CFN: Iowa Look-ahead

isuarch80 · 01-28-2008, 10:39 AM

Thought this was worth putting out there. And no, they haven't done the Big 12 yet.

Iowa
Why to get excited: The schedule is a joke. There's no Ohio State or Michigan, and Wisconsin and Penn State have to come to Iowa City. The road games are against Pitt, Michigan State, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota; that's not that bad. Outside of the running back situation, everyone returns on offense. Everyone. The defensive line should be among the best in the Big Ten if Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard step up at end.
Why to be grouchy: Can the offense really be night-and-day better? With the indignity of finishing 11th in the Big Ten, the Iowa attack needs a jump-start from somewhere while hoping for overall experience to turn into production. The loss of Albert Young and Damian Sims from the running game means that Jevon Pugh is the only scholarship back on the roster, and he was thinking of transferring.
The number one thing to work on is: Getting more offensive pop, and it starts with the line. All five starters are back including all the backups, but the pass protection has to be much, much better after almost getting Jake Christensen killed. Head coach Kirk Ferentz has always put together good front fives, and now he has to mold this group into a strength for the Hawkeyes to be in the Big Ten hunt.
Biggest offensive loss: RB Albert Young
Biggest defensive loss: LBs Mike Humpal and Mike Klinkenborg
Best returning offensive player: C Rafael Eubanks
Best returning defensive player: DT Mitch King

Scout.com: 2008 Early Big Ten Lookaheads

jdoggivjc · 01-28-2008, 10:55 AM

Do they need to be reminded how they handled their "joke" of a schedule last season, when they still had all those "key losses"?

One day the media's finally going to stop fawning over EIU. Apparently 2008's NOT going to be that year

Flag Guy · 01-28-2008, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Do they need to be reminded how they handled their "joke" of a schedule last season, when they still had all those "key losses"?

One day the media's finally going to stop fawning over EIU. Apparently 2008's NOT going to be that year

I'm cool with it - the more the Media builds up the Hawks hopes before the season, the farther they have to fall at the end of the season, and the more they will over-look us for the ISU-Iowa game, which also results in us shattering their world - again and again and again

jdoggivjc · 01-28-2008, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Flag Guy

I'm cool with it - the more the Media builds up the Hawks hopes before the season, the farther they have to fall at the end of the season, and the more they will over-look us for the ISU-Iowa game, which also results in us shattering their world - again and again and again

Sure, the ego-shattering that tends to go with overexpecation is a wonderful thing - I'm just not sure I like dealing with the 9 months the Hawks are going to proclaim that they're a shoe-in for the Big 10 title with their easy sked, an outside chance of the national championship because of that, and how their QB is the #1 Heisman candidate. As much fun as it's going to be in October, November, and December, the next 9 months are going to be very annoying...

SlyCy · 01-28-2008, 12:11 PM

The loss of Albert Young and Damian Sims from the running game means that Jevon Pugh is the only scholarship back on the roster, and he was thinking of transferring.

Pugh is not enrolled in classes.

Flag Guy · 01-28-2008, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Sure, the ego-shattering that tends to go with overexpecation is a wonderful thing - I'm just not sure I like dealing with the 9 months the Hawks are going to proclaim that they're a shoe-in for the Big 10 title with their easy sked, an outside chance of the national championship because of that, and how their QB is the #1 Heisman candidate. As much fun as it's going to be in October, November, and December, the next 9 months are going to be very annoying...

I suppose, though I don't hear much of it and teh stuff I do hear I laugh about because we all know how it'll end

SouthernHawk · 01-28-2008, 12:18 PM

So basically, you guys don't think that they should have anything under the "Why to be excited" section? I mean, what else is there to be excited about for next season?

It's kind of hard to say that the media is fawning all over the Hawks when all they are doing is just saying why there may be reason for optimism next year. They did have plenty of negatives in there, FWIW.

SouthernHawk · 01-28-2008, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Sure, the ego-shattering that tends to go with overexpecation is a wonderful thing - I'm just not sure I like dealing with the 9 months the Hawks are going to proclaim that they're a shoe-in for the Big 10 title with their easy sked, an outside chance of the national championship because of that, and how their QB is the #1 Heisman candidate. As much fun as it's going to be in October, November, and December, the next 9 months are going to be very annoying...

What about Clone fans that think their program is on the rise and Iowa's is on the fall, even though Iowa finished .500 and ISU finished with 3 wins?

It's a two way street - both fan bases have their annoying little habits.

snowcraig2.0 · 01-28-2008, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

What about Clone fans that think their program is on the rise and Iowa's is on the fall, even though Iowa finished .500 and ISU finished with 3 wins?

It's a two way street - both fan bases have their annoying little habits.

One of those wins was against Iowa. Keep that in mind.

SouthernHawk · 01-28-2008, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by snowcraig2.0

One of those wins was against Iowa. Keep that in mind.

One win does not a program make.

isucyfan · 01-28-2008, 12:23 PM

I think the shine may be off Iowa already in the media's eyes. I have seen it in multiple places where the media has rated KF pretty low as a coach in the past couple of seasons, and cited how much he makes per win. He needs to take full advantage of his schedule this year or he will be firmly on the hot seat if he isn't already.

C.John · 01-28-2008, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

So basically, you guys don't think that they should have anything under the "Why to be excited" section?

Of course not. This is a Cyclone site, we are Cyclones and thus we are justified in our belief that Iowa should have no reason to be excited for next season. Just as if this was a Hawk site and discussing ISU, then it would be appropriate to say and (may I say falsely) believe that the Clones have no reason to be excited. The thing is though, this is a Cyclone site, not a Hawk site, thus Iowa should have no reason to be excited.

It's very simple.

snowcraig2.0 · 01-28-2008, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

One win does not a program make.

No, but a head to head match-up is a pretty good indicator of which team is doing better than the other.

isucyfan · 01-28-2008, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by snowcraig2.0

No, but a head to head match-up is a pretty good indicator of which team is doing better than the other.

But remember that the head-to-head wins don't really count if that is the only game your team can get "up" for, i.e. the Super Bowl phenomenon.

SouthernHawk · 01-28-2008, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by snowcraig2.0

No, but a head to head match-up is a pretty good indicator of which team is doing better than the other.

It's hard to argue the state of an entire program based on one game.

My point is - this article is hardly the media fawning all over Iowa. I'm not saying ya'll should agree with it, I'm just wondering why people think Iowa is still a media darling based on the fact that they put something positive under the section "Why to be excited"