Powell and Willes

homes

homes

Well-Known Member
Ferentz keeps talking about getting them worked into the lineup but they need more growth. Well, the season is 25% over, so the sand is running out of the hourglass if the plan is to work them into the lineup somehow. And as far as needing more growth - I guess I'm not sure what the heck that is supposed to mean - perhaps it means performing when called upon. It's been said by others that Ferentz treats these nonconference game like preseason games. Whether that's true or not, aren't these the very games that they should be playing in to get experience, so when you need them in the midst of the Big Ten season you don't have to hesitate putting them in, as opposed to not putting them in because you've denied them the very experience that you now believe they lack to be counted on?
 
...or Hillyer and Smith, both of which have made plays and shown talent....in a tiny sample size

Day 4, still fuming mad.
 
We may need to ask them to transfer in the offseason. Like Canzeri, they are just getting in the way and stealing playing time from better guys.
 
When I hear Kirk say things like "they're not there yet" I immediately think they were running a running play in practice and Willies and/or Powell used improper technique blocking downfield or something along those lines. Kirk values the fundamentals over blatantly superior athleticism. I hear that and think, "yeah but who has caught the majority of the TD's this season?" Heck, if Rudock doesn't overthrow Willies in the UNI game, he'd have 2 td's in his limited play thus far. If Powell doesn't slightly bobble the ball from Beathard, he'd have 2 td's as well.
 
KF called Tevaun Smith "our best receiver" during the Tuesday press conference and I feel like I can see it. If we made a concerted effort to target him more, I think he could be an under the radar star. But unfortunately, I don't think this offense knows how to do that consistently.

I still don't understand how, and this was the case under KOK as well, the receivers aren't taught multiple WR positions. So if Hillyer is the starter at X and Powell is his backup, we could have 5 Z receivers go down and we'd still put in the 6th string Z receiver before we put in Powell...baffles the mind.
 
Some recivers are taught multiple positions. But they have to get their main position down before they get more. I was told that by a WR that was the only one on the team that knew all three postions 3-4 years ago
 
They both play in the "CJ package" so maybe that should be a package we need to see more of.
 
KMM said that all the receivers are supposed to know how to play two positions. There is zero reason why Willies and Tevaun aren't on the field at the same time, other than Kirk's frightening conservatism about everything. You gotta baby someone like Willies, otherwise he might, I don't know, overheat or blow up.
 
Willies blew up the spring game.
Game one vs. UNI, he had the biggest play of the day, turning an overthrow into a 46 yard gain.
Game two vs. BSU, he got open and caught a key TD.
Game three, he barely sees the feild, because its too important for Hillyer to be blocking while Bullock gains two yards.
 
ICHawk24 said:
Willies blew up the spring game.
Game one vs. UNI, he had the biggest play of the day, turning an overthrow into a 46 yard gain.
Game two vs. BSU, he got open and caught a key TD.
Game three, he barely sees the feild, because its too important for Hillyer to be blocking while Bullock gains two yards.
Click to expand...

Well, blocking is also important.
 
ICHawk24 said:
Willies blew up the spring game.
Game one vs. UNI, he had the biggest play of the day, turning an overthrow into a 46 yard gain.
Game two vs. BSU, he got open and caught a key TD.
Game three, he barely sees the feild, because its too important for Hillyer to be blocking while Bullock gains two yards.
Click to expand...


EXACTLY!!!:mad:
 
Is there any doubt now that KF does not put his best 22 onto the field and there is no competition nor accountability.

One example.... Who dropped a key 3rd down pass that was a first down and more against ISU? Vandeburg and he remains ahead of Powell & Willies. Vandenburg has never caught a TD pass despite having 4 x the snaps of Powell. Willies and Powell have both caught TD's this season in almost no action.

When KF does not want to play someone the old 'practice' issues, the playbook or a blocking problem excuse is always floated out. It is total crap.

A team can never, ever reach its potential or sustain success if you do not put your best players on the field.
 
ICHawk24 said:
Willies blew up the spring game.
Game one vs. UNI, he had the biggest play of the day, turning an overthrow into a 46 yard gain.
Game two vs. BSU, he got open and caught a key TD.
Game three, he barely sees the feild, because its too important for Hillyer to be blocking while Bullock gains two yards.
Click to expand...

I your believe your last sentence is dead on. We threw 55 times against Ball St and KF mentioned that AND the lack of a running game in his post game press conference. He said we need to better examine this and figure it out before their next practice the following Tuesday. There is no question in my mind he was sending a message to GD immediately following that game. I think KF reasserted himself and created the game plan against Iowa St and that was to establish the run.

That's understandable.

The problem is #1 - Your most talented and dangerous weapons are rendered irrelevant. Wanting to establish the run is important. But has it ever dawned on KF that you can have success running the ball after you get the defenders on their heels with some vertical passing to your talented recievers? #2. - Everyone knows how predictable our running game is and how stubborn our coach is. Evidence? We slammed our fullback Weismann and Bullock into ISU's defensive line 28 times and averaged 2.9 yds per carry.

This offense is undeniably a mess and who is to blame? I believe there is a power struggle between KF and GD over personnel and philosophy. Would love to know if anyone can shed some light from within Fort Ferentz.
 
I had no problem with KFz attempted to assert the run game against ISU, it just made sense on paper. But to never give up, and finish the game with 24 passes and 44 rushes, is pretty darn stubborn.

Scratch where it itches.
 
ICHawk24 said:
I had no problem with KFz attempted to assert the run game against ISU, it just made sense on paper. But to never give up, and finish the game with 24 passes and 44 rushes, is pretty darn stubborn.

Scratch where it itches.
Click to expand...


He really is the Anti-Hayden. A bizarrely stark contrast.

Only one similarity. They both can/could be petulant in front of the media.

I truly miss Hayden's creativity and gun-slinging approach. This other stuff is just plain brutal.
 
The fact Vandeberg has more catches attempts and reps then Willies and Powell tells you all you need to know.... I don't mean to knock Vandeberg but does anyone think he's a better receiver then either of those two? That slant pass he dropped on 3rd down in the redzone was huge. You can argue that was the game. That'd have been a first down at the 10 yard line or so if not closer. More time off the clock and possibly a TD.

If your the play caller and your calling for a deep route is Vandeberg your first choice? He's probably the 5th or 6th guy on the list. Plus the TEs. I loved the play to Hamilton up the seam play. I think they had Kittles on the same side of the line where they both push up hashmarks and it made the safety pick who to cover he can't get both. If the D is in zone that play will work most of the time. But they won't run it more then once a game.... But they'll run the same zone running play to the short side of the field where they are out numbered over and over...
 
He isn't the guy I would send deep. But he runs some of the best routes on the team. He Is where he is suppose to be in this short passing game
 
LASBUR said:
He isn't the guy I would send deep. But he runs some of the best routes on the team. He Is where he is suppose to be in this short passing game
Click to expand...

Your right but is that reason enough to be playing more? If he's dropping balls like the one he did he's got no purpose to be out there when he's not a big play threat like Smith, Powell and Willies are. One of those three if not some combo of them should be out there all the time. I don't know I guess I'd like to have seen their practices to see what ever it is the coaches like about Vandeberg more then the other guys
 
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