Levar Woods appreciation thread

C

CP87

Well-Known Member
I have been killing time with the efficiency metrics on footballoustiders.com, and I found some interesting trends with their Special Teams Ratings (not sure how well accepted this metric is, so take it with a grain of salt).

Our prior Special Teams coordinator was the one and only Chris White (2013-2015). Below are Iowa's national rankings in Special Teams Rating during his tenure:

2013: 62nd (coming off a 49th finish in 2012 with Lester Erb in this role)
2014: 77th
2015: 98th

Not sure who was handling special teams in 2016. On the Iowa Coaching staff from that year, it says White was the Special Teams coordinator, but on Levar Woods' bio page it states that he has led the special teams for the last 3 years (page last updated before the season), and Woods is specifically credited with 2016 special teams performance on that page. I am going with the assumption that Woods was essentially coordinating special teams from 2016-2019. Here are our rankings during that time:

2016: 7th
2017: 16th
2018: 16th
2019: 1st

Give that guy a bonus.
 
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Curious. What criteria are used to measure and rank special teams? Looking at 2019, it would seem that place kicker efficiency is most of it.
 
hawkdrummer1 said:
Curious. What criteria are used to measure and rank special teams? Looking at 2019, it would seem that place kicker efficiency is most of it.
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20th in nation in FG efficiency
30th in opponent's FG efficiency (I am sure that is mostly luck)
3rd in the nation in kick return efficiency
13th in the nation in kickoff efficiency
51st in the nation in punt return efficiency
38th in the nation in punt efficiency.

No glaring weakness (such as the punt efficiency in 2017/2018, which was 101st/98th), and a couple of exceptional units, it all adds up to best in the nation.

Just think if they get an elite punter (Sleep-Dalton was so-so), and if they decide to give ISM a crack at punt returns next year?
 
For those interested in more information, the metric is described in the link I posted above: https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/feist/2019

From that site, here is their synopsis:

SFEI Special Teams Ratings (SFEI) represent the per possession scoring advantage a team's combined special teams units would be expected to have on a neutral field against an average opponent. Unadjusted special teams possession efficiency (SPE) is calculated as a function of special teams game splits. Schedule strength is represented by each team's average per possession special teams opponent adjustment (SOA). Field Goal efficiency (FGE) and Opponent Field Goal efficiency (OFG) are the average values generated per field goal attempt as compared with national success rates in proximity to the end zone. Kickoff Return efficiency (KRE) and Kickoff efficiency (KE) are the average values generated per kickoff based on field position at the conclusion of the play. Punt Return efficiency (PRE) and Punt efficiency (PE) are the average values generated per punt based on the field position of the punt team and the field position at the conclusion of the play.​
 
Yes, very interesting. As coaches say the game is three parts. Offense, defense and special teams. If Iowa's special teams is that much improved that's a third of the puzzle. WTG!
 
He's kinda bounced around a little. I think he split coaching duties with Jim Reid with LBs for awhile when he was there and then he did TEs and now special teams. Feels like he's getting all kinds of experience all over to maybe become a coordinator or HC at a smaller school sooner then later. Hope I'm wrong.

Speaking of I've not heard a word about any of our coaches leaving or shuffling of any kind. How awesome is that? That doesn't happen very often at all.
 
CP87 said:
I h

Give that guy a bonus.
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Not only a bonus but a raise if those metrics are correct. Do it before he goes to some other team on a lateral move. We need special teams to be very good, special because we see what happens with KFs conservative offensive philosophy when the third leg of the Game Management Stool is not working or wobbly.

ISM's two kickoff returns the last two games were supreme with keeping or getting back momentum and winning those games. We havent had much in punt returning since DKing and McCarron but they were great. But at least the punts are being fielded. Sleep Dalton was a big improvement and very little punt return damage against us.

Kickoffs were very good and coverage very good with guys in their lanes, etc With the new rules the best kickoff is almost a high hang time kick that lands around the 5 to the goal line. If they return it the hawks many times hold them to the 20 yard line or less or many are fair caught
 
Man, imagine the sentiment about Woods if AJE had not murdered USC's QB and we lost that game 52-49 with that onside recovery ultimately being the difference in the game.

That said, we have had a strong kicking game and the overall improvement in athleticism at WR has definitely helped our return game and ST looks a lot better now than in those dark days where we had that 106 game streak of not stopping a fake punt.
 
okeefe4prez said:
Man, imagine the sentiment about Woods if AJE had not murdered USC's QB and we lost that game 52-49 with that onside recovery ultimately being the difference in the game.

That said, we have had a strong kicking game and the overall improvement in athleticism at WR has definitely helped our return game and ST looks a lot better now than in those dark days where we had that 106 game streak of not stopping a fake punt.
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Unlike the Indiana-Tenn game, I didn't perceive that USC would kick the onsider at that point in the game. That written, the front line guys were caught flat footed, if not actually turning away from the ball before it was kicked.
 
CP87 said:
I am going with the assumption that Woods was essentially coordinating special teams from 2016-2019. Here are our rankings during that time:

2016: 7th
2017: 16th
2018: 16th
2019: 1st

Give that guy a bonus.
Click to expand...
He was and he deserves it.

And to think some fool who claims he is always right and knows Iowa law said that hire was disastrous and KF bash blah blah ....

Woods was moved to TE coach from LB coach during seasons when Iowa was training/playing NFL talent.

Wherever Iowa has needed shoring up and improvement, Kirk has handed the position to Woods and it’s happened.

That’s a guy to keep an eye on for future HC gig
 
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