Time to Switch Out Brandon Smith?

[DDThompson]

The bye week is the time coaches get a chance to reevaluate things, watch tape, and make the changes they would not ordinary get to make during the season. This is normally the time when you'll see a guy who has been playing well in practice get a chance to get more playing time.

Brandon Smith went into this season touted as Iowa #1 receiver out of the 10 WRs we have on scholarship. He has the size and the look of a Big 10 receiver and unlimited potential.

Well...starting for the Hawks in all 4 games (and by default, taking playing time away from those on the bench), he has hauled in a grand total of 5 passes and zero touches. While that's not terrible, those are the numbers most starting WRs in the Big 10 put up in 1 game, not 4.

If Brandon is not the answer this year, maybe it's time to see what the other guys can do. Tyrone Tracy and Nico Ragani have played just 5-10 snaps all year and both have already been nearly as productive as Smith. Would they have more than 5 catches if they were starters? My guess is that it's possible. Max Cooper already has 4 catches and he virtually never plays either. Some of it is just a matter of having a knack for getting open...regardless of your God given athleticism.

No matter what excuses are made for our WRs, the numbers don't lie. We need our WRs to be more productive out there.

Ok genius. How can the WRs be productive when they’re still practicing on how to pass the ball to themselves.

 

[HuckFinn]

Receivers generally have a problem getting open or creating space at Iowa. I'm beginning to think its the routes in the playbook. They really need to evaluate their playbook after the season. I'm so sick of this being an issue.

I will repeat what I said on a different thread: There are only a limited number of patterns in football. Iowa, along with every other team in the BT, and around the nation, has all of them in their playbook. Patterns are NOT the problem. Talent may well be. And, yes, coaches are responsible for development.

 

[MWS604]

Brandon Smith needs more speed to be elite.

Why would any elite WR come to Iowa to be a glorified downfield blocker? The Iowa offense is built to maximize ball control and time of possession. Given this strategy, long pass attempts are ok, so long they are dropped or the pass is off target. This is a great formula for going 8-5 year after year when you play in a cold weather conference and play nonconference cupcakes. I think the vast majority of fans are satisfied and/or don't believe the next HC would do better and likely do worse.

 

[ModebaSan]

If you ask KF, his answer would be that he puts players out there that give them a better chance to win. Maybe Brandon gives them a better chance at being a mismatch on a db. Maybe he’s a better downfield blocker than whats available. We dont have the answer because we dont get to see what goes on behind the scenes. Right now, I just think he’s our #4 or #5 option depending who’s on the field and what play we are running. You cant change him out just because they arent targeting him that much. I would like to see him get the ball thrown his way a little more so he can at least get confidence. Its unlikely we see him get any touches this week as I see the Hawks go to the running game more this week after Maryland put up 315 yds. rushing on the goofs.

 

[CP87]

or Toren Young (named starter in spring, now on the #2 OR line with Sargent), or Cole Banwart (started to begin the season, currently 2nd), or Cedrick Lattimore (starter last year, currently 2nd), or Rugumba (started last year, benched for freshman Hankins), or Gervase (starter to begin last year, replaced by Hooker), or Miles Taylor (2 year starter at S, eventually replaced by Gervase). But aside from those examples just from the last 2 years, it hardly ever happens.

I forgot Colbert taking Welch's spot this year

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

No. He needs to be thrown the ball more to find out how good he could be.

This goes for every #1 and #2 wr Iowa has had for 7+ years.

2 targets per game beyond 10 yards isn't enough to have any idea how good our receivers are or could be.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Check out a lot of Oklahoma's routes plus it helps to have there QB who can move around and buy time but when I watched OU and ISU the OU receivers would take off on streak/fly routes and if they beat the Dback they kept going.

If they didnt have the Dback beat they would plant a foot, break down and run a comeback pattern and be so frigging wide open it was like stealing candy from the Clown babies.

I think the comeback pattern is totally underused because the receiver can be moving mostly right back at the QB so there is no side to side aiming the pass or the receiver can move toward the sideline and be open.

jNW uses the comeback pattern to open up guys along the sidelines for safe open passes.

.........and the offensive guy always has the advantage because takes the first step, then defender in catch-up mode. If the QB and WR are synched up well for timing, it can be lethal.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I will repeat what I said on a different thread: There are only a limited number of patterns in football. Iowa, along with every other team in the BT, and around the nation, has all of them in their playbook. Patterns are NOT the problem. Talent may well be. And, yes, coaches are responsible for development.

Yes, there are only so many patterns, but deception comes with how they are ran, like if you can peel off the safety from a target, etc.. Iowa seems to have a very vanilla passing attack or route schemes. We are going on a decade now of a crappy passing game every year. You can't tell me Iowa didn't have some quality receivers go thru the program in that span.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

No. He needs to be thrown the ball more to find out how good he could be.

This goes for every #1 and #2 wr Iowa has had for 7+ years.

2 targets per game beyond 10 yards isn't enough to have any idea how good our receivers are or could be.

........and it's not a great balance for your offense either. Need to go deep several times, even though won't always be successful.

This may be the Ferentz's biggest obstacle, the strive for perfection. In their eyes, KF sees a missed pass as a failure. In actuality, your team can gain from the mere attempt at a long pass.

 

[guffus]

I believe the coaches theory is that Brandon Smith has the most potential and just needs confidence. If you just treat him like he is #1, he will gain the confidence he he needs to play like a #1.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

........and it's not a great balance for your offense either. Need to go deep several times, even though won't always be successful.

This may be the Ferentz's biggest obstacle, the strive for perfection. In their eyes, KF sees a missed pass as a failure. In actuality, your team can gain from the mere attempt at a long pass.

Not to mention the PI penalties that can get called from them... A guy like Smith should be able to draw them as well even if he can't make the catch.

 

[uihawk82]

.........and the offensive guy always has the advantage because takes the first step, then defender in catch-up mode. If the QB and WR are synched up well for timing, it can be lethal.

Hayden Fry with Chuck Long, Chuck Hartlieb, and other very good QBs threw a lot of comeback routes even against zone.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

If you are paying attention...we have had more guys running open (receivers) in the first four games that I can remember. In the first two...our QB wasn't sharp. In the last two, he's hit guys at a much better clip...but missed guys in the 4th quarter against Wisconsin.

I'm curious to see how this continues to play out...but if the current group stays healthy...things are pointing up in the passing game...which will make our running game that much better. Stanley has to be accurate...that's the lynchpin.

 

[PCHawk]

Smith seems like the kind of kid we have always wanted to see the field more. He seems to have the most potential, but maybe lacks an understanding of how to play at this level right now. He's a Derrick Willies type player. We've had a lot of them over the years. Normally we never get to see why they aren't playing more because they don't play.

Smith is either proof that Kirk is finally doing what the fans want by playing the raw talent, or he's proof that Kirk has been right all these years by not playing the talent because they weren't ready yet.

 

[N8theGr8]

At 6'3 215, Smith is a mismatch in blocking on the edge. He's given us a lot of sneaky yards this season by allowing a 4 yard run on the outside to turn into a 10 yard one. Or a quick screen to go for 5 yards instead of a 2 yard loss. Every play it seems he's manhandling a DB. Given our offensive proclivities, I can live with that considering how he's performed the couple of times he's been called upon in crunch time. Smith-Marsette, Fant, Hockenson, and IKM give us enough receiving threats on the field to allow his continued development for the physical edge he provides. That said, it could be argued he's doing progressively better the past few games starting with that key reception at ISU. He had 1 catch for a first down on a TD drive against Wisconsin and drew a pass interference call for another first down in the first half on a scoring drive and at the end of the game in garbage time caught a pass and got the lateral game working for us. He could be surpassed by talent that learns the playbook and has more confidence eventually, but right now I think he's pretty serviceable all things considered.

I think he's developing and doing enough to earn field time. His confidence will only grow as he continues to make more of those plays and that's likely the only thing lacking from his game.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Smith seems like the kind of kid we have always wanted to see the field more. He seems to have the most potential, but maybe lacks an understanding of how to play at this level right now. He's a Derrick Willies type player. We've had a lot of them over the years. Normally we never get to see why they aren't playing more because they don't play.

Smith is either proof that Kirk is finally doing what the fans want by playing the raw talent, or he's proof that Kirk has been right all these years by not playing the talent because they weren't ready yet.

What ever happened to Soup Campbell? Seemed like he was instrumental in developing McNutt and DJK and Davis. Every since he left our luck at both recruiting and developing WRs has been noticeably short of being any good...

 

[4thngoal]

I will repeat what I said on a different thread: There are only a limited number of patterns in football. Iowa, along with every other team in the BT, and around the nation, has all of them in their playbook. Patterns are NOT the problem. Talent may well be. And, yes, coaches are responsible for development.

True, but the catching on the run is a fair argument.
Throwing them open.
Stanley was throwing behind. Now to them.
Some throwing them open now.
It's coming along.
There was a lot of pressure this past off-season on the passing game. Coaches and players.
They just need to chill out and let her buck.

If you are paying attention...we have had more guys running open (receivers) in the first four games that I can remember. In the first two...our QB wasn't sharp. In the last two, he's hit guys at a much better clip...but missed guys in the 4th quarter against Wisconsin.

I'm curious to see how this continues to play out...but if the current group stays healthy...things are pointing up in the passing game...which will make our running game that much better. Stanley has to be accurate...that's the lynchpin.

This.

Whatever was bugging Nate, nerves, not being relaxed, his gf not doing her job, whatever it was, he was obviously a split second late in his throws. He was throwing behind everyone at first.
Now he has made up some of that time and is throwing it to them.
He's starting to catch them in motion now (throwing them open) as evidenced by some recent plays.
It will come. Just needs to stay chill and remember how much fun it is to play ball.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

I believe the coaches theory is that Brandon Smith has the most potential and just needs confidence. If you just treat him like he is #1, he will gain the confidence he he needs to play like a #1.

He's a 3rd of the way into his Sophomore year...just how long does it take to develop confidence?

Throw him the damn ball.

Stanley is a Jr and a second year starter...why is he "nervous"?

 

[4thngoal]

He's a 3rd of the way into his Sophomore year...just how long does it take to develop confidence?

Throw him the damn ball.

Stanley is a Jr and a second year starter...why is he "nervous"?

Pressure.
Enormous amount of pressure on improving the passing game.
I'm not saying, learn to deal with it. I'm saying they are learning to deal with it.
All we as fans heard was the wr needed to make huge gains. The completion % has to go up.
We have a chance to win big time if we can get that AND punting fixed.
Imagine if we heard it over and over, what the coaches and players heard.
Coaches and players probably really needed a trip to the Bahamas before the season started.

They all need to just chill out and let her rip.

 

[Denverhawk1]

No. This is silly talk.