Gotta say blowouts. For a couple of reasons --
1. Blowouts would indicate that the O-Line is protecting well enough for Stanzi to progress properly through his reads and synchronize with his receivers at full game speed.
2. Blowouts would indicate that the running game is on track.
3. Blowouts offer live opportunities to test many different personnel packages and sets.
4. Blowouts offer live opportunities to test different plays in different situations: draws on 3rd and long, PA on 2nd and short, pooch punting, FG fakes, going for 2, etc.
5. Blowouts limit injuries to top-tier players on O and D. If your first team doesn't need to be in after the first two quarters, that's two quarters of meaningless football where Stanzi can't get rolled up in the endzone or Clayborn can't blow out his knee or break his fingers. If major injuries are going to happen, let them happen in a game where the outcome is in doubt and meaningful – Ark. St. wasn't ever really in doubt, despite the final score, but could have had a major impact on the season if someone big went down while Iowa was sitting on the lead.
6. Blowouts allow younger players to be "coached up" by their position coaches and starting players in live repetitions.
7. The only thing that "close" games teach is character and composure under pressure. Last year's experiences should have taught most of the current members of this team that.
This team is not made up of the "fat cats". Let's try to get everybody on the same page and minimize mistakes in a live game. Of course the most important thing is that Iowa scores more than their opponent and wins the game. However, that should only be the first goal when it comes to winning.
The second should be prevent them from getting in the endzone, then preventing them from kicking any field goals, then prevent them from scoring on defense, then getting the shutout, then preventing them from getting in the red-zone, then preventing them from crossing midfield, then preventing them from getting out of their red-zone, then preventing them from getting a first-down, then preventing them from completing a pass, then preventing them from getting positive rushing yards, then preventing them from returning a kick at all (fair catch only or out of endzone), then preventing them from receiving a kick (punt out of bounds inside twenty or kickoff out of back of endzone), then returning every punt beyond the twenty yardline, then returning every punt beyond the 50, then returning every punt into the opposing red zone, then returning every punt to the house, then returning every kickoff, then returning every kickoff past the twenty, then returning every kickoff past the fifty, then returning every kickoff to the opposing red zone, then returning every kickoff to the house, then blocking every punt, then blocking every punt and returning the block, then blocking every punt and returning the block to the house, then having 0 penalties on offense and defense and special teams, then not throwing an interception, then not fumbling the ball, then completing every pass, then completing every pass for first downs, then completing every pass for TDs, then not getting sacked once, then not ever going three and out, then getting positive rushing yards every play, then getting first downs every rushing play.
Do all those things and you've played a perfect game. You've totally dominated in every facet of the game. The game will be a blowout. The second team can now begin to work on their skills at the above.
Do all of those things not, and you still have something to work towards goal wise.
Iowa should always set its goals for perfection. It is ok if those goals are impossible to meet, they should always strive for them. The more things you do right or even perfect, the more lopsided the score will be. I.E. Blowouts first, winning second.
