Iowa Football: Grading the Positional Units at the Season Quarter Mark
Iowa Football: Grading the Positional Units at the Season Quarter Mark
The Iowa Hawkeyes seem to be reeling after a disappointing 2-2 start with losses to in-state rival Iowa State and most recently to Central Michigan at Kinnick Stadium. This was a Central Michigan team who was recently ranked as the 13th worst team in FBS Football.
In a season in which expectations for senior quarterback James Vandenberg were high, some of those expectations haven't been met yet. There have been some definite high points of the season where the offense and defense both have looked good at points, but as a team unit they haven't looked in sync.
This article will delve into the specific units of the team and grade them based on their performance a quarter of the way through the season. I'm going to be rough on some of the units because they have been more than rough through the first four games.
The grades will all be averaged on the following three categories: Game performance, performance under pressure and meeting expectations. Each will be graded out of 10 points and then averaged on a 30-point scale.
Quarterbacks: D
Performance: 7/10
Performance Under Pressure: 7/10
Meeting Expectations: 5/10
Average: 19/30 - 63%
A D may seem a bit harsh for Vandenberg, who has looked much better against UNI and Central Michigan than his questionable starts against Northern Illinois and Iowa State. Vandenberg has played average this season, which has been good enough for a 2-2 record.
This 2-2 record reflects poorly on Vandenberg because as the quarterback, he must share a good portion of the blame. His late interception against Iowa State took away any chance at sending it to overtime or a potential win. Another poor outing in the season opener left Iowa scrambling, and a Damon Bullock touchdown saved the day.
His receivers haven't helped him at all, but Vandenberg has constantly been throwing behind or ahead of receivers. He can't seem to get the chemistry with Keenan Davis that he has with Marvin McNutt, and it's evident as Iowa didn't throw a touchdown through the air until Week 4.
His biggest problem is that people expected him to be one of the best passers in the Big Ten this season and his performance thus far has just not cut it. He threw for over 3,000 yards last season and had a rating of 138.4. He currently stands with a rating of 111.1, more than 20 points lower. He hasn't taken his increased role in leadership very well and has underperformed thus far.
Vandenberg's performance down the stretch will dictate the difference between a total disaster and a miraculous turnaround compared to what we have seen so far.
Running Backs: A
Performance: 8/10
Performance Under Pressure: 9/10
Meeting Expectations: 11/10
Average: 28/30 - 93%
Categories are out of 10, but this group was supposed to be decimated by injuries and one of the weakest aspects of the team. Fullback turned feature back Mark Weisman has been everything that Iowa wants in a running back—a whole lot of power and stealthy speed.
Through two games he has 338 yards on 53 carries, and the best part of that is in just two games he already has six touchdowns. Without his performance in the Central Michigan and UNI games, it could have been a completely different story.
The actual fullbacks have been good and, along with the offensive line, have directly contributed to the success of the Air Force transfer Weisman. If this unit can continue at this rate, they will be the only one with a solid A all season.
Wide Receivers: D
Performance: 7/10
Performance Under Pressure: 5/10
Meeting Expectations: 8/10
Average: 20/30 - 66%
Costly drops and lack of execution give this unit a D to match quarterback James Vandenberg's. The wide receivers have just looked a bit out of sync in the first four games of the season, but have slowly warmed up their play.
It's been a rough transition for Keenan Davis to move from being a second option to being the go-to guy on critical passing downs. He could previously pass off that pressure to Marvin McNutt, but needed to step up to win the Iowa State rivalry game and came up empty-handed multiple times.
He definitely got better for the Central Michigan game, making a few great catches with very instinctive reactions to the ball. Davis has the most influence as a receiver on this grade and if he can become the guy who makes drive-saving catches, the grade won't be at a 50% for under-pressure.
Offensive Line: B
Performance: 8/10
Performance Under Pressure: 9/10
Meeting Expectations: 8/10
Average: 25/30 - 83%
If Weisman didn't have the breakout two-game explosion, the offensive line would be the strongest unit on the offense. They have allowed the running game to thrive under the leadership of center James Ferentz.
An all-Iowan offensive line has pushed around opposing defenses to the tune of 157.3 rushing yards per game, which should put them in a position to win every single game if continued. The game is won in the trenches, and the way the offensive line is playing right now can take pressure off of Vandenberg by allowing the run game to thrive.
Without a good offensive line, Weisman has no room to run. Although they have a lower grade, it doesn't necessarily mean they aren't a close second to Weisman for strongest unit on the offense. These guys didn't have the breakout potential, so give them the nod as a close second for strongest unit.
Tight Ends: C
Performance: 7/10
Performance Under Pressure: 7/10
Meeting Expectations: 7/10
Average: 21/30 - 70%
This grade is partially incomplete as also stated by Bleacher Report contributor Blake Friis in this article. He explains that it's hard to grade someone who really hasn't seemed to get the opportunity to shine as it was previously thought at the beginning of the season.
It's hard not to compare someone with the physical gifts of C.J. Fiedorowicz to the pedigree of Iowa tight ends before him. He gets a C- because his performance has been average across the board.
On the bright side, he can only grow from here. He's almost matched his 2011 stats, so his grade can rapidly improve if he can find a way to become a red-zone favorite for Vandenberg.
Iowa has split him out on certain plays. If they can find a way to get Fiedorowicz a jump ball in the end zone, his draft stock and grade can both improve.
Defensive Line: C
Performance: 8/10
Performance Under Pressure: 7/10
Meeting Expectations: 8/10
Average: 23/30 - 76%
The defensive line gets a higher C for their grade a quarter of the way through the season. They have been solidly average. The defensive line looked best in the games against Iowa State and UNI, getting solid penetration, hurrying quarterbacks multiple times and coming up with key sacks that put Iowa in a good position.
Against the run, they have been a bit below average but not horrible. They're only averaging 18.5 points against them, but have yet to play a team worthy of the Top 25. Once that happens, we'll see the true colors of this team.
With the rest of the season to grow and more opportunities for big plays as they enter Big Ten play, this unit will be the key to the rest of the season.
Linebackers: B
Performance: 8/10
Performance Under Pressure: 9/10
Meeting Expectations: 9/10
Average: 26/30 - 86%
This unit has carried the defense due to the superb effort of James Morris and Anthony Hitchens. With a 19-tackle performance against Iowa State, Hitchens jumps off the stat sheet as one the best defensive performances of the year so far in the Big Ten.
Morris has been the leader that the defense needs, especially with some fresh faces on the defensive line. Morris has shouldered the load for the defense and made key stops in the Iowa State game, including an interception which gave the Hawkeyes the ball and momentum late in the fourth quarter.
Against Northern Illinois, Morris also led the defensive effort that allowed the Hawkeyes to score a late touchdown and win by one point. Their performance hasn't been perfect, but this unit has led the charge when the defense needs a stop.
The best defensive unit by far has kept this team competitive on the defense side, and will really have to rally the defense in conference play.
Secondary: F
Performance: 6/10
Performance Under Pressure: 2/10
Meeting Expectations: 7/10
Average: 15/30 - 50%
The previous line of ball-hawking safeties and NFL-level cornerbacks is long gone at Iowa. In Iowa's two losses, this unit has arguably cost them the game. Going to a prevent defense late in the fourth quarter against Central Michigan couldn't even help the Hawkeye secondary from preventing an easy score by the Chippewas.
BJ Lowery has been the weak point, having blown a few costly coverages during the Iowa State and Central Michigan games. The reason their under-pressure rating is so low is because of the ease that Central Michigan had driving down the field.
They have had some bright spots though, only allowing a nine-point effort against Iowa State and keeping their offense in check. Although Iowa State quarterback Steele Jantz threw for 241 yards, the defense bent but didn't break—exactly what the defensive game plan should be, not what it has been at other times during the year.
Micah Hyde and Tanner Miller have played particularly well at times, but they aren't playing up to their big-play potential. If these two can make a few game-changing plays, their grade has no ceiling.
Special Teams: C
Performance: 10/10
Performance Under Pressure: 2/10
Meeting Expectations: 9/10
Average: 21/30 - 70%
I know the first thing you're thinking is that special teams are what cost us the game against Central Michigan and that they should have an F. They do—but just in their performance under pressure category.
At the time when we needed the special teams to execute the most, they failed to understand even after they saw the onside kick formation which Central Michigan chose to run.
Other than that gaffe though, the special teams have been above average and honestly, one of the brighter spots a quarter of the way through the season. Mike Meyer is 9/10 with a long of 50 and no gaffes inside of 30 yards. Meyer also kicked the game-winning extra point, the only thing that keeps the under-pressure score from reaching zero.
Connor Kornbrath and John Wienke have put the Hawks in great field position late in games and haven't had any problems with the punting game. A grade based solely on punting and kicking would be in the B+ to A- range, but keeping the ending of the Central Michigan in mind kills the grade of the special teams.
Coaching: F
This one is going to be short and sweet. Two new coordinators, zero new excitement. We've seen more of the same this year.
Kirk Ferentz teams have started slow often before, so this grade could easily increase in the next quarter of the season, but right now he deserves a big F.