What team should Iowa be extra worried about in 2016?
- Thread starter RecruitR
- Start date
Mine is Wisconsin. I recently watched a replay of that game. We turned them over 5 times and still nearly lost. They were featuring a RSFR at tailback (Deal) and 3 freshman starting on the OLine, and still overcame the 5 TOs. This WR Wheelright was consistently open in the flat and it went for big gains most every time. Unfortunately for them, Stave was still their QB, which helped save our hide. King power slammed Erickson, their best receiver, early in the game and he never returned. Canzeri was well over 100 yards but we just could not put them away. We did give away 6 easy points in the 1st quarter. First by going for a 4th and 3 at the 5 (IMHO should have been a defensive interference) and then a Koehn miss from relatively short range. Wisky missed a FG too, though. Really strange game. WRs could not get any separation. Schobert really hurt us rushing the QB, too.
Dark horse is ISU. We needed two big scrambles from CJ and a lucky bounce into Vandeberg's hands for a TD to pull that one out. I think Lanning is a real two-way threat. There are several WR I would take from their squad right now. I do like our secondary, though. Maybe it is just the unknown of what Campbell brings, also.
Dark horse is ISU. We needed two big scrambles from CJ and a lucky bounce into Vandeberg's hands for a TD to pull that one out. I think Lanning is a real two-way threat. There are several WR I would take from their squad right now. I do like our secondary, though. Maybe it is just the unknown of what Campbell brings, also.
Wisconsin is again going to be really good defensively, at least personnel wise. They have a new DC so who knows how he will do. Their running game should be better but it is yet to be determined if they have a decent QB.
Interestingly enough, I think ISU might be easier for Iowa to beat under Campbell than under Rhoads. Campbell's teams have been heavy run teams at Toledo. Iowa is set up to stop the run. Although I think in the Big 12 they might do better under Campbell because they will be more of a power running team.
Who would these "several" wr's be that you would take from their squad? Lazard, maybe Wesley...who are all the others?
ISU's OL is horrid..They can try to run, but until they find somebody that can snap the ball/make correct line calls, they will struggle.
Yeah, really the only starter they have coming back is Campos. If they can't put a decent line together it is going to be a long year for Lanning and Warren. You have to remember though that they do have the best offensive line coach in the country who will also be a first time OC this year.
I think Michigan slaps us around. Their defense will probably be lights out again. If they get decent QB play, they'll be similar to last year.
Plus I fear Harbaugh will def out scheme us. I feel it'll be the hardest game we play during the conference schedule
Plus I fear Harbaugh will def out scheme us. I feel it'll be the hardest game we play during the conference schedule
Lazard and Wesley would start for the Hawks. For some reason, I thought Q Bundrage had another year remaining, but apparently he was a Senior. I did not realize that until now. He would definitely start for the Hawks as well. That "little guy" Wesley made an amazing catch against us last year, and I think he beat King on the play, too, but it may have been Mabin.
So - where I was coming from (before I found out that Bundrage was gone) was this: Option A is Bundrage, Lazard and Wesley or Option B: ... Vandeberg, J Smith and Falconer? Who are you taking?
There is a lot to like about one of their OL - Jake Campos - he would look very good in Black and Gold right about now (or especially last year). He's a true LT with size and reach. Doyle would surely have put more beef on him by now. Still don't understand that decision 3 years ago, but I'll take our unit as a whole, any day.
So - where I was coming from (before I found out that Bundrage was gone) was this: Option A is Bundrage, Lazard and Wesley or Option B: ... Vandeberg, J Smith and Falconer? Who are you taking?
There is a lot to like about one of their OL - Jake Campos - he would look very good in Black and Gold right about now (or especially last year). He's a true LT with size and reach. Doyle would surely have put more beef on him by now. Still don't understand that decision 3 years ago, but I'll take our unit as a whole, any day.
I will worry about Wisky after I see what shape they are in after the OSU game in Madison. They could be 2-4 and either deflated or us against the world mentality. Not worried about ISU. I think we will see a game more like the second half last year than the first half. I think the most dangerous to us all round is the NDS game. I am not saying they will beat us but it is a game that if lost would be tough to recover from mentally and of course in the polls. And they are a damn good team. After that I would say PSU as it is on the road at night. Yes we have held an edge over them in KFs tenure but they have to beat us sometime...right? Hope not.
I don't know about them slapping Iowa around. They were good last year but not any better than Iowa was. They only beat Minnesota by 3 and Indiana by 7. They also lost a close one to MSU and they got curb stomped by OSU as Iowa probably would have. A lot will depend on their QB play as you say.
I would take MVB,Lazard,Smith,Wesley... Campos is not that good, and he is coming off an injury...He hasn't exactly had decent/consistent coaching...Think Manning will be his 4th position coach since he signed...
I think the Minnesota answer is a decent one if we're talking about an upset alert. They really did move the ball at will last year. Thankfully, Iowa also moved the ball at will.
EDIT - losing to Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State, or Michigan doesn't strike me as much of an upset at this point (where we basically know very little about how any team will be come game day).
EDIT - losing to Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State, or Michigan doesn't strike me as much of an upset at this point (where we basically know very little about how any team will be come game day).
If you watched our games last year and are replying to this with an open mind the answer will be most all of the games will be a challenge. This is the nature of Iowa football as we don't have the overflowing talent some programs have. We win by doing things the right way and winning close games. If the close games go the other way this year these boards will be full of fans asking for the heads of the coaching staff. Sorry but this is a fact of life for a program like Iowa with recruiting limitations good coaching staff and an avid fan base.
However if regards to ISU's WR core they did lose Montgomery who left or was kicked off the team as 2nd leading WR returning next year plus they have to go against Iowa that has 2 senior CB who have been starting since they were Sophs along with Taylor returning at SS. Plus like 2nd half of last year when Iowa shut them down our DL will have a big edge on their inexperienced line making it tougher for Warren to run and less time for Lanning to sit back and throw. Lanning still needs to prove his consistency in his passing game. With Campos did he ever really consider Iowa? I just remember he decommitted from Mizzou not sure if Iowa was ever in the mix.
There are no games that I won't be extra worried about. I will be super worried about the road games, and supremely worried about Minny.
If the NDSt game was game #1, there would be more concern. Since it is game #3, Iowa will have film on them for this year and Iowa will have any bugs worked out on offense and defense.
A
anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba
Guest
The only team Iowa needs to worry about is Iowa. If the Hawkeyes make the most of their personnel and potential schemes on both sides of the ball and special teams, it won't matter who lines up against them. If you loved last year, and if Iowa can stay healthy, you're really gonna love this year.
Payback for what? They smoked Iowa the last time they played. They beat Iowa the year before that as well.
Yes, but Iowa was not a top 10 team looking at the NC game. We beat #3 PSU and they had a clear path to the NC title game. This year could be similar with Iowa possibly being in the top 10.
Yeah but neither the players nor the coaching staff remains. So I don't see how they would be using it as a payback game. I do think that game will be difficult though.
Maybe the word" payback" was a little strong considering the points you made? I agree with you!
I still think the PSU game will be the toughest game on the schedule. Its tough to get a win in HV even when PSU is down. OSU had problems with the Lions, on the road, even though they had Superior talent.
My biggest concern is Iowa's vulnerability in the early season. Several key positions to fill, big question marks (again) at wide receiver, the burden of high expectations after last year's surprise, and a history of slow starts under Ferentz add up to a worrisome degree of uncertainty. CJ absolutely must remain healthy from the first snap of the season. Don't forget NDSU (probably as good or better than several teams on the schedule, including ISU) and the Clones themselves will be out to show that things have changed in Lames under a new coaching staff.
I don't see it. Last year was suppose to be their coming out party. TCU at home, national audience, blah, blah, blah. You noticed you haven't seen Goofyrube on our boards. He was talking a lot of shit last year.
Fast forward this year and nowhere to be found. They are trainwreck program. Leidner should have bailed and went pro last year.
It will be a long year for the goofs.
PSU is a trap game on the road. Easily the biggest concern.
Michigan and Wisconsin will arguably be the toughest teams Iowa faces.
However, if we're talking about a group that might be tougher than Iowa expects ... it could potentially be Penn State. Penn State has been recruiting very well in recent years - and they might have some of the best team speed we'll see through the season.
However, the thing that might make things a tougher match than usual is the fact that the former Minnesota offensive coordinator who had "figured out" how to exploit Iowa's D is now Penn State's OL coach.
However, if we're talking about a group that might be tougher than Iowa expects ... it could potentially be Penn State. Penn State has been recruiting very well in recent years - and they might have some of the best team speed we'll see through the season.
However, the thing that might make things a tougher match than usual is the fact that the former Minnesota offensive coordinator who had "figured out" how to exploit Iowa's D is now Penn State's OL coach.
Iowa is slow to start seasons truly because of the fact that it is both a "developmental team" and a team that implements a "pro-compatible" system on offense. Thus, not surprisingly, we always are slowest to develop on O.
Anyhow, I concur with your concern about Iowa's early season vulnerability. That will make the North Dakota State game that much more challenging. NDSU is a confident team with quality coaching and excellent players. They are NOT going to be intimidated by the Kinnick game day environment. They are going to enter the game EXPECTING to win. That is how championship caliber teams approach games.
As for the Iowa State game, they are going to likely be better on defense. However, they're still going to have to deal with implementing new systems on BOTH offense and defense AND, more importantly, they're going to be entering the season with huge question marks on the offensive line. While ISU has high quality skill players (several excellent WRs, a great RB, and a quality mobile QB in Lanning) - they are still young at several spots (QB and RB) and that youth could show up more with a less experienced OL up front. Lastly, in-state QBs seem to feel the pressure of the game more ... so Beathard likely gives us a legitimate edge in the game over Lanning.
