Optimism

[unoHawkeye]

Most of us predicted between 8 and 9 wins this year for the Hawks given the question marks coming in. From what I’ve see, between 9 and 10 wins is extremely realistic, and most have agreed that the Hawks should be more improved next year. The future remains bright despite what I believe to be a bit of an unfortunate loss, defined by a couple “bummer” plays that stole all momentum Iowa had going. The offense looked really solid against one of the best defenses the Big Ten has to offer, and the defense did a good enough job to give Iowa a shot to win.

Keep watching and stick with the team!

 

[Buffhawk]

I think we are going to be a pretty strong team this year. Can't make the mistakes such as last night or other teams will certainly capitalize on it. Still a lot of football to be played.

 

[thewop]

I need another day or two, no time for optimism yet. The west is lost.

 

[scotthawk1964]

I feel pretty good about the team after watching last night. It's rare that we have three turnovers in a game and the turnovers are what cost us. Yeah I think Brian's play calling was a little conservative at the beginning, but I think overall he did a decent job. The defense was its usual Bend but don't break self with the exception of Bucky's 1st drive and their last Drive. I am more optimistic about a 10 plus win season after last night's game then I was before, and I'm optimistic that Stanley is going to continue to grow in confidence and get better each week. Last night was hard to swallow because we were the better team, however because we were the better team should give us reason to be optimistic. Now if we could just avoid those pitfall games that we were supposed to win and lose we will be fine.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

Most of us predicted between 8 and 9 wins this year for the Hawks given the question marks coming in. From what I’ve see, between 9 and 10 wins is extremely realistic, and most have agreed that the Hawks should be more improved next year. The future remains bright despite what I believe to be a bit of an unfortunate loss, defined by a couple “bummer” plays that stole all momentum Iowa had going. The offense looked really solid against one of the best defenses the Big Ten has to offer, and the defense did a good enough job to give Iowa a shot to win.

Keep watching and stick with the team!

We better have more wins that I thought we'd have. A lot of that is how weak the schedule looks though.

 

[DavenportHawk228]

I’m optimistic about the defense for the most part. The offense again is not showing any progression. They look like their in a phone booth and have zero imagination in play calling. Just cause BYU ran jet sweep doesn’t mean we should. The inconsistency on the offense has me worried for the rest of the year. Running zone read option w/Stanley is not a good idea.

 

[Wadzinator]

I’m optimistic about the defense for the most part. The offense again is not showing any progression. They look like their in a phone booth and have zero imagination in play calling. Just cause BYU ran jet sweep doesn’t mean we should. The inconsistency on the offense has me worried for the rest of the year. Running zone read option w/Stanley is not a good idea.

What are talking about they had over 400 total offense against a solid defense lots of progression so far

 

[m.stoops2013]

1.The defense is good/real good
2. The offensive play calling outside 2 or 3 calls was much improved, receivers showed ability to get open.
3. 2 plays on special teams lost the game.
A lot of football left, but this loss stings.

 

[unoHawkeye]

I’m optimistic about the defense for the most part. The offense again is not showing any progression. They look like their in a phone booth and have zero imagination in play calling. Just cause BYU ran jet sweep doesn’t mean we should. The inconsistency on the offense has me worried for the rest of the year. Running zone read option w/Stanley is not a good idea.

Some questionable play calls for sure. Don’t agree with the offense “not showing any progression” comment though

 

[Hawkfan_08]

I still think 9 wins would be a positive. I think people forget how hard that is to accomplish.

Maryland looks good, typical letdown game before the B1G started. Beat everyone's darling Texas.

Purdue's offense is as good as anyone's. Beat up BC pretty bad yesterday. Stupidity cost them a shot at 2 wins.

Penn St. might be the top of the class of the B1G. They are able to finish games in the 4th quarter with authority.

Minnesota is better than they have been. Defensively they have been okay. Some questions on offense for sure.

Northwestern is kind of a mess but they usually get it figured out. Plus apparently Iowa is a big rival for them thanks to Fitz.

Illinois has some athletes that will make the game difficult. Their lines are not that great.

Indiana is pretty solid too. They played MSU pretty tough (on paper).

Nebraska is a rivalry game and they will be in danger of doing what we just did and lose 4 straight.

Point is that 9 wins would be 9 wins with a shot at 10 in a bowl. That is an above average year for KF.

 

[HawkSTL]

This loss means we need to be PSU on the road to have a “special” season. Do that and win the games you should and this is still a very good season where New Year’s game of 6 is in play. I think Wisconsin can be beat—certainly by Michigan and maybe another more mediocre team when Wisconsin doesn’t play clean. We didn’t play clean at all last night, and they largely did, and we still had them beat.

 

[Wadzinator]

Brian's decision to go away from run on a couple drives was a head scratcher the rbs were getting good yrds

 

[Etalicus]

We will win 8+ games we played well just can not turn the ball over some much and win.
We will have an average season this year.
Which is fine.
Use to it could always be worse

 

[Suterman]

The B1G West is literally terrible this year. Wisconsin is good, not great. Iowa is good, not great. Northwestern, Minnesota & Purdue are iffy at best and Illinois & Nebraska are awful. We could very well get 9 or 10 wins out of this season because of the poor competition.

 

[bojihawk44]

We aren't Nebraska and we aren't Iowa State. That's always a plus for me. So it definitely could be worse.

 

[grayhair81]

I predicted 9 wins and am sticking with that. The thing I find most frustrating is that the team does show great potential, especially compared the the past two seasons. But at some point, potential needs to translate to results. That hasn't happened yet. Hopefully it will sometime soon.

 

[WWDMHawkeye]

Our margin of error is pretty slim, I’m afraid. I’ll be surprised if we don’t lose at least 3 more. Pretty much no chance at PSU, so there’s a very probable one. I see us dropping at least one more road game and probably another home game.

I think 9-3 is possible but expect 8-4 or 7-5. This loss was pivotal. Huge kick in the nads.

 

[myteamcanbeatupyourteam]

This team will be just fine.

 

[And1Hawk]

The B1G West is literally terrible this year. Wisconsin is good, not great. Iowa is good, not great. Northwestern, Minnesota & Purdue are iffy at best and Illinois & Nebraska are awful. We could very well get 9 or 10 wins out of this season because of the poor competition.

You never get wins based on schedule. Wins are earned by being the superior team and playing like it on Saturdays. We have a long history of dropping games to crappy teams. We play a lot of tight games and leave teams in it that have no business being in it. 9 wins is possible but 7-8 more likely.

 

[DavenportHawk228]

Some questionable play calls for sure. Don’t agree with the offense “not showing any progression” comment though

We have no identity on offense. That’s our main issue, what type of offense are we? Power or spread? It seems like we run power for 2 plays and then go spread on 3rd and 3?? We out coach ourselves into mistakes as poor plays.

That Wisky defense was not that great. Their secondary was pretty weak and we took 1 deep shot on a scramble play?