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Loss of confidence-anyone else?

If history teaches us any lesson about Hawkeye football, it is that even when we don't appear to have an overwhelmingly strong team ... when they "believe" in themselves as a unit AND when the leadership emerges on the squad from within ... then the team typically turns out to be pretty darn good.

Just look at the '03, '04, and '09 squads.

The '03 squad was hit by injuries on BOTH sides of the ball. Our offense seemed to be Fred Russell. The DL was a bit of a MASH unit - but quality guys kept on stepping up and stepping in, in order to fill the void (Clauss was dinged throughout a hunk of the season and we lost Babs to a season ending injury). Even Bob Sanders was limited some by injuries through the season. All the same, the D still played well ... and the O improved throughout the entire year. All the same, the Hawks could play with just about anybody by the end of the season.

The '04 squad was an unbelievable story. The D remained surprisingly healthy ... but it wasn't a terribly deep group. The O was absurdly one-dimensional because injuries decimated the Hawks at running back and the OL faced a huge amount of adversity as well. All the same, the Hawks could play with just about anybody by the end of the season.

The '09 squad was fascinating as well. Most of us would agree that nearly no other Hawk squad had as much NFL caliber talent as this one. On paper, with the benefit of hindsight, this squad was obviously destined for greatness. In fact, most of us would contend that had Stanzi not gotten injured in the game against Northwestern ... the Hawks could have enjoyed even greater success that season. Despite all the "talent" on this squad - the team never came across as a "dominant one." The Hawks only barely slid past the likes of UNI and Arkansas State ... and needed a miraculous comeback to defeat Indiana. Of course, as the pattern continues ... the Hawks could play with just about anybody by the end of the season (at least with a healthy Stanzi).

The 2015 squad appears to be built similarly. Hopefully they overcome the adversity and still continue having a great season!
 
Yeah ghost, before the season, when looking at this team, just for fun, I tried to think of who the 2015 squad best compared to (maybe not so much talent-wise, but just based on the feel and look of the team) and the 2003 team kept coming to mind.

At beginning of the year, I would've been ecstatic if they finished with a similar record to the '03 squad, but I certainly wouldn't mind if they managed to out-do them by a win or two either. ;)

The other thing I wanted to mention is that this team seems like one that wants to write their own legacy. Like they're starting a new chapter in the history of Iowa football, not adding to an old one.
 
I can't understand anyone that would say we are lucky. We have been hit by injuries at key spots and are still 6-0. We are not lucky. These guys don't give up on themselves or their teammates as easy as some of the fan base does. Still threw for 200 yds while running for almost 300. That is great balance. Our defense gave up one big play for 7 otherwise they shut down another teams run game again. My biggest concern outside of injuries is our ability to generate a pass rush using only 4. I have to believe Parker thought the best way to play Lunt was rush only 4 and shut down the run. But lucky??? I think not.
 
If you've been following the Hawks for even just a few seasons, how many situations has this team faced where you just knew in your gut that the team will find a way to screw it up?

3rd and long An opponents late drive to score that leaves no time for us, our lack of ability to convert a 3rd down on a crucial drive etc. The point is, this team doesn't seem to be on the wrong side of those this so far, they're getting the timely stops and turnovers etc.

No reason to not be optimistic.
 
Despite gutting out the win, and even though I expected a tough game, I've lost my confidence in this team. Am I the only one?

Say what you will about Cubit's sorcery, this is not a good team, but they made Iowa look like chumps on the lines. Illinois is bad enough they couldn't capitalize. NW will annihilate us if our lines play like this. And what is so wrong with our backup RBs that KF and GD think giving Canzeri 43 carries is the best choice? Injuries are piling up. The only bright spots were Canzeri's studliness (though that comes with the downside of him building up the punishment), J Smith's emerging promise, and CJB making enough plays to find a way to win.

Am I overreacting here?
Definitely, Illinois was better than I thought they would be. That DE Ward is a future pro and their defense has several other very good players. Lunt is an excellent passer and they have some quality receivers, so yes, you are overreacting Go Hawks!.
 
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I don't think anyone honestly thought iowa was Alabama or ohio st or something, coming into the year

what I view as a good year is beat iowa st beat maybe a Wisconsin or a Nebraska, get floyd of rosedale trophy, make it to a good bowl and win it, that's a pretty darn good year
Historically, that's something to be satisfied with, I suppose . . .

We're freaking 6-0 and your keyboard clanks out this drivel!? Holy cow some people are truly "glass half-empty" people in life. Imagine you complain about everything at work, too? Just a guess.
Don't confuse backward-looking with forward-looking. The results are great! Totally unexpected and I am very much enjoying it. That the Packers are also undefeated so far is making football life pretty sweet right now. But confidence is forward looking. We didn't play those first six games with the injuries we have now. That gives me cause for concern looking forward.

Yeah, I don't get the hate or glass is half empty either and the slide is coming. Team is near the top in several stats including sacks, but we have no pass rush, 2nd in scoring, 2nd in time of possession, punting, etc. ? I think a lot of people just want to hate on the coaching and recruiting and won't let it go. They are 1 of 12 remaining unbeaten power 5 conference teams and they have played a tough schedule. Then add the toughness and character this team has. Who cares what the haters think because the facts are different
Take those numbers, but ask yourself: given the new injuries we've picked up, can this success be sustained? We can only guess, but certainly you must agree that if you lose players, your odds of achieving similar production drops.

Do we need to get better in some areas? Yes. Do some new players have to step up? Yes. Can we improve? Yes. Is any of it guaranteed? No. That said, our run blocking was great at times against a pretty stout D-line. We damn near put up 40 with a little better execution. I also think we need to blitz a little more so we don't have to defend the pass for so long. But to watch football yesterday and feel better about Northwestern's team than the Hawks is ludicrous.
I posted this while the NU-Mich game was going on and I hadn't yet seen anything about it. It was purely based on how we couldn't stop those defenders and the beating we took physically.

And, sorry, I still don't get the "lawyer-type" comment. Can someone help me out?
 
Just enjoy it. I really will be down with a loss to NW as they ended the 9-0 streak in 2009 but this year has been fantasitic and we could easily have 2-3 losses as of now. Lets hope momentum keeps carrying us forward.
 
Dauminator,

Agree losing players makes it harder. Just hope there is an offset with other people getting healthy and/or better like #9 Saturday. I think Iowa will surprise most everyone this week and win going away. They are due for a big game. Need the bye week to get healthier and better

GO Hawks!
 
This will be the fourth tough defense we will face, (Pitt, Wisky, Illinois, and now NW). We are 6-0 and I think our O-line has developed some saltiness. The first top notch defense that NW faced, (Michigan), and they folded like a house of cards. We run the ball, control the clock and TOP, wear down NW's d-line and take a couple shots downfield and we're good. I believe we will have better field position all game with punting and return game. Give NW credit, they are going to be tough at home, but we have won the close ones. I won't be upset if we lost this game, cause it's just one game. NW's schedule doesn't do them any favors. I hope we win this game just to have a shot at an undefeated season cause I haven't seen that in my lifetime. But I'll take an appearance in the B1G championship game, major bowl, and a top ten ranking at the end of year.
 
NW is always tough at home and come in a lot healthier than Iowa. They will stack the box and blitz a lot so CJ will need to bring his "A" game. If we can stop their running game, we have a chance, keep in mind Thorson can run well for a QB. Running QB's give us trouble.

Can't wait for bye week. Didn't expect 6 wins at this juncture of the season. We could finish with 9 or 10 wins, which nobody expected. Great job by he coaches and unity and determination of his team.

Go Hawks!
 
I have no idea how the season will play out, What I do know is that it is fun watching this team. They represent everything we as Iowan's should be proud of, They play tough, They play hard, They genuinely seem like a good group of young men that play the game the right way.
I feel sorry for many of the fans who after last year said they were done watching the football team until K.F. was replaced, they are missing out on a fun season.
Oh trust me, try those fans have began to crawl back and take a peek through the window. It started last weekend - ones who haven't showed up to Kinnick until now.
 
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