The Hawks will be decent again next year but certainly not elite unless something unexpected happens. Going into this year, a big question in my mind was, "Where are the playmakers (especially on offense)?" The same question applies to next year, maybe even more so. Most of us would probably agree that this regular season went so very well because of A) the off-season player commitment B) the schedule C) the gritty leadership of Beathard and the senior class D) the defense. Against the teams on our regular season schedule, the whole was greater than the sum of the parts. Against our toughest opponents, that formula simply wasn't good enough. Looking back, Iowa was more explosive offensively than it had been but that isn't saying much because most of the good stuff occurred against mediocre competition. Defense and special teams played the biggest roles while the offense, overall, got the job done with little to spare. Even against mid-level teams and below, we almost always seem to play close, tight games. The inability to compete with high-level teams, especially in post-season games, is a lingering issue that is extremely frustrating and somewhat baffling. Ultimately, however, it reflects the lack of impact players. Three or four more on either/both sides of the ball would make a HUGE difference. Do they even exist on the current roster? Are any freshmen going to move up and contribute in unexpectedly big ways? The odds seem long but, then again, so were the odds of a 12-0 season. With another strong off-season of individual player improvement, some coaching adjustments (cross your fingers), and unexpectedly strong help from at least three or four of the younger players who did not contribute this year, the whole could again be greater than the sum of the parts. Will that be enough to win a high-level bowl game or secure a playoff bid? Before the Rose Bowl, I would have said yes. Now, the distance from achieving those goals seems very far indeed.
