IowaLawWasRight
Well-Known Member
Two tough losses in 7 days will drop Iowa out of the national conversation, but is all lost? Both games were against top 15 teams, and both games were winnable up until the final seconds. Based on the talent level on this roster, Iowa will still be favored to win each remaining game on the schedule except for Wisconsin.
1. Koerner. The walk-on Dowling Maroon shouldn't be out there this early in his career in this big of a matchup on national tv...but he is. He doesn't have the athleticism needed to stay with the KJ Hamlers of this world, but guess what? He produces. Koerner was all over the field and finished with 13 tackles. Rather than playing for his next best scholarship offer, UNI, Koerner has become a leader on the defense and is improving every week. Seriously, though, what happened in recruiting to have a walk-on sophomore playing such an important role on defense?
2. Paulson Busts. As IowaLaw predicted in his pre-season analysis, the huge recruiting win 6 years ago landing the Paulsons, monstrous 6'6 twins from small town Iowa has worked out much like the career of all world recruit Blake Larson decades ago. They have spent 5 years in the system under Doyle's "famous" strength training and Kirk's "OL guru" coaching, yet they and their interior line cohorts block like Spanish bull fighters whiffing as opposing DL routinely come unblocked straight into Iowa's backfield. Behind the Paulsons on the depth chart, Iowa's recruiting failures have been so pronounced that the OL relies solely upon freshmen like Cody Ince and Jeff Jenkins who can't be expected to block a team like Penn State to block next to a freshmen center. Shame on the coaches for such monumental recruiting failures at OL University, where we have no problem recruiting this position.
3. Smith & Smith-Marsette. Combined for 12 catches for 160 yards, these two start who, as freshmen, were liabilities, are now the strengths of the offense (again, that goes back to poor recruiting and forcing freshmen to play when they are not ready). Aside from the solid numbers, Smith & Smith-Marsette are showing a kind of moxie that the team so desperately lacks from its cub scout quarterback. If these guys continue the improvement, they could be legit all-Big 10 caliber play makers next year.
4. Golston. Week in and week out, under-the-radar Golston has proven himself to be the best DE on the field. This week, he finished with 8 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. Not only was he getting pressure on the QB, but he wasn't taking himself out of plays by solely relying on rushing on the outside of the pocket (a problem of AJE) and helped stuff the run. Golston could be benefiting from extra attention placed on AJE, but he's making the most of it.
5. Stanley. Having the game on the line in back to back weeks on national tv against blue blood opponents is the thing of most QB's dreams growing up. Unfortunately, the same thoughts are what caused Stanley to wet the bed until the 4th grade. His numbers continue to be mediocre, 25/43 for 286 yards 1 td and 1 int, but his misses to open receivers on huge 3rd downs were so bad this week that to say he was randying around would not do the term justice. He routinely placed balls behind WRs, and his brainy "academic all-Big 10" audibles continue to be runs up the middle 100% of the time, leading to the RB getting stuffed in the background. Stanley's audible led to Goodson getting drilled in the backfield for a fumble that cost Iowa the game this week. While most 3rd year starters have mastered the run pass option, Kirk has kept that out of Stanley's limited playbook. Kudos to the A- in phys ed class, though, Nate.
1. Koerner. The walk-on Dowling Maroon shouldn't be out there this early in his career in this big of a matchup on national tv...but he is. He doesn't have the athleticism needed to stay with the KJ Hamlers of this world, but guess what? He produces. Koerner was all over the field and finished with 13 tackles. Rather than playing for his next best scholarship offer, UNI, Koerner has become a leader on the defense and is improving every week. Seriously, though, what happened in recruiting to have a walk-on sophomore playing such an important role on defense?
2. Paulson Busts. As IowaLaw predicted in his pre-season analysis, the huge recruiting win 6 years ago landing the Paulsons, monstrous 6'6 twins from small town Iowa has worked out much like the career of all world recruit Blake Larson decades ago. They have spent 5 years in the system under Doyle's "famous" strength training and Kirk's "OL guru" coaching, yet they and their interior line cohorts block like Spanish bull fighters whiffing as opposing DL routinely come unblocked straight into Iowa's backfield. Behind the Paulsons on the depth chart, Iowa's recruiting failures have been so pronounced that the OL relies solely upon freshmen like Cody Ince and Jeff Jenkins who can't be expected to block a team like Penn State to block next to a freshmen center. Shame on the coaches for such monumental recruiting failures at OL University, where we have no problem recruiting this position.
3. Smith & Smith-Marsette. Combined for 12 catches for 160 yards, these two start who, as freshmen, were liabilities, are now the strengths of the offense (again, that goes back to poor recruiting and forcing freshmen to play when they are not ready). Aside from the solid numbers, Smith & Smith-Marsette are showing a kind of moxie that the team so desperately lacks from its cub scout quarterback. If these guys continue the improvement, they could be legit all-Big 10 caliber play makers next year.
4. Golston. Week in and week out, under-the-radar Golston has proven himself to be the best DE on the field. This week, he finished with 8 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. Not only was he getting pressure on the QB, but he wasn't taking himself out of plays by solely relying on rushing on the outside of the pocket (a problem of AJE) and helped stuff the run. Golston could be benefiting from extra attention placed on AJE, but he's making the most of it.
5. Stanley. Having the game on the line in back to back weeks on national tv against blue blood opponents is the thing of most QB's dreams growing up. Unfortunately, the same thoughts are what caused Stanley to wet the bed until the 4th grade. His numbers continue to be mediocre, 25/43 for 286 yards 1 td and 1 int, but his misses to open receivers on huge 3rd downs were so bad this week that to say he was randying around would not do the term justice. He routinely placed balls behind WRs, and his brainy "academic all-Big 10" audibles continue to be runs up the middle 100% of the time, leading to the RB getting stuffed in the background. Stanley's audible led to Goodson getting drilled in the backfield for a fumble that cost Iowa the game this week. While most 3rd year starters have mastered the run pass option, Kirk has kept that out of Stanley's limited playbook. Kudos to the A- in phys ed class, though, Nate.
