Spring Depth Charts

[Fryowa]

I think the last WR to catch a pass in the league was Kevin Kasper. Before CJB, the last QB to throw a pass in the league was Mark Vlasic. The only RB that I can recall that got a carry in the league during KFs tenure was Greene. While trench play is important to have a consistent winning team, teams that can't consistently get decent skill position talent are rarely going to get above the 7-8 win mark in college football.

Skill position talent isn’t always offense and it’s definitely not the only thing that wins games.

Look at the obscene amount of pro linebackers Iowa has put out who have had NFL success. DBs and D-lineman as well. We put numbers of kids in the bigs almost on par with UM/PSU/MSU, but historically we’re no where near as successful.

On the offensive side, Kittle was under-utilized. Fant was grossly under-utilized. Hockenson is arguable too. Guys that had the talent and ability to win us ball games and did at times, but could have had much, much more impact.

 

[4thngoal]

You do realize we didn't can the 4-3, right? Nor should we.

The Cash position only came about because of Hooker's exceptional ability and versatility. Not because a desired scheme change. If we get somebody of Hooker's caliber again, it'll come back as a main package, but until then it's going back to a situational look, and for good reason.

We have a lot of experience and young tale

You do realize we didn't can the 4-3, right? Nor should we.

The Cash position only came about because of Hooker's exceptional ability and versatility. Not because a desired scheme change. If we get somebody of Hooker's caliber again, it'll come back as a main package, but until then it's going back to a situational look, and for good reason.

We have a lot of experience and young talent at LB after last year, and trying to get those guys on the field (Niemann in particular) is only going to help.

I'm going to say that the 4-3 is becoming more the situational package. We still need it and need to be good at it, but with the direction cfb is going, it's less needed.

 

[4thngoal]

I think the last WR to catch a pass in the league was Kevin Kasper. Before CJB, the last QB to throw a pass in the league was Mark Vlasic. The only RB that I can recall that got a carry in the league during KFs tenure was Greene. While trench play is important to have a consistent winning team, teams that can't consistently get decent skill position talent are rarely going to get above the 7-8 win mark in college football.

I agree. Our young coaches have a ton to do. That all starts with recruiting. Get your guys and coach them up.
But at least we don't have near the troubles 99% of other schools do with their "skill players".

 

[BVHawk95]

I'm going to say that the 4-3 is becoming more the situational package. We still need it and need to be good at it, but with the direction cfb is going, it's less needed.

Scheme wise, I get what you're saying. Iowa has been running 4-2-5 looks out of 4-3 personnel for years now, with guys like Kirksey and both Niemanns asked to cover WRs in space and doing well at it, all while covering typical LB responsibilities in the run game.

But I think KF and staff have geared their recruiting towards this philosophy as well, trying to get exceptional athletes and then teach them the physicality to play LB and bulk them up to put them at LEO. Jestin Jacobs is slated for MLB right now, but he has the perfect skillset for this role.

I think our literal 4-3 personnel group is going nowhere, but KF, PP, and staff are adapting it to modern football.

 

[guffus]

You do realize we didn't can the 4-3, right? Nor should we.

The Cash position only came about because of Hooker's exceptional ability and versatility. Not because a desired scheme change. If we get somebody of Hooker's caliber again, it'll come back as a main package, but until then it's going back to a situational look, and for good reason.

We have a lot of experience and young talent at LB after last year, and trying to get those guys on the field (Niemann in particular) is only going to help.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.hawkcentral.com/amp/2293595002

This article says differently. Some quotes

But that one snapshot served as the final straw of evidence for the Hawkeyes to move forward with a philosophy change — most likely for years to come.

It was time to abandon the traditional 4-3 base defense — four defensive linemen, three linebackers — that served as the hallmark of the 20-year Kirk Ferentz era, dating to Norm Parker.

The time was now to transition to something Iowa coaches had discussed for more than two years. With a bye week ahead of an Oct. 6 game at Minnesota, Iowa would implement a 4-2-5 base defense, in which a fifth defensive back takes the place of the outside linebacker against most opponents.

The Hawkeyes stuck with that setup for their final eight games.

---

With the large majority of Big Ten teams running single-back, single-tight end sets — Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Michigan State are the exceptions — Iowa's 4-2-5 is here to stay, with a caveat.

The Hawkeyes maintain the flexibility to revert to using a third linebacker when offenses trot out heavier personnel groups.

---
My own interpretation from this article, the 4-2-5 is now Iowa's base defense, with occasional shifts back to the 4-3, depending on the situation. But the 4-2-5 is Iowa's base defense.

 

[BVHawk95]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.hawkcentral.com/amp/2293595002

This article says differently. Some quotes

But that one snapshot served as the final straw of evidence for the Hawkeyes to move forward with a philosophy change — most likely for years to come.

It was time to abandon the traditional 4-3 base defense — four defensive linemen, three linebackers — that served as the hallmark of the 20-year Kirk Ferentz era, dating to Norm Parker.

The time was now to transition to something Iowa coaches had discussed for more than two years. With a bye week ahead of an Oct. 6 game at Minnesota, Iowa would implement a 4-2-5 base defense, in which a fifth defensive back takes the place of the outside linebacker against most opponents.

The Hawkeyes stuck with that setup for their final eight games.

---

With the large majority of Big Ten teams running single-back, single-tight end sets — Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Michigan State are the exceptions — Iowa's 4-2-5 is here to stay, with a caveat.

The Hawkeyes maintain the flexibility to revert to using a third linebacker when offenses trot out heavier personnel groups.

---
My own interpretation from this article, the 4-2-5 is now Iowa's base defense, with occasional shifts back to the 4-3, depending on the situation. But the 4-2-5 is Iowa's base defense.

All solid points, and I agree with most of it, but my view comes from the fact that Hooker was the key piece of all this. He had a rare skillset and versatility that allowed this, and I'm not sure we've still got anyone similar to that.

 

[SpiderRico]

Skill position talent isn’t always offense and it’s definitely not the only thing that wins games.

Look at the obscene amount of pro linebackers Iowa has put out who have had NFL success. DBs and D-lineman as well. We put numbers of kids in the bigs almost on par with UM/PSU/MSU, but historically we’re no where near as successful.

On the offensive side, Kittle was under-utilized. Fant was grossly under-utilized. Hockenson is arguable too. Guys that had the talent and ability to win us ball games and did at times, but could have had much, much more impact.

For a program like ours that perennially is in the Top 20 in defensive scoring, offensive skill position talent is (in my opinion) the difference between 9-11 win seasons instead of 7-8 win seasons. How many total games in KFs tenure have we lost by 8 points or less? 75% of them? Had we consistently had better/more consistent QB/RB/WR talent, I think half of those one score losses become wins.

 

[Ree4]

I think the last WR to catch a pass in the league was Kevin Kasper. Before CJB, the last QB to throw a pass in the league was Mark Vlasic. The only RB that I can recall that got a carry in the league during KFs tenure was Greene. While trench play is important to have a consistent winning team, teams that can't consistently get decent skill position talent are rarely going to get above the 7-8 win mark in college football.

Yep while at times we have some exceptional talent, we have some deficiencies in other areas

 

[uihawk82]

Piersbacher was a Center for Bama

He played guard before he played center and bama might have tried him at tackle early in his career.

It doesnt matter why we didnt get him because he got at least one ring at bama and played at two positions which solidifies him to the pros. He made a good decision and would have been a great hawk also.

 

[uihawk82]

For a program like ours that perennially is in the Top 20 in defensive scoring, offensive skill position talent is (in my opinion) the difference between 9-11 win seasons instead of 7-8 win seasons. How many total games in KFs tenure have we lost by 8 points or less? 75% of them? Had we consistently had better/more consistent QB/RB/WR talent, I think half of those one score losses become wins.

I have been posting on here for years that KF losses one to two games a year almost every year that he and the hawks should win, mainly every year. Some years back and even since I have counted up the games that just a little better offensive scoring would win games, not 45 point a game avg offense but just 28-30 point a game avg offense. And some of these losses is due to KF conservatism and not great game day coaching.

KF has kept away the really bad seasons except for 2012 but at the same time KF probably could be known as an excellent coach by winning this extra 30 or so games in 20 years.

 

[hawkeye23]

Iowa hasn't had a truly bad OL in a long time. We sometimes fall prey to injuries and inexperience, but KF and staff have shown the ability to trot out at least serviceable groups year after year.

We take this for granted....been a lot of consistency on that OL for a long time. The offense has struggled with those OL's. Imagine if they had a bad OL on top of it

 

[westender]

He played guard before he played center and bama might have tried him at tackle early in his career.

It doesnt matter why we didnt get him because he got at least one ring at bama and played at two positions which solidifies him to the pros. He made a good decision and would have been a great hawk also.

think he got two rings. 2015 & 2017.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

Piersbacher was a Center for Bama

Only his last season. He began as a guard.

 

[NikeHawk21]

I read elsewhere that Kallenberger was taking some reps inside today with this group:

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

Imo that’s the group this season.

 

[NikeHawk21]

 

[NikeHawk21]