how much upside does this team have?

[Anon1751457816]

Are we in for a season of mud fight cardiac endings or is this team still figuring things out? I'd like to thing that things will continue to gel and as Hank build more confidence the sky is the limit... Sorta like how gronk got into a rhythm last year. Hard to tell.

 

[Hawk4Ever!]

Same as always not much ... just hope the other teams beat themselves, like Michigan did. Schedule is as usual quite soft after OhioSt, let's get some of that good Kinnick home cooking like vs ISU!
Washington stinks so even though KF doesn't like to leave home, should win that one easily.
After that the toughest game is at N'western, think of that! Need to shore up the awful pass D, Oline is weak, Hank is a scatter arm but with some luck and more tipped pass calls, who knows! Natty !!!

 

[Lionhawk85]

Feels like a team that is going to play every game close. Win the turnover battle and win special teams and we’ll probably win. Lose either of those and the game is probably a toss up against good BIG teams and a loss against the top BIG teams. Definitely see this team with the ability to flirt (and possibly make) the playoff. But unfortunately I see the margin for error as pretty small and they could limp to 8-4 as well.

Rough win guesses imo (it’s still early and a ton could change).

OSU: 15%
@Washington: 50%
@Minn: 65%
Wisconsin: 70%
@NW: 70%
Purdue: 90%
@Illinois: 60%
Neb: 70%

edit: based on the above, assuming a loss to OSU, that’s a 6% chance to win out. If we lose to OSU and Wash both, then a 12% chance to win out and finish 10-2.

Pps: ChatGPT says based on the above, the most likely record is 9-3.

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

What’s the upside?

 

[HawksRule73]

We need to remember that coming into the season, we had the least amount of returning snaps in all of P4. I think we’ll see incremental improvement each week.

 

[rchawk]

We need to remember that coming into the season, we had the least amount of returning snaps in all of P4. I think we’ll see incremental improvement each week.

Yep. Experience and improvement from one week to the next is Kirk Ferentz Coaching 101. They aren't there yet, but by the end of the regular season this Iowa team could be pretty freaking good.

 

[hawkeyebob1962]

Same as always not much ... just hope the other teams beat themselves, like Michigan did. Schedule is as usual quite soft after OhioSt, let's get some of that good Kinnick home cooking like vs ISU!
Washington stinks so even though KF doesn't like to leave home, should win that one easily.
After that the toughest game is at N'western, think of that! Need to shore up the awful pass D, Oline is weak, Hank is a scatter arm but with some luck and more tipped pass calls, who knows! Natty !!!

Go back to your other board "Hawk4Never"

 

[rchawk]

Go back to your other board "Hawk4Never"

Yeah, he's a poser (liar). That's why I put him on Ignore.

 

[Randon]

This team has a lot of upside especially with a favorable schedule after OSU. As for this Saturday's game, I like our chances. OSU's run defense is suspect as they gave up 200 rushing yards to Illinois. If we can establish a run game and avoid costly turnovers, I like our chances.

 

[Hawkedup]

Same as always not much ... just hope the other teams beat themselves, like Michigan did. Schedule is as usual quite soft after OhioSt, let's get some of that good Kinnick home cooking like vs ISU!
Washington stinks so even though KF doesn't like to leave home, should win that one easily.
After that the toughest game is at N'western, think of that! Need to shore up the awful pass D, Oline is weak, Hank is a scatter arm but with some luck and more tipped pass calls, who knows! Natty !!!

How pathetic must one be to disguise themselves as an Iowa fan like this? I guess we shouldn’t be surprised by anything the little red headed step child does anymore.

Did the clowns even play this weekend? I wouldn‘t know cause no one ever talks about them.

 

[Hawkedup]

Feels like a team that is going to play every game close. Win the turnover battle and win special teams and we’ll probably win. Lose either of those and the game is probably a toss up against good BIG teams and a loss against the top BIG teams. Definitely see this team with the ability to flirt (and possibly make) the playoff. But unfortunately I see the margin for error as pretty small and they could limp to 8-4 as well.

Rough win guesses imo (it’s still early and a ton could change).

OSU: 15%
@Washington: 50%
@Minn: 65%
Wisconsin: 70%
@NW: 70%
Purdue: 90%
@Illinois: 60%
Neb: 70%

edit: based on the above, assuming a loss to OSU, that’s a 6% chance to win out. If we lose to OSU and Wash both, then a 12% chance to win out and finish 10-2.

Pps: ChatGPT says based on the above, the most likely record is 9-3.

Wisconsin, northwestern and Nebraska have all looked better than expected. Need to see more but they could be in more of the 60% range, imo.

 

[AFM22]

Same as always not much ... just hope the other teams beat themselves, like Michigan did. Schedule is as usual quite soft after OhioSt, let's get some of that good Kinnick home cooking like vs ISU!
Washington stinks so even though KF doesn't like to leave home, should win that one easily.
After that the toughest game is at N'western, think of that! Need to shore up the awful pass D, Oline is weak, Hank is a scatter arm but with some luck and more tipped pass calls, who knows! Natty !!!

Not Iowa's fault that Michigan can't play a sound, disciplined game. Iowa's just the better team.

 

[jbob2011]

honestly I always feel like our ceiling is national championship. But I'm a biased optimist.

 

[The Big Z]

Wisconsin, northwestern and Nebraska have all looked better than expected. Need to see more but they could be in more of the 60% range, imo.

NW and Nebraska yes. Wisconsin is not good. They were blown out by 30 against ND.

 

[Hawkedup]

NW and Nebraska yes. Wisconsin is not good. They were blown out by 30 against ND.

That was the first game of the season against the number 1 team in the country, right? Like I said, need to see more but they aren’t the pushover we initially thought.

 

[uihawk82]

Are we in for a season of mud fight cardiac endings or is this team still figuring things out? I'd like to thing that things will continue to gel and as Hank build more confidence the sky is the limit... Sorta like how gronk got into a rhythm last year. Hard to tell.

You could be very right about Hank getting better like Grono did as his arm got stronger. Our line is good at pass blocking and running backs have been picking up blitzes. We didnt throw many swing passes to running backs saturday and maybe that was due to Mich having a lot of closing speed.

The OLine should bet better as a group. All the pass catchers have been doing very well if not great. We have some very good running backs. And Hank is doing very well so I think the offense will continue to improve.

All 3 defensive tackles who played are really in their first year of starting and they are doing well but they would say I am sure that they could be more stout. Lbkrs and DBacks are doing very well. Great punting and a good FG kicker (I have a feeling he didnt think he would be going in to try that FG on Saturday).

Anyway, a very solid team, grade them out close to an A or an A. But if we see the run blocking and that part of the game work against the Big 10 teams we have a chance to win a lot of games.

 

[The Big Z]

I'm not really sure what the upside is with this team as I think we saw Saturday what we will see against quality teams. Obviously the Ohio St game will show us more. I thought Hank showed unbelievable poise in the entire 4th quarter once he was basically forced to keep scoring. The good and bad of Iowa football is you know against the top teams we are going to try and limit possessions. We aren't going to play an entire game like we played the 4th qtr against Michigan just because we never do. I think Hank can and will only get better. The wide receiver room ( for Iowa) is better than it's been. Running back group is very deep. O line is above average. The D as we saw again Saturday was classic Phil Parker bend a bit but keep them out of the end zone. We're still not really getting any pressure on the QB but again on Saturday I think the design was to keep Robinson in the pocket and not let him escape for big plays, which we pretty much accomplished. We know our strategy works against the majority of teams. It's just a question of how it works against the really good teams with such a small margin of error and possessions. Would be nice to have a little more big play capability or even attempt it but I think we know that's not really our DNA.

 

[BunchofAholes]

I think it all hinges on the development of both lines. (not surprisingly).

Improved OL play gives us the run game we need.
DL needs to get some pressure on the other QB and be more disruptive

11-1 is possible.

 

[Fight4Iowa]

Lots of upside if we can do the following:

1. Make fg's consistently.
2. Generate more pass rush.
3. Still need to improve against the run. Need more tackles for loss and/or 1-yard gain type run stops.
4. We need to be able to run the ball more consistently.
5. Need to get better in short yardage situations.
6. Secondary is giving up too many big plays and plays that weren't converted (iowa state game)

We're going to need to get to a point where we can score 21-24+ consistently the rest of the way, and we need to keep people to 17 or less.

 

[Hawk-A-Doodle-Doo]

What’s the upside?

You sunnuvabich rat bastard. Beat Ol' Doodle to the punch.

 

[Heathen Raider]

We need to remember that coming into the season, we had the least amount of returning snaps in all of P4. I think we’ll see incremental improvement each week.

Which means if Iowa is not decimated by early NFL entrants and transfers from the 2 deeps 2027 Team could be a real problem

 

[QChawks]

This team has a lot of upside especially with a favorable schedule after OSU. As for this Saturday's game, I like our chances. OSU's run defense is suspect as they gave up 200 rushing yards to Illinois. If we can establish a run game and avoid costly turnovers, I like our chances.

Great call