A Case for Iowa's 2018 Offense

[hawk_it]

The Positives:
1 OC & OL coach have 1yr experience working together now!
2 QB, WR's & TE's have 1 yr more experience.
3 OT"s have one year experience and time with Doyle
4 OL interior have been in the system for awhile now
5 RB's though young, have another year in the system and with Doyle
6 Adding a few new playmakers at WR and RB

Keys growth points:
1 Middle 3 of OL meshing
2 RB's lack experience
3 More consistency @ WR

Bottom line: Barring health issues this offense has some sneaky (yet to be tapped) good potential that may erupt! I'm very optimistic with this group.

 

[Harbinger273]

If there is a time for things to come together I believe it is this year. Will they do it? I don't know. I like that sneaky good potential as yet untapped. Talent emerging on the field after better recruiting.

 

[Hawktimism]

We'll probably know what the Hawks are made of in terms of potential vs real by the end of September. Roll through the OOC schedule and knock off Wisky and they'll be ranked heading into the bye with a manageable remaining schedule.

 

[Blackleaf40]

We'll probably know what the Hawks are made of in terms of potential vs real by the end of September. Roll through the OOC schedule and knock off Wisky and they'll be ranked heading into the bye with a manageable remaining schedule.

I feel better playing Wisky later in the season. It's not optimal this year. It just seems like we fare better against big opponents when 75 percent of our games are behind us.

 

[Hawktimism]

Hawks opened BIG play with Wisconsin in 2015, gutted out a tough victory on the road which set the tone for the rest of the season.

I see what you're saying though... with Iowa being always reliant on developing guys along the way, there is never simply the feeling of reloading. So the places where they are most inexperienced are softer in September than they are in November to be sure.

I think BF will have a good game drawn up for the Wisconsin game because that is arguable the biggest game on the schedule this season. I think the Hawks will score 24-ish points this year. But I think this one is decided on whether the D can stop Wisconsin's offense. They're offense is potent and experienced. Even if they're down on defense... they will still be tough to beat because it will be hard to hold the offense under 24.

 

[sober_teacher]

This year I’d rather play Wisconsin early. Their two starting DL guys that are injured could be back in the 2nd half of the year, but will definitely be out in September.

This is a very intriguing offense in that barring early draft entries, the skill positions will be largely intact for the next two years.

Even in Fant for example left early, TE depth is possibly the best for Iowa in 20 years.

 

[Hawktimism]

The offensive tools are there and Stanley will be ready. I think the key to the car is still in BF's hands and see how quickly he can grow as an offensive coordinator.

 

[HawkNole09]

If the Hawkeyes offense can just move the needle to average, ranked about 60 of 120 then this team is going to have a really nice year. I can’t see the guys taking much of a step back on defense. Should still be top 25.

Now if we can nudge our punting average up to right around 40 we’ll be in serious business.

But that means that the WRs have taken a huge year 2 leap. We don’t have injuries to key players, and we get back to running the ball at our historical average — and most importantly when we need it on 3rd down.

 

[Pepperman]

I am not at all concerned about RB experience. Both Young and IKM had enough carries last year to know what's coming. Besides that, RB is by far the easiest position to jump into. I'm much more concerned with the OL from the standpoint of whether they make enough holes for the RBs to pick from.

 

[Auger]

If we beat Wisconsin we will be the clear front runners to win the West. That game will be the West Division Finals in my opinion. We have a favorable schedule the rest of the way compared to the rest of the West. Wisconsin will still have @ Michigan and @ Penn St. I'm thinking about flying in for that game. Will be big.

 

[DodgerHawki]

If we beat Wisconsin we will be the clear front runners to win the West. That game will be the West Division Finals in my opinion. We have a favorable schedule the rest of the way compared to the rest of the West. Wisconsin will still have @ Michigan and @ Penn St. I'm thinking about flying in for that game. Will be big.

From the looks of things I would agree with you. I think Wisconsin winning the game makes them a 85-90% favorite to take the West. If Iowa wins that game, Hawks would be the front-runner but still a lot of other teams would be in the fight. Wisconsin has the track record that until they get 2+ losses in conference in a season, one has to assume they are going to be 7-2 at a minimum. Even in 2015 when Iowa won in Madison, Badgers still went 6-2 (lost at Northwestern in the 8 game conference season).

Badgers do play at Iowa, at Michigan, at Penn State and at Purdue. They could be the underdog in maybe 2 of them. But things get very interesting if Iowa can knock of Wisconsin right away.

 

[mazda1]

Our passing game may thrive or bomb based on how the 3 interior linemen pass protect. I don't think we know how the running backs will block for sure yet either.

I like where you're going with this thread, but if Stanley becomes a tackling dummy all bets are off.

We should be able to run the ball against most teams.

 

[scotthawk1964]

I think we can be damn good. But I don't like the Wisconsin game so early seeing that Iowa usually gels as the season goes, and Iowa State is going to give us everything we can handle. Hell, they do that when they suck, and now they have some talent. I guess there shouldn't be any reason for Iowa to over look ISU this year though.

 

[hawk_it]

One positive about playing Wisconsin when we do is that there isn't a big opponent the week before like last year. It was Ohio St then the Wisconsin game. That was an ambush game.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

I like Wisconsin right where they are . . . in Kinnick for what should be a night game for the leadership of the West. It's payback time, and I'm hopeful BF will be fully prepared not just to keep it close but to lay the wood on Bucky. It's well overdue.