Iowa Could Dominate

[cincyhawk]

4 out out 19 ain’t bad I guess, huh?

I agree with you. We lost too many skilled players last year, and are going into a second year QB. The trend points to a down year this year.

However, we'll win more games with the more favorable schedule. Right now I have them 9 - 3, with losses to Wisc, PSU, and ISU. Which will put us in the top 25 and leave me mostly satisfied this year.

Now, they CAN beat ISU and WISC, which would put us top ten undefeated on Oct 27th. It really comes down to ISU, Wisc, and PSU for the season. If Iowa beats ISU and Wisconsin, look out. If they don't, they probably won't beat PSU, and will end up with a good record anyway.

If the worst happens, they'll be 7 - 5, and that's if the wheels completely fall off. I don't think that's going to happen, but our linebackers could be absolutely terrible and we would not know it till they faced a good team the fourth week of the season.

 

[tksirius]

Delany had the opportunity to put MSU (they didn't mind) in the west with us. UM objected because they wanted to be able to play BOTH MSU AND Tosu. Now the West is suffering for him rolling over for UM just as he rolled over for PSU when we brought on two weaklings in Rutgers and Maryland. Well, he did want to build his Ivory tower near his stocks I suppose.

Yeah, that would be awesome watching Sparty & the Badgers duke it out for the west every year.

 

[Unknownbadger]

Yeah, that would be awesome watching Sparty & the Badgers duke it out for the west every year.

I personally think it would help Iowa recruiting and put it back in the game.

 

[revkev73]

KF said Iowa and Wisconsin are equals...not sure why all of the wasted ink on this thread.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Yeah, that would be awesome watching Sparty & the Badgers duke it out for the west every year.

I actually like how it's currently split up really. Wisky Iowa and Neb in the west is fine. Nebraska I think will eventually get better. To what extent I'm not sure. But having PSU, UM, OSU and MSU out east is fine too. What MSU is really scared of is MD were to ever catch fire. They pose a threat to them as far as their position on that side.
Their wasn't ever going to be a 'fair' way to change up the divisions in a way that made any geographical sense. The way it currently is to me is as good as it can get. To shake it up over every mini trend of who's hot or not just would be a knee jerk reaction to things based on how the wind is blowing any given couple of years...

 

[HuckFinn]

I love the geography thing. Seems more like the BT I grew up with. Yeah, Yeah. Change is inevitable. But, not always for the best.

 

[guffus]

Really 2017 was the first year that the east dominated. 2014 to 2016 the divisions were pretty equal. The main problem was that each year the east wins the "tie-breaker" by winning the CCG.

 

[bitmap]

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

Punting?

 

[4thngoal]

I'm honestly curious on this, and not trying to be an a$$, but what do all of you think will turn the results of the Iowa/Wisconsin game around? It's at Kinnick, but Wisconsin's had recent success there. From my perspective, it is hard to say your O will be better and I'm not sure your D will be much better.

Wisconsin MAY have issues in the D line and at DB but we've recruited well in both those areas and have some players with experience waiting in the wings for their shot. Offensively, I can't remember a year where we've been this stacked with this much talent AND experience. About the only spot that I can think of where we MIGHT take a step back is at HB/TE and quite honestly I'm not sure we don't have guys who will EVENTUALLY be better there.

It's likely that it will be a good game, most Iowa/Wisconsin games are, but I just don't see us losing this one. Hell, we turned the ball over 4 times last year, 14 points for you, and still beat you by 20. Really , not trolling here, just would like to know your assessments of how the Iowa team of 2018 will be an improvement over the Iowa team of 2017.

My honest assessment of Wisconsin in 2018 from 2017.
QB better all around with another year under Chryst's wing.
OL better than the very good line of 2017
TE(inline) will be at least as good
HB/TE maybe a little poorer but with the chance to be more explosive.
RB Better (hard to say that with a 2000 yard RB returning)
WR For once, we've got numerous playmakers out the kazoo.

Defensively
DL a little worse maybe a lot worse (depends on injuries)
LB as solid as always and will compensate for any weakness in the DL
CB potential but probably a little worse
S as good.

You all are clicking, that's for sure. You hold the keys to the west currently.
We played so many young guys last year. From Qb to ol, dl and wr.
These kids were figuring out who to take to prom less than a year before.
Word has it, they have come a long way.
That said, they have to prove it on the field.
But I guarantee that OSU game was no fluke, it was an example of what they can be.
Now that our OC, ol and wr coaches have a year under their belts as well as the plethora of young players that saw action last year, a little more consistency is a logical expectation.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

I actually like how it's currently split up really. Wisky Iowa and Neb in the west is fine. Nebraska I think will eventually get better. To what extent I'm not sure. But having PSU, UM, OSU and MSU out east is fine too. What MSU is really scared of is MD were to ever catch fire. They pose a threat to them as far as their position on that side.
Their wasn't ever going to be a 'fair' way to change up the divisions in a way that made any geographical sense. The way it currently is to me is as good as it can get. To shake it up over every mini trend of who's hot or not just would be a knee jerk reaction to things based on how the wind is blowing any given couple of years...

Most split conferences have a strong and weak division. The Big Ten is not exceptional in this regard. The biggest issue with the current alignment is the East is too much of a load for the weaker teams. Maryland and Rutgers could get tired of having no chance at some point and demand a different arrangement.

Indiana is an easier problem to solve, just role them into the West and role a centrally located team like Illinois into the East to be the next designated victim. Indiana, Illinois, and Purdue could be flipped to either East or West.

If they had to, they could go to a non-geographical arrangement again but that wouldn't be the most desirable arrangement.

 

[earlkoppelman]

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.

Well said.And punting.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

I was just curious to know where you think your upgrades would be. You butchered Tosu last year, I know you will field a good team. I was just wondering what gave you hope against Wisconsin in 2018. I don't say I wonder what the f'in Hawkeyes will come up with to give you hope.

Well, ask OSU and Michigan the past two years how difficult it is to play at Kinnick, a couple of top 5 teams. Oh, and Penn State escaped last year on the last play of the game. What gives us hope...our QB now has a year under his belt...and another spring and fall. The two freshman tackles that your defensive front confused the shit out of are now a year older...and 325 pounds. The good thing is that both play pretty nasty and I'm sure they have you circled on the schedule. The WR core was really young also and was a complete non factor. We lose a couple of OL, but we are likely replacing them with 4 and 5 year guys. I guarantee you we won't be outclassed by your defense again. The issue with last years game is we went three and out every series...and our defense was on the field the entire first half...and against Wisconsin...thats the beginning of the end. The second half was completely predictable.

The other hope we have is that you have Hornibrooke at QB. He likes to score touchdowns by throwing to our defensive backs once in a while.

Don't be so arrogant...look back at the game scores we've played the last 5 years, we played Wisconsin tough and they have been hard fought games. Last year was the only debacle, and it was because our offense was overmatched and anemic.

 

[Unknownbadger]

Well, ask OSU and Michigan the past two years how difficult it is to play at Kinnick, a couple of top 5 teams. Oh, and Penn State escaped last year on the last play of the game. What gives us hope...our QB now has a year under his belt...and another spring and fall. The two freshman tackles that your defensive front confused the shit out of are now a year older...and 325 pounds. The good thing is that both play pretty nasty and I'm sure they have you circled on the schedule. The WR core was really young also and was a complete non factor. We lose a couple of OL, but we are likely replacing them with 4 and 5 year guys. I guarantee you we won't be outclassed by your defense again. The issue with last years game is we went three and out every series...and our defense was on the field the entire first half...and against Wisconsin...thats the beginning of the end. The second half was completely predictable.

The other hope we have is that you have Hornibrooke at QB. He likes to score touchdowns by throwing to our defensive backs once in a while.

Don't be so arrogant...look back at the game scores we've played the last 5 years, we played Wisconsin tough and they have been hard fought games. Last year was the only debacle, and it was because our offense was overmatched and anemic.

I wasn't being arrogant. I was asking for a rundown of your team and provided you with an assessment of mine. In fact I was very complimentary of the Iowa/Wisconsin series as a whole AND recognized the game you had with Tosu.

Thanks for your assessment of this year's Iowa team.

One note though, I wouldn't count on Hornibrook having the same type of game he had last year. Just as you suspect the guy who got away from us to have a better game and season, most Badger fans expect the same from Hornibrook.

 

[HawkGold]

The word dominate makes for interesting analysis. Iowa just doesn't dominate anyone all that often anymore. In 2015 and 12-0 at one point there weren't all that dominate (Purdue, NW and NTSU). OSU last year was a domination. PSU should have been as Iowa WAS the stronger team then but played like a little brother trying to stand up to big brother. KF style acts like they want to in how the game is planned, but rarely do they do the play calling to allow that to happen on either O or D.

The Big West is the weakest P5 Division. It blows my mind that we seem to concede that NW is on our level. They aren't except in results. There is no reason for Wisk to be ahead of Iowa. Putting IL in the east would destroy that U's hope of ever getting back. IU will always be a lost cause and P will always be mostly weak with an occasional up. IL does have possibilities.

Purdue should be shoved to the east. MSU should be in the West.

You could go with a north and south.
MN, M, MSU, W, , Rutgers, NWf, N

Purdue, Iowa, IL, IU, OSU, PSU, Maryland

Anyway you look at it...hard to separate OSU and PSU.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

The word dominate makes for interesting analysis. Iowa just doesn't dominate anyone all that often anymore. In 2015 and 12-0 at one point there weren't all that dominate (Purdue, NW and NTSU). OSU last year was a domination.

True, they didn't dominate in 2015, 2009, 2004 or 2003. They did dominate quite a few games in 2002. So it's like one year of domination. (I'm repeating myself, I know.)

Oddly enough, last year had about as many dominant games as any under Ferentz; Wyoming 24-3; North Texas 31-14; Illinois 45-16; Ohio State 55-24; Nebraska 55-14. So some of those teams stunk, but remember Iowa has had good years where they consistently squeaked by lesser opponents. It wasn't lack of blowouts that hurt Iowa last year, it was losing close games.

 

[atomicblue224]

Drink up!

Erotically disturbing,

 

[AreWeThereYet]

OSU last year was a domination. PSU should have been as Iowa WAS the stronger team then but played like a little brother trying to stand up to big brother. KF style acts like they want to in how the game is planned, but rarely do they do the play calling to allow that to happen on either O or D.

I don't agree about Iowa being the stronger team. Iowa's defense kept them in the game. They did a remarkable job of keeping PSU out of the end zone, and almost won the game single handedly. Iowa's offense took advantage of enough opportunities to almost pull off a win. Iowa couldn't sustain a drive to save itself, which was a common theme last year. Iowa did have big play ability, but if you want to win consistently against good teams you have to be able to take control on offense a lot better than Iowa did.

 

[Hawkeyes5]

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.

What he said......

 

[Hawkeyes5]

No. @pythagoras is @Joshbrown

The only things I hold against @InGoodCo are his autographed Ferentz portrait, and that he never tried La Juanitas after I told him to, even though he drives through SC all the time.

Y dont yu too just get a roome....

 

[Hawkeyes5]

I was just curious to know where you think your upgrades would be. You butchered Tosu last year, I know you will field a good team. I was just wondering what gave you hope against Wisconsin in 2018. I don't say I wonder what the f'in Hawkeyes will come up with to give you hope.

It will be a night game and if you have never been to Kinnick at night on National tv, strap your boots on! If its a 11 a.m. or 2:30 game its to your advantage. If you are looking for matchups, I like our run game against your DL. Last year our offense was still reading highlight reels from TOsu game. You asked what advantage we have??? Its called the WAVE baby .....get ready for a beat down! Now crawl back under your bridge and don't come out until September.