Where'd this season come from?

As others have said....Ferentz 3.0...CJB...( both of those 2 have stretched the field and made room for better play calling and team chemistry).....DK and the Run defense (which has overcompensated for the loss of Drew Ott, but used him as a catalyst to develop those around him on d-line and lb's to improve and step up further with each game)....special teams led by an early season gravity defying 57 yard fg....RBs being utilized as RBs with more quickness and following blocks looking for the crease, and each one stepping up to take advantage of their opportunity to showcase their wares....wr's that have made opportune possession catches, fb's, te's, and wr's that have executed blocks ....leading the way to an O-line that has improved weekly with different personnel making them stronger and more efficient in the 4th quarters, with added depth when healthy.....which also is a team wide issue to overcome the adversity of injuries to all be able to step up and make a vacancy improved and now with improved position depth....all this leading to locker room chemistry and greater senior leadership. Aided by a few created in game breaks and better coaching decisions along with improved execution. Bringing on a self perpetuating philosophy of winning attitude and increased fan attention. Among other things.
 
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This is what I expected the team to do. Due to several reasons. I could see the experience and talent on defence, and the spots where they lost starters had back ups that were ready to step in. Improvements were being made in special teams. The offence was returning both guards and the center. This would be a great foundation for a strong run game to set up the pass. I could see that this team could beat anyone on the schedule.
 
bigjim said:
I was watching Game Day live the other night, and they were discussing Iowa being 7-0. They hit a good point on how we have a season like this one every now and again. Their answer to it was, Iowa don't have big time recruiting classes like other Programs do, and we don't have many players that leave early for the NFL, so that equals a lot of juniors and seniors with a lot of experience every few years. I got to thinking about it, and it really does make sense. What does everyone else think about that?
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Nope. Iowa has put the second most players in the NFL to Ohio State over the last few years. Just because the recruiting class is filled with kids that are not highly ranked nationally doesn't mean that there isn't any talent there.

Often, kids are just missed on or mispromoted by their coaches and parents - no youtube highlight videos, no marketing to local media our known scouts. Iowa goes out and funds those kids. The talent is there and had been there.

This year, Kirk is playing nearly all the right talent at&t every position. QB, and RB, notably, but also WR. Jerminic Smith getting to play other than on jet sweeps and bubble screens is something that would never happen under Old Kirk, for example.

I don't think it was the fans - it was watching Tennessee's young talent year it up against hs vetrans, and an acceptance of more risk on offense and defense to reap bigger rewards, that have changed this year over last. Couple that with Wisconsin losing Corey Clement and CJB's aggressiveness and you have a good team with a good QB whose major division rival is handicapped. That's a recipe for a great season.
 
bigjim said:
I was watching Game Day live the other night, and they were discussing Iowa being 7-0. They hit a good point on how we have a season like this one every now and again. Their answer to it was, Iowa don't have big time recruiting classes like other Programs do, and we don't have many players that leave early for the NFL, so that equals a lot of juniors and seniors with a lot of experience every few years. I got to thinking about it, and it really does make sense. What does everyone else think about that?
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This team is not heavy with a lot of experienced Jr and Srs. Both our depth chart and overall roster has a high number of underclassmen for a Kirk team. So their theory does not apply to the 2015 team.
 
It is a game of inches. Miss a 57 yd FG and 2 minute domination of ISU and it is a totally different story.
 
1. Quality QB
2. Quality RBs
3. Quality OL
4. Quality kicking game
5. Very Salty Defense
6. Better play calling
7. No Ohio State, Michigan, or Michigan State on our schedule.........well until the conference championship game.
 
One reason that may have not been mentioned is their ability to get big plays offensively and in turn defend the big play well compared to last year.
 
I do think we are a development program, where as the sign says "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard".

I do think the team has cycles where the development level goes up and down. And I think seasons like this year are the waves of the team commiting themselves. The deep commitment like this comes after seeing that winning isn't easy, and you need sacrifice.

2002-2004 was the first teams after being down in the late nineties (with a little Drew Tate talent sprinkled in). 2008-2009 was a product of the downyears, very well punctuated by that unbelievable disaster against Western Michigan in 2007. This team hit rock botton in 2012, and their dedication is showing.

Unfortunately I think this cycle is going to be the norm for the hawks. I remember sitting outside a certain rivals stadium in 2005, watching ESPN. And they asked the question, was Iowa elite in the Big 10, and all the talking heads said yes. That afternoon Iowa was waxed 23-3 in ugly fashion. After that day I come to the conclusion this team will always have to work harder than the others to acheive their goals.

I know many of the team work their tails off. I think it's the reaction to the down years that generate a laser like focus to improve that spans the whole team.
 
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My family went to Disney World last December and I rode the bus back from one of the theme parks when this "Tennessee" fan came up to me and struck a good conversation about Iowa. He said something I believe others have said, " By the time next year rolls around CJ will be your QB". " I know his family and the kid is a flat out winner". Here we are and the guys comments ring true. It's not just CJ but this team plays together. I think in this day and age everplayer wants to be the MAN. OSU is having some of those issues with their QB situation, but honestly it co.es down to clarity, leadership. We have that on this team. Now go out and finiswhat you've started!!!
 
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