STILLBUSTER
Well-Known Member
Haven't seen anyone mention this yet. (Don't know why this surprises me that people simply struggle to pay attention to anything beyond their own, unfounded self-chatter about what might happen or what should be of concern with regards to AZ.)
During ISU post game interview with Dolph, Dolph asked about AZ and (like so many have been doing whenever the word "Arizona" is mentioned) referenced the last trip to ASU not going so well. (Even though it is completely irrelevant because it was an entire recruiting class ago!)
KF's response: He admitted not adequately preparing for the night game / time change aspect during that trip. This time ... he has already been holding scrimmages at 9 pm at night to try to acclimate the team to a night schedule. If this is not enough to put this overblown fear to rest ... if you think he's addressing this, wouldn't it stand to reason that he's probably had Doyle / the training staff also boning up on different strategies to help the body adapt and perform in the desert heat, at night? (Although, to hear some of you describe it, it is going to be an impossible task to overcome the hell-like inferno that is Tucson, AZ at 7:30 pm in September.)
There you have it! KF and staff are diligently addressing the primary fear that has been lamented as thee #1 obstacle to a Hawkeye victory. If that's not good enough for you, how 'bout some common sense?
I've maintained all along that AZ has a very suspect defense (2 returning starters?) Even then, I still had some concerns that Iowa's young o-line might not allow the Hawks to maximize their skill position talents and exploit this weak defense. Again, anyone been paying attention the last 2 weeks?
While EIU and ISU are not going to be world beaters, I'm quite confident they are both going to be +500 ball teams. In other words, Iowa has not played a couple stiffs and, more importantly, the offense is about 100 light years ahead of where they were last year at this time in terms of deliberate, surgical execution. (Oh, yeah, about the same time they happened to dominate this same AZ team, with the same offense and a much more respectable defense! Remember, had Ricky not thrown a pick 6, Iowa won that game by 3 scores!)
Still, lets say that the offense is due for a little drop off -- Ricky's due for a pick and it's the first roadie. All things considered, isn't it reasonable to predict Iowa's offense, going against an indisputably weaker defense than last year, will match last season's score of 27 points? Now let me ask this ... do you honestly believe that Arizona's offense is going to hang 28 points on Iowa's defense?
AZ's offensive stats are eye-popping ... so are Iowa's defensive stats. Usually in this case, something is going to give; not just give ... collapse. The question is, do you honestly believe it's going to be Iowa's defense?
If you're still struggling with angst, go watch the result of a virtually identical scenario -- night game, different time zone, high-powered offense vs an outstanding defense -- last year's Orange bowl. (Is AZ better than Ga Tech?) Go ask Daryl Clark how those "revenge" matches (including a much more meaningful conference night game & hostile road environment) turned out. (Is AZ better than last year's Penn State?)
Iowa 29 - Arizona 21 (and that 21st point doesn't come for AZ until less than 2 minutes left in the 4th.)
During ISU post game interview with Dolph, Dolph asked about AZ and (like so many have been doing whenever the word "Arizona" is mentioned) referenced the last trip to ASU not going so well. (Even though it is completely irrelevant because it was an entire recruiting class ago!)
KF's response: He admitted not adequately preparing for the night game / time change aspect during that trip. This time ... he has already been holding scrimmages at 9 pm at night to try to acclimate the team to a night schedule. If this is not enough to put this overblown fear to rest ... if you think he's addressing this, wouldn't it stand to reason that he's probably had Doyle / the training staff also boning up on different strategies to help the body adapt and perform in the desert heat, at night? (Although, to hear some of you describe it, it is going to be an impossible task to overcome the hell-like inferno that is Tucson, AZ at 7:30 pm in September.)
There you have it! KF and staff are diligently addressing the primary fear that has been lamented as thee #1 obstacle to a Hawkeye victory. If that's not good enough for you, how 'bout some common sense?
I've maintained all along that AZ has a very suspect defense (2 returning starters?) Even then, I still had some concerns that Iowa's young o-line might not allow the Hawks to maximize their skill position talents and exploit this weak defense. Again, anyone been paying attention the last 2 weeks?
While EIU and ISU are not going to be world beaters, I'm quite confident they are both going to be +500 ball teams. In other words, Iowa has not played a couple stiffs and, more importantly, the offense is about 100 light years ahead of where they were last year at this time in terms of deliberate, surgical execution. (Oh, yeah, about the same time they happened to dominate this same AZ team, with the same offense and a much more respectable defense! Remember, had Ricky not thrown a pick 6, Iowa won that game by 3 scores!)
Still, lets say that the offense is due for a little drop off -- Ricky's due for a pick and it's the first roadie. All things considered, isn't it reasonable to predict Iowa's offense, going against an indisputably weaker defense than last year, will match last season's score of 27 points? Now let me ask this ... do you honestly believe that Arizona's offense is going to hang 28 points on Iowa's defense?
AZ's offensive stats are eye-popping ... so are Iowa's defensive stats. Usually in this case, something is going to give; not just give ... collapse. The question is, do you honestly believe it's going to be Iowa's defense?
If you're still struggling with angst, go watch the result of a virtually identical scenario -- night game, different time zone, high-powered offense vs an outstanding defense -- last year's Orange bowl. (Is AZ better than Ga Tech?) Go ask Daryl Clark how those "revenge" matches (including a much more meaningful conference night game & hostile road environment) turned out. (Is AZ better than last year's Penn State?)
Iowa 29 - Arizona 21 (and that 21st point doesn't come for AZ until less than 2 minutes left in the 4th.)
