(08-16-2013 06:52 PM)HuskieJWN Wrote: Ya I understand that BrewHawk, but you're also using coach talk by saying I don't care who they have. I totally disagree you have more weapons offensively. An inexperienced QB, a new guy at center, new wideouts. Yes you have a more experienced O-Line, one that got ran over by NIU's defensive line, which half is gone. I see two weapons and I think one of them can be neutralized to running for less than 100 yards. Your best weapon is CJ, who if a a QB can't get it there it won't matter. Comparing last year is very pointless. You have to go with what you know and have actual facts.
Lynch has progressed...a lot
Wiesman has become dependable
NIU and Iowa both have solid secondary and o-lines
NIU has more offensive weapons and a more explosive game plan, if I hear TOP as an argument it shows you dont know the fast paced nature of a no huddle
With so many equal comparisons there are two things you can look at
1. Game site, obvious advantage to Iowa
2. QB play, obvious advantage to NIU
Which advantage will have more of a factor, people on the field as opposed to us cynical fans in the stands
Sorry, missed your good post earier. I do agree with you to a point. I didn't see anything from Lynch in the Orange Bowl that lead me to believe he's progressed enough to make a difference against a good defense. Outside of his one run against one of the poorest defenses Iowa has fielded lately, he was unable to generate much of anything. Same case against FSU. Our defense will be near the level of FSU's last year (laugh if you want, but it will prove to be true).
You think you can neutralize a guy who ran over everybody he faced last year (when healthy), when our now third (maybe even fourth) string RB went for 150 yards last year behind a less experienced OL? You guys lost some major DL talent from last year. Better talent there than you've had in the past (save English).
The reason the game was even close last year was due to Iowa's red zone struggles (which were a real problem against more than just NIU). I would be really surprised if our starting QB (whomever it is) will have only seven TD passes on the season again. With two new coordinators last year, there was a huge culture change that had to be absorbed. Obviously this didn't happen nearly as well as anyone would have hoped and then we lost two starting OL within five minutes vs. Penn St. and the rest of the season went down the tubes.
We did lost Keenan Davis to the NFL, but you guys also have to replace two WRs that were essentially your entire passing game last year. We have much more talent at WR than we did last year due to incoming juco and Greg Davis hand picked WR. Supposedly there was a disconnect between Davis and our previous WR coach, so he was let go and replaced by Davis' WR coach at Texas, Bobby Kennedy. This should aid in everyone being on the same page.
TOP keeps your defense on the field. I understand no huddle, but if it isn't effective, you really hurt your defense and eventually they collapse from exhaustion. Iowa essentially dominated the second half last year aside from Jordan's 75 yard sprint, which you can't discount. I see this happening again this year.
Again, you're trying to say that Iowa and NIU are equal, which just isn't the case. If Iowa plays back to it's average and NIU plays back to it's average, the Hawks should win going away. I will say that first games of the season are a bit of a wildcard and it's hard to say how things will play out the rest of the season, but I do know the ins and outs of the Hawkeye football program quite well and will be hugely surprised if they don't play worlds better this year than last. Iowa has won a lot of big games with intangibles/hidden yards over the years so I can understand why someone looking for concrete evidence might be skeptical, but I guess I'm just asking for folks to trust my gut feel on this one (outside of what I've mentioned otherwise).
I haven't even mentioned true frosh LeShun Daniels yet.
Suffice it to say that there are a lot of good reasons we were 4-8 last year and most if not all of those are being addressed and corrected. I expect a minimum of 7-8 wins from them this year, if only because of a better DL (but there's so much more).