Debby, the team with seven losing seasons in a row, coming off a 5-7 season losing their last four games in a row when one more win would get them a bowl, will magically challenge the Hawks. Don't see it. But opinions vary.
My predictions for the season ...
- Thread starter GunnerHawk
- Start date
The ongoing issue at QB was improved when Whats his name transferred. Cade got healthy and Sullivan is icing on the cake. The receivers will be fine. A healthy Luke back at tight end will improve the passing and running game.
Our elite defense will make scoring difficult.
And nobody thought Iowa would lose to them in 2022, either.
The past 7 seasons are completely irrelevant.
We're going to beat 1 team we shouldn't. We're going to lose to 1 team we shouldn't. I think there's two games on our schedule that are theoretically toss-ups, and we could go 2-0 in those, 1-1 in those, or 0-2 in those.
Then we have to have another win/loss outlier for staying ultra healthy all year or getting hit by the injury bug. Taking all that into consideration, we're looking at 11-1 best case scenario and 8-4 worst case scenario.
Then we have to have another win/loss outlier for staying ultra healthy all year or getting hit by the injury bug. Taking all that into consideration, we're looking at 11-1 best case scenario and 8-4 worst case scenario.
As I've said in another thread this is probably the easiest schedule (on paper) that I can remember in my lifetime. As of now we play 1 team on the entire schedule that's ranked in the top 25. You can't ask for more. Again, on paper before the season starts we would be favored in every game except OSU? Last years schedule was pretty much the same except we had at Penn St and this year we have OSU, We went 10-2 before the championship game and bowl game. Can the defense be as good as last year? We sure hope so. We had the worst QB play in Power 5 football last year and still won 10 games. Give me QB play that ranks even 7-8 in the conference and we go at least 10-2 again. No Michigan, no Oregon, no Penn St and no USC.
On the surface, it’s easy to see the record in close games and think, “Oh wow, Iowa was lucky and that isn’t going to repeat itself. 8 wins tops!”
But the only reason we were in close games against those opponents, was because of a historically pathetic offense done in by injuries. Our TO margin was NOT good for a KF-coached team.
A better offense elevates toss-up games to 2-score wins. And a real simple way to view this upcoming season: who on our schedule is better than Iowa in the trenches? OSU, their DL is nasty. But I don’t think they’re going to have fun trying to block us, either. If the OL and blocking scheme actually elevates the individual talent instead of suppressing it, then we could have a 2008-esque offense.
So Iowa is going to beat OSU? They are currently the only team Iowa is projected to lose to.
That would be great
4 trophy games.
5 out of 9 league games on the road, including 3 of the first 4.
At UCLA on a Friday.
Nothing easy about the schedule
Isn’t that like saying there are two basketball defenses?
Just saying “zone blocking” isn’t fair. Inside zone, outside zone, split zone, etc.
If Lester is truly bringing a Shanahan-style blocking scheme, then that is adding a bunch of wrinkles to what we have been doing.
Illinois State (H) - W
Iowa State (H) - W
Troy (H) - W
Minnesota (A) - W
Ohio State (A) - L
Washington (H) - W
Michigan State (A) - W
Northwestern (H) - W
FWisconsin - (H) - W
UCLA (A) - L
Maryland (A) - W
Nebraska (H) - L, hate to say this but Nebby gets us this year.
Iowa State (H) - W
Troy (H) - W
Minnesota (A) - W
Ohio State (A) - L
Washington (H) - W
Michigan State (A) - W
Northwestern (H) - W
FWisconsin - (H) - W
UCLA (A) - L
Maryland (A) - W
Nebraska (H) - L, hate to say this but Nebby gets us this year.
What's the "etc."?
There's pretty much inside zone, outside zone, and gap (pin-and-pull) blocking.
Hat-on-a-hat for sneaks and some short yardage situations. But it isn't viable for much other than that.
Shanahan's system is mostly zone-blocking. It's presented differently in formations and shifts. But there aren't any wrinkles to the blocking scheme
Oh stop it. We play 1 freaking team in the top 25. Just because a game is a trophy game doesn’t mean the team is good. UCLA is really really struggling as a program right now. Yes, going to the West Coast is tough but it’s part of the conference for all. They are the worst of the PAC schools coming in by far. When you miss Penn St, Michigan, USC and Oregon the schedule cannot be any easier.
BirdistheWord
HB Legend
This seems reasonable. Nebraska hs to break out eventually. Also, wash and whisky are no cake walk.
Sure, it's easier than if they played the teams you listed.
But by no means is it an easy schedule. All 4 of the trophy opponents are tough. And even if they weren't, you can count on getting their best effort, being that it's a trophy game. No coach wants to deal with 4 trophy games every year.
I get that UCLA isn't supposed to be strong, but a Friday game on the other end of the country, for college kids, is challenging, period.
Anyone who thinks anything about achieving success in college football is easy just needs to stop it
It’s the easiest schedule we’ll have moving forward. Possibly ever. But you keep telling us how tough it is.
Debby breaking out and beating the Hawks are two different things. Debby sucks.
"Magically" challenge the Hawks? 5 of the last 6 games have been one possession. If there's any team on the schedule that's overdue to beat us it's Nebbie. Fortunately we get 'em in Kinnick.
Kinnick is where debby beat us last. They haven't beaten us in Lincoln since 2014 iirc. We ARE Debby's bowl game and a border state rival. We own debby. They have one win since 2014. The clones worry me more. At least they have been to some bowl games recently.
lol…4 wins would be a total waste of talent. This is a 9 to 10 win team.
I agreed with you, that on paper, there are tougher schedules.
Was just pointing out the challenges that do exist within this schedule.
And was making the point that no schedules are easy. I don't really understand commentary on schedules. To me, they're all tough
At some point they have to not suck. Right??
I think we've reached that point. Although not making a bowl game last year, Nebraska certainly didn't suck.
Their defense last year was excellent.
They've got a 5* QB, although he is a true freshman.
And I think they have the right coach in place.
Glad Iowa gets them at home this season
BirdistheWord
HB Legend
They are easy to hate, but new coach is not a Jackhole and I just don’t want to assume a win. We have had a great run but some have been damn close.
Hey now. This is no place for reason
7-5 or 8-4.
That's pretty typical for Ferentz, and see no reason to assume otherwise. A few key injuries could be a problem. Curious to see how the coaching dynamics change.
That's pretty typical for Ferentz, and see no reason to assume otherwise. A few key injuries could be a problem. Curious to see how the coaching dynamics change.
I'm going with 10-2
Loss at OSU and a loss somewhere in this set of games- ISU, WIS, MINN, NEB
Loss at OSU and a loss somewhere in this set of games- ISU, WIS, MINN, NEB
In the last nine years including bowl games, the WORST the team has done is 8-5. They have averaged 9-4 over that span. (To average 70% winning percentage over that span for Iowa is very high water.)
Is the team talented enough to at least do their average? I think yes. So, 9-4 is my baseline for this team. Below that would be a disappointing season given the talent on the team and the schedule.
Are they capable of being above their average? Absolutely yes. Then we are talking about a team that can be in the 12 team playoff conversation (which they are).
My hope is for at least 10 wins in the regular season, and with the post-season 11 wins (11-2 overall). This really should be a double-digit win season with all the normal caveats (health is good, the team develops, etc.). I do not think 10-2 gets them in the playoff.
However, if they can get a few of the "intangible" things that a season always contains go their way (turnovers, unheralded players stepping up in big spots, a couple good referee calls) .... who knows?
My drugged-up, curious thought: Iowa will not get blown off the line against Ohio St., and the Buckeyes have a quarterback who is much more comfortable throwing short than long. So, this score may be closer than people think. And then add some good intangibles and .... ?
Is the team talented enough to at least do their average? I think yes. So, 9-4 is my baseline for this team. Below that would be a disappointing season given the talent on the team and the schedule.
Are they capable of being above their average? Absolutely yes. Then we are talking about a team that can be in the 12 team playoff conversation (which they are).
My hope is for at least 10 wins in the regular season, and with the post-season 11 wins (11-2 overall). This really should be a double-digit win season with all the normal caveats (health is good, the team develops, etc.). I do not think 10-2 gets them in the playoff.
However, if they can get a few of the "intangible" things that a season always contains go their way (turnovers, unheralded players stepping up in big spots, a couple good referee calls) .... who knows?
My drugged-up, curious thought: Iowa will not get blown off the line against Ohio St., and the Buckeyes have a quarterback who is much more comfortable throwing short than long. So, this score may be closer than people think. And then add some good intangibles and .... ?
OK, I should’ve said “play design” and not “blocking scheme”. I think there’s some arguing of semantics here.
Either way, the running game is going to look different because it’s designed different.
Hopefully the running game looks different because the offense isn't playing in a phone booth like they have the last several seasons. Without a legitimate passing threat the results are going to look very similar.
I was going to note that Wiscy was going to be tough, I don't think Wash will be anything cloes to last year due to personell losses (including coaches), but could be wrong.
We played TN last year and their young QB... didn't end well.
Almost every game has been a toss up and last drive win. It's been a problem for them against everyone since Bo left.
Please go back to your Husker board. Trophy games are never easy. Especially when your favored. Yes the Bruins will be down but they have great athletes and a 9:30 CST start will not be easy.
Lol. You got me, closet Husker fan. The Nebraska powerhouse team we face was again 5-7 last year. They barely had better quarterback play than us. Sparty was 4-8,, Minnesota 6-7, Wisconsin 7-6, Iowa St 7-6. I'm not sure who you guys want to play. We could play a MAC schedule and some of you would make it murderers row. It's not a bad thing that we only have to play 1 ranked team. All I'm saying is the schedule is going to get tougher moving forward. It's not often going into a season that it works out this way, because when we actually do have to play Michigan and Ohio St and Penn St all in the same year it's not going to be great.
Pure fluke. Order was restored the next season. Sorry the previous seven count too. They won once since 2014. We own them.
Sorry, 5-7 truly sucks. Seven losing seasons in a row sucks. Debby sucks. Our defense last year was excellent. Elite would be a good descriptor. 8 seasons in a row holding opponents to an average of below 20 points. 2024 will be the ninth.
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1000% true. Nebraska did suck last year. If they can’t somewhat turn that into 7 wins this year with a crazy easy schedule they might never turn it around.
