hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
So, it took him 15 years to figure this out?
Looking at the schedule, classify which opponents you consider to be an . . .
- Thread starter Joshbrown
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So, it took him 15 years to figure this out?
ArvadaHawk
Well-Known Member
You don't have to go 3 wide. I agree. I was only giving an example. But you're right, creativity needs to be what we see. But, regarding going 3 wide and my opinion this needs to be a foundation building season for next season, we need as many WR's playing and getting very real and valid experience in the passing game.
I kind of simplified 50-50. In that category it's probably more like 45-55 in either direction. In Wisconsin's case, I'd consider that game a 45-55 type of game for Iowa. But I do think this is a game that Iowa can win and too me shouldn't be considered to be too much of an upset if it were to happen as things stand now in the preseason. I can agree with you saying this Wisconsin team can be as good as last year's, but I'm not ready to say possibly better. This is mainly due to the fact that I think it's hard to expect them to be better on offense than they were last year. I expect Hornibrook to progress, the OL to be solid as always, and the TE is a stud. With that said, they lose over 400 carries and 36 catches from last year between Clement and Ogunbowale. Maybe Shaw is next great guy in a long line of Wisconsin running backs, but that's still a lot of usage and production to replace for one guy. And much like Iowa, they return one reliable WR, but the rest of the core is unproven. My point being is that Wisconsin coming into the season has even less known proven play makers on offense than Iowa does coming into this season. The game is later in the year so both teams offensively will get to develop a bit before playing each other, but that fact I think helps Iowa more than Wisconsin because the new starting QB will have more starts under his belt in mid November than early October. And if we look at the series trend, the last time the home team won this game was in 2008 with the home team only winning 3 times since 2003. With all of this said, it wouldn't surprise me the slightest to see Iowa be able to go to Wisconsin and win a 17-14 or 21-17 type of game. This match-up to me is closer to 50-50 than 40-60 and I guess that's why I put it in the 50-50 category.
I agree with you a lot on this and your point is much to the chagrin of our fan base. The Wisconsin program took a step over the past 8 years that the Iowa program hasn't been able to make. To me the fork in the road was a sunny October day in Iowa City in 2010 where a fake punt in the 4th Qtr went for 15 yards.
But anyways, I look at the personnel Wisconsin has had offensively in the past 8 years and it is more dynamic than what Iowa typically has. As much as Iowa would like to pride itself on producing great OL's, Wisconsin does an even better job here. Wisconsin over the past 8 years has always seemed to have 2 and sometimes even 3 dynamic running backs to run behind those stellar offensive lines. Meanwhile, Iowa in the same time frame had a 3-4 year stretch where it struggled to even have one full time starting quality running back.
You are absolutely right though when it comes to Wisconsin's ability to get players involved. Wisconsin can have 3 quality running backs because they've shown an ability to use all 3 in the same year and get them involved in different ways. Even in 2015 when Iowa had 3-4 quality RB's, they used them all pretty much the same way. They got the ball on standard running plays. They didn't call any plays where any combination of Wadley, Canzeri, or Daniels were on the field at the same time. They didn't motion anyone out to create positive matchups. They didn't attempt any misdirection. And they didn't consistently attempt to run any sort of play action screen involving these guys. I feel like Wisconsin does a better job of blending philosophy and creativity with personnel than Iowa has done. Although I don't see Iowa as being quite as bland as other people do, there is definitely some improvement to be made when it comes to adding some creativity to the base offense.
trj
Well-Known Member
That element of predictability has always been there with KFs' offenses. It was a mindset of 'we don't care if you know what is coming....come and stop it.' We will out execute you. What you have seen the last 10 years is the slow deterioration of the Iowa passing game to the point now that it is brutally bad. Even if GD didn't 'retire' they were going to have to completely revamp their passing game.
Unknownbadger
Well-Known Member
You are forgetting Chris James, who may be new to the fielded O but isn't new to the team. You forget Deal and Taylor( a speedster if they don't RS him). Our WR's will be just as good if not better than last years.Peavy is back and can challenge for All-B1G. And Cephus has shown that he can be big time. Quite honestly the only question on O is at QB and how much he's improved from last year. Seriously, it's the D I'm worried most about and that is very little. We lose two excellent OLBs and probably our two best DBs from last season. That said, we have quality LBs coming out our nose and a very good transfer coming in at CB.
That said, I think our team would be embarrassed to get beat by the goofs. Getting beat by Iowa would be just knowing that two teams played hard and Iowa came out on top this time.
That said, I think our team would be embarrassed to get beat by the goofs. Getting beat by Iowa would be just knowing that two teams played hard and Iowa came out on top this time.
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IndianaHawk
Well-Known Member
"You can almost predict what Iowa is going to do."
ALMOST?!
I for sure don't know as much about your team as you do of course. I didn't consider Deal at RB, but it makes sense that Wisconsin has 2 quality RB's because it seems like they always do. But I'm not sure if I'm ready to consider either of them on Wadley's level just yet. And since I don't watch every Wisconsin game as in depth as a Wisconsin fan, I might not be quite as aware of what Peavy can do as well. I would mention Iowa will have Vandeburg although he is more of a steady and reliable possession receiver than a game breaker. I wasn't really looking at Freshman like Taylor or guys that may have shown flashes of potential but haven't produced a ton yet like Cephus. Otherwise I'd consider a freshman WR like Brandon Smith or Sophomore TE Noah Fant for Iowa. Each of those players for both teams could end up being significant contributors, but I'm just not ready to expect significant contributions from those players yet.
I think the big edge Wisconsin does have is that I'd assume Chryst is more likely to develop and get the most out of their "unknowns" than Iowa is under Brian Ferentz who is an unknown as an OC right now. But Iowa does have Ken O'Keefe back coaching QB's (it's been a long time since we've had a coach dedicated to coaching QB) and although he isn't a favorite among our fan base, he does provide experience and a guiding light for Brian Ferentz to lean on.
Unknownbadger
Well-Known Member
Deal's spent most of his college career dinged up (good straight ahead power runner with some speed). James is a very good all purpose back who transferred to us from Pitt. Most believe he may be our best. The thing is, all will be running behind the best line we've had in a couple years. Wisconsin is pencil thin at QB though. Should Hornibrook miss time our season could go down the drain quickly.
Not almost predict; you can predict what they are going to do. We have fans know the general play (run or pass, left or right, screen, play action) a lot of the time. If we know, I can promise you the opponents know even more. And I don't think KF cares. He believes if you execute, it doesn't matter. This drives us crazy as Iowa fans sometimes. We've had great seasons, but in seasons like this where we have less developed talent, I think I lot of us would like to see a few wrinkles to try to get an edge somehow.
The big question is whether the defense will be able to keep the games close. If so, then the offense may only have to score once or twice, such as with a long drive at the end of a game when the opponent is worn out. If not, I don't see the offense scoring 4+ TDs in most games.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
This. Jet-sweep, ghost-motion, etc., made Melvin Gordon a "star" before he was even a "starter".
We actually ghosted Wadley on one last season, which then saw Daniels go for a decent-length TD run.
Of course, we never saw it after that...
SteveGarvey1
Well-Known Member
86% of the time, I'd say so.
IndianaHawk
Well-Known Member
60% of the time, it works every time.
