For Argument's Sake: Why Iowa is a middle of the pack Big Ten team
For each Big Ten preview, Michigan writers Dave Birkett and Michael Rothstein will jaw back-and-forth with words, parting shots and general opinions about why we selected each team to finish where we did.
Sometimes we'll agree. Other times, we won't.
Dave Birkett: If there's a team in the Big Ten I don't have a feel for this year, it's Iowa. Two analysts whose opinion I respect, Shaun King and Phil Steele, told me Iowa is their dark horse to win the league. The Hawkeyes finished last year on a positive note, winning four straight and beating South Carolina in the Outback Bowl (the only Big Ten team to win in the postseason), and they look solid on defense with eight returning starters. But so much of their offense was Shonn Greene last year, I've got to think they take a step back. I know Kirk Ferentz says Jewel Hampton's summer knee injury is nothing to worry about, but if there's two things I've learned in this business it's don't trust football coaches and always expect Iowa players to be in trouble with the law.
Michael Rothstein: I hear ya with not having a feel for Iowa, with the exception that the Hawkeye mascot is about 7 feet tall and that both Jon Cryer and Annabeth Gish's characters from the 1980's forgettable flick Hiding Out ended up there at the end of the movie. Don't ask why I remember that? Seriously. Losing Shonn Greene is a lot, perhaps the biggest single-player loss for a team in the Big Ten (along with Michigan State's Javon Ringer). What I do like about Iowa, though, is its quarterback -- Ricky Stanzi -- and its defense, led by Pat Angerer. Plus, there's only one tough non-conference game -- Arizona. Three of four to end the year at home helps, too.
DB: Hiding Out? Never seen it. Is it a chick flick? Stanzi played pretty well down the stretch last year. He showed some moxie in Iowa's comeback win over Penn State and had his way with Minnesota and South Carolina. I like that 60 percent completion percentage in his first year as a starter, but he was nothing more than a game manager last year. This year, barring great things from the defense and Hampton, he's going to have to win some games. The defense may be up to it. Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard are two of the better defensive ends in the Big Ten and the whole linebacking corps is back. But I'm not sure about Hampton. To me, he's the key to Iowa's season.
MR: No love for Hiding Out? Get it on NetFlix. So, so worth it, if you like the cheese of 80's movies (and who doesn't?). I also agree on Hampton being the key to the year for the Hawkeyes. Supposedly he's healthy, but I'll believe that when I see him in September. Kirk Ferentz teams always remind of teams from another Bill Parcells/Bill Belichick disciple -- Virginia's Al Groh. You never really know what to expect. Talent-wise, they always look eh. Very eh. Then they come out and win between 7-9 games. It's the same thing this year in Iowa City. I will say this, though, Iowa has the better coach.
DB: Not an Al Groh fan, huh? Virginia always seems to produce top-15 NFL talent - Eugene Monroe, Branden Albert, Chris Long - yet somehow can't win on the field. Just saying. As far as Iowa, I'm guessing the Hawkeyes clean up at home this year and lose their four Big Ten games on the road. They're an 8-4 team, and that's assuming Hampton stays healthy. If he's on the couch watching Hiding Out with you, the Hawkeyes are in trouble.
MR: You've proved my point and forgot a few players. D'Brickashaw Ferguson was another Top 5 pick on the offensive line. And they had a quarterback named Matt Schaub who could have been a first-round pick if not for an injury his senior year. Last I heard, he's an NFL starting quarterback. The Cavaliers had a really, really good team in 2003 - NFL-caliber players at almost every position - and still played in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Yet this isn't a Virginia bash session. I understand your love for the Hawkeyes at home but there's room for Jewel on the couch. We'll make it a double feature with The Breakfast Club. Anyway, I just don't see it for the Hawkeyes. They'll win at woebegone Iowa State, but could drop one to Arizona or Northwestern. I'd go 7-5.
Dave Birkett and Michael Rothstein cover Michigan for annarbor.com. They can be reached at davidbirkett@annarbor.com and michaelrothstein@annarbor.com.
Comments
cjmclea
Tue, Aug 4, 2009 : 5:12 p.m.
A voice from the Iowa side. The reason you dont have a feel for Iowa is most Iowa fans dont either. Going back to the Hayden Fry days Iowa has always been very much a team that is very mysterious. They are very good when they are supposed to be poor. They are maddeningly inconsistent & average when they are supposed to be great. Us Iowa fans are giddy right now because they are just supposed to be so-so, with a lot of wishy-washy thoughts. Iowa for whatever reason (and we thought KF fixed this in 2002 to 2004) is only as good as their passion, effort, focus and chip is. It doesnt appear to be a talent thing as Iowa has 34 kids currently on NFL camp rosters. Good enuff for the top 20 talent producers year to year. They are routinely a tough out and in fact are the 3rd winningest team in the Big 10 since 1981. They mostly own Wisconsin home & away and are 7-2 vs PSU since 1996. Yet they always find a way to blow at least 1 game they shouldnt and you can forget about them beating tOSU period. Now for the good..when they are focused they have more talent than they have ever had. Their 2 stars routinely play like 4 stars and end up on NFL rosters, (12 plus and counting) I recently watched some game film from last year and Mike Daniels (a new D-tackle) played way more last year in important spots than I realized. Karl Klug (other D-tackle) is light like King but was a monster in a reserve role all year but vs PSU in particular. Edds and Clayborn at 285 can move down and Broderick Binns at 255 was our best pass rusher last year as a Frosh DE. Plus Hundertmark did play as a true Frosh though shoulder problems have kept him out since. Iowa has several 2 deep, Lbers and DBs who have logged important snaps & made important plays so the D-depth is better than it has ever been. On O so goes the line so goes Iowa. If the line is as good as expected Iowa will have a 1000-yard back. History suggests they almost always do. Only twice have they not since KF has been there and Hayden also had many terrific Rbers. Hampton is fine but Brinson can carry the load as well. I can almost assure you they will have someone as good as Albert Young was & he is currently on the Vikings scout team with a shot at making the squad as a 3rd back. Iowa will have an Rber. A bigger concern is the interior Line play and a 2nd year out wide with Soup Campbell. The WRs should be even better under his tutelage and we already have 2 terrific TEs In finality this team is all about effort & attitude. Id call them at 9-3 with a shot at falling to 7-5 if they are head screwed and 11-1 if they have it cooking. They will lose to Ohio St for sure, with another loss between PSU and MSU and a head scratcher. Chad