Position by Position Thoughts-2018

[Hawkfnntn]

Well I know this will shock most Iowa fans but iowa's OLine was the weakness in 2017. No need to jump in and explain it to me - I was there I saw it.

The 2nd weakness was the passing game - deep balls. and overall percentage completion

These two will be better in 2018.

Therefore I believe that iowa will win the national championship in 2018

Excluding your last sentence lol. I agree with you Iowa's Oline wasn't that great at all last yr but with two freshman at the tackle spots most of the year and with Render and Reynolds sharing the one guard spot mediocrely they just didn't give Wadley nearly enough room to do damage. Granted some of that was the formations/playcalling too I can't let BF totally off the hook for that but put it all together and we got what we got.

I do think they'll be better even minus Daniels and Welch. The tackles should be much better and that'll be huge. And Stanley should only get better I have faith in him he's a stud in the making.

 

[guffus]

I guess the difference in the past is if the LB's are struggling next season, at least Iowa has a history of developing struggling young LB's into all big ten performers and NFL draft picks by the time they are seniors.

But it seems like at Iowa if a WR sucks as 2nd year sophomore, he's going to suck as a senior. I guess there are exceptions like Ramon Ochoa or I guess Riley McCarron became ok as seniors after not doing much. McNutt and Teavon Smith got better each year, but both were decent as sophomores.

 

[MoseSchrute]

My level of worry at that spot is a zero. My only caviot to that is major injuries. If Young and Kelly-Martin are healthy they look good to go. Wisky seems to be doing just fine at RB lately so regardless of if they offered either of these kids from their backyard their loss is our gain. Geil looks like a prototypical do it all kind of back. He hopefully won't be asked to day 1 but he looks physically capable. I really hope Bryan is good to go for depth reasons because the hush around Toks deal doesn't seem good for him. But the position overall as it sits now I think is in good shape. Just need Oline to give them some holes.

I'm not "worried" about RB either, but on the other hand, do we have a guy there like Wadley who can change or keep us in a game like he did? Not so sure about that.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I'm not "worried" about RB either, but on the other hand, do we have a guy there like Wadley who can change or keep us in a game like he did? Not so sure about that.

I think Kelly-Martin looks the part of doing a little bit of everything. Is he the cut on a dime Barry Sanders style runner Wadley kinda is? No but he's got a little of that to his style. I think if he and Young are healthy that's a solid 2 headed RB corp. I'll go out on a limb. I think they'll have a better season running the ball then what Wadley/Butler did last yr as a duo. (I know Butler was hurt most of year but he didn't seem to do much when he was in there)

 

[hawkeye23]

I think Kelly-Martin looks the part of doing a little bit of everything. Is he the cut on a dime Barry Sanders style runner Wadley kinda is? No but he's got a little of that to his style. I think if he and Young are healthy that's a solid 2 headed RB corp. I'll go out on a limb. I think they'll have a better season running the ball then what Wadley/Butler did last yr as a duo. (I know Butler was hurt most of year but he didn't seem to do much when he was in there)

I agree. We probably won't get the joy stick video game types moves but with the straight ahead running that Wadley isn't good at but was continued to be called will be much more consistent than it was last year. I am disappointed that they didn't give Young more carries when Butler went down cause I think he could have been effective. And if the OL gets a little chemistry going, could be a recipe for success.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I agree. We probably won't get the joy stick video game types moves but with the straight ahead running that Wadley isn't good at but was continued to be called will be much more consistent than it was last year. I am disappointed that they didn't give Young more carries when Butler went down cause I think he could have been effective. And if the OL gets a little chemistry going, could be a recipe for success.

And that's what I'm kinda banking on being improved from last yr too. Those freshman tackles should be better and replacing Daniels and Welch won't be easy but we have guys that have been in system for years that should be ready to go. Plus 2nd year under BF. Getting on same page and improved situational playcalling should help a ton as well

 

[bitmap]

It seems like every year I am worried about a position group and confident of another. It seems like every year the position group I was worried about turns out to be great and the one I was most confident in struggles. Going to apply reverse logic here and say that the linebacker play will end up being a strength on this team. I think some off the radar players will emerge and the unit will play competently before mid season. What worries me is that I am most confident in the DL. Can't see how the Hawks go wrong with the group coming back so I will just stick w/ my prediction that the LB unit will not be the disaster that some see coming.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Two position groups of concern in my opinion:

WR - We need a playmaker who can CONSISTENTLY beat man coverage...and catch the ball when he does. If that happens...our offense is going to be tough to stop. When safeties have to protect against the homerun...they can't be roaming the line of scrimmage...that creates running lanes.

LB - Although we have athletes...they are unproven athletes at LB. If this group can perform above average and make the plays they have in front of them...and be sure tacklers...the defense is going to be really freaking good. I honestly think if we get teams in 2nd and long...3rd and long...we put an additional safety in the game at LB to guard the TE and the slot. We have a few ridiculous athletes coming in with this recruiting class...Craddieth and Brents who can fill that role nicely.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Two position groups of concern in my opinion:

WR - We need a playmaker who can CONSISTENTLY beat man coverage...and catch the ball when he does. If that happens...our offense is going to be tough to stop. When safeties have to protect against the homerun...they can't be roaming the line of scrimmage...that creates running lanes.

LB - Although we have athletes...they are unproven athletes at LB. If this group can perform above average and make the plays they have in front of them...and be sure tacklers...the defense is going to be really freaking good. I honestly think if we get teams in 2nd and long...3rd and long...we put an additional safety in the game at LB to guard the TE and the slot. We have a few ridiculous athletes coming in with this recruiting class...Craddieth and Brents who can fill that role nicely.

I agree a playmaker or two at receiver and holy smokes the offense could really open up. Look for #42 Beyer to be in the mix as a hybrid. He was in the bowl game a few snaps I think he'll be in the mix. And for the love of everything holy I hope Brandon Smith can get going.

I would add the Oline as well. Render didn't exactly play great last yr and losing Daniels and Welch leaves some big spots to fill in the middle of the line. I think the tackle spots are in good shape but those middle 3 spots gotta be good and I have a tough time seeing whomever ends up in there doing as well as the guys from last yr... So that worries me the more I've thought about it. I'd like to think we have guys in the program ready for it to be their time so we'll see.

 

[4thngoal]

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/5-newcomers-watch-iowa-hawkeyes-2018

Another opinion.

 

[ChosenChildren]

If they stay healthy, Easley and Smith Marsette will be very good this fall. With our tight ends, Stanley will have plenty of options.

LB is always the key position for Iowa. If our LB play is adequate, we will field a very competitive team this fall.

 

[hawkeye23]

I agree a playmaker or two at receiver and holy smokes the offense could really open up. Look for #42 Beyer to be in the mix as a hybrid. He was in the bowl game a few snaps I think he'll be in the mix. And for the love of everything holy I hope Brandon Smith can get going.

I would add the Oline as well. Render didn't exactly play great last yr and losing Daniels and Welch leaves some big spots to fill in the middle of the line. I think the tackle spots are in good shape but those middle 3 spots gotta be good and I have a tough time seeing whomever ends up in there doing as well as the guys from last yr... So that worries me the more I've thought about it. I'd like to think we have guys in the program ready for it to be their time so we'll see.

I am starting to like what they are putting together on the WR side. Smith has gotten bigger and can be that sideline catcher who can go up and get those 50/50 throws. Easley with those underneath routes he was good at this year and then ISM as the speedster on the outside. Smith and ISM just need to get some stick em on those gloves. This doesn't include Lockett who seems to be a bit of that burner like ISM. Then Tyrone Tracy as a possession receiver and maybe Samson Evans if they don't put him at RB. I think Beyer could help as well as you mentioned. Starting to assemble some playmakers hopefully. And I'm not even including Max Cooper or Marchese if they are able to give any production.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I am starting to like what they are putting together on the WR side. Smith has gotten bigger and can be that sideline catcher who can go up and get those 50/50 throws. Easley with those underneath routes he was good at this year and then ISM as the speedster on the outside. Smith and ISM just need to get some stick em on those gloves. This doesn't include Lockett who seems to be a bit of that burner like ISM. Then Tyrone Tracy as a possession receiver and maybe Samson Evans if they don't put him at RB. I think Beyer could help as well as you mentioned. Starting to assemble some playmakers hopefully. And I'm not even including Max Cooper or Marchese if they are able to give any production.

The thing about a larger athletic receiver like Smith is they don't have to be 'open' to throw it to him. Guys like him can win those 50/50 balls fairly often. Iowa doesn't seem to throw many of those type of plays. Maybe they will with him and Meyer/Fant. Fant is more of a big WR then a TE at least last yr. Maybe this year he'll be a tad bigger and used as a traditional TE more. Not that that's necessary. Use him in whatever ways gets him a mismatch to take advantage of.

 

[DBAHawkFan]

We'll see the same offense we have for the last 15 years.

 

[Trench]

When looking at the RB position, replacing Wadley is a daunting task and I don't mean that statistically. Assuming the RB's stay healthy, I think we'll end up with a rusher that gets to 1,000-1,100 yards and catches 25 or so passes.

Also, his physical skill set when it comes to speed, quickness, and agility as well as the ability to catch passes are also something that can be replicated by Kelly Ivory-Martin. But what made Wadley unique/special was his ability to sense when to cut and his sense/vision when it came to finding an open space.

We saw numerous times over the past couple of years where he could make the big play when the rest of the offense was struggling and put the team in position to win at critical times of games (2016 Rutgers/Minnesota/Michigan, 2017 Iowa State/Penn State/Nebraska) not to mention other big games and big plays. Those sorts of things are going to be tough to replace not just at this position, but in the offense overall.

Overall, I like what Iowa has with Ivory-Martin and Young as a tandem coming into the season but depth is a legit concern. The entire unit is young and the guys that would be in line for #3 (Toks and Bryan) have been hurt so we don't know about their development.

That means #3 could go to Geil who maybe ends up becoming a really good player, but lacks the pedigree of an instant impact guy. I think it's possible that the production of this unit in 2018 surpasses the production of 2017 if it stays healthy, but will that be enough to offset what the unit will lose in terms of explosiveness in clutch situations?

Thanks.......good observations.

 

[hawkeye23]

We'll see the same offense we have for the last 15 years.

Cool. You seem open minded so I'll just point out that we didn't even run the same offense last year as we did the year before. You can see some changes in the way they are doing things. Recruiting, staff, offense...never gonna be a wide open run and gun/spread offense nor do I want that but there has been some changes.

 

[SteveGarvey1]

Cool. You seem open minded so I'll just point out that we didn't even run the same offense last year as we did the year before. You can see some changes in the way they are doing things. Recruiting, staff, offense...never gonna be a wide open run and gun/spread offense nor do I want that but there has been some changes.

Only around the edges.