Iowa Could Dominate

[HawkleberryFinn]

Two monster “athletic” tackles. QB with a gun. Best/cockiest TE we’ve ever had. Stout RBs. Potential at WR. Talented D ends. Questionable DTs—hope one of the freshmen plays. Potential at LB. Experienced corners. Talented safeties. And Brian Ferentz’s slick hair.

 

[Oldmanhawk]

Stout RB’s? Who has seen field? Unproven RB’s...Very unproven LB’s..all 3. Interior D line worries me but our DE’s might make up for it..Dept on OL and Interior DL. WR’s might have potential but really just 1 proven kid.

Fortunately we have a very very favorable schedule. We better be ready week 2 IMO.

 

[NCHawker]

8 defensive linemen rotated last year. 1 is gone - he was average. The D line is experienced. I think the RB's have shown me enough that I have confidence that they'll be just fine.

 

[Fryowa]

Running backs, receivers, and all three linebackers are untested except for Easley. I don’t see how anyone could predict domination from a team with that situation going on. I’m not saying they won’t play well, but no one has a clue right now how it’ll work out.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

8 defensive linemen rotated last year. 1 is gone - he was average. The D line is experienced. I think the RB's have shown me enough that I have confidence that they'll be just fine.

I agree. We've gone into years with less experience at RB than what we'll have. Both Young and IKM had more than a cup of coffee last yr and showed us what their skill set is. To me the offenses success will hinge on the Oline and how the replacements for Daniels and Welsh do. I agree that our massive tackles should only be better. But that center spot and guards has to play well too for it all to work.

 

[EstronHawkKing]

Running backs, receivers, and all three linebackers are untested except for Easley. I don’t see how anyone could predict domination from a team with that situation going on. I’m not saying they won’t play well, but no one has a clue right now how it’ll work out.

I'm expecting average, again.

 

[tksirius]

Two monster “athletic” tackles. QB with a gun. Best/cockiest TE we’ve ever had. Stout RBs. Potential at WR. Talented D ends. Questionable DTs—hope one of the freshmen plays. Potential at LB. Experienced corners. Talented safeties. And Brian Ferentz’s slick hair.

Drink up!

 

[Motigerhawk]

Our DL should be one of the best in the country. Which takes pressure off the LBs, who I think will be good. With the DL pressuring the QB, the DBs will have time to grow and will end up being an above average group.

Defense is rarely the issue.

Love me some Fant. Worried about the OL. WRS.......blech. Our WRs are little TEs, but are easier to cover. QB and RBs Im not worried about. I saw enough of our RBs last year to know they can do the job.

I know this is building to 2019. But I see no reason this team shouldnt win at least 10.

There is only one thing that will produce 7 or 8 wins. And Im sure we know what that is.

 

[ibahawkeye]

We have a lot of bodies at the DL but we still don’t have the Carl Davis or Jaleel Johnson type guy on the inside.

I’m hopeful our offense will make some strides this year but I can’t see our D not taking a step back after losing Josey and JJ.

But then again we didn’t expect JJ to be a superstar either so maybe we’ll have some nice surprises from the LBs coming in.

 

[revkev73]

Iowa's offense has to figure out how to sustain drives...and keep the defensive unit, especially the d-line off the field, where more often than not they get gassed in the second with a steady dose of "three and out" with off tackle runs and passes that are completed 2 yards short of the first down sticks.

It isn't that complicated...actually

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

I always think it's rather interesting how people's perceptions about a season change. The Wisconsin and Purdue games really seem to impact people's perception of last year. Granted...the team played poorly and the game plans just didn't come together even remotely in those games. The Wisconsin game was a debacle, but it was on the road after an earth shattering upset of OSU.

That being said...last year, with the youngest team in KF's tenure on the field, it could very easily have been a 10 win season. If Hooker's fingers were a 1/4 longer and he tips that ball against Penn State...there's a win. If we don't fumble twice at MSU (once at the 5 yard line)...well, that could have been a win. OT at NW...another game that could have gone either way. Two of three go our way...and that's 10 wins with a team playing a ton of freshmen.

Now, I'm not condoning the word dominate. I am saying, with an easier schedule, and this team more experienced at QB, OL, TE, and WR....well, the offense is going to be much better. If you couldn't get a feel for IKM and Toren Young at RB from what you saw last year...well, you need to brush up on football. These guys belong at this level.

I think we will be fine at LB...I just think we have recruited well there. I'm a bit concerned about size at DT, but you have two solid DTs in Lattimore and Nelson...and they are not that undersized. The key is injuries at these two positions. We need to stay healthy. Right now, Wisconsin is the only team I see that could take advantage of undersized DTs. We should be fine against everyone else.

The one common thread is that Phil Parker coaches this group. With the talent he has on defense (DE's and secondary)...I wouldn't be surprised to see this as a top 15 group. I think the DL will surprise some people as I think AJ, A. Nelson, Hesse and Chauncey Golston become nightmares for opposing QBs.

 

[Fryowa]

Almost every year a bunch of these threads start about how the Hawks are probably going to go places "because, despite weaknesses in [insert position here], we have strengths in ]insert position here] that'll carry this team through" and it never pans out. The last time the Hawks had a good year, everyone was preparing for a losing record before the season started.

Bottom line is that every year there are things people can rave about. Kirk's just gonna keep on Kirkin' at slightly above .500. Enjoy the wins, shut the TV off and rake leaves when they're dropping hot turds on the field. That's our destiny and analyzing it is just folly.

 

[Lumberman]

If Iowa finds a way to neutralize the blitz, we will have a successful year.

If we find a way to make.teams.pay for blitzing us, then we will be on the short list for conference champions.

OSU chose not to bring blitzes and look how the offense responded.

Lowly North Texas brought pressure on running and passing downs and we were in a real dogfight until the very final stages of that game.

Watch a replay of our bowl game and make note of how little time Stanley has back there, particularly in the first half. It borders on being inept.

That is where the staff needs to invest an inordinate amount of time, IMHO.

 

[Fryowa]

I’m hopeful our offense will make some strides this year but I can’t see our D not taking a step back after losing Josey and JJ.

People ragged on Bower, but he and Niemann were no slouches either and are getting NFL shots. I'm pretty Bower will get cut and Niemann will be a 2 year practice squad guy, but as far as college ball there was not a 3 LB unit in all of NCAA that I'd have traded with last year.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Almost every year a bunch of these threads start about how the Hawks are probably going to go places "because, despite weaknesses in [insert position here], we have strengths in ]insert position here] that'll carry this team through" and it never pans out. The last time the Hawks had a good year, everyone was preparing for a losing record before the season started.

Bottom line is that every year there are things people can rave about. Kirk's just gonna keep on Kirkin' at slightly above .500. Enjoy the wins, shut the TV off and rake leaves when they're dropping hot turds on the field. That's our destiny and analyzing it is just folly.

Man, you must be a blast to hang out with at home. The reality is, it matters how the games are played, and if the team is in the game. It's not just Iowa who has the (insert weakness here) that are offset by (insert strengths here) every year...that's college football dude. Guys graduate...well at Iowa at least at a decent clip.

I'm not sure everyone thought 2015 was going to be a losing year either...not sure where you are coming up with that one. We had alot of guys back and we made the right decision at QB finally.

The reality is we are two years removed from an undefeated regular season. Recruiting has picked up considerably the past few years with impact players on both sides of the ball. You had a very young team last year go 8-5 with several close losses. You had two freshman OTs and a new offensive coordinator who frankly was learning on the job.

I'm not a full blown homer, nor am I 100% a dick...but I think all the signs are pointing to a 10 win season. There is more young talent back than I can remember...maybe since 2010.

 

[SteveGarvey1]

I hope they dominate but even if they don't some weeks I'll watch, whether they're laying turds or not. That's what you do when you're a fan of a team.

 

[InGoodCo]

Man, you must be a blast to hang out with at home. The reality is, it matters how the games are played, and if the team is in the game. It's not just Iowa who has the (insert weakness here) that are offset by (insert strengths here) every year...that's college football dude. Guys graduate...well at Iowa at least at a decent clip.

I'm not sure everyone thought 2015 was going to be a losing year either...not sure where you are coming up with that one. We had alot of guys back and we made the right decision at QB finally.

The reality is we are two years removed from an undefeated regular season. Recruiting has picked up considerably the past few years with impact players on both sides of the ball. You had a very young team last year go 8-5 with several close losses. You had two freshman OTs and a new offensive coordinator who frankly was learning on the job.

I'm not a full blown homer, nor am I 100% a dick...but I think all the signs are pointing to a 10 win season. There is more young talent back than I can remember...maybe since 2010.

Iowa could win 10 this season and Fryowa will still try and tell everyone Iowa only wins 6 games a year every year. That's just his schtick.

 

[Fryowa]

Man, you must be a blast to hang out with at home.

I'd rather be real about it than blow smoke up people's asses.

It's not just Iowa who has the (insert weakness here) that are offset by (insert strengths here) every year...that's college football dude.

No shit. Which is why you can't say there are probably going to be X amount of wins. For every point you make about recruiting, or young talent, or excuse about being young, close losses, I can come up with just as many that point the other way. There's no way of predicting anything close to how many games you're going to win unless you use past history, which tells us that Ferentz is going to float barely over .500

but I think all the signs are pointing to a 10 win season.

and I think all the signs are pointing to 6-7 wins. Everyone and their brother thought 2016 was going to be unbelievable too, bringing mostly everyone back from '15. You know how well that turned out, and that team was waaaaay more talented and experienced than the one we have now. Sure, you could give me a bunch of excuses about certain things that didn't go right in '16, but how long do excuses work before you just have to admit that it wasn't that great of team compared to everyone else?

 

[Fryowa]

Iowa could win 10 this season and Fryowa will still try and tell everyone Iowa only wins 6 games a year every year. That's just his schtick.

That may be, but myy schtick is more accurate. Ferentz averages between 6 and 7 wins depending on whether you include OOC games or just conference games. You want me to pick 10 wins every year like a bunch of the rubes around here do?

Your guys' schtick, as positive and "ra ra ra, yay team!" as it is, a pie in the sky guess. Mine is too, but it's based on what they historically do.

 

[InGoodCo]

That may be, but myy schtick is more accurate. Ferentz averages between 6 and 7 wins depending on whether you include OOC games or just conference games. You want me to pick 10 wins every year like a bunch of the rubes around here do?

Your guys' schtick, as positive and "ra ra ra, yay team!" as it is, a pie in the sky guess. Mine is too, but it's based on what they historically do.

LOL - they've won 7 or more games in 9 of the last 10 years. You have a real issue with reality.