I have always felt like the best way to make 2014 a special season is to bring back some things that either we did well or just plain dominated with. Among them:
This isn't a pipe-dream - I think every one of them is very attainable. And if we do, no telling how good this team will be. But especially with a fairly favorable schedule, we might be talking about that 2014 season for a long time. I hope that is the case.
- Kinnick Stadium must once again become a house of pain for all opponents coming in. I don't want us to turn into incomps on the road, as I did like how well we played (for the most part) at our road games in 2013. But NOBODY won in Kinnick Stadium in the early KFz days. That must return, beginning in the Fall.
- Dominating special teams. While it might be easy for KFz to abandon any kind of trick plays after the failed fake punt in the Outback Bowl, I would hope it would the beginning of us doing a lot more of those things, and much more successfully in the coming seasons. We will know if we can start blocking field goals and punts again, not to mention continued success in returning punts and kick-offs like we did this year.
- A running game SO good, it makes our entire offense almost legendary. Don't forget that the key in 2002 was a great offensive line that spurred two fantastic running backs. Add in a good, improvising, mobile QB who could make all the various throws, and you had a great offense.
- The return of a defensive line that turns every team we play into one-dimensional. If we can stay healthy there, I think we have the makings of that. When they play well, the linebackers look good, and the secondary seems to be everywhere.
This isn't a pipe-dream - I think every one of them is very attainable. And if we do, no telling how good this team will be. But especially with a fairly favorable schedule, we might be talking about that 2014 season for a long time. I hope that is the case.