The '16, '17 and '18 recruiting classes.

[VicHawkeye]

These guys are gonna lead Iowa to a Golden Age over the next few seasons. A lot of '16 and '17 guys have already earned a starting spot with many more already contributing. This should lead to less attrition and as a consequence better depth for a peak year such as Stanley's SR year.

We have next season to build a LB core and then it's KF's chance to go for the brass ring in the'19 season. Iowa will have a SR QB and proven players everywhere on both sides of the ball. 2 JR OTs and Iowa has rarely had trouble finding interior linemen. 2 star TEs Fant and Hockerson. Perhaps no position group has a more exciting future than the DL and the pipeline of quality DBs seems to be getting better and better. My hope and belief is that next season Iowa will develop a solid core at LB and that ISM, Lockett, Tracy and or others provide Iowa with consistent big play threats at the WR position.

Iowa should be really good next year and then it's on to perhaps the most anticipated Iowa football season since Chuck Long's SR season of 1985. Iowa doesn't have the margin for error that blueblood programs have but on a given day a mediocre Iowa team can beat a top 10 team. So why can't a really good Iowa team run the table, win the BIG Championship Game and then 2 more?

 

[dbrocket]

It's super unlikely, but that shouldn't stop us hoping and imagining.

 

[ctghawk]

It's alot more fun looking at recruiting after they play, rather than before.

 

[VicHawkeye]

It's super unlikely, but that shouldn't stop us hoping and imagining.

It is for Iowa but that's also what would make it a lot sweeter than just about anywhere else.

 

[bojihawk44]

I'm not sure about a golden age, but I really think we are starting to build quality depth the likes of which we haven't seen for almost a decade. The next few years are going to be pretty fun.

 

[DavidHawk324]

I think we have a lot of good young players and appreciate the optimism, but come on. Under Ferentz, our big years seem like they are never the well hyped years. I have to think that 2010 had more hype than 2019 will but I guess we will see after next season. I hope you are right!

 

[Gonzo Bloor]

There's a difference between high floors and high ceilings. It's good that some of the young talented guys we've brought in seem to have high floors to the point where they can play and produce early. Now we need to see how good they can become and how high their ceilings are. Time will tell.

 

[TheHawkeyeDudeAbides]

These guys are gonna lead Iowa to a Golden Age over the next few seasons. A lot of '16 and '17 guys have already earned a starting spot with many more already contributing. This should lead to less attrition and as a consequence better depth for a peak year such as Stanley's SR year.

We have next season to build a LB core and then it's KF's chance to go for the brass ring in the'19 season. Iowa will have a SR QB and proven players everywhere on both sides of the ball. 2 JR OTs and Iowa has rarely had trouble finding interior linemen. 2 star TEs Fant and Hockerson. Perhaps no position group has a more exciting future than the DL and the pipeline of quality DBs seems to be getting better and better. My hope and belief is that next season Iowa will develop a solid core at LB and that ISM, Lockett, Tracy and or others provide Iowa with consistent big play threats at the WR position.

Iowa should be really good next year and then it's on to perhaps the most anticipated Iowa football season since Chuck Long's SR season of 1985. Iowa doesn't have the margin for error that blueblood programs have but on a given day a mediocre Iowa team can beat a top 10 team. So why can't a really good Iowa team run the table, win the BIG Championship Game and then 2 more?

I hate to rain on your parade but if Noah Fant has a fantastic year next year, he is likely gone to the NFL. He's got the goods. But I believe Shaun Beyer and Drew Cook will be contenders for playing time for the next two seasons as Iowa could really been developing a few TEs to NFL material in Hockenson, Beyer and dare I say Cook.

Iowa needs to get back to being the bullies of the Big Ten. I think some of the OL recruits have been too small (sub 6'3") and not really that mean when in the trenches. I am not talking becoming Wisconsin big (fat) where everyone is 6'5" and 315 plus but our OGs at least 6'4" 290 and have more of a wrestling background. I am excited about recruits Cody Ince and Jeff Jenkins as I think they are more like the mold of a Yanda and Scherff and have that toughness already implanted. I kinda don't like seeing walk-ons beat out scholarshipped players for many spots. Sure, OL is tough to evaluate but between the specialists on staff, the recruiting ability should be able to tell who can be very good from average. I hope Polasek and Ferentz can regain that line toughness and performance in the coming years.

Last, Iowa needs more speed in the receiving corps. Having more speed that can make big play gains stretches the field and makes the play action work better. I hope Tyrone Tracy can see some minutes next year. Cooper, ISM, B Smith, and Quarrells need to progress to help Iowa win some of those close games.

 

[mazda1]

Yeah cause Wadley, Jewell, Jackson, Welsh, Daniels?, etc. are dime a dozen in Iowa City. All Americans grow on trees here.

Sometimes it seems that the same folks that think Kirk can't coach are predicting greatness.

I think we'll be good, but I'd slow our roll just a bit.

 

[Harbinger273]

Yeah nice solid classes in the last 3. I've found myself overly optimistic several time recently, but managed to temper my expectations. The stars would have to align like never before for us to win the whole thang. Like dude said, Fant will be gone after 18. Line play should improve if we can bolster our guard play with better guys. Keep building with each class. Can't take any steps back in recruiting.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Yeah cause Wadley, Jewell, Jackson, Welsh, Daniels?, etc. are dime a dozen in Iowa City. All Americans grow on trees here.

Sometimes it seems that the same folks that think Kirk can't coach are predicting greatness.

I think we'll be good, but I'd slow our roll just a bit.

Agreed. Pieces are in place for Iowa to be good. But there's a different between being good, and being a team that wins 10+ games for a couple years in a row. Iowa is collecting a better group of athletes over the past few classes than they did in the previous few. Hopefully some of them bust through and become great players.

 

[VicHawkeye]

Agreed. Pieces are in place for Iowa to be good. But there's a different between being good, and being a team that wins 10+ games for a couple years in a row. Iowa is collecting a better group of athletes over the past few classes than they did in the previous few. Hopefully some of them bust through and become great players.

Yes, recruiting better athletes and retaining them- that is the reason for my optimism. This should result in better depth down the road.

With better player retention Iowa can continue to be a developmental program but perhaps with less valley's and higher peaks. We're getting more 4 star and high 3 star players perhaps more capable of breaking into the line-up earlier.

The early signing period can also help a program like Iowa. Bluebloods will lose underclassmen to the NFL and be scrambling for talent.

 

[terrehawk]

While the 2018 schedule is really favorable, i haven't looked at 2019. That will be one of the biggest factors in how much success iowa has in 2019.

 

[DodgerHawki]

While the 2018 schedule is really favorable, i haven't looked at 2019. That will be one of the biggest factors in how much success iowa has in 2019.

2019 is a bit more challenging as Iowa has both Michigan and Penn State on the crossovers, in addition to Rutgers. As of now, Iowa has Miami (Ohio), Iowa State and open date for the non-con. I had read something about that open date being filled by UNI but could be wrong.

Conference schedule is Rutgers (played on Sept. 7, 2nd week of season), @Michigan, PSU, Purdue, @Northwestern, @Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, @Nebraska. Not like this year with OSU, MSU and PSU as crossovers, but not "easy" either. 2018 crossovers are Indiana, Maryland and Penn State. And get Wisconsin, Northwestern, Nebraska at home. Iowa needs to make hay in 2018.

 

[Eternal Return]

I have to think that 2010 had more hype than 2019 will but I guess we will see after next season. I hope you are right!

Yeah, 2010 had a ton of hype. The year after the Orange Bowl? Yeah. Stanzi was coming back, McNutt was back, Clayborn came back. That team was stacked.

That disappointing team finished 7-5 overall, 4-4 in conference, and won against a ranked Missouri team in a bowl game. So the final record was 8-5, just like this year. But coming off the Orange Bowl season and the talent they had then vs. now? They were definitely expected to do a lot more. That was before the B10 West existed, though. If they had had this year's schedule against the quality of opponents this year's team faced, I'm pretty sure they would have had a better record. The B10 was better overall as a conference at that time. That was before adding Maryland, Rutgers, and the nose-diving Cornhuskers.

Iowa played a truly stacked schedule with 6 opponents in the top 25. The schedule included: ISU (W), at #24 Arizona (L by a TD), #22 Penn State (W blowout), at Michigan (W), #10 Wisconsin (L by 1 point), #5 Michigan State (W blowout), at NW (L by 4 points), #8 Ohio State (L by 3 points), an inexplicable choke at MN (L by 3 points), then bowl game #14 Missouri (W). Back then it really seemed like going 7-5 against even that schedule was a disappointment even though they went 3-3 against top 25 opponents.

This year's schedule was tough, but not nearly as tough. But then again, the 2010 team would have whipped the 2017 version. Tough games this year were at ISU (W), #9 Penn State (L by 2 points), at #16 Michigan State (L 17-10), at #21 NW (L 17-10), #5 Ohio State (W blowout), #6 UW (L blowout), an inexplicable choke at home to Purdue (L by 9 points), then bowl game BC (W). They played 5 top 25 teams and went 1-4 in those games. Of course, they weren't really expected to win, except against Michigan State and NW who, at the time, were not ranked and MSU was coming off a pitiful year and a blowout loss to ND.

I'm not arguing at all here, just providing perspective. Expecting next year's team to be as good as the 2010 Iowa team would be a mistake. The good news for the 2018 Hawkeyes is that they won't have to play six top 25 teams like the 2010 squad did. That team, for all of its disappointments, was never blown out in any game. They were competitive against every team. Stanley had a good year, especially for a first year guy, but in no way, shape, or form did he have a better year than Stanzi in 2010. That was probably the last really good offensive team Iowa's had. They consistently played well against top 25 defenses. It was a tough conference and nonconference slate that year. On the flip side, Iowa probably had a better defense this year. Certainly better pass defense.

Anyway, I hope the Hawks get it together next year especially against what looks to be a weak schedule. But I wouldn't expect too much of a jump in terms of overall record. Maybe 8-4 and, with the right bowl matchup, 9-4. But the losses are significant: Wadley, Jewell, Welsh, Jackson, Niemann, and Bazata. It looks like the guys coming in can fill Bazata's shoes, but the other guys, those losses will be felt. And I'm not convinced Stanley is "all that." He is really slow making his reads, doesn't seem to have great field vision, holds the ball too long. Hopefully, he'll progress, but I'll be shocked if he's ever as good as Stanzi was in 2010. You never saw Stanzi go through big chunks of any game without being able to get off a pass or complete a pass. Maybe 2019 and 2020 will be when Iowa starts to turn a corner, though.

 

[millhawk]

I hate to rain on your parade but if Noah Fant has a fantastic year next year, he is likely gone to the NFL. He's got the goods. But I believe Shaun Beyer and Drew Cook will be contenders for playing time for the next two seasons as Iowa could really been developing a few TEs to NFL material in Hockenson, Beyer and dare I say Cook.

Iowa needs to get back to being the bullies of the Big Ten. I think some of the OL recruits have been too small (sub 6'3") and not really that mean when in the trenches. I am not talking becoming Wisconsin big (fat) where everyone is 6'5" and 315 plus but our OGs at least 6'4" 290 and have more of a wrestling background. I am excited about recruits Cody Ince and Jeff Jenkins as I think they are more like the mold of a Yanda and Scherff and have that toughness already implanted. I kinda don't like seeing walk-ons beat out scholarshipped players for many spots. Sure, OL is tough to evaluate but between the specialists on staff, the recruiting ability should be able to tell who can be very good from average. I hope Polasek and Ferentz can regain that line toughness and performance in the coming years.

Last, Iowa needs more speed in the receiving corps. Having more speed that can make big play gains stretches the field and makes the play action work better. I hope Tyrone Tracy can see some minutes next year. Cooper, ISM, B Smith, and Quarrells need to progress to help Iowa win some of those close games.

Yes, definitely need more speed in the wr corp. But you didn't mention Calvin Lockett who has good speed. Probably won't help next year but should develop. One other wildcard is Terry Roberts. I'm not convinced he won't play offense, we'll see. He's very fast and quick, good versatile player.

 

[LuciousBDragon]

Must. Beat. Purdue.
Must. Beat. Purdue.

 

[ANYCHawk]

Gonna be pretty hard to top the 02-03-04 three year run

 

[HawkLogic]

I hate to rain on your parade but if Noah Fant has a fantastic year next year, he is likely gone to the NFL. He's got the goods. But I believe Shaun Beyer and Drew Cook will be contenders for playing time for the next two seasons as Iowa could really been developing a few TEs to NFL material in Hockenson, Beyer and dare I say Cook.

Iowa needs to get back to being the bullies of the Big Ten. I think some of the OL recruits have been too small (sub 6'3") and not really that mean when in the trenches. I am not talking becoming Wisconsin big (fat) where everyone is 6'5" and 315 plus but our OGs at least 6'4" 290 and have more of a wrestling background. I am excited about recruits Cody Ince and Jeff Jenkins as I think they are more like the mold of a Yanda and Scherff and have that toughness already implanted. I kinda don't like seeing walk-ons beat out scholarshipped players for many spots. Sure, OL is tough to evaluate but between the specialists on staff, the recruiting ability should be able to tell who can be very good from average. I hope Polasek and Ferentz can regain that line toughness and performance in the coming years.

Last, Iowa needs more speed in the receiving corps. Having more speed that can make big play gains stretches the field and makes the play action work better. I hope Tyrone Tracy can see some minutes next year. Cooper, ISM, B Smith, and Quarrells need to progress to help Iowa win some of those close games.

I agree about the Iowa guards...they're usually listed at 6'4 and actually more like 6'2-6'3. Most of them are two short/slow that they can't play OT. Tackle depth was so bad that we had to go to two Freshmen in Wirfs and Jackson. Paulson twins look like Inside players because of limited athleticism. We are far from dominant on OL and that is where Iowa needs to dominate. Need to get a lot bigger and lot more athletic.

 

[Dick Rambone]

If Iowa is going to have a special season they better do it next year with that schedule. No OSU or Meetchicken and very winnable crossovers , even PSU is winnable they lose over half of their defensive starters and that Barkley guy.

 

[HawkNole09]

If Iowa is going to have a special season they better do it next year with that schedule. No OSU or Meetchicken and very winnable crossovers , even PSU is winnable they lose over half of their defensive starters and that Barkley guy.

Wisconsin went undefeated with a weak schedule why not us