Oliver Martin

[Hawkfnntn]

At one point he was in the game and a swing pass was thrown to the outside. Coming from the outside near the ball, Oliver's assignment was to block the LB or some defender running from the inside-out, and he missed the block completely...and the defender proceeded to make it toward the sideline and make the tackle on the WR. Unfortunate. I still think he's got better hands than #3 Tracy, and Tracy dropped another perfectly thrown slant route on Sat. Tracy did make an acrobatic catch on a pass that should have been intercepted, and did make a flashy run after a catch...but gotta find a way to get Oliver in the game. How about as punt returner?? Cannot be worse than Ragaini, who has just been terrible. His inability to catch punts -- and the coach's refusal to put 2 punt returners back to return punts -- has probably cost Iowa 75 yds of field position in 4 games. Put Oliver and Ragaini back there, if you must.

Yeah I'm kinda to that point now too. Those 'hidden' yards are huge. I'm open for giving others a shot at it anyway. Did Martin do that at Michigan or in HS? I don't know. I was kinda thinking IKM myself.
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[Fryowa]

Putting 2 punt returners back is the most important point in this thread. It's too easy to punt around one guy and lose 15+ yards as he watches the ball bounce down the field. I would defer to the coaches as to who those two guys are, but we need 2 guys back there.

You're not going to see this out of Iowa anytime soon. A few years ago Ferentz told people in the bye week that if it were up to him we'd never return a punt. I can promise you when Nico Ragaini fair catches a ball, it's because he was told to. Unequivocally, 100%.

I actually agree with it. The risk of a fumble on a return is huge and far outweighs 5 or 10 yds gained. Last year in the Big Ten, the best punt returner was People-Jones with 10 yds per return (Groeneweg was second). A fumble on a punt return usually means instant red-zone opportunity for a team that was backed up (otherwise they wouldn't be punting) at best, and giving up a TD at worst. Not worth 10 yds at best and usually 3 or 4. There's not a bigger momentum swing in the entire game of football than a muffed up turnover from a punt. You went from being the team driving your opponent to the ropes to the one on the rope--in one play. Totally demoralizing for your defense that worked hard to force a punt.

Either way, 2 deep men on a punt return isn't ideal. You're giving up a blocker which is crucial because in the NCAA rules you can advance downfield on the snap of the ball. That's why you don't see it often.

The other side of it is that even if you had say 3 guys back receiving, as the coverage team you still know where the ball is going long before it comes down. It's not like it's a blind-folded deal where the coverage team doesn't know where the ball is until it's fielded.

You're also leaving the door open for a fake. You can bet your ass if I'm a special teams coach and I see two guys deep the fake is crossing my mind, especially on short yardage at midfield, and also especially with the three man shield formations you see nowadays.

 

[eledmonster]

Umm, pretty sure that Samson Evans isn't with the Hawkeye football program any longer. Pretty sure he transferred out right before Fall camp.

Henry Geil transferred out. Evans is on the roster as the second #22 with Sleep-Dalton.

 

[NikeHawk21]

i didn't say anything about recruiting rankings. why i did was believed what i saw on video. having said that, my point is that it would be a mistake to not given this kid his 4 games. hell, we put in two backup fb's against MTSU but not a kid that OSU literally pulled all the stops out in order to sway him away from Iowa to OSU? and i am not even saying i disagree to not playing him up to this point. what i am saying is that he needs to play his 4 games and why not use him against our 4 toughest opponents? there is no rule that defines which 4 games. this kid is a super athlete so why not let him get his reps against the 4 most athletic teams we face? why not have a situational package for this kid against UM that he could have been studying UM game film for the past couple weeks to get ready? same with PSU and WUs and maybe even kNU.

Everything you are talking about is based on your perception. Isn’t it possible that Jacobs just simply isn’t ready to contribute yet? Again our coaching staff hasn’t mentioned his name really at any point in discussing the linebackers.

Logan Lee would be another prime example. That guy was about as college ready of a recruit as I’ve seen Iowa land, but he’s barely played. Looks like they are going to try him on the interior defensive line so he’s going to need some time to bulk up.

At a certain point you have to trust the coaching staff. Do they get every decision right on these? No, but they are watching practice everyday and see where these guys are at.

 

[NikeHawk21]

I’d like to see Tracy or Goodson back there at punt returner, but like I said if it’s hasn't already changed I don’t think it will barring a Nico injury.

 

[Ree4]

I’d like to see Tracy or Goodson back there at punt returner, but like I said if it’s hasn't already changed I don’t think it will barring a Nico injury.

Tracy would be my vote probably, if I got one. He's really good at making people miss, I'd guess that his repertoire of skill moves is best on the team (from what I've seen)

 

[JoeyLabasForPresident]

Tracy would be my vote probably, if I got one. He's really good at making people miss, I'd guess that his repertoire of skill moves is best on the team (from what I've seen)

Hopefully his hands are better when it comes to receiving punts than catching passes. I think that if he can clean up the drops he’s going to be remembered as one of the best.

 

[ArvadaHawk]

I’d like to see Tracy or Goodson back there at punt returner, but like I said if it’s hasn't already changed I don’t think it will barring a Nico injury.

are you disagreeing with the staff's evaluation at PR?

 

[NikeHawk21]

are you disagreeing with the staff's evaluation at PR?

I think they went with Nico as he is probably the most sure handed, so that’s not a bad thought. His decision making will hopefully improve back there.

 

[Hawk1960]

I think they went with Nico as he is probably the most sure handed, so that’s not a bad thought. His decision making will hopefully improve back there.

True, it's all about the coaching staff confidence in the hands for any Iowa punt returner.

 

[NikeHawk21]

are you disagreeing with the staff's evaluation at PR?

You’re really bent out of shape by the whole Jestin Jacobs thing. You are literally calling for the coaches to spend practice time to a create a package for a true freshman who came in undersized and got hurt in the spring who is behind three experienced starters and at least three other guys right now on the depth chart, and then only use that package in the four most important games of the year. You have to realize how stupid that sounds?

If Jacobs were ready and he was that good that he was going to change outcomes of games he’d be playing every game similar to Goodson. I would suspect he’s not there yet.