Vegas was right to begin with: Pitt by 1 over Iowa

Shonn Greene - Star of the Day...

Iowa is better than last year. Sadly, we loss our first road test. Thankfully, Iowa beat ISU and will enter the Big Ten 3-1 this year, rather than 2-1.

Iowa left a lot of plays out on the field.

Special teams - break downs...missed FG bad snap leading to bad punt and change in field position break downs on the return coverage break downs on punt returns - Iowa allowed the ball to drop a little more this game than early in the season... remember the sliding catches at Kinnick.

The coaching staff played the odds and lost with Jake Christensen. Is it all terrible.

I don't think so, if Iowa moves to Ricky Stanzi at quarterback.

The coaching staff need to pull Christensen as a starter... period.

Let Stanzi play things out. You can bring Christensen as a sub, a reliever, which is the best he likely will ever be.

Iowa's offense, defense and special teams need to get ready for the real season.

Should Iowa be 3-1? Yes.
Could Iowa have been 4-0. Yes.

Iowa's most important game in September is the Big Ten opener. I know many will say ISU.

But, it's really Northwestern.

Iowa know has the taste of loss in their mouths.

This was a TEAM loss. Let's see what the character is of this team.

The coaching staff made some plays today.

But, we saw another good, bad, and ugly game.

On Iowa!

peace

Does Iowa have a quarterback controversy?

"Photo by Jonathan D. Woods/The Gazette. Iowa quarterbacks Ricky Stanzi (from left) and Jake Christensen (#6) talk to offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe on Saturday."

I see the quarterback position right now, junior Jake Christensen's to lose. I would not call Iowa's quarterback situation a controversy.

Christensen under threw a pass for an interception on Iowa's third drive vs. Maine, near the end zone. After Iowa's defense came up with a safety and a 16-0 lead, the Iowa coaching staff gave the keys to sophomore Ricky Stanzi for the rest of the first half. Of course it was planned vs. Maine as the following post game quote mentions.

“I’ll defuse that one,” coach Kirk Ferentz said. “That was part of our
plan. If it would’ve been a touchdown pass, we would’ve gone with our rotation.”

Don't think that during the 2008 season, if mistakes become an issue with Iowa's number one quarterback, that this season, the coaching staff won't make a change at QB. Competition can be a good thing and the Maine game highlighted that. We saw that with the placekicking position, as well. We'll see it at middle linebacker and likely at a secondary position along the way in '08.

Competition is healthy, especially when you are coming off a .500 season, like the Hawkeyes are entering 2008. The Iowa coaching staff doesn't want to see another season of playing down to the competition or worse (IE: Western Michigan game in '07).

The players likely know that, as Christensen alluded to during the post game interviews. For now, Christensen appears number one, there is no controversy and Iowa is 1-0, as opposed to .500 right now.

peace

Iowa welcomes in the 2008 College Football season with 46-3 win over Maine

Iowa's Shonn Greene returns to the Iowa Hawkeyes with a 109 yards on 22 carries and one touchdown. Iowa scores 4 rushing touchdowns, with Greene, Paki O'Meara and two by true freshman Jewell Hampton.

Iowa played two quarterbacks equally, with starter Jake Christensen and his backup Ricky Stanzi. A good first game for both quarterbacks and one would think we will see more of both quarterbacks next Saturday, as the Iowa Hawkeyes host Florida International U.

Maine scored right as the half ended on a 40 yard field goal, fueled by several costly Iowa penalties. Iowa (1-0) lead Maine (0-1) 22-3 at halftime.

Highlights of the game:

• Junior AJ Edds play at LB - including a tackle for a safety in the 2nd quarter
• Sophomore Paki O'Meara showed a nice ability catching the football out of the backfield
• 3rd string true frosh RB Jewell Hamption had a very nice 4th quarter, running for 68 yards on 9 carries
• the kicking game looked solid with punter sophomore Ryan Donahue, true frosh PK Trent Mossbrucker and the kickoffs and placekicking of PK Daniel Murray
• Sophomore Adrian Clayborn looked very solid as a starting DE
• Senior Andy Brodell looked very solid as a punt returner, again... nice to see him back healthy and contributing

Iowa did what you would expect. A predicted 45-6 outcome before the game ended with a 46-3 final score. Iowa has a lot of clean up work to do. They have a lot of improvement to do in most areas of the game. But, it was nice to see a good crowd and some smiles again at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. They always say teams improve the most from Game 1 to Game 2. We will hopefully find out next Saturday, vs. FIU.

The coaching staff played a lot of true freshmen today, which should help with overall team depth. No true freshmen or redshirt freshmen started today, other than PK Mossbrucker, who played with sophomore Murray, spliting the place kicking duties. Murray handled kickoffs and did very well.

peace

Banners are up: One week until kickoff at Kinnick Stadium

The University of Iowa is a week away from kickoff of the 2008 college football season. One of the many banners is now up and ready for next Saturday's kickoff.

Iowa in '07 finished .500, with 4-4 in the Big Ten and 6-6 overall. Though the Hawkeyes were bowl eligible, they stayed home for the first time, since 2000.

Injuries were a problem for a young team in '07. It appears as many as three starters will be sidelined for the season opener, vs. the Maine Black Bears. TE Tony Moeaki, WR Troy Stross and G Dan Doering will likely be out. Moeaki missed a significant amount of time in '07, after going down in the Big Ten opener, at Wisconsin, in '07, and missing the rest of the season.

Iowa's defense, especially the front 7, appears to be the strength of the Hawkeye team entering 2008. The Hawkeye defense finished #12 in points allowed nationally, in '07. Another strength is sophomore punter Ryan Donahue, who set an Iowa record with 86 punts last year.

The real question in 2008 is how much the offense improves, including the offensive line. Iowa ranked #110 in offensive scoring, #92 in rushing, #94 in passing and #109 in total offense, all nationally, in '07. The offensive line allowed 46 sacks, sixth highest in the nation and first year starting QB Jake Christensen took a lot of abuse, both by opponents and by Hawkeye fans, who questioned why the 2nd string QB didn't see more snaps in '07.

Five things to like about Iowa entering 2008:

1. Four year starters in DTs Matt Kroul and Mitch King anchor the Iowa front 7.
2. Iowa's linebacker corp is loaded with non-seniors and is lead by #2 tackler junior A.J. Edds. The future is bright and Edds may be Iowa's next great linebacker.
3. Iowa returns #1 WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, a sophomore from Ohio, and fellow WR senior Andy Brodell returns from injury, after missing almost the entire Big Ten season in '07.
4. Iowa has a veteran coaching staff, but welcomes a new WR/TE coach from Michigan, in Erik Campbell, who spent the past 13 seasons as the Wolverines receiver coach. This is Kirk Ferentz's tenth season as Iowa's head football coach and 19th overall (OL coach from '81 to '89 under coach J Hayden Fry).
5. Iowa played 11 true freshmen and 31 total freshmen in '07. Still a young team in many ways, experience will be a boost in '08 with 50 letterwinners returning for the Hawkeyes (Starters returning: 7 offense, 5 defense, 2 special teams).

Five questions that Iowa must answer in '08, if they are going to improve:

1. Iowa returns all five starters in the O-Line and everyone in the two deep, but can they stay healthy and build team chemistry to open up running lanes and protect the Iowa QB?
2. Who steps in at Running Back? Iowa's top 3 ball carriers from '07 and #1 fullback have departed. Iowa does receive a boost from junior RB #23 Shonn Greene, returning after a season at a JC to concentrate on academics. Greene is a two year letterwinner though.
3. QB Jake Christensen was the league's lowest-rated passer based on passing efficiency and second string QB Ricky Stanzi was 0-4 with 1 int in '07. Will Iowa get production from the Top 2 or will a newcomer emerge during the course of the season? As coach Ferentz has pointed out a number of times, junior Christensen's progression as a starting QB at Iowa, may draw similar comparisons to former Iowa QB Matt Rodgers in '89. Like Christensen as a sophomore, Rodgers had a rough first year as a starter, but was successful in his final two seasons as an upper classmen... can Christensen repeat history for Iowa?
4. How will injuries and depth impact Iowa in '08?
5. Iowa must replace two departed CBs, like in '02. Like '02, Iowa returns a part-time starter at CB (senior Bradley Fletcher) and will depend on youth. Will the secondary develop in '08 feeding off the strength of Iowa's front 7?

Projection for Iowa in '08: 5-3 in Big Ten, and depending on Iowa State and Pitt games, Iowa's overall record will rebound from 6-6 in '07 to 8-4 or 9-3 in '08.

You can catch the Iowa opener, August 30th, with an 11 am kickoff on the Big Ten Network, from Kinnick Stadium. Iowa has finished in the Big Ten top division six out the past seven years... will 2008 make it 7 out of 8?

peace

Maybe it's time to flip back to 2005... but make it 2008?

Is 2008 the year, that Kirk Ferentz helps Iowa catch back up with the pundits that believe Iowa would walk on water in 2005 and 2006?

"Believe the hype... Hawkeyes will contend for a BCS bowl" (2005 Sporting News Big Ten Preview cover)

#3. Iowa Hawkeyes (that's nationally, not in the Big Ten)... "the defensive line, where all four players who started all 12 games last year are gone." "Never sell Kirk Ferentz short or underestimate his resourcefulness. Iowa coach stands among the elite in his profession." (page 46 - Athlon Sports 2005 Big Ten Regional Edition)

Back in 2005, all most every preview magazine had Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz walking on water. Actually, every preview magazine, other than Game Plan, had Iowa in the Top 25 entering the 2005 season. Only Game Plan didn't buy it. Kirk Ferentz was wary, if we go back and listen, but the national media had Ferentz mania.

"This is the league's best program not named Ohio State. Want proof?
The Hawkeyes could win the Big Ten for the third time in five seasons.
Imagine what Ferentz would do if he had the same talent as Michigan.
Scary. Take a bow, Kirk." (Tom Dienhart's take on Iowa in the 2006 Sporting News Big Ten Preview)

The following season, the Iowa Hawkeyes were a 2006 Preseason Consensus Top 25 Team. Nobody had Iowa in the Top 5, like 2005, but every preseason magazine had Iowa in its Top 25. By the way, Iowa finished 2-6 in the Big Ten in '06. So much for the pundits predictions.

By 2007, none of the major preview magazines showed Top 25 love for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa finished 4-4 last year and 6-6 overall, so they are making progress, but after 2005-2007... the three year run of 2002-2004, where Iowa finished #8 nationally for three straight seasons has run its course. The 2008 predictions for Iowa are very low key.

It's quite ironic to reflect on the past seven years of college preview magazines. In 2002, clearly Iowa's best Big Ten season ever, not one preview magazine had Iowa on their radar.
Iowa was coming off its first bowl season under coach Ferentz, his third season as head coach. In 2001, Iowa went 7-5 (4-4 in the Big Ten) and defeated the Big 12's Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl.

In 2002, the preseason magazines picked Iowa #8 for the most part in the Big Ten, not the Nation, which is where Iowa finished that year, nationally. While Ohio State finished 8-0 in '02, so did Iowa in the 2002 Big Ten race. None of the major previews had Iowa better than #6.
Iowa is back off the radar. Does history and Kirk Ferentz repeat in 2008 and become the nation's surprise team, again? The previews for 2008 basically look at Iowa as #8 in the Big Ten. Only Phil Steele has Iowa in the top half of the Big Ten, picking the Hawkeyes #5.

Clearly, Iowa doesn't have the look of the '02 team, but if you liked Iowa in '05, why not like them in '08. Clearly, Iowa could be this year's Kansas or Illinois... a non-bowl team from last year that could go from mediocre to big-time? As page 11 of Pro Football Weekly:

"Iowa: Put it this way, the Hawkeyes went 6-6 with an offense that lost almost
all of its top receivers, didn't get any production from the line, and was
inconsistent in the backfield. The bloom is off Kirk Ferentz's rose,
but he has done more with less than he has coming back. The veteran
team should be far better on both side of the ball, but the real reason for
excitement is a schedule that lacks Ohio State and Michigan and brings
Wisconsin and Penn State to Iowa City."

What's changed with Kirk Ferentz, since 2005 or 2006? He did it once before, so why not again in 2008? He has a lot of confidence entering '08 with anchors in both the offensive and defensive lines returning. One of the strengths separating the 2002 team from Ferentz earlier teams was experience and strength in the trenches. Some random observations heading into '08:

1. Lindy's in 2005 rated RB Shonn Greene one of Iowa's top newcomers of impact - you can say that again in '08 as Greene is back after a year at a JUCO
2. They also called OT Kyle Calloway the Sleeper of the Class of 2005 - he may be the sleeper of the 2008 offensive line for Iowa
3. Also Lindy's 2005 scouting report mentions DT Matt Kroul "plays low and hard"... '08 will be his fourth year as a starting DT (Lindy's Top Newcomer back in '05)
4. The Sporting News in 2005 says "Iowa leaps up the list to land among the big boys"... the top incoming players (ranked by position): #1 QB Jake Christensen, #1 TE Tony Moeaki, #2 OL Dan Doering, and #5 DB Chris Rowell... all are involved in '08
5. The Sporting News in 2006 spoke of breakout player... DT Mitch King, who is the other fourth year starter at DT for Iowa in '08 (Also a two-time MVP per Lindy's '07 and '08)
6. Also mentioned as Top incoming players (ranked by position): #5 QB Ricky Stanzi, #5 TE AJ Edds (LB - day 1 at Iowa), and #2 LB Jeremiha Hunter... all are involved in '08
7. Athlon Sports in 2006 pointed out rising star C Rafael Eubanks, the junior looks to begin his third year as a starter.
8. Lindy's in 2007 highlighted OL Bryan Bulaga as Iowa's top newcomer, who is one of five returning starters in Iowa's O-Line for '08... all in the 2 deep return in the O-Line
9. Also Lindy's rated DB Jordan Bernstine as the #8 top incoming Big Ten recruit... ahead of #10 Bulaga. Both are projected as starters in '08
10. In '08, Iowa will replace departed DEs with two sophomores, just like they did in '05. Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard are both former "Newcomers of Impact" as mentioned by the past two issues of Lindy's
11. Back in '02, Iowa had to replace everyone in the backfield... new starting QB, new RB, new FB... Iowa has been through this before, but this time, Iowa's top two QBs return in '08.

It will be an interesting year in college football and the Big Ten this season. Iowa appears to have some talent returning, as Pro Football Weekly observed, so will Kirk Ferentz make up for lost opportunities with his '08 Iowa Hawkeyes?

peace

Rating the Quarterbacks of the Big Ten...

Over the years, the Big Ten has had some outstanding QBs. Entering the 2008 season, eight of 11 Big Ten teams return their #1 signal caller for this season.

Rating the best quarterback units in the Big Ten?

1. Ohio State, 7-1 in '07: Todd Boeckman, senior; Terrelle Prior, true freshman - This unit may attempt play out for the Buckeyes as Leak-Tebow played out for the Florida Gators in '06, in pursuit of nation's top prize in '08!
2. Purdue, 3-5: Curtis Painter, senior; Joey Elliott, junior; Justin Siller, redshirt freshman - Painter could leave West Lafayette as the Big Ten's all-time #1 passer, a solid NFL prospect, but absent the Big Ten's biggest prize, a title.
3. Illinois, 6-2 : Juice Williams, junior; Eddie McGee, sophomore - The Illini have the most experienced 1-2 punch two dual-threats at QB, but can Coach Zook pull the right strings to make the right music for the Illini in '08, with a runner and a passer?
4. Indiana, 3-5: Kellen Lewis, junior; Ben Chappell, sophomore - Lewis is clearly the Big Ten's top dual-threat QB with his run-pass skills for the Hoosiers. Chappel is a dropback QB, who has thrown one pass, a pick 6.
5. Iowa, 4-4: Jake Christensen, junior; Ricky Stanzi, sophomore - as Lindy's points out, "Iowa has to have better production at this spot," which this rating projects, with improvement in the OL. "When Jake has time, he's lethal," as one Big Ten opponent's coach told Athlon's.
6. Michigan State, 3-5: Brian Hoyer, senior; Kirk Cousins, redshirt freshman; Nick Foles, redshirt freshman; Connor Dixon, sophomore - Hoyer is the clear #1 for the Spartans, but a battle will continue to unfold for #2 and the Spartans future QB.
7. Minnesota, 0-8: Adam Weber, sophomore; Tony Mortensen, senior; David Pittman, junior; MarQueis Gray, true freshman - Weber had a surprisingly strong redshirt freshman season last year as a dual-threat; JUCO Pittman and Indianapolis prep Gray are both dual-threats and expected to battle for #2.
8. Northwestern, 3-5: CJ Bacher, senior; Mike Katko, junior - the Wildcats QB needs to cut down on mistakes, but with experience returning in Evanston, look for greater production at QB lead by Bacher.
9. Penn State, 4-4: Daryll Clark, senior; Pat Devlin, sophomore - the Nittany Lions may be another team looking to use a 1-2 punch at QB; Clark is a run-first prospect, while Devlin is viewed as a typical pocket passing QB. Team to Watch in '08 at the QB position.
10. Wisconsin, 5-3: Allan Evridge, senior; Dustin Sherer, junior; Curt Phillips, true freshman - inconsistent Evridge had 6 starts as a redshirt frosh at Kansas State, spring arrival Phillips is a dual-threat QB for the future, while Sherer has taken too few snaps to know what to expect.
11. Michigan, 6-2: Steven Threet, redshirt freshman; Nick Sheridan, sophomore; David Cone, sophomore; Justin Feagin, true freshman - Coach Rich Rodriquez will bring a new system to Ann Arbor, some look for GA transfer Threet to get first shot, with possible dual-threat Feagin emerging by season's end.

peace

Athlon Sports: Release 2008 Big Ten Magazine

Since 1974, I have been collecting College Football Magazines. After taking in a couple of YMCA soccer matches (Hawks won 11-0, 7-2) and catching lunch at Tommy's in Cedar Rapids on Saturday morning, I hit Barnes & Noble to pick up my first pre-season college football magazines.

Athlon® Sports: Big Ten Annual with Iowa's QB Jake Christensen and Minnesota's QB Adam Weber on the cover. Will it be Turnaround Time for Iowa as Athlon's cover asks? "Hawks Seek Title Run" is mentioned... not bad for the team pegged 6th in the Big Ten in '08. After 3 off seasons, Iowa hopes to get back to '02-'04 ways.

By the way, I guess I could have saved a little buying on-line. Of course, delivery wasn't until June 15th, and of course, Memorial Day weekend wouldn't be the same without an early football magazine.

Further, I do take advantage of my 10% off at Barnes & Noble, even with magazines.

peace

Iowa Football: Why the failure in 2007?

Iowa Football was exciting for 3 years... just not the past 3 years... if we compare the 3 year run of '02-04 to the just completed '05-'07.

Actually, the 2000-04 climb from 0-8 (Big Ten) in '99 to three straight seasons at #8 nationally was a great ride! The 2000 and 2001 seasons witnessed good, bad and ugly. The 2007 season is very similar.

The Good: upsetting then #18 Illinois and an OT win over Michigan State, both at Kinnick. A much needed road win in the Big Ten at Northwestern.

The Bad: losses at Purdue and at home vs. IU.

The ugly: losses at Iowa State in September and to close the season vs. Western Michigan.


'007 doesn't need a James Bond plot to determine what happened. Iowa resembles a SNL cast... clearly a not ready for prime time player cast.

Entering 2007, you had a mix of expectations for Iowa. There was some potential, but at the same time... par for the course has become middle of the road. For now, 6-6 overall, 4-4 in the Big Ten has become par for Iowa, which Iowa reached in '07. After finishing #8 nationally for three straight seasons in '02 to '04, Iowa has certainly regressed. But, after finishing 2-6 in the Big Ten in '06... a 4-4 finish in '07 shows improvements. Call them baby steps for now!

Why the demise in '07 -

1. Like many teams (ISU and Western Michigan), the difference in success and failure is often found in one key statistic... turnover difference. Why did Iowa lose 2 OOC games in '007? First, look at turnovers. Iowa, ISU and Western Michigan are prime examples of why turnovers often lead to disappointment. When you protect the football, success is possible, when you don't; like Iowa found in both OOC losses... good things don't happen for your football team.

2. You are only as good as your quarterback. Look around the country... Notre Dame won in '06 on the shoulders of their QB. Not in '07. The QB position isn't all of it, but it is a very big factor, when it comes to success in college football. Boston College, Missouri, and KU are three teams getting solid play from the QB position. In Iowa's run in '02-'04, Brad Banks, Nathan Chandler and Drew Tate were difference makers more times than not.

3. Special teams... when Iowa succeeded in '02-'04... we found execution in all phases of the game. Football comes down to execution, whether it be in the trenches, the line of scrimmage or in all phases of the kicking game.

4. Controlling the line of scrimmage... when Iowa was successful, clearly it all started here.

5. Youth... one silver lining we can take from the '007 season. Is the youth of the Iowa Football team. Iowa was clearly the youngest football team in the Big Ten, with the fewest senior starters and 31 true or redshirt freshmen players being asked to contribute to the team.

History repeated itself at the conclusion of 2007. Like in 2000, Iowa isn't going bowling and an Iowa team fell victim to Western Michigan at Kinnick. The 2000 team didn't show great success on offense nor defense. Neither did the 2007 club.

Iowa Football has potential. Often we see three year cycles... '02-'04... '05-07... but, we will have to wait to see what happens in 2008. One clear note we have seen in College Football today... it's parity.

Iowa is just another example of it. Parity is the true landscape of College Football Today. Success will not come even, whether it be in the Big Ten, OOC or at Iowa.

peace