It's been a long time, if ever, since ISU has dominated this game.
VEGAS: Iowa favored by 2 for 2017 Cy-Hawk game
- Thread starter ChrisMWilliams
- Start date
Didn't expect it to be that close. I know that many on here have high expectations, but I was not expecting it from Vegas yet. I guess this is a sign of where they think Iowa is too.
ISU hasn't been able to get more than 3 wins in a few years and Iowa is less that 24 months removed from nearly making the CFB Playoff.....blows my mind Vegas only sees them as a few points apart.
I agree. Always tough to understand when you're a few months out though.
I think ISU will match up well if not better at the skill positions, but likely will give some back in the trenches.
Who does ISU have returning this year on offense and defense? Thinking about this game, I can see ISU doing good things, but when Iowa is not talked about and pushed to the side, that is when they are at their best.
SO what are your returning starters looking like?
Best players?
Campbell impressed me when I heard him talk earlier this year. Seems like a guy that can turn it around in Ames, but SLOW down on the expectations. It usually takes until year 3 to see some momentum on the field.
SO what are your returning starters looking like?
Best players?
Campbell impressed me when I heard him talk earlier this year. Seems like a guy that can turn it around in Ames, but SLOW down on the expectations. It usually takes until year 3 to see some momentum on the field.
In this game, the only issue for Iowa is depth at WR and in the secondary.
OFFENSE
I know most people think Stanley and Wiegers are garbage on this site, but they are both former 4 * recruits and both have live arms. Iowa in the spring game was working on attacking down the field and working in a new offense. I would expect those 2 to do nothing but improve. If they can both be average with Wadley, Toks, and Toren Young at RB, then Iowa will have a very good year because of the depth on OL. That unit is super experienced. If ISU is young and inexperienced on the DL and LB units it could be a long day for them.
Iowa has some good WR recruits coming in. I am hoping 3 guys can be consistent and reliable. Vandeberg, Easley, and one of the new guys. Vandeberg coming back is huge if healthy. TE has a lot of young talent. Fant is going to be a good target to stretch the field down the seam, which only helps that talent in the backfield.
DEFENSE
Iowa returns almost all of their front 7, minus Jaleel Johnson. He was a big loss in more ways than one, BUT Epenesa, and Lattimore could be ex factors there. The LB crew is nasty and has A LOT of experience. Secondary has 1 guy returning. 1 guy that stole the show in the spring game. 3 other guys that saw a lot of playing time also. There has also been good recruiting at this spot. I can see it taking a few games to get gelled and that is to ISU advantage. But with the experience and talent in the front 7, That should make the secondary have a little bit of an easier time. I would expect to see more sacks for Iowa this year.
That is more black and gold run down for Iowa. How does ISU stack up to that?
OFFENSE
I know most people think Stanley and Wiegers are garbage on this site, but they are both former 4 * recruits and both have live arms. Iowa in the spring game was working on attacking down the field and working in a new offense. I would expect those 2 to do nothing but improve. If they can both be average with Wadley, Toks, and Toren Young at RB, then Iowa will have a very good year because of the depth on OL. That unit is super experienced. If ISU is young and inexperienced on the DL and LB units it could be a long day for them.
Iowa has some good WR recruits coming in. I am hoping 3 guys can be consistent and reliable. Vandeberg, Easley, and one of the new guys. Vandeberg coming back is huge if healthy. TE has a lot of young talent. Fant is going to be a good target to stretch the field down the seam, which only helps that talent in the backfield.
DEFENSE
Iowa returns almost all of their front 7, minus Jaleel Johnson. He was a big loss in more ways than one, BUT Epenesa, and Lattimore could be ex factors there. The LB crew is nasty and has A LOT of experience. Secondary has 1 guy returning. 1 guy that stole the show in the spring game. 3 other guys that saw a lot of playing time also. There has also been good recruiting at this spot. I can see it taking a few games to get gelled and that is to ISU advantage. But with the experience and talent in the front 7, That should make the secondary have a little bit of an easier time. I would expect to see more sacks for Iowa this year.
That is more black and gold run down for Iowa. How does ISU stack up to that?
Here is the Reader's Digest version. Skill positions on offense should be good to very good. Lots of talent and decent depth. Defensive backfield should also be good to very good.
The question marks - as usual at ISU - are the trenches. Lots of new faces on the defensive front seven but they could turn out to be a pretty talented bunch. Campbell is trying to build a good offensive line but that takes time.
I think we will win but there's really no way in hell I'm betting on this game.
Stanley and Wiegers were both 3 star recruits
http://247sports.com/Player/Nathan-Stanley-75556?Institution=23036
http://247sports.com/Player/Tyler-Wiegers-20413?Institution=2739
You cant put a whole lot of stock in to 247's ranking of Wiegers.
https://cyclonefanatic.com/forum/threads/iowa-football-recruiting.218752/page-327#post-5693021
Rivals was the top recruiting service back then and they had him as a 4 star.
https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2014/tyler-wiegers-11512
The only thing we currently need to worry about is beating UNI badly and not getting run over at the line of scrimmage. Campbell needs a convincing, dominating win to start the year and the defensive line needs to show it can hold up.
Let's pump the brakes a little on the QBs. Weigers only other P5 offer was Rutgers and he couldn't beat out a true freshman last year. Stanley could be serviceable but he will struggle as a true sophomore thrown in there with only one experienced wr and let's not forget, nobody castrates a QB like Kirk. History has shown the team with the better QB usually wins this game and I'll take Park. However iowa will have the advantage in the trenches like usual and if we can't get stops vs the run and defend play action, we'll lose.
Here's a quick rundown. Offense by percentages for yards (except the OL), and Defense by starts and production.
Passing- 100% of production
Rushing-96% of production (could go down slightly depending on Nwangwu).
Receiving- 84% of production (biggest loss here was Daley, who should be replaced nicely by Matt Eaton).
Offensive Line- returns 35 career starts (mostly Campos and JGJ). For reference, there were 6 career starts for UNI game in 2016.
Defensive Line- returns a few players with good experience (Waggoner, Trent, Benton, Bailey) with Bailey having arguably the highest ceiling of any DL player on the team. Those four will be paired with a trio of highly sought after JUCO players and a few big bodies coming off of RS years. Has a chance to be the biggest/most talented DL that I can remember.
Linebacker- two of top 3 linebackers return (Harvey and Northrop) that combined for 128 tackles with Harvey being an HM All-Big 12 backer. Lanning has converted to LB, hard to say how that will turn out. Should also be a few young guys in the mix for playing time.
Secondary- returns 2 All Big-12 picks (KCM and Peavy) and a few other experienced players. I would expect Payne to play the opposite corner (44 tackles in 2016, 5.5 TFL), and Edwards (52 tackles, 2 INT in 2016), or Wilkerson (Georgia grad transfer) to take the other safety spot. Should be some young guys to compete for time as well.
I thought this game would have a close line. If I had to choose, I would take ISU bc it is at ISU and because ISU has an advantage through the air and the Iowa QB situation is still a mystery.
