Walter Woods

[Aclone]

I have no problem with Woods. After all, Jake McDonough, leyon Laing and Rosey Maggitt all emerged in the redshirt soph season to contribute, and that's what Walter will be this Fall. Along with Aaron Moore and Willie Scott.

On the other hand, replenishing talent is a continuously renewing cycle--and there are certain roles not currently represented on the roster. A run stuffing tackle or two to counterbalance all the finesse guys seems (quite clearly) to be something the staff is looking for.

It'll happen, one way or another. Whether it will be this recruiting class will be seen in a couple of weeks. :biggrin:

 

[ajk4st8]

Woods looks about 5'9 in person. really much smaller than i imagined.

He looks extremely uncoordinated watching those videos of practice on Cyclones.com last year.

Im just hoping that was all due to some sort of injury.

 

[bfross]

We also have Aaron Moore, who I think will move inside. He was the scout team player of the year his redshirt year.

Moore would probably have to add about 45 pounds to move inside.

 

[Frak]

I have no problem with Woods. After all, Jake McDonough, leyon Laing and Rosey Maggitt all emerged in the redshirt soph season to contribute, and that's what Walter will be this Fall. Along with Aaron Moore and Willie Scott.

On the other hand, replenishing talent is a continuously renewing cycle--and there are certain roles not currently represented on the roster. A run stuffing tackle or two to counterbalance all the finesse guys seems (quite clearly) to be something the staff is looking for.

It'll happen, one way or another. Whether it will be this recruiting class will be seen in a couple of weeks. :biggrin:

I'd be shocked if Willie Scott plays a meaningful down for ISU. The guy is tiny. Maybe he gets in on some 3rd and longs as an upperclassman, but I don't think that he'll ever be an every down player. Big OTs just envelope him. I COULD see Aaron Moore moving inside though.

 

[Stormin]

Many of Iowa's DT's have been weighing about 270 lbs or so. Klug, Daniels, King and Hardy are not that big.

As far as recruiting DT's, I don't think it is very wise to recruit a DT just for the sake of recruiting a DT. If we don't have any DT targets who project to play in the future, WHY take them??

DT is a tough position to fill no matter what level you are at. Look at the NFL. DT is probably the biggest need area for all teams. Same is true in college.

 

[CloneIce]

I'm hopeful on Woods, but any time a 300 lb. man blows out his knee, I worry about how he will recover. Its a tough injury for a big man to come back from.

 

[CloneIce]

For all the people ******** about the DLine recruiting. This guy is more impressive than any of our remaining DT recruits.

I disagree with that statement. More impressed with the JC DT who was Defensive MVP of his conference, based on his production at a lower level in college.

 

[cyatheart]

How much time did Woods see last year? The fact we were playing Taylor Mansfield does not make me feel confident. Maybe there is a reason we are not going harder after some guys. I hope so.

Yeah, we all know D linemen are all ready to play as freshmen, never get any better as they get older and fill out. And also as we all know, players never improve from their reshirt freshmen year to their senior year. Woods clearly sucks.

 

[cyhiphopp]

Yeah, we all know D linemen are all ready to play as freshmen, never get any better as they get older and fill out. And also as we all know, players never improve from their reshirt freshmen year to their senior year. Woods clearly sucks.

It's also obvious that CPR and staff haven't been trying to recruit DTs at all and are no longer even trying to get any DTs for this class.

(Pirate implied)

 

[brett108]

It's also obvious that CPR and staff haven't been trying to recruit DTs at all and are no longer even trying to get any DTs for this class.

(Pirate implied)

I am of the opinion that we needed to focus more on DTs early in the recruiting cycle. I am basing this off of what I know, right or wrong. Feel free to correct me.

1. DT was not a team strength last year. We could not control the offensive line, or even stop them from moving our DTs off the ball several yards in multiple games. Pressure up the middle was nonexistant the whole year, and we only established a pass rusher when Lattimer came into his own.

2. We were using 3 DTs most of the year until Johnson was hurt. We then started using a conveted FB(Mansfield) as a body on the DL. That is not overly impressive, and tells me that there was no one better on the bench.

3. The scout team is not the real thing. I heard numerous reports two years ago about Jerod Black, and how dangerous he was on the socut team. Yet he got passed over in the rotation by a converted FB? This does not fit. So excuse me if I am withholding judgement on Mr. All-Scout Woods, and am going into next season expecting nothing out of him. Especially after an injury.

4.We had one DT in last years class(Branden Jensen).

5. We have had 3 DTs visit this year. Louvan Green, Kaleb Johnson, and Keithen English. We cooled on English when he cooled on us, so I do not think he is an option. Green loved us, but is still takin his visits. and he has one at Baylor so I am not signing him up yet. And Kaleb Johnson just landed a Miami offer, and from early reports was not taking us seriously before his visit. This may have changed, but we are not going to be able to offer what Miami is.

6. All of our visits have come in the last few months and weeks before singing day. as far as I know, we did not have any visitors who were being recruited as DT come to watch a game except for English, who is the longest of shots. This could be wrong on my part, and feel free to offer some guys who did visit as DT recruits during this period.

All in all, we are looking at the possibility of no JUCO help for next year, which means I expect little to no progress on our worst position last year(people will debate with WR, but they had their games). Also, we could end up with only one developmental DT in two years. This scares me for the future.

Is this scenario likely to play out? No, they will find some players to put in the pipeline. I think Bobby Richardson is a fallback guy that will likely be headed our way. But if you look around the Big 12, teams at our level(Kansas, KSU, TTU) all have some developmental DTs on the verbal list. We don't.

 

[cyhiphopp]

I am of the opinion that we needed to focus more on DTs early in the recruiting cycle. I am basing this off of what I know, right or wrong. Feel free to correct me.

1. DT was not a team strength last year. We could not control the offensive line, or even stop them from moving our DTs off the ball several yards in multiple games. Pressure up the middle was nonexistant the whole year, and we only established a pass rusher when Lattimer came into his own.

2. We were using 3 DTs most of the year until Johnson was hurt. We then started using a conveted FB(Mansfield) as a body on the DL. That is not overly impressive, and tells me that there was no one better on the bench.

3. The scout team is not the real thing. I heard numerous reports two years ago about Jerod Black, and how dangerous he was on the socut team. Yet he got passed over in the rotation by a converted FB? This does not fit. So excuse me if I am withholding judgement on Mr. All-Scout Woods, and am going into next season expecting nothing out of him. Especially after an injury.

4.We had one DT in last years class(Branden Jensen).

5. We have had 3 DTs visit this year. Louvan Green, Kaleb Johnson, and Keithen English. We cooled on English when he cooled on us, so I do not think he is an option. Green loved us, but is still takin his visits. and he has one at Baylor so I am not signing him up yet. And Kaleb Johnson just landed a Miami offer, and from early reports was not taking us seriously before his visit. This may have changed, but we are not going to be able to offer what Miami is.

6. All of our visits have come in the last few months and weeks before singing day. as far as I know, we did not have any visitors who were being recruited as DT come to watch a game except for English, who is the longest of shots. This could be wrong on my part, and feel free to offer some guys who did visit as DT recruits during this period.

All in all, we are looking at the possibility of no JUCO help for next year, which means I expect little to no progress on our worst position last year(people will debate with WR, but they had their games). Also, we could end up with only one developmental DT in two years. This scares me for the future.

Is this scenario likely to play out? No, they will find some players to put in the pipeline. I think Bobby Richardson is a fallback guy that will likely be headed our way. But if you look around the Big 12, teams at our level(Kansas, KSU, TTU) all have some developmental DTs on the verbal list. We don't.

My main issue is the assumption that DT was not a major focus early in the recruiting process. I have a pretty good feeling that CPR and staff scoured every DT prospect they could and have tried to get as many in on visits as possible. There is only so much they can do if they can't get kids to visit.

It would have been great if English had stuck with the good guys but he felt like he could get a better offer.

I believe Walton Taumoepeau visited but we haven't heard anything about him lately.

DT is still a focus and if they can get more commitments from guys who can develop enough to play, I think they will.

 

[Stormin]

I am of the opinion that we needed to focus more on DTs early in the recruiting cycle. I am basing this off of what I know, right or wrong. Feel free to correct me.

1. DT was not a team strength last year. We could not control the offensive line, or even stop them from moving our DTs off the ball several yards in multiple games. Pressure up the middle was nonexistant the whole year, and we only established a pass rusher when Lattimer came into his own.

2. We were using 3 DTs most of the year until Johnson was hurt. We then started using a conveted FB(Mansfield) as a body on the DL. That is not overly impressive, and tells me that there was no one better on the bench.

3. The scout team is not the real thing. I heard numerous reports two years ago about Jerod Black, and how dangerous he was on the socut team. Yet he got passed over in the rotation by a converted FB? This does not fit. So excuse me if I am withholding judgement on Mr. All-Scout Woods, and am going into next season expecting nothing out of him. Especially after an injury.

4.We had one DT in last years class(Branden Jensen).

5. We have had 3 DTs visit this year. Louvan Green, Kaleb Johnson, and Keithen English. We cooled on English when he cooled on us, so I do not think he is an option. Green loved us, but is still takin his visits. and he has one at Baylor so I am not signing him up yet. And Kaleb Johnson just landed a Miami offer, and from early reports was not taking us seriously before his visit. This may have changed, but we are not going to be able to offer what Miami is.

6. All of our visits have come in the last few months and weeks before singing day. as far as I know, we did not have any visitors who were being recruited as DT come to watch a game except for English, who is the longest of shots. This could be wrong on my part, and feel free to offer some guys who did visit as DT recruits during this period.

All in all, we are looking at the possibility of no JUCO help for next year, which means I expect little to no progress on our worst position last year(people will debate with WR, but they had their games). Also, we could end up with only one developmental DT in two years. This scares me for the future.

Is this scenario likely to play out? No, they will find some players to put in the pipeline. I think Bobby Richardson is a fallback guy that will likely be headed our way. But if you look around the Big 12, teams at our level(Kansas, KSU, TTU) all have some developmental DTs on the verbal list. We don't.

I would rather that we NOT take a DT if he can't play Big XII football.

It isn't the kids you miss out on that hurt you. It is the kids that you get that can't play that hurt you.

To sign a DT, just to sign a DT is NOT the answer. The guy has to be able to play at the Big XII level. If there are no DT's left on our radar, then we need to fill our roster with players that can contribute.

It just means that we will have to fill some holes at DT in the future and makes it an even bigger priority in future years.

 

[brett108]

My main issue is the assumption that DT was not a major focus early in the recruiting process. I have a pretty good feeling that CPR and staff scoured every DT prospect they could and have tried to get as many in on visits as possible. There is only so much they can do if they can't get kids to visit.

It would have been great if English had stuck with the good guys but he felt like he could get a better offer.

I believe Walton Taumoepeau visited but we haven't heard anything about him lately.

DT is still a focus and if they can get more commitments from guys who can develop enough to play, I think they will.

I realize the staff has not forgotten, but after we lost the interest of Rhoads top targets(He was recruiting Newberry( I know, this was a long shot) and Saulsberry early) it seems like we stopped seeing updates on defensive tackles. We need 3 star guys you can develop. The poster above says don't take a player that is not Big 12 ready. I say don't take a player that will NEVER be Big 12 material, but take some that could be developed that way. When you go fetch a guy out of junior college, for the most part you are finding players, especially when you speak of lineman, who were not considered BCS conference worthy out of HS. In those cases I think you take local kids that look to have frames to improve and build upon. Wouldn't you like to have a Iowa kid like Jared Ebert, who was not considered good enough out of HS, develop into something on your team, or wait for him to blossom in JUCO and then lose him to a big program with a need like Oregon?

 

[Cyforce]

NT is most likely the easiest position to fill with walk ons. HS MLB that didn't have the measurables can turn into great NTs.

The sad fact is there are not enough of these kids to go around so if we were to get one to commit early we'd probably lose him to one of the big boys later.

 

[Tre4ISU]

I realize the staff has not forgotten, but after we lost the interest of Rhoads top targets(He was recruiting Newberry( I know, this was a long shot) and Saulsberry early) it seems like we stopped seeing updates on defensive tackles. We need 3 star guys you can develop. The poster above says don't take a player that is not Big 12 ready. I say don't take a player that will NEVER be Big 12 material, but take some that could be developed that way. When you go fetch a guy out of junior college, for the most part you are finding players, especially when you speak of lineman, who were not considered BCS conference worthy out of HS. In those cases I think you take local kids that look to have frames to improve and build upon. Wouldn't you like to have a Iowa kid like Jared Ebert, who was not considered good enough out of HS, develop into something on your team, or wait for him to blossom in JUCO and then lose him to a big program with a need like Oregon?

The problem I have there is you are just writing off anyone we have gotten in the past few years or may get such as Jensen, Woods, and maybe Richardsen. How do we know there won't be a position change? I mean there certainly isn't and obvious one but IMO, Miller may have the frame and perhaps Daniels has the frame. I know they aren't the typical 3 star DTs you want to see or I want to see either, but they could be possibilities. I would love to have a couple decent DTs signed up. That would be great but for one reason or another it hasn't happened yet.

 

[brett108]

The problem I have there is you are just writing off anyone we have gotten in the past few years or may get such as Jensen, Woods, and maybe Richardsen. How do we know there won't be a position change? I mean there certainly isn't and obvious one but IMO, Miller may have the frame and perhaps Daniels has the frame. I know they aren't the typical 3 star DTs you want to see or I want to see either, but they could be possibilities. I would love to have a couple decent DTs signed up. That would be great but for one reason or another it hasn't happened yet.

Woods could be good, but it doesn't fix this current DT gap we have. There are going to be nearly empty DT recruiting classes. When you have to develop your talent, as almost everyone agrees, you cannot have empty classes.

If I had to pick a guy to turn into a DT in the current class, I would probably go with either Oni Omoile or Jamison Lalk. They both have good frames and appear eager to simply play football at eh next level. The other would be David Irving, who has a tremendous frame, but he is years away from carrying the weight.

 

[cyfan15]

The other would be David Irving, who has a tremendous frame, but he is years away from carrying the weight.

6-7 is a bit too tall for a DT. IMO Irving will be a 6-7, 280 lb. DE for us in a couple years.

 

[Stormin]

I realize the staff has not forgotten, but after we lost the interest of Rhoads top targets(He was recruiting Newberry( I know, this was a long shot) and Saulsberry early) it seems like we stopped seeing updates on defensive tackles. We need 3 star guys you can develop. The poster above says don't take a player that is not Big 12 ready. I say don't take a player that will NEVER be Big 12 material, but take some that could be developed that way. When you go fetch a guy out of junior college, for the most part you are finding players, especially when you speak of lineman, who were not considered BCS conference worthy out of HS. In those cases I think you take local kids that look to have frames to improve and build upon. Wouldn't you like to have a Iowa kid like Jared Ebert, who was not considered good enough out of HS, develop into something on your team, or wait for him to blossom in JUCO and then lose him to a big program with a need like Oregon?

A lot of the best JUCO players were considered BCS worthy out of HS. Their problem was grades or lack of a qualifying Test Score.

 

[Aclone]

I am of the opinion that we needed to focus more on DTs early in the recruiting cycle. I am basing this off of what I know, right or wrong. Feel free to correct me.

1. DT was not a team strength last year.

I am curious. Exactly how many areas of the team did you feel were a "team strength"? Besides "Punter". In my personal opinion, maybe cornerback. Maybe. Even linebacker couldn't be considered a "team strength", not with a fatal lack of depth.

2. We were using 3 DTs most of the year until Johnson was hurt. We then started using a conveted FB(Mansfield) as a body on the DL. That is not overly impressive, and tells me that there was no one better on the bench.

You are mistaken. Taylor Mansfield saw some action in nonconference at DT, then Cleyon Laing began to emerge. As I recall, late in the season when Bailey had returned, the rotation was 1. Ruemp 2. Bailey 3. Jake 4.Cleyon...and I am not sure if I heard Mansfield mentioned any more than in mopup minutes, along with Jerrod Black.

3. The scout team is not the real thing. I heard numerous reports two years ago about Jerod Black, and how dangerous he was on the socut team. Yet he got passed over in the rotation by a converted FB? This does not fit. So excuse me if I am withholding judgement on Mr. All-Scout Woods, and am going into next season expecting nothing out of him. Especially after an injury.

4.We had one DT in last years class(Branden Jensen).

5. We have had 3 DTs visit this year. Louvan Green, Kaleb Johnson, and Keithen English.

6. All of our visits have come in the last few months and weeks before singing day. as far as I know,

Again, you are mistaken, missing Walton Taumoeapau(sp?) in October, I believe. Not a huge difference, but remember that this season DT's appear to be the thinnest (and most in demand) position out there.

It also appears to me that the staff is insisting on recruiting quality, and that by their standards, which is even thinner on the ground.

All in all, we are looking at the possibility of no JUCO help for next year, which means I expect little to no progress on our worst position last year(people will debate with WR, but they had their games). Also, we could end up with only one developmental DT in two years. This scares me for the future.

You are making a double leap here, extrapolating a mere "possibility" into dire "which means"...

Me? I just going to trust Paul, Wally and Co to work things out. We still have a couple of weeks--longer, actually, with players who qualify very late--for things to sort themselves out. I'm not going to fret at least until Feb. 2. And maybe not even then.

By the way, if you really, really want a "developmental prospect" for defensive tackle, how about Jevohn Miller? He has the frame, he can run...and putting on 50-60 pounds isn't entirely unreasonable for a small school player who hasn't spent time in a weight room before--see Jordan Carstens. Best of all, he's already enrolled, hitting the training table--and could conceivably be ready to go in 2012, as a redshirt freshman.

There, does that make you feel better? Happy to help!

 

[JUKEBOX]

Woods could be good, but it doesn't fix this current DT gap we have. There are going to be nearly empty DT recruiting classes. When you have to develop your talent, as almost everyone agrees, you cannot have empty classes.

If I had to pick a guy to turn into a DT in the current class, I would probably go with either Oni Omoile or Jamison Lalk. They both have good frames and appear eager to simply play football at eh next level. The other would be David Irving, who has a tremendous frame, but he is years away from carrying the weight.

I would bet you are correct with some of these predictions. I have trust that the staff knows what they are doing.