Here we go again.
Greg Garmon rushed for 3 yards against Minnesota on Sept. 29 when the Hawks and Gophers met in Iowa City. (Justin O'Brien/Voice of the Hawkeyes)
As first reported this afternoon by Pennsylvania-based 247Sports recruiting analyst Bob Lichtenfels, Iowa has lost yet another running back following the decision by Greg Garmon to transfer.
So what’s it mean for Iowa other than a slew of references to a fictional deity that purportedly sets his sights on bringing harm and misfortune to Hawkeye running backs?
First off, yes, it’s hard to ignore the fact Iowa has seen an inordinately high number of running backs wash out of the program since its 2010 Orange Bowl championship. Heck, just in the past 12 months the Hawks watched Mika’il McCall (Southern Illinois), Marcus Coker (Stony Brook) and De’Andre Johnson (Dismissed) precede Garmon in exiting the program. You can add Rodney Coe to the list if you’d like as well, a non-qualifier who landed at Iowa Western Community College where he moved to the defensive line and subsequently earned a scholarship to rival Iowa State.
Yeah, it’s beyond ridiculous at this point that a program like Iowa could have, and has, suffered such attrition at one very vital position in such a short amount of time. However, perspective is the key here. Coe could have been a Hawkeye had he done his work in the classroom. No one forced Johnson to have two separate run-ins with Johnson County law enforcement over the summer, the second of which led to his dismissal from the team. McCall chose to leave the program after serving a late-season suspension for violating team rules in 2011 despite working his way back from a serious knee injury suffered in the team’s opener against Tennessee Tech. Now Garmon is leaving because, as he put it to Lichtenfels, he wants to find a better fit.
"I just didn't feel comfortable here anymore with the offense,” said Garmon, who rushed for 122 yards on 38 carries. “It is a power offense and I am not a power type of a back. I'm more of a scat-back type guy.”
Let’s no overlook the fact Garmon’s brief Iowa career didn’t exactly get off on the best of feet after he was picked up by police in his hometown over the summer and charged with simple possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance. Garmon wasn’t suspended for the incident but it couldn’t have sat well with Kirk Ferentz and there was likely some form of internal punishment for the transgression.
Entering spring ball Garmon must have also taken note of a crowded depth chart headlined by Mark Weisman, who enjoyed a Rudy-like ascension to folk hero after injuries forced him to move from fullback to tailback. Jordan Canzeri, sophomore Damon Bullock and fellow freshman Barkley Hill and Michael Malloy figured to be in the mix as well as walk-on Andre Dawson. At best, Garmon would have began the spring as the No. 2 back behind Weisman or, more likely, No. 3 behind Weisman and Canzeri/Bullock, who seems to be a slightly better fit for what Ferentz and much-maligned offensive coordinator Greg Davis are looking to do in the running game.
Stepping back and viewing the situation with a wider lens this isn’t a huge shocker. Kids sometimes see the writing on the wall and look for a situation where playing time may be easier to come by or where they can see themselves being more of a factor for a longer period of time. That’s probably the case with Garmon who, in addition to not fitting in well with the type of offense Iowa runs, would have likely had to wait for injuries to at least two other backs or simply out-work and out-perform both in practice in order to see the field. Who knows what the Iowa backfield would look like in Garmon’s final two years on campus – especially given the uncertainty at that position in recent years – but that’s irrelevant now.
Where Iowa will suffer the most from Garmon’s loss won’t likely be on the field but along the recruiting trail. It’s a cut-throat business when it comes to landing top high school talent and coaches will likely jump at the opportunity to play up Iowa’s latest bad news to any running back considering an offer from the Hawkeyes. They don’t have to tell the exact truth or present a broader picture to a recruit and their parents, all they need to do is mention Iowa’s perceived issues with keeping running backs happy and sit back with tented hands while selling the virtues of their own program.
Of course, it's not like that's all opposing coaches will have to use against Iowa in whatever living room they find themselves in between now and signing day. A 4-8 record, Iowa's worst since 2000, speaks for itself to the perceived state of the program as Ferentz prepares to enter his 15th season as coach. The Hawks, quite frankly, have bigger fish to fry than the one swimming away to a new pond.
Greg Garmon has moved on. Ferentz and Iowa have likely moved on. The media will eventually move on. Fans should do the same. There’s nothing to see here other than another kid who believes there’s a better opportunity for him somewhere else. How many grown men have we seen exercise that same approach in college football over the past couple weeks?
But that’s looking at this rationally and where’s the fun in that?
- Todd Brommelkamp
- Editor - VoiceoftheHawkeyes
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BarryZuckerkorn said...
I agree in general, but not at RB. Iowa RB's have been as good or bad as the O-line in front of them. Shonn Greene is the exception (although he benefited from a great o-line as well).
If Iowa only intended to use Garmon between the tackles, then I agree w/Todd B; no big loss. However, I also agree w/Todd W that Garmon was very talented. It just seemed Iowa had no interest in getting him the ball in a way that played to his strengths (like Wisky did w/Melvin Gordon, for example).
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Lawnside Hawk said...
was inevitable to me, said from the beginning his game didn't fit. Didn't understand his recruitment if he wasn't open to a position switch, hardly shocked by this turn of events. Next...............
Pretty much agree with Lawnside Hawk. Garmon's skill set and 'straight-up' running style just does not fit the Big Ten, really. Shonn Greene, Monte Ball, any of a half dozen OSU or MSU running backs are bruiser, down-hill RB's. I
didn't think Greg would need to change positions, necessarily, however he would never have been a 20+ carry per game RB for the Iowa Hawkeyes.Now, Weisman, Bullock and even Barkley Hill do fit that mold. Canzeri will be more of a Scat-back, change of pace guy to Weisman, Bullock and hopefully Hill who do the heavy lifting.
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Skyhawk52 said...
Pretty much agree with Lawnside Hawk. Garmon's skill set and 'straight-up' running style just does not fit the Big Ten, really. Shonn Greene, Monte Ball, any of a half dozen OSU or MSU running backs are bruiser, down-hill RB's. I didn't think Greg would need to change positions, necessarily, however he would never have been a 20+ carry per game RB for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Now, Weisman, Bullock and even Barkley Hill do fit that mold. Canzeri will be more of a Scat-back, change of pace guy to Weisman, Bullock and hopefully Hill who do the heavy lifting.
This post was edited by KFSuperStar on 12/12/2012 at 11:04 PM
Steroid Nation:
Several years ago, Kyle 'Bonecrusher' Williams came out of Bollingbrook Illinois as one of the top outside linebackers in America. He was slated to start school at Iowa, and move right into the weak-side OLB spot his first year with the Hawkeyes. Bonecrusher lasted all of one week in pre-season football camp, then hightailed it out of Iowa City. He later ended up in West Lafayette, where he compiled an 'outstanding' year for the Purdue Boilermakers, on the field. Off the field was another story. Bonecrusher attacked, and attempted sexual assault on at leas 2 woman in West Lafayette. Yesterday...
grg51.typepad.com -
HawkiBrad55 said...
Todd B. where does Canzeri fit into the mix? Or is he transferring too? I see about 3 to 4 more losses from our team to either transfers or maybe a certain tight end going pro. With a proven Weisman and Bullock I am not real worried about Garmon leaving BUT this is the state of the program, kids leaving or getting booted. And I agree with Todd I think he had the tools to be our starter and best back, but we also know when something works even a tiny bit Kirk will run it into the ground until it no longer works or there are no more options. I think it is a big loss,but it is not like we have nothing to follow it with and hopefully that helps bring Daniels in.
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KFSuperStar said...
Even if he didnt transfer he wouldve gotten in trouble this winter, got hurt, had grade troubles, been passed up on the depth chart. I cant find the thread but I stated there was a better chance that Garmnon wouldnt be in Iowa City next fall than the starting rb. BAU for hawkeye running backs. Now Hill with a cant pass up Michigan offer. Gonna be a long winter in IC folks.
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Skyhawk52 said...
Pretty much agree with Lawnside Hawk. Garmon's skill set and 'straight-up' running style just does not fit the Big Ten, really. Shonn Greene, Monte Ball, any of a half dozen OSU or MSU running backs are bruiser, down-hill RB's. I didn't think Greg would need to change positions, necessarily, however he would never have been a 20+ carry per game RB for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Now, Weisman, Bullock and even Barkley Hill do fit that mold. Canzeri will be more of a Scat-back, change of pace guy to Weisman, Bullock and hopefully Hill who do the heavy lifting.
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KFSuperStar said...
You can read his comments about not fitting into the offense as a "big back" but fact is he knew Iowa's system. We have been using RBs the same way for the last 13 years. I call BS. A mod on another board stated that Garmon was late for meetings a couple times this year and basically quit the offseason program before it started. Add on to that he played sparingly on a 4-8 team with a dismal offense. Iowa City probably feels like hickville to Garmon now that football is over being from Erie, PA. Throw on that he is a kid who likes to smoke playing under a coach who has cracked down on the green after the DJK, ARob instances. Iowa City isnt exactly smoker friendly either.
All and all this whole "not fitting" the offenses is smoke and mirrors. The kid didnt buy in and the coaches didnt talk him into staying. This offseason will make the 4-8 season look like a walk in the park. Im not saying the sky is falling, but there will be a couple more transfers, a couple kids kicked off, and alot of players suspended the first game for OWI, PI, MIP, etc. A couple recruits wont qualify and Hill be wearing Maize and Blue. 2 asst coaches will leave and the new hires will not sit well with the fed up fanbase.
Cant wait for the first open scrimmage for the new QBs to underperform. Oh wait, we have an open practice. Scrimmages are too sexy.
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fuisu said...
RB depth will always be an issue. This year alone Coker transfers out, DeAndre Johnson quits the team, Jordan Canzeri tears his ACL than Barkely Hill joins him, Weisman gets dinged up for 5 weeks, Bullock gets a concussion that sidelines him for 4 weeks, Garmon dislocates his elbow for one game.
When in reality we should've had studs like Wegher, Hampton, or McCall playing but 'next man in' has left us with no man. Sometimes great backs make average olines look good, Hampton made a NFL roster.
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derHawkeye said...
Number of touches is not even close to proof that he played sparingly. I guarantee he played at least half, if not more of his total snaps not carrying the ball and either blocking or going out on routes. And since when is 38 carries (46 total touches) bad for a true freshman RB?? Also fyi, it's closer to 4 carries per game, he was out for at least 2 games with his dislocated elbow, if he wasn't out those games and could've continued to get more experience it's probably fair to assume he could've gotten to 60+ total touches just from the fact there would've been no setbacks and more of a chance to get comfortable.
This post was edited by fuisu on 12/13/2012 at 2:52 AM
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That you actually linked the urban dictionary reference to AIRBHG when you mention a "fictional diety."
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