Running Backs in 2011

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WinOneThisCentury

Well-Known Member
With the issues we have had (keeping backs healthy) and the inexperience we are looking at in 2011, is anyone hearing anything about Iowa looking in the JUCO ranks for another running back.

I just can't see Ferentz welcoming AR back with open arms. That leaves Coker as the only RB with any game experience. I love Coker's potential and what he has shown, but you need two or three guys who can spell and make plays. I don't think we can seriously count on Coe to step in and fill that role as a freshman...although his tape looks good.

I have to say, watching a few top tier backs this season, makes you long for the guys who can make plays from what appears to be nothing. Coker has the straight ahead power running and speed when he gets the open field, but the play where he housed it, was a wide open lane and he just turned it on. Would be great to have a shifty guy with speed to change it up.

We picked up a lineman from the JUCO ranks, why not a back? There has got to be a few out there.
 
i sorta agree with this... but i do think that we'll be fine with Coe.
I dont think I'm a know it all or even that my opinion matters, but Coe's film is some of the most impressive stuff I've ever seen.
Thank being said, my brother like's him on the defensive side of the ball even better. and I can't say that I really disagree with him either. He's a monster.
One thing is for sure, we got a hell of an athlete.
 
I think ARob will return,giving us a decent group of backs with ARob,Coker,Johnson,Coe and McCall. Now, can they stay healthy?
ARob- he is that shifty type of back that gets most out of every run.
Coker- stud,power personified.
Johnson- Jewel II,very fast shifty with surprising power in short package.
Coe- Coker + power.
McCall- good allaround back...fast,but strong.

I think we should be ok,unless they all get hurt,which is possible at Iowa.
 
WinOneThisCentury said:
With the issues we have had (keeping backs healthy) and the inexperience we are looking at in 2011, is anyone hearing anything about Iowa looking in the JUCO ranks for another running back.

I just can't see Ferentz welcoming AR back with open arms. That leaves Coker as the only RB with any game experience. I love Coker's potential and what he has shown, but you need two or three guys who can spell and make plays. I don't think we can seriously count on Coe to step in and fill that role as a freshman...although his tape looks good.

I have to say, watching a few top tier backs this season, makes you long for the guys who can make plays from what appears to be nothing. Coker has the straight ahead power running and speed when he gets the open field, but the play where he housed it, was a wide open lane and he just turned it on. Would be great to have a shifty guy with speed to change it up.

We picked up a lineman from the JUCO ranks, why not a back? There has got to be a few out there.
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Not a chance. Coker is going to read the zone blocking scheme even better next year, and he is already good. DeAndre Johnson is a smaller guy that is shifty if you will and has red shirted so he should be good to go. Coe is probably going to be a ready to go back if he is as good as everyone says he is, and we are going to likely get another commit here soon from a RB. Last year we did pretty well with inexperienced backs, and Shonn Greene was pretty inexperienced himself.

Now, another reason for no JUCO is that they won't have time to learn how to block in the scheme. I will say that any freshman Iowa brings in will have the running talent equivalent or greater than any JUCO Iowa could bring in, but the blocking will be the difference. I think we'll be ok. No need for a JUCO.
 
hawkfarmer said:
Not a chance. Coker is going to read the zone blocking scheme even better next year, and he is already good. DeAndre Johnson is a smaller guy that is shifty if you will and has red shirted so he should be good to go. Coe is probably going to be a ready to go back if he is as good as everyone says he is, and we are going to likely get another commit here soon from a RB. Last year we did pretty well with inexperienced backs, and Shonn Greene was pretty inexperienced himself.

Now, another reason for no JUCO is that they won't have time to learn how to block in the scheme. I will say that any freshman Iowa brings in will have the running talent equivalent or greater than any JUCO Iowa could bring in, but the blocking will be the difference. I think we'll be ok. No need for a JUCO.
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I don't necessarily agree with your reasoning on why Iowa wouldn't go the JUCO route for another running back. Robinson (albeit a redshirt) and Wegher were both freshmen last year and they picked up the blocking schemes fine in the time allotted. A junior college player should be able to do the same if they are available the entire camp.

Besides Coker, all the guys you mention are big time question marks. Now, do I expect one of them to be the real deal and ready to play, sure, but that is still only two legitimate running backs...and young ones at that.

The reasoning for my inquiry is that the junior college route, if from a decent program, gives you a more mature body and more experience is an elevated competitive situation beyond high school. I certainly like what I've heard about Johnson, but he didn't make the field when we were obviously out of running backs this year.

With our history, you can't feel good about the depth at this position right now.
 
JUCO wouldn't be half bad. If they could come in at the semester. A JUCO would stagger the classes so we did have a bunch of freshman and sophmores, not that that really matters... Mainly a JUCO would provide some experience. That would be nice, especially if they could come at the semester.

Now DeAndre Johnson may not have "game experience", but he will be very well versed in being a Hawkeye and our offense come spring ball.

I am not for players leaving high school early and starting their college careers early. Selfishly, I would welcome it this year!


Vandenberg better be ready to find multiple receivers... Because we are real close in having to run the spread!
 
Now that Robinson is confirmed gone, let's go back and look at two years ago -- Iowa went into the season with their most seasoned RB as a sophomore backup (Hampton) and the two players that played most were Wegher and Robinson and Iowa did just fine. Actually, throw in Brinson, and Iowa was going into the season with 4 mostly untested players. I don't think Kirk worries that much with experience at the RB position. I think having Coker return, along with DeAndre Johnson at least knowing the system, along with Brad Rogers (FB or I-back), is much farther along than Iowa has been in other seasons. That doesn't even include what impact Coe, McCall and another RB recruit could have next season.
 
lumuhawk said:
Now that Robinson is confirmed gone, let's go back and look at two years ago -- Iowa went into the season with their most seasoned RB as a sophomore backup (Hampton) and the two players that played most were Wegher and Robinson and Iowa did just fine. Actually, throw in Brinson, and Iowa was going into the season with 4 mostly untested players. I don't think Kirk worries that much with experience at the RB position. I think having Coker return, along with DeAndre Johnson at least knowing the system, along with Brad Rogers (FB or I-back), is much farther along than Iowa has been in other seasons. That doesn't even include what impact Coe, McCall and another RB recruit could have next season.
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I know the numbers with Robinson and Wegher were good...I get that, but to say that we did just fine, well, we were a hit away in several games from having the Pakibomb as our only option...MSU, OSU, Minnesota. Robinson and Wegher were both hurt that year, and thankfully one or the other was able to stay healthy in the games where one of them was definitely out. This is not an ideal situation and next year shapes up much the same way. Right now, there is strong concern Rogers won't be back. That leaves Coker, Johnson, and a few freshman that haven't seen the speed of the college game.

I guess my point in starting this thread was to think that Iowa would be a good place for a good JUCO player to land. Experienced offensive line, run first schemes, thin RB situation, and Big Ten exposure...just curious if we are recruiting any RB's from the JUCO ranks.
 
1) Coker - Already know he has the tools to be the #1 guy...honestly once he learns the blocking he has Shonn Greene upside with more years as the starter to put up incredible numbers.

2) Johnson - Not Proven yet but more of a speed back. 1 yr red shirting he will have a good understanding of the offense. See him doing similar things as Simms did when he was in IA.

3) Rogers - If he can come back don't overlook IA using him as a single back as he will have more field experience and is a proven blocker for 3rd Downs. Obviously he is the front runner for FB if healthy but it wouldn't be the first time IA has used a FB to play a single back.

4) McCall - I think this kid is the more likely of him and Coe to stay at RB because Coe looks like a dominant DE to me with his speed and frame. McCall looks a lot like Johnson from the tapes I have seen on HN.

5) Coe - I put him #5 because of what I said above I see him becoming a DE. When he starts putting college muscle on that body he may get to a solid 280 that can just fly off the line. I think he could make people stop asking about when we will start blitzing because he gets to the QB so quick.

6) Hitchens - I think he goes back to DB next year but remember he has practiced at RB this year.
 
Foval21 said:
1) Coker - Already know he has the tools to be the #1 guy...honestly once he learns the blocking he has Shonn Greene upside with more years as the starter to put up incredible numbers.

2) Johnson - Not Proven yet but more of a speed back. 1 yr red shirting he will have a good understanding of the offense. See him doing similar things as Simms did when he was in IA.

3) Rogers - If he can come back don't overlook IA using him as a single back as he will have more field experience and is a proven blocker for 3rd Downs. Obviously he is the front runner for FB if healthy but it wouldn't be the first time IA has used a FB to play a single back.

4) McCall - I think this kid is the more likely of him and Coe to stay at RB because Coe looks like a dominant DE to me with his speed and frame. McCall looks a lot like Johnson from the tapes I have seen on HN.

5) Coe - I put him #5 because of what I said above I see him becoming a DE. When he starts putting college muscle on that body he may get to a solid 280 that can just fly off the line. I think he could make people stop asking about when we will start blitzing because he gets to the QB so quick.

6) Hitchens - I think he goes back to DB next year but remember he has practiced at RB this year.
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yeah, 2-6 have a combined 15 carries. Not exactly what a running football team is looking for heading into next year.
 
How many carries did Coker have coming into this season. Plus, his injury kept him from playing the 1st half. We are going to be fine because our OL is going to be fine.
 
hawkdoctor said:
How many carries did Coker have coming into this season. Plus, his injury kept him from playing the 1st half. We are going to be fine because our OL is going to be fine.
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Assuming the OL stays healthy, too. If they do, it could be exciting to watch!

I really think DeAndre Johnson is going to surprise some people (not so much Iowa fans, rather more of the outsiders). Kid has some serious talent.
 
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