Looking at the schedule, classify which opponents you consider to be an . . .
- Thread starter Joshbrown
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guffus
Well-Known Member
Losing to Purdue, ILL or Iowa State would be disapointing and frustrating, but Iowa plays then every year, has lost to them before and will lose to them again. every now and then it happens. you are pissed off the day it happens then you move on. thats why losimg to North Texas is the only unacceptable loss.
Beating PSU and Wisc this year will be exciting, but its something that Iowa frequently does and most folks outside of Iowa won't make a big deal out of it.
But if Iowa can finally beat Ohio State, that will be a big deal. Iowa hardly ever beats Ohio State. the last 2 years, the one team that beat OSU ending up winning the big ten. OSU has been to the playoffs twice. they are recognized as the best program in the Big Ten. Thats why its a big deal.
Beating PSU and Wisc this year will be exciting, but its something that Iowa frequently does and most folks outside of Iowa won't make a big deal out of it.
But if Iowa can finally beat Ohio State, that will be a big deal. Iowa hardly ever beats Ohio State. the last 2 years, the one team that beat OSU ending up winning the big ten. OSU has been to the playoffs twice. they are recognized as the best program in the Big Ten. Thats why its a big deal.
SteveGarvey1
Well-Known Member
Wyoming has a top 5 or 10 NFL draft pick at QB and they're going to put some points up on us so that wouldn't be completely unacceptable but disappointing. ISU is going to be better and since it's in Ames I'd say that's pretty close to a 50/50 game. If Purdue is at home that's close to unacceptable to lose to them, probably the same with Illinois. N. Texas is clearly the only game that would be completely unacceptable.
The closest thing to a sure loss is tOSU but at home we have a slugger's chance so that's the #1 attention-grabber. To a lesser degree, wins vs. Wiscy and PSU would be attention grabbing.
With a new starting QB, mostly young and new receivers and a young defensive backfield I have the feeling this is going to be one of those seasons where Kirk brings out the best in the team in November, after we struggle in September and early October.
The closest thing to a sure loss is tOSU but at home we have a slugger's chance so that's the #1 attention-grabber. To a lesser degree, wins vs. Wiscy and PSU would be attention grabbing.
With a new starting QB, mostly young and new receivers and a young defensive backfield I have the feeling this is going to be one of those seasons where Kirk brings out the best in the team in November, after we struggle in September and early October.
trj
Well-Known Member
That ISU defense will be hot garbage. Watching the Iowa O struggle against that will be the most frustrating thing ever. It will be like watching the 2014 game all over again.
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I wouldn't classify any loss as unacceptable without looking at the big picture. I mean, they could lose to Iowa State and win out theoretically. It's happened before. Not that I expect that to happen. But this is how I would rank potential losses on the disappointment scale.
(WE SHOULD GET THESE 3 WITHOUT A DOUBT)
#1 North Texas
#2 Illinois
#3 Purdue
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(SHOULD WIN BUT IT WOULDN'T BE TOTALLY UNEXPECTED IF THEY LOSE)
#4 @iowa State
#5 Wyoming
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(I ASSUME IOWA HAS A BETTER TEAM, BUT THESE TEAMS CAN BE COMPETITIVE)
#6 Minnesota
#7 @Michigan State
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(50-50's)
#8 @Nebraska
#9 @Northwestern
#10 @Wisconsin
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(WE ARE NOT THE FAVORITES, BUT HELL WHO KNOWS)
#11 Penn State
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(WE NEVER BEAT THESE GUYS, WHY SHOULD I EXPECT ANYTHING DIFFERENT?)
#12 Ohio State
(WE SHOULD GET THESE 3 WITHOUT A DOUBT)
#1 North Texas
#2 Illinois
#3 Purdue
-----------------------
(SHOULD WIN BUT IT WOULDN'T BE TOTALLY UNEXPECTED IF THEY LOSE)
#4 @iowa State
#5 Wyoming
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(I ASSUME IOWA HAS A BETTER TEAM, BUT THESE TEAMS CAN BE COMPETITIVE)
#6 Minnesota
#7 @Michigan State
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(50-50's)
#8 @Nebraska
#9 @Northwestern
#10 @Wisconsin
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(WE ARE NOT THE FAVORITES, BUT HELL WHO KNOWS)
#11 Penn State
--------------------
(WE NEVER BEAT THESE GUYS, WHY SHOULD I EXPECT ANYTHING DIFFERENT?)
#12 Ohio State
ArvadaHawk
Well-Known Member
We need to all remember that we literally have 1 real offensive weapon and that is Akrum. We have Fant and TE and MVB coming back from injury at WR. We most likely will not have a good scoring offense, for sure at the beginning of the season. We could lose many games simply because we can't score. I'm not even expecting 6 wins and I can live with that if the new players show progress and improvement, ala, last season's hoops team. I want to see a more aggressive offensive approach and philosophy. I'll take the mistakes all season long if they show they're working hard to get it right and progress. Should be better at end of season than beginning.
Motigerhawk
Well-Known Member
Unacceptable - ISU, Wyoming, NT. I know we will be 2-1 or 1-2 after these 3. But being a power 5 team we should never lose to these type of teams. EVER.
Wins- Ohio St. This, this, this. Lets beat these punks.
Wins- Ohio St. This, this, this. Lets beat these punks.
hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
Pretty much.
hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
We also need to remember we have the most tenured HC in college football. No excuse for major voids in talent at this point.
The Big LeHAWKski
Well-Known Member
Spot-on, nothing more to add, you nailed it.
Unknownbadger
Well-Known Member
I doubt Wisconsin will be a 50-50 proposition this year. Wisconsin's going to field as good a team as last year if not better. And the game is in CR. I'm not sure Northwestern will be either. Not sure Iowa will be as good.
Anytime you put Wyoming in the "acceptable loss" category, you should have to question your program. Doubt Wisconsin fans would put a Wyoming into the "acceptable" category. Shows you the differences in expectations and programs that should be on par with one another.
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
This sums it up perfectly. It's the 5 games from 6-10 that tell the story of this season. I guess I'm less worried about the bottom five these days. Kirk has been beating the teams he should be over the past three years. It's the top games on the schedule we haven't found a way to win. Sure NDSU was a game we should have won...but that wasn't a push over and we were reeling on the OL against them. We still had a game changing touchdown called back also.
Until Nebraska can compete with us in the Trenches, I'm putting that in the win column. NW is like a home game. Wisconsin is Wisconsin, but Madison is a little less daunting given 2015 also. The reality is that if our OL is as good as it should be...we are going to score points. We need Vandenburg healthy and playing at a high level, and one other guy to step up at WR...be it Young, Falconer, Easley or a freshman. You have TE's that are very good, you have a back out of the backfield that is phenomenal. Most importantly, the coaching changes are going to stretch the field more and loosen up the safeties. That bodes well for us running the ball.
Nice post Fizz.
ArvadaHawk
Well-Known Member
HD, I actually do agree with you in theory. But I just don't see that being the case this season. Our offense will be in flux and searching for talent all season. I can deal with that if they progress. I'm willing to sacrifice 1 season if our longest tenured HC is willing to 100% step away from the offensive game planning direction. Give it to KO'K and Brian. Essentially, I need to see a "new" offensive philosophy. Running on 3rd and 4 with 8 or 9 in the box will be a red flag. Going 3 wide on first down and throwing or screening will be a positive. Downfield throws to TE (Fant) will be a positive. If that doesn't happen and we have a crappy season and our offense sputters all season and doesn't improve, kf should be fired.
His being the longest tenured HC shouldn't by him back-to-back under performing seasons.
Unknownbadger
Well-Known Member
You don't need to go 3 wide on first down, Arvada, but you have to be creative and get all your skill players involved on that down to keep D's honest. I think that's been the difference with Wisconsin's O an Iowa's over the last 10 years. Chryst gets everyone involved regardless of the down (while playing power football). You can almost predict what Iowa is going to do.
