Recruiting: An idea regarding Joel Lanning

[ChrisMWilliams]

This is going in Monday Musings today but I thought it could spark some quality conversation on the board. What do you guys think?

I had a radio conversation on 1460 KXNO’s “Miller & Brinson†program earlier this week that got me thinking. Ken Miller, who has a football mind that I respect greatly, threw out the idea of Ankeny High School quarterback and Iowa State commitment Joel Lanning becoming a Collin Klein type QB (that style - not putting pressure on the kid to be that good) for the Cyclones in the future. Lanning, who Rivals.com lists at 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, is a winner. He’s a four-year starter at Ankeny (which doesn’t happen very often). After watching Oklahoma use Blake Bell this past weekend, Miller’s idea resonated with me. I got to thinking, “why not use Lanning in this type of a role?†during Saturday’s contest.

I’m just thinking out loud here. But just imagine how much time Iowa State probably spent preparing for the “Belldozer†package last week. A wrinkle like that is a big weapon and Iowa State can use any of those right about now. This one has some potential in my opinion.

 

[isufan]

I wouldn't mind doing that with a QB. However, I think Lanning ends up on defense.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I'd love it. I think an offense like that makes you just a little bit different, and allows us to equalize the talent gap schematically. Plus, if we can continue to excel on the defensive end, I think it compliments us there by keeping the ball away for longer.

 

[Al_4_State]

Its a very interesting idea, but when it comes down to it, we need to be focused on using Lanning (and any player) in a way that maximizes their talent for the benefit of the squad.

If he could be the next AJ Klein or the next Blake Bell, I'd take the next AJ Klein any day.

 

[bawbie]

I've never seen the kid play, but I don't think he's big enough to run that kind of package.

Bell is listed at 6'6" 254#
Klein is listed at 6'5" 226#

It would seem to me that the closest thing ISU has to those type of players is Ja'Quarius Daniels (6'3" 230#)

 

[Tre4ISU]

I've never seen the kid play, but I don't think he's big enough to run that kind of package.

Bell is listed at 6'6" 254#
Klein is listed at 6'5" 226#

It would seem to me that the closest thing ISU has to those type of players is Ja'Quarius Daniels (6'3" 230#)

I think Lanning is all of 6'2. He's a good sized kid. I'm with Al on this though. If he is simply going to be a package, then we need to get him to a spot where he helps us out. OU can afford to have an athlete sit in a package for a couple years, we can't. All that said, he is going to give Hodge a run for his money in being the QB of that class.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

I've never seen the kid play, but I don't think he's big enough to run that kind of package.

Bell is listed at 6'6" 254#
Klein is listed at 6'5" 226#

It would seem to me that the closest thing ISU has to those type of players is Ja'Quarius Daniels (6'3" 230#)

Was about to post something similar. I'd take a 6'5 250+ athletic beast that can run the offense. By size alone, Lanning doesn't seem to be that guy.

 

[Clones85']

Someone told me the other day that Lanning looked like he weighed over 230

 

[Bader]

OU puts Blake Bell in a position they feel will help the team win the most. ISU will do the same thing with Joel. Unfortunately, ISU doesn't have size and athleticism across their 2-deeps like OU does (and odds are never will), so the odds of the Cyclones being able to use Joel like that are pretty small IMO.

 

[jburke]

This is going in Monday Musings today but I thought it could spark some quality conversation on the board. What do you guys think?

I had a radio conversation on 1460 KXNO’s “Miller & Brinson” program earlier this week that got me thinking. Ken Miller, who has a football mind that I respect greatly, threw out the idea of Ankeny High School quarterback and Iowa State commitment Joel Lanning becoming a Collin Klein type QB (that style - not putting pressure on the kid to be that good) for the Cyclones in the future. Lanning, who Rivals.com lists at 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, is a winner. He’s a four-year starter at Ankeny (which doesn’t happen very often). After watching Oklahoma use Blake Bell this past weekend, Miller’s idea resonated with me. I got to thinking, “why not use Lanning in this type of a role?” during Saturday’s contest.

I’m just thinking out loud here. But just imagine how much time Iowa State probably spent preparing for the “Belldozer” package last week. A wrinkle like that is a big weapon and Iowa State can use any of those right about now. This one has some potential in my opinion.

I agree to some extent, but also believe the Belldozer looked a bit overrated last week....

 

[CarolinaCy]

Am I the only one who thinks that the "Belldozer" is the most overrated "weapon" in the country? He's completely one-dimensional, attempting 17 passes in 15 games, and really not that hard to stop. I really don't think teams need to spend a lot of time preparing for him. Just watch where the motion back goes, that's where Bell is going to run.

 

[bawbie]

Am I the only one who thinks that the "Belldozer" is the most overrated "weapon" in the country? He's completely one-dimensional, attempting 17 passes in 15 games, and really not that hard to stop. I really don't think teams need to spend a lot of time preparing for him. Just watch where the motion back goes, that's where Bell is going to run.

Prior to last Saturday it had been unstoppable as well. I think they said on the pregame that it had accounted for something like 24 touchdowns in those 15 games.

 

[Bader]

Am I the only one who thinks that the "Belldozer" is the most overrated "weapon" in the country? He's completely one-dimensional, attempting 17 passes in 15 games, and really not that hard to stop. I really don't think teams need to spend a lot of time preparing for him. Just watch where the motion back goes, that's where Bell is going to run.

The guy has 22 TDs and averages 3 YPC in scenarios that they need 1-2 yards and everyone knows what they're going to do. Don't sell ISU's D and defensive gameplan short. The "Belldozer" has made a lot of good defenses look silly in short yardage the last 2 years.

 

[UNIGuy4Cy]

Its a very interesting idea, but when it comes down to it, we need to be focused on using Lanning (and any player) in a way that maximizes their talent for the benefit of the squad.

If he could be the next AJ Klein or the next Blake Bell, I'd take the next AJ Klein any day.

Good point Al, the only thing it is seems as this staff can insert player x or y into the defense without a drop off in production, but the offense has been at a standstill since Rhoads got here. I think its obvious defense will be a staple of this team going forward, now we need to get some players in to score some points on offense.

 

[UNIGuy4Cy]

Someone told me the other day that Lanning looked like he weighed over 230

I have seen him a couple times around Ankeny, he is a big kid.

 

[brianhos]

All I can think of when I see him is the skinny kid up on my garage framing my new addition.

The funny thing about his signing with ISU is that his family are big hawk fans, and he lives across the street from John Walters. I was out walking the dog the day he signed with ISU and all of a sudden there was an "I chose ISU" sign in his front yard. I think JW was screwing with Lannings dad.

 

[CarolinaCy]

The guy has 22 TDs and averages 3 YPC in scenarios that they need 1-2 yards and everyone knows what they're going to do. Don't sell ISU's D and defensive gameplan short. The "Belldozer" has made a lot of good defenses look silly in short yardage the last 2 years.

His YPC went from 3.9 last year to 2.1 this year, so it appears that teams are figuring out how to stop him a little more. And when a team has first and goal at the 1 or 2, how often does that team score, regardless of who's at QB? I don't think it has much to do with Blake in those situations.

 

[cybsball20]

I agree that he is probably bigger than the 6'2" 200 he is listed at. I would guess about 6'3" 220. Tebow was a package QB his first year too and that ended up working out alright. I would love to see him as a package guy his first year then full time QB after that. I think he throws it a bit better than Klein probably did at that age so he wouldn't be as much of a project as many think.

 

[cycloneike001]

Someone told me the other day that Lanning looked like he weighed over 230

He is around 230. Having seen him lately I would say he probably hasn't updated rivals in a while. I think a package like this would be interesting. I too think he will end up on defense. However the kid can throw the football, I wouldn't be surprised if he has a stronger arm than Steele and Sam Rich.

 

[The_Architect]

Am I the only one who thinks that the "Belldozer" is the most overrated "weapon" in the country? He's completely one-dimensional, attempting 17 passes in 15 games, and really not that hard to stop. I really don't think teams need to spend a lot of time preparing for him. Just watch where the motion back goes, that's where Bell is going to run.

This. It's been completely ineffective against us now for 2 games. You have one of the nations elite QB's in Jones and you put in a guy who provides nothing other than running behind blockers. I'm surprised it ever works.