Iowa's OL ranked #1 in country by ESPN

[trj]

R.P. plays center at Bama?

He was at guard during the national championship game.......If I am not mistaken he was at guard most of the year. I can easily see him sliding over to center this year.

 

[deanvogs]

This! Exactly.
I don't understand how we are supposed to improve so much. I dont expect this OL to be any better than average.
If you think they'll be great, can you please explain to me why you think that? I would love to feel better about it.

Did you think the line would be any good last year? I'd bet not as we had 2 new tackles, one a former walkon, another backup walkon tackle, Welsh who was Missing during spring training, we had one sure bet in Blythe on that line going into last year. Yet last years line was pretty decent. Why do you think they won't improve any? Croston, Ike and Boone all have a years experience, are all RS JR or Sr., and all of them should be better than last year. Welsh is probably the best lineman of the bunch and he will be even better, and we have a 4* stud who played as a true FR for the 5th OL spot.

If this line doesn't play at a high level it will more than likely be due to injuries.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

Few positions improve as much as Oline does with 1 year of physical growth, playing time, experience, and coaching.

It would be great to see a very strong, versatile, and deep oline the next couple of years.

Growth of a 18-20 year old oline man can be huge.

 

[ClintonIAfan]

Finally ESPN has gotten something right, it's been a long while. Iowa is the best place in the country for recruits to come and develop their skills especially on the offensive line. If he had some to Iowa he would be a serious candidate for All American this year at left tackle, rather than being shuffled around interior positions. Iowa would have developed his skills a lot better than what he is getting now. Not to mention he would be in his home state, and would have gained all the benefits that would come from that.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

I remember in 2010 pre-season, Iowa was supposed to have the best special teams in the country.

And special teams ended up having a lot of issues that year.

I remember a couple of years ago KMM was predicted to be a pre-season all-American punt returner and he ended up not even the main punt returner on the team that year.

Pre-season predictions are interesting but ultimately they don't mean much. I hope this prediction ends up coming true but I wouldn't bet on it.

Kickoff and punt coverage were so so at the begging of the season and quickly suffered from attrition along with many other units that year

Wasn't White the gunner on kickoff coverage the start of the season. Season ending injury in first or second game. I believe Paki O'Meara was the replacement and was out for several games after a collision in the Arizona game. If I remember right the collision was on punt coverage.

 

[mrolympia]

preseason #1 OL means as much as the preseason #1 ranking right now. Sure it's nice but it means jack until you back it up.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

This is obviously pretty lofty. That being said, when was the last time Iowa had 5 guys starting that have all started a game in previous years. With Croston emerging and James Daniels expected to be an absolute stud at guard with another summer and camp under his belt...the potential is there for an incredibly physical and talented OL. All these guys are big, and all of them can run. If they improve in pass protection...we are going to have the ability to control games offensively and that makes a very good defense, dare I say, great.