STORY: Hockenson Exit & What's Left at TE
- Thread starter RobHowe
- Start date
GotTimDodge
Well-Known Member
“Amani, Anthony and T.J. have been outstanding members of our team on the field and as leaders within the program,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said in a Monday press release.
Haha. Wow.
I
Ian Pike Hammer
Guest
With the departure of the 2 best TE's in the nation, the WR corp will be the most important group to the success or failure of Iowa football next season
kameltoez102
Well-Known Member
Didn't he already issue a statement on Noah anyway so if he would include him in this statement in would be a repeat
AreWeThereYet
Well-Known Member
In general there are bigger questions on offense than defense. Iowa's defense has been pretty good at dealing with player turnover and has become better at it the last four years. Year in year out, Iowa's offense just isn't on the same level as the defense. Even the offensive line seems to vary in quality quite a bit from year to year. Tight end seems to be the most consistent position on Iowa's offense. That bodes well for finding adequate replacements, although losing two NFL quality starters is more to overcome than usual. We have had a number of late bloomers come on at the position. In fact the bigger concern might be keeping the starting candidates healthy. Tight ends do tend to get nicked up.
GotTimDodge
Well-Known Member
True.
I mean, why waste the time and breath it would take to utter "NOAH" one more time.
Who cares! He skipped bowl game and he gone!!!! move along.
He doesn't consider Fant a team leader. Brian publicly said Fant was the 3rd option on offense. I think its pretty clear what the Ferentz crew thinks of Fant.
#1DieHardHawk
Well-Known Member
I think some are making too big of an issue out of this.
Kirk has praised Fant on numerous occasions. Was he a respected team leader? Based upon previous statements, probably not, but Kirk has never thrown him under a bus and I doubt that statement was a swipe at him.
That said, is he miffed that he chose to skip the bowl game? Probably, but, we all know that Kirk is old-school and is not always accepting of new "trends" in CFB. Early entries are now the reality and it's probably going to get worse. The coaches are just going to have to adapt, especially developmental programs like Iowa. Rosters are going to shift to younger players, so recruiting athletes that require less development will become imperative.
Kirk has praised Fant on numerous occasions. Was he a respected team leader? Based upon previous statements, probably not, but Kirk has never thrown him under a bus and I doubt that statement was a swipe at him.
That said, is he miffed that he chose to skip the bowl game? Probably, but, we all know that Kirk is old-school and is not always accepting of new "trends" in CFB. Early entries are now the reality and it's probably going to get worse. The coaches are just going to have to adapt, especially developmental programs like Iowa. Rosters are going to shift to younger players, so recruiting athletes that require less development will become imperative.
kicker22
Well-Known Member
Do you really think there's a coach out there that is really ok with having a player skip a bowl game. Coaches are competitors and I'm sure that regardless of how it might look at the surface that they want to win and have their best players on the field to do so. I simply don't think a coach at any level would be thrilled about one of their star players telling him that they're going to skip a game. Just because its a trend doesn't mean its accepted or favored by all those associated with the sport.
This isn't a negative slant, but if the TE position is a bit down, it might force Kirk and son to actually include the WRs into the game plan a bit more? So that Iowa can also become "WR-U"Thanks for the "move back away from the ledge" article Rob. I doubt it will stop the KF hate crowd from finding a negative slant about how the Ferentz boys can't keep players in Iowa City, but this does show that there are some good recruits waiting their turn.
Beyer is particularly intriguing to me. The kid has some wheels. The speed at which he got to the ball against Wisconsin was impressive on the punt return team.
SteveGarvey1
Well-Known Member
Brandon Smith is about 10-15 lbs. away from being able to be considered a TE. He's gonna get the ball A LOT next season.
Knight78
Well-Known Member
I can't believe those who make mountains out of molehills. Fant was left out because Kirk had addressed his leaving early at a previous press conference (or three). This press conference was about the three who had not declared for the draft until AFTER the last press conference.
#1DieHardHawk
Well-Known Member
I never implied that any coach is "thrilled" at the idea of losing his best players a year or two early.
My point is that some coaches are going to adapt and roll with it. Others will let it stick in their craw. As an old-school type, my guess it that Kirk is more the latter.
Often, a lot of unrecognized talent can blossom when "the talent" leaves. The talent in waiting rejoices and relishes the opportunity.
GotTimDodge
Well-Known Member
Knight78
Well-Known Member
I don't disagree. But I also believe that no coach is happy with any of their star players who decide not to play in bowl games. Would you agree with that?
My point is that Kirk knew Fant wasn't going to play in the Outback Bowl. Kirk knew, as did everyone, that Fant was going to declare for the draft before the Outback Bowl. Kirk addressed this in several press conferences before the Outback Bowl. We only found out with certainty about the other three after the Outback Bowl.
ArvadaHawk
Well-Known Member
i wasn't happy when the staff decided not to play fant for long stretches of games and during critical moments of games.
Are you saying my post made a mountain out of it?
HawkeyeDenis
Well-Known Member
With the loss of Hockenson, Fant and Easley Iowa will need to develop a run game.
That's a lot of Iowa's offense gone. Sad that two of them could have stayed, but what can we say. Ain't nobody offering us millions to do a job.
Best of luck to them. Hawks forever. Go Hawks
That's a lot of Iowa's offense gone. Sad that two of them could have stayed, but what can we say. Ain't nobody offering us millions to do a job.
Best of luck to them. Hawks forever. Go Hawks
