AreWeThereYet
Well-Known Member
I'll make this easy. Just name a unit or position and discuss its strengths and weaknesses. What are your expectations for next year?
Unit Strength
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AreWeThereYet
Well-Known Member
Offensive Line
Last year was a bit of an odd one for the offensive line. They did really well on pass protection and rather poorly on run blocking. It looked as though they addressed past vulnerabilities against pass rushers up the middle.
Will we get a return the mean this year, improving to at least average at run blocking but being a bit weaker of pass protection.
How quickly will Linderbaum come up to speed at center? A lot will depend on how well he does. Will Linderbaum already be a better run blocker than Render, or is he still a bit undersized. Hopefully his quick learning in spring practice translates smoothly to on the field success.
It looks like a solid seven man rotation.
Last year was a bit of an odd one for the offensive line. They did really well on pass protection and rather poorly on run blocking. It looked as though they addressed past vulnerabilities against pass rushers up the middle.
Will we get a return the mean this year, improving to at least average at run blocking but being a bit weaker of pass protection.
How quickly will Linderbaum come up to speed at center? A lot will depend on how well he does. Will Linderbaum already be a better run blocker than Render, or is he still a bit undersized. Hopefully his quick learning in spring practice translates smoothly to on the field success.
It looks like a solid seven man rotation.
HawkleberryFinn
Well-Known Member
Kegels enhance unit strength.
AreWeThereYet
Well-Known Member
Too much information there.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
Running Backs:
Decent enough speed, ability to catch out of the backfield, good downhill runners, no lack of effort and second effort.
Coupled with a seeming inability to find cutback lane, maybe some field vision issues borne of being too impatient to find the first open lane, and ball security issues.
Decent enough speed, ability to catch out of the backfield, good downhill runners, no lack of effort and second effort.
Coupled with a seeming inability to find cutback lane, maybe some field vision issues borne of being too impatient to find the first open lane, and ball security issues.
NCHawker
Well-Known Member
Just because Tristan has received numerous accolades in the offseason it does not mean that suddenly he has become good at run blocking. He has work to do there. Media seems to be glossing that over
AreWeThereYet
Well-Known Member
Sargent was getting better and more familiar with Iowa's system each week last year. Plenty of room for optimism on his development.
AreWeThereYet
Well-Known Member
He needs to improve, but is a true junior with only two years in the system. Skipping the redshirt year sometimes leaves issues to iron out. Hopefully his development hasn't plateaued and he will at the very least be somewhat better at run blocking.
AIRHAWK
Well-Known Member
I did not see much of anything from the running game last year. Not a lot of confidence in them yet. Show me. Sarge is the best of the bunch unless one of the new guys jumps out of nowhere. Would love to see that.
iloveyoularrystation
Well-Known Member
Linebacker:
Strengths- experience (lots of guys with starts and snaps), depth, and ability to cover passing routes. This unit is better against the pass then the run. I also think this unit has shown itself to be one of the best lb cores we've had at blitzing (maybe because were actually blitzing now).
Weaknesses- fewer opportunities since were running a lot of cash, has two linebackers on the field a lot of the plays rather than 3. In this scenario having a lot of guys who are good but not great, aka your depth, can be a hindrance because no two guys get a constant rhythm.
What makes me excited about this unit is the depth and interchangeable parts. I feel like 4-5 guys could go out there and you trust them to do the same job. This was really what we saw last year, no matter who was in there, it looked very much the same. That's also the problem, no one really stole the job away from anyone else to a point that made you say, that guy is clearly the number one at any position. Except for Hockaday at mlb, and he was good at what he did but was limited.
The unit seems to be comprised of multiple good, solid, players at each position, but no studd sammich guy like a josey, greenway, hodge, morris, or even Kirksey, aj edds, sort of players.
Having said that, my hope is that some of the young guys that saw their first real action last year make huge jumps. I think Dijimon last year at the end of the year really showed the game was slowing down for him, and showed flashes of being that next great linebacker. Maybe Welch if he can stay on the field, he's always had the skill set. Maybe NIemann makes the jump. Or maybe a redshirt guy comes in and impresses.
I did see in many online places at least they do have Ojemudia listed at linebacker for his position for this year. (read : CASH)
Strengths- experience (lots of guys with starts and snaps), depth, and ability to cover passing routes. This unit is better against the pass then the run. I also think this unit has shown itself to be one of the best lb cores we've had at blitzing (maybe because were actually blitzing now).
Weaknesses- fewer opportunities since were running a lot of cash, has two linebackers on the field a lot of the plays rather than 3. In this scenario having a lot of guys who are good but not great, aka your depth, can be a hindrance because no two guys get a constant rhythm.
What makes me excited about this unit is the depth and interchangeable parts. I feel like 4-5 guys could go out there and you trust them to do the same job. This was really what we saw last year, no matter who was in there, it looked very much the same. That's also the problem, no one really stole the job away from anyone else to a point that made you say, that guy is clearly the number one at any position. Except for Hockaday at mlb, and he was good at what he did but was limited.
The unit seems to be comprised of multiple good, solid, players at each position, but no studd sammich guy like a josey, greenway, hodge, morris, or even Kirksey, aj edds, sort of players.
Having said that, my hope is that some of the young guys that saw their first real action last year make huge jumps. I think Dijimon last year at the end of the year really showed the game was slowing down for him, and showed flashes of being that next great linebacker. Maybe Welch if he can stay on the field, he's always had the skill set. Maybe NIemann makes the jump. Or maybe a redshirt guy comes in and impresses.
I did see in many online places at least they do have Ojemudia listed at linebacker for his position for this year. (read : CASH)
AreWeThereYet
Well-Known Member
Much better said than I can do.
Going into last year, the only guys with extensive experience were Hockaday (a second stringer) and Amani Hooker's experience coming over from strong safety (which counted for a lot). This year you have four experienced guys Welsh, Colbert, Wade, Nieman, all of which can start. Four solid guys. The only inexperienced starter is Johnson at CASH. Ojemudia brings experience over from cornerback if needed.
They did a decent job last year, considering all new starters, guys getting dinged up, Jones not working out at MLB, implementation of a new system. I would expect the four experienced guys to step up their game.
AreWeThereYet
Well-Known Member
On defense the position with the most inexperience is free safety, Hopefully Marriweather is as good as advertised. Milani doesn't have much game time at the position either.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
Positions of Strength are: OL, DL, LB, Secondary, and QB. I know some don't see the OL as a strength, I just think when you got two bookend tackles like we do that things are going to be pretty good. The secondary we have a ton of experience at CB, Geno Stone back and Phil always does an outstanding job getting young players ready to go. I don't see any issue here. LB we have Colbert with a years experience and Neiman/Welsh will be solid at that Mike spot. We are also deep here and could withstand some injuries if they happen. DL was super outstanding last year, and it should be about the same this year. Maybe a little less depth as of this point, but the coaching staff has proven in the last 3-4 years that the better recruiting has led to better play from a younger age with many of these guys. I fully expect Nixon to be a big difference maker at DT this year. At QB Stanley is the Manly. I mean just a but more consistency and a couple more big wins and he will be looked at like a Stanzi/Tate type QB at Iowa.
Position we are ok at: RB. It was a weakness for sure last year. I think with a year experience for Sargent (was much better at the end of the year) and then bringing in Byrd and Goodson will really push the RB room forward. While I don't think Goodson will come in and play a ton right away, I think he will show flashes that will get us fans super excited for him for the following year.
Some questions at: TE and WR. I think both units will be fine, and in the case of WR after this year we might be looking at that position being a position of strength. Yet they have to do it still. TE we are always at least competent at, so I'm sure we will be ok, just need to see it some as we lost so much from last year.
Punting should finally be a strength again. Sleep-Dalton has a leg and should be a big improvement this year.
Kicker is gonna be a bit of a mixed bag. I think Recinos was pretty dang good, and we are now younger and less experienced and at Kicker that is a mixed bag if you ask me, and you really don't know until the bullets are flying to see how they do.
Position we are ok at: RB. It was a weakness for sure last year. I think with a year experience for Sargent (was much better at the end of the year) and then bringing in Byrd and Goodson will really push the RB room forward. While I don't think Goodson will come in and play a ton right away, I think he will show flashes that will get us fans super excited for him for the following year.
Some questions at: TE and WR. I think both units will be fine, and in the case of WR after this year we might be looking at that position being a position of strength. Yet they have to do it still. TE we are always at least competent at, so I'm sure we will be ok, just need to see it some as we lost so much from last year.
Punting should finally be a strength again. Sleep-Dalton has a leg and should be a big improvement this year.
Kicker is gonna be a bit of a mixed bag. I think Recinos was pretty dang good, and we are now younger and less experienced and at Kicker that is a mixed bag if you ask me, and you really don't know until the bullets are flying to see how they do.
BILLYBOBSTEXAS
Well-Known Member
Deano, I like your analysis. You never mentioned Geil at running back. Thoughts????
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
I'm not sold on Geil. I don't think he is as big a back as Toren, and he certainly isn't a quick twitch guy. I just don't know where he fits and I don't see him cracking the top 3/4 back this year.
No explosive playmakers in Iowa’s running back group last year. Was that a function of run blocking? Maybe, but none of the 3 backs showed much of an ability to cut back. I didn’t exactly expect wadley, but something would have been nice.
archiehawk
Well-Known Member
difficult to run against 8-9 man fronts.
AreWeThereYet
Well-Known Member
Part of it is run blocking and running into too many defenders in the box.
I'm not sure the biggest issue is physical. More often than not, I don't think they were seeing the cutback lane when it was there. That's not knowing where the defenders are going and poor vision.
It would also help a lot if they could make a catch every now and then.
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
Interesting thread and the conversation has gone right where it should, the runningback group. Simply put that group was not good enough last year. If this group can become an above average position for us than I think we will have a very solid season.
Reasons for optimism. I think Sargent had a few good games toward the end of the year and really started to come on. I don’t put a lot of stock into the Mississippi State game, that was just a weird game with the turnovers and 75 yard touchdown play. Can Sargent become the go to guy and put up some good numbers?
Reasons for concern. Again this group wasn’t that great last year. Sargent appears to be the top guy but he is a bit undersized and not really a burner either. Injuries or not, I’ve never been too impressed with IKM, just doesn’t appear to have the natural vision or patience needed to be a quality back. Will the staff try to have a 3 runningback rotation again? That could ultimately hurt all 3 guys.
At this point it’s time to put up for this group. Need to prove it on the field before they can be considered anything more than average.
Reasons for optimism. I think Sargent had a few good games toward the end of the year and really started to come on. I don’t put a lot of stock into the Mississippi State game, that was just a weird game with the turnovers and 75 yard touchdown play. Can Sargent become the go to guy and put up some good numbers?
Reasons for concern. Again this group wasn’t that great last year. Sargent appears to be the top guy but he is a bit undersized and not really a burner either. Injuries or not, I’ve never been too impressed with IKM, just doesn’t appear to have the natural vision or patience needed to be a quality back. Will the staff try to have a 3 runningback rotation again? That could ultimately hurt all 3 guys.
At this point it’s time to put up for this group. Need to prove it on the field before they can be considered anything more than average.
Mississippi state had the number 1 defense in the country and 3 starting 1st round drafts picks. I thought Iowa’s offense and OL held their own.
As far as 2019, I’m hoping maybe Goodson can provide that wadley-like spark catching short passes and cutting.
