Best Iowa DL ever?

iowahawkeyes89

iowahawkeyes89

Well-Known Member
Someone posed this question on TOS

I'm a relatively young guy myself, so I can't speak for much past the early 90's to present day.

I would say that 2004 group was pretty salty.

But I think Ballard, Clayborn, Binns and Klug will all have the chance to play at the next level.

Ballard IMHO is very under rated by most.
 
81-82 was a darn fine year. Mark Bortz as a DL, who went on to play for Da Bears at guard. Brad Webb at DT. Andre Tippett, listed as LB, also played a little on the DL. He became an NFL HOFer for the Pats. Bruce Kittle was a senior that year.

A very nice group.
 
I would have to say 2010, every guy has a chance to be a star. I don't know how they can double team Clayborn, when you have the rest to deal with. Catch 22.
 
This could very well be the best DL in Iowa history, as long as everyone stays healthy and puts in the time and effort.
Potential is a tricky thing, when does one reach the apex of their potential? Could any of these guys have already gotten as quick or as fast as they will ever be? If that is the case the only way to overcome their highest potentail is to work harder than everyone else.
Having played collegiate baseball, I know that the best I ever played was my sophmore yr. I reached the top of my game physically when I was 20 yrs old.
I worked just as hard or harder the next two yrs but just didn't seem to progress beyond that point and actually regressed to some degree. I guess Chris Doyle will be given the task of giving these guys the tools and motivation necessary to progress.
I guess time will tell if this is the best D-Line ever. I hope that it is, that would have to mean success for the football team this season and hey I'm all for that!
 
Hawkize1 said:
This could very well be the best DL in Iowa history, as long as everyone stays healthy and puts in the time and effort.
Potential is a tricky thing, when does one reach the apex of their potential? Could any of these guys have already gotten as quick or as fast as they will ever be? If that is the case the only way to overcome their highest potentail is to work harder than everyone else.
Having played collegiate baseball, I know that the best I ever played was my sophmore yr. I reached the top of my game physically when I was 20 yrs old.
I worked just as hard or harder the next two yrs but just didn't seem to progress beyond that point and actually regressed to some degree. I guess Chris Doyle will be given the task of giving these guys the tools and motivation necessary to progress.
I guess time will tell if this is the best D-Line ever. I hope that it is, that would have to mean success for the football team this season and hey I'm all for that!
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+1 Could be,we'll see.
 
Bortz, Dean along with Tippett who played a kind of DE/Linebacker. Tippett was a pressure machine and the defense was all they had, the offense was pretty weak. Even though the D dominated in 2004 and they had no running game, they still had Drew Tate, they had nothing like him in the early 80's. I think Clayborn is the closest thing to Andre Tippett I have ever seen, pressure everytime.
 
I think the 2003 line gets overlooked a lot. I watched the 2003 game at Wisconsin the other night and that line had some talent.

Roth, D-Rob, Luebke and Babineaux were all on it (obviously because they started in 2004). But then you had players like Howard Hodges, Neubauer and Jared Clauss. That line had incredible talent and much more depth than we had in 2004 and more than we will have this year.
 
To say the best in history for anything is tough, because the latest is always the greatest in the minds of those that don't have historical perspective..and being that none of us was alive for every Iowa team, its tough.

But I look at things in my lifetime.

The 1981 Iowa defense is the standard bearer, IMO. The 2008 Iowa defense was the best statistically since 1981. But I think the 2004 Iowa defense has been the best since the 1981 defense. And that front four (2004) was the best of the Ferentz era. The 2002 defense was probably the most intimidating, and was still really good too.

I think that this year's front four has a chance to be the best since 1981.
 
Section136 said:
That line had incredible talent and much more depth than we had in 2004 and more than we will have this year.
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I think Daniels and Daniel are solid depth players, with Alvis really turning Parker's head...I think this year's line can go six deep for sure.
 
The defensive lines of 1899 and 1900 may also have been the best. Both teams did not allow a single touchdown. The defensive stand against Nebraska in 1899 is the stuff of legends. Nebraska ran behind their giant offensive line 4 times at the Iowa goal line but could not penetrate it. That really set the course for the next 2 years.
 
Hawknick said:
The defensive lines of 1899 and 1900 may also have been the best. Both teams did not allow a single touchdown. The defensive stand against Nebraska in 1899 is the stuff of legends. Nebraska ran behind their giant offensive line 4 times at the Iowa goal line but could not penetrate it. That really set the course for the next 2 years.
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Yes...Zabel tells me about that one.
 
JonDMiller said:
I think Daniels and Daniel are solid depth players, with Alvis really turning Parker's head...I think this year's line can go six deep for sure.
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Since Alvis was designated as a grey shirt, I felt he was destined for greatness. The kid is an athlete. Still, after watching the Spring practice, it appears he is a year away physically. But what a motor...Roth and Klug-like, IMO.
 
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