god hawk fans are ******* me off... i cant ******* wait until saturday. you'll be in for a game. this is how i see things...
QB: I call this one a push honestly. AA and Stanzi are both very experienced QB's, while both very prone to the interception (AA has 26 career int's and Stanzi has 25). I'd say Stanzi is the better passer of the two, but AA does things running the ball that Stanzi is incapable of, and is an extremely tough tackle. Wash here.
RB: A-Rob (Alexander that is) gets the edge here. This isn't a knock on Iowa's RB's as much as the fact A-Rob is simply better. Adam is a solid back for Iowa, runs tough and is a hard tackle but I dont think he has the home run ability of A-Rob. After all Alexander has career long runs of 68, 67, and 63 yards. He can break the big one on any play. And please hawk fans... DO NOT give me this ******** about Jewel Hampton. The kid was good behind one of the best backs in the nation his freshman year, mostly in garbage time and has not played in an actual live game in 21 ******* MONTHS. I dont care how talented you are, you do not come off that long of a time with no real game experience and make a large impact.
WR/TE: Not being a homer here, but the edge definitely goes to ISU here I have to believe. Iowa has the best reciever of the lot with DJK, but doesnt have nearly the depth that ISU does. After DJK and McNutt their isnt a whole lot there for Iowa in my book. For ISU you have loads of depth. Darks is a very good posession reciever, Jake Williams makes the big plays when you need it the most, Sed and Money have athleticism off the charts and Lenz does some very good things in the slot. Its a deep, talented group. Then at TE iowa is breaking in new guys while ISU has the very versatile Collin Franklin. He has the size and strength to block well in the run game, very good hands and has show the ability to make plays after the catch rather than Catlett from last year who was a make the catch and fall down type TE. ISU may not have the best individual here, but definitely has better depth and all around talent.
OL: This is a tough one. I have to give it as a tie. ISU has the edge in experience, but looked shaky at times thursday night. Im not 100% sold on hicks and burris on the right side of the line. Lamaak, Alvarez and KO however are very formidable. Lamaak has picked up right where reggie left off last year and you know what you're getting day in, day out with him. Alvarez is very experienced and similar to Lamaak in that he may not blow you away, but he is very consistent. You know what you get. KO is the key here though. ISU may have gotten blow out of the water last year, but I can honestly say KO flat out dominated Adrian Clayborn. The all-american canidate was pancaked time and time again by KO. He's and absolute animal. Iowa's OL is very talented. There is a lot of ability there, but it's young. Thats what makes this a draw. The ISU OLine has a diffinitive experience edge over Iowa, although Iowa may posses more talent and better depth here.
Overall Offense: Edge goes to ISU.. not by a great amount, but they are a better offense. I think Tom Herman is definitely better than O'Keefe at managing a game plan. The key will be AA and Stanzi limiting mistakes. Iowa's secondary can be taken advantage of however so limiting errors in the passing game is huge for ISU, something AA hasnt proven he can do under pressure yet. For Iowa, they NEED to establish the run. ISU's secondary is talented, and has a knack for big plays. Ricky Stanzi is much better off play action than being a drop back passer.
DL: Definitely has to go to Iowa here. Clayborn is a beast, Klug is a beast, Binns is very good. They are a really really good group. ISU has experienced players in Parker, Bailey, Rump, Neal, etc but the talent isnt nearly the same. ISU's line has improved, especially at DT with Rump and Johnson turning their game up and McDonough getting healthy. They will hold their own against Iowa's OL. The key to the game will be seeing how hicks and burris hold up against Iowa's DL. I really do think KO with neutralize Clayborn again, and if that right side for ISU holds up, we're in for a great game. Iowa definitely gets the edge though.
LB: This is a tough call. I'll give Iowa an edge here, but not by a lot. Both teams are breaking in new starters, but in iowa's case they've been around a little longer. Iowa's LB are always great in run support, but at times can be picked on in the passing game. Week 1 wasnt a great chance to see how the new guys will fare, but there is no doubt that Iowa's LB's are always a tough/nasty group who play very hard and smart. What ISU has is tremendous physicality and athleticism at LB. Knott and Klein will be beasts at ISU. Both of them fly all over the field and are very athletic. I love what they bring to the table, but as just true sophomores they are subject to being out of position and just mistakes due to lack of experience. Tau'fo'ou is a fire plug out there. He plays hard, hits hard, and is smart. He lacks the measurables you like, but he plays tough all the time. Iowa gets the edge due to more experience and sure tackling, but no doubt that ISU's LB's will be all over the field.
DB: Another close call here, but the edge has to go to ISU barely and this is all because of one man coming back. David Sims. Bar none, he is the best defensive back in this game. Sash is a very good saftey, but Sims is an animal. He covers like a corner, hits like a linebacker and plays physical and smart. He's always in the thick of things and is a turnover forcing machine. For ISU they have the advantage of more experience at CB. Leonard Johnson is the best corner in this game IMO. Last year teams would throw away from as much as possible. The kid hits like a freight train (ask tony moeaki about that one) and is always capable of forcing turnovers. The great thing is though, that he had a trio of talented corners to play opposite him. Ter'ran benton is a very physical corner and has loads of experience at this level. Reeves may be small, but makes up for that with incredible speed and athleticism, and anthony young is another corner who showed a knack for the ball in juco and adds immediate depth. For the hawks, prater/castillo/hyde are a solid group of corners, but i think are rather susceptible to the big play. Hyde has talent but is inexperienced, same with castillo. Prater is good, but i think 2nd best in this game to LJ. Sash is a very very good saftey, who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He is a very talented player, but lacks the athleticism of his counterpart for ISU in david sims. Greenwood is solid at the other saftey, i give him the edge over o'connell. both are smart tough players who dont make many mistakes, but greenwood is more experienced and athletic. Over all though, ISU has the edge.
Overall Defense: Iowa by a fair margin. The DL is way ahead of ISU and the LB's are more sure handed tacklers. IF the ISU front seven can hold their own in the run game, it opens up chances for a very opportunistic ISU secondary to make some huge plays. The key comes down to how well ISU's young linebackers fair. They will be all over the field, but the tackling needs to improve. If they run game is held somewhat in check and Stanzi has to throw, this is where ISU will make its move.
My prediction: If you've managed to sit through and read all this, now its time for the prediction! lol. I think that ISU's defensive front is definitely improved from last year and facing an OL that isnt as good as iowa's bunch last year, will be able to hold Robinson and Hampton in check forcing stanzi to beat ISU through the air. This is where the return of sims is huge. He's make a few big plays to get AA and the offense a chance to put some points up. I doubt Robinson and AA have a great day on the ground, but I see holes in that iowa secondary that can be exploited. I think AA limits the turnovers to maybe just 1 int in the game and is able to produce just enough. 21-17. Cyclones stun the hawks in kinnick. ISU's defense holds its own, and much like at nebraska last year comes up huge in the redzone. AA and company hold on to the ball and limit mistakes, doing just enough to push ISU over the top. Iowa may come into this one overconfident and that will bite them.
