Iowa goes 11-1 in style

[JerseyCityHawk]

I don’t like to put my neck on the line but me thinks if Iowa plays like they did this past night good luck taking down the Hawks the rest of the way out. I have been known to be very wrong but the path is there now they just need to execute it, easier send than done but I can definitely envision them doing this!
Goooooo Hawks!

 

[Nvhwk]

I don’t like to put my neck on the line but me thinks if Iowa plays like they did this past night good luck taking down the Hawks the rest of the way out. I have been known to be very wrong but the path is there now they just need to execute it, easier send than done but I can definitely envision them doing this!
Goooooo Hawks!

The next three games aren’t cupcakes they can’t take anyone lightly

 

[eyesofhawk]

5-1

 

[Hawkangler]

@ Minny will not be easy

@ NW will be tough also

Wisconsin's win @ PSU was a fluke, but they are improved.

should win @ Illinois but it is always tough on the road

should beat PU

will know more about the Cornholers after today.

 

[93hawkeye]

Washington's lines are not very good. The Hawks will see better line play from their opponents in many of the remaining games

 

[WeBeHerkin]

One at a time. Including the next one will be tough in Kinnick north.

 

[rchawk]

One at a time. Including the next one will be tough in Kinnick north.

True, but as posted last Saturday morning, "Ohio State is the best team Iowa is going to play this year and it's not even close."

 

[WeBeHerkin]

True, but as posted last Saturday morning, "Ohio State is the best team Iowa is going to play this year and it's not even close."

Turnovers can always kill even against lesser teams.

 

[Anon1751457816]

Loving what I'm seeing, but I still have too many pear shaped games in my memory banks

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

5-1

The voice of reason.

So this.

 

[83Hawk]

I don’t like to put my neck on the line but me thinks if Iowa plays like they did this past night good luck taking down the Hawks the rest of the way out. I have been known to be very wrong but the path is there now they just need to execute it, easier send than done but I can definitely envision them doing this!
Goooooo Hawks!

Then again, you are an eternal optimist who picks Iowa to win almost every game! (nothing wrong with that) I temper my expectations because I have been disappointed too many times.

That being said, I agree with you. If the Hawks can manage to play this way every game the rest of the season, they are going to be a tough out.

 

[MFinn]

There's a reasonable chance that we won't face another ranked opponent all season.

 

[RuggieC]

One game....Minnesota.
One QB........Heck

This needs to be Tim Lester's offense. With Heck at QB the playbook looked WAY more open. With Hank it looks much more limited. Take this game and run with it with Heck. He gives us a better chance and a bigger playbook. He was spot on last night. If Hank starts then frankly Kirk is saying he does not trust Tim Lester to make the call. The guy that RUNS THE OFFENSE....he would not trust. I love KF but he needs to take himself off the hot seat. Let Tim make the call and roll from there.

 

[Hawk-A-Doodle-Doo]

Purdue is improved, despite its sub-500 record.
Minnesota is better this year.
Nebraska is better than last year.
Northwestern is better than last year.
Wisconsin is much better than last year.
Only Illinois appears to have regressed, but of course that game is on the road.

Everyone thinking the second half of the season will be a tiptoe through the tulips is either drunk, delusional, or being willfully ignorant of our history.

The margin for error is, as always, very slim. 11-1 is obviously still possible, because...math. But many of you are also saying 10-2 should get us into the CFP. You can't have it both ways. You can't say how "easy" the rest of the schedule is....and then in the same breath say it'd be okay if we lose to one of them. By default, if you're implying that all we have are "cupcakes" remaining, we can't afford to choke on any of them and still expect to get playoff consideration. Not in the 12-team CFP era anyway.

Barring complete chaos, IDHO, every contest from here on out is a de facto elimination game.

 

[JerseyCityHawk]

The next three games aren’t cupcakes they can’t take anyone lightly

Absolutely you’re correct… and it’s not as an easy as if a schedule as the outsiders think as they will need their A game in every contest

 

[JerseyCityHawk]

5-1

Thata boy! You straight shooter you lol jk but FACTS

 

[UIAlumFireFighter]

Our pass defense is definitely “shaky” to a point where a very good passing team could torch us big.

 

[AndreTheHawk]

True, but as posted last Saturday morning, "Ohio State is the best team Iowa is going to play this year and it's not even close."

That's pretty much every year that they're on Iowa's schedule.

 

[85Bears]

Our pass defense is definitely “shaky” to a point where a very good passing team could torch us big.

lol, only with that officiating crew

 

[Doctor Hawktagonapus]

Our pass defense is definitely “shaky” to a point where a very good passing team could torch us big.

We just played the #1 and #5 team in the Big 10 by pass yards per game. We don't play #2,3,6, or 7.
#4 is Purdue.

 

[AndreTheHawk]

Purdue is improved, despite its sub-500 record.
Minnesota is better this year.
Nebraska is better than last year.
Northwestern is better than last year.
Wisconsin is much better than last year.
Only Illinois appears to have regressed, but of course that game is on the road.

Everyone thinking the second half of the season will be a tiptoe through the tulips is either drunk, delusional, or being willfully ignorant of our history.

The margin for error is, as always, very slim. 11-1 is obviously still possible, because...math. But many of you are also saying 10-2 should get us into the CFP. You can't have it both ways. You can't say how "easy" the rest of the schedule is....and then in the same breath say it'd be okay if we lose to one of them. By default, if you're implying that all we have are "cupcakes" remaining, we can't afford to choke on any of them and still expect to get playoff consideration. Not in the 12-team CFP era anyway.

Barring complete chaos, IDHO, every contest from here on out is a de facto elimination game.

No idea why Iowa kicked the crap out of Washington like they did. It's the same team minus Hank Brown that barely survived a decent Iowa State team, in Kinnick, and took a miracle to beat a mediocre Michigan team, granted at the Big House. Ran the ball down their throats and turnover free football, Kirk Ferentz wet dream stuff. And completed the majority of check down passes that Iowa loves. Good stuff to be sure.

There is no way in hell that this is the team that shows up every Saturday from here on out. Not gonna be that easy. But Iowa does typically get better as the season goes along so that helps. Need a better pass rush, and secondary play for sure. But you are what your record says you are, so 5-1 with 2 gimmes ain't bad.

 

[85Bears]

No idea why Iowa kicked the crap out of Washington like they did. It's the same team minus Hank Brown that barely survived a decent Iowa State team, in Kinnick, and took a miracle to beat a mediocre Michigan team, granted at the Big House. Ran the ball down their throats and turnover free football, Kirk Ferentz wet dream stuff. And completed the majority of check down passes that Iowa loves. Good stuff to be sure.

There is no way in hell that this is the team that shows up every Saturday from here on out. Not gonna be that easy. But Iowa does typically get better as the season goes along so that helps. Need a better pass rush, and secondary play for sure. But you are what your record says you are, so 5-1 with 2 gimmes ain't bad.

How’s your team doing vs IU ?

 

[WeBeHerkin]

There's a reasonable chance that we won't face another ranked opponent all season.

Early but Braska leading Indiana in Q1

 

[WeBeHerkin]

Our pass defense is definitely “shaky” to a point where a very good passing team could torch us big.

BUt they are learning and we always get better as we go along in the season

 

[tampahawkfan77]

Purdue is improved, despite its sub-500 record.
Minnesota is better this year.
Nebraska is better than last year.
Northwestern is better than last year.
Wisconsin is much better than last year.
Only Illinois appears to have regressed, but of course that game is on the road.

Everyone thinking the second half of the season will be a tiptoe through the tulips is either drunk, delusional, or being willfully ignorant of our history.

The margin for error is, as always, very slim. 11-1 is obviously still possible, because...math. But many of you are also saying 10-2 should get us into the CFP. You can't have it both ways. You can't say how "easy" the rest of the schedule is....and then in the same breath say it'd be okay if we lose to one of them. By default, if you're implying that all we have are "cupcakes" remaining, we can't afford to choke on any of them and still expect to get playoff consideration. Not in the 12-team CFP era anyway.

Barring complete chaos, IDHO, every contest from here on out is a de facto elimination game.

Yep. I don't think 10-2 with no wins over ranked opponents gets us into a playoff. 11-1 is the only way.

Maybe laughing boy Hawktagonapus can explain to me why I'm wrong.

 

[eyesofhawk]

Thata boy! You straight shooter you lol jk but FACTS

Just gotta keep grinding and playing good ball

 

[Huskerboy40]

There is always one turd. Lets hope it was vs. OSU.

 

[T. Kimball]

Washington's lines are not very good. The Hawks will see better line play from their opponents in many of the remaining games

Even their coach acknowledged they got out physically.

 

[Hurricane88]

Idk if Iowa makes it through their next 3 games without a loss, let alone the rest of the season. I also don't think a 10-2 Iowa team will make the playoff. The committee will say we played no one and yadda yadda and find a reason to add another SEC team in our place.

I'm telling you, Iowa can never have nice things.

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

Feeling a lot better about the Minny game right about now….

 

[JerseyCityHawk]

Idk if Iowa makes it through their next 3 games without a loss, let alone the rest of the season. I also don't think a 10-2 Iowa team will make the playoff. The committee will say we played no one and yadda yadda and find a reason to add another SEC team in our place.

I'm telling you, Iowa can never have nice things.

Who pissed in your Cheerios this morning?

 

[kwik44]

We just played the #1 and #5 team in the Big 10 by pass yards per game. We don't play #2,3,6, or 7.
#4 is Purdue.

Sans Jeremiah smith being the best college wr all time, I thought Iowa did pretty decent in the secondary.

I’m attributing the Washington game as being ‘off gameplan’. They didn’t expect #2 to be a gunslinger. Had prepped hard for Demond Williams.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

One game....Minnesota.
One QB........Heck

This needs to be Tim Lester's offense. With Heck at QB the playbook looked WAY more open. With Hank it looks much more limited. Take this game and run with it with Heck. He gives us a better chance and a bigger playbook. He was spot on last night. If Hank starts then frankly Kirk is saying he does not trust Tim Lester to make the call. The guy that RUNS THE OFFENSE....he would not trust. I love KF but he needs to take himself off the hot seat. Let Tim make the call and roll from there.

Sorry, but I just don't agree for a second that this is not Lesters call. He has way to good of a current resume for Kirk to over rule his chance to be successful in his current gig. If Lester truly wanted one guy and Kirk overrides him I think 100% he won't be here next season.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Yep. I don't think 10-2 with no wins over ranked opponents gets us into a playoff. 11-1 is the only way.

Maybe laughing boy Hawktagonapus can explain to me why I'm wrong.

Unfortunately I think your correct. 10-2 probably doesn't get us in, this year. UCLA being 5-0 and has a much easier schedule going forward. 5 at home and two on the road, and will be favored in every game except MAYBE at Michigan. Indiana probably doesn't lose two? We'll have to be in the top three B1G teams at minimum to have a shot.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Who pissed in your Cheerios this morning?

Unfortunately most years we probably get in with a 10-2 record. This year probably not unless UCLA loses 2 of their last 7 with a pretty easy schedule, and Indiana loses at least 2 games going forward.

 

[AFM22]

Unfortunately most years we probably get in with a 10-2 record. This year probably not unless UCLA loses 2 of their last 7 with a pretty easy schedule, and Indiana loses at least 2 games going forward.

Hard to say until we see where the CFP initially ranks us compared to UCLA and the other SEC 2-loss-possible teams.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Hard to say until we see where the CFP initially ranks us compared to UCLA and the other SEC 2-loss-possible teams.

True, but they were only one spot behind us in the last poll and they knocked off the #13 team, (whether Oregon deserves that ranking is questionable at this point), and their schedule looks like a cake walk until the last two weeks.

 

[AFM22]

True, but they were only one spot behind us in the last poll and they knocked off the #13 team, (whether Oregon deserves that ranking is questionable at this point), and their schedule looks like a cake walk until the last two weeks.

Usually the AP ranks us lower than the committee.

Edit: I mean lower like golf score. So technically they rank us higher than the AP.

 

[JerseyCityHawk]

Unfortunately most years we probably get in with a 10-2 record. This year probably not unless UCLA loses 2 of their last 7 with a pretty easy schedule, and Indiana loses at least 2 games going forward.

I get ya… all good we all have our opinions so I am saying one game at a time and let the Gods play out what’s going to happen

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

Unfortunately I think your correct. 10-2 probably doesn't get us in, this year. UCLA being 5-0 and has a much easier schedule going forward. 5 at home and two on the road, and will be favored in every game except MAYBE at Michigan. Indiana probably doesn't lose two? We'll have to be in the top three B1G teams at minimum to have a shot.

Unfortunately most years we probably get in with a 10-2 record. This year probably not unless UCLA loses 2 of their last 7 with a pretty easy schedule, and Indiana loses at least 2 games going forward.

I tend to agree with this. If you had asked me before the season if 10-2 would get Iowa into the CFP, with Oregon, Penn St, Michigan and Washington dropping out of contention, I would have said heck, yeah. But now I don't think so. The B1G is not certain to get 4 teams in, and right now Iowa is far behind IN and OSU, and is now behind UCLA (remaining schedule similar to Iowa's) and USC (remaining schedule brutal).

I think Iowa is definitely IN at 11-1 (or 11-2 if they play in the BTCG), but they would need "help" to get in at 10-2 (multiple losses by IN and USC and/or the SEC cannibalizing itself). A 10-2 record with a loss to one of the teams remaining on our schedule, with our best win being Michigan/Washington/Nebraska is a really good season but the resume may fall short for the CFP....