Good win for sure and tough schedule ahead
- Thread starter longtimer
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eyekwah
Well-Known Member
Minnesota looked pretty feisty against the Huskers on Friday. Part of that might be that Nebraska's offensive line looked porous. They gave up 9 sacks. The freshman QB for Minnesota played well, but Nebraska couldn't put any pressure on him. Iowa has home field advantage, but cannot sleep on this game.
NCHawker
Well-Known Member
I think Iowa beat Minny.
Fryowa
Administrator
No.
It is what it is. We will likely be 7-5 at the end of this thing and that's that. Life will go on and I'll still watch happily.
Fryowa
Administrator
I listen to Rob Zatechka's podcast because I stumbled on it long ago looking for crying nebraska reactions and he's actually level-headed for a husker. Google the name if you've never heard of him.
He said something funny the other day...nebraska has already allowed 25 sacks this year and in '94 (his last year as an o-lineman) they allowed 6 all year including the bowl game.
SwirlinLingerie
Well-Known Member
Well, Iowa doesn't have a passing attack. So we start there. If Gronowski's health can stay at the same level or even slightly improve, then I think Iowa can scratch out some points.
If his health holds up, I think Iowa will have a shot at one of these two games. The margin for error seems a little too thin to realistically think Iowa will be right there in both. A big reason is I think the defense is trending back towards elite. The secondary has taken a big jump - I think there is even some athleticism we didn't see last year.
I'm also not 100% sold on USC. The game is scheduled for around noon PST - I actually think that works out ok for Iowa. And after Iowa, USC follows up with a trip to Eugene and then UCLA. Might catch 'em looking ahead (especially if Oregon has their way with Iowa the week before).
If Iowa somehow finds some crazy Kinnick magic against Oregon, not hard to see running into a hornet's nest at USC.
All 5 games ahead are winnable. I say this 'cause it's a home game and Oregon got handled by a visiting Indiana and it wasn't like Indiana was all that impressive at Kinnick. Winnable. Not likely. No expectations of a win. Just saying it's possible.
Of course, all 5 games are losable. That's the worse part.
Just as Oregon is winnable, I'd say Sparty at home is a losable game. Not likely. No expectations of a loss. Just sayin' it's possible.
Glad MN is a home game. Wish USC is a home game. But I still think USC is a winnable game. Eff the Pac 12 teams. Our last 5 games would be from a pool of Purdue, Illinois, Northwestern, Nebraska, Michigan, and Maryland. And or OSU...depending on the year.
You can drive from Iowa City, watch a game and get back in the same day (if you had to) to three of those games. And decades, Iowa played most of those teams every year, except Maryland. And for the last what, decade and a half, a few of those teams they only played every other year. Plus Nebraska now. Which is a good addition, even if it was a loss for the Big 12. Now it's playing teams that would require a plane ride and a hotel. This is so stupid. Utterly stupid.
All because we want big tv and big tv money.
This is NOT what made college football so great to the point that almost every game is available on TV every weekend.
Of course, all 5 games are losable. That's the worse part.
Just as Oregon is winnable, I'd say Sparty at home is a losable game. Not likely. No expectations of a loss. Just sayin' it's possible.
Glad MN is a home game. Wish USC is a home game. But I still think USC is a winnable game. Eff the Pac 12 teams. Our last 5 games would be from a pool of Purdue, Illinois, Northwestern, Nebraska, Michigan, and Maryland. And or OSU...depending on the year.
You can drive from Iowa City, watch a game and get back in the same day (if you had to) to three of those games. And decades, Iowa played most of those teams every year, except Maryland. And for the last what, decade and a half, a few of those teams they only played every other year. Plus Nebraska now. Which is a good addition, even if it was a loss for the Big 12. Now it's playing teams that would require a plane ride and a hotel. This is so stupid. Utterly stupid.
All because we want big tv and big tv money.
This is NOT what made college football so great to the point that almost every game is available on TV every weekend.
I recall listening to the broadcast the announcers had MN d-line stats up to this game, and my recollection is they didn't get a lot of sacks. My recollection is wrong. It must have been the booze.
I just went and looked. They're near the top in sacks. Even if you take away the whole bunch they piled up against Nebraska.
Wow, Nebraska is taking a lot of sacks. Some of that could be Riola thinking he's the next coming of Superman, or....I dunno....some other well known NFL quarterback. I would assume the o-line is also part of it. And coaching. There's only 4 teams total out of ~160 that have given up more sacks. (Auburn curiously being one of them).
Curiously, I went to look at Iowa. They're top 1/6th in sacks given up. Nice to see. I suppose that's a QB who thinks run as much as he does pass and coaching to/for that. And the most mature o-line we've seen in quite awhile. I think the Iowa defense is about midpack on sacks. But I seem to recall that they were actually quite high in 'hurries'. I don't see that as an official stat and apparently my recollection of what I heard during a game is suspect so that could be wrong. They are top 10 in total defense. Again.
Minnesota rodents are rowing a little better this year than normal - no sleeping allowed. Another worthy foe and for this game's sake and future success I surely hope we can take some mini steps in the passing game. If we ever want to make it to elevated heights in a season we will need a serviceable passing game and we do not have this yet. The excellent D and the excellent line play, run game are getting us by for now. Tougher the competition the less we can obtain W's from 4/5 of a team. Gronowski gotta growski as well as our receiving corps. Where the heck is the old reliable TE?
ChosenChildren
Well-Known Member
It all comes down to weather against Oregon. November 8 is in Kinnick for the Ducks. I remember a November game against Penn State in 2008. They were ranked #2. We were 5-4. The talent disparity was obvious, but it was wet, cold and very, very windy. Similar conditions in Kinnick will be a great equalizer... we run the ball well and we are just as physical as Oregon. Cold, windy weather would be tough on Oregon.
We will see.
We will see.
ChosenChildren
Well-Known Member
If Gronowski stays healthy, his legs are the X factor. If he goes out, we are in real trouble.
He was the difference against Penn St
He was the difference against Penn St
Terrible weather is what we need for sure.
MisterLucky
Well-Known Member
I dunno. Gronowski running as much as he is looks like a ticking bomb to me. Did he run this much at his previous stop? I thought he was presented as a passing QB. Eventually someone is going to get a good hit on him (other teams will make a point of targeting him) and perhaps put him on the bench. Do we have a viable replacement?
Perhaps...but have you been to Eugene? Rainy, windy weather is what they live in pretty much year round. Agreed, tho, would certainly not hope for a sunny, calm day.
It would be in our best interest to develop a passing game for sure. I think what we have seen at Iowa is Gronowski's worst passing in his college career. Shoulder still holding him back? Iowa offense holding him back (no passing history here for some time)?
