Has there ever been so much talent returning with such low expectations?

[BSpringsteen]

Part of the reason I am so optimistic about next year is that our expectations are so low (where we thrive, even though everyone thrives being under the radar) with the combination of talent coming back...

Outsiders look at our losses, but if Vandy can manage games well, our offense should be really good next year. On defense we lose the big names but return two corners who have All Big 10 potential, two DL, and all of our meaningful LB's.

When was the last time we had this combination of lots coming back, but such low expectations?

 

[Hawkfromnorwalk]

We have lots coming back but gaping holes in some areas, like safety, half the DLine, and a new QB.

 

[blkngoldUofI]

I love the fact that Iowa will be out of the spotlight in 2011! Seems Iowa likes to climb the polls instead of being ranked highly, underdogs once again is just fine with me.

 

[kuhntz]

I love the fact that Iowa will be out of the spotlight in 2011! Seems Iowa likes to climb the polls instead of being ranked highly, underdogs once again is just fine with me.

I will never understand this thinking. All it means is we had a bad or disappointing season prior.

I just want the Hawks to show up and meet expectations when they are high and continue to build off that. I hate being under the radar ever.

 

[DesMoinesHawki]

The national media is doing what it has always done with Iowa ... jumping on and off the Hawkeye bandwagon. In past years, Iowa would slowly add wins to its record and slowly work its way up the top 25 chart until the national pundits had no choice but to talk about Iowa.

Now, after the disappointing finish to the season, they are all hopping off the bandwagon. The majority of them most likely don't even really follow Iowa football. It's like trying to explain why Penn State and Michigan are almost always ranked/projected ahead of Iowa even if Iowa returns more starters. Penn State and Michigan are the "known" programs.

Iowa is not a flashy school. It's coach is laid back. It is simply a blue-collar program. We don't have the 1,000 uniform combinations like Oregon. We don't have an outspoken coach. We dont have a flashy offense and our defense is very vanilla and we are from one of the smallest populated states in the US.

 

[ThunderHawk]

If this past season didn't convince y'all that the pundits are totally full of crap, I'm not gonna waste my time trying.

 

[Warhawks77]

Part of the reason I am so optimistic about next year is that our expectations are so low (where we thrive, even though everyone thrives being under the radar) with the combination of talent coming back...

Outsiders look at our losses, but if Vandy can manage games well, our offense should be really good next year. On defense we lose the big names but return two corners who have All Big 10 potential, two DL, and all of our meaningful LB's.

When was the last time we had this combination of lots coming back, but such low expectations?

1977 I think....

I too am optimistic. I like the fact we have Vandy coming in under the radar as oppossed to a high pre season ranking. IMO it will allow the offense to focus on getting it down.

 

[MissouriHerk]

The national media is doing what it has always done with Iowa ... jumping on and off the Hawkeye bandwagon. In past years, Iowa would slowly add wins to its record and slowly work its way up the top 25 chart until the national pundits had no choice but to talk about Iowa.

Now, after the disappointing finish to the season, they are all hopping off the bandwagon. The majority of them most likely don't even really follow Iowa football. It's like trying to explain why Penn State and Michigan are almost always ranked/projected ahead of Iowa even if Iowa returns more starters. Penn State and Michigan are the "known" programs.

Iowa is not a flashy school. It's coach is laid back. It is simply a blue-collar program. We don't have the 1,000 uniform combinations like Oregon. We don't have an outspoken coach. We dont have a flashy offense and our defense is very vanilla and we are from one of the smallest populated states in the US.

Well put. Iowa suprised everyone this year (in a bad way), and very well could suprise everyone next year as well. I truly believe Coker is the real deal, and could put up Greene-like yardage. Our defense is never, ever bad, just sometimes only decent/pretty good and other times excellent. But no expert in the county can possibly know just how good or bad Iowa will be because, plain and simple, the success of a team is in large part contingent upon the quality of the quarterback more than any other position. Noone knows just how good or bad Vandenberg will be (although I have a non-verifiable feeling he is a big sleeper and could bring us something similar to 2009). No expert, not even Ferentz himself, knows how Vandenberg will be next year for sure, however. So how reliable could some journalist be, voting in a preseason poll?

 

[whammer33024]

Well put. Iowa suprised everyone this year (in a bad way), and very well could suprise everyone next year as well. I truly believe Coker is the real deal, and could put up Greene-like yardage. Our defense is never, ever bad, just sometimes only decent/pretty good and other times excellent. But no expert in the county can possibly know just how good or bad Iowa will be because, plain and simple, the success of a team is in large part contingent upon the quality of the quarterback more than any other position. Noone knows just how good or bad Vandenberg will be (although I have a non-verifiable feeling he is a big sleeper and could bring us something similar to 2009). No expert, not even Ferentz himself, knows how Vandenberg will be next year for sure, however. So how reliable could some journalist be, voting in a preseason poll?

so in other words, we want him to throw 15 picks, lol. just messin with ya

 

[MidnightBlueSix]

We have plenty of talent but we're light on experience at some key areas. I'd say Bernstine is a more physically talented safety than Sash, and I'd probably say the same thing vis-a-vis Miller and Greenwood. I'd also say Christian Kirksey is more talented than Troy Johnson and you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who says Coker, Coe, McCall, and possibly Johnson are less physically talented than Robinson.

The past 2 years has brought more physical talent to Iowa than we've seen in the Ferentz era. I see this as a turning point. We'll look back at 2010 as the last time (hopefully) we've had to be the team that does more with less and that turns walk-ons and 2-stars into All Americans. It's nice to be able to do but it'd be nicer to just get freak athletes and kids who already start a leg up. It's always risky to trade experience for talent, but I think this may really work out in our favor.