At a Glance, Legends Wide Open

JonDMiller

Publisher/Founder
This is all rough, first and quick glance stuff...

MSU returns 6 on offense and 5 on defense, and Deace and I agree they are probably the worst 11-1 conference champ in Big Ten history. They really weren't great at anything this year. Efficient QB..solid running game..lose three starters on OL...lose best tackler in nation on D, return four of front seven...they benefited from a very favorable schedule this year and @Mich & @PSU against down teams.

Nebraska returns quite a bit, especially if Crick comes back, but they were not an elite team. I think Martinez hurts them, but he might be the best they have. Losing Helu Jr hurts, but there is some talent there. probably min 8 win team, but not elite.

NW returns quite a bit..including Persa.

MN is MN. Bad. New QB. Gray?

Michigan returns most everyone, but they are a mess. Likely new coach, and what system? horrible defense that can improve exponentially and still just be average.

Iowa has to replace a lot, but we are familiar with the names behind them. I don't see anyone in this division that is significantly better than Iowa.

On the whole, I think the conference will be down next from where it was this year. If OSU 5 come back, they will be a top ten. If Pryor does not, they might be Top Ten due to name only. Wisky loses quite a bit on offense, including two NFL first rounders, and Tolzein and TE Hendricks. Watt will announce Wednesday his NFL intentions. Their D was not elite this year, and unless he comes back, no chance at that next year. Illinois will be a team to watch..PSU could fall off, as we have been discussing here. Indiana will fall back...who knows about Purdue.
 


Thanks, Jon. I have also been thinking that the division is wide open. We don't play Wisky or tOSU. MSU, as you noted, loses a lot. Michigan is just bizzarre, and probably will have a new coach. Northwestern, well... Nebraska will be a great matchup.

Pitt is looking for a coach.
Minny just hired one.
Mich may be looking for a new coach.

There is much upheaval. Iowa will have a good O line, and I hear there's this new freshman back...Coker or something, that might prove to be decent.
 


NW returns some bad defenders,sure,and an offensive line that blocked ok when the very mobile Persa was behind them,but could not run the ball consistently. Persa will likely not have the same mobility after tearing his Achilles,so,I doubt he will be as effective.

My early picks for the Legends:

1. Iowa- our schedule is the best,and we have some key performers back.
2. MSU- best of the rest,due to Cousins returning,but tougher schedule this year.
3. Mich- total guess ,but on paper they return a lot of players,and most importantly DRob.
4. Neb- have a chance,until you look at their schedule. They get rough treatment in their first go-around..everyone will want a piece.
5. NW- still do not play OSU but have to go to BC and West Point in the non-conference,and so cupcake quotient is down a bit. If Persa is compromised,they might only win 4-5 games overall. Only win vs a better than .500 record this year? Iowa,in a downpour...next year..not as many.
6. Minny- Kill has his work cut out...

Leaders:
1. OSU- what nu?
2. Wisky- enough winners residue to hang in..
3. Illini- Scheelhaase is legit,and if Liget stays,defense will be decent.
4. PSU- Dissarray,but still have some good recruits from 2010 and 2009.
5. PU- could surprise,but not quite there yet.
6. IU- whipping boy is back for another beating.
 


That's why I find all of the "down year" talk for Iowa next year a little premature. They're not going undefeated by any means but there isn't one team in the division that is head and shoulders better than them.

I'll wait until after juniors declare to take any in depth looks but I think Iowa has a realistic shot at making it to the conference title game.

A couple of trends that will be going in Iowa's favor: coming off a year with a lot of close losses and returning a lot of starters on the o-line.
 


i kind of laughed at first at JHHawk having nebbie 4th, but I had forgoten that brutul big ten schedule we stuck them with. That and the fact we dodge wisky and OSU I have no confidence in Mich being back next year. Sparty doesn't strike the fear in me, so looking at it no reason to think we're not serious contenders next year.
 


Iowa doesn't play OSU, Illinois or Wisky...easily three best Leaders teams and probably three of the top 5 in the league as a whole.
 






This is all rough, first and quick glance stuff...

MSU returns 6 on offense and 5 on defense, and Deace and I agree they are probably the worst 11-1 conference champ in Big Ten history. They really weren't great at anything this year. Efficient QB..solid running game..lose three starters on OL...lose best tackler in nation on D, return four of front seven...they benefited from a very favorable schedule this year and @Mich & @PSU against down teams.

Nebraska returns quite a bit, especially if Crick comes back, but they were not an elite team. I think Martinez hurts them, but he might be the best they have. Losing Helu Jr hurts, but there is some talent there. probably min 8 win team, but not elite.

NW returns quite a bit..including Persa.

MN is MN. Bad. New QB. Gray?

Michigan returns most everyone, but they are a mess. Likely new coach, and what system? horrible defense that can improve exponentially and still just be average.

Iowa has to replace a lot, but we are familiar with the names behind them. I don't see anyone in this division that is significantly better than Iowa.

On the whole, I think the conference will be down next from where it was this year. If OSU 5 come back, they will be a top ten. If Pryor does not, they might be Top Ten due to name only. Wisky loses quite a bit on offense, including two NFL first rounders, and Tolzein and TE Hendricks. Watt will announce Wednesday his NFL intentions. Their D was not elite this year, and unless he comes back, no chance at that next year. Illinois will be a team to watch..PSU could fall off, as we have been discussing here. Indiana will fall back...who knows about Purdue.

That's a scary thought. 0-8 next bowl season?
 




Also, having Michigan and Michigan St at home for us I think is also a big factor. Iowa definitely has a chance next year to make a run for the Big Ten Title game. They just need to work on being more consistent.
 


owa has to replace a lot, but we are familiar with the names behind them. I don't see anyone in this division that is significantly better than Iowa.
I'm not sure if Jon is guilty here, but familiarity often leads to overly optimistic projections. We see the following logic too often:

Team X loses 12 of 22 starters, so they will really struggle next year.
Iowa also loses 12 of 22 starters, but the backups have played a lot (or they will be just as good as the player lost), so Iowa will not have as much of a drop-off.
 


I'm not sure if Jon is guilty here, but familiarity often leads to overly optimistic projections. We see the following logic too often:

Team X loses 12 of 22 starters, so they will really struggle next year.
Iowa also loses 12 of 22 starters, but the backups have played a lot (or they will be just as good as the player lost), so Iowa will not have as much of a drop-off.

I am saying that Iowa has losses, and since we are familiar with those, I didnt need to go into details...and that I dont see any team that is heads and shoulders better than Iowa.
 


I am saying that Iowa has losses, and since we are familiar with those, I didnt need to go into details...and that I dont see any team that is heads and shoulders better than Iowa.

Would it not be more accurate to say that their isn't (or won't be) any team in the division that's head and shoulders above the other 5?

All this parity is making this division look a lot like the Big 12 North.
 




LOL..hadn't thought of that.
Not quite that bad.

Legends? I must have missed it, but do you all like the Legends and Leaders names? Kinda lame, IMO. I personally would have liked either Northwest/Southeast or a Great Plains and Great Lakes divisional names.
 






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