***Iowa Pregame Thread***

[madguy30]

Ish. Man, what could have been for him at ISU. After his Fresh year, I really thought he had NFL potential.

And I'm absolutely not one to **** on transfers, just what could have been...

I thought he had raw talent but skills/fundamentals didn't get there.

Like he'd close in quick on run support but whiff at the LOS from not breaking down.

The 'head hunter' thing is fun but so is making the play and not giving up a 3rd down conversion.

 

[VeloClone]

Was perusing the roster, and noticed that while only the #30 has been retired, there is no one listed on the roster with #1. That would normally be a popular choice. Any idea why no one wears #1 for ISU football?

Maybe they are using #1 on the "pinny game jersey" - that is the pullover jersey that a player has to wear on special teams plays when there would otherwise be two players wearing the same number.

 

[bawbie]

This is the guy that stole $25K from the swarm and then hi tailed it to. Alabama.

That doesn't look like a Top 15 pick in the draft to me.

 

[crs8975]

You know what I find funny is Hawk fans always thought it was an insult to call Iowa State transfer U in basketball. At least we did it well! Here we have the Hawks paying millions of dollars for rental transfers at QB year after year and their offense has been the laughing stock of the country. One transfer QB after another! Keep the transfer QBs coming lord knows their coaching staff can't develop a QB in their own program!

Just like politicians. Constantly throw shade and blame against the opponent and then turn around and be hypocrites when their time comes.

 

[snowcraig2.0]

Line is up to 3.5 now on DK.

 

[bawbie]

The closer this game gets the worse I feel about itI

I don't think I've been more confident in an Iowa game since... maybe 2002? maybe ever. Although that doesn't always go well.

did you know that this is the FIRST time ISU has been ranked vs an unranked Iowa team? And only the second time ISU has EVER been ranked in the Cy-Hawk game? The previous time was 2021, where it was #9 vs #10.

 

[bawbie]

Huge bummer that Flora is out, but i expect Townsend to do some big things in the return game

I didn't know Flora was out - anyone else ruled out of the game? I think Willich is questionable?

 

[alexssdean12]

I didn't know Flora was out - anyone else ruled out of the game? I think Willich is questionable?

Don't think anyone is ruled out but looks like Willich, Hawk, Flora, and Buhr are all still questionable based on rumors. Champbell will never say for certain (unless its a Big12 game)

 

[inCyteful]

Imo Iowa is being underestimated. They're not a juggernaut but a slow start in week 1 just doesn't mean much.

I was at a bar and their game was on and from what I saw they got settled in and were pretty solid after the 1st quarter.

Say want you want about KF's program, it is the most consistent, dependable program in the country. You know exactly what you are going to get.

Personally, I would not be fired up about being slightly above average year in and year out but hey, it makes the hoks happy and keeps them from hiring someone that would make them dangerous.

They make the other team execute to win. If we execute, we win. That has been the case the last 3 years at least.

What makes me optimistic is I see a good deal of progress with CMC teams executing. The low number of penalties, special teams performance and dynamic offensive game plans are all something we haven't had until the last half of last year and start of this year. If we execute in those areas, we win.

I think we win by 3 but it really isn't that close as hoks score late.

ISU 27
Urine Birds 24

 

[Statefan10]

Said this in another thread but wanted to share it here.. I won’t be shocked if Iowa does a decent job at running the ball, but I also wouldn’t be shocked if our D holds strong.

Last year was a glaring outlier in our rush defense against Iowa ever since Heacock switched defenses to the 3-3-5, giving up 204 yards in last year’s contest. Prior years are as follows:

2023: 112 yds
2022: 58 yds
2021: 67 yds
2019: 112 yds
2018: 105 yds

Last two wins for Iowa they have won the turnover battle which included two defensive scores. They also won the ST battle in those by a large margin.

 

[Letterkenny]

Iowa has one offensive player that really concerns me...and he doesn't get talked about enough.

Kaden Wetjen...the kid is highly dangerous on returns and...though they under utilize him on offense...if he gets in the open field good luck catching him. Outside of this kid, their offense is pretty vanilla...but he scares me. He seems to be quite under the radar as I've not seen much discussion of him on the preview shows.

He is fast, but he's only got 4 catches for 48 yards in his career.

 

[RedDog]

Having a "qualified " QB in a Ferentz offense scares the buhjeebeez out of me.

 

[Statefan10]

He is fast, but he's only got 4 catches for 48 yards in his career.

They will use him on some sweeps or screen plays. He is most dangerous in the return game. Have to get some high punts off and non-returnable kickoffs.

 

[rainydayhawk]

Said this in another thread but wanted to share it here.. I won’t be shocked if Iowa does a decent job at running the ball, but I also wouldn’t be shocked if our D holds strong.

Last year was a glaring outlier in our rush defense against Iowa ever since Heacock switched defenses to the 3-3-5, giving up 204 yards in last year’s contest. Prior years are as follows:

2023: 112 yds
2022: 58 yds
2021: 67 yds
2019: 112 yds
2018: 105 yds

Last two wins for Iowa they have won the turnover battle which included two defensive scores. They also won the ST battle in those by a large margin.

It's an outlier, but a plausible reason it's an outlier is that Iowa's OL was just better last year than it was in the Brian Ferentz years, and 3 out of the 4 best run blockers from that OL are back (and Iowa fans feel very good about Colby's replacement, although he's unproven).

Kaleb Johnson has obviously moved on, but some of those holes were pretty gaping before ISU sold out to stop the run in the second half (successfully), something Iowa obviously played into by attempting to run the clock out.

On the plus side for Iowa State, it doesn't look like we match up with their TEs well at all and we'll probably need to blitz to get pressure on Becht, unfortunately. Should be an interesting game, and maybe a little higher scoring than people think IMO (which you'd think would favor Iowa State).

 

[Statefan10]

It's an outlier, but a plausible reason it's an outlier is that Iowa's OL was just better last year than it was in the Brian Ferentz years, and 3 out of the 4 best run blockers from that OL are back (and Iowa fans feel very good about Colby's replacement, although he's unproven).

Kaleb Johnson has obviously moved on, but some of those holes were pretty gaping before ISU sold out to stop the run in the second half (successfully), something Iowa obviously played into by attempting to run the clock out.

On the plus side for Iowa State, it doesn't look like we match up with their TEs well at all and we'll probably need to blitz to get pressure on Becht, unfortunately. Should be an interesting game, and maybe a little higher scoring than people think IMO (which you'd think would favor Iowa State).

While true, we were also down two starting LBs and starting a true freshman. I think it’s more in the middle. Yes, Iowa’s OL is better but having an All American RB sure helps as well.

I also don’t think it’s going to be high scoring. Iowa isn’t going to throw the ball much.

 

[VeloClone]

I really like that Mouse can put in the personnel he likes but still not tip his hand whether it is power run or spread it out and pass. Passing plays out of 14 personnel is sicko territory, but when you can make it work I love it. Parker is no rookie and he does a great job of matching personnel, but Mouse has the talent in the TE room to put in a personnel package with a couple of plays in mind and pick the better fit based on how Parker chooses to match up.

 

[madguy30]

It's an outlier, but a plausible reason it's an outlier is that Iowa's OL was just better last year than it was in the Brian Ferentz years, and 3 out of the 4 best run blockers from that OL are back (and Iowa fans feel very good about Colby's replacement, although he's unproven).

Kaleb Johnson has obviously moved on, but some of those holes were pretty gaping before ISU sold out to stop the run in the second half (successfully), something Iowa obviously played into by attempting to run the clock out.

On the plus side for Iowa State, it doesn't look like we match up with their TEs well at all and we'll probably need to blitz to get pressure on Becht, unfortunately. Should be an interesting game, and maybe a little higher scoring than people think IMO (which you'd think would favor Iowa State).

He'll make some mistakes here and there but Becht is pretty underrated imo on throwing on the run/scramble.

He's got a quick release and pretty decent speed to get to the sprint out or even head downfield.

 

[VeloClone]

He'll make some mistakes here and there but Becht is pretty underrated imo on throwing on the run/scramble.

He's got a quick release and pretty decent speed to get to the sprint out or even head downfield.

I was under appreciating his throws on the move then saw Bouman attempt it on a couple of plays and he looked like a newborn fawn - all wobbly elbows and knees.

Rocco is so good we sometimes don't appreciate how good he really is.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[CascadeClone]

Ish. Man, what could have been for him at ISU. After his Fresh year, I really thought he had NFL potential.

And I'm absolutely not one to **** on transfers, just what could have been...

Agree. Him getting tossed early in the Big12 CCG vs OU absolutely cost the game.