Mark Gronowski

[Fryowa]

Just remember, this is a genie you can’t put back in the bottle. If this happens, recruiting guys out of high school is effectively over and we are never going to see multiple year QBs again. Once you start playing this game there’s zero chance we can convince quality guys to come here and fight for the spot because they know coaches are going to go buy the new starter.

I do understand that it’s the way of the world now so I’m not saying it’s a dumb idea, but we aren’t a top team that can do this and still recruit decent guys out of high school who want a shot. They’ll get skittish and go somewhere with better street cred at the QB spot.

Having three guys in the room to compete with every year is one thing, but knowing at the end of the season your team is going to buy a new guy they plan to start over you is a whole different animal. We don’t have the NIL it takes to keep depth at QB doing that. If Sullivan jumps ship (which he will) and Gronowski doesn’t pan out, we’re back to either Stratton or some other FCS hero who has no experience in big boy P4 football.

I get the idea, but there is a “careful what you wish for” factor here as well. You either commit to the idea of buying a brand new QB every year all the way or you don’t. We don’t have the NIL nor the program appeal to do both.

 

[SCHawkeye2]

Just remember, this is a genie you can’t put back in the bottle. If this happens, recruiting guys out of high school is effectively over and we are never going to see multiple year QBs again. Once you start playing this game there’s zero chance we can convince quality guys to come here and fight for the spot because they know coaches are going to go buy the new starter.

I do understand that it’s the way of the world now so I’m not saying it’s a dumb idea, but we aren’t a top team that can do this and still recruit decent guys out of high school who want a shot. They’ll get skittish and go somewhere with better street cred at the QB spot.

Having three guys in the room to compete with every year is one thing, but knowing at the end of the season your team is going to buy a new guy they plan to start over you is a whole different animal. We don’t have the NIL it takes to keep depth at QB doing that. If Sullivan jumps ship (which he will) and Gronowski doesn’t pan out, we’re back to either Stratton or some other FCS hero who has no experience in big boy P4 football.

I get the idea, but there is a “careful what you wish for” factor here as well. You either commit to the idea of buying a brand new QB every year all the way or you don’t. We don’t have the NIL nor the program appeal to do both.

On the flip side, if we bring in a HS prospect who develops into really good QB, I fear he will bolt for greener pastures before his time at Iowa pays off. And we're in the portal looking for a replacement.
NIL has eliminated any long term program stability and really hurts developmental programs

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

You can spend a ton of money on a Ferrari but it's not going to matter if you are driving it in the mud...

As I posted on the other thread, our offensive line attrition needs to be the bigger priority. One or two weak links will make any upgrades at QB or WR irrelevant and a waste.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

On the flip side, if we bring in a HS prospect who develops into really good QB, I fear he will bolt for greener pastures before his time at Iowa pays off. And we're in the portal looking for a replacement.
NIL has eliminated any long term program stability and really hurts developmental programs

That's it it's kinda one or the other... Worse yet have a recruit on campus for 3 yrs don't play him and he leaves and ends up better then anyone you'd had. That's gotta be a genuine fear for developmental programs but what can ya do. Every yr is a new yr now you're not in yr 3 of a build even if you're a new coach going someplace now. You gotta hit the ground running and every yr expectations are through the roof. 7-8 wins don't cut it anymore cause nobody gives a rip about the bowl games. It's playoffs or bust going forwards.

 

[trj]

You can spend a ton of money on a Ferrari but it's not going to matter if you are driving it in the mud...

As I posted on the other thread, our offensive line attrition needs to be the bigger priority. One or two weak links will make any upgrades at QB or WR irrelevant and a waste.

Logan Jones
Gennings Dunker
Beau Stephens

You can build around that. In the past I would have agreed with you, but not anymore. Now, I think you can get around a bad O-line with quarterback play and playcalling. 80-90% of the teams in Power 4 conferences are dealing with patchwork O-lines, and Iowa isn’t immune to that. It is just the state of O-line play, in general.

Those 3 you can work with and backfill the rest of it, if you have a competent quarterback.

 

[thedukeofearl]

You can spend a ton of money on a Ferrari but it's not going to matter if you are driving it in the mud...

As I posted on the other thread, our offensive line attrition needs to be the bigger priority. One or two weak links will make any upgrades at QB or WR irrelevant and a waste.

My son bought a Ferrari and kept it in a private garage

Almost never drove it for a lot of reasons, two being the cost of repairing a scratch or replacing tires

We were driving on a two lane to Mount Ranier and I thought he was going a bit fast

I was thinking about 60 MPH which I thought was a bit fast on a two-lane road in the mountains

I asked hm how fast were we going

He looked at me sideways and said: 120 MPH, Dad

Damn, they certainly hug the road very well

 

[haydensly]

Logan Jones
Gennings Dunker
Beau Stephens

You can build around that. In the past I would have agreed with you, but not anymore. Now, I think you can get around a bad O-line with quarterback play and playcalling. 80-90% of the teams in Power 4 conferences are dealing with patchwork O-lines, and Iowa isn’t immune to that. It is just the state of O-line play, in general.

Those 3 you can work with and backfill the rest of it, if you have a competent quarterback.

You mention three returning linemen. From what I've read, the staff is very high on Trevor Lauck at left tackle and Kade Pieper at right guard. And Leighton Jones is looking good. We have some depth at O-Line. I feel better about O-Line than D-Line.

 

[trj]

You mention three returning linemen. From what I've read, the staff is very high on Trevor Lauck at left tackle and Kade Pieper at right guard. On Leighton Jones is looking good. We have some depth at O-Line. I feel better about O-Line than D-Line.

1000%. Everyone likes to shit on Barnett, IMO, he has done a good job. Too many people are yearning for the 2002, perfect O-line, and you are just not going to get that anymore.

EVERYONE HAS A FLAWED O-LINE. Gimme a quarterback and a OC who can scheme around it.

Bottom line, add a depth piece from the portal, and the O-line is in good shape.

 

[Zstatman]

Would be great to get some good SDSU news on Sunday. I'm all for package deals as well.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

Logan Jones
Gennings Dunker
Beau Stephens

You can build around that. In the past I would have agreed with you, but not anymore. Now, I think you can get around a bad O-line with quarterback play and playcalling. 80-90% of the teams in Power 4 conferences are dealing with patchwork O-lines, and Iowa isn’t immune to that. It is just the state of O-line play, in general.

Those 3 you can work with and backfill the rest of it, if you have a competent quarterback.

We'll see.

Lester likes to use motion and quick-hitters, both of which definitely can mitigate poor protection. The problem is that it only takes one weak link. Richman was solid for us at LT this last season and didn't get the recognition he deserved, so replacing him will be a challenge.

Jones has some real upside. Dunker made some strides but has a ways to go in pass-pro. Stephens can really struggle at times but doesn't lack experience.

As for Barnett, he had one of the most experienced offensive lines last season that we have had in quite awhile. If he's able to bring two new guys along and make it work next season, I'll tip my hat. I remain very skeptical of him as a coach, but would love nothing more than for him to prove me wrong.

 

[trj]

We'll see.

Lester likes to use motion and quick-hitters, both of which definitely can mitigate poor protection. The problem is that it only takes one weak link. Richman was solid for us at LT this last season and didn't get the recognition he deserved, so replacing him will be a challenge.

Jones has some real upside. Dunker made some strides but has a ways to go in pass-pro. Stephens can really struggle at times but doesn't lack experience.

As for Barnett, he had one of the most experienced offensive lines last season that we have had in quite awhile. If he's able to bring two new guys along and make it work next season, I'll tip my hat. I remain very skeptical of him as a coach, but would love nothing more than for him to prove me wrong.

Pass pro wasn’t great this year, but that really didn’t matter, because they didn’t have a quarterback on the roster that could sling it.

Richman was also a guard forced to play tackle. This isn’t some novelty. Most Power 4 teams have guards playing tackle. There isn’t enough 320 lbs. men on the planet that have the footwork to play left tackle. So are you just expecting Iowa to stumble on to some dude?

IMO, Iowa will be able to run the football next year. Now, will they have a quarterback that consistently throw it 20-25 times a game? That is the big mystery.

 

[SCHawkeye2]

Pass pro wasn’t great this year, but that really didn’t matter, because they didn’t have a quarterback on the roster that could sling it.

Richman was also a guard forced to play tackle. This isn’t some novelty. Most Power 4 teams have guards playing tackle. There isn’t enough 320 lbs. men on the planet that have the footwork to play left tackle. So are you just expecting Iowa to stumble on to some dude?

IMO, Iowa will be able to run the football next year. Now, will they have a quarterback that consistently throw it 20-25 times a game? That is the big mystery.

2025 College Football Transfer Portal

2025 College Football Transfer Portal

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[Zstatman]

A friend tells me that the SDSU WR has committed to NW.

 

[Grady]

My son bought a Ferrari and kept it in a private garage

Almost never drove it for a lot of reasons, two being the cost of repairing a scratch or replacing tires

We were driving on a two lane to Mount Ranier and I thought he was going a bit fast

I was thinking about 60 MPH which I thought was a bit fast on a two-lane road in the mountains

I asked hm how fast were we going

He looked at me sideways and said: 120 MPH, Dad

Damn, they certainly hug the road very well

That's hilarious, and gave me a good laugh this Sunday afternoon!

 

[BigD]

My son bought a Ferrari and kept it in a private garage

Almost never drove it for a lot of reasons, two being the cost of repairing a scratch or replacing tires

We were driving on a two lane to Mount Ranier and I thought he was going a bit fast

I was thinking about 60 MPH which I thought was a bit fast on a two-lane road in the mountains

I asked hm how fast were we going

He looked at me sideways and said: 120 MPH, Dad

Damn, they certainly hug the road very well

This is why they have men's diapers.