Will Hawks Defense be one of the best in the country?
- Thread starter Golden
- Start date
Especially if they're in 4 down situations. Historically, Kirk's defenses rarely get off the field when opponents are in 4 down situations.
Oh, the old "new QB = we're going to suck" mentality. Got it! Lol. You people crack me up. So everytime Iowa's had a new QB ( which is every 1 -2 years) they have sucked? Good teams reload and develop QB's, and Iowa always has seemed to. The only QB that anyone thought would be a big deal when they were recruited was Jake Christensen, and we saw how that worked out. Nobody thought anything of Chandler, Stanzi, Beathard, etc.. when they got to Iowa and were cutting their teeth (well, Chandler had to play right away), so why assume there is going to be such a huge drop-off in QB production? One of these youngsters (who are getting plenty of time to develop and learn the system) will probably step in a do fine. Everyone always wants to credit or blame the QB for how the 'team' did in a certain year. Vandenburg was a really good QB, but got caught in a new system with a 'depleted' team and didn't look very good.
Mademyaccount4u
Well-Known Member
I tend to agree, especially the treatment and view of Vandenberg. Kid was a legit college QB. I really believe he was caught in a bad situation.
Apparently you are stuck on the word "suck". There will be a drop-off.....it will be hard not to. I, like many others, believe this team will be better than last year, even if their record is not 12-0. I believe Beatherd may be the best Iowa QB ever, at least since Long. You are putting Chandler in the same sentence as Stanzi and Beatherd?!! You lost all credibility right there.
Careful Kirk I don't necessarily have an issue with. Overall, that's been Kirk's philosophy since day 1. The difference between the good/great and the average/mediocre years has been when being "careful," but still no when to take a chance, has turned into almost coaching scared, with a "take no chances, play it safe" sort of mentality. they didn't have that mentality last year and that was the difference.
IF we can get a strong pass rush from our young DEs of Hesse and Nelson, I think this has the potential to be a great, top 10 defense. I believe we will be very stout against the run regardless and i think barring injuries we should be top 15/20. I'm curious to see if Parker will call a more aggressive game plan, having Mabin and King at corner should in theory allow him to take more chances if he wants to. If Nelson and Hesse, plus whoever the backups turn out to be, can generate sacks without blitzing, the Defense could be scary good.
trj
Well-Known Member
I really do not have a counter argument for this. Iowa schematically doesn't free up guys to get to the QB. Other than the occasional blitz or stunt, it is straight up beat your man on a bull rush. I like the back end better this year than 2010, but I am not going to crush people if they think the same scenario will happen again.
BigD
Well-Known Member
Lol, what are you talking about??? You know what your problem is??? You've been watching KF football for eighteen years. Damn, I hate it when people like you come along and bring up FACTS and past history. Let's HOPE this year we actually over perform from expecting to be good to being GREAT......... that would really be nice. I am sticking with my 11-1 prediction even though I could see another 12-0 season. Why the one loss? The KF factor as you mentioned in your post.
They had that mentality 2 years ago, so it wasn't the difference. Go read something besides what 'you' write and you would know that, as the coaches and players talked about it at length. There was no 'new Kirk' last year. Just something that a bunch of folks made up so they wouldn't have to look and feel so WRONG about KF and the projections for the season. Period! Once again, the coaches and the players talked at great length that there was no new Kirk, but that players changed the culture a little bit etc.... And the defense can be scary good without generating a pash rush without blitzing....I'd explain it to you but would take quite awhile and you have to understand schemes....
BigD
Well-Known Member
I personally believe that the main reason for last year's success was a two letter one. CJ
After CJ leaves unless we have another CJ waiting in the wings (very unlikely) we could revert back to the the type of football we saw the previous four years before last season. I hope I am wrong but I honestly think CJ was the difference.
When you look at the seasons where we were very successful I believe in most of those seasons it was from having a QB who could makes plays after the pocket collapsed. I hope we have more of these type QB's waiting in the wings.
After CJ leaves unless we have another CJ waiting in the wings (very unlikely) we could revert back to the the type of football we saw the previous four years before last season. I hope I am wrong but I honestly think CJ was the difference.
When you look at the seasons where we were very successful I believe in most of those seasons it was from having a QB who could makes plays after the pocket collapsed. I hope we have more of these type QB's waiting in the wings.
Kirk tried to be new Kirk. But as the year went on and the stakes grew higher, careful Kirk came back out.
I agree, that the defense can be very good without the DEs generating a pass rush. My point is, we could be great if they can. That is my hope for the defense, and i think they can.
I also agree that the culture was different last year. I disagree that it was just the players that changed it though. Kirk made new numerous, relatively minor changes to the team's routines last year. none of them by themselves were all that much, such as changing what time they practiced, or switching which day was the "off" day. Small things, but to me they were a subtle message from Ferentz that it wasn't business as usual.
I don't know that I ever really bought into the "New Kirk" idea that so many bought into either. I did think that he showed a greater willingness to take a chance when he thought it was warranted. For example, the two fake field goals they ran early in the season. I don't believe either was successful (no points scored on either) but it sent a signal to the fans and to the players that things were not business as usual. It was the sort of thing that Ferentz did in the early-to-mid 2000s, but at least for me, wasn't there in 2014 or some of the more recent seasons.
You're right that nothing significant changed schematically (yes I do understand schemes) last year, but the pass rush wasn't the same after Ott went out. Hesse played with alot of heart, but he lacked the size as a freshman to fight through to the quarterback consistently. If he can after another season of strength and conditioning, and Matt Nelson can step also, this defense can be far more than "scary good."
Mademyaccount4u
Well-Known Member
That's like saying teams with less talented players don't do as well. How good was Texas w/out V. Young/ C. McCoy or A&M with J. Manziel, save they were on 4/5 star rich teams.
I'm stunned how many people don't have any faith in KF after his tenure. Yes, he's had some bad year, but he's also had some great years. Why is it so hard to believe someone else could run the offense?
BigD
Well-Known Member
Well of course I hope your right. I did say I hope there is a capable CJ like QB's waiting for their chance to play. Also if I thought KF was a bad coach would I be predicting a 11-1 regular season? I just feel that a QB plays such a vital role in the success of a football team. It's just my opinion but I think with out CJ we would have been lucky to win seven games last year. I think he is that good and was the difference.
Yes and No. The way I saw it, what was innovative in week 3 was scrutinized heavily by the competition by week 10. If KF had taken a good, hard look at the program half way through the season like he did in January he could have figured out what the team's tendencies were becoming and "reinvented" himself and the Hawkeyes down the stretch. By breaking those old tendencies and throwing in new wrinkles, the season may have ended differently. Cover 2, soft zones etc.. will only get you so far. The D may be executing it perfectly by the midpoint of the season but a little diversity certainly could make the the D a tougher nut for the competition to crack at season's end.
taffaej
Well-Known Member
Who ever said that was smoking some pretty good stuff there. Maybe best in our division
HawkeyeWalker
Well-Known Member
Defense should be good, maybe very good if a couple positions develop and we get some additional depth developed. Top 15 defense I think is very possible. Top 10 defense is doable. As long as the scoring defense is good, we should be in great shape.
As has been the case for some time, offensive production will be the difference between a good year and a great one.
As has been the case for some time, offensive production will be the difference between a good year and a great one.
HawkeyeWalker
Well-Known Member
When you have a dynamic player at QB, you can take more chances.
While I believe KF took a few extra chances than in the past, it really had more to do with him trusting CJ.
While I believe KF took a few extra chances than in the past, it really had more to do with him trusting CJ.
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
I agree with whomever stated CJ was a difference maker and the primary difference between 8-4 and 12-0. Just watch the highlights of the ISU game last year on the tube. He made 10 or so plays in that game that Rudock could have never made. I'm not even talking about the obvious ones (TDs)...he made some plays to buy time that were crazy...as our OL was terrible in pass pro...especially in the first half. CJ is the man and it will be a sad day to watch him graduate.
I also disagree with the fact that changes weren't made schematically, especially on offense. Iowa was so much more diverse in their line calls last year. It was no longer inside zone, outside zone...we were trapping and pulling linemen more than I've ever seen. It was a huge difference maker as teams couldn't read movement and know where the play would end up. I expect that trend to get better now that these guys have been practicing it for two years. Kudos to KF, as this was the most important change in our offense that largely goes unnoticed.
As far as the thread title, I think we have a great chance to be a top 10 -12 defense.
1) You won't run the ball on us and when you can stop the run, now you have a chance to be a great defense.
2) Can you play press coverage? Yes, two experienced corners and one experienced safety.
3) Can you generate a pass rush? This is the only question mark in my mind on defense. I will answer by saying, Iowa's move to the rush packages will help answer this question. I think we have more options than ever in this package including a few freshmen from Michigan (Bower, Mends, Nelson, Slater, Golston, Hockaday). Jaleel will also be a force and if we keep him rested...well. look out.
Lastly, Iowa is just flat out a deeper team than they have ever been and it's only getting better. Think about the OL recruits in the mix that will have three years to get ready to play.. We are deeper at LB, we have shored up the DE position with the current classes (and we start two underclassmen)...and finally we are now getting skill position players that could be difference makers. We aren't scrambling for replacement recruits, we are getting the guys we want earlier in the process.
I also disagree with the fact that changes weren't made schematically, especially on offense. Iowa was so much more diverse in their line calls last year. It was no longer inside zone, outside zone...we were trapping and pulling linemen more than I've ever seen. It was a huge difference maker as teams couldn't read movement and know where the play would end up. I expect that trend to get better now that these guys have been practicing it for two years. Kudos to KF, as this was the most important change in our offense that largely goes unnoticed.
As far as the thread title, I think we have a great chance to be a top 10 -12 defense.
1) You won't run the ball on us and when you can stop the run, now you have a chance to be a great defense.
2) Can you play press coverage? Yes, two experienced corners and one experienced safety.
3) Can you generate a pass rush? This is the only question mark in my mind on defense. I will answer by saying, Iowa's move to the rush packages will help answer this question. I think we have more options than ever in this package including a few freshmen from Michigan (Bower, Mends, Nelson, Slater, Golston, Hockaday). Jaleel will also be a force and if we keep him rested...well. look out.
Lastly, Iowa is just flat out a deeper team than they have ever been and it's only getting better. Think about the OL recruits in the mix that will have three years to get ready to play.. We are deeper at LB, we have shored up the DE position with the current classes (and we start two underclassmen)...and finally we are now getting skill position players that could be difference makers. We aren't scrambling for replacement recruits, we are getting the guys we want earlier in the process.
HuckFinn
Well-Known Member
Great summary! Find little to argue about, for sure. What about depth in the D Line? It seems late in the year we kind of wore down, which I recognize is typical of D lines in general. Faith E. will be a good sub. Anyone else you see emerging?
