Spring Ball Storylines

[guffus]

Although the formations will vary based on both situation and the opponent, I predict the 4-2-5 will be used more often than the 4-3 in 2019.

The coaches already went on the record last year saying the 4-2-5 will be Iowa's primary formation going forward. Even with Hooker leaving, the coaches will still want that 5th body back there with the better pass protection skills. It's the new reality in college football.

 

[uihawk82]

Although the formations will vary based on both situation and the opponent, I predict the 4-2-5 will be used more often than the 4-3 in 2019.

The coaches already went on the record last year saying the 4-2-5 will be Iowa's primary formation going forward. Even with Hooker leaving, the coaches will still want that 5th body back there with the better pass protection skills. It's the new reality in college football.

This should have been and could have been employed against many better passing teams in the last ten years let alone some new reality now. The nickle or dime packages should almost always be employed in 3rd and 7+ and 2nd and 10+ for nickle. Norm and Phil have been a little hard headed leaving lbkrs on WRs and slot receivers over the last 20 years. Most corners and safeties at Iowa are really good in run support and tackling technique so taking one or two slower lnbkrs out should have been employed more often. I just used to hate seeing OSU, Mich , IU, and other teams with 3 to 4 good wide receivers getting bad matchups with the hawks secondary and Lbkrs.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

The thing that separated Amani Hooker was his elite coverage skills.

I don’t think there is any indication that McDonald has cover skills anywhere in the neighborhood of Hooker. He’s a linebacker, which is fine he can be a good one and play in our 4-3 system. There is nothing wrong with having more athletic linebackers like McDonald and Jacobs, I’m all for it, but expecting them to do what Hooker did is pretty unreasonable.

When talking about the star or cash position I have never once heard his name mentioned by one of the Iowa coaches. Also he’s listed at 220 on the Iowa site.

I wonder of Colbert can fit here? I know he is listed at LB, but if I'm not mistaken, he came in as a DB.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

This should have been and could have been employed against many better passing teams in the last ten years let alone some new reality now. The nickle or dime packages should almost always be employed in 3rd and 7+ and 2nd and 10+ for nickle. Norm and Phil have been a little hard headed leaving lbkrs on WRs and slot receivers over the last 20 years. Most corners and safeties at Iowa are really good in run support and tackling technique so taking one or two slower lnbkrs out should have been employed more often. I just used to hate seeing OSU, Mich , IU, and other teams with 3 to 4 good wide receivers getting bad matchups with the hawks secondary and Lbkrs.

Let's not forget, when Norm and Phil were first here with "their" players and/or ones they had developed, they HAD linebackers that could cover very well. And using LBs in coverage isn't a "new" concept any more than no-fullback and empty-backfield formations aren't "new".

 

[4thngoal]

Although the formations will vary based on both situation and the opponent, I predict the 4-2-5 will be used more often than the 4-3 in 2019.

The coaches already went on the record last year saying the 4-2-5 will be Iowa's primary formation going forward. Even with Hooker leaving, the coaches will still want that 5th body back there with the better pass protection skills. It's the new reality in college football.

I agree.
Plus just a quick look around the conference at who all is breaking in new ol and I think our 4-2-5 could do very well. Plus we will have more experience with it and that always helps.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Although the formations will vary based on both situation and the opponent, I predict the 4-2-5 will be used more often than the 4-3 in 2019.

The coaches already went on the record last year saying the 4-2-5 will be Iowa's primary formation going forward. Even with Hooker leaving, the coaches will still want that 5th body back there with the better pass protection skills. It's the new reality in college football.

I agree. Because going forward more schools are using TEs more in the passing game and if not that 3 WRs. So having that LB/hybridDB type that can do it all and cover those and help stop the run is paramount.

 

[HawkleberryFinn]

This is Nate Vejvoda's year to shine. Vejvoda and Wieting are the next Hockenson and Fant. Iowa's going nowhere but up.

 

[iloveyoularrystation]

So 2-3 years ago we basically had 5 guards in there and no tackles. last year we had 5 guys who could pass block but not run block at all. I'll be interested to see if we can find an oline who can maul somebody and standup to edge rushers and give stanley time.

I think it will be interesting to see us mature from a tight end heavy dominated pass lineup to a wide receiver/ running back heavy passing offense.

 

[Adam]

I’m with you. It seemed like when the ball was thrown his way he was pretty productive. Iowa’s passing offense was basically TEs or bubbles to Easley.

Been pretty amusing where all this hype came for Brandon Smith. He has some measurables but he was far from a highly sought after recruit. His only other P5 offer was Vandy. He was starting last year as a true sophomore and had some moments, I would expect him to continue to improve next year, but some people act like he was some big time prospect who has underperformed, which I think is very unfair.

I thought B Smith got late intrest from both Bama and Auburn. Is my memory shit?

 

[HawkleberryFinn]

I thought B Smith got late intrest from both Bama and Auburn. Is my memory shit?

Sounds more like David Bell, the Purdue Boilermaker...one of two Purdue '19 recruiting class 4-star receivers.

 

[Adam]

This.

Unless you have a super capable flex like Hooker, and by that I mean a guy who can truly play S and LB equally well, the 4-2 is a bad idea in the B1G. If your DL doesn’t stuff the middle immediately you are screwed, especially with two TEs or TE+slot blocking that you see a lot of nowadays.

Parker said himself that the only reason they could even attempt a set like that is because they had a beast like Hooker. It wasn’t built around a situation or certain look, it was built around the player.

The analysis is correct, but if this is the defense that Parker wants to continue with I have full faith that he will find the lynch pin player to make it work 8 out of 10 years.

 

[Adam]

Sounds more like David Bell, the Purdue Boilermaker...one of two Purdue '19 recruiting class 4-star receivers.

David Bell has had multiple B1G scholarship offers since he was a sophomore. I'm definitely not confusing the 2.

 

[Adam]

So 2-3 years ago we basically had 5 guards in there and no tackles. last year we had 5 guys who could pass block but not run block at all. I'll be interested to see if we can find an oline who can maul somebody and standup to edge rushers and give stanley time.

I think it will be interesting to see us mature from a tight end heavy dominated pass lineup to a wide receiver/ running back heavy passing offense.

I am also concerned about the precipitous drop off in run blocking the last season. I look for Kirk to really dig into that this offseason.

 

[NikeHawk21]

So 2-3 years ago we basically had 5 guards in there and no tackles. last year we had 5 guys who could pass block but not run block at all. I'll be interested to see if we can find an oline who can maul somebody and standup to edge rushers and give stanley time.

I think it will be interesting to see us mature from a tight end heavy dominated pass lineup to a wide receiver/ running back heavy passing offense.

Good post. Oline play has definitely been down in the recent years. If we had an average running game last year we probably would have been in Indy.

I think our Tackles are going to be very solid, and we have some interesting pieces inside. I’d like to see:

LT: A Jackson
LG: Kallenberger
C: Linderbaum
RG: Barnwart
RT: Wirfs

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

I'm mostly interested in watching our punters. After attending the Northwestern game last year...it abundantly clear that we need an upgrade in our punting if we are going to have an offensive game plan like that. The punter may have been the difference in that game.

All kidding aside...I'm curious if Daviyon Nixon is still on the team. To me...although he hasn't played a down...he is an important piece to the defensive puzzle. We need natural size in the middle who can hold up a couple of OL. If Reese is high on him, I'm high on him. I hope they work out the issues with whatever the problem is. We need depth at the DT position.

 

[homes]

What about the storyline that Hockenson, Fant, Nelson and Hooker all say it was a spoof, a joke, a put on, they're not really going pro, but will be back in the fall? That's the one I want you to break, Rob.

 

[NCHawker]

The last season when Iowa did not have a guy named SMITH at Wide Receiver is ????

 

[uihawk82]

Let's not forget, when Norm and Phil were first here with "their" players and/or ones they had developed, they HAD linebackers that could cover very well. And using LBs in coverage isn't a "new" concept any more than no-fullback and empty-backfield formations aren't "new".

Not so well against Ohio St type talent, Mich talent etc where there are 4 fast WRs on the field

 

[MoseSchrute]

Not so well against Ohio St type talent, Mich talent etc where there are 4 fast WRs on the field

...or even Purdue type talent.

 

[NikeHawk21]

I feel like we have a solid core of proven players, we are just looking for that next young group of guys to emerge. Last year it was Golston, Stone, Niemann, Colbert, Brents, Sargent, Barnwart.

A couple of guys to keep your eye on:
-DJ Johnson
-Dallas Craddieth
-Jestin Jacobs (early enrollee, wants to start as a freshman)
-Noah Shannon
-John Waggoner
-Shaun Beyer / Drew Cook
-Tracy / Lockett
-Kallenberger / Linderbaum