once said.
Iowa seems to look at a defense and say "nine guys, huh? we accept your challenge"...and that doesn't work oftentimes.
trj
Well-Known Member
Agreed. I just don’t know why because they continue to put guys into the league.
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
The 3 interior guys are rarely a complete unit. There have been stars even on the inside, but the problem is if even one of those guys isn't good, the whole line looks like crap. And then we've had to start freshmen. Our two supposed first round tackles this year are getting better, but when they were freshmen, they could not contain the edge and we could not run the ball to the outside. We still have good stars and you can rest assured our left tackles will generally start in the NFL, but I just don't think we have depth anymore.
trj
Well-Known Member
Depth is probably the correct answer. Just think if Linderbaum goes down there is nothing behind him at center.
He was typically at 8 yards. In the video below (Sargent highlights vs. Nebraska from last year), Sargent is consistently at 7 yards. Not sure when they made the change or why? I wonder if that extra yard can really make much difference?
