JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Inside the Numbers: 2009 Iowa Football Edition | Hawkeye Nation
A look at some of the numbers from this year that stand out to us:
ROAD WARRIORS: Iowa is 7-1 in its last eight games away from Kinnick Stadium. The lone loss took overtime, a 27-24 game at Ohio State on 11/21/09. Iowa’s scoring margin in all eight games is 28.1 to 10.9…Iowa played six games outside of Kinnick this season winning five times….next year’s road schedule: Arizona, Michigan, Indiana, Northwestern & Minnesota
BOWL OPPONENTS: Nine of Iowa’s 13 opponents this year qualified for bowl games. Iowa beat seven of those teams…
RUNNING BACK DUO: Freshmen running backs Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher combined to run for 1,475 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. Between them, they lost one fumble all year long, an amazing statistic. They also excelled in pass protection, something you don’t normally see out of freshmen. Robinson averaged 4.6 yards per carry, Wegher 4.0.
RICK STANZI: Stanzi finished the year with 17 touchdown passes to go along with 15 interceptions. Four of those interceptions were immediately turned into points, as they were ‘pick sixes’. I doubt Iowa keeps records for such statistics, but I cannot recall an Iowa quarterback every throwing four of those in a year. Stanzi also threw some of the best passes we have seen in decades, and he has considerable room for improvement heading into his senior season. He is 18-4 as a starting quarterback at Iowa and should leave the program as the second winningest quarterback in history. He was 171-304, completing 56.2 percent of his passes, another number that should also increase next year. He threw for 2,417 yards this season. Back in July, I projected Stanzi would throw for 2600 yards & 19 touchdowns, but just 7 interceptions. I think those are the kind of numbers we should expect next year, but I will probably push the yards and touchdowns higher because the passing game may have to lead the way at times as Iowa has to retool on the offensive line. He has a chance at a professional career and there might not be a better pure passer in the Big Ten looking ahead to next season.
RECEIVING TARGETS: DJK led the team with 45 receptions and 750 yards, but Marvin McNutt’s 8 TD receptions were the 4th most in a season at Iowa. McNutt had 34 catches for 674 yards. They will make an impressive duo next year, with sophomore to be Keenan Davis getting into the mix as well. To say I am excited about what that trio is capable of would be an understatement. Colin Sandeman filled in well for DJK in the Orange Bowl and he returns along with Paul Chaney Jr, who was injured early on in the season. Trey Stross (31 receptions) and Tony Moeaki (30 receptions) will be missed in the passing game, and Moeaki will certainly be missed in the running game as he was Iowa’s best blocker. Sure handed tight end Allen Reisner will return for his senior season, and he had 14 receptions this year.
STEEL CURTAIN: I challenge anyone to find a better returning front four than what Iowa will have next year in Adrian Clayborn, Broderick Binns, Christian Ballard and Karl Klug…more on that topic in the days to come. Iowa allowed 123 rushing yards per game this year, and I think that can be attributed to spread offenses but also Ballard and Klug being a bit green on the inside. They both took huge steps during Iowa’s bowl prep as their ability to take away in the inside running game for Georgia Tech was one of the biggest keys to the Iowa victory. I think each player has significant upside in the tank heading into next year and I believe Iowa’s rushing defense could get back into the Top 20 of the nation next season.
D-FENSE! Iowa allowed less than 16 points per game this year. They gave up 200 points, for an average allowed of 15.4. But if you take away those four ‘pick sixes’ alone, that drops the number allowed by the defense to 172, or 13.2 per game. If Texas allows more than 21 points to Alabama in the title game, Iowa could move up to a season ending ranking of the 8th best scoring defense in the nation…they allowed just 152.9 passing yards per game this year, which will be the 5th best total in the nation. Once the BCS bowl game stats are added into the NCAA mix, Iowa could end up with the 2nd best pass efficiency defense in the nation this year. Ryan Donahue punted 61 times with just 20 being returnable, for an average of 5.7 yards per return…only five of those 41 non-returned punts were touchbacks…Adrian Clayborn will finish 11th in the nation in tackles for loss; he had 20. His 12.5 sacks in 13 games may also wind up being good enough for the sixth best sacks per game total in the nation, which is how the NCAA ranks that statistic. Only four players had more sacks than Clayborn’s 12.5.
NOTES: Iowa finished the first decade of the 2000’s with a 51-14 record at Kinnick Stadium. Only Ohio State’s Horseshoe was a more challenging place to win at in the Big Ten, as they lost just nine times at home. Michigan lost 16 times at home, but finished with an identical 78 percent winning percentage as did Iowa. Penn State and Wisconsin each lost 17 times at home in the decade….Iowa has finished a season with 10 or more wins four time over the last eight years, and will have finished a season ranked inside the Top Ten for the 4th time in the last 8 years as well…Iowa is 70-31 in their last 101 games…in Iowa’s last six bowl games, its opponents have averaged just 100 yards rushing per game, exactly…three of those teams (Texas, South Carolina and Florida in 2004) were held to under 71 yards…they say records are made to be broken, but will any future Orange Bowl team ever pass for fewer than the 12 yards Georgia Tech went for against Iowa? That record may stand forever…Iowa finished the decade with a record of 80-45, with eight bowl appearances and five bowl wins (Alamo, Cap One, Outback, Outback and Orange)…Rick Stanzi is 18-4 as a starting quarterback at Iowa, and should move into second place in all time wins by a starting quarterback at some point next year…
We will have an NCAA Statistical Edition of Inside the Numbers in a few days once the final NCAA and Big Ten statistical rankings are finalized.
A look at some of the numbers from this year that stand out to us:
ROAD WARRIORS: Iowa is 7-1 in its last eight games away from Kinnick Stadium. The lone loss took overtime, a 27-24 game at Ohio State on 11/21/09. Iowa’s scoring margin in all eight games is 28.1 to 10.9…Iowa played six games outside of Kinnick this season winning five times….next year’s road schedule: Arizona, Michigan, Indiana, Northwestern & Minnesota
BOWL OPPONENTS: Nine of Iowa’s 13 opponents this year qualified for bowl games. Iowa beat seven of those teams…
RUNNING BACK DUO: Freshmen running backs Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher combined to run for 1,475 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. Between them, they lost one fumble all year long, an amazing statistic. They also excelled in pass protection, something you don’t normally see out of freshmen. Robinson averaged 4.6 yards per carry, Wegher 4.0.
RICK STANZI: Stanzi finished the year with 17 touchdown passes to go along with 15 interceptions. Four of those interceptions were immediately turned into points, as they were ‘pick sixes’. I doubt Iowa keeps records for such statistics, but I cannot recall an Iowa quarterback every throwing four of those in a year. Stanzi also threw some of the best passes we have seen in decades, and he has considerable room for improvement heading into his senior season. He is 18-4 as a starting quarterback at Iowa and should leave the program as the second winningest quarterback in history. He was 171-304, completing 56.2 percent of his passes, another number that should also increase next year. He threw for 2,417 yards this season. Back in July, I projected Stanzi would throw for 2600 yards & 19 touchdowns, but just 7 interceptions. I think those are the kind of numbers we should expect next year, but I will probably push the yards and touchdowns higher because the passing game may have to lead the way at times as Iowa has to retool on the offensive line. He has a chance at a professional career and there might not be a better pure passer in the Big Ten looking ahead to next season.
RECEIVING TARGETS: DJK led the team with 45 receptions and 750 yards, but Marvin McNutt’s 8 TD receptions were the 4th most in a season at Iowa. McNutt had 34 catches for 674 yards. They will make an impressive duo next year, with sophomore to be Keenan Davis getting into the mix as well. To say I am excited about what that trio is capable of would be an understatement. Colin Sandeman filled in well for DJK in the Orange Bowl and he returns along with Paul Chaney Jr, who was injured early on in the season. Trey Stross (31 receptions) and Tony Moeaki (30 receptions) will be missed in the passing game, and Moeaki will certainly be missed in the running game as he was Iowa’s best blocker. Sure handed tight end Allen Reisner will return for his senior season, and he had 14 receptions this year.
STEEL CURTAIN: I challenge anyone to find a better returning front four than what Iowa will have next year in Adrian Clayborn, Broderick Binns, Christian Ballard and Karl Klug…more on that topic in the days to come. Iowa allowed 123 rushing yards per game this year, and I think that can be attributed to spread offenses but also Ballard and Klug being a bit green on the inside. They both took huge steps during Iowa’s bowl prep as their ability to take away in the inside running game for Georgia Tech was one of the biggest keys to the Iowa victory. I think each player has significant upside in the tank heading into next year and I believe Iowa’s rushing defense could get back into the Top 20 of the nation next season.
D-FENSE! Iowa allowed less than 16 points per game this year. They gave up 200 points, for an average allowed of 15.4. But if you take away those four ‘pick sixes’ alone, that drops the number allowed by the defense to 172, or 13.2 per game. If Texas allows more than 21 points to Alabama in the title game, Iowa could move up to a season ending ranking of the 8th best scoring defense in the nation…they allowed just 152.9 passing yards per game this year, which will be the 5th best total in the nation. Once the BCS bowl game stats are added into the NCAA mix, Iowa could end up with the 2nd best pass efficiency defense in the nation this year. Ryan Donahue punted 61 times with just 20 being returnable, for an average of 5.7 yards per return…only five of those 41 non-returned punts were touchbacks…Adrian Clayborn will finish 11th in the nation in tackles for loss; he had 20. His 12.5 sacks in 13 games may also wind up being good enough for the sixth best sacks per game total in the nation, which is how the NCAA ranks that statistic. Only four players had more sacks than Clayborn’s 12.5.
NOTES: Iowa finished the first decade of the 2000’s with a 51-14 record at Kinnick Stadium. Only Ohio State’s Horseshoe was a more challenging place to win at in the Big Ten, as they lost just nine times at home. Michigan lost 16 times at home, but finished with an identical 78 percent winning percentage as did Iowa. Penn State and Wisconsin each lost 17 times at home in the decade….Iowa has finished a season with 10 or more wins four time over the last eight years, and will have finished a season ranked inside the Top Ten for the 4th time in the last 8 years as well…Iowa is 70-31 in their last 101 games…in Iowa’s last six bowl games, its opponents have averaged just 100 yards rushing per game, exactly…three of those teams (Texas, South Carolina and Florida in 2004) were held to under 71 yards…they say records are made to be broken, but will any future Orange Bowl team ever pass for fewer than the 12 yards Georgia Tech went for against Iowa? That record may stand forever…Iowa finished the decade with a record of 80-45, with eight bowl appearances and five bowl wins (Alamo, Cap One, Outback, Outback and Orange)…Rick Stanzi is 18-4 as a starting quarterback at Iowa, and should move into second place in all time wins by a starting quarterback at some point next year…
We will have an NCAA Statistical Edition of Inside the Numbers in a few days once the final NCAA and Big Ten statistical rankings are finalized.
