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It cannot be overstated how important special teams have been to the Iowa Hawkeyes during Kirk Ferentz's tenure. The Hawkeyes are among the top teams in the nation in receiving contributions from this unit, be it field position, big returns, or field goals.
This year, Iowa has a lofty task ahead of it. Long-time special teams coordinator LeVar Woods departed for Michigan State, All-American returner Kaden Wetjen is headed to the NFL, and four-year place kicker Drew Stevens is joining him. Oh, and Iowa is welcoming in a new punter, a key part of their game plan.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz talked about all of the turnover and how Iowa is navigating a new era of special teams.
"I don't mean this disrespectfully to LeVar because LeVar is an excellent special teams coach, but we lost some all-time performers. You talk about the job that Drew did out there at place-kicking. Our punter did a really nice job and then Wetjen, you know, I don't know if I've been around a better return guy. I don't think I have in my time.
"You just talk about losing some guys that were really good performers. That's the focus right now is getting those guys where they're comfortable and then also at some point they're going to play into games. That's going to be a whole different deal for those guys, too, because outside of Eli, Eli's got experience, game experience, but for the most part it's a new territory for everybody.
"It's going to be an interesting ride and hopefully we will keep getting better and better. It's one more reason for all of the core guys to do a heck of a job. I mean, we're going to have to be really good in all phases with the other 10 guys, and then let the specialists get caught up experience-wise.
"I liken it to when Drew got here, whatever it was, four years ago, how bad it was in the spring. Then he came around in the fall and did a nice job as a first-year player. It's certainly possible. That's what we're hoping for and banking on. We have to start with just taking care of the basics and then if we can get beyond that, that would be really good," Ferentz said regarding the drastic changes Iowa is facing in the special teams department.
This year, Iowa faces an uphill battle to fully replicate the production they had from Kaden Wetjen and Drew Stevens in how they changed games. That said, the punting unit could have a higher ceiling than it did last year, when it was not quite up to Iowa's standards.
If the Hawkeyes do one thing right, it is to outplay teams on special teams. Don't expect that to change on Kirk Ferentz's watch.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire : Iowa football dissects special teams turnover, transformation
Continue reading...
This year, Iowa has a lofty task ahead of it. Long-time special teams coordinator LeVar Woods departed for Michigan State, All-American returner Kaden Wetjen is headed to the NFL, and four-year place kicker Drew Stevens is joining him. Oh, and Iowa is welcoming in a new punter, a key part of their game plan.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz talked about all of the turnover and how Iowa is navigating a new era of special teams.
"I don't mean this disrespectfully to LeVar because LeVar is an excellent special teams coach, but we lost some all-time performers. You talk about the job that Drew did out there at place-kicking. Our punter did a really nice job and then Wetjen, you know, I don't know if I've been around a better return guy. I don't think I have in my time.
"You just talk about losing some guys that were really good performers. That's the focus right now is getting those guys where they're comfortable and then also at some point they're going to play into games. That's going to be a whole different deal for those guys, too, because outside of Eli, Eli's got experience, game experience, but for the most part it's a new territory for everybody.
"It's going to be an interesting ride and hopefully we will keep getting better and better. It's one more reason for all of the core guys to do a heck of a job. I mean, we're going to have to be really good in all phases with the other 10 guys, and then let the specialists get caught up experience-wise.
"I liken it to when Drew got here, whatever it was, four years ago, how bad it was in the spring. Then he came around in the fall and did a nice job as a first-year player. It's certainly possible. That's what we're hoping for and banking on. We have to start with just taking care of the basics and then if we can get beyond that, that would be really good," Ferentz said regarding the drastic changes Iowa is facing in the special teams department.
This year, Iowa faces an uphill battle to fully replicate the production they had from Kaden Wetjen and Drew Stevens in how they changed games. That said, the punting unit could have a higher ceiling than it did last year, when it was not quite up to Iowa's standards.
If the Hawkeyes do one thing right, it is to outplay teams on special teams. Don't expect that to change on Kirk Ferentz's watch.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire : Iowa football dissects special teams turnover, transformation
Continue reading...
