2009 Prediction Thread Part 1: Non-Conf.

[TarHeelHawk]

There may be some on this site who say that there is no way Iowa will ever be able to replace King and Kroul, but I think the majority are just baffled that Iowa fans think that they will be replaced so easily. It is very possible that Iowa has replacements that will play well this year, but I also think that some Iowa fans discount the significance of the loss of two of your best defensive players. I do not think that the Iowa defense will be as good as they were last year by the time they play ISU this year. I am also not sure that Hampton has the ability to carry the offense the way a Doak Walker award winner could.
I also admit that I wish ISU's offensive line was as consistently good as Iowa's. That is one facet of Iowa football that is impressive.
ISU has a very good chance of winning the game in Ames. Period.

-No one said replacing King and Kroul will be easy. There will be growing pains. Stuff we've seen before. The guys who will be competing for the starting job this spring and summer have all seen significant playing time, and have played well. Ideally, stepping into the starters spot will just be seen a natural progression.

- I don't think any unit, for either team, will be as good as they were last season. It's the second game of the year, some rust will be expected.

- Jewel doesn't have to be Shonn Greene. Nobody wearing black and gold expects him to run for 100 yards a game and get 1800 next season. If Hampton has to carry the offense, Iowa is in deep trouble, because that will mean that Stanzi has regressed from what we saw the last month of the season.

 

[Gitwitit]

There may be some on this site who say that there is no way Iowa will ever be able to replace King and Kroul, but I think the majority are just baffled that Iowa fans think that they will be replaced so easily. It is very possible that Iowa has replacements that will play well this year, but I also think that some Iowa fans discount the significance of the loss of two of your best defensive players. I do not think that the Iowa defense will be as good as they were last year by the time they play ISU this year. I am also not sure that Hampton has the ability to carry the offense the way a Doak Walker award winner could.
I also admit that I wish ISU's offensive line was as consistently good as Iowa's. That is one facet of Iowa football that is impressive.
ISU has a very good chance of winning the game in Ames. Period.

Most on here also thought that Iowa would not have a running game last year considering they lost Albert Young the year before and Shonn Greene hadn't played in a year. Just sayin...you're maybe falling into the same trap as last year.

King's pressure up the middle will be missed sorely, but I don't think you will see a large dropoff with Geary, Ballard, etc. It would be one thing if they were going to be playing guys with no experience but the replacements are guys who have started games in the past and played quite a bit.....and done well.

Iowa's lb's and secondary will be better this year and they will have more athleticism on the d-line with the addition of Binns to the starting rotation. I don't think you are going to see a dropoff at all.

 

[Cy Hard]

Gitwitit, I forgot are you a Iowa fan or a pretend ISU fan just posing?

 

[Gitwitit]

For the record, ISU returns 10 starters on offense. Not a staggering difference numbers wise, but it is a difference. You also lose your best players. We return our best players. The guys coming up underneath might be good, but they won't be jelled yet, as a unit that early. I see it as a slight advantage for the good guys.

ISU's game plan last year was to not let King and Kroul have an impact by running short routes etc so that Arnaud didn't have to hold onto the ball long. King did not really impact the game a whole lot against ISU for that reason. I expect more of the same this year; short routes to get rid of the ball quickly....that's what is open against Iowa's defense and that's what most teams try to do. Iowa waits for a mistake or they tighten up near the red zone and hold teams to fg attempts.

 

[Gitwitit]

Gitwitit, I forgot are you a Iowa fan or a pretend ISU fan just posing?

I am an Iowa fan first and foremost, but I am one of the rare individuals who is able to root for Iowa, ISU and UNI (when not playing each other). I never claimed to be more of an ISU fan.

 

[Cy Hard]

Seriously, I couldn't remember but had to ask.

 

[Al_4_State]

ISU's game plan last year was to not let King and Kroul have an impact by running short routes etc so that Arnaud didn't have to hold onto the ball long. King did not really impact the game a whole lot against ISU for that reason. I expect more of the same this year; short routes to get rid of the ball quickly....that's what is open against Iowa's defense and that's what most teams try to do. Iowa waits for a mistake or they tighten up near the red zone and hold teams to fg attempts.

I know. Without King and Kroul, expect Iowa to get less pressure, which allows ISU more time to go deep, where our bigger receivers should be able to make plays. Arnaud has a cannon and can get the ball downfield. Expect ISU to "attack" Iowa's D much more aggresively than the past couple of years. This ain't Bob McFarland calling the shots anymore...

 

[spudhawk]

Hi I am new here. Impressed with most of the discourse on this thread. I think something that hasn't been brought up that might be useful in regards to scheme is that Iowa played Pitt last season and Parker and other defensive coaches met with the USF staff in regards to preparing for the spread.

Many teams in the Big XI are running the spread or variations of the spread. Northwestern, Purdue, Michigan, Minnesota, and Indiana pretty much run it full time now. Illannoy, Penn State, and Ohio State also employ spread type formations a ton. Even Wisconsin is trending towards more spread type formations. Only Iowa and Michigan State run traditional power offenses any more. Our defense is pretty used to defending against spread type offenses by now.

I will never take an away game in this series for granted again after 2005, but I would favor Iowa right now in this game. I will be anxiously watching spring reports for both teams hoping neither team suffers serious injuries. I think that a good ISU team is good for Iowa. I wish them nothing but success when they aren't playing the Hawks.

 

[Al_4_State]

Which is the point I was trying to make earlier (not directed at you)

Another thing I don't understand is the mindset that everything will be cool if ISU beats Iowa, but loses at Kent St[/B]. I know ISU hasn't won a roadie in a while, but if they can't beat Kent St (who loses the 2 guys who gave the Clones fit) after beating Iowa, I would be seriously pissed off as a fan. Road game or not, thats a game that should be in win column without a discussion. Your boys should beat Kent St., regardless of how the Iowa game turns out.

No one will be "cool" with it, it's just that we fully expect it to happen based on history. Also, after the last couple years, we'd feel good going 3-1 in non-conference, and some dont really care how we get to that number.