Wirfs, Epenesa

Yeaaaa...I pretty much disagree with your entire last paragraph. We return every WR, RB and TE. Petras shouldn't be a downgrade from Stanley. Britt should be an upgrade over Paulsen. We only lose Ojemudia in the defensive backfield but will have Brents back. Our defensive line is almost always solid. I don't see 2020 as a rebuilding season.

The interior line was poor this year. Surely if they had someone that was an upgrade, they'd have plugged him in. They lose a starting tackle, and the QB is new and did not impress when he did get playing time.

If the QB has neither experience nor time, I don't see how the ball gets delivered to the WRs and the TEs that are coming back. If the interior line is bad, I don't see a back on Iowa's team that can consistently make his own holes for 4 ypc, 20+ times a game. I agree the defense will be fine. 7-5 is only two games different than this year, and with those handicaps I think it is OK to call it a rebuilding year.

Say what you want about Stanley, but I think we lose the Minnesota and ISU games with Petras at QB.
 
While hock is delighted with the money, I'll bet millions that emotionally he wishes he was with the Hawkeyes this season.

I'm sure he has mixed feelings about it. The college life is fun but he's making all the money. A lot of people would have mixed feelings about it, like you have in a lot of situations.
 
The interior line was poor this year. Surely if they had someone that was an upgrade, they'd have plugged him in. They lose a starting tackle, and the QB is new and did not impress when he did get playing time.

If the QB has neither experience nor time, I don't see how the ball gets delivered to the WRs and the TEs that are coming back. If the interior line is bad, I don't see a back on Iowa's team that can consistently make his own holes for 4 ypc, 20+ times a game. I agree the defense will be fine. 7-5 is only two games different than this year, and with those handicaps I think it is OK to call it a rebuilding year.

Say what you want about Stanley, but I think we lose the Minnesota and ISU games with Petras at QB.

We have recruited well on ol. How many freshman ol guys have ever been "plugged in"? One?
Yes we need them recruits to have a good 2019 in practice, film and with Doyle, but it's not like the cupboard is bare. As for qb, many guys have stellar years their first year.
Defenses haven't had time or film to study them.
I have extremely high hopes for the upcoming ol. Are they the ones who bring the title of bullies of the b10 back to Iowa? I hope so.
 
Yeaaaa...I pretty much disagree with your entire last paragraph. We return every WR, RB and TE. Petras shouldn't be a downgrade from Stanley. Britt should be an upgrade over Paulsen. We only lose Ojemudia in the defensive backfield but will have Brents back. Our defensive line is almost always solid. I don't see 2020 as a rebuilding season.

I agree with you that 2020 isn't a rebuilding year. But good God, I'm not exactly comfortable right now with a green QB and green bookend tackles going into Columbus & State College.....in back to back weeks.
 
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Not saying I believe any of this but found it interesting for sure.....


https://www.profootballnetwork.com/ncaa-college-football-week-13-live-blog-with-tony-pauline/

Here are a few updates from Iowa.

Sources close to the program tell me they still believe Tristan Wirfs will return to school after the season, despite being graded as a top half of round one prospect. I’m told the situation is similar for A.J. Epenesa- the feeling around the program is Epenesa will be back in 2020. While this may change, Iowa has done a good job of retaining highly rated underclassmen in the past; sometimes to the detriment of the player (think Desmond King).

Epenesa is an interesting case. Some people were surprised when I left him out of the first round in my recent mock draft. Yet, when speaking to sources, the feeling is Epenesa is not having a good season and it’s in his best interest to return.
Well since this whole last paragraph is complete BS I'm not going to take much stock in the rest of it. Scouts GMs and coaches who'll watch his film from this yr will see the impact he's been making. His play is still great. If anything he's better at controlling his gap and reading his keys then before. He's been chipped and doubled on about every 3rd down passing play. There's little to criticize of his game frankly. He'd be the 2nd DE off the board most likely top 10-15 at worst pick if he goes.

I can only say that prior to this yr I thought AJE Wirfs and Jackson would all go pro after this year. Nothing has changed my mind at this point in the season. Once they really start thinking about it be it after the Neb game before the bowl game or shortly thereafter I think they'll decide to go. If your a 3rd rd pick or higher you about have to go. It's why Hockenson went. It felt like if he was a 3rd rounder or later he mighta stayed. But when going in the 1st round is floated around and possibly a top 10 pick... You just can't not go..

Would I be pleasantly surprised if any of them came back? Absolutely I would. But that's what I'd be is surprised.
 
I agree with you that 2020 isn't a rebuilding year. But good God, I'm not exactly comfortable right now with a green QB and green bookend tackles going into Columbus & State College.....in back to back weeks.

My opinion may change once we know what Wirfs and Jackson are doing.
 
Yet, when speaking to sources, the feeling is Epenesa is not having a good season and it’s in his best interest to return.

These "sources" are about as credible as the leading source the NYT has cited the past few years: "Sources familiar with the President's thinking..."
 
These "sources" are about as credible as the leading source the NYT has cited the past few years: "Sources familiar with the President's thinking..."

Well they are having a good year. Not stand out though. That's why I say they have room to grow. That usually means a higher draft pick.
 
I could see Hockensen feeling that way. He started last year not even thinking about the NFL. 3 months later he’s a projected top 10 pick. It all happened really fast for him, he had no choice but to go to the NFL
 
. Yet, when speaking to sources, the feeling is Epenesa is not having a good season and it’s in his best interest to return.

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

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