Rest of the season trajectory

[r_desihawk]

yes KF teams start slow and frequently improve and play their best ball in november but imo those teams had legitimately high ceilings. for instance a OL with physically gifted maulers can keep getting better over the year. however this year's OL isn't going open up great running lanes later on no matter what.
with a Kaleb Johnson 1-2 moments of individual brilliance could make up for mediocre line play but the current crop of RBs...much lower ceiling. QBs same story -- this year's guys are not going to be playing a whole better later on (like for instance gronowski). DL again same story -- high motor guys but they are what we have seen. LBs and secondary are the only units i feel that offer hopes for elevated play later in the year.

all said despite flipping competencies on offense we haven't really become better...in fact perhaps a bit worse off (because a bias for rushing the ball atleast had the additional advantage of being able to shorten the game when required). defense is where improvements likely can be expected.

We've already managed to get the right bounces a couple times. if it's going to be our year, hopefully that continues in our favor a few more times. 8-4 unfortunately is looking increasingly where we are headed

 

[ottumwan in tx]

I dont think it is unfortunate at all. Every year this is an 8 win team. Sometimes 9. It’s fate. Fortune. Scripted.

 

[AFM22]

We all thought we would be 3-2 right now, we’re 4-1.

Smith is a cheat code.

This team is fine and I still think 10-2.

 

[BlIIlken2]

We all thought we would be 3-2 right now, we’re 4-1.

Smith is a cheat code.

This team is fine and I still think 10-2.

We have some massive red flags going right now. Zero run game and pretty rough defensive line. I won’t mention mid QB play because we ALWAYS have that. Record is what it is though. I’ll save more doomsdayer judgement after Friday nights game.

 

[AFM22]

We have some massive red flags going right now. Zero run game and pretty rough defensive line. I won’t mention mid QB play because we ALWAYS have that. Record is what it is though. I’ll save more doomsdayer judgement after Friday nights game.

lol you have more?

 

[BlIIlken2]

lol you have more?

 

[eyesofhawk]

Upward

 

[Driftless_Hawk]

Washington game defines the season. If we win 10-2 on the table.

Second half of the schedule looks way tougher than expected. 6-6 is a real possibility if the putrid rushing attack continues

 

[JerseyCityHawk]

We all thought we would be 3-2 right now, we’re 4-1.

Smith is a cheat code.

This team is fine and I still think 10-2.

11-1

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Washington game defines the season. If we win 10-2 on the table.

Second half of the schedule looks way tougher than expected. 6-6 is a real possibility if the putrid rushing attack continues

Lololol.. The SAME stuff every year. We lose our FIRST game, and we have posters acting like we'll be lucky to win another game.

 

[Fight4Iowa]

I think it's still positive, but we have another stretch of very tough games. @ Washington historically is going to be a loss. @ Minnesota isn't going to be easy, but Ferentz wins that game most years. I actually think @NW might be even tougher than @Wash. Depending on how Wisconsin keeps progressing, we'll need to play well to win that game. Nebraska game looks tough too.

If we can go 4-3 over the next 7 games, I might sign up. Everything is still possible though. Focus on @ Washington for now.

 

[rchawk]

Washington game defines the season. If we win 10-2 on the table.

Second half of the schedule looks way tougher than expected. 6-6 is a real possibility if the putrid rushing attack continues

That is ridiculous. When was the last year an Iowa team won six or fewer games?

The Washington game is important but it won't make or break the season.

 

[Hurricane88]

Take it one game at a time. The only people that had high expectations for this year's squad are us fans. Kirk and company knew they were young and that they would need some time to really show their true potential. I think we really see who they are on Friday. If they can pull out a win and head into the bye week with some momentum before the battle for the pig, I think they will be fine.

 

[rchawk]

Take it one game at a time. The only people that had high expectations for this year's squad are us fans. Kirk and company knew they were young and that they would need some time to really show their true potential. I think we really see who they are on Friday. If they can pull out a win and head into the bye week with some momentum before the battle for the pig, I think they will be fine.

Yep.

 

[the24fan]

Lololol.. The SAME stuff every year. We lose our FIRST game, and we have posters acting like we'll be lucky to win another game.

This is the correct answer.

 

[Kirk is God]

11-1 is absolutely on the table right now. I think Kirk finally gets the west coast monkey off his back this week. I feel like he’s only getting better with age. This is a special year.

 

[Iron Doc]

11-1 is absolutely on the table right now. I think Kirk finally gets the west coast monkey off his back this week. I feel like he’s only getting better with age. This is a special year.

Reminder: The Capt is NOT God.
Blasphemy is a risky business.
Might get hit by lightning.

 

[Hawk1988]

I dont think it is unfortunate at all. Every year this is an 8 win team. Sometimes 9. It’s fate. Fortune. Scripted.

Yearly schedule hands out 6 wins, with weak OOC and B10 still littered with Big10 west teams. Luck out once or twice, get drubbed by big teams. Ya 8 wins works, with luck 9 or 10. But this team isn't winning 9 or 10. Could end up 6-6. Not very good. Worse than last year with Gronk saving a 6-6 season vs Sparty and Penn St.

 

[Hawk1988]

We have some massive red flags going right now. Zero run game and pretty rough defensive line. I won’t mention mid QB play because we ALWAYS have that. Record is what it is though. I’ll save more doomsdayer judgement after Friday nights game.

Bingo, plus secondary is awful. Saftey issues again, just not very good. Corners are getting called for their usually holding this year. Good thing the schedule is weak but it looks like another toilet bowl season. Hopefully vs another Vandy.

 

[Hawk1988]

Take it one game at a time. The only people that had high expectations for this year's squad are us fans. Kirk and company knew they were young and that they would need some time to really show their true potential. I think we really see who they are on Friday. If they can pull out a win and head into the bye week with some momentum before the battle for the pig, I think they will be fine.

We saw that potential Saturday. Men vs boys, very very lucky not 2-3. Could lose to everyone of the teams coming up. Will not beat them all. Just not that good.

 

[Burghawk87]

Reminder: The Capt is NOT God.
Blasphemy is a risky business.
Might get hit by lightning.

Who knows, there's thousands of gods worshipped throughout the world's history. Why not one more?

 

[JerseyCityHawk]

yes KF teams start slow and frequently improve and play their best ball in november but imo those teams had legitimately high ceilings. for instance a OL with physically gifted maulers can keep getting better over the year. however this year's OL isn't going open up great running lanes later on no matter what.
with a Kaleb Johnson 1-2 moments of individual brilliance could make up for mediocre line play but the current crop of RBs...much lower ceiling. QBs same story -- this year's guys are not going to be playing a whole better later on (like for instance gronowski). DL again same story -- high motor guys but they are what we have seen. LBs and secondary are the only units i feel that offer hopes for elevated play later in the year.

all said despite flipping competencies on offense we haven't really become better...in fact perhaps a bit worse off (because a bias for rushing the ball atleast had the additional advantage of being able to shorten the game when required). defense is where improvements likely can be expected.

We've already managed to get the right bounces a couple times. if it's going to be our year, hopefully that continues in our favor a few more times. 8-4 unfortunately is looking increasingly where we are headed

As much as I love reading your posts Desi… I have to disagree with you as Iowa definitely has a clear path to 11-1 at worst 10-2… if Iowa can start maturing as they’re a young team still and maybe a year away but I think they have what it takes to make a big statement and kick and crush Washington… I don’t see anyone that can beat Iowa from here on out… just my opinion! Will see though that’s why they play the games… BTW great post bro!

 

[83Hawk]

Personally, I think it’s too early to say. Iowa really hasn’t beaten anyone so far. They lost to Ohio State but that was expected, so fans shouldn’t be so quick to throw in the towel.

We will learn a lot this week. Many of the other teams on the schedule appear to be better than expected (at this point): Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and yes…Nebraska…so it won’t necessarily get any easier.

I am not ready to give up on the running game. The Hawks have good backs. And of course, they have the “shiny toys” to throw to!

We’ll know more after the next 3 games.

 

[BlIIlken2]

We are overlooking how poorly we have looked against real competition this year. Of course no one expected us to beat OSU, but we didn’t look good at all in the loss. Not standard Iowa football. Zero run game, lots of penalties, bad line play. Just not going to cut it going forward. One game, sure throw it away. But it has been a pattern this year against P4 opponents. Having said that it does look like we have WRs/TEs getting open, so that does bode well if we have to play from behind/catch up against less talented (teams not named Ohio State) teams going forward. Hopefully the line play improves and the run game turns because yes on paper it’s still all there to play for.

 

[r_desihawk]

As much as I love reading your posts Desi… I have to disagree with you as Iowa definitely has a clear path to 11-1 at worst 10-2… if Iowa can start maturing as they’re a young team still and maybe a year away but I think they have what it takes to make a big statement and kick and crush Washington… I don’t see anyone that can beat Iowa from here on out… just my opinion! Will see though that’s why they play the games… BTW great post bro!

definitely hope you are correct and i get humiliated by end of the season.

the best outcome going forward is to somehow eke out a win against wa and then use the next 2-weeks to rise like phoenix from ashes. but i am not sure what kf can do to prevent the team be zombies in the 2nd half like they always are late out west

 

[DuddyB]

We are overlooking how poorly we have looked against real competition this year. Of course no one expected us to beat OSU, but we didn’t look good at all in the loss. Not standard Iowa football. Zero run game, lots of penalties, bad line play. Just not going to cut it going forward. One game, sure throw it away. But it has been a pattern this year against P4 opponents. Having said that it does look like we have WRs/TEs getting open, so that does bode well if we have to play from behind/catch up against less talented (teams not named Ohio State) teams going forward. Hopefully the line play improves and the run game turns because yes on paper it’s still all there to play for.

You’re overlooking that we typically get better throughout the season and we still went two and one against that real competition

 

[WigPen]

I think this whole OSU game was foreshadowed by the $1M kick attempt during GameDay. Hopefully it won't spill over into the rest of the season.

 

[BlIIlken2]

You’re overlooking that we typically get better throughout the season and we still went two and one against that real competition

Not arguing that in anyway. Just commenting on the now. Also yes, that Mich win hopefully is massive come seasons end.

 

[uihawk82]

We all thought we would be 3-2 right now, we’re 4-1.

Smith is a cheat code.

This team is fine and I still think 10-2.

I thought 8-4 or 9-3 at the start of the season most likely 3-2 at this point although I also thought Mich would be best to get early in the year (and they might lose 4-5 games this year) but 4-1 is great. Wash is not great, they were ranked but not running the ball well and if the hawks can control their qb run and passing game they can win.

But in the long run the hawks need to start cranking out 150+ yards a game running.

 

[Driftless_Hawk]

That is ridiculous. When was the last year an Iowa team won six or fewer games?

The Washington game is important but it won't make or break the season.

This is not ridiculous. We have zero run game, terrible QB play and D line can’t get any pressure. Washington, Minnesota Wisconsin and Nebraska games could all easily be losses.

 

[uihawk82]

Take it one game at a time. The only people that had high expectations for this year's squad are us fans. Kirk and company knew they were young and that they would need some time to really show their true potential. I think we really see who they are on Friday. If they can pull out a win and head into the bye week with some momentum before the battle for the pig, I think they will be fine.

correct, the bye week gives them two weeks of film and practice to work on things. A win this week and a 5-1 record is huge . But it will be really tough to go 5-1 in the back half of the schedule. Wisky has a really fast very good running qb but I dont know what he is as a passer. Is Nebby really good? jNW will be tough.

 

[uihawk82]

As much as I love reading your posts Desi… I have to disagree with you as Iowa definitely has a clear path to 11-1 at worst 10-2… if Iowa can start maturing as they’re a young team still and maybe a year away but I think they have what it takes to make a big statement and kick and crush Washington… I don’t see anyone that can beat Iowa from here on out… just my opinion! Will see though that’s why they play the games… BTW great post bro!

Yeah, the hawks have a clear path but MIch really helped us with bad penalties and we got two huge batted ball catches. To win these last 7 or 6 of them most all the bounces have to go Iowa's way, maybe our opponents play some of their lesser games forced on them by the hawks playing tough, and less penalties and mistaked by Iowa.

Oh and 150+ yards rushing per game

 

[Iron Doc]

Start Hecklinski.
That is all.

 

[TRHawkeye28]

We saw that potential Saturday. Men vs boys, very very lucky not 2-3. Could lose to everyone of the teams coming up. Will not beat them all. Just not that good.

You can run back to the Nebby boards now - how pathetic to create a fake account just to troll another teams message board

Your life must suck - feel sorry for you man

 

[UIAlumFireFighter]

Personally, I think it’s too early say. Iowa really hasn’t beaten anyone so far. They lost to Ohio State but that was expected, so fans shouldn’t be so quick to throw in the towel.

We will learn a lot this week. Many of the other teams on the schedule appear to be better than expected (at this point): Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and yes…Nebraska…so it won’t necessarily get any easier.

I am not ready to give up on the running game. The Hawks have good backs. And of course, they have the “shiny toys” to throw to!

We’ll know more after the next 3 games.

“We will learn a lot this week”…….

We gonna keep this up until the Nebraska week??

LOL at Jerseyhawk with the “We’re probably one year away”….This is said every season. Always have our excuses.

 

[greasy]

Some of these posts are very odd. If anyone asked here at the beginning of the year, we'd be thrilled to be 4-1 at this point. The sky is still the limit for this team with the remaining schedule. The Washington game looks WAY MORE gettable than we would have thought at the beginning of the season. If they can play a good game on Friday, they have the bye week to reset a bit and none of the remaining games are particularly daunting (not saying any are a cake walk, but it's crazy to think any of those games are guaranteed Ls).

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Bingo, plus secondary is awful. Saftey issues again, just not very good. Corners are getting called for their usually holding this year. Good thing the schedule is weak but it looks like another toilet bowl season. Hopefully vs another Vandy.

I know if I felt like that I'd find something else to do with my Saturdays. Just saying.......

 

[rchawk]

I know if I felt like that I'd find something else to do with my Saturdays. Just saying.......

Or create an account to post on the site of a team you don't like. We have a few of those here.

Heck, clown and nowledge u fans openly post here, and that's fine because they are honest about it. Good luck trying to post on their boards though. Dr. Goebbels must run both.

 

[Randon]

As bad as Iowa played Saturday it could have easily been a 10-6 game at halftime and then who knows what might have been in the second half. OSU scored with seconds remaining before halftime after Iowa's offense once again turned over the ball on downs.

 

[SeenItAllBefore]

Lololol.. The SAME stuff every year. We lose our FIRST game, and we have posters acting like we'll be lucky to win another game.

It's a long-standing tradition. Just think of it as an inverse wave.