What Could Have Been? Hypothetical Running Back Scenerio

Hawkfromnorwalk

Hawkfromnorwalk

Well-Known Member
It's still the offseason so last night I was thinking to myself how things could have wound up at RB after the 2008 season had we skewed off on a parallel reality.

Lets go back to the end of the Outback Bowl in 2009 after Iowa just put a beat down on the Cocks. Shonn Greene, instead of declaring for the NFL, decides that the team is going to be so good in 2009 that he wants to be a part of a historic season, he declares that he is coming back. Here is how I think things would have went on the RB front assuming AIRBHG stayed away.

In 2009, we never would have heard of A-Rob or Wegher because we would have had a continuation of the RB tandem of Greene and Hampton. Greene would have continued bulldozing over defenders and with the help of an even bigger and better O-Line, would have probably had a Heisman season. Hampton, never tearing his ACL, would have gotten more chances to spell Greene and probably would have improved on his already stellar freshman numbers from 2008. A-Rob, being a RS freshman, would have gotten a small amount of carries in mop up duty. Wegher would have redshirted and never saw the field.

That offseason Iowa still gets verbal commits from Marcus Coker, Johnson, and McCall. In 2010 Hampton, a true junior, becomes number one on the depth chart. Number two remains an open competition between an A-rob who got limited carries, RS freshman Wegher and true freshman Coker. Coker probably ends up redshirting along with Johnson and McCall. Wegher I think would have gotten the nod as he is more athletic overall than A-Rob. Hampton and Wegher, although not as good as Greene and Hampton, still put together a great season.

Next offseason, Iowa gets commits from Canzeri, and Bullock. Hampton, now a senior still has a stranglehold on the number one position and Wegher, a sophomore, the number two. A-Rob gets shuffled away as Coker now begins to get some mop up duty.

Which leads us to the upcoming season. Wegher, now a junior would probably have a tight grasp on the number one position and just based on skill, Coker probably would have grabbed the number two spot. What a combo that could have been. Wegher with breakaway speed and Coker who could barrel through defenders.

Now I know, things probably wouldn't have gone exactly this way even if these RBs would have stayed, but it's amazing and sad at the same time to think just how good we could have been at RB over the last few seasons. Guys like Canzeri, Bullock, A-Rob, and McCall, we probably would have never heard of them.
 
Hawkfromnorwalk said:
It's still the offseason so last night I was thinking to myself how things could have wound up at RB after the 2008 season had we skewed off on a parallel reality.

Lets go back to the end of the Outback Bowl in 2009 after Iowa just put a beat down on the Cocks. Shonn Greene, instead of declaring for the NFL, decides that the team is going to be so good in 2009 that he wants to be a part of a historic season, he declares that he is coming back. Here is how I think things would have went on the RB front assuming AIRBHG stayed away.

In 2009, we never would have heard of A-Rob or Wegher because we would have had a continuation of the RB tandem of Greene and Hampton. Greene would have continued bulldozing over defenders and with the help of an even bigger and better O-Line, would have probably had a Heisman season. Hampton, never tearing his ACL, would have gotten more chances to spell Greene and probably would have improved on his already stellar freshman numbers from 2008. A-Rob, being a RS freshman, would have gotten a small amount of carries in mop up duty. Wegher would have redshirted and never saw the field.

That offseason Iowa still gets verbal commits from Marcus Coker, Johnson, and McCall. In 2010 Hampton, a true junior, becomes number one on the depth chart. Number two remains an open competition between an A-rob who got limited carries, RS freshman Wegher and true freshman Coker. Coker probably ends up redshirting along with Johnson and McCall. Wegher I think would have gotten the nod as he is more athletic overall than A-Rob. Hampton and Wegher, although not as good as Greene and Hampton, still put together a great season.

Next offseason, Iowa gets commits from Canzeri, and Bullock. Hampton, now a senior still has a stranglehold on the number one position and Wegher, a sophomore, the number two. A-Rob gets shuffled away as Coker now begins to get some mop up duty.

Which leads us to the upcoming season. Wegher, now a junior would probably have a tight grasp on the number one position and just based on skill, Coker probably would have grabbed the number two spot. What a combo that could have been. Wegher with breakaway speed and Coker who could barrel through defenders.

Now I know, things probably wouldn't have gone exactly this way even if these RBs would have stayed, but it's amazing and sad at the same time to think just how good we could have been at RB over the last few seasons. Guys like Canzeri, Bullock, A-Rob, and McCall, we probably would have never heard of them.
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Your premise is based upon the idea that injuties that happened never would have happened and that, aside from Coker (who I am not so sure merited any real disiplinary action), players who did stupid things would not have done them.

What makes you think if Wegher screwed up his life for real that he wouldn't have done the same thing in your make believe world. And you presume a lot more about the type of production his smallish body is capable of than many would.

Coker might have been the best RB in the B10 as a sophp in the real worlkd and you think he would take secdond string to Wegher in your make believe world? And Hapton never encounters the problems that plagued him in real life?
 
Thawki said:
Your premise is based upon the idea that injuties that happened never would have happened and that, aside from Coker (who I am not so sure merited any real disiplinary action), players who did stupid things would not have done them.

What makes you think if Wegher screwed up his life for real that he wouldn't have done the same thing in your make believe world. And you presume a lot more about the type of production his smallish body is capable of than many would.

Coker might have been the best RB in the B10 as a sophp in the real worlkd and you think he would take secdond string to Wegher in your make believe world? And Hapton never encounters the problems that plagued him in real life?
Click to expand...

That's why I said it was hypothetical. It never happened so you can rewrite the story as you please. In this rendition, I am going to assume none of the bad things that plagued Iowa at the RB position the last five years didn't happen. Shonn doesn't leave, Hampton's ACL never tears, Wegher keeps his dick in his shorts, etc etc.

As for Wegher over Coker, It could have gone either way. But it seems like when Kirk has the option the redshirt a player, he does. In my scenario there would have been enough healthy RBs so Coker would have more than likely redshirted.
 
"I would hope you would support who we are. Not, who we are not. These six individuals have made a choice to work, a choice to sacrifice, to put themselves on the line 23 nights for the next 4 months, to represent you, this high school. That kind of commitment and effort deserves and demands your respect. This is your team."

Norman Dale
 
main problem i see is expecting all those rbs to come with the people in front of them. i dont think mccall shows up and i think bullock stays a wr if we had that depth. i would agree with some of the injuries not happening...but off field stuff may actually become as big or bigger problem as kids that are trouble (ie wegher) feel they can do more as they arent expected to do anything on saturday for the game.
 
I have actually thought about these things too. One minor issue is that you have McCall in the wrong class. He came in with Canzeri and Bullock, not with Coker.
Had this all gone "according to plan" its likely that one or more players would have transferred out or not committed all together because they wouldn't have played for a couple years. I think immediate playing time has allowed the staff to recruit some of these guys, McCall and Coker come to mind especially.
 
Hawkfromnorwalk said:
It's still the offseason so last night I was thinking to myself how things could have wound up at RB after the 2008 season had we skewed off on a parallel reality.

Lets go back to the end of the Outback Bowl in 2009 after Iowa just put a beat down on the Cocks. Shonn Greene, instead of declaring for the NFL, decides that the team is going to be so good in 2009 that he wants to be a part of a historic season, he declares that he is coming back. Here is how I think things would have went on the RB front assuming AIRBHG stayed away.

In 2009, we never would have heard of A-Rob or Wegher because we would have had a continuation of the RB tandem of Greene and Hampton. Greene would have continued bulldozing over defenders and with the help of an even bigger and better O-Line, would have probably had a Heisman season. Hampton, never tearing his ACL, would have gotten more chances to spell Greene and probably would have improved on his already stellar freshman numbers from 2008. A-Rob, being a RS freshman, would have gotten a small amount of carries in mop up duty. Wegher would have redshirted and never saw the field.

That offseason Iowa still gets verbal commits from Marcus Coker, Johnson, and McCall. In 2010 Hampton, a true junior, becomes number one on the depth chart. Number two remains an open competition between an A-rob who got limited carries, RS freshman Wegher and true freshman Coker. Coker probably ends up redshirting along with Johnson and McCall. Wegher I think would have gotten the nod as he is more athletic overall than A-Rob. Hampton and Wegher, although not as good as Greene and Hampton, still put together a great season.

Next offseason, Iowa gets commits from Canzeri, and Bullock. Hampton, now a senior still has a stranglehold on the number one position and Wegher, a sophomore, the number two. A-Rob gets shuffled away as Coker now begins to get some mop up duty.

Which leads us to the upcoming season. Wegher, now a junior would probably have a tight grasp on the number one position and just based on skill, Coker probably would have grabbed the number two spot. What a combo that could have been. Wegher with breakaway speed and Coker who could barrel through defenders.

Now I know, things probably wouldn't have gone exactly this way even if these RBs would have stayed, but it's amazing and sad at the same time to think just how good we could have been at RB over the last few seasons. Guys like Canzeri, Bullock, A-Rob, and McCall, we probably would have never heard of them.
Click to expand...

Weird. In MY "world", Wegher, ARob, Coker, McCall, Johnson and Hampton would never have come to Iowa.

After Greene leads us to the BCS Championship in 2009, Montee Ball, LaMichael James, Trent Richardson and Noel Devine all end up at Iowa. This prompts transfers to the program by RGIII, Cam Newton (who decides that his dad's slutty ways don't fit with his gig), and the best players at each respective position on the field.

Following BCS Championships in 2010 and 2001, RGIII claims, "I never said KF was God...but that he believes in God."

BTN programming then devotes four separate weeks each year to "All KF, all the time" programming. Each week is bid out for sponsorship to various chewing gum makers. All games prior to 2008 disappear from the film vault (with the exception Cap One Bowl), thus ensuring nobody falls asleep in front of their TV in the middle of July watching the 2007 game against MSU.

The whole PSU Tragedy never happened. JoePa is alive today.

As a topper, KF is declared "THEEE Big Ten Icon". Keith Jackson weeps uncontrollably at the end of each installment. JoePa simply kneels in solemn respect.
 
hawkeyebob62 said:
Weird. In MY "world", Wegher, ARob, Coker, McCall, Johnson and Hampton would never have come to Iowa.

After Greene leads us to the BCS Championship in 2009, Montee Ball, LaMichael James, Trent Richardson and Noel Devine all end up at Iowa. This prompts transfers to the program by RGIII, Cam Newton (who decides that his dad's slutty ways don't fit with his gig), and the best players at each respective position on the field.

Following BCS Championships in 2010 and 2001, RGIII claims, "I never said KF was God...but that he believes in God."

BTN programming then devotes four separate weeks each year to "All KF, all the time" programming. Each week is bid out for sponsorship to various chewing gum makers. All games prior to 2008 disappear from the film vault (with the exception Cap One Bowl), thus ensuring nobody falls asleep in front of their TV in the middle of July watching the 2007 game against MSU.

The whole PSU Tragedy never happened. JoePa is alive today.

As a topper, KF is declared "THEEE Big Ten Icon". Keith Jackson weeps uncontrollably at the end of each installment. JoePa simply kneels in solemn respect.
Click to expand...

Not bad...
 
Looks like Hawkeyebob has the world a lot better place had Green stayed for a little more edumacations. Drat!
 
I'd have settled for nothing more than return from Greene. Iowa wins the national title with that monster in the backfield.
 
^I'll go with that, too. If he had stayed and helped us win that year, it's hard to say who would've followed.
 
tm3308 said:
I'd have settled for nothing more than return from Greene. Iowa wins the national title with that monster in the backfield.
Click to expand...

I read this all the time. I don't buy it. We may not lose to NW, but I still believe would we have lost at OSU. They would have GANGED up on SG, and JVB throwing in "panic" vs. throwing with "nothing to lose" are two different worlds. Worlds as diverse as, say, the ones Norwalk and I concoted :)

Then again, it's hard to see a need for a comeback against Indiana, and the MSU game would have been over by the end of the 3rd quarter. You just know 2 of the FG drives would have been TDs, and with MSU having to throw more, our D has increased opportunities. Yes, THAT D, which managed to pull INTs out of rabbits' hats.

But Stanzi would have been a TON more dangerous with SG in the backfield. The one thing Stanzi excelled at was the pump fake. With SG in the backfield to go with the pump fake, DJK and McNutt may have had better years. But I would also bet Moeaki would have had a gargantuan season.

After the UNI game, I went into the ISU game thinking 14-point loss. Does UNI even unfold as it does with SG? Probably not. And my other thought is a couple of the Rick-6s would not have happened (specifically, Arizona and Michigan).
 
In the future, if all goes well, Garmon Hill, Bullock and possible Lynch live to the hype that their HS days showed, then I could easily see some either position change by one of the least playing backs or their may be a transfer or two that may occur. Let's say Dawson, Malloy, never really adjust to being left out. I could see them either leaving or switching. One other thing. Next year, you have to throw Canzeri into the equation. Does he head back home if these guys up above pan out and Iowa brings in another stud RB in this years recruiting class?
It remains to be seen. Let's hope no one else gets hurt and no one else gets into grade issues and no one else gets stupid with the law.
 
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