Finally! Finally! Finally!

[Hawkfnntn]

Depends 99% on the QB. And we have seen zero meaningful snaps form any of the QBs on this roster. Cannot make a single prediction on this team until we see that.

Sorta kinda. We've had 10 W seasons with crap for QBs before. Granted I think our defense this yr may not be as good as past seasons so the O will need to pull more of their own weight. Not to mention the special teams. We absolutely don't have a clue what to expect with any of the kicking/return games.

I totally agree we can't pretend to know what to expect from the QB position yet hell we don't even know which one it'll be. I just think whichever one it is will play well enough to do what we do and keep us in games with a chance to win. Good QB play allows us to beat who we're supposed to beat. Great Qb play is what can give us a chance to upset an OSU or Michigan and make a serious run at things. Til we see some of that it's impossible to be predicting it.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Sorta kinda. We've had 10 W seasons with crap for QBs before. Granted I think our defense this yr may not be as good as past seasons so the O will need to pull more of their own weight. Not to mention the special teams. We absolutely don't have a clue what to expect with any of the kicking/return games.

I totally agree we can't pretend to know what to expect from the QB position yet hell we don't even know which one it'll be. I just think whichever one it is will play well enough to do what we do and keep us in games with a chance to win. Good QB play allows us to beat who we're supposed to beat. Great Qb play is what can give us a chance to upset an OSU or Michigan and make a serious run at things. Til we see some of that it's impossible to be predicting it.

Nice. This is where I'm at to. And yea, special teams is a huge unkn.

 

[BuiltLikeWilt]

Sorta kinda. We've had 10 W seasons with crap for QBs before. Granted I think our defense this yr may not be as good as past seasons so the O will need to pull more of their own weight. Not to mention the special teams. We absolutely don't have a clue what to expect with any of the kicking/return games.

I totally agree we can't pretend to know what to expect from the QB position yet hell we don't even know which one it'll be. I just think whichever one it is will play well enough to do what we do and keep us in games with a chance to win. Good QB play allows us to beat who we're supposed to beat. Great Qb play is what can give us a chance to upset an OSU or Michigan and make a serious run at things. Til we see some of that it's impossible to be predicting it.

We need to get through those first five games conference games and Iowa state. Will need to be on all cylinders early this year.

 

[Westernhawk]

The key is and the whole point of this post is that defenses now just can't key on one area or pin their ears back and blitz.

Years past, defenses started to do the same thing with Iowa. Teams would show blitz which would force Iowa's QB's to check off to a predictable play. So, Iowa didn't have the playmakers to alleviate this strategy and at the same time, teams were cutting down Iowa's playbook to a handful of plays with what they were seeing pre-snap and cutting down the field.

The diversity not only opens up the field more, it also opens up the playbook if the D can't force you into a check off play and they can't pin their ears back and blitz when they want to. That will keep less pressure off the Iowa QB and provide more time. This should benefit the productivity.

This is a great description of several years of Iowa offensive football. So frustrating. Brings back flashbacks of a game I watched at Kinnick with Brohm coaching Purdue. That guy owned us. I remember seeing some plays where everyone on Purdue's defense was on (or very near) the line of scrimmage with zero coverage back. They knew we couldn't do anything. It was like playing against 20 guys. It was worth the risk to put (nearly) everyone on the LOS. Nowadays, hopefully Lester's O can make them pay when they do that. It was fun to see flashes of it towards the end of the year last year.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

This is a great description of several years of Iowa offensive football. So frustrating. Brings back flashbacks of a game I watched at Kinnick with Brohm coaching Purdue. That guy owned us. I remember seeing some plays where everyone on Purdue's defense was on (or very near) the line of scrimmage with zero coverage back. They knew we couldn't do anything. It was like playing against 20 guys. It was worth the risk to put (nearly) everyone on the LOS. Nowadays, hopefully Lester's O can make them pay when they do that. It was fun to see flashes of it towards the end of the year last year.

I clearly remember teams looking like they were going to blitz, make Iowa check into a predictable play and the defense would back out and defend. Doing that they made Iowa check down to a limited number of plays they knew to defend. In an essence, they were steering Iowa right into their defense.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I clearly remember teams looking like they were going to blitz, make Iowa check into a predictable play and the defense would back out and defend. Doing that they made Iowa check down to a limited number of plays they knew to defend. In an essence, they were steering Iowa right into their defense.

Yeah and Iowa was just so predictable based on the down and distance and whatever formation/personnel we put out there. I formation strong side on early downs we ran the ball to the short side of the field damn near every time no matter what the defense was doing/showing. BF was so in over his head as an OC it was laughable for the other teams.

 

[BigD]

It is finally all coming together on offense, it seems. Tim Lester finally has his ingredients to create his recipe on offense. Iowa finally has a 3 headed threat on offense to keep defenses honest.

Iowa now is a legit threat on the outside on both sides of the field with Reece Vander Zee on one side and Tony Diaz opposite him. Those two and DJ Vonnahme can all go one-on-one which is huge and creates a dilemma for the defense. What this does is stretch the defense not just downfield but from sideline to sideline which is huge. In the past, Iowa just didn't have the guns to make the defense have to defend the entire field. These guys make this happen, finally!

In years past, defenses could stack the box to stop Iowa's run game, then blitz the QB to speed up the play or get a potential sack. This because the defense could pretty much cover Iowa's best receiver on one side of the field. In years past, the defense could slide a safety over to help defend Iowa's best target. The defenses could crunch the field to defend less of it, because of the lack of Iowa playmakers.

What will a defense do now with Vander Zee on one side, Diaz on the other and Vonnahme? This is the 3 headed monster and creates a dilemma for the defense to defend. Where is the defense going to cheat a safety over to help, or will they have to play more straight up? Tim Lester finally has his pieces. I didn't even touch on or mention Iowa having potentially one of the best RB groups in the country to throw that into the mix as a threat and to keep defenses honest.

I have usually been one to say "I have to see it to believe it" concerning Iowa's offense, and in particular WR play. This year we may FINALLY be seeing it come to fruition!

I hope so, anyway!

Go IOWA!

As has been mentioned several times in this thread the point will be mute if there isn't a reliable QB in the room. Who's looking the strongest among our QB's?

 

[Westernhawk]

I clearly remember teams looking like they were going to blitz, make Iowa check into a predictable play and the defense would back out and defend. Doing that they made Iowa check down to a limited number of plays they knew to defend. In an essence, they were steering Iowa right into their defense.

OMG yes. Threaten to blitz. Iowa checks down into a short side of field zone stretch running play, which is stuffed. Repeat times infinity.

 

[Westernhawk]

Yeah and Iowa was just so predictable based on the down and distance and whatever formation/personnel we put out there. I formation strong side on early downs we ran the ball to the short side of the field damn near every time no matter what the defense was doing/showing. BF was so in over his head as an OC it was laughable for the other teams.

It.was.maddening.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

It.was.maddening.

So many wasted possessions where they weren't even trying to really move the ball let alone score it seemed like.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

Sure, QB is an unknown, but I tend to think the unknowns on the defensive line might ultimately be more problematic. Plus the Hawks just had the majority of last season's OL drafted.

Combine all that with the schedule, and I think the Hawks are in 7-5 territory. I think it could be a fun season and a pretty solid team at the end of the year.

Seems likely the three toughest games are at the beginning of the Big Ten schedule. Really wish that at least two of those were later in the year, as the Hawks always seem like a tougher out in November than early October.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Sure, QB is an unknown, but I tend to think the unknowns on the defensive line might ultimately be more problematic. Plus the Hawks just had the majority of last season's OL drafted.

Combine all that with the schedule, and I think the Hawks are in 7-5 territory. I think it could be a fun season and a pretty solid team at the end of the year.

Seems likely the three toughest games are at the beginning of the Big Ten schedule. Really wish that at least two of those were later in the year, as the Hawks always seem like a tougher out in November than early October.

Yea, smelling like that. As long as they look promising this coming season before heading into 2027.

 

[Westernhawk]

Sure, QB is an unknown, but I tend to think the unknowns on the defensive line might ultimately be more problematic. Plus the Hawks just had the majority of last season's OL drafted.

Combine all that with the schedule, and I think the Hawks are in 7-5 territory. I think it could be a fun season and a pretty solid team at the end of the year.

Seems likely the three toughest games are at the beginning of the Big Ten schedule. Really wish that at least two of those were later in the year, as the Hawks always seem like a tougher out in November than early October.

I am most worried about the DL, closely followed by the OL. Maybe some rough patches in the early part of the season, with improvement as the season progresses, resulting in a beatdown of Nebby at the end of the year.