IowaLawWasRight
Well-Known Member
With 4 games left and a Big 10 west title long out of reach, it's time to hone in on those who have stepped up to make this team what it is, and those who have not.
MVP - Keith Duncan. For the first time in the Ferentz era, the best player on the team is it's place kicker. 19/19 on PATs and 22 of 25 field goals! Ignoring the fact that he has attempted 6 more field goals than extra points (an embarrassing reflection on the offense and its ultra conservative coaching). Duncan is the man. In this day and age, who starts, then gets beat out for 2 years, then still sticks around long enough to win back his starting job? Kudos to the kicker, even though a kicker should never be the team's MVP. Honorable mention: Geno Stone, Nate Stanley.
Most Improved - Jack Koerner. Who is this guy? After totaling just 2 tackles all last year, the walk-on from the state's best high school leads the team in tackles with 50, plus has batted down 4 passes. He's not the most athletic safety we've had...but he's a sophomore walkon! The guy is an overachiever. Honorable Mention: Brandon Smith, Michael Ojemudia.
Failed to Live Up To Expectations - AJ Epenesa. Don't get me wrong, the guy is playing well. But when you come in a pre-season first team all-American after 10.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles as a sophomore, expectations are going to be high. Sadly, AJ has struggled being the center of attention on defense, recording just 4.5 sacks this year with 1 forced fumble. Against Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin, Iowa was just one disruptive DE away from wins. Honorable Mention: Nate Stanley, DJ Johnson, entire OL.
Newcomer of the Year - Daviyon Nixon. After red shirting last year, then entering the transfer portal, Nixon has come on to be one of Iowa's top DL in the team's deepest position. With Iowa's defensive scheme, defensive tackles don't usually get huge stats, but Nixon has been a play maker. He has more tackles for a loss than AJE, and has 3 sacks as well. Honorable Mention: Sleep-Dalton, Tyler Goodson.
Coach of the Year - Phil Parker. Week after week. Year after year. The one constant that keeps Iowa in games is its defense. This year, Phil's squad is 11th in the nation in total defense and 10th in passing defense. They've pitched 2 shutouts in big ten games, and kept Iowa in every game they've played, despite the offense. Honorable Mention: Kelton Copeland, Kelvin Bell.
Least Competent Coach - Brian Ferentz. Congrats to Brian for taking the title coach Woods has held for so long. When the million dollar boy wonder is not throwing temper tantrums and getting unsportsmanlike conduct calls, he's devising plays for the nation's 85th ranked offense. He's guided the team to just 22 touchdowns, most of which were against the cupcakes in the first 3 games of the season. Lack of imagination, stubbornness, delay of game penalties, and obvious tenancies are a hallmark of the Brian led offense. Honorable Mention: Tim Polacek, Kirk Ferentz.
Most Underutilized - Toren Young. This will come as a surprise to even the most ardent Hawk fans, but the least talked about of the 3 Iowa RBs is also the most productive. Although Young and Goodson have the same number of carries this year, Young has 60 more yards than Goodson. While Sargent is listed as the starter, Young averages 5.6 yards per carry while Sargent averages just 4.5 yards per carry. By comparison, fellow bruiser LeShun Daniels averaged 4.5 yrds per carry his junior year and 5.0 yrds per carry his senior year. Honorable Mention: Oliver Martin, Zach Vanvelkenburg.
Most Overutilized - Nico Ragaini. I think even Kirk would agree that starting Nico, a freshmen, as punt returner and leaving him there for the first 7 games of the season was a complete disaster. One of Iowa's OL could have just as easily run away from balls to allow them to roll into Iowa territory like Nico did. But as a WR, Nico is on the field at all times. He's playing the position designed to lead the team in receptions year after year, but right now he merely leads the team in drops. Nico's not a bad WR, and will have a great career at Iowa. But it's curious what a guy has to do to lose his union card under Kirk. Honorable mention - Nate Stanley, the Paulsons.
We will see how the season plays out and who will ultimately win these coveted awards.
MVP - Keith Duncan. For the first time in the Ferentz era, the best player on the team is it's place kicker. 19/19 on PATs and 22 of 25 field goals! Ignoring the fact that he has attempted 6 more field goals than extra points (an embarrassing reflection on the offense and its ultra conservative coaching). Duncan is the man. In this day and age, who starts, then gets beat out for 2 years, then still sticks around long enough to win back his starting job? Kudos to the kicker, even though a kicker should never be the team's MVP. Honorable mention: Geno Stone, Nate Stanley.
Most Improved - Jack Koerner. Who is this guy? After totaling just 2 tackles all last year, the walk-on from the state's best high school leads the team in tackles with 50, plus has batted down 4 passes. He's not the most athletic safety we've had...but he's a sophomore walkon! The guy is an overachiever. Honorable Mention: Brandon Smith, Michael Ojemudia.
Failed to Live Up To Expectations - AJ Epenesa. Don't get me wrong, the guy is playing well. But when you come in a pre-season first team all-American after 10.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles as a sophomore, expectations are going to be high. Sadly, AJ has struggled being the center of attention on defense, recording just 4.5 sacks this year with 1 forced fumble. Against Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin, Iowa was just one disruptive DE away from wins. Honorable Mention: Nate Stanley, DJ Johnson, entire OL.
Newcomer of the Year - Daviyon Nixon. After red shirting last year, then entering the transfer portal, Nixon has come on to be one of Iowa's top DL in the team's deepest position. With Iowa's defensive scheme, defensive tackles don't usually get huge stats, but Nixon has been a play maker. He has more tackles for a loss than AJE, and has 3 sacks as well. Honorable Mention: Sleep-Dalton, Tyler Goodson.
Coach of the Year - Phil Parker. Week after week. Year after year. The one constant that keeps Iowa in games is its defense. This year, Phil's squad is 11th in the nation in total defense and 10th in passing defense. They've pitched 2 shutouts in big ten games, and kept Iowa in every game they've played, despite the offense. Honorable Mention: Kelton Copeland, Kelvin Bell.
Least Competent Coach - Brian Ferentz. Congrats to Brian for taking the title coach Woods has held for so long. When the million dollar boy wonder is not throwing temper tantrums and getting unsportsmanlike conduct calls, he's devising plays for the nation's 85th ranked offense. He's guided the team to just 22 touchdowns, most of which were against the cupcakes in the first 3 games of the season. Lack of imagination, stubbornness, delay of game penalties, and obvious tenancies are a hallmark of the Brian led offense. Honorable Mention: Tim Polacek, Kirk Ferentz.
Most Underutilized - Toren Young. This will come as a surprise to even the most ardent Hawk fans, but the least talked about of the 3 Iowa RBs is also the most productive. Although Young and Goodson have the same number of carries this year, Young has 60 more yards than Goodson. While Sargent is listed as the starter, Young averages 5.6 yards per carry while Sargent averages just 4.5 yards per carry. By comparison, fellow bruiser LeShun Daniels averaged 4.5 yrds per carry his junior year and 5.0 yrds per carry his senior year. Honorable Mention: Oliver Martin, Zach Vanvelkenburg.
Most Overutilized - Nico Ragaini. I think even Kirk would agree that starting Nico, a freshmen, as punt returner and leaving him there for the first 7 games of the season was a complete disaster. One of Iowa's OL could have just as easily run away from balls to allow them to roll into Iowa territory like Nico did. But as a WR, Nico is on the field at all times. He's playing the position designed to lead the team in receptions year after year, but right now he merely leads the team in drops. Nico's not a bad WR, and will have a great career at Iowa. But it's curious what a guy has to do to lose his union card under Kirk. Honorable mention - Nate Stanley, the Paulsons.
We will see how the season plays out and who will ultimately win these coveted awards.
