Iowa Finishes Season at #25

The Ol will be better barring injury. I felt our WRs took a step forward. With another year I expect them to improve even more. Tracy I think has speed better than we are used to seeing. B Smith improved hugely this year. I hope for continued improvement. Brian improved I thought as well. Remember this is not Davis with Kennedy as the wr coach. Players are actually improving as wrs lol.
 
Defense made the season, on many levels. Offense was "better" because of a soft schedule, padding the stats.

Defense has made most of Iowa's seasons the last 19 years.

The offensive line was far better at pass blocking than last year, although still weak run blocking against better defenses. Tight end was good both years, and receivers were incrementally better but still the weakest position on the team. None of the runningbacks could do in space what Wadley could do, so the weak run blocking hurts. Stanley was feast and famine, good against teams that didn't bring pressure, and skittish against better defenses. Top it off with an offensive staff that is still trying to make it work, and a head coach that doesn't have an offensive mindset.
 
Stanley was a "playmaker" in the bowl game when it counted.

Yes, to be fair, Stanley did come through against, Mississippi State, and Iowa State, and Nebraska. That's one exceptional defense, one solid defense, and a late drive that had to happen against Nebraska.
 
Even better, lets look at the preseason 2019 rankings:

http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...pn-college-football-way-too-early-top-25-2019

No Iowa, but every team around Iowa is ranked. Wisconsin, Northwestern, Missouri, Iowa State, and Nebraska.....It looks like Iowa fighting Minnesota and Illinois for being the worst team in the region........
Any poll that has Nebraska at #24 does not deserve to be taken seriously.

Realistically, they're a 6-7 win team next year, an improvement but not top 25.

That final game with Iowa may determine bowl eligibility for one-or both.
 
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Iowa played the 27th toughest schedule out of 129 FBS teams this past season.

https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/ranking/schedule-strength-by-other

While I agree the defense played the larger role, the O hardly "padded the stats".
Just my opinion, but in the "big" games the offense didn't come through that well. The bowl win is nice, but it came after the opportunities were squandered. Case in point...wide open receiver vs Wisconsin for sure TD...overthrow, badly. There are many examples.
 
Yes, to be fair, Stanley did come through against, Mississippi State, and Iowa State, and Nebraska. That's one exceptional defense, one solid defense, and a late drive that had to happen against Nebraska.
The offense played well enough to lose 4 games that were there for the taking. Defense, once again, had to carry the load until exhaustion, most of the time.

Much of this has to do with no running game to speak of, little threat of big gains, 2-3 yards, offensive line unable to dominate in the run game.
 
I would have guessed around 20-22... But that's picking at nits and not something to make a big deal over. Iowa's been under ranked before and they will again. I would be curious to know what'd they have us at before the bowl games were played

I dont put a lot if stock in preseason polls. But it is curious that we typically get underbanked early but most years seem to play opponents 6-9 spots higher ranked in bowl games.
 
Chad Leistikow said: "Whatever your ESPN app is telling you about the coaches' poll is wrong. I've checked with the compilers at USA TODAY, and they have confirmed that Mississippi State is 25th -- not Iowa."

Chad, did you not know there are two coaches polls? Yes, USA Today and AMWAY (some host!) co-sponsor an independent one. But the official coaches poll is different. That one is posted on ESPN, CBS, SI, NBC and a host of others. In that poll, Iowa is 25th, one point ahead of Mississippi State. And no, they are not wrong.

Admittedly, if I were the Mississippi State coach, and I had a clause in my contract in terms of finishing in the Top 25, I would be buying every copy of USA Today in Starkville and beyond today as proof. Because otherwise, KFz has his proof in both the AP and coaches poll.

Now as to the topic of whether Iowa belongs at 25, I would (in a different post) list how they probably belong at 16 - and I will gladly stand by that.
 
Can someone post our schedule for next yr? thanks
+AUGUST 31st - MIAMI OF OHIO (Fry Fest);
+SEPTEMBER 7th: RUTGERS (conference opener);
+September 14th: At Iowa State;
+[9/21 - OFF];
+SEPTEMBER 28TH: MIDDLE TENN. ST.;
+October 5th: At Michigan;
+OCTOBER 12th: PENN STATE;
+OCTOBER 19th: PURDUE (Homecoming);
+October 26th: At Northwestern;
+[11/2 - OFF] (yes, two bye weeks next season);
+November 9th: At Wisconsin;
+NOVEMBER 16th: MINNESOTA (Family Weekend);
+NOVEMBER 23rd: ILLINOIS;
+Friday, November 29th: At Nebraska.
 
You expect the offense to improve? We lose the only 2 weapons we have on offense, and a couple lineman, yet somehow the offense will improve? I don't see that happening.

You said the EXACT thing last year when we lost Wadley, I have actually quoted it before. Yet the offense improved by 45 YPG and averaged more PPG than any year since 2002.
 
You said the EXACT thing last year when we lost Wadley, I have actually quoted it before. Yet the offense improved by 45 YPG and averaged more PPG than any year since 2002.
And yet he trumpets Iowa State's cause even though they clearly lose their top two weapons.
 
And yet he trumpets Iowa State's cause even though they clearly lose their top two weapons.

Montgomery and Butler accounted for over 2300 total yards. Fant and Hock accounted for just over 1200 total yards. If he says that he is just proving he is Da Hater, because Da Facts aren't close to what he is saying.
 
You expect the offense to improve? We lose the only 2 weapons we have on offense, and a couple lineman, yet somehow the offense will improve? I don't see that happening.

Well then we are really gonna suck next year, right?
 
Just my opinion, but in the "big" games the offense didn't come through that well. The bowl win is nice, but it came after the opportunities were squandered. Case in point...wide open receiver vs Wisconsin for sure TD...overthrow, badly. There are many examples.
Nate played plenty well enough to win against Wisconsin. Two special teams turnovers, including one in our own red zone cost us the game.
 
The final coaches poll had Iowa unranked, one spot behind #25 Mississippi State. What a joke man.

Guess Iowa was sitting in the 25th spot until the final coach voted that put Miss St. ahead. Must have been an SEC coach. Guess I'm done paying attention to that poll.
 
Iowa loses a lot of guys to the NFL every year, though this year seems a little extreme. Last year, this same post was put up. How are we gonna win games with losing James Daniels, Josh Jackson and Jewell? The year before it was said "how is Iowa going to win games without CJ, Jaleel, Kittle and King". This is not a new position for this program, they keep plugging those holes tho with high caliber players. It does suck tho for Iowa fans, can you imagine this years team with Daniels and JJ? I don't know that you can really put any blame on anyone and it's not like it's a bad position to be in. The reality is that the NFL has learned that Iowa has one of the best coaching staffs in the country and they know what they are getting, players ready to contribute at the highest level and they are starting to nab them early. That's a trend across the sport.

Your comical. All those NFL players and all those National Championship Titles. No wait, after twenty years Kirk doesn’t have any national titles. Ok then your right because of all those regular Big Ten Championship titles he has. No wait, I guess that’s a fail too. Never mind me, carry on 7-5 cult.
 
Nebraska's schedule next season is so creapuff its sickening. They get all their toughest games at home and they don't play Penn State, Michigan or Michigan State.

The Iowa State thing is ridiculous. Ranked 20th coming off an 8-5 season and losing their two top players?

Church Lady; “Well isn’t that special. Isn’t that the Hawkeye Pot calling the Nebraska kettle black (and gold). See 2015”
 
Your comical. All those NFL players and all those National Championship Titles. No wait, after twenty years Kirk doesn’t have any national titles. Ok then your right because of all those regular Big Ten Championship titles he has. No wait, I guess that’s a fail too. Never mind me, carry on 7-5 cult.
You’re*
 

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