Ok, so in the horserace that is College Football hype people are now starting to notice Iowa.
This has been a really late break because as I sit and examine my Sporting News College Football preview they actually have Michigan State ahead of the Hawkeyes. As you can see from my earlier ratings, I feel this is an error. The days of stupid penalties and terrible errors at inopportune times have been remedied for the Spartans but honestly I don’t see the talent there to eclipse their 9 win season and Capital One bowl birth at least this year. They did have a great year recruiting and Greg Jones (first team all big 10) will QB the defense but replacing Javon Ringer’s 1637 yards and 22 touchdowns and Bryan Hoyer’s reliable QB play may prove too difficult a task for Mark Dantonio this fall. I still expect the Spartans to be a tough out and a good team and given the schedule 9 wins shouldn’t be that tough to come by I just wonder if they can get by Illinois, Notre Dame and Wisconsin on the road and Minnesota could give them issues late.
Now that people are noticing it’s becoming harder to have Iowa listed as a dark horse. This team was +9 on turnovers last season and snatched 23 interceptions. They only gave up on average 13 points per game and a total of 169 one of the better units in the nation. If you are going to go on the road and beat the other top teams in the conference (Penn State, Michigan State and Ohio State in that order) you had better win the turnover battle. Starting MLB Pat Angerer and SS Tyler Sash tied for the team lead in interceptions with 5 a piece and each return. Amari Spivey lines up at Corner and is part of a secondary unit that only allowed 9 touchdowns all year doing a really nice job keeping Iowa in the game against Penn State and frustrating Daryll Clark. They do lose Mitch King on the defensive front but they do have some players with experience ready to step in and 4 returning players had multiple sacks.
The next step obviously for Iowa is scoring points and the departed Shonn Green and his 1850 yards and 20 touchdowns leave a gaping hole in the backfield. The reason Iowan’s are somewhat less concerned is due to a still solid offensive line and Jewel Hampton who found the endzone 7 times last season and racked up 463 yards on his own. Also Ricky Stanzi had a solid sophomore campaign with an outstanding an electric game winning drive against Penn State one can only believe that his numbers will improve in his Junior season. On the receiving end could be speed demon Derrell Johnson-Koulianos who led the team last season with 44 catches and 3 scores he may have to improve on those numbers this season if Iowa aspires to win at least a share of the Big 10. Terry Stross is expected to start opposite JK and Colin Sandemen will be in the slot. Generally one would expect Iowa to have an elite Tight End as well as Dallas Clark, Scott Chandler and Brandon Myers were all drafted. No exception this year as the oft injured Tony Moeaki will be back to try and continue that line of excellence this season. If all goes well for Iowa they could be grinning with Roses betwixt their teeth when it’s said and done difficult road schedule be damned.
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