Dunker
- Thread starter The Deplorable Sleeping Dog
- Start date
Good in the running game...mixed results in the passing game. His footwork needs to improve so he's in position to stop the speed rush to the outside. The good thing...once he gets his hands on you...it's over.
The foot work will come. There is a big difference between guard and tackle in this regard. Colby couldn't make the change, it is good to hear that Dunker is starting to get it, if not yet consistent yet.
I did have high hopes for Colby at RT before the beginning of last year.
That move certainly dispelled any notion that offensive linemen are interchangeable. Dunker has the size to be a tackle, he looks like a grizzly bear so we could have a real good one if, big if, he can learn the footwork to overcome any lack of speed.
Having not seen a great deal of his play I feel I can still predict he would be an upgrade over Plumb and DeJong, whose instincts and footwork were awful.
The problem I feel with the OL is that we have a bunch of great guards- we just don't have any natural tackles.
I have been feeling this way as well for a few years. I am at the point where i wonder if we should leave open about 5 scholarships every year to hit the transfer portal hard to fill the gaps at positions of need. I saw some pretty good OT in the portal during the spring period.
Look for Connor Colby to have a possible breakout at LG. He played well as a true freshman. Hopefully, healthier and a stronger as a third year.
Don't know if they're great but Colby, Stephens, Dunker and even some Elsbury have shown ability to legit Big 10 starters, and in that order. DeJong cannot become the Petras of this year. I think that is why Feth is playing guard and a top level MAC lineman is still a good Big Ten lineman. The guards are there for a good line. We have a good LT. We just know the center was awful and the RT was awful. The C is still a question. Somehow between Dunker, Parker and Dotzler there is one guy ready to play tackle better than Plumb. I'm sure all three of those guys are quicker off the ball than Plumb.
If this line plays as well as 2020 Iowa's offense is going to make an explosive recovery in 2023.
I still think there is a lot of hope for Jones at C. He did really well at times but also had a lot of wiffs. Some of that might have been the newness to the position and understanding the calls for blocking assignments. When he got his hands on you, he was more than adequate.
He also had a lot of snap timing issues...never seemed like him and Petras were on the same page so hopefully he and CM can get that worked out.
Agreed, with Feth, Colby, Stephens, Elsbury, Myslinksi, Dunker we have plenty of options and experience inside.
Tackle - Dunker, Dejong, Parker & Richman - I am hopeful, but less experience and more questions
Tackle - Dunker, Dejong, Parker & Richman - I am hopeful, but less experience and more questions
I think we know Richman will be good and DeJong will probably not be good. Need to pull for Parker or Dunker to jump into the position. Complete question marks at RT.
You could be right. Might have been a short term move because of spring injuries. I might weep if I see DeJong in the starting lineup.
Most likely it's Parker. He signed up early and anyone that watched last season knows Iowa really needed a right tackle. Kind of assume he's the starter. The roster looks overloaded at guard and thin at tackle options.
Update: heard today, and just passing on FWIW, 2 things of note, one perhaps not surprising. First, Depending on Parker's health Dunker will take reps at tackle. If Parker is healthy he's no.1 right now and Jack Dotzler is moving up fast. Second, and this is the no surprise part, much of the offense will be in 12 personnel. Obviously that's been the common thinking and prediction is probably more evidence of the obvious.