Who has the edge?

[LifetimeHawk]

Between Iowa and ISU, who do you think has the edge at each position this year? I am obviously biased and know more about Iowa's situation at each position, which probably makes it even worse. Here is my take:

Quarterback - Push (JC was less than stellar but PB and AA are untested)

Running Back - ISU (No explanation needed)

Receivers/TE - Push (Both teams have exciting young players, but a lack of proven performers)

OL - Push (Injuries decimated Iowa's line last year)

Kicker - Push (Don't know who takes over for Shaggy, but Iowa's kickers were bad last year)

DL - Iowa (two 4 year starters at tackle for Iowa and a couple of young studs at end. ISU's Kurtis Taylor should have a nice year)

Linebackers - Iowa (AJ Edds is an all Big10 type of player and Iowa has some nice depth and talent at this position. Ace Bowen will be sorely missed this year, the guy was everywhere on the field.

Secondary - Push (Both teams return a couple of starters, but this is not a position of strength for either team)

Punter - Iowa (Donahue struggled early but came on strong towards the end of the year and has a powerful leg. Forgive me, but I am not familiar with ISU's punting situation)

[ISUFan22]

I can't agree with...

Receivers - Sumrall and Hamilton have proven more than the Hawk receivers.

Punter - Um, I guess you didn't watch the ISU-Iowa game last year (another game in Ames where a Hawk player wearing #5 seemed to be playing for the Cardinal-n-Gold). ISU has a pretty solid punter in Brandtner. Not great, but solid. And, he has the best mental toughness in the country, which is nice.

[DJKHawk]

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

I can't agree with...

Receivers - Sumrall and Hamilton have proven more than the Hawk receivers.

Punter - Um, I guess you didn't watch the ISU-Iowa game last year (another game in Ames where a Hawk player wearing #5 seemed to be playing for the Cardinal-n-Gold). ISU has a pretty solid punter in Brandtner. Not great, but solid. And, he has the best mental toughness in the country, which is nice.

Normally, I wouldn't use one game to judge how good a player is, but FWIW, Donahue averaged more yards per punt in the Iowa-ISU game than Brandtner did.

[clones26]

Originally Posted by DJKHawk

Normally, I wouldn't use one game to judge how good a player is, but FWIW, Donahue averaged more yards per punt in the Iowa-ISU game than Brandtner did.

Thats because he had more practice . On the other hand I agree with all that you said Lifetime Hawk, other than the receivers position, other than DJK I dont think they have a lot...but I could be wrong.

[LifetimeHawk]

I can't agree with...

Receivers - Sumrall and Hamilton have proven more than the Hawk receivers.

Punter - Um, I guess you didn't watch the ISU-Iowa game last year (another game in Ames where a Hawk player wearing #5 seemed to be playing for the Cardinal-n-Gold). ISU has a pretty solid punter in Brandtner. Not great, but solid. And, he has the best mental toughness in the country, which is nice.

For the year, Iowa averaged 40.8 yards per punt and ISU had a 39.4 yard average.

Here are 2007 stats for Sumrall and Hamilton:

Sumrall - 54 rec. for 434 yards (8.0 ave.)
Hamilton - 45 rec. for 534 yards (11.9 ave.)

Here are the 2007 stats for DJK and 2006 for Brodell who was injured for the majority of 2007:

DJK - 38 rec. for 482 yards (12.7 ave.)
Brodell - 39 rec. for 724 yards (18.6 ave.)

I think the receivers' stats are pretty comparable. I gave Iowa the nod in punting because Donahue improved greatly through the second half of the season.

[clone2011]

Well, when you have more punts you have more chances to increase your average The difference b/w their averages in that game was 1.8 yards, and Brandtner had a punt over 50 yards while Donahue had none. I'd say it's a toss-up if anything. Both are young and getting better.

http://www.cyclones.com//pdf7/85354....B_OEM_ID=10700

[The_Architect]

Don't try to spike our Kool-Aid with your numbers!

[snowcraig2.0]

I don't really know if Iowa has a position unit I would trade ours for, seriously. Possibly dline, but I wouldn't want to give up Kurtis Taylor for anyone Iowa has.

[CycloneWarrior]

hmm. I would trade linebackers maybe. And also maybe the d line. Mitch king is a beast though

[JDDCy]

I agree with you lifetime on most of these but I might contest the secondary being a push. Last year's secondaries seemed pretty even. Didn't Godfry-sp get drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round. We return all of the starters plus virtually everyone else who logged minutes in the secondary. To add to that Gene is bringing in 2 very highly ranked HS corners and a 4-star Juce DB.

I do have a friend (huge Hawk fan) who contends that Shada graduating is addition by subtraction.

[DJK15]

I would give Iowa the advantage at WR/TE, DLine and Linebackers.

I don't know anything about ISU's OLine so I won't touch that.

Everything is either a push or edge to ISU.

[Cyclonestate78]

I would have to agree. I think the edge in WR's/TE would have to go to ISU based on the RB's going in ISU's corner. Simply by having threats in the backfield leaves your WR's with more single coverage leading to more catches/yards etc....

[MontyBurns]

Iowa has no edge at any position on offense. I would take their DL and LB's (although they have zero depth so we'll hear the oldie but goodie "we always have more injuries than everyone else" excuse), but that's it. Their offense would be below average if they played in the MAC.

[ISUonthemove]

I think the best WR on the field will be Iowa State's Hamilton.

DJK would probably be #2 right now.

Sumurall comes in at #3.

Then the 4th and 5th spots are open for W. Franklin, J Carlson, Sed Johnson, Brodell and maybe Stross.

[DJK15]

The 2 best receivers on the field will be Brodell and DJK.