EstronHawkKing
Well-Known Member
He was named the best lineman in the Big 10, but some lineman from Wisconsin is a finalist? Makes no sense, unless you have to be a senior to be one of the three up for it.
Why was Tristan Wirfs not an Outland Trophy finalist?
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Scott Leclair
Well-Known Member
It’s the same reason when a recruit is a 4/5 star by all the recruitment sites. The day that 4/5 star player commits to Iowa they will drop a star. Doesn’t matter time of year, a lot or no games played. Majority of the time they will drop a star just because they committed to Iowa. Same reason Iowa players don’t get much love around the country. They see Iowa as a bunch of slow ass farm boys... Until they realize these Iowa Hawkeyes can freakin BALL!! GO HAWKS!!!
oregonhawkeye
Well-Known Member
The other guys are good too. It's inexact. And Wirfs got better during the season this year.
Because different people are making those different choices... If the same people were then it'd really be head scratching. No different with Duncan not getting the Groza but being 1st team All American. It's all prom king award popularity contests. It'll drive you nuts trying to figure out the whys in some of the voting.
#1DieHardHawk
Well-Known Member
I'd have to go back and look, but I believe the Outland is only for the interior guys, and Wirfs was a tackle.
JoeyLabasForPresident
Well-Known Member
But OT is considered interior lineman. If you follow that same link, 8 of that last 12 winners were OT, including Scherff in 2014. This year's winner (Penei Sewell from Oregon) was also an OT.
It's a poorly described thing. Like there's such a thing as an exterior lineman. Maybe back in the day they considered TEs lineman and thus not eligible for this award. Beyond that in modern times it doesn't make a ton of sense as it is described now. OTs have won it a bunch as others have mentioned.
JoeyLabasForPresident
Well-Known Member
I suppose that would be my confusion, then. I thought I might have misremembered Scherff as an OT given that he’s a guard now, but clearly plenty of Tackles have won. Strange definition, I’d always envisioned “Interior linemen” as guards and centers.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
Gallery won it as well. Its for the best lineman, period.
Wirfs should want to come back next year to win this!
Wirfs should want to come back next year to win this!
Maybe cause it is voted on by these persons:
The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game day operations, major awards and an All-America team.
The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game day operations, major awards and an All-America team.
#1DieHardHawk
Well-Known Member
Yeah, it sounds like the definition is very cloudy. Obviously, tackles have and do get consideration.
Hard to say why he wasn't a finalist, but, as we all know, these awards rarely make much sense. The better barometer is how the NFL scouts see a player.
Hard to say why he wasn't a finalist, but, as we all know, these awards rarely make much sense. The better barometer is how the NFL scouts see a player.
HawkGold
Well-Known Member
No, because the run game was worse than mediocre as was pass protection.
K..........so how is TW shown going top 12 basically in any draft preview? If he really is not trophy worthy.
HawkGold
Well-Known Member
How many Heisman's play in the NFL. NFL is a business. Awards are popularity contests.
Picking on Nebby..Crouch, Rogers..... Even Rozier who had a so so NFL career.
Pass protection was NOT less than mediocre. Iowa was 30th in nation in Passing Down sack rate (i.e., how often they got sacked when the opponent knew they were throwing).
They were 60th in stanard down sack rate (how often they got sacked on downs that are not clear passing situations), which I think is more of a schematic thing than an OL thing. I would guess this is a lot of poorly designed or poorly-timed play action passes.
They are 39th in overall sack rate (sacks on all downs combined).
https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaaol/2019
Their running OL stats are mosly abysmal, but of interest, their Power Run Rate (success in converting 3rd and 2 and less or 4th and 2 or less) is 16th best in the country.
Iowa State was REALLY good at not getting sacked, for those curious.
HawkGold
Well-Known Member
They just weren't that good at pass protection. I know what my eyes see. Lot's of not even set up sacks.
I know what my eyes see as well, and I think they are pretty good at pass protection. I trust my eyes and objective data more than your eyes, but go on and believe what you want.
edit: I should add, they were really bad vs. Michigan and PSU (injuries a huge part of that, but also some scheme issues). They made schematic changes after that point. They had given up 16 sacks in 6 games to that point (8 vs. Mich). From that point on, they gave up 7 sacks in 7 games.
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