IowaLawWasRight
Well-Known Member
We are days away from kickoff. That means it's time for IowaLaw’s pre-season review! Homers and hillbillies, that’s your cue to immediately stop reading and go back to the threads about cool uniforms or how much you hate Nebraska.
A pre-season Top 20 ranking is better than expected. Given all of the early NFL entries we lost, the national media is showing a level of respect not often seen. Whether the Hawks can remain in the Top 20 depends as much on navigating an abnormally brutal schedule (all 5 road games are against ranked opponents) as it does on Xs and Os. With last year's schedule, this team could really do some damage.
Defensive Line – The DL is stacked. They should be the team’s biggest strength. Neither Golston nor Epenesa have started a game, but they could be the top DE duo in the conference. Epenesa has a shot to break Leroy Smith's single-season sacks record (18), having 10.5 last year as a backup. Studs like Amani Jones (the teams hardest hitter and most underrated player), transfer VanValkenburg (15 tackles for loss against college competition last year), and Waggoner (a blue chip Dowling Maroon) on the bench is a luxury most teams won’t have. At DT, I’m looking forward to seeing what Nixon can do. He’s listed as a second teamer, but if Alabama offered him a scholarship, he likely has the talent to be starting by mid-season.
Quarterback – Nate Stanley is back for his 3rd year as starter. Homers refuse to hear it, but multi-year starters have a history of regression under Ferentz. They seem to develop an timidness and fear of mistakes with each passing year that prevents them from taking risks and throwing the ball down the field. Nate was already a quiet kid who has never been out in downtown Iowa City, and growing a goatee will not suddenly turn him into a leader (he kept the haircut, after all). He may indeed break Iowa's TD pass record this year, but he will continue perform in the middle of the pack of Big Ten qbs (in 2018: 7th in completion %, 5th in yards, 5th in yards per attempt, 5th in efficiency). With the loss of his top 3 receivers last year (all of whom ran the short routes that he likes), Stanley will be a proficient game manager. No doubt he will help us win the games we are supposed to win and put up great stats in games that we have big leads in. But does he have that extra gear to become clutch in the close games? Will he increase his completion percentage above 60% like the all conference QBs? If he so, this will be a 10+ win team playing in the Big 10 Championship game.
OL – Contrary to the homer view, it’s been a while since the Hawkeyes had a dominant OL (not since Reece Morgan gave up OL coaching duties). This year could be different. Jackson and Wirfs, at 6’6, 320 each, return and could be two of the best in the Ferentz era, and their pass protection will ensure that Stanley doesn’t get happy feet in the pocket. Linderbaum, by all accounts, is a star in the making at C. Unfortunately, the sputtering run game (95th in the nation last year) is going to come down to whether the guards can elevate their game. After 5 yrs in the program, the Paulsen’s will get their shot. They are nice kids, but are not Big 10 caliber starters. Look for guys like Banwart or Ince to step up big.
WR – Will Iowa’s “hyped” WR squad be better than last year? We ask this question nearly every year, and the answer is usually…nope. At this point, opponents game plan around our WRs and stuff the run. ISM and Smith return for their 3rd year as starters. They have the size and speed to compete at this level, but have they suddenly developed hands? My guess is they will be improved, but will still get caught randying around on key 3rd downs, with drops or mental mistakes. Tracy and Rigani are next in line, and they’ve showed flashes of brilliance in practice. The X factor this year is Oliver Martin. If he's eligible, he runs the short routes that Stanley loves and will lead the team in catches. Without Martin, it’s time to start hoping the TEs are good this year!
RBs – We get all 3 RBs back from last year and add some highly touted freshmen. Sargent and Young ranked #14 and #16 in the conference in total yards last year. Both averaged 4.7 yrds per carry, which put them at #17 in yards per attempt. Mediocrity. Fortunately, RBs often improve with experience. We saw glimpses of home run threats from both last year, but they need to take it to the next level to be legit Big 10 Rbs. Freshmen Goodson and Byrd came from SEC country and have received a lot of hype. Neither had offers from SEC schools, so they should have a chip on their shoulder. Can they steal carries from the 3 Jrs? All signs are pointing to yes.
Newcomer of the Year – Undoubtedly, the key recruit in last year's class who can come in and contribute from day one is punter Sleep-Dalton. Iowa’s punting game has been a nightmare in recent years. The days of shanks and 30 yrd low line drives are over, as we welcome one of the top punters in the Pac 12 (avg 44 yrds per punt and hit one 72 yards last year). This guy’s rugby style punts are going to make the difference in at least one game this year.
A pre-season Top 20 ranking is better than expected. Given all of the early NFL entries we lost, the national media is showing a level of respect not often seen. Whether the Hawks can remain in the Top 20 depends as much on navigating an abnormally brutal schedule (all 5 road games are against ranked opponents) as it does on Xs and Os. With last year's schedule, this team could really do some damage.
Defensive Line – The DL is stacked. They should be the team’s biggest strength. Neither Golston nor Epenesa have started a game, but they could be the top DE duo in the conference. Epenesa has a shot to break Leroy Smith's single-season sacks record (18), having 10.5 last year as a backup. Studs like Amani Jones (the teams hardest hitter and most underrated player), transfer VanValkenburg (15 tackles for loss against college competition last year), and Waggoner (a blue chip Dowling Maroon) on the bench is a luxury most teams won’t have. At DT, I’m looking forward to seeing what Nixon can do. He’s listed as a second teamer, but if Alabama offered him a scholarship, he likely has the talent to be starting by mid-season.
Quarterback – Nate Stanley is back for his 3rd year as starter. Homers refuse to hear it, but multi-year starters have a history of regression under Ferentz. They seem to develop an timidness and fear of mistakes with each passing year that prevents them from taking risks and throwing the ball down the field. Nate was already a quiet kid who has never been out in downtown Iowa City, and growing a goatee will not suddenly turn him into a leader (he kept the haircut, after all). He may indeed break Iowa's TD pass record this year, but he will continue perform in the middle of the pack of Big Ten qbs (in 2018: 7th in completion %, 5th in yards, 5th in yards per attempt, 5th in efficiency). With the loss of his top 3 receivers last year (all of whom ran the short routes that he likes), Stanley will be a proficient game manager. No doubt he will help us win the games we are supposed to win and put up great stats in games that we have big leads in. But does he have that extra gear to become clutch in the close games? Will he increase his completion percentage above 60% like the all conference QBs? If he so, this will be a 10+ win team playing in the Big 10 Championship game.
OL – Contrary to the homer view, it’s been a while since the Hawkeyes had a dominant OL (not since Reece Morgan gave up OL coaching duties). This year could be different. Jackson and Wirfs, at 6’6, 320 each, return and could be two of the best in the Ferentz era, and their pass protection will ensure that Stanley doesn’t get happy feet in the pocket. Linderbaum, by all accounts, is a star in the making at C. Unfortunately, the sputtering run game (95th in the nation last year) is going to come down to whether the guards can elevate their game. After 5 yrs in the program, the Paulsen’s will get their shot. They are nice kids, but are not Big 10 caliber starters. Look for guys like Banwart or Ince to step up big.
WR – Will Iowa’s “hyped” WR squad be better than last year? We ask this question nearly every year, and the answer is usually…nope. At this point, opponents game plan around our WRs and stuff the run. ISM and Smith return for their 3rd year as starters. They have the size and speed to compete at this level, but have they suddenly developed hands? My guess is they will be improved, but will still get caught randying around on key 3rd downs, with drops or mental mistakes. Tracy and Rigani are next in line, and they’ve showed flashes of brilliance in practice. The X factor this year is Oliver Martin. If he's eligible, he runs the short routes that Stanley loves and will lead the team in catches. Without Martin, it’s time to start hoping the TEs are good this year!
RBs – We get all 3 RBs back from last year and add some highly touted freshmen. Sargent and Young ranked #14 and #16 in the conference in total yards last year. Both averaged 4.7 yrds per carry, which put them at #17 in yards per attempt. Mediocrity. Fortunately, RBs often improve with experience. We saw glimpses of home run threats from both last year, but they need to take it to the next level to be legit Big 10 Rbs. Freshmen Goodson and Byrd came from SEC country and have received a lot of hype. Neither had offers from SEC schools, so they should have a chip on their shoulder. Can they steal carries from the 3 Jrs? All signs are pointing to yes.
Newcomer of the Year – Undoubtedly, the key recruit in last year's class who can come in and contribute from day one is punter Sleep-Dalton. Iowa’s punting game has been a nightmare in recent years. The days of shanks and 30 yrd low line drives are over, as we welcome one of the top punters in the Pac 12 (avg 44 yrds per punt and hit one 72 yards last year). This guy’s rugby style punts are going to make the difference in at least one game this year.
