Can Iowa Possibly Live up to the Hype?

[woodyk1]

I agree with the first paragraph, but the defense is the one constant that is easier to dismiss bounces and breaks. they are just flat out good, and that is a great baseline to plan from.

With regards to last year's OL, it didn't live up to what it could have been, due to Bulaga's early season issues that bothered him well into the year, an Dace being hurt. Having Dace vs OSU would have helped.Might have made the difference in a few more first downs, more clock, less TOP for OSU, etc. I have a hard time believing that Iowa will throw as many picks this year as they did a year ago

Well, there were 2 bounces on the defensive side of the ball (OK, one was special teams) that changed the direction of 2 games that may have been losses.

1) Ball bounces up to AC after blocking a punt vs Penn State

2) Pinball interception by Sash vs Indiana

Now, other things happened to help win those games, and there was pressure on both plays that were important, but those 2 bounces were very fortunate at the time when they happened. Let's hope the Hawks are just as fortunate and good enough to advantage of the breaks that happen during the game.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

Iowa is going to have two tests in September. Iowa State and Arizona. They both should be wins, but...Iowa State likes to spoil Iowa's day. Playing in Arizona could be a problem.
A lot is going to hinge on the 3 new OL starters.

 

[HaydenHawk56]

I have to agree about the Ohio St game. I disagreed with the coaching staff's decision to take it to overtime. JV was playing well enough and we only needed like 40-50 yards to get into field goal range. Even if OSU were to have got the ball back on a TO, they would not have had much time to work with it (of course OSU has worked miracles against us in the past with limited time on the clock ala Iowa City in 90).

Take a few short passes to the sidelines and see what you can get. If anything and you don't get into field goal range, you might have a few seconds left to take a shot at the endzone.

Unfortunately, the play calling in OT was horrible and we never got a chance to even kick a field goal.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

BIG +1 I was there...threw my Hawk hat down in disgust. Never will understand why we did that.

Well...if you were there, then you SAW the first play we ran when we got the ball back. And the set-up of the OSU D basically said, "We will not let you score without taking a serious risk". IMO, KF and staff played that right. Had the play gained 8 yards, or had JVB and staff seen something different in the OSU D, then I believe they would have gone after it. (Just my opinion, of course).

And the adage of "play for the tie at home, play for the win on the road" doesn't really apply when it's for the Big Ten title/Rose Bowl AND your QB is making his first start. AND one of your RBs couldn't go. And you had no Dace Richardson.

Frankly, OSU made a hell of a defensive play in OT, or we might have been playing D a little differently, too (if we had scored).