Iowa insider comments

ketelmeister · 04-20-2008, 09:54 PM

Talked to a parent of a starter for Iowa. A couple of comments
1. Iowa sat several starters all Spring to avoid injuries. Some just simply did not practice because of "injuries", but in reality to keep them from occuring. They are that thin.
2. The QB Controversy is at Iowa, not at Iowa State. We have two good QBs imo, Jake C. is not seen as a leader by players there, and neither of the other two impressed. If Jake C performs badly at the start of the season, the boo birds will be out in force for anyone else.
3. The Spring game was a wet and cold mess and didn't really show much. Tough conditions to wrap up in for any team.
Overall outlook: They have a lot of holes to fill. KF will earn his money this year if he can put together a solid team in Iowa City.

Cyclone711 · 04-20-2008, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by ketelmeister

Talked to a parent of a starter for Iowa. A couple of comments
1. Iowa sat several starters all Spring to avoid injuries. Some just simply did not practice because of "injuries", but in reality to keep them from occuring. They are that thin.
2. The QB Controversy is at Iowa, not at Iowa State. We have two good QBs imo, Jake C. is not seen as a leader by players there, and neither of the other two impressed. If Jake C performs badly at the start of the season, the boo birds will be out in force for anyone else.
3. The Spring game was a wet and cold mess and didn't really show much. Tough conditions to wrap up in for any team.
Overall outlook: They have a lot of holes to fill. KF will earn his money this year if he can put together a solid team in Iowa City.

I always laugh when I watch replays of the Iowa game this year. Announcers say something like "Jake C has looked very good these first 2 games, he has been consistant and they like this man!." Always puts a smile on my face. Here's a link actually, I believe flag guy is even in it (quote is towards the end). YouTube - Iowa State vs Iowa 2007 Part 2

HandSanitizer · 04-20-2008, 10:07 PM

I think the key for them is to get out of the non-conference with at least 3 wins, but going 4-0 would be good. Football is getting sad when all you have to do is win 4 games non-conf and they win 2-3 of of 8 to get to a bowl. They will for sure go 2-0, but then they have ISU at home and Pitt on the road.

MontyBurns · 04-20-2008, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by ketelmeister

Overall outlook: They have a lot of holes to fill. KF will earn his money this year if he can put together a solid team in Iowa City.

Isn't KF paid to recruit players in such a way that they don't have holes at almost every position?

Flag Guy · 04-20-2008, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclone711

I believe flag guy is even in it (quote is towards the end). YouTube - Iowa State vs Iowa 2007 Part 2

Sweet... (yeah thats me... and another poster... and Superfan's left arm)

**** it after watching some of those high light clips I already miss the ISU-Iowa games... I'm ready to paint up and lose my voice! (Ok so the paint is in Iowa and I'm in Maryland right now... but my cape and hat and sunglasses are here... face paint joins me in a week)

ISUAlum2002 · 04-20-2008, 10:34 PM

Playing/practicing conservatively to avoid injuries sounds a lot like what our previous coaching staff always seemed to do. They are thin, and it seems like we're always a key injury away from being in the same position.

LindenCy · 04-20-2008, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by HandSanitizer

I think the key for them is to get out of the non-conference with at least 3 wins, but going 4-0 would be good. Football is getting sad when all you have to do is win 4 games non-conf and they win 2-3 of of 8 to get to a bowl. They will for sure go 2-0, but then they have ISU at home and Pitt on the road.

I agree. It was bad enough that 6-5 got you in a bowl game, but 6-6? That is pathetic. And now you can count 1-AA, excuse me, ...subdivision games all the time (I think). So you beat a bunch of patsies, then a couple conference chumps and you are in a bowl...way to celebrate.

(of course if this is us...that's a different story ;) )

ISUFan22 · 04-20-2008, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by ISUAlum2002

Playing/practicing conservatively to avoid injuries sounds a lot like what our previous coaching staff always seemed to do.

One of many reasons we'd look so good to start the year and fade down the stretch.

SouthernHawk · 04-20-2008, 11:05 PM

KF used to go with a full out spring game, but saw too many players tweak an injury. Nothing to gain from it, other than for the fans' enjoyment.

And while I appreciate the insider information from this starter's parents, I was very much impressed by JC's improvement in this spring scrimmage over the last one. Last year he was overthrowing passes from the get-go. This time, his passes were more on target, he better stepped back in the pocket, and he got rid of the ball a lot quicker when the defense brought the blitz.

Stanzi... I'm on the Stanzi bandwagon. He had 2-3 beautiful passes 45 yards down the field go for TDs. It'll be nice to have Moeaki, Brodell, Stross, Chaney, and DJK all healthy and ready to go.

And I'll say this - the defense is going to be stingy this year, and agressive. They looked quick yesterday, and while that could speak for how poor the offense was, they actually looked improved over last year at this time. They were swarming, and they were pumped.

Overall, to me, under 7 wins would be dissapointing. Very dissapointing.

Phaedrus · 04-20-2008, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by ISUAlum2002

Playing/practicing conservatively to avoid injuries sounds a lot like what our previous coaching staff always seemed to do. They are thin, and it seems like we're always a key injury away from being in the same position.

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

One of many reasons we'd look so good to start the year and fade down the stretch.

You guys both beat me to it. This sounds like "us" just a few years back.

But EIU is a "powerhouse". They don't have to rebuild, they "reload". Right?

DJK15 · 04-21-2008, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by ketelmeister

2. The QB Controversy is at Iowa, not at Iowa State. We have two good QBs...

Didn't Arnaud throw 3 picks at your spring game? How do you know he's going to be a good QB when he hasn't even taken a snap yet? Remember how confident Hawk fans were in Jake prior to his first year? Yeah...don't count your eggs...

cycloneG · 04-21-2008, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by DJK15

Didn't Arnaud throw 3 picks at your spring game? How do you know he's going to be a good QB when he hasn't even taken a snap yet? Remember how confident Hawk fans were in Jake prior to his first year? Yeah...don't count your eggs...

The difference being that Arnaud has actually played in real games and performed well doing it. He brought a spark to the offense when he was in.

That being said, no quarterback has been crowned the starter yet. It's a close competition and PB's spring game really helped him. I'm just glad there's some real competition at the most important player position on a team.

clone2011 · 04-21-2008, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by DJK15

Didn't Arnaud throw 3 picks at your spring game? How do you know he's going to be a good QB when he hasn't even taken a snap yet? Remember how confident Hawk fans were in Jake prior to his first year? Yeah...don't count your eggs...

The difference is, if Arnaud starts and blows it, our coaches have the gonads to put in Bates. Kinda like how they weren't afraid to test out Arnaud last year if Meyer was having a bad day or they wanted to see what he could do in a (possible) game-winning situation.

KF and crew used Stanzi twice last year and never gave him a chance to show much in game situations even in the games that were lost by 10+ points.

BryceC · 04-21-2008, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by cycloneG

The difference being that Arnaud has actually played in real games and performed well doing it. He brought a spark to the offense when he was in.

So had Jake, and he looked pretty good starting and playing every snap against NIU his freshman year.

I don't know how anybody could say there isn't a QB controversy at ISU. It's clear that we won't know who is going to be the man until we see them play some real games.

cycloneG · 04-21-2008, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

So had Jake, and he looked pretty good starting and playing every snap against NIU his freshman year.

I don't know how anybody could say there isn't a QB controversy at ISU. It's clear that we won't know who is going to be the man until we see them play some real games.

Controversy or just good competition. I prefer to look at it as good competition because neither has been a starter. A controversy is usually centered around a starter from the year before having to fight for his job.

I'd completely forgot about the NIU game, good catch.