Proof Iowa football turns it around

[DuffMan]

Its pretty common knowldege most players break in playing special teams. THhose guys are usually younger players. The last few seasons our kick coverage yeams have been down right bad. Its really cost the yeam in some cases. Flash forward to this season and we are struggling to get bowl eligible. That said our kick coverage unit has been fantastic. Even factoring out the five yard difference in where we kicm from and the extra touchbacks that has generated we are routinely pinning teams inside the 15 (which is the old 20). That makes me think we are going in the right direction in terms of talent.

 

[Section136]

You seriously need to learn how to spell.

 

[CFHawk]

I like the optimism, but I think you are reaching.

 

[Cover3]

I like the optimism, but I think you are reaching.

Kind of agree with you, but see the OP's logic as well. I wouldn't call it 'proof', but I think it's fair to call it evidence that we may turn around. I'm actually expecting things to get better. A lot is going to hang on Rudock/Sokol, though. If neither one has at least average Big Ten accuracy and moxie, then 7-5 may be tough to exceed, especially losing Indiana and PSU for OSU and Wisconsin. I don't think topping out at 7-5 is a great 'turnaround.'

Also, if we can keep recruiting like 2011 in spite of our current on-field product, then I think we may be in for a full turnaround. Again, though, just NEED an accurate QB. Accuracy. It's a big deal. Look at Danny Wuerffel from Florida in the mid-90s. Slow, too weak of an arm once he got to the NFL, but super accurate (and helped by throwing to an all-NFL receiving corps in college, but still).

 

[DesMoinesHawki]

Sorry but special teams performance does not make me think the future bodes well. We have a lot of problems.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Sorry but special teams performance does not make me think the future bodes well. We have a lot of problems.

Yep. Special teams are important, and can be critical in close games. But a far bigger problem is figuring out what on earth to do with that offense.....

 

[okeefe4prez]

Yep, ST makes me think the defense might get decent again, but remember these Hoosiers put up 49 on OSU and I was in the stadium when they went off on Northwestern and scored a ton of points in a short time. I thought the defense played well and it even put up a TD. Our offense needs to convert some more third downs so it can eat up more clock and keep the defense off the field and it needs to actually score some points. The defense isn't as good as what we've seen in the past, but it is serviceable and looks like it will get better.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

Don't see much hope that they will turn it around. I still see a lot of effort. But the situation is beyond optimism. The O'line is decimated. JVB's already bad year is going to be worse. Giving up muliple sacks to Indiana's defense shows how bad the O'line is hurting. Indiana may have improved over their past performance's but they are clearly not a stellar defense. Iowa's O'line is going to be sorely tested against Purdue, Michigan and Nebraska.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Don't see much hope that they will turn it around. I still see a lot of effort. But the situation is beyond optimism. The O'line is decimated. JVB's already bad year is going to be worse. Giving up muliple sacks to Indiana's defense shows how bad the O'line is hurting. Indiana may have improved over their past performance's but they are clearly not a stellar defense. Iowa's O'line is going to be sorely tested against Purdue, Michigan and Nebraska.

This is the reason there is no shot at bowl eligibility. If Scherff and Donnal don't go down, we beat Indiana and we would beat Purdue. Right now, we have three guys that shouldn't be playing due to inexperience and needing another year in the program or who are on the mend...and another guy who is out of position. You can overcome one guy that struggles, but you can't have the two guys on each side of the center whiffing. This is where our chances were lost this season. As bad as the offense is or has been, they would be light years ahead if those guys don't go down. We would have beaten Indiana for sure.

 

[redhawk55]

here's more proof of a better season,, looking at the OL
Scherff RSJR 3* will be back
Donnal RSJR 4* will be back
Walsh RSSO 4* will be back
Blythe RSSO 4* will be back
Van Sloten RSSR 3* will be back
MacMillan RSSR 3* will be back
all these players are either starters or have starting experience. the backups
Boffeli RSSR 6'5 290 lbs the heir apparent to Ferentz at Center
Clark RSSR 6'4 288 lbs backup at both Guard position
and additions
Ward 4* 6'6 270 lbs Army AA who is red shirting
Keppy 3* 6'5 287 lbs red shirting
that's a pretty good group of OL men to start with
the RB's
Bullock JR 3* 4.5 40 time listed
Garmon SO 4* 4.4 40 listed time
Weisman walkon who will be on scholarship should be 100% 4.6 40 time listed
Hill parade AA RSFR should be 100% 4.5 40 listed time
Canzeri RSSO should be 100% 4.5 40 listed time
Malloy red shirting this year true FR 4.4 40 listed time
Rogers RSSR 4.5 40 listed time
the WR and TE'S
RSJR KMM 4.5 40 listed time already surpassed his FR season of 30 catches and 320 yards with 43 catches and 482 yards thru 9 games
Cotton SR 4.5 40 listed time
Hillyer RSFR 4.5 40 listed time
Smith True FR 4.4 40 listed time
Wilson red shirting 4.5 40 listed time
Mabin red shirting 4.4 40 listed time
all are 3 stars
CJF SR 4*
Hamilton JR 4*
Duzzy RSSO 3*
all but a few have started, this is what the new QB will get to work with.. nothing beats Experience and Talent
the defense is getting valuable playing time and is very young
when you look 4*'S Johnson, Ekakitie and Fleming all red shirting that will be added to the mix the future really looks bright.

 

[kicker22]

While I'm still optimistic that the future will be bright, I don't see the ST argument carrying much weight. All I see is that due to the fact we're not scoring the points we usually do, I simply see it as them not seeing the field as often. If our offense somehow found a way to score more points and get our kicking team on the field more I think we'd see a few more mistakes by that unit.

 

[HawkPrdatr40]

And you were saying what about my brain last week?

 

[Cover3]

here's more proof of a better season,, looking at the OL
Scherff RSJR 3* will be back
Donnal RSJR 4* will be back
Walsh RSSO 4* will be back
Blythe RSSO 4* will be back
Van Sloten RSSR 3* will be back
MacMillan RSSR 3* will be back
all these players are either starters or have starting experience. the backups
Boffeli RSSR 6'5 290 lbs the heir apparent to Ferentz at Center
Clark RSSR 6'4 288 lbs backup at both Guard position
and additions
Ward 4* 6'6 270 lbs Army AA who is red shirting
Keppy 3* 6'5 287 lbs red shirting
that's a pretty good group of OL men to start with
the RB's
Bullock JR 3* 4.5 40 time listed
Garmon SO 4* 4.4 40 listed time
Weisman walkon who will be on scholarship should be 100% 4.6 40 time listed
Hill parade AA RSFR should be 100% 4.5 40 listed time
Canzeri RSSO should be 100% 4.5 40 listed time
Malloy red shirting this year true FR 4.4 40 listed time
Rogers RSSR 4.5 40 listed time
the WR and TE'S
RSJR KMM 4.5 40 listed time already surpassed his FR season of 30 catches and 320 yards with 43 catches and 482 yards thru 9 games
Cotton SR 4.5 40 listed time
Hillyer RSFR 4.5 40 listed time
Smith True FR 4.4 40 listed time
Wilson red shirting 4.5 40 listed time
Mabin red shirting 4.4 40 listed time
all are 3 stars
CJF SR 4*
Hamilton JR 4*
Duzzy RSSO 3*
all but a few have started, this is what the new QB will get to work with.. nothing beats Experience and Talent
the defense is getting valuable playing time and is very young
when you look 4*'S Johnson, Ekakitie and Fleming all red shirting that will be added to the mix the future really looks bright.

I also think we have a lot of talent waiting in the wings. But on top of that, I think the schedule gets harder next year, and 7-5 will be tough if Rudock and Sokol are as raw as KF would have us believe.

 

[CAARHawk]

The Ruddock/Sokol deal is the same as the McNutt/Nelson deal. One might caretake the position at the beginning of the year, but...

 

[Cover3]

The Ruddock/Sokol deal is the same as the McNutt/Nelson deal. One might caretake the position at the beginning of the year, but...

Go on ...

Beathard? Fine. Same thing. If our QB play is below average, then our other young talent won't get us too far.

 

[kicker22]

The problem I see with looking into the future is all that young potential means nothing at this time. Potential is a measurement of a players upside, but unfortunately it's not a guarantee that it amounts to anything in the future. I'd rather have the results now then bank on the possibility of success in the future.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

The problem I see with looking into the future is all that young potential means nothing at this time. Potential is a measurement of a players upside, but unfortunately it's not a guarantee that it amounts to anything in the future. I'd rather have the results now then bank on the possibility of success in the future.

Exactly. Something about counting your chickens before they've hatched. And as we've seen in recent years, attrition has also been a problem with this program. Will all of these young players still be with the program in 2 years? Or will the record even reflect the talent (like 2010)?

It's always "Just wait, we have a good recruiting class coming in next year" or "We're young, wait another year or two". Funny part about that is that "next year" never seems to come.

Guess being a Cubs fan and a Hawkeye fan has turned me into a pessimist - I've stopped putting too much stock into the promise of the future and I've become a fan who will believe it when he sees it.

Even with the basketball program - what Fran has done so far looks promising, but to date, all he really has accomplished is a 1st-round NIT victory. I have no reason to think things won't continue to improve, but I have to remain cautiously optimistic. I've been burned too many times by getting excited over hype that doesn't pan out. Steve Alford, the Top 10 preseason rankings in the 2005, 2006 & 2010 football seasons, etc.

 

[kicker22]

Exactly. Something about counting your chickens before they've hatched. And as we've seen in recent years, attrition has also been a problem with this program. Will all of these young players still be with the program in 2 years? Or will the record even reflect the talent (like 2010)?

It's always "Just wait, we have a good recruiting class coming in next year" or "We're young, wait another year or two". Funny part about that is that "next year" never seems to come.

Guess being a Cubs fan and a Hawkeye fan has turned me into a pessimist - I've stopped putting too much stock into the promise of the future and I've become a fan who will believe it when he sees it.

Even with the basketball program - what Fran has done so far looks promising, but to date, all he really has accomplished is a 1st-round NIT victory. I have no reason to think things won't continue to improve, but I have to remain cautiously optimistic. I've been burned too many times by getting excited over hype that doesn't pan out. Steve Alford, the Top 10 preseason rankings in the 2005, 2006 & 2010 football seasons, etc.

I think exactly opposite. I actually think it's helped keep me optimistic simply because it makes me appreciate the good years and not take them for granted. My thing is I don't think it's fair to the upper-classmen to simply write them off because theres a chance that we'll be better this year. IMO its a slap in the face that they don't deserve because they're not playing for next year and it gives the impression that their effort means nothing to the fanbase.

 

[vgshwk]

The way Iowa is playing they have already turned around.