Fryowa
Administrator
This
Iowa Running game issues
- Thread starter hwk23
- Start date
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
trj
Well-Known Member
I remember 2 years ago the Wisconsin o-line average height and weight was 6’7 330 lbs. I was thinking to myself you could hide a couple of cars behind those dudes. I started wondering how and where they were getting those monsters.
I don’t think they need to overhaul their philosophy just be more creative with it. The 49ers base offense is very similar to Iowa’s, but you can see the creativity that Kyle Shannonhan puts into it. Instead of making calls East to New England this off season maybe they need to make a few calls West to San Francisco.
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
I just looked at UW’s current oline. Three of the guys were listed under 300 coming out of high school, so not much different than a typical Iowa offensive line recruit. If we strived to get bigger on the offensive line I think we could do it.
I agree with your points though. For some reason I actually felt we had a chance to turn the corner on offense, but nobody can call plays if you can’t run the ball. So is it our interior offensive line that is the main issue, or the scheme? I’m not sure, likely a little of both.
The alarming thing about this thread is it spans over many years. We’ve had 3 different OCs. We’ve had good offensive lines and good backs, but the running game has been consistently average to below average. Scheme wise the zone blocking and general running concepts have been in place that entire time though. Meanwhile as we have mentioned Wisconsin who is very similar to us in many ways has punished teams on the ground with dominate rushing attacks for the last ten years. One would think it’s time for a change but we all know it’s unlikely that will happen.
Pretty sure KF and CD like to keep them lighter, so lower weight targets.
There would be some times where a very crappy passing game also impacts the run game. Say 2012 for instance.
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
Yes we are talking about changing that strategy. The poster I was discussing with said we couldn’t find those guys like Wisconsin has and I’m arguing we could and if we changed philosophy and developed those guys we could build a line of big maulers.
A crappy passing game leads to a crappy running game and vice versa. In our case we have both. We're balanced
When you think about it Wisconsin is probably the only team in the Big Ten with more stability than Iowa. Barry Alvarez has been, for practical purposes, the head coach since the early 90's. It's his scheme and philosophy. He just delegates the actual duties. I don't think the Wisconsin offense has changed too much, maybe tweaks here and there. I could be wrong. However, they have successfully revamped the defense. They made a change there.
We're the opposite, we haven't changed on defense too much, why change. Our scheme on defense gets the most out of our talent and then some. However, we've tried to change on offense and, unlike Wisconsin, we have been unsuccessful so far. That's pretty much the difference between Wisconsin and Iowa in a nutshell. I'd be happy with the offense we had 2001 to 2008 (and the success we had). I don't think the players we have now are that much different or less talented.
We're the opposite, we haven't changed on defense too much, why change. Our scheme on defense gets the most out of our talent and then some. However, we've tried to change on offense and, unlike Wisconsin, we have been unsuccessful so far. That's pretty much the difference between Wisconsin and Iowa in a nutshell. I'd be happy with the offense we had 2001 to 2008 (and the success we had). I don't think the players we have now are that much different or less talented.
hawkeyes87
Well-Known Member
They've changed on defense.
A lot more man coverage now. They still don't blitz as much as most, but at least the number of times we have a Niemann covering Hamler matchup is fairly low.
Motigerhawk
Well-Known Member
Remember when BF took over as the running game coordinator? Look att he tables and graphs, that will remind you.
MoseSchrute
Well-Known Member
Yes, we miss him, but let the guy enjoy his retirement. I'd say go get AJ Blazek, which is what I wanted before Polasek got hired.
hawkeyes87
Well-Known Member
Hey "Running Game Coordinator, was a real position, dammit! An important position!
Just because they hadn't used that title before BF, and haven't since he ascended, doesn't mean it was just something to put on his resume!
If you'd told Kirk his run game was as good as it will ever be in 02 he would not have believed it I doubt, but we had beasts on the O line then. You can be successful with a paltry run game however but you need pass blockers and a good qb. Check 04 and also 09. Great years for the Hawks and we had weak run games.
A crappy passing game leads to a crappy running game and vice versa. In our case we have both. We're balanced
We got balance man. Keeps our punter in great shape.
