Special Teams in 2026: A special concern?

[HMB Trumpet]

Always seems like we find the right guy because we knew what qualities to look for like vision, shiftyness, and someone who isn't scared of getting hit. I think McNeil should be in the running for PR, possibly Dayton Howard too.

McNeil might make a good KR; not sure about PR, though. Regarding Howard, he may have sufficient speed and elusiveness, but you typically don't see tall guys returning kicks.

Anyone who has observed practice would have a much better idea, but I'm inclined to think we're more likely to see one of the new transfer receivers returning punts than either of those two guys.

 

[Hawkfan82]

I am slightly concerned about special teams, but only because Levar Woods is far and away the best ST coach in the country, and replicating his overall performance is most likely an impossible task.

I’m still confident that special teams will overall be good though. Ozick doesn’t have Steven’s leg, but he is more accurate. Which is less sexy, but more important at the end of the day. As long as they can hit 50, which he can, the K is fine. The punter is a toss up, but they will be okay at a minimum (probably).

Sidenote - there is only 1 Tory Taylor guys, he was a generational punter. There won’t be anyone as good as him in CFB as a whole, much less Iowa, for like 20 more years. Let’s adjust the punter expectations please.

Same goes for Wetjen. Once in a generation returner, first and only returner to win 2 Jet Awards. We will not see anyone like him for a minimum of 20 years. If Lutmer puts up only slightly above average numbers let’s not roast him please.

Cooper was immediately before wetjen right?

 

[2D]

McNeil might make a good KR; not sure about PR, though. Regarding Howard, he may have sufficient speed and elusiveness, but you typically don't see tall guys returning kicks.

Anyone who has observed practice would have a much better idea, but I'm inclined to think we're more likely to see one of the new transfer receivers returning punts than either of those two guys.

Might have had it mixed up, I think Lutmer will probably be the PR while possibly McNeil or KJ Parker as KR.

 

[Passing Is For COMMIES]

Cooper was immediately before wetjen right?

Yes. And Charlie Jones before Coop. Both great returners but Wetjen’s numbers were on a whole other level.

 

[2D]

Yes. And Charlie Jones before Coop. Both great returners but Wetjen’s numbers were on a whole other level.

That's why I called him "White Lightning Wetjen". I was also remember when I said we should include Wetjen more, a certain uneducated dumbass told me that was a bad thing. Turned out Wetj was an AA and a 2x Jet Award winner. Always love to be proven right. I'll miss his play making ability though.

 

[eyesofhawk]

That's why I called him "White Lightning Wetjen". I was also remember when I said we should include Wetjen more, a certain uneducated dumbass told me that was a bad thing. Turned out Wetj was an AA and a 2x Jet Award winner. Always love to be proven right. I'll miss his play making ability though.

The Jet Award is for returners, you raging idiot. No one ever questioned Wetjen's ability as a returner.

And I would say, the people who questioned his ability as an every down player, saw those concerns get played out, on the field.

Unfortunately Wetjen fell down, trying to run a simple route vs ISU, and leading to a pick six.

He jumped for no reason, on the key last play vs USC, causing them to be able to carry his momentum out of bounds. A true receiver likely makes that play, by not jumping.

And unfortunately, Kaden had the key fumble vs Oregon, when it was attempted to use him as a RB.

You live in, and present questionable realities

 

[eyesofhawk]

That's why I called him "White Lightning Wetjen". I was also remember when I said we should include Wetjen more, a certain uneducated dumbass told me that was a bad thing. Turned out Wetj was an AA and a 2x Jet Award winner. Always love to be proven right. I'll miss his play making ability though.

Surely, you caught Lester’s comments about Wetjen in the ANF podcast.

Said the guy just could not run routes.

Guess that one's settled too

 

[Tom Paris]

Nothing is a big concern. This is Iowa football we're talking about.

If there were a big concern, it wouldn't be special teams. This is Iowa football we're talking about.

McNeil will not be the punt returner.

And no one paid attention to special teams during the spring. These are football fans we're talking about.

It's not important that fans examine anything.

A special OP?

 

[Tom Paris]

Well, I was only addressing your comments about '22/'23.

But if the O has underperformed, in your mind, all those seasons, then offensive "performance" just isn't that important.

So who the hell cares?

When is the last time Kirk won a Big Ten championship? Made the playoffs? You know why he hasn’t won a title in 23 years? Because of a mediocre at best, generally bad to godawful, offense. Decades of stats and offensive rankings aren’t lying about how bad Kirk’s offense has been.

 

[eyesofhawk]

When is the last time Kirk won a Big Ten championship? Made the playoffs? You know why he hasn’t won a title in 23 years? Because of a mediocre at best, generally bad to godawful, offense. Decades of stats and offensive rankings aren’t lying about how bad Kirk’s offense has been.

I think you may have misunderstood what I was saying in the post you attached.

Regardless, much of what you say here can be challenged.

But even if there is some validity to what you say, what's your point? You're complaining about a hall of fame coach? I don't get it.

Pretty much, you are another to prove my point. You were complaining back when the offenses ranked in the 40's. Wrong priorities. Unwarranted complaint.

You complained through pretty much the entirety of a hall of fame career. Well done

 

[Tom Paris]

I think you may have misunderstood what I was saying in the post you attached.

Regardless, much of what you say here can be challenged.

But even if there is some validity to what you say, what's your point? You're complaining about a hall of fame coach? I don't get it.

Pretty much, you are another to prove my point. You were complaining back when the offenses ranked in the 40's. Wrong priorities. Unwarranted complaint.

You complained through pretty much the entirety of a hall of fame career. Well done

When was our offense in the 40s that I was complaining about? 2008?? 2002?? How many years of 40s and above offense have you seen from Kirk? HIS offense is the anchor to Iowa winning titles. You can’t challenge 26 years of stats and rankings.

 

[eyesofhawk]

When was our offense in the 40s that I was complaining about? 2008?? 2002?? How many years of 40s and above offense have you seen from Kirk? HIS offense is the anchor to Iowa winning titles. You can’t challenge 26 years of stats and rankings.

Yes, you can challenge the stats. For one thing, Kirk has told us himself that offensive yardage is overrated.

And you leave wins out of your offensive stats. The number one job of an offense is to help its team win.

To say offense has kept Iowa from winning titles is an extreme simplification. Just how would you have hypothetically kept everything the same, while achieving a better offense?

And again, even if the offense did keep Iowa from winning titles, what's your point? Iowa outperformed the expectations under KF. Same can be said vs top competition.

Titles or bust? How many titles would have done it for you? Because I know darn well that if Iowa would have won a conference title, you'd have been bitching that they didn't win a Natty because of the offense.

The only thing that can't be challenged is the wins and losses.

Again, you chose to complain the whole way through a hall of fame career. That's hard to do

 

[Tom Paris]

Yes, you can challenge the stats. For one thing, Kirk has told us himself that offensive yardage is overrated.

And you leave wins out of your offensive stats. The number one job of an offense is to help its team win.

To say offense has kept Iowa from winning titles is an extreme simplification. Just how would you have hypothetically kept everything the same, while achieving a better offense?

And again, even if the offense did keep Iowa from winning titles, what's your point? Iowa outperformed the expectations under KF. Same can be said vs top competition.

Titles or bust? How many titles would have done it for you? Because I know darn well that if Iowa would have won a conference title, you'd have been bitching that they didn'twin a Natty because of the offense.

The only thing that can't be challenged is the wins and losses.

Again, you chose to complain the whole way through a hall of fame career. That's hard to do

 

[2D]

Love seeing people fight back against that moron!