Hawks Ranked 21 preseason by The Athlete...Hot Damn...
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NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
The more I think about this coming season the less confidence I have that it can be special. There are just too many question marks at key positions. In order, QB, DL, OL, DB. Last year we had veterans at just about all those positions and a QB that had an established record of success. It was a very good year and maybe a win or two from being very special. There was reason for optimism that it would happen. I have more reticence this year. That said, KF's under the radar teams with manageable schedules and a new starting QB have done pretty well over the years. 2002, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2025
The start of our conference season is brutal... Assuming we win all our non-con games we then play At Michigan, OSU, and At Washington. I say beyond that our toughest game is at IL late in the yr but what if we go 1-3 or worse to start who knows how we look at Minnesota right after that.
If we win 2 of those first 3 conference games then a special season could be on tap.
If we win 2 of those first 3 conference games then a special season could be on tap.
Everyone close to the program seems really confident about the OL, so despite all we lost, I am starting to feel the same about that group.
For DB, the Phil Parker effect should win out, and I think they will be at least as good as last year (we have been a bit down in the backend for the past 2 years, I am hoping for a resurgence).
I think those top 2 are major question marks, and I share your concern. I would add WR and LB to the list. I think both groups have talent, but lots of unproven people that will be counted on. And we just have no idea about specialists, and our K/P/R talent has won us a lot of games recently.
I would rank my concern-o-meter as follows (highest to lowest concern):
DL
QB (lots of good Iowa teams get by with just okay QBs; but to be special, QB has to be special)
Specialists
WR
LB
DB
OL
RB and TEs
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
I think our heads are in similar places. If there are places that Iowa generally reloads it is OL and DB. Even though there is young, unproven talent, and some veteran portal talent at all of those various positions, you have holes to fill at those top 5 concerns that have never played a meaningful snap at a Power 4 school. Its just a lot tighter needle to thread than what we have last year when our unknowns were basically just QB (and MG had plenty of collegiate success already) and LB. Every other room had a lot of returning players last year.
I am glad we are pulling Top 25 rankings from a lot of different places, and that does show the respect that KF, Parker, and Lester have earned. But a lot of pieces have to fall into place (and early) for this to be a 9-10 win team.
