I took my wife to Jethro's Bacon Bacon on Sunday for breakfast. Owner Bruce Gerleman greeted us with his big smile. But then who should appear after a long vacation but The Shadow himself. Naturally, he joined us and regaled us with stories of his time in Key Largo and his European trip.
His tone turned dark, however, when discussing the current edition of the Iowa Hawkeyes. After two cold pints, he shared his thoughts. While critical of the Hawkeye offense, he went ballistic about the Hawkeye defense or lack thereof.
1) Iowa has the softest linebackers of any team ranked pre-season in the top 25—by a significant margin!
2) Bo Bower is miscast at the Will. Want to know how bad it is? It is embarrassing to any linebacker when a wide receiver is sent to block you. Re-watch the Penn State tape and watch how routinely #12 is sent to block #41 and watch how successfully #12 routinely blocks #41. Penn State attacked and abused #41. Play Bo Bower in the raider package in pass rush situations where he experienced success last season and allow him to be a captain on special teams.
3) How about Brandon Snyder at Will linebacker? John Lowdermilk could have made the same move. Brandon Snyder appears meant for Will linebacker and The Shadow thinks he has a could have a future there in the NFL. That's the old Bo Shembechler method of turning safeties into linebackers. The last time we saw Anthony Gair playing meaningful snaps at FS, he recorded an interception in the second half of a comeback victory over Pitt. Or move Josh Jackson, Michael Olejumdia, or Amani Hooker to FS for now. They're not going to contribute any worse to a defense that gave up 600 yards of offense to the Nittany Lions.
4) There has been a lot overhype about #43 - albeit a good player - but not an All-American nor 1st round draft pick. Go back and watch Penn State play their TE in the role of a fullback. Norm Parker use to always tell his guys if they send a lead blocker up the gut, you better meet him on their side of the line of scrimmage. As soon as that lead blocker crosses the line of scrimmage it opens a lane for the RB. #43 has to prove he can take on blockers and plug holes, not just run around and make tackles. If he can't do it, give #52 a shot. Have you seen that #52's high school film?
5) Iowa is running a lot less Under fronts this season which means they are not placing a 5th man on the line of scrimmage and are not placing Ben Niemann over the tight end. They are not setting a physical edge. Very rarely will you see Iowa's linebackers adjust to an offensive player being sent in motion. Iowa appears to be a poorly coached defensive team right now which leads to two factors.
6) Phil Parker needs to change courses! What tone has he set as Iowa's defensive coordinator? There are more player defections, walk-ons starting, and players from Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and central Illinois in the 2-deeps than anytime during Norm Parker's era. The recruiting is far too parochial.
7) The front 7 experience on Iowa's defensive coaching staff is Seth Wallace (Grinnell, Iowa former GA), Reese Morgan (Iowa City West), and Kelvin Bell (never played a down at Iowa). How do you expect Iowa to sustain a run defense that will allow them to compete for a Big Ten Championship?
8) Maurice Fleming, Omar Truitt, Jalen Embry, Malik Rucker and Solomon Warfield are some of the potential safeties who have left the program over the last couple years. Charles Godfrey and Amari Spievey played safety in the NFL. Reggie Spearman, Justin Jinnings, soon-to-be Aaron Mends, Angelo Garbutt, and who knows who else will be the potential linebackers who leave the program.
9) When Ron Aiken coached the DL, you went from Aaron Kampman, Derrick Pickens & Jerry Montgomery to Colin Cole, Howard Hodges & Jared Clauss to Matt Roth, Jonathan Babineaux & Derrick Robinson to eventually Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard. Lately, Iowa has gone from Joe Gaglione & Steve Bigach to Louis Trinca Pasat. Mike Hardy & Dominic Alvis to Nathan Bazata, Parker Hesse, and playing Matt Nelson and Anthony Nelson before they are ready.
10) Iowa has no choice but to shake things up. There needs to be a statement made in the locker room and personnel changes are needed this week. Or this ship is sinking fast.
OFFENSE
1) Greg Davis is far too conservative. Kirk Ferentz needs an offensive innovator . We don't need the dreaded spread offense, but we do need to bring in someone who does not have to match Kirk's style and philosophy. Kirk Ferentz spends the majority of each Monday on the run game. How do you expect Iowa to sustain and develop a top tier passing game when they have yet to be able to do that with their own running game?
2) Iowa's receivers cannot currently win a 1-on-1 battle and . compared to the other BIG Ten teams they are a little S-L-O-W!
CJ Beathard has lost the momentum he had to develop into an first day NFL draft pick.
3) Derrick Mitchell is in his 4th year in the program. Why is he not being used alongside LeShun Daniels and Akrum Wadley?
4) Iowa's offensive lineman are not moving bodies. This not an overly physical Iowa offensive line.
5) If you play linebacker on an opposing defense it is remarkably easier to play fast when you know it is either zone left or zone right. Iowa does nothing on offense to keep opposing defenses thinking and guessing. On both sides of the ball, opposing teams these days are calling out Iowa, punching Iowa in the mouth and asking Iowa to punch back.
Michigan will be a huge test for the Hawkeyes. I expect them to play better.
His tone turned dark, however, when discussing the current edition of the Iowa Hawkeyes. After two cold pints, he shared his thoughts. While critical of the Hawkeye offense, he went ballistic about the Hawkeye defense or lack thereof.
1) Iowa has the softest linebackers of any team ranked pre-season in the top 25—by a significant margin!
2) Bo Bower is miscast at the Will. Want to know how bad it is? It is embarrassing to any linebacker when a wide receiver is sent to block you. Re-watch the Penn State tape and watch how routinely #12 is sent to block #41 and watch how successfully #12 routinely blocks #41. Penn State attacked and abused #41. Play Bo Bower in the raider package in pass rush situations where he experienced success last season and allow him to be a captain on special teams.
3) How about Brandon Snyder at Will linebacker? John Lowdermilk could have made the same move. Brandon Snyder appears meant for Will linebacker and The Shadow thinks he has a could have a future there in the NFL. That's the old Bo Shembechler method of turning safeties into linebackers. The last time we saw Anthony Gair playing meaningful snaps at FS, he recorded an interception in the second half of a comeback victory over Pitt. Or move Josh Jackson, Michael Olejumdia, or Amani Hooker to FS for now. They're not going to contribute any worse to a defense that gave up 600 yards of offense to the Nittany Lions.
4) There has been a lot overhype about #43 - albeit a good player - but not an All-American nor 1st round draft pick. Go back and watch Penn State play their TE in the role of a fullback. Norm Parker use to always tell his guys if they send a lead blocker up the gut, you better meet him on their side of the line of scrimmage. As soon as that lead blocker crosses the line of scrimmage it opens a lane for the RB. #43 has to prove he can take on blockers and plug holes, not just run around and make tackles. If he can't do it, give #52 a shot. Have you seen that #52's high school film?
5) Iowa is running a lot less Under fronts this season which means they are not placing a 5th man on the line of scrimmage and are not placing Ben Niemann over the tight end. They are not setting a physical edge. Very rarely will you see Iowa's linebackers adjust to an offensive player being sent in motion. Iowa appears to be a poorly coached defensive team right now which leads to two factors.
6) Phil Parker needs to change courses! What tone has he set as Iowa's defensive coordinator? There are more player defections, walk-ons starting, and players from Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and central Illinois in the 2-deeps than anytime during Norm Parker's era. The recruiting is far too parochial.
7) The front 7 experience on Iowa's defensive coaching staff is Seth Wallace (Grinnell, Iowa former GA), Reese Morgan (Iowa City West), and Kelvin Bell (never played a down at Iowa). How do you expect Iowa to sustain a run defense that will allow them to compete for a Big Ten Championship?
8) Maurice Fleming, Omar Truitt, Jalen Embry, Malik Rucker and Solomon Warfield are some of the potential safeties who have left the program over the last couple years. Charles Godfrey and Amari Spievey played safety in the NFL. Reggie Spearman, Justin Jinnings, soon-to-be Aaron Mends, Angelo Garbutt, and who knows who else will be the potential linebackers who leave the program.
9) When Ron Aiken coached the DL, you went from Aaron Kampman, Derrick Pickens & Jerry Montgomery to Colin Cole, Howard Hodges & Jared Clauss to Matt Roth, Jonathan Babineaux & Derrick Robinson to eventually Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard. Lately, Iowa has gone from Joe Gaglione & Steve Bigach to Louis Trinca Pasat. Mike Hardy & Dominic Alvis to Nathan Bazata, Parker Hesse, and playing Matt Nelson and Anthony Nelson before they are ready.
10) Iowa has no choice but to shake things up. There needs to be a statement made in the locker room and personnel changes are needed this week. Or this ship is sinking fast.
OFFENSE
1) Greg Davis is far too conservative. Kirk Ferentz needs an offensive innovator . We don't need the dreaded spread offense, but we do need to bring in someone who does not have to match Kirk's style and philosophy. Kirk Ferentz spends the majority of each Monday on the run game. How do you expect Iowa to sustain and develop a top tier passing game when they have yet to be able to do that with their own running game?
2) Iowa's receivers cannot currently win a 1-on-1 battle and . compared to the other BIG Ten teams they are a little S-L-O-W!
CJ Beathard has lost the momentum he had to develop into an first day NFL draft pick.
3) Derrick Mitchell is in his 4th year in the program. Why is he not being used alongside LeShun Daniels and Akrum Wadley?
4) Iowa's offensive lineman are not moving bodies. This not an overly physical Iowa offensive line.
5) If you play linebacker on an opposing defense it is remarkably easier to play fast when you know it is either zone left or zone right. Iowa does nothing on offense to keep opposing defenses thinking and guessing. On both sides of the ball, opposing teams these days are calling out Iowa, punching Iowa in the mouth and asking Iowa to punch back.
Michigan will be a huge test for the Hawkeyes. I expect them to play better.
Last edited:
