How are we replacing these LBs.

[SamBrownlee48]

Wow, from what some of you are saying Iowa has a very favorable schedule next year.

We do.

UNI
Ball State
Iowa State
at Pitt
at Purdue
Bye
Indiana
at Maryland
Bye
Northwestern
At Minny (virtual home game)
At Illinois (virtual home game)
Wisky
Nebby

Couple potential booby traps in there, but it sure beats this year's schedule. no Meechigan, no O$U, no Pedo State, no thugs, and Debby and Wisky at home. It doesn't get much more favorable than that in the BoneG.

 

[deanvogs]

This is the same LB crew that everyone threw under the bus all last year. The difference was this year, the DL kept the opposing OL off our LB, and allowed them to make plays. The DL will be even better next year, and I think the new LB will make plays as well. We have experience in Alston, and Perry, and some talented younger kids in Collins, Taylor, Fisher, and Spearman

 

[tm3308]

Did we? I remember both 2010 and 2011 with lots of growing pains

The 2010 team had far greater issues than the quality of the new linebackers. 2011's defensive line was just okay (Daniels was the only real playmaker).

 

[hawkfan340]

The 2010 team had far greater issues than the quality of the new linebackers. 2011's defensive line was just okay (Daniels was the only real playmaker).

Sure, but biggest drop offs defensively in 2010 were the loss of NFL level LBs (and the subsequent injuries that exacerbated the problem.) Point is, it's not easy to replace elite talent, whether that be at LB or on the D-line or anywhere else really.

The projection that we'll be fine defensively next year because we return most of the D-line even while we're breaking in all new LBs, sounds eerily similar to the summer of 2010.