jmik58's Blog
While most would argue the opposite, and rightfully so, it's very possible that the suspension of two of Iowa's key offensive pieces might actually make the Hawkeyes more dangerous against the Tigers in tonight's Inisght.com Bowl.
Iowa will be without their all-time leading receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and leading rusher Adam Robinson.
DJK was suspended indefinitely following drug charges while Robinson is out for violating team rules, although Robinson may be gone for good as well after being arrested on drug charges of his own last night.
On the surface, the loss of both players sounds disastrous as the Hawkeyes prepare to take on the #12 Missouri Tigers.
Dig a little deeper, and you might see the formula for a better Iowa team than was displayed throughout the entire regular season.
In Robinson's place, true freshman Marcus Coker will step in and lead the rushing attack. Robinson may have led the way statistically this year on the ground for Iowa, but so would anyone who was given the most touches.
Robinson is not a powerful runner by any means. His chicken legs and stiff running style make for an easy target and few broken tackles or second-effort yardage.
Coker, on the other hand, looks to be one of the better backs the Hawkeyes have seen in recent memory. The problem: he hasn't been given a real chance to showcase his abilities.
He has strong legs, great vision, agility, and finishes runs. The young runner needs to cut down on the fumbles, but that comes with experience.
The tougher sell might be how Iowa can be better without DJK hauling in Ricky Stanzi's passes. The major difference won't be in the quality of receiver, instead the change in play will be attributed to quarterback Ricky Stanzi being forced to go through his progressions.
With DJK, Stanzi had a nasty habit of locking on pre-snap and chucking it deep for an Al-Davis-post-route-turned-hail-mary.
Realistically, Stanzi is the same guy who doesn't read a defense anymore than Hellen Keller enjoys the New York Times. But wishful thinking is that Stanzi will somehow become a better quarterback when he has to be picky about when and where to throw it.
It doesn't look pretty on paper for Iowa's offense, but games aren't played on paper. They're played inside televisions.
# 2
jmik58 @ Dec 28
The headline is more tongue-in-cheek than might be obvious. I think Mizzou has the advantage because they're style on offense will give Iowa fits. The Tigers are a better version of Northwestern.
Iowa is way too conservative on defense for a team that dinks and dunks underneath all night. If Mizzou is patient they'll win easy.
With these two players out it definitely doesn't make Iowa "more dangerous" because they're not "dangerous" to begin with
However, I honestly think it could make Iowa a better team. The running game will be better because Coker is better than Robinson.
The passing game would be better if Vandenberg was the starter, but I truly think that DJK being out will force Stanzi to be more cautious with his throws. But, Stanzi is who he is and he's "accident prone."
Iowa is way too conservative on defense for a team that dinks and dunks underneath all night. If Mizzou is patient they'll win easy.
With these two players out it definitely doesn't make Iowa "more dangerous" because they're not "dangerous" to begin with
However, I honestly think it could make Iowa a better team. The running game will be better because Coker is better than Robinson.
The passing game would be better if Vandenberg was the starter, but I truly think that DJK being out will force Stanzi to be more cautious with his throws. But, Stanzi is who he is and he's "accident prone."
# 3
aimiami @ Dec 28
i love iowa but wow...
iowa must have been more foucsed about off the field stuff then football.
iowa must have been more foucsed about off the field stuff then football.
# 4
jmik58 @ Dec 28
Be careful with over-generalizations. Two individuals don't make a team or program. Their selfish actions don't reflect on the values of the team and anyone familiar with the character and philosophy of Iowa's staff and program knows that very well.
# 5
aimiami @ Dec 28
yeah i know but they were like 3 starters which definatley had a impact
and i agree evreyone on the team isnt like this, kirk ferentz runs a good program and im sure will discipline them fairly
and i agree evreyone on the team isnt like this, kirk ferentz runs a good program and im sure will discipline them fairly
# 6
jmik58 @ Dec 29
Post game thoughts...
Freshman HB Marcus Coker definitely was the difference. There's no way Iowa gets that performance from Adam Robinson. If Coker can stay healthy we may have our next Shonn G.
Ricky Stanzi is still a mystery in the head. He throws a good ball to the open receiver, but he still makes dumb mistakes by throwing into coverage when his guys aren't open. Bring on James Vandenberg.
Freshman HB Marcus Coker definitely was the difference. There's no way Iowa gets that performance from Adam Robinson. If Coker can stay healthy we may have our next Shonn G.
Ricky Stanzi is still a mystery in the head. He throws a good ball to the open receiver, but he still makes dumb mistakes by throwing into coverage when his guys aren't open. Bring on James Vandenberg.
# 7
aimiami @ Dec 29
Marcus Coker is only a freshman to, i agree with what you said about stanzi he is very up and down
# 8
rspencer86 @ Dec 29
You were spot-on about Coker, that dude ran all over the Tigers. Also got to credit the o-line because you could have taxied a 747 through some of the holes they were opening up.
My bitterness about how that game ended is fading very slowly, but it will be with me for a while.
My bitterness about how that game ended is fading very slowly, but it will be with me for a while.
# 9
jmik58 @ Dec 29
I was surprised the replay officials overturned that 4th down play against Missouri.
It looked like the ball may have touched the ground, and it looked like it definitely bobbled around as he slid out of bounds.
I think it was the correct call considering the rules, but I'm very surprised the original ruling was overturned since it was such a tough call.
The definition of a catch is one of the most mysterious things in all of sports and it's virtually impossible to catch a ball when going to the ground based on the current rules.
Again, it was the right call, but based on a bad rule.
Someone needs to seriously simplify the definition of a catch.
It looked like the ball may have touched the ground, and it looked like it definitely bobbled around as he slid out of bounds.
I think it was the correct call considering the rules, but I'm very surprised the original ruling was overturned since it was such a tough call.
The definition of a catch is one of the most mysterious things in all of sports and it's virtually impossible to catch a ball when going to the ground based on the current rules.
Again, it was the right call, but based on a bad rule.
Someone needs to seriously simplify the definition of a catch.
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The replacements might be able to play competently enough to keep Iowa competitive, but there's no way this helps them.
I've got Mizzou winning by 10, 27-17.