WHAT IF.....
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SmokeTownHawk
Well-Known Member
Do we run the Air Raid?
koralakers
Well-Known Member
“What if”...the story of our lives, as Hawk fans
kameltoez102
Well-Known Member
The same could have been said about a couple past years as well and I have brought this up in a former post. That is one of the big challenges for the Hawks The coaching staff develops these guys into good/great players and for most it may take several years until they are seniors. On the few occasions where they are able to get guys that are ready to compete early and develop fast you get the cases where they have the opportunity to leave early.
With how recruiting has been in the past the Hawks just don't have the amount of ready talent that other schools do where they can instantly reload, take 2009 for example. We get Greene and Fletcher to come back those are huge additions to that team and could have helped take that team to the Championship in my opinion. Let A Rob and Wehger redshirt or develop a little more as well as some of the other guys which could have helped down the road. Then the next year you have Bulaga and Spievey leave early and it is hard to recover. It is the same for many teams not just Iowa.
I do like the direction the recruiting has been the last few years where it seems we are getting guys that are able to play faster but it is always a challenge when you lose experienced guys with talent
With how recruiting has been in the past the Hawks just don't have the amount of ready talent that other schools do where they can instantly reload, take 2009 for example. We get Greene and Fletcher to come back those are huge additions to that team and could have helped take that team to the Championship in my opinion. Let A Rob and Wehger redshirt or develop a little more as well as some of the other guys which could have helped down the road. Then the next year you have Bulaga and Spievey leave early and it is hard to recover. It is the same for many teams not just Iowa.
I do like the direction the recruiting has been the last few years where it seems we are getting guys that are able to play faster but it is always a challenge when you lose experienced guys with talent
eledmonster
Well-Known Dog
Heck. What if Shonn Greene came back for 2009? That would have been an embarrassment of offensive riches.
EstronHawkKing
Well-Known Member
and
And Stanzi not broken his ankle in the N'western game? With him and Greene all season, we would have gone undefeated, maybe won the national championship.
Ree4
Well-Known Member
This is exactly what I was thinking, we would have been dangerous. Even with Stanzi going down Greene could have made the difference in that jNW game and against OSU
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
Nope. The Big 12 "we must protect Texas" refs screwed Nebraska out of the Big 12 title that year. Suh was on Nebraska and the guy was unstoppable. He was held almost every play. The refs also gave Texas a little special cooking on the clock on that last drive that let them kick the game winning FG. I ain't one to lightly praise Nebraska, but Suh's performance in that title game was among the finest performances I've ever seen in college football.
There is absolutely no way Iowa would have gotten into that title game with an undefeated Texas and Alabama sitting there as well. It's a shame, too, because I think Iowa with Greene versus Bama would have been one for the ages. Bama was the better team, but the matchup would have been really good and Iowa would have certainly had a puncher's chance in that game.
Ree4
Well-Known Member
I remember that last play pretty well and the ball hit the ground easily before the final second expired. There was no clock cooking. Maybe the clock operator screwed up and didn't stop it when they should have but they made the right call. Suh was held all game though but that seems par for the course, holding calls are one of the least consistent penalties out there.
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
Oh yeah, I think you're right on the clock. I just remember each of Suh and Crick were hog tied and tackled on the last drive. No call.
8-4 with or without them. They had them last year against a much easier schedule and I doubt Stanley would have improved enough to get them the ball more in space. Nelson and hooker are harder to pin down. Having AJE and gholston isn’t really a drop off. Hooker? Meh, Iowa’s DBs never drop off.
Those 4 might have made for one more win this year. Maybe. Of course if Stanley could complete one more over throw per game, we could see 9-3 this year.
eledmonster
Well-Known Dog
Exactly what I was thinking JVB played great at the shoe, having Greene would have made a difference.
I remember watching that game too. How sick would it have been to go undefeated and not make the championship because they rightfully put 1 second back on the clock?
iloveyoularrystation
Well-Known Member
well I know this they wouldn't have had the games where a freshmen got abused at corner cause he wouldn't have been playing. and we would have been able to move the ball on the ground more for sure. so yeah i'd say these two were significant losses as far as games lost. but thats every year. that's the thing, gotta be able to reload.
iloveyoularrystation
Well-Known Member
I don't think we would have been rated top 5, but probably top 15, and we should be. If they'd have all stayed we'd be bringing back our most top to bottom talented starting 22 of the ferentz era, I don't think there's any doubt about that.
Oh Funny especially since 2 of the 4 mentioned are on the defense. But I get your question to a point especially after watching BF call plays against jNW last year (head scratcher).
This is what comes to mind even more as last year are cornerback play cost the hawks dearly at times and if JJackson is back then we have an abundance of players to swap in and out at the other corner position and withstand some injuries. I think Daniels makes the running game better last year.
I think the hawks beat Purdue, NW, Wisky, and Penn St last year as they were all very close games the hawks had in hand with a couple more plays made by those returning players.
Of course we wouldnt have been in the Outback Bowl either as the hawks could have been undefeated last year. Isnt that crazy to think about.
