Here are my impressions about the Cyclones after one game.
Offense:
The coaching staff will need to make major adjustments to the o-line, in specific. If they can make major improvement in that department, I think the offense can take the steps needed to get to where us fans had expected them to be. If the o-line continues like we saw today it could be a long season. Iowa is going to be one of the better, if not the best, front seven this team will see all season. But what we saw today will not result in positive outcomes for the rest of the season.
Offense:
- Offensive line needs a lot of work. Can't run block. Can't pass block. RBs have no holes to run through. No time for receiver separation, which leads to shorter throwing windows and less confidence in running deeper passing routes.
- WRs did not look to be working into holes in the D, and didn't work for separation off the line. Some of this could be the lack of o-line hold that lead to the WRs being less confident in having the time to run the routes to get open.
- RBs looked good, even with the lack of o-line positive work to get them the room to work.
- Kempt didn't look good; not bad, but not good either. Zeb coming in didn't change anything. Don't know what the outcome of Kempt's injury will be but I don't know if the coaching staff going to more confident with Zeb vs Kempt going into Oklahoma.
- D looked good all around. Great to see!
- D-line was good. Great to see Lima, Uwazurike, and Bailey disrupting the backfield. And Leo looked good in the few snaps I saw him in. The group as a whole is going to be one of the best in the Big 12.
- LBs looked good as well. Rose was everything they hype lead us to believe. He is only going to get better, and he's a freshman. We should expect great things from this young man!
- Corners also lived up to expectations. Peavy, in particular, looked awesome.
- Safety's also looked really good. Hard hitting, good reads, and made some plays off the edge.
- Punter Dunn should NEVER, EVER try a rugby style punt again!!!
The coaching staff will need to make major adjustments to the o-line, in specific. If they can make major improvement in that department, I think the offense can take the steps needed to get to where us fans had expected them to be. If the o-line continues like we saw today it could be a long season. Iowa is going to be one of the better, if not the best, front seven this team will see all season. But what we saw today will not result in positive outcomes for the rest of the season.
