Big Ten Football Writers - Really?

[ArvadaHawk]

I expect Iowa's passing game to be better than last season. CJ often did not have time to throw. And balls were dropped when they managed to get separation. i think they could not be worse. So the passing game will be better it might even be average among league teams

Wiegers career stats: 3/4, 32 yds, 0 tds/0 ints.
Stanley career stats: 5/9, 62 yds, 0 tds/0 ints.
3rd string qb played WR last season.
4th string qb: True Freshman with no college experience.
MVB is a good slot receiver but coming off braking the same bone in the same foot twice in the last 9 months.
All other WR's have little meaningful to zero game experience.

 

[Joshbrown]

This season, we will have zero qb's with any extensive playing experience, one WR with meaningful experience (who also is coming off breaking the same bone in the same foot, twice in 9 months) and FR WR's (granted I believe they have talent, but they're still FR). Our passing offense could definitely not be as good as last seasons. That is why we should bite the bullet this season and let our skill position players learn and grow.

valid points . . . but here come better ones . . .

In 2004 Iowa won the conference with zero running game . . . and the running game is Iowa's offensive strength under Kirk. The excuses just get tiresome. Every year we have them. By the 19th year of your tenure, shouldn't the excuses part of the journey be over with?? Honestly, EVERYONE said we upgraded the staff over the winter and those same folks are counseling lowering expectations. Seriously WTH!?! We have better coaches and should now expect fewer wins than any season since 2012? Jon, can you please place a link on your website to online logic classes to help our fanbase.

 

[ArvadaHawk]

valid points . . . but here come better ones . . .

In 2004 Iowa won the conference with zero running game . . . and the running game is Iowa's offensive strength under Kirk. The excuses just get tiresome. Every year we have them. By the 19th year of your tenure, shouldn't the excuses part of the journey be over with?? Honestly, EVERYONE said we upgraded the staff over the winter and those same folks are counseling lowering expectations. Seriously WTH!?! We have better coaches and should now expect fewer wins than any season since 2012? Jon, can you please place a link on your website to online logic classes to help our fanbase.

For someone that had to go back to 2004 for a counter argument, I could argue you should be the first to sign up of Jon's online logic class. My valid points are directly related to 2017 season. Hey, I could be wrong...I hope I am. But the odds are better that I won't be. But who knows, right? I am just willing to treat this football season like last seasons hoops team. I don't care about the wins, but let the young kids play to their potential, learn and grow.

Let's not forget, though, that we've also lost 75% of our starting secondary. We lost our best DL and our best backup DL (Johnson and Faith). This team has some big holes. One of our lost starters is due to injury (Miller) so, by definition of a developmental program, we now have a deep safety that will be playing before he's developed.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I guess I'm seeing things differently than most. What's the most important thing about an offense. Offensive line play...period. People can say, "oh, we need a QB otherwise we will suck." You can put Joe Montana behind a shitty offensive line and he's rendered useless. Iowa should have one of the top 5 OL's in the country...they won the Joe Moore award last year and 4/5 of the group is back and there is depth and competition everywhere.

I guess I have more faith in Brian as the OC, with input from KOK and Polesak. If we had no athletes, I'd say, yeah, we aren't going to be good offensively. But we have one of the most dynamic players in all of college football coming back in Akrum Wadley. We have a very good group of TEs coming back...and one potential all-American candidate in Fant...whose upside is obvious. Then you add Vandenburg...who if he is where he was...is a solid WR. Now you add another running back with receiving skill in James Butler. Guess what...that's a lot of weapons on offense.

Iowa's short passing game using their backs and TEs will be as good as it's ever been. I fully expect Wadley in the slot on occasion on 3rd down. Any one on one match up with Wadley is a win for Iowa. We just need the QB to be accurate in the short passing game. It will open everything up and set up the long ball. Think Northwestern's short passing game...when it was on, it was impossible to stop. Fant, Wadley, Vandenburg and Butler can get open against linebackers and safeties...especially Wadley and Butler who have similar skills.

Certainly, we need a WR to step up...but to say "we aren't going to have an offense"...the most important component is one of the best in the country...then add Wadley catching and receiving.

I agree with Deace when it comes to QBs at that is you can't hide them in college football.... If your going to have a game manager at that position then the rest of your team has to be head and shoulders better... Look at Clemson last yr. They had a QB that was about as decorated and good as it gets and it still took down to the wire to beat Bama cause they were stacked everywhere else. (and well coached gotta give it to them) If Iowa is going to do some damage this year it'll be because the QB & WR play go above and beyond expectations..

 

[Joshbrown]

For someone that had to go back to 2004 for a counter argument, I could argue you should be the first to sign up of Jon's online logic class. My valid points are directly related to 2017 season. Hey, I could be wrong...I hope I am. But the odds are better that I won't be. But who knows, right? I am just willing to treat this football season like last seasons hoops team. I don't care about the wins, but let the young kids play to their potential, learn and grow.

Let's not forget, though, that we've also lost 75% of our starting secondary. We lost our best DL and our best backup DL (Johnson and Faith). This team has some big holes. One of our lost starters is due to injury (Miller) so, by definition of a developmental program, we now have a deep safety that will be playing before he's developed.

Did you just say "you don't care about wins"?

That sums up what's wrong with Iowa athletics. Barta counts on that mentality to justify us being worse than Nebraska and Wisconsin.

 

[ArvadaHawk]

Did you just say "you don't care about wins"?

That sums up what's wrong with Iowa athletics. Barta counts on that mentality to justify us being worse than Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Man, you're almost funny. Keep trying. Never give up. Some day you just might be funny.

 

[Joshbrown]

For someone that had to go back to 2004 for a counter argument, .

What year would you like me to go back to?

Hmmm, 2009 SG didn't return and we had a great year. How did that happen? Either "next man in" or Captain and crew refused to accept excuses

So I'll ask again, why do you assume that KF and crew and the fans should buy excuses any year? Believing in yourself is half the battle. Our fans may not believe in our players, but thank goodness they believe in themselves.

The OP is offended when sports writers have no faith in Iowa, I wonder how he feels about fans who have the same expectations as the writers?

 

[Locker67]

I don't pay too much attention to predictions. I also don't blame those picking Iowa 4th . Look at where they picked Iowa last yr and how that turned out. Just as soon be under the radar.

 

[SpecialKHawk]

What year would you like me to go back to?

Hmmm, 2009 SG didn't return and we had a great year. How did that happen? Either "next man in" or Captain and crew refused to accept excuses

So I'll ask again, why do you assume that KF and crew and the fans should buy excuses any year? Believing in yourself is half the battle. Our fans may not believe in our players, but thank goodness they believe in themselves.

The OP is offended when sports writers have no faith in Iowa, I wonder how he feels about fans who have the same expectations as the writers?

You can have all the expectations you want but talent trumps coaching in 85% of the games. Saban runs essentially the same systems as we do but the difference is he has 2-3x the talent we do. He's considered a legendary coach but really it's his ability to acquire the best players that sets him apart. There's a reason he's at Bama and not jumping on the Purdue job.

KF is running a development program. The roster turns 20% over most seasons like all teams. How that next group that fills in for the 20% lost performs determines the results. The systems run dictate close games because there are a limited number of possessions allowing us to upset a team like Michigan but also lose to you name it over the years NDSU, MAC schools, etc. Close games allow those teams to hang around until we screw up or they make a play and we lose.

It's not excuses... at this point in someone's tenure you know what you get both good and bad.

 

[dwghawk]

Gee, I wonder where those two first place votes came from that allowed the Cornholers to edge out Iowa for 3rd place?

Not that preseason predictions mean anything. Especially when you are picking the 3rd and 4th place finishers.
It takes one hell of a crystal ball to get that far down with any accuracy. Don't ya think?

 

[ArvadaHawk]

What year would you like me to go back to?

Hmmm, 2009 SG didn't return and we had a great year. How did that happen? Either "next man in" or Captain and crew refused to accept excuses

So I'll ask again, why do you assume that KF and crew and the fans should buy excuses any year? Believing in yourself is half the battle. Our fans may not believe in our players, but thank goodness they believe in themselves.

The OP is offended when sports writers have no faith in Iowa, I wonder how he feels about fans who have the same expectations as the writers?

You could go back to 2012, the last time we had a change in OC. But that would be almost logical. Let me ask you: Do you really believe that our two qb's (combined 8/14, 92 yds, 0 tds) and our wr's are going to come out of the box ready to go and be proficient? I don't and I hope I'm wrong. But because of this, it's going to be hard to run the ball, unless JB and AW are used in the backfield at the same time and we jettison the fb, but, we all know this probably isn't going to happen. Our offense is going to struggle to score points, in my opinion. Our defense is going to wear down (not to mention we have some significant holes in our defense that will also be manned by players with little experience). If we throw the ball with regularity to keep men out of the box and the defense honest, then I can see the offense progress through the season and we could have a better win total. But that just isn't in kirk ferentz' DNA.

Regarding 2009; we have about 15 guys in the 2 deeps that eventually made it to the NFL. Those same guys (for the most part) also laid an egg in 2010, going 7-5. Recap: 2009 10-2. 2010, with almost the exact same players as in 2009, 7-5. I wonder why these guys believed in themselves in 2009 but not 2010?

 

[Kennyfromminne]

For someone that had to go back to 2004 for a counter argument, I could argue you should be the first to sign up of Jon's online logic class. My valid points are directly related to 2017 season. Hey, I could be wrong...I hope I am. But the odds are better that I won't be. But who knows, right? I am just willing to treat this football season like last seasons hoops team. I don't care about the wins, but let the young kids play to their potential, learn and grow.

Let's not forget, though, that we've also lost 75% of our starting secondary. We lost our best DL and our best backup DL (Johnson and Faith). This team has some big holes. One of our lost starters is due to injury (Miller) so, by definition of a developmental program, we now have a deep safety that will be playing before he's developed.

Losing johnson and faith is really gonna be tough

 

[ArvadaHawk]

Losing johnson and faith is really gonna be tough

I believe Bazata is coming off injury, also. Lattimore got some reps last season, but was it enough? Our 2 deep at DT has just NB and Lattimore with game reps, I think.

 

[IndianaHawk]

Did you just say "you don't care about wins"?

That sums up what's wrong with Iowa athletics. Barta counts on that mentality to justify us being worse than Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Didn't Nebraska recently go to a bowl game at 5-7?

 

[mopkins]

Nebraska does get Wisconsin, northwestern and Iowa all at home...Iowa plays all 3 of those teams on the road. So I could see where some people could give nebraska an edge there

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

We will see how this goes, and I get arguments to the contrary about our offensive line (pass protection)...but they have had an additional spring, and now fall camp to work on that. These guys are athletic...I think they improve. It's also incumbent upon your offensive coordinator to put pressure on a defense who sets up to bring 7 in a blitz package...that will put Wadley or Butler one on one in the flat with a LB or safety. We didn't use dump offs well against all that pressure last year...I'll never understand that.

The part that doesn't get enough attention in my eyes, is the new offensive brain trust. BF, KOK, and Polesak working together to game plan is a difference maker in my opinion. Remember, with Iowa, it's staying on the field and letting our offensive line control the game. If we stay ahead of the chains, you need guys who can get 3-4 yards on third down...either with a swing pass in the flat, quick pop to the TE, or Vandy in the slot. I think we are going to be good there. There are probably 7 guys in the mix at receiver with the freshmen coming in...one of them has to step up...I think that happens.

Nebraska simply doesn't deserve the #3 ranking ahead of the team that pummeled them the previous year. They lose Armstrong...their defense gives up points like R Kelly goes through women...and no one fears their offense. Why would this year be any different. They don't have their entire team back in the trenches and they have had attrition the past few years.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

The OL is a good run blocking line no doubt but horrifically bad in pass pro. Only look to the bowl game loss at 30-3 to see what happens to a good running blocking line against quality albeit 2nd string FLA defensive players. No offensive TDs scored ... zero.

We are picked about right where we should be. Can we do better than 6 or 7 wins? Possibly but that's about how many games we will likely win. The schedule is brutal and we have serious questions along with changes in our staff that will require some games to get everyone on the same page.

There is also so much over-valuing of our personnel because we are fans of this team. The most over-used word in football by fans is 'talent'. Even the worst teams in football sit around and talk about their 'talent'. Talk instead about impact players and we have maybe 6-7 out of our 22 positions. Then there's special teams which we rely on but could be very shaky this season.

By the way that OL award last year was a complete farce and we all know it. Let's be honest with ourselves.

Wadley had 115 yards rushing against Florida by the way. The Joe Moore award is evaluated by experts in offensive line play...and although there may be some bias with KFs relationships...to call it a farce is ridiculous. We had two 1000 yard rushers when teams have 7-8 in the box pretty much every play to stop the running game. To account for that many players on the line of scrimmage...is impressive. It's like a symphony in action. It's the complexity of the blocking schemes and the timing of the offensive line they are evaluating...there were legitimate reasons why they won that award.

You have essentially the entire group back as injuries got the back ups serious experience. Top 5, when they won the award last year...it's not a stretch. We've seen what happens when guys get to their senior year with our offensive lines...and it's a group of seniors and other upper classmen...think 2002 and 2008. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what these guys can do with another year of getting better. I'm willing to bet the pass pro is vastly improved...and our offensive coaches have schemed better for the third down pressure.

 

[Unknownbadger]

From an outsider with interest in Iowa over the years, I don't see Iowa beating the big guys (with good D's) unless it can show that it has a passing game or gets all the breaks. You can't average 5 yards per pass and win many games. Teams stack and play the receivers tight. It will take more than a couple overthrown long balls to loosen them up. Without looking back, I'm guessing that in most TOUGH games last year Iowa didn't score 20 points. That puts pressure on the D to win the game. This year your schedule is full of tough teams with good and speedy Ds. You are going to have to win a couple of them and your offense is going to have to show up in them to give you that chance. Just my opinion.

That said, Nebraska hasn't shown that it has tightened up its D all that much.

 

[SpecialKHawk]

Wadley had 115 yards rushing against Florida by the way. The Joe Moore award is evaluated by experts in offensive line play...and although there may be some bias with KFs relationships...to call it a farce is ridiculous. We had two 1000 yard rushers when teams have 7-8 in the box pretty much every play to stop the running game. To account for that many players on the line of scrimmage...is impressive. It's like a symphony in action. It's the complexity of the blocking schemes and the timing of the offensive line they are evaluating...there were legitimate reasons why they won that award.

You have essentially the entire group back as injuries got the back ups serious experience. Top 5, when they won the award last year...it's not a stretch. We've seen what happens when guys get to their senior year with our offensive lines...and it's a group of seniors and other upper classmen...think 2002 and 2008. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what these guys can do with another year of getting better. I'm willing to bet the pass pro is vastly improved...and our offensive coaches have schemed better for the third down pressure.

Again my post stated in the first line that this line was a good run blocking line and it was. The production of 2 1000 yards is very impressive. The pass pro was horrific though. Wadley managed 115 yards on FLA because he's a difference maker yet we did not score an offensive TD against a FLA defense playing many second teamers in that game. Not even some of their studs played! We were stuffed on the goal line from a yard out when we tried to run it in which is our bread and butter. How is that not an indication that this was not the top line in the country? How can a line as an integral part of an offense as ours is not get a TD in a bowl game against many second teamers? Michigan obliterated FLA in the previous year's bowl game. Not apples to apples but come on.

Now you are going to throw in the standard 'stacked box' excuse? As if no opponent has ever done that in the past 17 years against us? I'm glad to know we just started seeing this emerging trend.

Your own post talks about the type of improvement we could see from returning seniors and in pass pro this coming season. How on earth is it possible then to earn an award with that much improvement that could be made and is a possibility (which I agree with by the way)? Award winning last year over all other O-lines in the nation? It's conceivable that our OL could be vastly improved this season and not win it now? What does that say about this award?

That's why it's a farce and bet dollars to doughnuts they regret tremendously giving us that award. We weren't deserving. Yes we probably had one of the 10-15 best OLs but not the best. No way.

 

[Kennyfromminne]

I believe Bazata is coming off injury, also. Lattimore got some reps last season, but was it enough? Our 2 deep at DT has just NB and Lattimore with game reps, I think.

That scares me. If the middle isn't stout it really doesn't matter how good the ends are