JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Ever since Kirk Ferentz rolled out the 'fact' that Tennessee Tech returns 21 of 22 position starters, I have been a little spooked about Tennessee Tech.
Not spooked as in I think they are as good as 2009 UNI, because they are not; that Panther offensive line was the fourth or fifth best that Iowa played all season...and the Hawks nearly got caught with their pants down and needed a miracle finish to win the game, blocking back to back field goal attempts in the final seconds. Of course, that is the obvious harbinger for an Orange Bowl victory, right?
Tennessee Tech is an FCS team who was one game under .500 in the Ohio Valley Conference last year.
That's not something that should scare anyone on their face, and perhaps I have just had my head down in off season analysis for so long I am finally suffering the mental paralysis.
But 21 of 22 starters is a 'good start' to a recipe for some trouble...add in the fact that this program likes to refer to itself as the 'fastest 60 minutes of football', that they won their regular season finale against Jacksonville State who was ranked 6th in the FCS at the time and who had beaten Ole Miss 49-48 in the season opener...that should make you sit up a little more straight.
When you have that many returning faces, players who are familiar with the teammate to their left and to their right, it automatically allows you to play at a better pace...then factor in that this program wants to play at insane speed and will be going up against a rebuilding Iowa defense who had troubles getting off the field in its final five games last year against teams that like to push the temp and ran spread offenses (well, at least four of the five), I guess that has my radar on notice.
I linked this story back in the summer and will bring it up again, because there are a lot of quotes from Tennessee Tech's coach that gives you an idea as to what Iowa will be facing on Saturday, at least schematically.
The Golden Eagles want to be like Oregon, as far as offensive philosophy goes. On defense, you can expect them to attack the quarterback and leave their defensive backs in a lot of man to man situations. It will be interesting to see how that thinking pays off..if the Iowa offensive line is as good as I think they are, it could mean a big passing day for James Vandenberg.
Tennessee Tech, like every Iowa opponent, knows it has to attack Iowa's running game if it wants a realistic shot at winning the game. committing six to seven players to rush the passer on each down is playing with fire...but given James Vandenberg is a first year starter for Iowa, and the fact that Tennessee Tech is a 40.5 point off-shore underdog, what do they have to lose? They'll play loose and look to land a few haymakers early and see how Iowa reacts.
The Hawks should be able to turn that aggressive style against their opponent and torch them through the air...but every now and then Buster Douglas knocks Mike Tyson on his hind end...every now and then, a haymaker gets through.
I don't think Iowa will lose this game, but I do think things could be interesting in the first half...I'll toss out my HawkeyeNationTV video prediction tomorrow evening.
Perhaps my nerves have everything to do with not having watched a college football game in eight months and less to do with what Tennessee Tech may be capable of doing. Or perhaps they have something to do with the fact that Iowa is replacing three NFL defensive linemen and has so many unknowns at that position heading into a game against a team that should know exactly what it wants to do and will do it at a fevered pitch.
The unknowns of this 2011 Iowa football season make me both skittish and as eager as ever to take a look under the hood.
Not spooked as in I think they are as good as 2009 UNI, because they are not; that Panther offensive line was the fourth or fifth best that Iowa played all season...and the Hawks nearly got caught with their pants down and needed a miracle finish to win the game, blocking back to back field goal attempts in the final seconds. Of course, that is the obvious harbinger for an Orange Bowl victory, right?
Tennessee Tech is an FCS team who was one game under .500 in the Ohio Valley Conference last year.
That's not something that should scare anyone on their face, and perhaps I have just had my head down in off season analysis for so long I am finally suffering the mental paralysis.
But 21 of 22 starters is a 'good start' to a recipe for some trouble...add in the fact that this program likes to refer to itself as the 'fastest 60 minutes of football', that they won their regular season finale against Jacksonville State who was ranked 6th in the FCS at the time and who had beaten Ole Miss 49-48 in the season opener...that should make you sit up a little more straight.
When you have that many returning faces, players who are familiar with the teammate to their left and to their right, it automatically allows you to play at a better pace...then factor in that this program wants to play at insane speed and will be going up against a rebuilding Iowa defense who had troubles getting off the field in its final five games last year against teams that like to push the temp and ran spread offenses (well, at least four of the five), I guess that has my radar on notice.
I linked this story back in the summer and will bring it up again, because there are a lot of quotes from Tennessee Tech's coach that gives you an idea as to what Iowa will be facing on Saturday, at least schematically.
The Golden Eagles want to be like Oregon, as far as offensive philosophy goes. On defense, you can expect them to attack the quarterback and leave their defensive backs in a lot of man to man situations. It will be interesting to see how that thinking pays off..if the Iowa offensive line is as good as I think they are, it could mean a big passing day for James Vandenberg.
Tennessee Tech, like every Iowa opponent, knows it has to attack Iowa's running game if it wants a realistic shot at winning the game. committing six to seven players to rush the passer on each down is playing with fire...but given James Vandenberg is a first year starter for Iowa, and the fact that Tennessee Tech is a 40.5 point off-shore underdog, what do they have to lose? They'll play loose and look to land a few haymakers early and see how Iowa reacts.
The Hawks should be able to turn that aggressive style against their opponent and torch them through the air...but every now and then Buster Douglas knocks Mike Tyson on his hind end...every now and then, a haymaker gets through.
I don't think Iowa will lose this game, but I do think things could be interesting in the first half...I'll toss out my HawkeyeNationTV video prediction tomorrow evening.
Perhaps my nerves have everything to do with not having watched a college football game in eight months and less to do with what Tennessee Tech may be capable of doing. Or perhaps they have something to do with the fact that Iowa is replacing three NFL defensive linemen and has so many unknowns at that position heading into a game against a team that should know exactly what it wants to do and will do it at a fevered pitch.
The unknowns of this 2011 Iowa football season make me both skittish and as eager as ever to take a look under the hood.
