What happens when a developmental team starts out this good?

[DuffMan]

It’s no big secret that Iowa teams under Kirk Ferentz have traditionally been “developmentalâ€￾. That is they tend to get better as the year goes on. In some cases the improvement has been dramatic, like gone from struggling at home against a DIAA opponent to dominating a BCS opponent in the Orange Bowl.

This is the sharpest a KF coached team has ever looked this early in the season, a point that I don’t think is even debatable. Everything leading into this season has been down right surgical. A few minor player transgressions in the offseason were dealt with swiftly and without fanfare. There is no controversy on who the leaders are on offense or defense. Our starting center got hit by a fricken truck and it cause little more than a blip on the radar in terms of this teams focus.

On the field we have been equally focused and precise. We have dominated the LOS on both sides of the ball (something of critical importance in the schemes we run). When needed our running game has picked up the tough yards on 3rd and 4th and short and in goal line situations but it has also been explosive. Our short passing game is hitting on all cylinders. Our deep passing game has been nearly flawless (including protection from the Oline). Stanzi has looked good in the pocket, outside the pocket, and has demonstrated outstanding decision making.

Given the facts that we usually improve tremendously throughout the course of a season, and we have looked nearly perfect in the first two weeks, what does this say about where this team is headed?

 

[clim33]

one of two things could happen:

We could continue to develop and really be great by the end of this year (this is what I hope for) or

We could peek really early and not be much better at year end and get passed by other teams who continue to develop


I am hoping for the first option

 

[Iowafarmgirl]

I wouldn't classify Iowa as a developmental team.

 

[hawkeyescott]

I was thinking the same thing and that this OL looks the best I have ever seen it look after 2 weeks. I realize the competition hasn't been the greatest, but ISU isn't as bad as Iowa made them look Saturday.

I'm not ready to say Iowa is going to run the table, but if they go to Arizona and then come home and dominate Ball St and PSU the way they did the first 2 weeks and get to 5-0 going into the bye week then I'm all in for Iowa having a perfect season.

 

[DDHawkeye]

It’s no big secret that Iowa teams under Kirk Ferentz have traditionally been “developmentalâ€￾. That is they tend to get better as the year goes on. In some cases the improvement has been dramatic, like gone from struggling at home against a DIAA opponent to dominating a BCS opponent in the Orange Bowl.

This is the sharpest a KF coached team has ever looked this early in the season, a point that I don’t think is even debatable. Everything leading into this season has been down right surgical. A few minor player transgressions in the offseason were dealt with swiftly and without fanfare. There is no controversy on who the leaders are on offense or defense. Our starting center got hit by a fricken truck and it cause little more than a blip on the radar in terms of this teams focus.

On the field we have been equally focused and precise. We have dominated the LOS on both sides of the ball (something of critical importance in the schemes we run). When needed our running game has picked up the tough yards on 3rd and 4th and short and in goal line situations but it has also been explosive. Our short passing game is hitting on all cylinders. Our deep passing game has been nearly flawless (including protection from the Oline). Stanzi has looked good in the pocket, outside the pocket, and has demonstrated outstanding decision making.

Given the facts that we usually improve tremendously throughout the course of a season, and we have looked nearly perfect in the first two weeks, what does this say about where this team is headed?

I truly believe this team is headed for a perfect season. I thought that going into this season, and the first two games have done nothing but solidified that belief. I just hope a perfect season means we will get to play in the National Championship game. I think just like in previous years, we will see improvements in the team over the course of the season, probably not very drastically though, just because there is not much they could have improved on in the first two games. We could have run up the score in both of our games to 50 or more points, but we clearly took the foot off the pedal and were happy with the amount of domination we showed. Ferentz is merciful.

 

[tm3308]

I wouldn't classify Iowa as a developmental team.

Really? Because we're raking in 4 and 5 star recruits every year, and always come out guns a blazin' in September? Where have you been for the past 12 years?

 

[clicheusername3]

Really? Because we're raking in 4 and 5 star recruits every year, and always come out guns a blazin' in September? Where have you been for the past 12 years?

I don't think that is the goal though. I have to think that some years KF is counting on having a ready made team. Sometimes it hasn't worked out that way due to injuries, etc.

 

[Iowafarmgirl]

Really? Because we're raking in 4 and 5 star recruits every year, and always come out guns a blazin' in September? Where have you been for the past 12 years?

12 years doesn't matter this year. When you have an experienced, senior laden team to put out week 1, you don't worry about development (as much).

This team was ready to win the second they stepped on the field.

 

[tm3308]

12 years doesn't matter this year. When you have an experienced, senior laden team to put out week 1, you don't worry about development (as much).

This team was ready to win the second they stepped on the field.

His point was that we are typically a program whose teams get better as the season goes on. But we've pretty much picked up where we left off last season. That doesn't change the fact that we're a developmental program. He's merely wondering what happens when the starts off this well? Do they improve as they go just like pretty much every Ferentz team (save for the 2005-2007 teams) has done? Or do they stay at the same level?

 

[whammer33024]

we stay at the same level. i like 28 point wins

 

[CAARHawk]

Um, the team better keep developing because it only gets tougher from here on out.

But as far as the developmental thing goes, this team is really different from years past. Other teams have had to replace players with virtual newcomers this team's replacements have been in the program for a while.

Basically, KF has started to put together classes where he is able to build depth of experienced players.

 

[JLoss]

World domination?

 

[MoseSchrute]

I truly believe this team is headed for a perfect season. I thought that going into this season, and the first two games have done nothing but solidified that belief. I just hope a perfect season means we will get to play in the National Championship game. I think just like in previous years, we will see improvements in the team over the course of the season, probably not very drastically though, just because there is not much they could have improved on in the first two games. We could have run up the score in both of our games to 50 or more points, but we clearly took the foot off the pedal and were happy with the amount of domination we showed. Ferentz is merciful.

I would gladly take a perfect season even if we didn't get to play in the big game; because I don't think it's going to happen anyway.

 

[lightning1]

We still have some areas of needed development.
I agree with CountryGirl, though. We have a deep and SR laden team.

 

[Cosity82]

Agree with both, but I wouldnt call this team a develomental team. They really do seem like they picked right up where they left off last year. I think they're on a mission and the upperclass leadership is taking them there. Like someone already said - get past AZ, Ball State and PSU and it will start getting VERY interesting!

 

[MidnightBlueSix]

I think the reason this doesn't "look like" a developmental team is because our developmental players don't play like they have a lot of development to do. But let's look back a month to where we sat. 3 new starters on OL, a unit considered to be our biggest liability. Those 3 became 4 when Koeppel got hurt. Those 4 became 4.1 when Gettis got hurt. But 4.1 new players on the OL have looked VERY stout thus far.

At RB, we had one guy who a lot of fans thought of as kinda a seat-filler until Coker and Gordon and potentially Coe and/or Miller hit campus. The guy most fans REALLY loved was MIA, and we had another guy who was a phenom as a true freshman but was coming off of an injury. It looked so dire we had people campaigning for a freshman FB to be moved back to RB to help out our depth.

At LB, we knew we were breaking in two new guys. Due to our recent history at LB, people saw this as a big liability and something that could lead to disaster early in the season. Then Tarp got hurt.

This team had "developmental" written all over it a month ago. We had depth and confidence at QB, DB, and DL, but that's really about it. But our guys have played like veterans so far at every position, and our "?s" have now become "!s",

 

[SDK46]

Last year: We were learning how to win.

This year: We know how to win.

 

[sergeanthulka]

I wouldn't classify Iowa as a developmental team.

I wouldn't classify you as an insightful poster...

Great post, duffman! I just happen to think this week is going to be a defining week. Win, & I'm going to let myself start dreaming a bit.

ISU being crappy or not, that was the best I'd ever seen a KF team play - early in the season or not...

 

[tm3308]

I think the reason this doesn't "look like" a developmental team is because our developmental players don't play like they have a lot of development to do. But let's look back a month to where we sat. 3 new starters on OL, a unit considered to be our biggest liability. Those 3 became 4 when Koeppel got hurt. Those 4 became 4.1 when Gettis got hurt. But 4.1 new players on the OL have looked VERY stout thus far.

At RB, we had one guy who a lot of fans thought of as kinda a seat-filler until Coker and Gordon and potentially Coe and/or Miller hit campus. The guy most fans REALLY loved was MIA, and we had another guy who was a phenom as a true freshman but was coming off of an injury. It looked so dire we had people campaigning for a freshman FB to be moved back to RB to help out our depth.

At LB, we knew we were breaking in two new guys. Due to our recent history at LB, people saw this as a big liability and something that could lead to disaster early in the season. Then Tarp got hurt.

This team had "developmental" written all over it a month ago. We had depth and confidence at QB, DB, and DL, but that's really about it. But our guys have played like veterans so far at every position, and our "?s" have now become "!s",

This is an excellent post. At LB, Tarp looked really good against ISU (better than I expected). Edd.....pardon me, Nielson, has looked VERY good thus far (That one didn't surprise me. I've been saying for some time now that he is an Edds clone, and we shouldn't miss a beat at LEO).

I think the guy on defense that is a true developmental player is Hyde. He got burned twice against EIU, but that's not a big deal. He's looked pretty solid for all but those two plays. That said, I feel like he's only scratching the surface of his potential right now. I think he'll make similar leaps and bounds in his development this year. He's a sophomore who will get somewhat picked on because of who is on the other side. That sounds a whole lot like Prater's story from last year, and Amari's from 2008. But I feel like that was a key in both Spievey and Prater's development, because it gave them a ton of experience. When Hyde takes those steps forward (and I think this week could be a HUGE milestone for him, facing Arizona's high-flying passing attack), we're going to see a really special player. And I think he could get there by the end of this season.

On offense, the O-Line has been a revelation. They can still probably improve quite a bit (I'm not COMPLETELY sold on their ability to open running lanes yet. We haven't faced a particularly good D-Line yet), but they have far exceeded our expectations thus far.

When KOK gets the running game with A-Rob and Jewell firmly established and we open up the playbook to really get the passing attack going, this offense could SERIOUSLY take off. I for one cannot wait for this to happen. I didn't see much of the 2002 season (I was 12 and just didn't watch many games. Saw the Minnesota game and the Orange Bowl), so this could very well be the best Hawkeye offense that I've ever seen.

 

[CAARHawk]

Agree with Hyde, but still see difference with the other players. Iowa has been a highly developmental team in that they have had to press guys into service before they had a lot of practice reps, i.e., King, Kroul, etc.

They just don't have to do this anymore. When you replace a guy like Angerer with a fifth year senior who has played alot, it helps not being so developmental.

I mean look at next year. We graduate Clayborn, Klug, and Ballard. But have Daniels, Daniel, and Binns to step in. By season's end it is likely Davis will have a number of reps as well. We also have guys like Alvis in line.

Basically, Iowa has depth like they have never had before. So, while we still expect the team will improve, their in-season development might be less noticeable than years past.