How Iowa’s new-look offense draws inspiration from Green Bay Packers: ‘We’re running the Shanahan system’

The 2024 season is one of big, exciting changes in the Big Ten. The conference will add a western wing this summer, with USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington growing the number of schools in the league to 18. Everywhere I go — around family, friends, or strangers who find out what I do for a living — I get asked how excited I am about the changes.

I tell them the truth. I’m not as excited about the additions as I am intrigued by them. It will be interesting to see how the additions shift the landscape of the league, but even that’s limited because I’m fairly confident they won’t be the last additions in the near future.

The one thing that excites me — but nobody ever asks about it– is the new-look Iowa offense.

Yes, I’m a man of unique tastes. The Big Ten has four new teams? Cool. Ohio State is acquiring an incredible amount of talent this offseason that could set the Buckeyes up for years? Neat.

But have you heard that Iowa’s going to be running far more pre-snap motion? That’s change! That’s exciting! When it comes to the changes supposedly coming to Iowa City, I’m trying to maintain an “I’ll believe it when I see it” attitude. But the more I read and hear, the more I buy into the idea that it’s actually happening.

Take this column from the Des Moines Register‘s Chad Leistikow about former Iowa running back and current running backs coach Ladell Betts. Of note, Iowa’s staff and new offensive coordinator Tim Lester visited the Green Bay Packers, where Lester previously served as a senior analyst. The emphasis is mine:

“[Lester] was 100% the catalyst. It was good to see that, too,” Betts said. “A guy that only spent one year somewhere, he was so well-received when we went in – from the players to the coaches. It just shows me that he…


Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/how-iowas-new-look-offense-draws-inspiration-from-green-bay-packers-were-running-the-shanahan-system/

Author : Tom Fornelli

Publish date : 2024-06-13 13:42:32

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