I don't know too much about your team. From what I understand... passing game might be your strength. That said, I don't know it to be outstanding. Arnaud is a good QB...
About Iowa....
QB: Play was erratic last season at times. Level of play improved as the season went on. Has a nice touch on the deep ball -- can be very accurate. Has a knack for escaping pressure and has shown to perform well under pressure. (ISU game was probably his worst) Against UNI he came out and performed poorly in the first half... along with the rest of our team. However, was quite sharp in the second half.
We're looking for consistency from Stanzi -- he has shown to have most all the tools to get the job done. He's a talented guy. The thought is that we'll see him play much more consistency in his first full season as starter.
I do not feel Arnaud is a better talent. There may be a bit more unknown with Stanzi, however.
RB:
Iowa cannot have an advantage. Nobody proven. Simple as that. Paki isn't much of a dynamic runner..... Robinson has decent quicks but hasn't proven anything. Wegher and Brinson are supposedly quite talented, but haven't proven anything. Iowa might very well end the season with a solid back, but at this point, I can't claim to know we have one. I guess we'll find out.
I really don't know much about your RB situation.
WR:
With some health, a bit of veteran experience, and some off season breakthroughs, this position seems to at least be solid again. Best since Hinkel/Solomon era.... perhaps better, but we'll have to see. Trey Stross is finally healthy and provides a nice, athletic, veteran target. McNutt emerged in the spring as a big, sure handed, possession type receiver that can get open. DJK has been a solid performer his first two seasons... ending last season on especially strong performances vs PSU and Minn. The guy you'll want to watch for is Paul Chaney, however. A small waterbug type WR that is also a track standout. Word is that he finally has started looking more like a FB player than a track athlete that played football -- when our coaches speak out about a kid in practice, usually he's done some good things. Keenan Davis, a highly touted freshman with size and speed, looks to get some opportunities as well.
I think this group has the chance to at least be a mid level big ten group at WR. Last season we were lower tier. No claims that they're to be outstanding... but a bit more to offer than in previous years, it looks like.
I don't know a lot about your WRs, but can't imagine you could have a "big" advantage here.
TEs:
Moeaki, if he proves to be healthy, is probably a first day pick at TE. Great athlete for his position and will put up big numbers this season..... if healthy. Allen Reisner would be starting most years... coach said he considers him starter quality. Kid has very good athleticism for a TE... not a stiff, catches the ball really well. One of the better units out there, I'd think.
OL:
Deal is that interior played really poorly at times against UNI. Doering, Gettis, and Eubanks.... Gettis probably having the roughest time. Richardson and Bulaga were more solid on the outside. Deal is that Calloway -- a legit NFL prospect at RT -- will be back this week. Vandervelde, a starter last season, will be back as well, but might only play sparingly. Against UNI we had only 1 of 5 returners.... this week we'll be up to 3 of 5 available. This should be a really strong unit here eventually this season, but we've been hampered by injuries early. So it's just a matter of "when"...the way I look at it. (Bulaga, Calloway and Richardson are too talented not to make this line very solid) At the very least, Calloway ought to have a majorly positive impact this week.
DL:
Klug was a very disruptive force in the middle when he rotated in last season -- is a starter now. Binns on the outside was another guy that was a would-be starter. He is this season, and that has caused Ballard to slide down to DT. Clayborn is back at the other DE spot. Might have lost a little bit as run stoppers in the middle with King and Kroul gone... but should have the potential to be more disruptive in the pass game. A very solid unit.
LB:
All starters back. Very good unit in 08... more of the same expected in 09.
DBs:
You guys like to rip the Iowa pass defense, but they just didn't give up much. This was a very good pass defense in 08 and 3 of 4 return... including an all conference (possible AA) type in Spivey. Sash has a nose for the FB... and Greenwood, while no spectacular, won't cost you and is Johnny on the spot. The concern is the other corner spot. We're relying on a true soph and RS fr. Castillo was picked on a bit against UNI -- not a surprise with Spivey opposite him -- but didn't have any break downs, and was a sure tackler. This was good enough. Ought to be OK if the DL doesn't give you all day.
Again... don't know a lot about your defense. Know DL seems to be a concern. Couldn't be happy about your rush defense in game one.
Thoughts on the game:
Basically like this.... Iowa's defense isn't going to allow a high scoring game. A decent bet there. Iowa has a step up on ISU defensively, it would seem. Of course, you have to score points to win. The great downfall of Iowa in recent years in this matchup has been poor offensive performance. At times.... ISU has had a good defense. At times not. More often than not Iowa has started the season out slowly on offense.
This year?
Causes for concern and optimism. Obviously... poor start against UNI. OL and Stanzi performed poorly in first half. Good news -- they settled down in the second. Stanzi ought to be capable of playing some very good football here. Same with the OL, who gets back a few key players this week. These *should* be solid units for us this season. Will they be solid this Saturday? That's the big question.
I tend to think that our OL and QB play will be capable. Fine....
RB worries me more. Specifically.... RBs ability to read the holes that are provided, the cutback lanes... intelligent, purposeful running. I just hope someone can do that.
If the Iowa offense plays well.... could win by multiple scores. If not, close game, and who knows.
Of note... Iowa could actually benefit by the scare from UNI. Might help to bring unusual focus early in the season. If the Hawkeye squad was a bit full of themselves with their pre-season ranking, this is no more.
(flip to that is... they played really poorly against UNI... could be an ominous sign... though, based on our returning parts... I find it hard to shun optimism)
