Alvarez on Future Wisconsin Offensive Philosophy

[MeatMan]

also would help if we had an offensive coordinator who could recruit and close the deal. but i guess that's only what the rest of the country does, not Iowa.

[mccarthyizm]

So then it's either Kirk won't, or he is incapable or not allowed.

KSU and Iowa admin standards are not the same. I have no idea about Boise State, but guessing the same. Before you say Kirk and his staff are then incapable, do you think Hayden was incapable? He didn't exactly have the nation's elite skill pos talent lining up outside his door, either.

Boise State is the 21st century Fresno State. Their academic standards for admission would make Kansas State blush. They can admit players that nobody in the PAC-12 can get in.

[MeatMan]

jon, i know that we've had some RB's like Coker put up some good yardage. but, do you think that outside of Greene, that KF has had any better RB's than Banks, Shaw, or Harmon? that's just off the top of my head. i guess i could go through the lists and see. i like Freddie R, but don't think he's anywhere close to those dudes. if any of the previous 4 had that o-line that Russell had, they'd have put up ridiculous yards.

going off memory isn't a reliable source, but it just seems that the 80's and 90's Iowa teams had significantly more playmakers. the early KF teams did, but outside of Greene and McNutt, we haven't had a guy like that for 8 years. Maybe they weren't NFL guys, but you could count on them to make big plays. Again, going off memory though.

[JonDMiller]

jon, i know that we've had some RB's like Coker put up some good yardage. but, do you think that outside of Greene, that KF has had any better RB's than Banks, Shaw, or Harmon? that's just off the top of my head. i guess i could go through the lists and see. i like Freddie R, but don't think he's anywhere close to those dudes. if any of the previous 4 had that o-line that Russell had, they'd have put up ridiculous yards.

going off memory isn't a reliable source, but it just seems that the 80's and 90's Iowa teams had significantly more playmakers. the early KF teams did, but outside of Greene and McNutt, we haven't had a guy like that for 8 years. Maybe they weren't NFL guys, but you could count on them to make big plays. Again, going off memory though.

I don't want to wage war on this topic, because its not a good hill to die on On the whole, my memory would agree that there were more playmakers, but it's not like Iowa was 'The U'. My point is that Iowa has been challenged on the playmaker front for a long time and will continue to be. It;s not like hayden and kirk haven't tried to get kids like that to come to Iowa..its just not as easy as some people are wishing it were and they don't want to face that reality.

I'd take Banks, Shaw and Harmon over any Iowa RB I have seen other than Shonn Greene. If I could pick just one, I'd probably take Harmon.

[MeatMan]

yeah, in the end i'll defer to you on this as you've paid a lot more attention and are older than me. just sharing my memories. and, what else are we going to do without a bowl game than argue about the "best playmakers" in hawk history....all 7 of them

[SwirlinLingerie]

Just some food for thought here. How many programs around the country (across all conferences) have had more prolific offenses than Iowa over the past 10 years? All those programs certainly aren't getting NFL talent or top recruits. Perhaps this isn't a fair example, but Oregon, for all its incredible offensive production the past several years, has had little NFL talent. I give credit to Kelly's incredible innovation, and it's not fair to expect Iowa to be able to mirror that, but at some point you can no longer ignore Iowa's breathtaking lack of creativity or innovation on the offensive side of the ball.

Take a guy like Canzeri or Bullock, for example. They both might turn out to be interesting skill players. But what has anyone seen from Ferentz that makes you think Iowa will find a way to maximize their talent?

[HawkPrdatr40]

Alvarez - "Bret used my gameplan to win"

He did.. End of story..

[HawkU]

..I'd probably take Harmon.

Except for Rose Bowls - right? (Yeah, I'm old enough to know )

[STILLBUSTER]

So then it's either Kirk won't, or he is incapable or not allowed...

... Before you say Kirk and his staff are then incapable, do you think Hayden was incapable? He didn't exactly have the nation's elite skill pos talent lining up outside his door, either.

You're getting warmer with the "incapable" part. Not so much from the "scholar"-athlete limitations but from the "know your typical kind of player (talent level and potential) and create around them

Hayden was a master at knowing what he had to work with and maximizing their opportunities to succeed -- everything from scheme and formation vs particular opponent to situational play-calling. He also wasn't afraid to win. The Corporal, none of the above.

In a nut-shell, Hayden "scratched the itch". KF ignores the itch and hopes it goes away on its own. If it is too much to bear, he applies some long-expired salve because it worked on another itch.

[racerhawk]

Palookas.

[HaydenHawk56]

Nothwestern may not have the success of an Oregon type team. However, look at what Fits has done with the players he is getting.....and they are more wide open than Iowa.....and they are beating Iowa for the most part on a regular basis now. They have higher academic standards than Iowa to.

I think you can win with any style provided you have a coach that can teach that system well and you have good players.

Problem is, our program is not very uptempo, recruits notice this, and it does not pass the eye test with many fans.

[HawkeyeMHA]

Palookas.

My wife has big palookas

[SpecialKHawk]

The strength/success of Iowa's OL is one of the biggest myths of all time.

Agree with this post. The o-line is the number one and most important driver of offensive success bar none. KF has produced some great lineman individually but has not recruited and played across all 5 line positions the type of player you need to CONSISTENTLY move the football. Every lineman must be at least 6'4" and 300 lbs to dominate up front in today's game. In most seasons our guards and center are below those measurements. Thus drives are killed when plays are blown up due to leverage issues and inability to move the line of scrimmage.

KF employs the best style of football - nothing wrong there. He is too stubborn now to admit the major issue in the area he is supposed to be a guru.

Want to know how NW got 350 yds rushing on us? Have you checked out their O-Line measurements lately? Now you put a couple of playmakers out there and you have something.

Most frustrating aspect to me of this entire program because it Should be obvious and should be something we can do. See Wisky.

[Billso]

Just some food for thought here. How many programs around the country (across all conferences) have had more prolific offenses than Iowa over the past 10 years?

Stop right there.

Forget prolific O's and gobs of NFL playmakers - is it too much to ask that Iowa's offense consistently sniffs the Top 40?

I mean, really?

[TheLorax]

Except for Rose Bowls - right? (Yeah, I'm old enough to know )

I would take Harmon in the Rose Bowl-cuz I'm a bettin' man!