Three Key Players This Season.

[MelroseHawkins]

Ok, three players don't make a team, but these three players will provide a huge impact for Iowa this upcoming season and could really be game changers in Iowa's success for a variety of reasons. In no particular order.

James Butler - His arrival at Iowa instantly adds to an already deep running back field, but, he brings veteran leadership as well as 1,300+ yrds rushing last year resulting in All-Conference honors. This is the obvious, but it's the not so obvious where his arrival could really have an impact on the game. This will allow Akrum Wadley to be moved around on offense including being in the slot or split out at WR. This is confirmed by Chuck Long on the BIG network. This is a different wrinkle for Iowa that teams are not used to preparing for with Iowa. This could not have happen at a better time with a new young first year offensive coordinator. This is a huge pick-up and college teams don't typically have players fall into their lap like James Butler. This may be one of the top 3 graduate transfers in the nation. I don't know if other teams in the BIG are really taking notice but they should be.

A.J Epenesa - Most knew about this highly touted recruit who's father played at Iowa. The unknown would be how much A.J would play his freshman season. He already had the body and sound technique when arriving in Iowa City. He has proven that he is ready to play and play right away. He's surprisingly is performing at even a higher level than expected, which is saying something because most expected him to succeed right away. To surpass that bodes well for Iowa at the DE position as he just has a knack to get to the QB and cause corruption. The real key to A.J's progress is that, as Jon pointed out in his article, it will allow one or both Nelson's to be moved inside the line.

Nick Easley - It is widely known that a potential weak point for this Iowa team could be at the WR position. The transfer from a Iowa Western Community College brings experience and a quickness to the position. Easley holds the single season record for receiving yards at Iowa Western CC and has All-Conference honors. He seems to have great hands and is a nice addition opposite Iowa's only returning starter Matt Vandeberg. He has a Wes Welker kind of game to him and seems to find the open areas with his quickness and acceleration. This should bode well opposite Vandeberg and help relieve some of the coverage on Vandeberg and the tight ends.


Iowa has many key players, but I think these three change the complexion of Iowa's game.

 

[tksirius]

Anthony Nelson stays at end. Word is that he's even more explosive in the pass rush than last year.

 

[SpiderRico]

In every single major successful season Iowa has had, the one differentiator has been QB. So any list talking about "key contributors/players" HAS to include QB. My list is:

Nathan Stanley - Teams are going to load up to stop the run. It's inevitable. Stanley needs to be able to make teams pay for doing it. He doesn't have to throw 30 tds or throw for 3,000 yds. But he does have to have the ability to get the team into/out of good/bad plays, move the chains and get 1st downs when called upon.

AJ Epenesa - Our defense works best when we can get away with rushing the passer effectively with only the front 4. It allows our linebackers to roam and make plays in both the run and pass. Having AJ in there and working effectively allows Matt Nelson and Parker Hesse to move inside on occasion, bolstering a good, but inexperienced DT spot.

Michael Ojemudia - Rugamba has shown he can hang with the best of them as a true freshman. Jackson has filled in pretty capably in the past and from camp reports, is said to have had the "switch" go on. We need a third CB to emerge in order to be truly effective on the backend. Hopefully OJ is ready to make that leap.

 

[Motigerhawk]

Vandeberg-- When we lost him last year, our offense lost a huge piece. If he stays healthy, he can be the safety blanket for whichever QB is playing.

Wadley- He has to have a monster year. Like 1500+ yards and 15 TDs. he will be the leader on oyur offense and he needs to help us score more then 21 points a game.

Fant- he can take a lot of pressure off our unproven WRs. If Fant is a threat in the passing game, that opens up a whole new game for the QB. Plus, it takes pressure off Wadley and company to do it all.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

In every single major successful season Iowa has had, the one differentiator has been QB. So any list talking about "key contributors/players" HAS to include QB. My list is:

Nathan Stanley - Teams are going to load up to stop the run. It's inevitable. Stanley needs to be able to make teams pay for doing it. He doesn't have to throw 30 tds or throw for 3,000 yds. But he does have to have the ability to get the team into/out of good/bad plays, move the chains and get 1st downs when called upon.

AJ Epenesa - Our defense works best when we can get away with rushing the passer effectively with only the front 4. It allows our linebackers to roam and make plays in both the run and pass. Having AJ in there and working effectively allows Matt Nelson and Parker Hesse to move inside on occasion, bolstering a good, but inexperienced DT spot.

Michael Ojemudia - Rugamba has shown he can hang with the best of them as a true freshman. Jackson has filled in pretty capably in the past and from camp reports, is said to have had the "switch" go on. We need a third CB to emerge in order to be truly effective on the backend. Hopefully OJ is ready to make that leap.

I have to disagree with your assessment with QB play at Iowa. Iowa has a system that a serviceable game manager QB can succeed in. Nathan Chandler had a successful team and he was not flashy by any means. Iowa's major successful teams all had quality line play along with a good running game and a stout defense. QB just had to hand the ball off and take care of the ball. This is why I think you could put either Stanley or Wieger under center and they are that close at this point. Iowa's QB's in the past are rarely expected to put the team on their backs. Iowa's MO is great line play with great RB play. I think a great QB is a bonus in Iowa's system.

Iowa QB's rarely if ever throw over 300 yrd. Hell, there lucky to be around the 250 range most games. Yes, most successful teams are going to have a good QB, but you are making it sound like for every successful Iowa season Iowa has had an elite QB, and they have not. They've had very good QB's, and mostly due to the line and running game. Iowa builds its teams from the ground up, now up to down.

Ojemudia is a good pick, but my post was about players that can change something in Iowa's game with their presence. This opposed to players that need to just step up and play well. I guess my main point of this thread was trying to point out those players that with their presence is going to help the team succeed by changing the complexion of the team.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I agree with Butler a lot. I think Iowa was going to dabble with putting Wadley in slot and putting him in motion out of the backfield some even before Butler came. It sounded like that was something BF wanted to do be it with Young or even Toks in there. But yeah with Butler holy cow....

I think AJ will be all that and a bag of chips and that 15-20 snaps number is an extreme low ball figure that was thrown out there. I think the more he's out there the harder he'll make it to be taken off the field..

Easley is an interesting pick considering JVB is supposedly good to go... For my money I'd probably just say Stanley and then the receiving corp as a whole TEs WRs everyone.... How they do will only open up the running game...

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I agree with Butler a lot. I think Iowa was going to dabble with putting Wadley in slot and putting him in motion out of the backfield some even before Butler came. It sounded like that was something BF wanted to do be it with Young or even Toks in there. But yeah with Butler holy cow....

I think AJ will be all that and a bag of chips and that 15-20 snaps number is an extreme low ball figure that was thrown out there. I think the more he's out there the harder he'll make it to be taken off the field..

Easley is an interesting pick considering JVB is supposedly good to go... For my money I'd probably just say Stanley and then the receiving corp as a whole TEs WRs everyone.... How they do will only open up the running game...

I think Easley and with his game could end up with more receptions than Vandeberg. I may be off my rocker but I say it could happen.

 

[NikeHawk21]

Mine would be.

Stanley- We need a passing attack to go with our ground game.

Fant- would love a WR or two to step up, but I think Fant could be in line for a big year in the passing attack. BF coached TEs in New England so he knows how to get them involved. TEs are usually most effective in the play action game, and the play action game is most effective when a team has a good ground game.

Lattimore- Haven't heard a ton on him but I think he could be a stud. Bazata is solid but it would nice to be have someone who can create pressure from the inside to replace JJ.

Note: I was hoping we would hear some noise about some safeties stepping up and making it a competition. Maybe that means our starters are just that good, I remain skeptical. But certainly both of those guys are very important factors as well.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Mine would be.

Stanley- We need a passing attack to go with our ground game.

Fant- would love a WR or two to step up, but I think Fant could be in line for a big year in the passing attack. BF coached TEs in New England so he knows how to get them involved. TEs are usually most effective in the play action game, and the play action game is most effective when a team has a good ground game.

Lattimore- Haven't heard a ton on him but I think he could be a stud. Bazata is solid but it would nice to be have someone who can create pressure from the inside to replace JJ.

Note: I was hoping we would hear some noise about some safeties stepping up and making it a competition. Maybe that means our starters are just that good, I remain skeptical. But certainly both of those guys are very important factors as well.

I do like Fant as a pick. Gervase has stepped up and should be solid at safety, IMO.

 

[SpiderRico]

I have to disagree with your assessment with QB play at Iowa. Iowa has a system that a serviceable game manager QB can succeed in. Nathan Chandler had a successful team and he was not flashy by any means. Iowa's major successful teams all had quality line play along with a good running game and a stout defense. QB just had to hand the ball off and take care of the ball. This is why I think you could put either Stanley or Wieger under center and they are that close at this point. Iowa's QB's in the past are rarely expected to put the team on their backs. Iowa's MO is great line play with great RB play. I think a great QB is a bonus in Iowa's system.

Iowa QB's rarely if ever throw over 300 yrd. Hell, there lucky to be around the 250 range most games. Yes, most successful teams are going to have a good QB, but you are making it sound like for every successful Iowa season Iowa has had an elite QB, and they have not. They've had very good QB's, and mostly due to the line and running game. Iowa builds its teams from the ground up, now up to down.

Ojemudia is a good pick, but my post was about players that can change something in Iowa's game with their presence. This opposed to players that need to just step up and play well. I guess my main point of this thread was trying to point out those players that with their presence is going to help the team succeed by changing the complexion of the team.

I agree with this. My point on the QBs wasn't meaning overall offensive stats (although many have had them). I'm talking about the fact that Iowa's system, unlike many in college football requires the QB to do a TON at the LOS...more than most on here are aware of. The really good ones, in my opinion, are often the difference between 7-8 wins and 9-11 wins. That's what I was getting at.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

Key players are going to be QB who ever it is. WR who ever steps up. If one doesn't, Iowa is headed for a 6-6 year. Or worse. TE again who ever steps up.

Wadley, Butler, Vandenburg and the OL are going to do their jobs, we all know that. It's the others that need to step into their roles.