2024 Iowa Offseason thread

[LittlePig]

Johns’ spread offense includes lots of motion and high usage of run-pass options to get playmakers in space. 

Is Kirk really thinking of hiring a spread offense coach? 

[FearlessF]

that would surprise me and many

Duke’s offense last season was 96th in the country in total offense with 348 yards per game, and the Blue Devils were 68th in scoring offense at 26.9 points per game.

[Mdot21]

that would surprise me and many

Duke’s offense last season was 96th in the country in total offense with 348 yards per game, and the Blue Devils were 68th in scoring offense at 26.9 points per game.

a) it's Duke, they probably have even less raw offensive talent than Iowa. 

b) if Iowa's had a scoring offense that was giving them 27 points a game they'd be a borderline playoff team with what they always have on D and special teams

[MrNubbz]

Iowa was dead last nationally in total offense in '23,2nd to last in '22. Does Brian even get a gig volunteering for a Pop Warner team or even pick up games during recess at the local K-6?

[FearlessF]

a) it's Duke, they probably have even less raw offensive talent than Iowa.

b) if Iowa's had a scoring offense that was giving them 27 points a game they'd be a borderline playoff team with what they always have on D and special teams

it's Duke, they don't play Big Ten defenses
Johns has had experience in the B1G

[847badgerfan]

Tim Lester?

[LittlePig]

Tim Lester?

Yes, Tim Lester is the new Iowa Offensive coordinater.

Former QB and head coach for Western Michigan. 

[FearlessF]

apparently

good luck

[847badgerfan]

Yes, Tim Lester is the new Iowa Offensive coordinater.

Former QB and head coach for Western Michigan.

Did he play under PJ Barnum?

[Hawkinole]

I am as unimpressed with The Tim Lester hire, as I was with the two prior hires at OC, Greg Davis and Brian Ferentz. Actually, I was more unimpressed with the Brian Ferentz hire than the Time Lester hire, but they are both unimpressive hires.

[FearlessF]

would really surprise me if Tim turned out as poorly as Brian and Greg.

but, I suppose it's possible

[LittlePig]

I don't hate the Tim Lester hire as much as some fans seem to be reacting to it.

Sure, Paul Chryst would have been the home run hire but after he turned it down,  what do you expect?

Tim Lester not only played QB but was a pretty good college QB,  throwing for 11,000 yards for WMU from 96-99.  Lester also has coaching experience at many levels,  high school, small college assistant (QB/OC) and HC,  MAC HC, P5 assistant (QB/OC) ,  and also as an NFL analyst.

Lester had pretty good offenses when he was head coach at WMU except for 2022.  Interestingly,  Keivn Johns was Lester's OC at WMU in 2017

Lester's offense is a run-pass option where the QB does not actually run much.  Which sounds similar to Kevin Johns philosophy  although Lester does not run a spread and Johns does run a spread?  Is that right? 

It's not an awful hire.  It will be interesting what Lester gets paid.  Chryst probably would have got $2M.  I am guessing Iowa will offer Lester around $1M.   

Lester was set to take the OC job at Troy before being offered OC at Iowa, and I think he made $600k as the head coach at WMU.  So Lester will be getting a nice bump in pay.

[Hawkinole]

I read Lester made $800k at WMU. Run pass option didn't seem to be in Iowa's playbook the past few years. Spencer Petras could not have pulled it off, nor could Deacon Hill pull off a run pass option in 2023. Cade McNamara most likely will be too immobile coming off knee surgeries in consecutive years.

It seemed to me Iowa could have put a lot more pressure on cornerbacks with an occasional triple option play which Hayden Fry used to run. I am sure Kirk Ferentz thinks that play is just too risky from a ball security standpoint, but it draws cornerbacks in and if you run it occasionally and then do a play action pass that looks like a triple option starting out, there are some good tight end passes in the flat or some longer WR passes that can open up.

Brian's offense usually included no misdirection (until 2023), included no triple option play, seemed to include no run-pass option. 

[LittlePig]

It seemed to me Iowa could have put a lot more pressure on cornerbacks with an occasional triple option play which Hayden Fry used to run. I am sure Kirk Ferentz thinks that play is just too risky from a ball security standpoint, but it draws cornerbacks in and if you run it occasionally and then do a play action pass that looks like a triple option starting out, there are some good tight end passes in the flat or some longer WR passes that can open up.

Yup,  also we saw the 49ers clinch a spot to the super bowl yesterday with a Brock Purdy scramble, that turned into a QB run for a first down, on the last drive.  It makes a difference if you have a QB that can run when nobody is open.