Interesting read on Iowa football outlook...

SouthernHawk · 04-03-2008, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonesrule91

By looking at Gary_ISU's post, it appears that in those last half of the season wins by EIU were because of the opposing teams sputtering offense and stupid mistakes except for the Illinois game.

Couldn't be Iowa's defense played a part in that, could it?

People fail to remember that UW almost lost to Minnesota to end the season, and Illinois did beat the #1 ranked team in the nation (at their place). Also, MSU (another quality win) also did rather well.

MontyBurns · 04-03-2008, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by Gary_ISU

I think it is a stretch to say Iowa improved. They won some games but if you breakdown the results they were un-impressive wins against bad teams.

I think Iowa was much worse than their 6-6 record would indicate. They were a couple plays away from 4-8. Iowa was consistenly dominated in the first half. Sports is all about winning so Iowa did improve in that aspect but were they a better team at the end of the season then the beginning. I think the answer is no.

Their "improvement" was because they played easier teams (save for Western Michigan) later in the season. They were completely beaten in every phase of the game by Purdue and Penn State. They struggled to beat bad Minnesota and Northwestern teams.

There is no doubt Iowa was worse than their 6-6 record indicated; they could easily have lost to Michigan State (overtime), Northwestern, and Minnesota. If Ohio State and Michigan had been on the schedule they could have easily posted a 3- or 4-win season.

Cyclonesrule91 · 04-03-2008, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Couldn't be Iowa's defense played a part in that, could it?

No, it couldn't. All a team had to do was spread out the defense and they could have their way with your proven defense. Turn old Klinkenborg into a DB and QB's could throw deep fades all day on their sorry butts.

It happened plenty last season.... I wish I could think of an example of that working but right now the exact play escapes on when it happened by I am pretty sure it was around the middle of September............

:cu te:

MontyBurns · 04-03-2008, 07:55 PM

If you don't believe '91', check out this QB line:

Comp/Att Yds TD Int
26/45 367 3 0

Tim Tebow? Chase Daniel? Colt McCoy?

Nope, none of the above.

SouthernHawk · 04-03-2008, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonesrule91

No, it couldn't. All a team had to do was spread out the defense and they could have their way with your proven defense. Turn old Klinkenborg into a DB and QB's could throw deep fades all day on their sorry butts.

It happened plenty last season.... I wish I could think of an example of that working but right now the exact play escapes on when it happened by I am pretty sure it was around the middle of September............:cu te:

Ah yes, the MSU and Illini spread offenses really shredded the Iowa defense. MSU put up yards, but not the points that counted. Illinois did pretty bad as well.

Oh, and don't get me started on Klink playing a snap at DB. I was driving home from Omaha when I heard Dolph announce that's how he was lining up.

I-80 is a bad road to drive on when you hear something like that.

Cyclonesrule91 · 04-03-2008, 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Oh, and don't get me started on Klink playing a snap at DB. I was driving home from Omaha when I heard Dolph announce that's how he was lining up.

I-80 is a bad road to drive on when you hear something like that.

You could be driving on the beach covered in barely covered college angels in a Ferrari during Spring Break and it would ruin it if you listen to any words from Dophin or zipperhead Zable. I can't stand listening to them drunks. Both are likened to the sound of fingernails on the chalkboard that we all hate. That was your first problem listening to them so you brought it on yourself pal....

SouthernHawk · 04-03-2008, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonesrule91

You could be driving on the beach covered in barely covered college angels in a Ferrari during Spring Break and it would ruin it if you listen to any words from Dophin or zipperhead Zable. I can't stand listening to them drunks. Both are likened to the sound of fingernails on the chalkboard that we all hate. That was your first problem listening to them so you brought it on yourself pal....

Actually, I'm one of the few (even out of Hawk fans) that likes to listen to Dolph. He's annoying sometimes (like when he goes an hour without a score update), but he gets so animated, it's hard to not get into the game.

Of course, and I feel dirty saying this, I lost my Iowa broadcast right before the kick, so I had to turn on the ISU broadcast. What a miserable day.

Cyclonesrule91 · 04-03-2008, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Ah yes, the MSU and Illini spread offenses really shredded the Iowa defense. MSU put up yards, but not the points that counted. Illinois did pretty bad as well.

It's pretty easy to figure out why that was so and you made a good point. If I remember correctly all the teams you mentioned are from a certain unnamed conference called the big 10?

You tend to look better against weaker competition...

MontyBurns · 04-03-2008, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Ah yes, the MSU and Illini spread offenses really shredded the Iowa defense. MSU put up yards, but not the points that counted. Illinois did pretty bad as well.

How about Indiana, Penn State, and Purdue? Iowa lost those three games by a combined score of 96-33. None of those teams were exactly great, and Iowa was totally dominated on both offense and defense by all three of them.

Just imagine what Ohio State and Michigan would have done to Iowa. It would have been ugly, very ugly. As in 49-0 type of scores.

SouthernHawk · 04-03-2008, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by MontyBurns

How about Indiana, Penn State, and Purdue? Iowa lost those three games by a combined score of 96-33. None of those teams were exactly great, and Iowa was totally dominated on both offense and defense by all three of them.

Just imagine what Ohio State and Michigan would have done to Iowa. It would have been ugly, very ugly. As in 49-0 type of scores.

Yup. Well, maybe a score similar to what Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, or TTU did to ISU?

ajk4st8 · 04-03-2008, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Couldn't be Iowa's defense played a part in that, could it?

People fail to remember that UW almost lost to Minnesota to end the season, and Illinois did beat the #1 ranked team in the nation (at their place). Also, MSU (another quality win) also did rather well.

Are you referring to the incestuous wins of the Big 10? Beating each other with over inflated rankings... only to lose come bowl season?

ajk4st8 · 04-03-2008, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Yup. Well, maybe a score similar to what Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, or TTU did to ISU?

Finally admitting that Iowa is no better program than ISU in football.

SouthernHawk · 04-04-2008, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by ajk4st8

Are you referring to the incestuous wins of the Big 10? Beating each other with over inflated rankings... only to lose come bowl season?

Ah, back to this argument. Good times.

FWIW, the Big 12 has 5 more total bowl wins than the BT has since 2000.

Originally Posted by ajk4st8

Finally admitting that Iowa is no better program than ISU in football.

I believe for last year, an argument can't be made otherwise, can it? Did ISU not beat Iowa?

ketelmeister · 04-04-2008, 10:01 AM

I believe the two football programs are pretty even right now, but Iowa State seems to be headed up (that remains to be seen for sure) and Iowa seems to be headed down. (again, the we will know soon) For Iowa, the Iowa State game is the most important game on the schedule.
-another loss to Iowa State will supercharge an already restless fan base
-losing to Iowa State with Pitt on the road the next week could lead to a collapse of the team
-with Iowa State's potentially seeing their fortunes rise, this would have a huge impact on recruiting
-having a winning season this year is a must if KF is to keep his job. 2009 is a tough schedule. He could be out after that.
Bottomline: all the pressure to win is on Iowa. KF will pull out the stops for a win. It is in essence, Iowa's bowl game. If anyone thinks the booing was bad last year at Kinnick, watch this years game if Iowa State got up by a couple of TDs, it would be brutal.
I'm not predicting a victory for Iowa State. This will be a tough win on the road. Iowa should be favored.

MontyBurns · 04-04-2008, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

I believe for last year, an argument can't be made otherwise, can it? Did ISU not beat Iowa?

Most Iowa fans shrug off their regular losses to ISU by saying that it was one game that doesn't mean anything to them (yeah, right), and that Iowa has a much better program.

The last two seasons - especially 2007 - and the off-season Hawkeye antics have shown that this is not true. Neither team was good in 2007 and neither team is going to be all that much better in 2008, but the last two years have shown which program is in better shape and is on it's way up, and which program is in steady decline.