Ken O'Keefe Talks Iowa Offense
- Thread starter JonDMiller
- Start date
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
Bump - can we just pin this one up so I don't have to bump it all day?
BSpringsteen
Well-Known Member
This guy is a low talker. I just got booked on the Today show wearing this puffy shirt.
HaydensDad
Well-Known Member
This interview took 4.5 minutes to say nothing.
V
VintageHawkeye
Guest
KOK actually kind of smiled and almost laughed a few times. I'm impressed; he seems almost...human.
homerHAWKeye777
Well-Known Member
I don't know. Didn't you hear that we have a set of receivers like we haven't seen, but we are going to spend our time trying to establish the run ip the middle with the smallest interior line in the league?
Or was that just my interpretation
The issue is that our O executes at its best when we can BOTH pass and RUN.
Also, undersized OLs are actually pretty ideal when it comes to Ferentz's bread and butter. While undersized, the guys have the quickness and athleticism to get to their blocks down field ... and that can potentially give our RBs HUGE cutback lanes! That is VERY exciting.
The primary thing to be concerned about is when the OL faces off against big DTs who are also VERY quick (I'm thinking about guys like MSU's Worthy). Such guys can have the potential to be very disruptive against our undersized interior line.
Yeah, and these smaller and more agile interior lineman would do great releasing and holding up linebackers as our receivers catch a million quick hitches, which will eventually draw the safeties up so we can go over their heads.
And then when the defense starts to shift their players outside to stop the 5-7 yards we keep getting on the quick passes to the receivers, these smaller, more agile interior linemen can set their guys up for massive cutback lanes for our running backs who will not have to beat the safeties that are also cheating outside.
Then again, we could just line up in a tightly bunched I - formation and play it for 2 yards and a cloud of dust. I mean we do have Donahue and our D-Line.
And then when the defense starts to shift their players outside to stop the 5-7 yards we keep getting on the quick passes to the receivers, these smaller, more agile interior linemen can set their guys up for massive cutback lanes for our running backs who will not have to beat the safeties that are also cheating outside.
Then again, we could just line up in a tightly bunched I - formation and play it for 2 yards and a cloud of dust. I mean we do have Donahue and our D-Line.
1977Hawkeye
Well-Known Member
3 plays of "2-yards and a cloud of dust" brings up 4th and 4, and a punt.
If we have the weapons at WR this year, I think we should utilize them. In no way am I suggesting we abandon the run and throw the ball 60-70 times a game, but if you have the personnel to do so, why not open it up a bit more? The 2002 team was a good example of what I'm thinking. The philosophy was still to establish the ground game, but I have to imagine that would be much easier to do if your opponent has to respect your WR's and your QB's arm. Keep 'em honest.
homerHAWKeye777
Well-Known Member
CAARHawk -
I honestly believe that part of the reason why we haven't run as many WR screens is precisely because our OTs (including Bulaga) couldn't get out to make the blocks that they needed to. Now, with the current set of OTs, I think that we'll see guys who have the speed and athleticism to make those blocks. Furthermore, yeah, I anticipate that we'll see more quick hitches too.
I think that we WILL see the O exploit the experience of Stanzi and the WRs more. However, on the flip side, the very threat of Moeaki went a LONG WAY to opening up the field for the WRs. Thus, I look for the Hawks to establish the passing game to the TEs early, that way they can use that later on in the season when it's more important to get the WRs isolated in man-coverage.
I expect that early in the season the coaches will work hard to have the squad work on their weaknesses, rather than letting them rely solely upon their strengths. If the team doesn't improve as a whole and that includes shoring up weaknesses, then this season could very easily end up being a disappointment to fans. However, on the flipside, if the coaches and players shore up team-weaknesses early ... then the team will be that much more dangerous by the time we hit the conference slate.
I think you are correct in the weaknesses issue. This is one area where I know the coaches are really good. I often come to this conclusion when it seems like coaches are not doing the obvious but then the team ends up improving over the course of the season.
I am naturally a work to your strengths kind of guy. But I know that only takes you so far.
I am naturally a work to your strengths kind of guy. But I know that only takes you so far.
homerHAWKeye777
Well-Known Member
CAARHawk -
I think that the issue there is that we, as fans, naturally want to see the Hawks demolish every opponent we face. However, we don't always appreciate that we leave ourselves at a disadvantage if we don't shore up weaknesses.
Not surprisingly, in years when we're good running the ball, fans invariably complain about us passing too much on occasions. Similarly, when we seem to be pretty good passing the ball, fans inherently seem to complain when we go back to the run. And invariably, during a given season, the nature of the complaint is anti-correlated to the strength of the team.
ShadasRevenge
Well-Known Member
I don't know. Didn't you hear that we have a set of receivers like we haven't seen, but we are going to spend our time trying to establish the run ip the middle with the smallest interior line in the league?
Or was that just my interpretation
That's what Iowa's offense has been for 11 years now; there isn't any reason to think it's going to change this year.
