Iowa Football - A New Level?

[WinOneThisCentury]

Can't help but think the program has reached a new level over the course of the past few years. Honestly, I don't remember a time when we have had a better story to tell on the recruiting trail. I understand it hasn't produced a Big Ten title, but a few breaks here and there, and last year in particular very easily could have rivaled the previous year.

This story has to be a huge advantage to our coaches on the recruiting trail.

1) Top NFL Producing School - past three years
2) Three Straight Bowl Wins (in good bowls-1 BCS)
3) Barring injury to Reiff, Third Straight Year with a First Round Pick
4) No team in almost four years has beaten us by more than one score. Teams NEVER dominate us. We are physically and mentally prepared.

I know the prognosticators are predicting an eight win, maybe nine win season based on the number of people we lost, in particular on defense. I just feel we can reload at those positions and we are going to surprise people with the talent level we have been bringing in. I don't think 3-4 incoming freshmen are going to get chances because we are decimated at certain positions, I think they are going to get chances because they are exceptional talents and they are that good.

Lastly, after watching the Insight Bowl again, IMO, JVB is going to be a huge step up from Ricky Stanzi. Aside from the pass to Reisner at the end of the game (short pass) that may have been one of the worst second halves I've seen a QB have in a big game. Before the pass to Reisner, I think he was 4-11 with 2 ints. I forgot, it was like the Minny game all over again.

JVB will make us forget about RS. I'm on record.

 

[olddude]

Agreed, the talent is there, maybe some new blood puts the drive back into it and ta da, we could be looking at a very good year. I cant wait to see 230 pounds of Coker, punishing D's for trying to stop the run. Watch 230 roll! Whats really funny is for being 230 he has speed and after watching the OH St and Insight recently, he has vision as well. Pretty good combo there! I know he ran a little upright, but reports are, they have worked on that.
Vandy will be good, this year will be a bit of a curve for him, but by the end he will be on fire and next year he will be one of the best in the B10.

 

[IowaBanker]

JVB has an AWFULLY long way to go to reach Stanzi's level of accomplishment. Stanzi was the first Iowa QB drafted into the NFL in a very long time. I'm amazed at how many people continue to downplay his accomplishments.

Stanzi is on the very short list of all-time Iowa great QBs. Duncan, Long, Hartlieb, Tate, and Stanzi are in my top 5.

If JVB "makes us forget" about Stanzi, then we'll be playing in multiple BCS bowls.

 

[dmShortSaledude]

JVB has an AWFULLY long way to go to reach Stanzi's level of accomplishment. Stanzi was the first Iowa QB drafted into the NFL in a very long time. I'm amazed at how many people continue to downplay his accomplishments.

Stanzi is on the very short list of all-time Iowa great QBs. Duncan, Long, Hartlieb, Tate, and Stanzi are in my top 5.

If JVB "makes us forget" about Stanzi, then we'll be playing in multiple BCS bowls.

JV can play lights out, but if we do not have good-to-great LB play (and health!), we are not going to be playing past Florida bowls. The LBers are key - see 2010 seaon.

 

[Cosity82]

I hope the best for JVB but I'm taking the wait and see approach. I agree that Iowa fans are way to quick to write off Stanzi, he was a helluva QB and those that always complain about the mistakes he did have a farmer mentality IMO (always complaining about something - not enough rain, too much rain, too hot, too cold, etc). JVB played solid at OSU, maybe even great given the situation. But in his 2 other games he was basically ineffective against inferior competition. He literally could not move the ball against Northwestern (I'll give him a pass on that game because he was thrown into it unexpectedly) but a week after the OSU game he couldnt get into the endzone against Minnesota. He did look good against OSU but his performances against NW and MN do not have me convinced he will have any more success than Stanzi. He does appear to be smarter though so hopefully that will curb some of the mental errors made (clock management, bad INTs, etc). But with Stanzi you knew you what you were getting, a solid QB. With JVB the prognastication seems to be if a, b and c happen he will be good (a-good line play, b-stability at RB, c-receiving corps steps up). It can happen but I think he needs to live up to his potential before being labeled 'better than Stanzi' and IMO his short track record so far does not.

 

[tm3308]

Vandy has the POTENTIAL to be much better than Stanzi, in large part because of his excellent physical skill set. But for right now, that's all it is: POTENTIAL.

 

[MultipleDundieAwardWinner]

Vandy has the POTENTIAL to be much better than Stanzi, in large part because of his excellent physical skill set. But for right now, that's all it is: POTENTIAL.

To be honest, before a few days ago, I had never heard of this Vandenberg character. However, after reading here that he would be beter than Stanzi, and then reading in another thread that he should be a Heisman contender, I felt compelled to look him up.

I don't know how to say this without sounding like a jerk, so I have to preface this by saying that I am an ignorant outsider and I mean no disrespect, but what are you basing this on? I saw his numbers on the Iowa football website, and they are pretty unimpressive. Sub-.500 passing percentage, bad TD/INT ratio. A bunch of praise for him in that Ohio State game, but even then his numbers were not very good.

I have never seen him play. What are the numbers missing?

 

[tm3308]

To be honest, before a few days ago, I had never heard of this Vandenberg character. However, after reading here that he would be beter than Stanzi, and then reading in another thread that he should be a Heisman contender, I felt compelled to look him up.

I don't know how to say this without sounding like a jerk, so I have to preface this by saying that I am an ignorant outsider and I mean no disrespect, but what are you basing this on? I saw his numbers on the Iowa football website, and they are pretty unimpressive. Sub-.500 passing percentage, bad TD/INT ratio. A bunch of praise for him in that Ohio State game, but even then his numbers were not very good.

I have never seen him play. What are the numbers missing?

The numbers are skewed by two poor performances against Minnesota and Northwestern in 2009. Granted, taking those games away leaves a VERY small sample to judge him on. But the physical skills are there. He has good footwork, is very accurate when he accurately reads the defense (this is the biggest question mark going into 2011), is nimble on the run (not a scrambler, but not a statue by any means), solid pocket presence, and has a cannon for an arm (see: 2:44 mark of the video).

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L72Oj-uw4B8]YouTube - ‪Vandenberg v. OSU 2009 highlights/lowlights‬‏[/ame]

 

[spudhawk]

JVB reads a defense as fast as Tate and that is fast. He should have enough talent at WR and TE to put up solid numbers and as TM said he is a better runner than people expect. He had an entire year to watch Stanzi elevate his game and with his arm and mechanics he should only improve with PT. Even though his numbers were poor against Northwestern if you go back and watch the film he played very well after the first throw- correct read, just didn't execute the throws. Iowa was so dominant defensively in 2009 that they shut down the offense in the Minnesota game and that defense was much better than most remember- they had 9 seniors and 2 other juniors of the 14 guys that played. Ferentz and O'Keefe weren't going to let JVB make a mistake in that game.

 

[olddude]

means), and has a cannon for an arm (see: 2:44 mark of the video).
Yep, explains alot of those dropped passes. You notice who was able to catch them? We all know wide outs and TE's get used to a qb, and when another one steps in and flat out has a stronger arm, you will have dropped passes, but almost all the passes where spot on right where they should have been caught. Hope them boys are getting used to each other this summer and playing lots of catch, I have been saying it and will say it again in this thread, we will be in Indy this fall.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Geez, I realize I was stupid for putting that last blurb about Stanzi and the Insight Bowl second half at the end of my original post. I hijacked my own post. I was hoping to get people's thoughts on the story we have on the recruiting trail. I think the facts above, nfl draftees, bowl game wins, and reiff being another first rounder have completely overshadowed the Rhabdo thing. Recruits want to go where they can be taken to the next level. Only a few schools are doing that better than Iowa.

I had just watched Stanzi's performance in the second half and that is why I threw that in there. He did some great things at Iowa and I don't want to take that away from him. He made plays at critical times his junior year and it was amazing to watch, although I also was closing my eyes and praying half the time.

With the way he played down the stretch his senior year, including the bowl game, it's hard for me to put him in the top 5, although the stats and wins demand that. Imagine Tate, Long, Hartlieb playing with the defenses and opportunities Stanzi had. I think last year would have been much different for sure.

 

[DJL]

To be honest, before a few days ago, I had never heard of this Vandenberg character. However, after reading here that he would be beter than Stanzi, and then reading in another thread that he should be a Heisman contender, I felt compelled to look him up.

I don't know how to say this without sounding like a jerk, so I have to preface this by saying that I am an ignorant outsider and I mean no disrespect, but what are you basing this on? I saw his numbers on the Iowa football website, and they are pretty unimpressive. Sub-.500 passing percentage, bad TD/INT ratio. A bunch of praise for him in that Ohio State game, but even then his numbers were not very good.

I have never seen him play. What are the numbers missing?

You aren’t wrong to question JVB. He was thrown into a game against NW and he wasn’t ready to play. He looked awful. He was handcuffed by the coaching staff against MN. He had many moments of promise against OSU, but still was obviously a little green. He came in for a drive against Directional U last season, and was very impressive in leading the team to a TD. Stanzi came back in the next drive, and we saw very little from JVB the rest of the year. I think he has potential, and if he keeps improving, there is a lot of hope. He has the tools, so like everyone else, I’m taking a wait and see approach.

 

[Herkeynerd]

The numbers are skewed by two poor performances against Minnesota and Northwestern in 2009. Granted, taking those games away leaves a VERY small sample to judge him on. But the physical skills are there. He has good footwork, is very accurate when he accurately reads the defense (this is the biggest question mark going into 2011), is nimble on the run (not a scrambler, but not a statue by any means), solid pocket presence, and has a cannon for an arm (see: 2:44 mark of the video).

YouTube - ‪Vandenberg v. OSU 2009 highlights/lowlights‬‏

I agree with this. JVB's success will live and die with how well he reads the field. The Minny game was awful for him because he didn't see the corner blitz coming (over and over again). Northwestern was tough to judge because he was so green. OSU gives us a little sneak preview, but keep in mind there were some spectacular plays made by receivers to go and get the ball even though the placement was pore, i.e. Moeaki bringing in a deflection that should have been picked and also McNutt's over the defender's head grab that looked like he was using "Stickum" or whatever that crap was on the movie "The Replacements".
I do like to dream of the possibilities.

PS I hope to be frequenting the nation more again now that my newborn is starting to sleep more at night. It's been a rough two months sleep-wise.

 

[olddude]

I agree with this. JVB's success will live and die with how well he reads the field. The Minny game was awful for him because he didn't see the corner blitz coming (over and over again). Northwestern was tough to judge because he was so green. OSU gives us a little sneak preview, but keep in mind there were some spectacular plays made by receivers to go and get the ball even though the placement was pore, i.e. Moeaki bringing in a deflection that should have been picked and also McNutt's over the defender's head grab that looked like he was using "Stickum" or whatever that crap was on the movie "The Replacements".
I do like to dream of the possibilities.

PS I hope to be frequenting the nation more again now that my newborn is starting to sleep more at night. It's been a rough two months sleep-wise.

I dont see the accuracy problem like you do. Sure all qb's have bad games and such, but if you watch the OH St game, (the one true game we can go off), almost every dropped pass was not on him. Like I said he throws harder than Stanzi, he has a better arm, and the TE'S and wide outs just were not used to the ball having that much velocity behind them.

 

[jameskalina]

Agreed, the talent is there, maybe some new blood puts the drive back into it and ta da, we could be looking at a very good year. I cant wait to see 230 pounds of Coker, punishing D's for trying to stop the run. Watch 230 roll! Whats really funny is for being 230 he has speed and after watching the OH St and Insight recently, he has vision as well. Pretty good combo there! I know he ran a little upright, but reports are, they have worked on that.
Vandy will be good, this year will be a bit of a curve for him, but by the end he will be on fire and next year he will be one of the best in the B10.

You're assuming status que. Injuries and/or learning set backs could derail these projections in a big way.

I do hope you are right, however, where Coker and JV excel going forward.

 

[MultipleDundieAwardWinner]

How much of a problem is it for Iowa being, well...Iowa? I mean, it has to be a tough sell convincing a prospect to move to Iowa. I am not saying the state has a bad reputation, just a bland one. When people ask me where I'm from, I usually just answer Iowa (although I lived in 6 states growing up, I went to HS in Iowa), and seldom is the reaction to that positive.

 

[olddude]

How much of a problem is it for Iowa being, well...Iowa? I mean, it has to be a tough sell convincing a prospect to move to Iowa. I am not saying the state has a bad reputation, just a bland one. When people ask me where I'm from, I usually just answer Iowa (although I lived in 6 states growing up, I went to HS in Iowa), and seldom is the reaction to that positive.

I think Iowa, Wiskey and Nebraska all do fairly well. Kids want to win and they want a shot at the pro's. We do that with the best of them. Also if a kid is actually concerned with getting an education, we are ok in that area as well.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

How much of a problem is it for Iowa being, well...Iowa? I mean, it has to be a tough sell convincing a prospect to move to Iowa. I am not saying the state has a bad reputation, just a bland one. When people ask me where I'm from, I usually just answer Iowa (although I lived in 6 states growing up, I went to HS in Iowa), and seldom is the reaction to that positive.

Hmmm...6 states/6 schools...I would imagine you got beat up alot as a kid. Were you as likable as you are on this board? Life of the trollmad.

 

[MoseSchrute]

If we had gone to a BCS game again last year, I could say yes; since we slid back downhill, I'll have to say no.

 

[MultipleDundieAwardWinner]

Hmmm...6 states/6 schools...I would imagine you got beat up alot as a kid. Were you as likable as you are on this board? Life of the trollmad.

I wasn't beat up at all. Sure, I was an orchestra nerd, but I was also usually bigger than everyone else. However, the more pressing issue in your post, how could you consider me unlikable? I'm delightful!