 Marc MorehouseHi, I'm Marc Morehouse. I've covered sports for more than 15 years, mostly in Eastern Iowa. I've had Hayden Fry [...] |
|
Email the author
No. 1 — QB James Vandenberg
Marc Morehouse concludes list of the top-45 Iowa football players
Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg (16) lines up a pass in the second quarter of the Michigan game at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, in Iowa City. (Liz Martin/SourceMedia Group News)
QUARTERBACK JAMES VANDENBERG
Arrival: Vandenberg is a senior. It seems just like yesterday when he took the field as a redshirt freshman against Ohio State . . . at the Horseshoe . . . with the Rose Bowl on the line.
Vandenberg posted a 1-1 record as a starter in ’09, when he replaced injured Ricky Stanzi. Then, as a sophomore in ’10, Stanzi stayed healthy and Vandenberg threw just eight passes.
Last season, Vandenberg took over. His numbers were terrific — 3,022 yards (No. 4 on Iowa’s season record list), 25 TDs (No. 9 for a season) and just seven interceptions. The only number that you could quibble about was completion percentage (58.7 percent), and even that could be explained by Vandenberg’s 404 attempts, the second most in Iowa history.
The victories and road record (1-5 counting the Insight Bowl), those need improvement. Poise in the pocket? That’s a debate, and it’s something that few first-year starters nail down. You had both ends of the spectrum — greatest comeback victory in Iowa history, 31-27 over Pitt (399 passing yards vs. Pittsburgh tied as seventh best single-game total in school history, while 31 completions ranked fourth best and 48 attempts tied for seventh best) and a mad scramble to nowhere at the end of the Minnesota loss.
He was named to the Capital One/CoSIDA District Six Academic All-America team and is a two-time academic all-Big Ten honoree. He is on the Maxwell Award and College Football Performance Award preseason watch lists.
Because there is zero experience at quarterback beyond Vandenberg, he is Iowa’s most irreplaceable player.
2012 Takeoff: Vandenberg is the translator.
He takes first-year offensive coordinator Greg Davis’ offense and terminology and communicates it to the rest.
Vandenberg said it took some time, but the offense made strides. Earlier this summer, he talked comfort level on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being most knowledgeable.
“Out of 10, I would’ve given myself a 6, maybe 7,” he said. “I’m a little higher than that now. I just want to continue to grow. I was probably at a 9 and a half on the old playbook and that’s where I want to be in this one. I was in that system for four years.
“It’s been easier to learn than I could’ve imagined. Once you know college concepts, it’s all kind of the same. It’s a lot of new terminology, so more than anything, it’s getting comfortable with it.”
Of course, when spring practice ended, organized team activities ended because that’s against NCAA rules. This summer, Iowa’s 7 on 7 has been 100 percent Davis’ new passing schemes, passing ladders and all that football terminology.
Vandenberg visited Davis’ office more than a few times this summer. He’s been leaning on him to learn this and be able to translate it by the time practice starts Aug. 3 (or Aug. 6).
“Me and him hang out all the time, we meet a lot,” Vandenberg said. “We just want to really detail things.
“I want to know what he’s thinking when he calls certain plays. It got to that point with the other offense. That’s the little thing. It’s not knowing the play, it’s knowing when the play might be called. How many yards you’re going to get if you dump it to this guy? All the intricacies that go with a complex offense.”
Vandenberg’s video study has been Iowa’s spring practice, watching Iowa run bits and pieces of Texas’ offense under Davis.
“We have a lot of good cuts of the plays run by us now,” Vandenberg said. “We don’t have to watch Texas clips. Obviously, they ran it well, too, but being able to see us on film and learn from the mistakes we made those first couple of practices and how we kind of changed is nice.
“We’ve got a cut of everything with us doing it, that’s something we’re all checking out, down to the smallest details. We’ve got to keep that train going during the summer.”
So, the idea is to look a lot like Texas, probably with Colt McCoy at QB. That could work. It’ll take time and translation, but it could work.
Last Monday, the ESPN.com Big Ten blogger staffed put Vandenberg as the No. 2 QB going into the Big Ten season. Michigan’s Denard Robinson was the No. 1.
What’s the essential difference between the two? Robinson makes plays that aren’t there. Vandenberg makes plays within an offense. Robinson is a threat with his feet. Vandenberg is a thrower who can make positive plays on the run.
This might be the essential Vandenberg question — Can he make something out of nothing?
-u20042.png?1366232523)
Marc;
Out of my love for what Mr. Paul Davis has done for our country and knowing he will call me a “homer”, thanks for this series. This series has made the summer move by with a great anticipation for this fall. Thank you.
You bet, Tom! Glad you enjoyed it. It was fun for me. I might need to trim the list a little next year, but I think this is a keeper.
I’m certainly hope JV can stay healthy (and have a very
successful season), not that I don’t think the backup QB’s
could do the job but behind JV there is no experience on the field. Maybe Capt Kirk could get the Pervert State U
QB to come to the Hawks.
If this were the NFL, Iowa would be shopping for a veteran backup a la Mark Brunell. Someone who could maybe hold the line and who didn’t cost too much.
It would be nice to see the overall list 1-45. I can’t recall what is the highest D-Lineman ranked?
I’ll work on it. Great idea, though.
Vandenberg showed some very suspect footwork last year. He’s very dependent on that too, which is why he rarely was able to make something out of nothing like past Iowa QBs. His throwing motion is a huge body windup and when he is rhythm he’s good to above average but he’s easily thrown off rhythm. Iowa State was an excellent example of that and there were others too.
I expect Davis has seen the film and probably realizes that best way to exploit JVBs talent and mitigate his lack of athleticism is to do everything very quickly, usually out of the gun, so that he does NOT have to improvise (his rollout passing was very substandard). As a result, the screen, slant and fade routes will likely be staples. I think we run out of the gun and utilize backs and TEs more this year than last as well.
I think you are correct though, if Iowa is going anywhere it will depend upon JVB being a very good QB and making plays he was unable to make in crunch time last year, and his cast will have to support him mightily and several positions will have to play above their talent level.
I think if KOK were still here we’d almost be assured a 6 win season but I can see Davis throwing more curveballs and utilizing JVBs experience and intellect with no huddle, quick snaps, audibles, and hot reads. I know KOK did some of that last year but even Kirk admitted it was “out of character” whereas that is Greg Davis.
Fingers crossed for Vandy.
Excellent observations, Pete. Well done.
Remember, the mission statement from Greg Davis is “doing what the players do best.” I think you’re on to something with Vandenberg and the gun.
Hey, Tom Christensen, I’m a homer too! And you are right. It has been a loooong stretch between the Insight Bowl and Soldier Field on September 1, hasn’t it?
Go Hawks!
All on the same team, I like this. Team chemistry is important, gentlemen!
I believe it was 31-27 over Pitt, not 27-24
Correct. Laziness on my part. Will fix. Thank you!
Marc, a little off topic, but caught some of BOB’s interview on ESPN Radio regarding Penn St. transfers. What’s your expectation on Iowa being a destination for one or a few? I was thinking maybe Malik Golden, Akeel Lynch, or (outside shot) Silas Redd. I know USC has expressed interest in Redd. It would be great to get a D lineman, but I’m not familiar who they have in their arsenal there.
No Silas Redd. The names you mentioned would be good guesses. Golden did actually commit to Iowa for about three days. WR and RB are need positions.
DL Anthony Zettel could be another one. He was recruited by Iowa. Maybe DL Evan Schwan.
These are just names I’m throwing out. I’m guessing players reached out to Iowa.
If anyone wants to play for Iowa this year, they have to move on it by Aug. 6. That’s when PSU starts its season, at which point they’re locked in and can’t play for another school this year.
Ah, thanks for the help on the D line guys. I think now Illinois is sending what, 6 coaches or something to Penn State to discuss transfer opportunities? That seems beyond repulsive and distasteful. Beckman just surpassed Bielema and Dantonio on the most despicable coach list in the Big Ten.
JVB had a very nice year last year & I feel he could have a better year this year IF his receivers cut down on the drops that they had last year—and yes! Many [most] were catchable.