It's gonna happen again next year
- Thread starter Bro D
- Start date
It's amazing to think this team could be better next year but I believe it could be. Especially if Ott gets another year and King sticks around.
Winning the West seems very possible, maybe even likely, given the schedules. And this year showed that as long as you finish with 1 loss and win your conference championship, you're almost certainly in the playoff. An 11-1 regular season is a tall order, but I wouldn't rule it out.
Next years running game is going to need work unfortunately.
Losing Guard and Center along with TE and Both FB and some very good blocking WR will require people to step up. Canzeri also did a great job at RB but lots of established talent in his absence this year.
Defensively, the effort to replace both DE took a step forward this year with all the injuries. One LB and a great Safety are graduating.
Returning CJ and two potential all conference corners could cover a lot of weakness and give a chance though.
Losing Guard and Center along with TE and Both FB and some very good blocking WR will require people to step up. Canzeri also did a great job at RB but lots of established talent in his absence this year.
Defensively, the effort to replace both DE took a step forward this year with all the injuries. One LB and a great Safety are graduating.
Returning CJ and two potential all conference corners could cover a lot of weakness and give a chance though.
Should be favored in all the games based on what each team has returning next year. Still a definite upgrade in strength of schedule, and ticket sales will greatly improve.
Saturday Sep. 3
Miami (OH) RedHawks
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Saturday Sep. 10
Iowa State Cyclones
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Saturday Sep. 17
North Dakota State Bison
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Saturday Sep. 24
at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
High Point Solutions Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
Saturday Oct. 1
Northwestern Wildcats
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Saturday Oct. 8
at Minnesota Golden Gophers
TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Saturday Oct. 15
at Purdue Boilermakers
Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
Saturday Oct. 22
Wisconsin Badgers
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Saturday Nov. 5
at Penn State Nittany Lions
Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Saturday Nov. 12
Michigan Wolverines
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Saturday Nov. 19
at Illinois Fighting Illini
Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
Friday Nov. 25
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Saturday Sep. 3
Miami (OH) RedHawks Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Saturday Sep. 10
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Saturday Sep. 17
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Saturday Sep. 24
at Rutgers Scarlet Knights High Point Solutions Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
Saturday Oct. 1
Northwestern Wildcats Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Saturday Oct. 8
at Minnesota Golden Gophers TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Saturday Oct. 15
at Purdue Boilermakers Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
Saturday Oct. 22
Wisconsin Badgers Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Saturday Nov. 5
at Penn State Nittany Lions Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Saturday Nov. 12
Michigan Wolverines Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Saturday Nov. 19
at Illinois Fighting Illini Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
Friday Nov. 25
Nebraska Cornhuskers Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
I tend to agree with you and our o-line and linebackers should mature and continue to get better. Having a really good if maybe not undefeated regular season seems a pretty good bet. I want to see where Kirk seems philosophically next season with what he will have to work with and especially a senior possibly once in a lifetime quarterback in Beathard. We saw much openness to change during the regular season and I thought we did some innovative things on offense. In the championship game his old instincts returned as we reverted back to the play defense and keep it safe on offense and wait for the other team to make a mistake or with this team hold out and have your quarterback make a big play to win it philosophy. Kirk in the late stages of his career seems in a bit of a transition which I find rather interesting.
What, specifically is going to happen again? We have our typical high-expectations-favorable-schedule-crash-and-burn season? We get agonizingly close to breaking the glass ceiling and have our hearts ripped out again? The breaks go back against us and it's 7-5 per usual? Be specific man.
The potential is there to be special again next season. However, we haven't responded well to expectations in the Ferentz era. I think it comes down to a couple of things. Leadership. Beathard is kind of the center piece here but he's not the only one. Who are the leaders and how effective can they be inn the off-season to keep this group working harder than ever.
Chemistry. This team had beautiful chemistry and played for one another. You can't bottle that. We'll see a few changes in personnel so can we carry that over? Can next year's collection find that same chemistry that this year's team did?
King/Ott. Their returns would obviously be gigantic.
Development. Can this collective group continue to develop and improve, or have some already hit their ceiling? I don't know the answer to this. But if we can see continued development out of our linebackers, out of Mabin and Taylor, out if Beathard, out of our offensive line, and in our coaching staff as they continue to evolve within their philosophy, I think we could be very very good. Our philosophy as a program is not going to change. But we saw a lot of evolution in our scheme designs and play calling, more diversity to what we're doing. If we can continue that development within our schemes and philosophy, it would be huge.
And lastly, health. We saw that this year. it's truly amazing we went 12-0 with losing Ott, with Beathard getting dinged up, with the shuffling of linemen mid season due to injury, and with our d line constantly dinged late in the year. We gotta stay healthy.
The schedule is not scary to me. It sets up nicely for us actually. But the off-season, the spring, and how they gel come the fall will determine if they can do something similar again next year.
Chemistry. This team had beautiful chemistry and played for one another. You can't bottle that. We'll see a few changes in personnel so can we carry that over? Can next year's collection find that same chemistry that this year's team did?
King/Ott. Their returns would obviously be gigantic.
Development. Can this collective group continue to develop and improve, or have some already hit their ceiling? I don't know the answer to this. But if we can see continued development out of our linebackers, out of Mabin and Taylor, out if Beathard, out of our offensive line, and in our coaching staff as they continue to evolve within their philosophy, I think we could be very very good. Our philosophy as a program is not going to change. But we saw a lot of evolution in our scheme designs and play calling, more diversity to what we're doing. If we can continue that development within our schemes and philosophy, it would be huge.
And lastly, health. We saw that this year. it's truly amazing we went 12-0 with losing Ott, with Beathard getting dinged up, with the shuffling of linemen mid season due to injury, and with our d line constantly dinged late in the year. We gotta stay healthy.
The schedule is not scary to me. It sets up nicely for us actually. But the off-season, the spring, and how they gel come the fall will determine if they can do something similar again next year.
Next year will be Kirk's last and best chance to win a national title. Favorable schedule. Stud QB and top defense returning, with decent OL and RBs. Having come up short of a BTT this year, I think the team and coach will be dialed in. Because we will start our ranked in the top 20, this team won't need to be undefeated.
I prefer to have lower expectations and be the underdogs. It has always been that way. Rarely has everyone gone into a season with high hopes, expecting them to win out and it actually happen. I think Iowa should be great next year but that always seems to lead to disappointment.
Think we have a chance to have a pretty special team if a couple things happen:
1) King and Ott return
2) CJ stays healthy
3) Find a kicker and punter that are close to what we saw this year.
1) King and Ott return
2) CJ stays healthy
3) Find a kicker and punter that are close to what we saw this year.
Agree with Broth87. Leadership, chemistry, development, health. We get that we could be very good.
Just having players is not enough (See 2010).
A NC run is different - going to need another year of good karma for that. And, we all know that karma is a bitch.
I predict we will be a very good team and go 9-3, and it won't be any fun because we all expect to go 12-0.
Just having players is not enough (See 2010).
A NC run is different - going to need another year of good karma for that. And, we all know that karma is a bitch.
I predict we will be a very good team and go 9-3, and it won't be any fun because we all expect to go 12-0.
Exactly.
They might even be better next year, but not win more than 10 games.
Going unbeaten took the right schedule, overcoming injuries, getting breaks their way when needed, and other intangibles.
To expect all those things AND having to replace personnel AND no key player losses to injuries or off field issues is unlikely.
Enjoy the fact that they had an unbeaten regular season. Those rarely happen for teams not named alabama or ohio state.
I actually think we could be top 10 to top 15 going into next season with what we have back after this year's run.
There's a lot of factors that have to be sorted out before next fall in spite of all the players returning. One thing I'm hanging my hat on is this. Kirk has done a decent job learning from past mistakes first Orange Bowl we got budhwhacked and weren't ready for that stage and everything that came with it. Fast forward to 2009, we looked very different. That's why I think we'll show up in the Rose Bowl. He'll have this team focused and ready.
We've been in the position of expectations in the past. There are lessons to be learned from those seasons. I think our staff will get next year's group ready and to a similar place as this year's group. Will that result in a 12-0 season? That's tough. Not impossible but tough. But I do think we'll see Ann excellent football team, I think they'll gel in the fall, I think they'll have an excellent season and they'll be in Indy again next year playing for the BTT. I think we're clearly the best in the west right now and we get everyone at home next year that matters.
There's a lot of factors that have to be sorted out before next fall in spite of all the players returning. One thing I'm hanging my hat on is this. Kirk has done a decent job learning from past mistakes first Orange Bowl we got budhwhacked and weren't ready for that stage and everything that came with it. Fast forward to 2009, we looked very different. That's why I think we'll show up in the Rose Bowl. He'll have this team focused and ready.
We've been in the position of expectations in the past. There are lessons to be learned from those seasons. I think our staff will get next year's group ready and to a similar place as this year's group. Will that result in a 12-0 season? That's tough. Not impossible but tough. But I do think we'll see Ann excellent football team, I think they'll gel in the fall, I think they'll have an excellent season and they'll be in Indy again next year playing for the BTT. I think we're clearly the best in the west right now and we get everyone at home next year that matters.
They should be good, but the odds of everything lining up just right again to make a run at the playoffs is just statistically unlikely. A return trip to Indy seems like a likely proposition, however.
Key losses will include Walsh and Blythe on the OL, Koehn and Kidd in the kicking game, Tevaun Smith, HKC at TE, and Canzeri. The D should be at least as good, and if Ott is back, probably at least a notch better (I'm assuming Brandon Snyder will be a very good safety).
Lack of playmakers at WR has the potential to absolutely cripple us against a quality defense. It currently appears that we have none on the roster, and with HKC also leaving, that means that arguably our top 2 receiving options are both leaving (or at least 2 of the top 4, depending on where you rank Vandy and Kittle). The OTs are also going to need to significantly improve their pass blocking if the passing game is even going to tread water from where they were this year.
Looking at Michigan's roster and depth chart, it looks like they have basically everyone of significance coming back next year (except their LBs; all 3 were SRs this year) so if they can get QB figured out, they will be scary good. Every other game looks more than winnable.
I say we lose 2 in the regular season, one where we are just outplayed, and another where we don't get the favorable bounces of the ball or a call doesn't go our way late.
Also don't forget that the strong trend in the KF era is that when a talented starting QB returns, the overall team performances gets decidedly worse in their senior season. This has been true with Tate, Stanzi, and Vandenburg.
We also need to seriously figure out the place kicking and punting situations for next year. Strong play in those areas was a huge key in what happened this year. And we have absolutely no idea who will take those reigns next year. A missed FG here or there could be the difference between 12 wins and 9.
Key losses will include Walsh and Blythe on the OL, Koehn and Kidd in the kicking game, Tevaun Smith, HKC at TE, and Canzeri. The D should be at least as good, and if Ott is back, probably at least a notch better (I'm assuming Brandon Snyder will be a very good safety).
Lack of playmakers at WR has the potential to absolutely cripple us against a quality defense. It currently appears that we have none on the roster, and with HKC also leaving, that means that arguably our top 2 receiving options are both leaving (or at least 2 of the top 4, depending on where you rank Vandy and Kittle). The OTs are also going to need to significantly improve their pass blocking if the passing game is even going to tread water from where they were this year.
Looking at Michigan's roster and depth chart, it looks like they have basically everyone of significance coming back next year (except their LBs; all 3 were SRs this year) so if they can get QB figured out, they will be scary good. Every other game looks more than winnable.
I say we lose 2 in the regular season, one where we are just outplayed, and another where we don't get the favorable bounces of the ball or a call doesn't go our way late.
Also don't forget that the strong trend in the KF era is that when a talented starting QB returns, the overall team performances gets decidedly worse in their senior season. This has been true with Tate, Stanzi, and Vandenburg.
We also need to seriously figure out the place kicking and punting situations for next year. Strong play in those areas was a huge key in what happened this year. And we have absolutely no idea who will take those reigns next year. A missed FG here or there could be the difference between 12 wins and 9.
There's really no excuse for this team not to start 4-0 next season with that cakewalk at the first third. But Iowa's schedule cannot be discredited with east games @PSU and home against Michigan.
It certainly helps the difficult West games are all at Kinnick, too.
It certainly helps the difficult West games are all at Kinnick, too.
I think you are not giving the freshman Smith enough credit as a potential playmaker. He showed quite a few nice flashes this year and there were a LOT of plays where he was open but CJ failed to get the ball deep due to the nagging injuries this year.
And you're giving him way too much. He looks like he will be a nice player, but Tevaun Smith has been our only reliable deep threat in the passing game for the last 3 seasons, and it's more than a little premature to assume that J Smith (career 6 receptions, 4 of them in a single name, only 2 in the last 7 games of the season) will just seamlessly fill that void.
Our WR corps, which was pretty much the only position group on the field that was significantly weaker than the other national title contenders this year, looks to be far weaker than even that, next year. I'm not saying that it can't be overcome in some fashion, or that some as of now unkown player won't emerge to assume quasi-superstar status, but as of right now, it is easily the number 1 (or co-No 1, along with place kicker) concern when evaluating the roster for another potential run at the Playoff.
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I'll be shocked if the Hawks are 11-1 next year. So many things have to go right, and you have to be "hungry" in the off season. After a year like this, especially if Ott and King are able to come back, something tells me it is human nature not to work as hard and to assume you've already got things sewn up. Well, that's NOT how it works (duh, I know) and I don't want to get my expectations high to see them shattered and/or possibly be upset about a 9-3 type year.
Here's what we kind of know about the Hawks. Through history they are about a 7-5 or 8-4 team. That's pretty much what I expect, at least the 8-4 part year in and year out. I assume 3-1 most non-conference schedules with an occasional 4-0, and usually the B1G will be in the 5-3 range.
The "lows" should be in the 5-7 or 6-6 type of years when we rebuild. The "highs" are obviously 12-0, but I'd say more realistic band for highs is 10-2.
Here's what we kind of know about the Hawks. Through history they are about a 7-5 or 8-4 team. That's pretty much what I expect, at least the 8-4 part year in and year out. I assume 3-1 most non-conference schedules with an occasional 4-0, and usually the B1G will be in the 5-3 range.
The "lows" should be in the 5-7 or 6-6 type of years when we rebuild. The "highs" are obviously 12-0, but I'd say more realistic band for highs is 10-2.
The schedule looks mostly weak again. I would think anything less than 10-2 would be a major disappointment.
Said most Iowa fans in just about every offseason since KF turned the program around in 2001.
One of our most successful games rushing the ball was with Daniels at Guard. Daniels will move to center while Ike will slide back into the line-up. Croston or Ike will slide to guard. I think the line will be ok. I just feel like the running game needs to add some more wrinkles to make it more successful.
Not that the receivers gave poor effort. They just were not anywhere near the talent level of what is needed for a contending team.
Not enough speed, size, strength or ability to separate. And the one guy with speed that was a deep threat (J. Smith) did not show good hands or understanding of how to look for the ball/adjust.
Not enough speed, size, strength or ability to separate. And the one guy with speed that was a deep threat (J. Smith) did not show good hands or understanding of how to look for the ball/adjust.
From what I hear, the coaches are really excited about what we got coming back. Really high on some of the young O-linemen and LB corps. Recinos will be both our K and P and hear he's putting up good numbers in practice. Also have a nice group of RB's coming in, and hear that Graham is the real deal. This year has come as a complete and pleasant surprise to me, and have been pointing to next year as our breakout year. We should easily be top 10 next year if not a top 5. At some point next season, Iowa could see a #1 ranking.
Yes, we lose two studs in the middle of the O line but Daniels will take a spot and either Cronston or Ike will move inside. It'll still be a pretty experienced group. A lot hinges on Ott and King returning. If they do great. If they don't their replacements won't be totally green. A drop off yes, but not totally inexperienced. LB has depth behind Fisher. FB will need a couple more skull crackers but Drake looked pretty athletic. Might need to find a #2 but looks like there are candidates on the roster. TE, FS & FB will have the greenest replacements.
You're crazy if you want or expect more wrinkles in the run game. Our rushing offense was 10 times more diverse this year than it has been in any season under KF. Really remarkable if you take/took the time to look at it. The sheer volume of different plays used, different blocking schemes, and varied ways in which we were able to get the ball into our playmakers' hands in space was just staggering, imo. I'm not sure if this is all the influence of Brian, whether GD was just allowed to open up more of the playback, or the fact that we actually had legitimate tailbacks to run the ball, but our rushing offense is just fine right now.
Hopefully Boone Myers is the guy that gets shifted inside. He's a subpar LT at this point. Croston also ended up with like 3 more starts than he did at tackle (and the running game didn't really start to pick up until after he got inserted into the lineup) so you'd have to think that he'll stay on the outside. I think Boettger has some previous experience at guard, so maybe he's the one who'll move, but I seriously doubt it will be Croston.
Agree that tackle was the other glaring deficiency for the Hawks on offense. Well short of the usual quality at that position.
Good news is that offensive lineman seem to be the ones most likely to show improvement as they age and progress through the program.
Good news is that offensive lineman seem to be the ones most likely to show improvement as they age and progress through the program.
That is what I am worried about. I hope it doesn't happen, but we are a missed FG, Fumble on the 1, and Nebbie dumb play calling from being 9-3 this year. I mean we had some luck on our side this year, hopefully it continues.
I agree we had some key injuries and hopefully everyone can stay Healthy. I hope next year we at least Make it to INDY, with a 11-1 or 10-2 record and if we win it, could be in discussion for a Playoff Birth. Ya never know.
I'll wait until after spring ball to make any real predictions but knowing what I'm sure I know today and what I think I will know later it would not be unreasonable to think Iowa could at the very least contend for the BIG10 West title again in 2016. Its all frosting after that.
I apologize, I misread your post. I agree there is nothing established and a severe weakness. I thought you were saying there was no potential. J. Smith is as green as a MSU jersey but his 6 catches flashed just a glimmer of hope and potential for me. Replacing Smith and Hillyer (his blocking is underrated on a lot of runs) is going to be a large challenge.
Got to love College Football. The team could and maybe should (?) be better next year, and still might (likely) not win as many games.
I like having the bye week right after playing the Cheese Curds and before Ped State and Michigan the next two weeks.
I do agree on the "low expectations" thing though. So many little things--and big--have to fall into place to do what we did this year.
I do agree on the "low expectations" thing though. So many little things--and big--have to fall into place to do what we did this year.
Iowa is the favorite in the west next year. I don't think there's any questioning that with the season we had this year and with what we have coming back. No one in the division is a scary opponent next year. I don't think Penn State will be very strong when they lose Hackenburg and we saw what happened when physical football found the nittany kitties. Michigan is our most difficult game and its in Kinnick. I like our schedule next year. I like what we have coming back. I like the changes I saw out of our coaching staff this year. The keys are what I mentioned above.
I see 5 really tough games. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan,and Nebraska. A new coach at Ia. State and Northwestern with Fitz will cause us concern also. This is a better schedule than we've had for a while.
Dropping Purdue and Indiana and picking up PSU and Mich. should shut up the eastern division homers.
Dropping Purdue and Indiana and picking up PSU and Mich. should shut up the eastern division homers.
I have confidence that we will see continued development in our schemes. Kirk really doesn't have any choice if he wants to go out a winner and on a high note. On the big stage in the championship game he went back to his comfort zone and it didn't work out. Have a very strong feeling that Brian will continue to makes sure he has Dad's ear and I think we have some of the others on the staff on the same page. Progress usually doesn't come in a linear fashion where stepping forward inevitably comes with stepping back at some point as well. As an old dog like Kirk I admire his willingness to embrace change when the way you have always done things seems so hard to let go of.
We will see a different looking Hawk team on the field in the Rose Bowl specifically on the offensive side of the ball. If we do we will have a great chance of getting the win and creating momentum as we move forward. If not we will all have to do our own re-evaluation of where things seem headed which I don't expect.
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