Floridahawkeye1
Well-Known Member
Would love to read your ideas on how Iowa could incorporate two speedy runners into the offense. Leshun and Jordan are terrific runners but ..,ideas for Wadly and others? Thx
Your serious ideas on how to incorporate our
- Thread starter Floridahawkeye1
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#1, you get a good lead and put in Derrick Mitchell who I think goes by dmx and wadley.
Get a good lead on N Texas and get these guys some carries. Hard to have Wadley running when you are on your own side of the 50 yard line.
Get them trained up on some out and up and swing pass patterns. I have no idea if they have good receiving hands but if they do try to get them the ball in space.
Get a good lead on N Texas and get these guys some carries. Hard to have Wadley running when you are on your own side of the 50 yard line.
Get them trained up on some out and up and swing pass patterns. I have no idea if they have good receiving hands but if they do try to get them the ball in space.
Floridahawkeye1
Well-Known Member
Akrum and Derrick are both sophomores. Jordan C is a senior, so some touches for A and D would be nice. Not only for next year but this season as well. If Jordan or LeShun are injured and lost, hope not, Akrum has played, but I'm not sure Derrick has gotten any carries - maybe this Saturday. I read that Akrum has exceptional speed, but lacks ball security. Is this accurate? Thx.
HawkinGoferLand
Well-Known Member
Yep need some blowouts to get 4th string RB decent amount of carries, especially when fumbling is an issue.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
For Wadley, it's pretty simple: unless/until he can run a series without fumbling, use Mitchell, Joly and anyone else (in mop-up time, probably) who doesn't need a can of stick-um and a roll of duct tape.
For Mitchell/Joly: North Texas and Purdue would seem to be their opportunities
For Parker: get him on the field as a decoy, not just as the siren/beacon that tells opposing Ds, "Hey, #10 will be running with the ball shortly after the snap..."
For Graham: as long as others are healthy, keep that red shirt on over his jersey
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
<<I read that Akrum has exceptional speed, but lacks ball security. Is this accurate? Thx.>>
I believe you can view past games on youtube. Sorry you missed the 2014 season!
Floridahawkeye1
Well-Known Member
Re: missing last season, 2014. I did, unfortunately miss most of the games last two years. So, having read about Akrum, the recent fumble was a defender ripping the ball from behind Akrum. I did see a fumble in the Iowa State game two weeks ago - by Jordan Canzeri on the 10 yard line. Akrum and others (2's - 3's) need game reps when the timing is right. I think Jordan probably fumbled last year as well. It happens. Pros fumble also. I've enjoyed watching this team grow and succeed on the gridiron. Seeing CJ throw interceptions hurts, but its also part of the game. Being able to watch all three Iowa games this year has been exciting. Am sure they will continue to be exciting. CJ is brave and brings another dimension to our offense. Hope other running backs can do the same.
hawkfan2679
Well-Known Member
If you want them on the field simultaneously you'll need to do something with misdirection (like they were doing with Parker on the jet sweep) and utilize one of them more in the passing game. I say that because you can put them on the field both in the backfield, but it'll probably be a small package of plays because when you put a Canzeri on the field with a Wadley, let's say, you are you taking off the field an Adam Cox/Macon Plewa type. Unless of course you are doing something with one of them on the perimeter such as in the slot or split wide...but then are you really gaining much more than what you have with a Jonathan Parker in the slot with Canzeri and Cox/Plewa in the backfield?
I still haven't been able to watch the Pitt game yet but it sounds like we ran a ton of split zone (good!) and utilized the screen game successfully (also good!). Those are two ways we could utilize two speed backs in the game...but if they are both in the backfield you handcuff yourself a little bit because you essentially rule out the downhill running game (I say essentially because while Canzeri or Wadley could block, they won't be NEARLY as effective as a stone-helmeted Cox/Plewa).
I still haven't been able to watch the Pitt game yet but it sounds like we ran a ton of split zone (good!) and utilized the screen game successfully (also good!). Those are two ways we could utilize two speed backs in the game...but if they are both in the backfield you handcuff yourself a little bit because you essentially rule out the downhill running game (I say essentially because while Canzeri or Wadley could block, they won't be NEARLY as effective as a stone-helmeted Cox/Plewa).
Floridahawkeye1
Well-Known Member
Thanks for those options. Our fullbacks have looked solid in blocking for sure. Does Mitchell have exceptional speed or moves? I hope to see this N Texas game and will key in on our r. backs. Coach Dan M. will be another story line to follow.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
Akrum DEFINITELY has some serious up-side. He also has some serious ball-security issues.
CJs INT was nothing we haven't seen with previous Iowa QBs, so while it didn't help, at the time, it didn't matter at the end, anyway. And he most definitely brings the intangibles needed to put a team over the top.
NCHawker
Well-Known Member
Now this is really funny. NCHawker gets lots of laffy stickers from me all the time.
I also like how the OP put the word "serious" in the thread title as if he didnt want the threa overtaken by crazies, which happens here alot and I have been guilty of it.
To sum up: Wadley has a much higher fumble to carry ratio than he should have so that is a problem. Wadley has speed and he showed power last year and he has very natural moves and feet. He will be very good when he holds onto the ball.
DMX showed great moves, speed and power last spring. Supposedly he was great on the scout team as faux Melvin Gordon so that is saying something.
I want to make a point and that point is the coaches need to also experiment with a two running back offense, split backs in the backfield or what ever.
I think if two of Wadley, Canzeri, DMX, Joly are in or around the backfield at the same time you make the other team match up on them with linebackers. I think that is a win for the hawks scheme.
Come on coaches, lets see some new exciting formations with two backs. Have two running backs in the backfield, fake the run and the other goes out in pass pattern, or at the snap if they dont read blits they both swing to the sideline or make good moves on linebackers to provide CJ with a good safe option.
Do it 5 times a game or so and see what happens and make future opponents have to practice against it.
I think if two of Wadley, Canzeri, DMX, Joly are in or around the backfield at the same time you make the other team match up on them with linebackers. I think that is a win for the hawks scheme.
Come on coaches, lets see some new exciting formations with two backs. Have two running backs in the backfield, fake the run and the other goes out in pass pattern, or at the snap if they dont read blits they both swing to the sideline or make good moves on linebackers to provide CJ with a good safe option.
Do it 5 times a game or so and see what happens and make future opponents have to practice against it.
HawkinGoferLand
Well-Known Member
Akrum has fumbled on 6 of 36 attempts since beginning of last year I read recently.
ThunderHawk
Well-Known Member
Stick them out at WR and tell them to run straight down the field.
HawkInATX
Well-Known Member
Wheel routes out of the backfield. They'd absolutely outpace most any LB that's on them in man coverage. I don't see either of them being particularly good at blocking just yet outside of maybe a weak chip, so you're not losing anything by sending them out on a route. Maybe even dual wheel routes with them both in the split back, no FB. Is that called the wishbone?
hawkfan2679
Well-Known Member
Interestingly enough, this formation...
....X.......................T..G..C..G..T..Y
....................................Q................................Z
.............................H..............F
...is called split back!
It's also referred to as a pro set.Floridahawkeye1
Well-Known Member
Thanks again. Appreciated the serious responses. Interesting ideas. I catch a high school game on occasion and am amazed at the speed some teams have . Made me wonder about Iowa rb's and some of the younger players for next three years. On a different note, loved watching King intercept passes as well as kick returns. He looks 'speedy'..glad he's a Hawk.
The only teams that use 2 backs at once, both as legit ball-carrying options, are option teams. The days of the wing-T are long gone. Defenses are too sophisticated and they (usually) are not fooled by backfield misdirection; they read the blocking and follow it to the ball. If you send a RB one way as a decoy and send the ball the other way, you are just wasting a player. Teams would much rather make that extra player a TE or FB who can be a blocking or receiving threat or an extra WR who can spread the defense.
One caveat: if a team busts out some misdirection that no opponent has ever seen before (which is what you are suggesting), it is typically effective for a brief while (think the "Wildcat" craze). But once teams have had an opportunity to scout it, and the D is reminded to read their keys, this type of thing loses its effectiveness.
Now if it is a true option play and either player could potentially end up with the ball that is different, but I don't think Iowa will decide to become an option team anytime soon.
In passing situations things change a bit. Having those 2 backs in the backfield to potentially help with protection, as outlets, or in designed routes is used quite a bit. Might have some potential in small doses.
