I wasn't one who really bought into the 'new Kirk' thing last year, but after watching the first game this year I'm starting to think there is 'trend' in changing his thinking about participation, game planning, as well as recruiting that started in 2014 and continues today. Yes, KF has had some years where he has played a lot of freshman, but that was usually due to attrition and injuries but that doesn't seem to entirely be the case this year. In the past, he didn't start the year saying a lot of freshmen would play because they had played well enough to see the field, they just got inserted when he was running out of 'bodies', like an Al Reisner. Remember, this is the guy (KF) who in the recent past was lobbying for true freshmen to not even be eligible. I think he is seeing the writing on the wall that a lot of these freshmen are coming in much more 'prepared' to play due to improved S&C in high schools and all the camps kids are participating in these days. 10 have already seen the field and this wasn't even a very highly ranked class (although I think most of us 'liked' this class regardless what the 'services' said). With the class that's coming in next year, it will be really interesting to see the competition for playing time, and I will have to change my thinking about kids 'automatically' being red-shirted because there is already experience 'depth' at a position. I don't think in the past we would have seen Stanley get the opportunity he is with an experienced guy in front of him, and I'm not sure I agree with it as I don't see the point of burning his RS to hand off 4-5 times in mop-up duty, because unless CJ gets hurt, he may never see the field again this year and that would be a little bit of a shame. I will 'eat my crow' on Fant playing and not red-shirting. The youngsters behind Pekar must not be 'developing' very quickly allowing a very good athlete like Fant to jump them even though he is probably still pretty shaky on knowing the system, and if Wiz was healthy I'm not sure this happens.
He also continues to appear to be allowing Davis to be a little more aggressive at times (especially early in games, even against inferior opponents). A flea-flicker and a reverse early in the game? Obviously wanted to try to jump all over these guys so they could settle into their ball control offense, and I like that approach. It makes more sense than trying to grind it out right out the block allowing lesser teams to possibly 'stay in the game', and against better opponents, wouldn't it be better to attempt to jump all over them early instead of trying to make big plays late in close games (when the opposition knows you have to) especially when you have 'good' WR's, but maybe not necessarily ones who can be a 'game changer'. We'll have to see if this continues.
They weren't very aggressive on D this game at all, but I think that was by design. Never even saw the Raider Pkg. that I recall, but I think we will see the D be much more aggressive against Iowa St. (and in the B1G) trying to create pressure with the Raider (or other blitzes and stunts) and trying to create take-aways, as the +17 change in turnover margin from 2014 to 2015 was one of the biggest (if not 'the' biggest) contributing factors to the success of 2015.
I won't go into recruiting much as most of you already know that they are identifying and offering kids earlier in the process than in the past out of necessity. But try not to get too hung up on the 'star' system because as the coaches have said (Parker said it again just a week or two ago) they don't know how many 'stars' a kid has, and don't really care.
I don't know if there ever was or is a 'new Kirk' as he still does most of the things he does the same way he always has, but there always has been an 'evolving Kirk' which is what has allowed him to be by far the longest tenured coach in the B1G as well as the longest in the country (tied with Stoops) now that Beamer has retired. I think it's just that we didn't always notice or hear about all the little changes, but times have changed and people (fans) have much more access to information and definitely not as 'patient'. KF will be here for awhile and I will enjoy watching how things 'evolve'.
He also continues to appear to be allowing Davis to be a little more aggressive at times (especially early in games, even against inferior opponents). A flea-flicker and a reverse early in the game? Obviously wanted to try to jump all over these guys so they could settle into their ball control offense, and I like that approach. It makes more sense than trying to grind it out right out the block allowing lesser teams to possibly 'stay in the game', and against better opponents, wouldn't it be better to attempt to jump all over them early instead of trying to make big plays late in close games (when the opposition knows you have to) especially when you have 'good' WR's, but maybe not necessarily ones who can be a 'game changer'. We'll have to see if this continues.
They weren't very aggressive on D this game at all, but I think that was by design. Never even saw the Raider Pkg. that I recall, but I think we will see the D be much more aggressive against Iowa St. (and in the B1G) trying to create pressure with the Raider (or other blitzes and stunts) and trying to create take-aways, as the +17 change in turnover margin from 2014 to 2015 was one of the biggest (if not 'the' biggest) contributing factors to the success of 2015.
I won't go into recruiting much as most of you already know that they are identifying and offering kids earlier in the process than in the past out of necessity. But try not to get too hung up on the 'star' system because as the coaches have said (Parker said it again just a week or two ago) they don't know how many 'stars' a kid has, and don't really care.
I don't know if there ever was or is a 'new Kirk' as he still does most of the things he does the same way he always has, but there always has been an 'evolving Kirk' which is what has allowed him to be by far the longest tenured coach in the B1G as well as the longest in the country (tied with Stoops) now that Beamer has retired. I think it's just that we didn't always notice or hear about all the little changes, but times have changed and people (fans) have much more access to information and definitely not as 'patient'. KF will be here for awhile and I will enjoy watching how things 'evolve'.
And would you know enough to even identify the difference between inside zone, outside zone, gap scheme, pin&pull, etc. if you saw them ran by Iowa? I doubt it. Outside zone is still their bread and butter (what we used to call the 'stretch play') if that helps you any.
