Running Game Outlook for 2013

I remember hearing Coker used to have like 6ypc for the first half and 2ypc for the second. This could be from the defense knowing whats going to happen or Kirk running one back until he is off the team.
 


It shows that even when an Iowa RB has a good individual year, the team #'s aren't great because of conservative play calling and not running up the score on bad teams. Probably also says something about 3rd down efficiency and play calling. Get 6-8 yards by running on first and second down then throw an incomplete 0 yd out on 3rd down. Punt, repeat. Got me on the good part of it.

I agree. In a good year you get 4th in the Big Ten with one of the best rbs in the country. Doesnt make sense. Facts people. Play calling is awsome at being bad(didnt want to be negative).
 


See this is what they call negative because they dont want to hear it.



There is a difference between the way bitmap broke the numbers down and explained his point of view vs. the way you've posted like 10 times in the same thread just trying to get a reaction out of people. One comes across as an intelligent post that makes a lot of sense, and the other comes across as whining negativity... can you guess which is which?
 


ooth, I'm as frustrated as the next guy, but Greene and Coker had KOK as the OC. We now have an OC that really knows how to run an explosive offense!!!!!!!
 


I'm surprised nobody has mentioned how KF tends to ride his horse until it can't run anymore. In 2010 we never saw Coker or Rogers once the B1G season was under way. No Coker until ARob had his bell rung.

So we see a single, dependable, all purpose back with lots of yards then the next guy has 1/10th the yardage. Typical 90/10 distribution. I think total yardage goes up if the distribution goes more like 70/30 or a 60/40 split, probably in the +15 percent range. Add a third so we have a 50 / 30 / 20 split or something similar and we may get an additional +5 percent or so. The natural distribution starts to work against you when add a fourth or more elements taking more away from the top performers tha566n you gain.

This is why Iowa is middle of the pack. You are trading +20% total team yardage for +15% for a single individual. The teams that are ahead of Iowa in total yards will have something like two running backs and a QB sharing carries. Iowa's top back may have more individual yards than these team's top running back. There are few, if any, other rushing yards for Iowa. In fact, there essentially wouldn't be any other rushing yards if it wasn't for injuries to the primary Iowa ball carrier.

The reason is that individual runners will have certain strengths that can be exploited against certain weaknesses of opposing teams. For example if the opponent isn't good covering the outside run, Iowa will run stretch plays against them. The all purpose Iowa running back is going to get three digit yardage because the line is making it happen. If Iowa has an outside specialist so to speak, a guy that can turn the corner a little sooner than the all purpose back then he might have even more yards running the exact, same, plays.

Against another team that has LBs who are not great tacklers a runner who is slippery is going to gouge them for a couple more yards per carry between the tackles.

You can run combos like a powerhouse straight ahead runner earlier in the game and as the defense tires swith to the outside guy down the stretch.

This is with the same plays called, just w/ different players on the field.

We have what looks to be four RBs and at least one QB that should be able to run behind what is shaping up to be a typical Iowa line. I hope we don't go throgh them in serial fashion.


I think you've made a lot of good points. More specifically, I totally agree with what you said about Ferentz's habit of overworking one RB. Obviously, when you have a Shonn Greene type player it isn't necessarily a bad thing to live or die by giving him the ball. Injuries have also played a role in deciding who gets the carries, but in some cases those injuries could be attributed to the fact he didn't give them a break. For example, A-Rob received his concussion at a point in the game where he shouldn't even have been on the field.

I'm going to be paying very close attention to the RB situation this year. The Hawks legitimately have three or four different styles of RB's, and there is no reason we shouldn't figure out a way to take advantage of that. If we see Weisman running the ball 90% of the time I'm going to be pretty ticked off. It all comes down to gameplanning for each specific opponent, and like you said there is no reason to have Weisman in there if you're trying to break a run to the outside. Put Canzeri in and let him turn the corner. Or on the other hand, have them both in to keep the defense off balance. There's so many different things we can do offensively to keep the defense on their toes. If we don't take advantage of that this year I will quickly hop off the KF bandwagon.
 


There is a difference between the way bitmap broke the numbers down and explained his point of view vs. the way you've posted like 10 times in the same thread just trying to get a reaction out of people. One comes across as an intelligent post that makes a lot of sense, and the other comes across as whining negativity... can you guess which is which?


I was waiting for someone to tell me how I was wrong instead of just tell me Im negative. Its not like I said oooohhhh they suck. People on here when they dont have a point to make highjack threads just to note that people are or will be negative. Show me how its not.
 


I think our o line will be strong enough to run the ball pretty well but only of we have some ability to throw the ball as well. If the run is all we have, that is, if our passing game is as bad as it was last year, even a good line with good backs will have problems running. We have to have at least some sort of passing threat.
 


The discussion is focusing too much on RB production. The teams that finish at the top of the rushing stats in conference are largely teams that get a lot of rushing yardage out of the QB position. The following were the top 5 in the big ten last year in order
1. Nebraska
2. Ohio State
3.Wisconsin
4. Northwestern
5. Michigan

Other than Wisconsin, all of the others get decent rushing yardage out of the qb. Leveon Bell of Mich State was the leading rusher in the conference, but Michigan State was 8th in rushing yardage.

Iowa rarely ends up high in these rankings due to having drop back quarterbacks and running fewer plays per game with the offense. The running backs could have great years and the team would still finish low in these rankings unless the no huddle actually is used and works.
 




The discussion is focusing too much on RB production. The teams that finish at the top of the rushing stats in conference are largely teams that get a lot of rushing yardage out of the QB position. The following were the top 5 in the big ten last year in order
1. Nebraska
2. Ohio State
3.Wisconsin
4. Northwestern
5. Michigan

Other than Wisconsin, all of the others get decent rushing yardage out of the qb. Leveon Bell of Mich State was the leading rusher in the conference, but Michigan State was 8th in rushing yardage.

Iowa rarely ends up high in these rankings due to having drop back quarterbacks and running fewer plays per game with the offense. The running backs could have great years and the team would still finish low in these rankings unless the no huddle actually is used and works.

This is very true. Thats why if Iowa cant get top talent they should get a dual threat QB so teams have to guard against that. This is why I said the game plan is flawed. The type of offense Iowa wants to run takes top talent.

Almost everyone has a QB who is a threat to run in the B1G.

Iowa year after year makes it very clear to other teams that they will not do certain things. Some people think that Iowa can just run the ball if they have healthy rbs and a good OL. This is why its easy to see that Kirk wants to play his kind of football no matter if that gives Iowa the best chance to win.
 




Yet Wisconsin has won the last 3 conference titles with Tolzein, Wilson and a couple different pocket passers last year playing QB. Wilson was mobile but I wouldn't call him a dual threat QB.

QBAttYdsTDAvgYr
Wilson7933864.32011
Banks8142355.22002
Tate4912402.62006
 


Under Greg Davis Iowa rotated the running backs a lot more with a lot more looks being shown. That is when 2 were healthy. My prediction is MW 1200 yards, JC 900 yards, MM 250, DB 150, QBs and others net another 150. That is 2650 yards with working together as a team and being a lot closer to the top on this stat.
 


I'd like to think the lack of bigger numbers reflects on the fact that most our drives started in enemy territory as a direct result starting drives in excellent field position. Unfortunately I don't think that's it.
 


Yet Wisconsin has won the last 3 conference titles with Tolzein, Wilson and a couple different pocket passers last year playing QB. Wilson was mobile but I wouldn't call him a dual threat QB.

Regardless of his numbers I would definitely call Wilson a dual threat while at Wiscy. just my opinion. Where as our pocket passers were good for a few scrambles to move the chains and keep drives alive, I saw Wilson as a potential homerun threat when he ran the ball. While I saw flashes of that with banks, I just didn't see that with Tate. Again just my opinion.
 


It matters when you count B1G teams to B1G teams. I dont understand why you guys want to brush this under the rug. Look at the stats. It points to bad play calling and bad passing at Iowa. Plain and simple.

It points to a balanced offensive play calling. KF has always pushed for a balanced play calling, and is typically 50/50.
I was surprised '08 was only 4th in the B1G also, but compare it with other teams (and their records from '08), % of offense, passing TDs, etc; before getting all bent out of shape.
 


In not in agreement that kf overworke backs, I've said this before. I know Coker wanted to come out of the game one time but kf left him in, bit in my experience of aging four sports from sixth grade to college, I never wanted to come out of a game, I always wanted more carries, passes, shots, etc. these are 20 year old d1 rbs who are gifted athletes that should be in peak physical condition, playing in front of 70k fans on tv. Who wants to come out of the game? No way you could give me too many carries. Carry the ball 25 times??? Sure, sign me up. I think the idea is kind of dumb. What player doesn't want more plays...
 


Too many carries is like being too good looking, having too much money, too much poo nanny, too many three yard outs, err except the last one.
 


It points to a balanced offensive play calling. KF has always pushed for a balanced play calling, and is typically 50/50.
I was surprised '08 was only 4th in the B1G also, but compare it with other teams (and their records from '08), % of offense, passing TDs, etc; before getting all bent out of shape.

Thank you. I can't believe I got all the way to page three without reading this. This is the answer. Iowa most definitely made an effort to be balanced.
 


Yet Wisconsin has won the last 3 conference titles with Tolzein, Wilson and a couple different pocket passers last year playing QB. Wilson was mobile but I wouldn't call him a dual threat QB.

BB uses a larger play book. He also has more talent. Wilson was a threat to run. He may not be some of the other QBs that are running 1/3 or the time. Theres the beauty of it though. You just have to make people game plan for this stuff.

What do people do against Iowa. They load up the box because they dont need to stop anything else. What does Iowa do? They will run the same running back straight at you until he is hurt.
 




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