Question on EIU

[Cyhart]

LOL ... man you're hysterical!

You do realize that Bruggeman was just a 1st year starter in '08 don't you? Furthermore, while Olsen was a veteran, he wasn't exactly the most gifted athlete at OG either. If you watch Iowa's PSU game ... you see him getting completely owned by Odrick (in his defense, Odrick is REALLY good). Also, Olsen didn't play against Wisconsin and yet Greene still managed to have one of his best games of the season. That would suggest that Iowa has more than adequate talent/depth at OG.

Besides, what you quickly seem to forget is that while Iowa lost 2 guys on the OL due to graduation ... Iowa also got back 2 guys from injury from 2008. Namely, Iowa has BOTH Doering and Richardson back, both of whom are former starters prior to their respective injuries ... and both are, yet again, getting plenty of reps with the first stringers!

I will certainly admit that Iowa's play at C will probably not be quite as good with Bruggeman gone ... however, Koeppel is a guy who's seen game-reps. Furthermore, by many accounts, it sounds like he's doing a solid job too. Thus, with arguably improved play at BOTH OG and OT spots and a slight downgrade at C ... that still pretty much equates to a '09 OL that is AT LEAST as good as the '08 OL.

Jon Miller, (great guy, hawkeye homer) thinks Bruggeman was the best Hawk center in the last 10 years, if not ever. He was Miller's solid MVP of 2008 (yeah, not Greene). And Brugge really was the anchor and leader of the O-line. That's going to be alot bigger loss than Hawk fans are alluding to.........

 

[TarHeelHawk]

I think the road schedule is being overplayed. Wisconsin has never been a tough place to play for us and I don't think Wisconsin is any good. I would honestly be surprised if this was even a game.

Penn State is overrated. They lost A LOT. If not for Darryl Clark being back, they'd be a 6 win team- at best. Iowa is 6-1 in the last 7 vs Penn State and I believe 2007 is the last time we lost in Happy Valley since 1994. So the difficulty of this game is not as high as some think.

Michigan State is another overrated team. They have no experience at QB or RB at all. Teams without returning starters in the Big-10 outside of Ohio State don't typically fare well. Iowa in 2004 was an abberation. I think Iowa will be improved and MSU will take a small step back. We lost early in conference play basically by 1 yard.

Ohio State is a loss. Forget it. I give Iowa 2% chance of winning this game. Hawks haven't won there since 1991 and that's not about to change. Look for 4-5 turnovers from Iowa in this one.

Iowa State is Iowa State in a rebuilding year. I know, I know.......same thing in 2007. No it's not. This isn't 2007 Iowa. This IS 2007 Iowa State. Clones needed a fluke play and 5 of 6 FG's from the worst kicker in the history of kickers to beat us on a last second FG in that game. The odds of something like that happening twice in a row? 0 in 0. Do I think Iowa is going to absolutely destroy ISU? No, not at all. I don't expect our best offensive performance in this game and expect it to be more like 2005 when ISU just absolutely dominated the line of scrimmage, except this time the other way around. Plain and simple.......the Iowa-ISU game has been won or lost up front almost every year. 2003 Iowa killed ISU up front, 2005 ISU killed Iowa up front, 2007 same thing, etc.....

I am not a Big-10 basher like everyone on here, but I do not think the conference is that great. I think Iowa and Ohio State are BY FAR the 2 best teams. After that it's a crapshoot. Now Illinois........they could win this league. Of course, they could go 2-6 in the conference too. Zook is so bad of a coach, but man- that's a talented ballclub. With just an average coach, they would win this league EASILY. But Zook will most likely find a way to be mediocre. MSU and Penn State are decent. Michigan will be improved but still not that good. Purdue, Indiana, Northwestern will all suck. Minnesota has the one coach that might be worse than Zook in Tim Brewster so they'll lose quite a few games they shouldn't. Wisconsin will be relatively mediocre.

We're not talking about a great league here folks, as much as I hate to say it. Quite frankly, it's basically a larger Big-12 North.

I agree with you about Wisconsin - they still have Sherer at QB, and two of the better defenders just got hit with indefinite suspensions. Bielema hasn't shown any coaching ability at all, as his teams have gotten worse each of his first three years.

Penn State lost a linebacker to an ACL today, and they could ill afford that after so many guys graduated last year. Penn State plays Akron, Toledo and Syracuse before they get Iowa, so it's safe to say that they won't have been tested at all.

Iowa goes to Ohio State in the same part of the schedule where Illinois went in there and beat them in 2007 - right after they (OSU) go to Penn State, but before they go to Michigan. This years Iowa team should be at least as good as that Illinois team, and this OSU team won't be as good as that one was.

Purdue and Indiana will be the bottom feeders, but as long as Fitz is coach at NW, they're going to be salty - especially against Iowa.

 

[MontyBurns]

Wisconsin has never been a tough place to play for us and I don't think Wisconsin is any good.

If Wisconsin isn't a tough place for you, how come you have lost 4 of your last 6 games there?

 

[Clark]

If Wisconsin isn't a tough place for you, how come you have lost 4 of your last 6 games there?

Because he has no idea how tough Camp Randall is apparently.

I never thought I'd agree with Mondy on anything. I guess even a broken clock is right twice a day:wink:

 

[Clark]

I agree with you about Wisconsin - they still have Sherer at QB, and two of the better defenders just got hit with indefinite suspensions. Bielema hasn't shown any coaching ability at all, as his teams have gotten worse each of his first three years.

Penn State lost a linebacker to an ACL today, and they could ill afford that after so many guys graduated last year. Penn State plays Akron, Toledo and Syracuse before they get Iowa, so it's safe to say that they won't have been tested at all.

Iowa goes to Ohio State in the same part of the schedule where Illinois went in there and beat them in 2007 - right after they (OSU) go to Penn State, but before they go to Michigan. This years Iowa team should be at least as good as that Illinois team, and this OSU team won't be as good as that one was.

Purdue and Indiana will be the bottom feeders, but as long as Fitz is coach at NW, they're going to be salty - especially against Iowa.

You sure are an optimist:smile:

By the way PSU is stacked at LB. The one they lost is a reserve. They return Bowman and get Lee back after he missed last year.

And I'll believe Iowa can beat OSU in "the shoe" when I see it.

 

[GuillenSucks]

Oops, double post

 

[GuillenSucks]

If Wisconsin isn't a tough place for you, how come you have lost 4 of your last 6 games there?

Let's see here......

1997, who cares? different coach and that was a disappointing year

1999, we were terrible and lost to a good Wisconsin team

2001, about even teams, lost a close one

2003, about even teams, won a close one

2005, won this one as underdogs

2007, we were terrible, almost won


Iowa never loses to Wisconsin (home or road) when we're good. I can't remember one single time Iowa lost to the Badgers in a year we won more than 7 games.

Matter of fact........

When Iowa wins 8+ games since 1981, we're something like 12-0 against Wisconsin (and about half of those games are on the road). Maybe 13-0. I forget and don't care to look it up.

Wisconsin only beats us when they're good and/or we're terrible/average.

Camp Randall is a very overrated place to play. They're about 70% winning percentage this decade at home but if you look into those wins- they're almost all against bottom feeders and the losses against the top teams.

And then you have to figure in that Wisconsin is not going to be that good this year. Iowa will definitely win 8+ games and Wisconsin will be mediocre. Not worried about this one at all.

 

[DolphLundgren]

If Wisconsin isn't a tough place for you, how come you have lost 4 of your last 6 games there?

So...about those stats you made up earlier?

 

[MontyBurns]

Let's see here......

1997, who cares? different coach and that was a disappointing year

1999, we were terrible and lost to a good Wisconsin team

2001, about even teams, lost a close one

2003, about even teams, won a close one

2005, won this one as underdogs

2007, we were terrible, almost won


Iowa never loses to Wisconsin (home or road) when we're good. I can't remember one single time Iowa lost to the Badgers in a year we won more than 7 games.

Matter of fact........

When Iowa wins 8+ games since 1981, we're something like 12-0 against Wisconsin (and about half of those games are on the road). Maybe 13-0. I forget and don't care to look it up.

Wisconsin only beats us when they're good and/or we're terrible/average.

Camp Randall is a very overrated place to play. They're about 70% winning percentage this decade at home but if you look into those wins- they're almost all against bottom feeders and the losses against the top teams.

And then you have to figure in that Wisconsin is not going to be that good this year. Iowa will definitely win 8+ games and Wisconsin will be mediocre. Not worried about this one at all.

Damn, my sides are going to be sore from laughing so hard. Oh well, it's probably worth it for foolishness this funny. That's a good one.

 

[homerHAWKeye777]

Jon Miller, (great guy, hawkeye homer) thinks Bruggeman was the best Hawk center in the last 10 years, if not ever. He was Miller's solid MVP of 2008 (yeah, not Greene). And Brugge really was the anchor and leader of the O-line. That's going to be alot bigger loss than Hawk fans are alluding to.........

Cyhart -

Firstly, Bruggs was EXTREMELY impressive ... that I completely agree. However, I'd also say that Jon Miller's understanding of the game of football is rather limited. Thus, his Hawkeye flavored kool-aid opinions are limited in their range of applicability.

The quality of center play is indeed of great importance, however, the true strength of an OL is measured by how the group plays as a unit rather than simply the quality of the individuals.

I'll definitely say that not having a true stud C influences the OL ... however, an OL can still be dominating and elite just as long as the C is capable and solid. And, to that and, I think that Iowa will have their bases covered in that regard. While there might be a slight downgrade at the C spot ... there is still A LOT of experience across the board on the OL. Furthermore, there is plenty of pride and confidence on the OL as well ... and that matters quite a bit too. OLs that aren't confident are often tentative and it can throw off the dynamic of the unit as a whole (Iowa fans need look no further than Calloway's play in '07 as a demonstration of that).

And as for leadership on the OL ... I'm willing to bet that Richardson and Bulaga, among others, bring more than adequate leadership to the table.

Don't get me wrong, I completely agree that Bruggs brought great attitude and leadership to the table ... however, the benefit of having him on the squad is that his influence rubbed off on the rest of the unit. Iowa's OL will be continue to benefit from his influence in that regard!

 

[TarHeelHawk]

You sure are an optimist:smile:

By the way PSU is stacked at LB. The one they lost is a reserve. They return Bowman and get Lee back after he missed last year.

And I'll believe Iowa can beat OSU in "the shoe" when I see it.

If PSU is stacked at LB, what is Iow?. Iowa's linebackers are just as good as Penn State, and playing at Happy Valley isn't going to change that.

I don't think Iowa will win at Ohio State either, I'm just pointing out that Illinois went in there and beat them in exact same scenario Iowa is going to be in. If there is ever going to be a year where Iowa beats them in their place, it has to be this year.

 

[homerHAWKeye777]

You sure are an optimist:smile:

By the way PSU is stacked at LB. The one they lost is a reserve. They return Bowman and get Lee back after he missed last year.

And I'll believe Iowa can beat OSU in "the shoe" when I see it.

Clark -
Although the competition probably went back and forth, but it had been reported that Mauti had been legitimately pushing Hull for the starting spot.

 

[hawkfan]

If PSU is stacked at LB, what is Iow?. Iowa's linebackers are just as good as Penn State, and playing at Happy Valley isn't going to change that.

I don't think Iowa will win at Ohio State either, I'm just pointing out that Illinois went in there and beat them in exact same scenario Iowa is going to be in. If there is ever going to be a year where Iowa beats them in their place, it has to be this year.

I agree, I won't predict a win, but Iowa gets them in the perfect "trap game" scenario. Iowa plays them a week after they travel to Penn State and the week before the travel to Ann Arbor....if Iowa can't do it this year (assuming we are healthy), they may never pull it off again.

 

[GuillenSucks]

Damn, my sides are going to be sore from laughing so hard. Oh well, it's probably worth it for foolishness this funny. That's a good one.

Yeah, sorry for posting facts instead of total nonsense, which is the case in basically all of your posts on this board.

I don't laugh hard when I read your posts. I merely think to myself "well, at least I'm not him".

 

[DJK15]

FWIW I believe Matui was slated to be a starter for PSU.

 

[Clark]

Clark -
Although the competition probably went back and forth, but it had been reported that Mauti had been legitimately pushing Hull for the starting spot.

That may be. But PSU has 2 of the top 5 LB's in the big 10 this year in Bowman and Lee. All I'm saying is as long as those two are healthy, they have enough depth at LB to be very, very good.

 

[Clark]

Big Ten position rankings: Linebackers - Big Ten - ESPN

Although this doesn't mean everything since it's basically just one guys opinion, it probably means more than a biased fan's view.

 

[Cyclonestate78]

Can someone explainto me why everyone (except us) are so high on the Hawks this year? They have 1 solid corner, and the other one will miss the first 2 games.....not even sure how good he is. I'll give them their D-Line, but their WR are average at best IMO, and their RB isn't really proven yet, even though he had some carries last year.

Tell me I'm not the only one thinking this way!

Oh....they have Ricky the Savior too!!

They play in the Big 10/11. That is the only possible explanation that makes any sense.

 

[DolphLundgren]

They play in the Big 10/11. That is the only possible explanation that makes any sense.

You realize ISU is in the Big 12 North, right?

 

[Cyclonestate78]

Yes,
National, regional, and local media are wrong. Cyclone fans are right. Count on Iowa winning only 4-5 games this year.

FYI... Georgia won the National Championship last year right?

Then I guess 85% of the national media was wrong. Preseason hype doesn't mean anything. I figured you guys would have learned that after 2005 when we embarrassed your team that had been hyped all preseason as having national championship aspirations.

A fan with any knowledge of the sport knows that what some moron analyst on ESPN writes in his blog doesn't make it reality.