The more I think about it, the more this 2011 team reminds me of Iowa's situation going into the 2008 season. Now, I'm going with the assumption that Hyde will stick at FS and I'm also considering Morris, Binns and Daniels returning starters, even though most pundits will say we only have 5 returning starters. Let's take a look:
Returning Starters: King, Kroul, Edds, Fletcher, Greenwood
6 New Defensive Starters in '08:
2 DE: Clayborn, Ballard
2 LB: Angerer, Hunter
SS: Sash
CB: Spievey
Returning Starters: Daniels, Binns, Morris, Nielsen, Prater, Hyde
5 New Defensive Starters in '11 (lot of options):
DE: Lebron Daniel
DT: Davis/Bigach/Nardo/Alvis
LB: Kirksey/Hitchens
SS: Miller/Bernstine/Sleeper
CB: Lowery/Castillo
Now, looking at the list of new starters in '08, it's pretty tough to compare, considering all 6 of those guys will most likely be on NFL rosters next year (Hunter will be iffy). However, a lot of those guys didn't solidify themselves as starters in the spring of '08. Angerer and Coleman were both competing for Mike, and Angerer didn't win the job until the beginning of the season. Hunter was neck and neck with Tarpinian, and won the Will spot when Tarp got injured in camp. Spievey was a pleasant surprise and beat out Bernstine at corner, who was expected to start.
The point is there were a ton of unknowns about the '08 defense going into the season, but all of the guys that stepped up formed one of the top defenses in the country. With so many starting spots up for grabs, let's hope the competition makes all of these guys better so that whoever emerges as starters can keep the D a strength and not a weakness. Not to mention, we will have a lot of solid depth. I know we have a lot of unknowns, but with Norm's system and a lot of potential at the opening spots, who knows?
Offensively, our O-line will be a strength, as it was in '08. The running back situation is also very similar. We have 1 proven commodity at RB who showed flashes as a true freshman (much like Shonn Greene), but now will be expected to carry the load. We are relying heavily on our incoming freshman to provide depth at the position (in '08 we had Hampton, Brinson and Guillory coming in and all were expected to compete for carries, until Guillory transferred out).
Despite the fact that '08 had one of the top rushing attacks in Iowa history, people will probably say that they are more comfortable about our running back situation heading into '11 than they were at this time in '08, considering DJK had the most returning rushing yards and Greene was still working at a furniture store.
Let's hope the '11 squad can put it together and fill the voids at the open spots like '08, and hopefully close out the close games that the '08 team couldn't until the PSU game.
Returning Starters: King, Kroul, Edds, Fletcher, Greenwood
6 New Defensive Starters in '08:
2 DE: Clayborn, Ballard
2 LB: Angerer, Hunter
SS: Sash
CB: Spievey
Returning Starters: Daniels, Binns, Morris, Nielsen, Prater, Hyde
5 New Defensive Starters in '11 (lot of options):
DE: Lebron Daniel
DT: Davis/Bigach/Nardo/Alvis
LB: Kirksey/Hitchens
SS: Miller/Bernstine/Sleeper
CB: Lowery/Castillo
Now, looking at the list of new starters in '08, it's pretty tough to compare, considering all 6 of those guys will most likely be on NFL rosters next year (Hunter will be iffy). However, a lot of those guys didn't solidify themselves as starters in the spring of '08. Angerer and Coleman were both competing for Mike, and Angerer didn't win the job until the beginning of the season. Hunter was neck and neck with Tarpinian, and won the Will spot when Tarp got injured in camp. Spievey was a pleasant surprise and beat out Bernstine at corner, who was expected to start.
The point is there were a ton of unknowns about the '08 defense going into the season, but all of the guys that stepped up formed one of the top defenses in the country. With so many starting spots up for grabs, let's hope the competition makes all of these guys better so that whoever emerges as starters can keep the D a strength and not a weakness. Not to mention, we will have a lot of solid depth. I know we have a lot of unknowns, but with Norm's system and a lot of potential at the opening spots, who knows?
Offensively, our O-line will be a strength, as it was in '08. The running back situation is also very similar. We have 1 proven commodity at RB who showed flashes as a true freshman (much like Shonn Greene), but now will be expected to carry the load. We are relying heavily on our incoming freshman to provide depth at the position (in '08 we had Hampton, Brinson and Guillory coming in and all were expected to compete for carries, until Guillory transferred out).
Despite the fact that '08 had one of the top rushing attacks in Iowa history, people will probably say that they are more comfortable about our running back situation heading into '11 than they were at this time in '08, considering DJK had the most returning rushing yards and Greene was still working at a furniture store.
Let's hope the '11 squad can put it together and fill the voids at the open spots like '08, and hopefully close out the close games that the '08 team couldn't until the PSU game.