Spring Football: Examining the Hawkeye Defense

[Adam]

It's a leap, I won't deny. We are going to need everyone to make a jump and a couple incoming guys to push hard enough to get some play time.
Not an impossible feat for sure.
I still think between first and second string by the time we start conference play, we will have the most (including both sides of the ball) nfl'ers so far in program history. I think we pulled two for sure with a strong consideration of three, just coming in. Wirfs, AJE, Stanley, another DB already on the team and I still hope one of our backs (not coincidence that Wisconsin has been winning and had backs drafted!!!) and hope for Brandon Smith to put in the work to make it. Plus we know our TE's are going to be looked at pretty close by the NFL for the next few years.
Exciting times for sure!
For me it all depends on how fast and far they can come. Along with play calling and substitutions.
It will be interesting to see what happens.
See how the o coaches do after a year. What rotations subs and schemes are dialed up on both sides of the ball.

I'm not knocking you here for having optimism so don't take it wrong.

The 09 team sent Sash, Spievey, Prater, Hyde, Angerer, Edds, Tarpinian, Klug, Daniels, Clayborn, and Ballard to the NFL. That was just on defense. Offense had Stanzi, Schultz, Bulaga, Reiff, Gettis, Moeaki, and Reisner. Not to mention our greatest WR tandem in DJK and McNutt that didn't even make the NFL. Also had a great punter and kicker in Donahue and Murray.

If we ever have that much talent again I just don't see it being this year.

 

[4thngoal]

I'm not knocking you here for having optimism so don't take it wrong.

The 09 team sent Sash, Spievey, Prater, Hyde, Angerer, Edds, Tarpinian, Klug, Daniels, Clayborn, and Ballard to the NFL. That was just on defense. Offense had Stanzi, Schultz, Bulaga, Reiff, Gettis, Moeaki, and Reisner. Not to mention our greatest WR tandem in DJK and McNutt that didn't even make the NFL. Also had a great punter and kicker in Donahue and Murray.

If we ever have that much talent again I just don't see it being this year.

That's what is fun about projecting. This is not a knock on the older guys, because they could make huge strides too and are going to have to in order to find the field. I'm just looking at the pieces and they are there. However, with the guys I mentioned all being underclassmen and some new pieces coming in, it's hard to tell if this year's team or next year will be better. I guess that is up to them. We'll see.
On a side note, someone in the program revamped their recruiting philosophy in the last few years. It has far more cohesion and the ones they bring in are not only a fit culturally, they compliment each others skill sets. Forward thinking. I like it a lot.
Far to many people have no end game.

 

[Adam]

That's what is fun about projecting. This is not a knock on the older guys, because they could make huge strides too and are going to have to in order to find the field. I'm just looking at the pieces and they are there. However, with the guys I mentioned all being underclassmen and some new pieces coming in, it's hard to tell if this year's team or next year will be better. I guess that is up to them. We'll see.
On a side note, someone in the program revamped their recruiting philosophy in the last few years. It has far more cohesion and the ones they bring in are not only a fit culturally, they compliment each others skill sets. Forward thinking. I like it a lot.
Far to many people have no end game.

I guess I haven't been quite as high on recruiting. I definitely think it has improved but I still think we have room to improve at a few key positions. That said I will definitely be rooting for you to be right and to end up being wiser then myself.

 

[4thngoal]

I guess I haven't been quite as high on recruiting. I definitely think it has improved but I still think we have room to improve at a few key positions. That said I will definitely be rooting for you to be right and to end up being wiser then myself.

Oh definitely room for improvement. I suppose the next step is to get two at some positions. I think we landed a pro line backer, maybe two. I'm not real high on the rb situation, but in all fairness. I haven't looked close enough and we have always done a serviceable job there. Maybe the new coach can take that position and really ramp it up, with what we have and what we bring in.
Ol is a little scary, because we extended a whole bunch right away, but again, we seem to usually be ok there. As for lines, imagine two or three Wirfs and AJE each year.
DB, we have the right coach in the right spot. Be nice to bring in a few more that don't need 3 years of development.
Basically it would be nice to land 4-5 guys a year that can come in and push for time right away.
That's another thing about the general philosophy that changed and it was about time.
The drawback to extending offers so early is a sense of security. That's when you stop pushing for the best.

 

[Lumberman]

Alaric and Tristan are already on a trajectory to be 1st round picks, IMHO, and I will be surprised if they both don’t go after their junior years. A Nelson could make it 3 first round picks in the 2020 draft.

Not sure how many draft picks we have next year, but I think Fant will be our highest pick.