90 minute interview with Tim Lester - ANF Podcast

2D

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Not a lot happens during the off season, so seeing long interviews like this is a breath of fresh air. The ANF guys are the best, so for them to speak to Lester for so long is an amazing listen. Enjoy Hawk fans!





Ignore the retard who will inevitably derail this thread and always remember, Pass The Ball!
 

2D

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Dang you beat me to the punch posting… midway through listening on my lunch break. The more Tim talks the more excited I get.

I love how he talks about the “home run” plays. Attention to detail is great, feels like we have a chess grandmaster calling plays.
All Tim needs is time to implement his scheme and get the right guys. Trying to get out of the hole that moron Brian left us in is a very tough ask. But we're steadily improving because Tim is a super sharp offensive mind. I still believe in him that he'll set the ship right on offense.
 

2D

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Around the 53 minute mark, Tim talks about the win against Minnesota and that Matt Lafleur called him after to congratulate him. Tim said he was busy recruiting a QB so he couldn't celebrate. Matt said that the best place to learn an NFL offense is here at Iowa and that he should mention that to the recruit. Tim says "why dont you tell him?". So Tim got Matt on FaceTime to tell the recruit, who happened to be Tradon Bessinger, that Iowa is the place to be to learn an NFL offense. Bessinger would go on to commit a week later.

We have NFL coaches going to bat for us saying our offense is the best way to prepare for the NFL. That's huge for us.
 

WeBeHerkin

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Doesn't mean anything until our offense proves to potential players we can produce results. Over the past two years our offense has improved statistically in nearly every category. Takes time to build those numbers and make a convincing argument to players in the portal to play for us.
Verne, its about money. So many head coaches have said this over and over and over
 
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iahawkeyes17

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Verne, its about money. So many head coaches have said this over and over and over
It’s a huge part but production still matters to a certain degree. Every off season people post that we need to just go out and buy a top notch wr to fix the issue. Well it takes two to tango and those top tier guys asking for $ have options and want to play for a school where they see action. Iowa doesn’t move the needle at wr for guys. Until we prove it on the field that isn’t going to change and then we become more attractive to higher caliber players in portal at that position.
 
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Verne, it’s about money. So many head coaches have said this over and over and over
Yes, To a point. Would you move to North Korea for a 25% bump in pay? I imagine not. Iowa post BF was North Korea to WRs and QBs.

Lester needed to improve the offense to give himself a recruiting pitch. I think he’s done enough to sway some guys, notably poaching Diaz from bama and Bessinger from Boise State. He goes over some recruiting stories/points in the 2nd half of the podcast.
 

WeBeHerkin

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Yes, To a point. Would you move to North Korea for a 25% bump in pay? I imagine not. Iowa post BF was North Korea to WRs and QBs.

Lester needed to improve the offense to give himself a recruiting pitch. I think he’s done enough to sway some guys, notably poaching Diaz from bama and Bessinger from Boise State. He goes over some recruiting stories/points in the 2nd half of the podcast.
Kind of extreme there. No I would not take a pay raise to go to a place my life would be in danger on some crackpot's whim.
 
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35 minute mark he mentions this is the best skill group he’s had. Mentions a specific playset they haven’t been able to call because they don’t have the right WR to run it, says both Diaz and James can do it this year.
Are we finally gonna do it?.............................Are we finally gonna win..................a National f***ING CHAMPIONSHIP!?!?!? 😃😃😃
 

2D

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Some summarized points from Lester:
-mentioned going more vertical than horizontal this year
-mentioned more explosive players (quantity) to use this year
-TL understands explosive teams are always great at running the ball, this works to our run first mentality
-QBs will not run as much compared to Mark, especially in the A gap
 

eyesofhawk

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All Tim needs is time to implement his scheme and get the right guys. Trying to get out of the hole that moron Brian left us in is a very tough ask. But we're steadily improving because Tim is a super sharp offensive mind. I still believe in him that he'll set the ship right on offense.
Brian left Iowa in no hole. The offense was poised to make a jump because of an o-line that would be inherited in good shape, as KF told us before Lester was hired.

How long does it take to implement a scheme? Based on what Tim said, (and I wouldn't necessarily share this sentiment completely) it could easily be argued that TL's sysytem has been too complicated, which has cost Iowa games
 

eyesofhawk

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Around the 53 minute mark, Tim talks about the win against Minnesota and that Matt Lafleur called him after to congratulate him. Tim said he was busy recruiting a QB so he couldn't celebrate. Matt said that the best place to learn an NFL offense is here at Iowa and that he should mention that to the recruit. Tim says "why dont you tell him?". So Tim got Matt on FaceTime to tell the recruit, who happened to be Tradon Bessinger, that Iowa is the place to be to learn an NFL offense. Bessinger would go on to commit a week later.

We have NFL coaches going to bat for us saying our offense is the best way to prepare for the NFL. That's huge for us.
Yes.

And not the first time that dynamic has existed at Iowa
 

eyesofhawk

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Doesn't mean anything until our offense proves to potential players we can produce results. Over the past two years our offense has improved statistically in nearly every category. Takes time to build those numbers and make a convincing argument to players in the portal to play for us.
Offense has not improved in the wins category
 
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eyesofhawk

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Some summarized points from Lester:
-mentioned going more vertical than horizontal this year
-mentioned more explosive players (quantity) to use this year
-TL understands explosive teams are always great at running the ball, this works to our run first mentality
-QBs will not run as much compared to Mark, especially in the A gap
No, TL didn't mention going more vertical than horizontal. He agreed with that characterization, which was presented to him in a question.

No, the explosive plays work BECAUSE of the run game
 

r_desihawk

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i'm planning to get through this vid over the next few days but in the meanwhile does lester sound excited optimistic about the qb running this years O
 
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2D

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i'm planning to get through this vid over the next few days but in the meanwhile does lester sound excited optimistic about the qb running this years O
He briefly talks about the guys, but this felt more like a discussion about his offensive philosophies and previous plays over the past two years. He also mentions a few receivers like Diaz. But it does sound like the offense will be run differently now that we don't have a running QB like Mark, with an emphasis on going more vertical than horizontal.
 
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BunchofAholes

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While I still think Seth Wallace is being groomed for the next HC position, I'd love Lester as the next HC. He's already got experience in that position and everyone loves the guy.
The question is groomed by whom? I think BG will make her own choice. Wallace has been put where he is by KFz.
 
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eyesofhawk

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Always love the ANF guys. Real football talk. None of that narrative crap. And their insight has made me a Iittle dough in handicapping.

Lester great, as well. Confirmed a lot of what I've said all along:

-at least by his experience, TL says KF rarely has much to say to him during the game. So much for the "meddling micro-manager" narrative.

-as part of his scheme, TL plays the best Jimmies and Joes on 1st and 2nd down, and builds his X's and O''s off that. Considering the most important Jimmies and Joes are on the line, TL's comments do nothing to support the narratives that overvalued scheme when Iowa's offense stalled out.

-TL's literal pitch to Diaz was: receivers at Indiana, Oregon, OSU are able to succeed BECAUSE of how much they run the ball (which is more than Iowa).

Welcome to football.

Turns out, there are guys that are more concerned with being part of a winner, than personal stats. Welcome to football.

Iowa doesn't necessarily want guys that are concerned with personal stats anyway.

So much for the "Iowa has to open it up to attract more receiver talent" narrative. That narrative was just a reaction from fans, based on their false belief that Iowa's broken offense for a couple seasons was due to lack of WR talent.

WR talent wasn't much of a part of the build that made Iowa's offense, at least good enough, for two decades, anyway.

So naturally, if you look to what did make Iowa tick offensively, and what did make up Iowa's build, you would find how it temporarily didn't tick. And that all points to the o-line. Groundbreaking 150+year football truths here, people.

-TL talked about the inteception early vs Vandy, that they picked in the end zone, after having gone through Williams' hands. Said he wishes he could have that play-call back and just pounded the rock.

This is one of the plays I've mentioned, as an example of TL forfeiting opportunities to pound on the defense.

I was really starting to like what I was hearing. Then after saying all that, TL says that he'd still probably make the same pass call, based on the look, lol.

So, one of the two ways in which concern has barely begun to creep into my mind, about Iowa football in 26+ years, remains. As much as I like TL, I question how much the run game is truly in his heart. He's always talking about setting up shot plays. And there have been a lot of moments that have proven the chess pieces, the look, the idea (play design), to be what's in Tim's heart. He always talks about wanting more and more ideas from his staff.

Here's an idea. Pound on that defense
 
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Grayhair1981

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Again, careful with the term "growth".

So far, increased offensive "production" has not led to more wins
Gee could that POSSIBLY be related to the schedules they played the last two years compared to the B1G West days? Or maybe to the decline in the defense, also related to the harder schedules? The 25 team competed with and had a chance to beat everyone they played. Not like the 0-92 *** poundings in 23
 

2D

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The question is groomed by whom? I think BG will make her own choice. Wallace has been put where he is by KFz.
I'd assume by Kirk himself. I think the fact we gave him the Assistant HC position shows that Wallace has intentions of being an HC himself. Wouldn't surprise me if he's been contacted by other schools to take over as coach. Personally, I'd rather have him take over DC when Phil retires. Like with Kirk, I think we'll hire within.
 

2D

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Gee could that POSSIBLY be related to the schedules they played the last two years compared to the B1G West days? Or maybe to the decline in the defense, also related to the harder schedules? The 25 team competed with and had a chance to beat everyone they played. Not like the 0-92 *** poundings in 23
Correct. It's no coincidence that we had less wins after the B1G West was dissolved. Iowa, for all intents and purposes, was better than every team in that division, with only Wisconsin challenging us as the top team. Now that we no longer continually play the Purdue's and Northwestern's of the conference on a yearly basis, but instead top 15 programs like Oregon and USC, there's a higher chance for more losses as the competition has taken a step up. But now instead of being blown out with zero offensive output, we're pushing these teams to the last minute of the game, but sadly we lack the athletes that they do. It will take time for us to change the perception of our offense in the eyes of potential recruits and portal players. No one is asking for thr air raid, but instead for a competent, effective, and dangerous offense where we see production everywhere.

Sadly, some retards think 2023 is peak football (including blow out losses to good teams). Luckily they'll never be on the Iowa staff, nor will they ever rub elbows with Kirk.
 
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DukeSlater

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Dang you beat me to the punch posting… midway through listening on my lunch break. The more Tim talks the more excited I get.

I love how he talks about the “home run” plays. Attention to detail is great, feels like we have a chess grandmaster calling plays.
So you notice a difference between Lester and, say, Brian Ferentz, the guy who'd still be the OC and QB coach if Beth Goetz hadn't fired Brian. Let's never forget that.
 
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DukeSlater

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Kind of extreme there. No I would not take a pay raise to go to a place my life would be in danger on some crackpot's whim.
You must not live in the United States then, or you maybe never heard of people like Alex Pretti or Renee Good, US citizens murdered in broad daylight by masked government thugs. Despite both murders being caught on video, many months later, no one has been charged with either murder. You might be safer in North Korea.
 

DukeSlater

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Brian left Iowa in no hole. The offense was poised to make a jump because of an o-line that would be inherited in good shape, as KF told us before Lester was hired.

How long does it take to implement a scheme? Based on what Tim said, (and I wouldn't necessarily share this sentiment completely) it could easily be argued that TL's sysytem has been too complicated, which has cost Iowa games
Brian Ferentz, is that you? :eek:
 

Grayhair1981

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Correct. It's no coincidence that we had less wins after the B1G West was dissolved. Iowa, for all intents and purposes, was better than every team in that division, with only Wisconsin challenging us as the top team. Now that we no longer continually play the Purdue's and Northwestern's of the conference on a yearly basis, but instead top 15 programs like Oregon and USC, there's a higher chance for more losses as the competition has taken a step up. But now instead of being blown out with zero offensive output, we're pushing these teams to the last minute of the game, but sadly we lack the athletes that they do. It will take time for us to change the perception of our offense in the eyes of potential recruits and portal players. No one is asking for thr air raid, but instead for a competent, effective, and dangerous offense where we see production everywhere.

Sadly, some retards think 2023 is peak football (including blow out losses to good teams). Luckily they'll never be on the Iowa staff, nor will they ever rub elbows with Kirk.
I agree with most of that but KF is never going to embrace the concept of outscoring his opponent
 

eyesofhawk

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You should be "careful" you don't keep showing your A--. Before long your going to be talking to yourself when everyone on here has you on ignore. Won't that be fun......
Well, must have shown my azz on this one years ago, then.

Because the only thing I know is, before '24 I predicted:

1. That offensive "production" would increase

2. That fan negativity would temporarily decrease

3. And, that wins would temporarily decrease.

And that's entirely a commentary on fans
 

Hawkangler

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You must not live in the United States then, or you maybe never heard of people like Alex Pretti or Renee Good, US citizens murdered in broad daylight by masked government thugs. Despite both murders being caught on video, many months later, no one has been charged with either murder. You might be safer in North Korea.
I've read enough of your political crap, ignore!
 

Kceasthawk@77

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Well, must have shown my azz on this one years ago, then.

Because the only thing I know is, before '24 I predicted:

1. That offensive "production" would increase

2. That fan negativity would temporarily decrease

3. And, that wins would temporarily decrease.

And that's entirely a commentary on fans
If you cant understand the difference in winning 9 games and playing the National champs to a couple of points, (the ONLY team that did that), Having top 5 Oregon beat until the last seconds, and beating up a pretty damn good vandy team, and what's had been going on prior to Lester getting here then your just showing that backside, without question.