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FCS Preseason Top 25

You really think our 2021 117th ranked offense (losing Linderbaum), with arguably our worst offensive line in the KF era, will be better across the board than one of the better offensive FCS programs?

SDSU looks like they had the 14th ranked offense in FCS last year & they return (injury) a veteran QB. Looking at their depth chart They may not have as many linemen as we have, but they look to have 5-7 guys all 295LBS+. I hope we can hold them well below their 441 YPG average. Looking at this game on paper though, we will be in a dogfight. Maybe our defense will just control them all game. I just hope it's not like NDSU where our DL wears down in the 4 quarter.
Good thing the Iowa offense isn't playing against the SDSU offense then. The Iowa defense is never set up to severely limit yardage, it is designed to limit big plays and then force near perfect execution inside the 30 yard line. I have confidence they'll do just that. So while the jacks may put up 350 yards gained, they won't hit 21 points. And that's a doable number for the Hawk defense to hit either by themselves or with the help of some incredibly short field scores from whatever that is that trots out with the ball.
 
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Yes I do. There's a lot of young talent in that line, some that played last year, (Richman and Colby) and some on the way up, (Jones, Davidkov, Stephens, Dunker, Elsbury) etc...Besides which They don't play against each other, and I expect a huge year from out DL, maybe the best set of LB's in ALL of college football as a unit, and a very veteran DB group with the return of Moss. As for the DL in the NDSU game I don't believe we were rotating the DL like Bell is doing now, and I think we saw the difference last year, and i'd expect them to grow signifcantly on last years solid play for a VERY young unit last season. I'm not saying this won't be a good game, but I think some lessons were learned in that NDSU game.
I hope you are right. If we can start to figure out our line play & have our RBs hitting the gaps hard. That will change our game plan & game time decisions. This will also probably take pressure off Petras. Against UK in the bowl game we were very competitive running the ball against a tough defensive front.
 
Iowa was 83rd in turnovers lost last year (19 lost turnovers). Stats say they are going to turn the ball over.
3 games last year accounted for over half of those turnovers (10)... Purdue / Wisconsin / Kentucky...all losses. Chances are you will see a turnover, but Iowa usually does a very good job of taking care of the ball. Although I loved him as a teammate and person, IKM put the ball on the ground a lot. I expect ball security to be solid with Iowa this year and we aren't starting an inexperienced QB either.
 

Athlon Sports' 2022 FCS Preseason All-America Team​

Offense​

QB – Xavier Shepherd (6-0, 205, Jr.) Kennesaw State

RB – Isaiah Davis (6-1, 220, Jr.) South Dakota State

RB – Isaiah Ifanse (5-10, 202, Sr.) Montana State

FB – Hunter Luepke (6-1, 234, Sr.) North Dakota State

WR – Xavier Gipson (5-9, 170, Sr.) Stephen F. Austin

WR – Taylor Grimes (5-11, 190, Sr.) UIW

TE – Tucker Kraft (6-5, 255, Jr.) South Dakota State

C – Matthan Hatchie (6-2, 310, Sr.) UT Martin

OL – Michael Corbi (6-3, 335, Sr.) Villanova

OL – McClendon Curtis (6-6, 328, Sr.) Chattanooga

OL – Cody Mauch (6-6, 303, Sr.) North Dakota State

OL – Mason McCormick (6-4, 310, Sr.) South Dakota State


Defense​

DL – Isaiah Land (6-4, 215, Sr.) Florida A&M

DL – Nate Lynn (6-3, 265, Jr.) William & Mary

DL – Devonnsha Maxwell (6-3, 296, Sr.) Chattanooga

DL – Josiah Silver (6-2, 234, So.) New Hampshire

LB – Ryan Greenhagen (6-1, 245, Sr.) Fordham

LB – Patrick O'Connell (6-2, 225, Sr.) Montana

LB – Stone Snyder (6-3, 240, Sr.) VMI

DB – Anthony Adams (6-0, 185, Sr.) Portland State

DB – Justin Ford (6-2, 190, Sr.) Montana

DB – Michael Tutsie (5-11, 193, Sr.) North Dakota State

DB – Kedrick Whitehead (5-11, 195, Sr.) Delaware

Specialists​

K – Matthew Cook (5-11, 180, Jr.) Northern Iowa

P – Grant Burkett (6-1, 180, So.) Missouri State

KR – Malik Flowers (6-2, 200, Sr.) Montana

PR – Jah'Marae Sheread (5-7, 175, Sr.) Florida A&M

— Written by Craig Haley, who is part of the Athlon Contributor Network. Haley has covered the FCS level since 1999 and is the national writer for www.TheAnalyst.com. He appears frequently on radio, TV and podcasts to discuss everything FCS. Follow him on Twitter @CraigHaley.
 

Athlon Sports' 2022 FCS Preseason All-America Team​

Offense​

QB – Xavier Shepherd (6-0, 205, Jr.) Kennesaw State

RB – Isaiah Davis (6-1, 220, Jr.) South Dakota State

RB – Isaiah Ifanse (5-10, 202, Sr.) Montana State

FB – Hunter Luepke (6-1, 234, Sr.) North Dakota State

WR – Xavier Gipson (5-9, 170, Sr.) Stephen F. Austin

WR – Taylor Grimes (5-11, 190, Sr.) UIW

TE – Tucker Kraft (6-5, 255, Jr.) South Dakota State

C – Matthan Hatchie (6-2, 310, Sr.) UT Martin

OL – Michael Corbi (6-3, 335, Sr.) Villanova

OL – McClendon Curtis (6-6, 328, Sr.) Chattanooga

OL – Cody Mauch (6-6, 303, Sr.) North Dakota State

OL – Mason McCormick (6-4, 310, Sr.) South Dakota State


Defense​

DL – Isaiah Land (6-4, 215, Sr.) Florida A&M

DL – Nate Lynn (6-3, 265, Jr.) William & Mary

DL – Devonnsha Maxwell (6-3, 296, Sr.) Chattanooga

DL – Josiah Silver (6-2, 234, So.) New Hampshire

LB – Ryan Greenhagen (6-1, 245, Sr.) Fordham

LB – Patrick O'Connell (6-2, 225, Sr.) Montana

LB – Stone Snyder (6-3, 240, Sr.) VMI

DB – Anthony Adams (6-0, 185, Sr.) Portland State

DB – Justin Ford (6-2, 190, Sr.) Montana

DB – Michael Tutsie (5-11, 193, Sr.) North Dakota State

DB – Kedrick Whitehead (5-11, 195, Sr.) Delaware

Specialists​

K – Matthew Cook (5-11, 180, Jr.) Northern Iowa

P – Grant Burkett (6-1, 180, So.) Missouri State

KR – Malik Flowers (6-2, 200, Sr.) Montana

PR – Jah'Marae Sheread (5-7, 175, Sr.) Florida A&M

— Written by Craig Haley, who is part of the Athlon Contributor Network. Haley has covered the FCS level since 1999 and is the national writer for www.TheAnalyst.com. He appears frequently on radio, TV and podcasts to discuss everything FCS. Follow him on Twitter @CraigHaley.
Should be interesting. Looking like Strength (Iowa D) vs Strength (SDSU O).
 
To clarify, yes they have good players. I doubt they have better lineman across the board, thats an over statement. They'll have guys make plays but two deep and roster wise they are not on the same level and its not close. Yes KF may not take a lot of risk, but this is still a game we win, if we play decent. If not anything can happen. I really think this team will come out wanting to show what they have, and I think we win by two scores barring some unforseen crazy turnover or special teams gaffe.
Agreed. If Iowa plays well, they will win. If Iowa plays just okay, then who knows. But SDSU is good. Yes, Iowa's depth is better, but does that come into play in the first game of the year? Maybe.

Iowa cannot/should not be trying to "hide" anything and playing it close to the vest on offense. Iowa will need to treat it like playing a Big 10 opponent and do whatever it takes to win the game.
 
Agreed. If Iowa plays well, they will win. If Iowa plays just okay, then who knows. But SDSU is good. Yes, Iowa's depth is better, but does that come into play in the first game of the year? Maybe.

Iowa cannot/should not be trying to "hide" anything and playing it close to the vest on offense. Iowa will need to treat it like playing a Big 10 opponent and do whatever it takes to win the game.
No doubt, our offense can't afford to hide anything against anybody. LOL...One factor from a depth perspective, is it may still pretty damn hot on Labor day weekend, so rotating that DL should be a plus....
 
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And one has nothing to do with the other.......
You said kickers can improve from Spring to Fall. Well the QB's didn't improve from last Fall to Spring (and all 3 of them have been in the system for a couple of years now)...so there's that. It's a comparison sample.
 
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