Losing our 4 best players

L

longtimer

Well-Known Member
Arguably Wadley Jewell Jackson and Daniels were our top 4 players. Really hurts when you lose 2 players early at Iowa. Ohio State loses them early and has 5*s in the waiting. Iowa just doesn't have that luxury. Jewell will be the toughest to replace and I don't see anyone just waiting to step in. The other 3 will be missed but probably easier to replace
Its been kind of a tough period of time for Iowa athletics and Daniels leaving is just another negative. Frankly I didn't think he would leave and I hope it works out for him

It will be interesting to see who (if any) steps up to be a difference maker next year
 
longtimer said:
Arguably Wadley Jewell Jackson and Daniels were our top 4 players. Really hurts when you lose 2 players early at Iowa. Ohio State loses them early and has 5*s in the waiting. Iowa just doesn't have that luxury. Jewell will be the toughest to replace and I don't see anyone just waiting to step in. The other 3 will be missed but probably easier to replace
Its been kind of a tough period of time for Iowa athletics and Daniels leaving is just another negative. Frankly I didn't think he would leave and I hope it works out for him

It will be interesting to see who (if any) steps up to be a difference maker next year
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Hear me out here, but I'd say Daniels will be the toughest to replace.

Phil Parker is about as steady as they come for D-coordinators, and while they're definitely not gonna be JJ level, I think the defensive backs are gonna be okay. Young talent in Hankins and the incoming guys, as well as experience from Ojemudia and Rugamba with hopefully a strong desire for redemption as well.

The LB's are gonna be green, no doubt, but they'll have the luxury of a good D-line, a decent secondary, and a damn good coach. It's an athletic group as well.

Wadley is a generational talent, and we're not gonna see anyone like him in black and gold soon. BUT, our run game is built around having multiple guys to share the load, and Young and IKM have different, complimentary styles that, while maybe won't run roughshod over people, but will again, be a serviceable ground game.

Daniels, on the other hand, is the linchpin of the OL, and what makes the aforementioned RB's go. Not only was he experienced, athletic, and good, but he's also the leader of the group. He communicates with Stanley before the snap on what to audible, what he sees, and how to set up the protection, AND relays this to the other 4 guys as well. That is a lot on someone's shoulders, and now it's going to be either Render or Reynolds (serviceable, but not on Daniels' level), or a young guy (wildcard, and inexperienced). OL is definitely not the place to experiment either.

Before Daniels' announcement, I was hopeful that we could at least decently fill the holes left by graduation. Now, I'm much more worried about the offense next season, and I don't think the D will be ready to pick up the slack.
 
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NCHawker said:
Just have to outscore the other teams I guess
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RB will be fine. Just as not as many cool juke-outta-jock moves.

OL cannot be worse, can it?

LB will be okay with a great DL eating up blockers. Just tackle ball carrier. 3rd and 8 successful Crossing patterns under the LBs have always been a weakness with Iowa — even with Jewel and Niemann.

DBs -? Next DB c’mon down! You’re the next Iowa contestant to make the NFL!
 
longtimer said:
Arguably Wadley Jewell Jackson and Daniels were our top 4 players. Really hurts when you lose 2 players early at Iowa. Ohio State loses them early and has 5*s in the waiting. Iowa just doesn't have that luxury. Jewell will be the toughest to replace and I don't see anyone just waiting to step in. The other 3 will be missed but probably easier to replace
Its been kind of a tough period of time for Iowa athletics and Daniels leaving is just another negative. Frankly I didn't think he would leave and I hope it works out for him

It will be interesting to see who (if any) steps up to be a difference maker next year
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That’s the way college football works.

However, it would be nice to be like Alabama which loses it’s 19 best players every year and replaces them with the new 19 best players.
 
The biggest is Wadley...without question. Josey was the defensive anchor, JJ made big play after big play and Daniels was the core of the offensive line. All great players.

That being said, without AW, we have 2 maybe 3 fewer wins. When the offense was mediocre, he made a play. He's going to be the hardest to replace.
 
6-6 next year with a soft schedule. The line is bad and will be worse without Daniels.
 
DDThompson said:
RB will be fine. Just as not as many cool juke-outta-jock moves.

OL cannot be worse, can it?

LB will be okay with a great DL eating up blockers. Just tackle ball carrier. 3rd and 8 successful Crossing patterns under the LBs have always been a weakness with Iowa — even with Jewel and Niemann.

DBs -? Next DB c’mon down! You’re the next Iowa contestant to make the NFL!
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Wadley was a playmaker that had to be accounted for every play, he had breakaway speed that none of our backs will have next year. He was our only playmaker, and he is gone. At CB we will be suffering without Jackson. Ragumba is bad, and Ojemudia not any better. Hankins will hopefully step up, but who else? LB is arguably the most important position on our team, and having 3 new starters will be rough.
 
hawkdrummer1 said:
The biggest is Wadley...without question. Josey was the defensive anchor, JJ made big play after big play and Daniels was the core of the offensive line. All great players.

That being said, without AW, we have 2 maybe 3 fewer wins. When the offense was mediocre, he made a play. He's going to be the hardest to replace.
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I agree but you know KF doesn't.

KF to Junior. "It wasn't your fault son. You used him the best you could. He just wouldn't put on the weight. He was no Mark Weismann".
 
skinnykilmer17 said:
Did anyone else get the feeling that Akrum never got the respect or appreciation from his head coach that he deserved?

I mean not since Norm Parker, and arguably CJ, has anyone saved KF's bacon more by seemingly single-handedly winning ballgames for this offensive challenged HC?
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I think it was fairly obvious. Kirk hates people that don't have dull personalities.
 
Teams lose their best players every year. Every team. The next guys have to step up. If they do we will win a lot of games, if they don't, we will be a .500 team. 9-3 is my prediction.
 
Smarthawk said:
Teams lose their best players every year. Every team. The next guys have to step up. If they do we will win a lot of games, if they don't, we will be a .500 team. 9-3 is my prediction.
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7-5.

9-3 with the squad we have left and three rookie linebackers is not happening.

The only reason I went 7-5 is because of the My Little Pony schedule next year.
 
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