Imlivingthedream
Well-Known Member
no the defense has not. see Arizona or Wisconsin. we needed game winning stops and didnt get them.
Disappointing Season?
- Thread starter gohawks71
- Start date
no the defense has not. see Arizona or Wisconsin. we needed game winning stops and didnt get them.
Sirhouseman
Well-Known Member
Not yet...WAY too much season left.
DBAHawkFan
Well-Known Member
I think looking back right now, Norm Parker being out and Jewel Hampton tearing his ACL were two losses Iowa could not afford.
Iowa has always, always made adjustments on defense after halftime. Not this year, in fact it seems like the defense has gotten a bit worse. Offenses aren't doing anything different against us, yet they're having more success. I believe Parker was a big reason why the defense always seemed to get stronger as the game went on. He's just one of those guys that makes one tiny little switch, and the players react.
And not having a 2nd running back, one with breakaway speed has hurt the offense as well. ARob has done a perfect job this year, nothing else I or anyone else could ask for out of him. But if we have Hampton, maybe some of those ARob 3 yard runs, turn into 5-6, or even those 10-15 yard runs turn into 30-40.
Iowa has always, always made adjustments on defense after halftime. Not this year, in fact it seems like the defense has gotten a bit worse. Offenses aren't doing anything different against us, yet they're having more success. I believe Parker was a big reason why the defense always seemed to get stronger as the game went on. He's just one of those guys that makes one tiny little switch, and the players react.
And not having a 2nd running back, one with breakaway speed has hurt the offense as well. ARob has done a perfect job this year, nothing else I or anyone else could ask for out of him. But if we have Hampton, maybe some of those ARob 3 yard runs, turn into 5-6, or even those 10-15 yard runs turn into 30-40.
I had us 9-3 and going CapOne or Outback...which I think we are on pace to do. I will never be disappointed with either of these great bowls.
The schedule set up well agreed, but inexperience was going to be a huge weaknesses for this team.
3/5 of the OL are young and inexperienced...now I think they have talent and will get better, but that takes time. In experience that gets you beat vs. the blitz heavy Arizona defense.
2/3 of the LB core are young and inexperienced. 2/4 of the DB core are young and inexperienced. Which leads to your defense not being as good as you think, no matter how good your DLine is.
The ST breakdown shock me (especially not being ready for the fake punt with 6 minutes left and they only had one timeout), but the kicking woes do not when a true freshman beats out two guys with experience. Once again, inexperience is a huge part of this equation.
I love my Black and Gold kool-aide but I did not drink enough to miss the glaring inexperience that we were going to be dealing with all year.
Before the season, I was thinking 9-3 or better was to be expected. I thought we'd lose to maybe tOSU, and maybe one or two other games, MAX.
However, considering how we've lost, and considering we haven't even gotten to a good MSU team, a good tOSU team or even our most hated, thorn in the side team in jNW... this season most certainly has the potential to become disappointing.
If we win out and go 10-2, I think we'll likely go to a BCS game. With some help (aka Wisconsin losing at least once more), we'll still win the Big Ten and go to the Rose. However, that's a pretty big if, considering how we've lost and the glaring weaknesses that have been exposed.
However, considering how we've lost, and considering we haven't even gotten to a good MSU team, a good tOSU team or even our most hated, thorn in the side team in jNW... this season most certainly has the potential to become disappointing.
If we win out and go 10-2, I think we'll likely go to a BCS game. With some help (aka Wisconsin losing at least once more), we'll still win the Big Ten and go to the Rose. However, that's a pretty big if, considering how we've lost and the glaring weaknesses that have been exposed.
ThunderHawk
Well-Known Member
Yes. This is a disappointing season. We have national championship talent and we are probably going to play in a second-tier bowl.
Disappointing defined.
Disappointing defined.
nationalchamps
Well-Known Member
If Iowa runs the table we will be in a BCS game, plain and simple. With that being said, do I think we run the table? No.
I love me some Hawks, but National Championship talent is very debatable...just to much inexperience at key positions.
BCS rank and Returning starters a la Steele:
1: Auburn (16)
2: Oregon (18)
3: BSU (23)
4: TCU (18)
OK...you don't like BSU and TCU because of weak schedule.
How about Auburn (16) and Oregon (18)...well take Iowa (14) and add back the two juniors who left - Bulaga and Spivey - and I doubt we have two loses.
What is wrong with being disappointed at being 5-2? Iowa did not lose to teams that would beat them on a consistent basis. Iowa is a better team than Arizona period. Iowa is as good and likely better than Wisconsin....we left so many things on the field it is disgusting.
If we go 10-2 will I still be disappointed? Sure because we could have done better.
If we go 10-2 will I be happy? Yes because we will at least be co-B10 champs, on a 5 game winning streak with 2 wins over top 10 teams and possibly be going to the Rose Bowl with a little help from SCUM.
If we lose another game or more during the year will I be disappointed? Absolutely because I hate losing...just as we all should.
Does that mean we should give up on the team or season? Absolutely not.
Next up : Bowl eligibility!
If we go 10-2 will I still be disappointed? Sure because we could have done better.
If we go 10-2 will I be happy? Yes because we will at least be co-B10 champs, on a 5 game winning streak with 2 wins over top 10 teams and possibly be going to the Rose Bowl with a little help from SCUM.
If we lose another game or more during the year will I be disappointed? Absolutely because I hate losing...just as we all should.
Does that mean we should give up on the team or season? Absolutely not.
Next up : Bowl eligibility!
