The Iowa Hawkeyes ended their 2012 football season yesterday with a 13-7 loss to division champion, Nebraska. I was expecting the Hawkeyes to lose by at least three touchdowns, but the defense kept them in the game, unfortunately, like most of the season, the offense didn't come through. Some very questionable play-calling cost Iowa the game in my opinion. I know the wind played a huge factor in the game, but that's no excuse for horrible play-calling. You're already 4-7 and have a chance to upset a ranked opponent on senior day, take a fuckin' chance! I'm a huge Kirk Ferentz fan, but I really am tired of this conservative play on offense, it's ridiculous. You're on national tv, run some trick plays here or there. I watched the Iowa State-West Virginia game after the Iowa-Nebraska game, and it was refreshing to see a coach take chances. Coach Rhoads had a freshmen QB in the game, the 3rd QB that they've played this year. Playing in only his second game, and he ended up with the same amount of touchdowns as James Vandenberg, who threw 389 passes this year!
Looking at the numbers, Vandenberg threw 7 touchdowns this year, which means Iowa had 7 td's through the air, because no one else even took a snap. As for running the ball, Vandy did have 4 rushing touchdowns, Mark Weisman had 8, Damon Bullock with 3. If my math is correct, that's 15 rushing touchdowns. For a grand total of 22 offensive touchdowns in 12 games. As I type this, there are about 6 or 7 players in the country that will score more touchdowns than the Iowa team this entire year, that's not acceptable for a team with a veteran coach like Ferentz. Looking back at the games, if Iowa could have scored one more touchdown each game, they would have beat Iowa State, Central Michigan, Indiana, Purdue and Nebraska, and right now they would be 5-3 9-3 and playing for a pretty good bowl game. Instead, they'll be spending the holidays in Iowa.
The quarterback position was a huge disappointment. Vandenberg's 4th quarter performance against Pittsburgh last year excited a lot of fans for his potential, but he never really lived up to that. Losing Marvin McNutt was a huge loss and several dropped passes certainly hurt his numbers, but he looked scared most of the season, you can't have a scared QB. Looking ahead to 2013 there isn't a single QB on the roster that has taken a snap at the D-1 level. Cody Sokol got some experience in junior college, but Jake Rudock and C.J. Beathard should challenge for the job.
The running back spot, always hit with injuries, no exception this season. It started with projected starter, Jordan Canzeri, in spring ball, which he never came from and took a reshirt. Incoming freshmen, Barkley Hill was injured in practice and missed the season. He just got popped for OWI, so he should be suspended for a game or two next season. Damon Bullock stepped up and had a nice season as the starter until he got knocked out, he ended up with over 500 yards on the ground and has two years left. Walk-on backup fullback, Mark Weisman, provided a nice tough running game when Bullock went down, he racked up 837 yards and 8 touchdowns, including a 217-yard effort. He's a tough runner that can wear a defense down, just like he did against Michigan State early in the season. Highly touted freshmen Greg Garmon came on pretty strong late in the year after struggling and injury early. He ended with 122 yards. Looking ahead to next year, Canzeri, Bullock, Weisman, Hill and Garmon will all be back, which leaves Iowa with a pretty deep backfield. Should be a strong point for next season and 2014.
Brad Rogers was injured much of the season, which led to Jon Gimm playing a lot of fullback, and Gimm did a pretty nice job. Hopefully Rogers will be 100% next year, he's a great blocker. If not, Weisman could definitely shift back over, and Jacob Reisen could play some.
The WR's were bad this year. I thought Keenan Davis would have a break-out season, but he disappeared the last couple weeks and never really stood out. Some of the younger guys showed some promise, but there were so many drops this year. Next year the group should be deep, but there's no one who's going to give other defensive coordinators nightmares. Kevonte Martin-Manley will start, but after that it could be a toss up. I'd like to see Jordan Cotton get a shot, he was a great return man this year. Young guys like Tevaun Smith and Jacob Hillyer will have to step up.
CJ Feidorowitz, sorry I can't spell his name, had a huge end to 2012, making some nice plays the last few weeks. The TE position wasn't used much until late in the season which with really puzzled me. If CJ is back the TE spot will be a strong point for the team next year. Henry Krieger-Coble, Ray Hamilton and Jake Duzey will all be solid backups.
The OL took a hit in the Penn State game, which was rough, losing Brandon Scherff and Andrew Donnal were big shots to the offense. James Ferentz and Matt Tobin played really well yesterday against Nebraska in their final games, Ferentz will be the biggest loss on the OL for next year. Not sure who will take over at the center position. Juco transfer, Eric Simmons, could step up. Scherff will be back at LT, with Donnal at LG, Austin Blythe at RG and Brett Van Sloten at RT. A pretty young group, but a lot of experience, should be one of the better lines in the conference. The line in 2014 could be really good if everyone sticks around and stays healthy. Connor Boffeli could factor in next year as well.
The defensive line was a huge question mark when the season started this year, but they played pretty tough all year. They weren't great, but they held their own at times, and looked really good yesterday even without Joe Gaglione. Gaglione and Bigach will both be gone, but Dom Alvis, Louis Trinca-Pasat and Darian Cooper should start, and all three should be pretty solid. Someone will have to step up at DE, maybe Drew Ott, or possibly Faith Ekakitie after a redshirt season. Should be better next season.
The LB corp was solid, Anthony Hitchens, James Morris, and Christian Kirksey, were the top 3 in tackles with 124, 113, and 95 respectively, they will be seniors next year. They will be much better next season, they could all use a little work. Kirksey was a big play-maker. As for backups, they have Cole Fisher, Travis Perry and Quinton Alston who were mostly special team players this year.
The defensive backs struggled with tackling and didn't force many turnovers this year. Micah Hyde, the senior CB didn't play up to his potential, but he will be missed. Tanner Miller missed a lot of tackles and Nico Law, who started much of the second half, needs to work on angles, but he should be pretty good after the experience he got this year. Iowa has a lot of CB's, but they're very young, BJ Lowery will be a starter, but there will be a big competition for the other starting spot between Jordan Lomax, Sean Draper, Kevin Buford and Maurice Fleming. Miller and Law will be back at the safety spots, but they don't have much depth. Hopefully, recruit, Delano Hill will stick with Iowa, he could get a lot of PT next year.
Mike Meyer is a solid kicker and he'll be back next year. He's been huge for Iowa. at punter, Connor Kornbrath will return after averaging about 38 yards per punt, not the greatest punter, but he'll get better.
So, overall, it was a tough season, but I'm trying to stay positive. I like coach Ferentz, but I think they need a new offensive coordinator, someone who's not afraid to mix it up a bit. They were way too predictable this year, and if I can predict the plays they're going to call, I'm positive that Big 10 defensive coordinators can figure it out. Lets change it up Hawkeyes! Get a young OC that wants to make a name for himself.
Next year's schedule isn't very favorable, and they won't be able to run that vanilla offense if they want to make a bowl game. I'm picking 5-7 if Greg Davis is OC, and that's being nice. Go Hawkeyes!
MY GUESS FOR 2013 STARTING LINEUP
QB-CODY SOKOL JR
RB-DAMON BULLOCK JR
FB-MARK WEISMAN JR
WR-KEVONTE MARTIN-MANLEY JR
WR-JORDAN COTTON SR
TE-CJ FED SR
LT-BRANDON SCHERFF JR
LG-ANDREW DONNAL JR
C-ERIC SIMMONS SO/CONNOR BOFFELI SR
RG-AUSTIN BLYTHE SO
RT-BRETT VAN SLOTEN SR
K-MIKE MEYER JR
DE-DOM ALVIS SR
DT-LTP JR
DT-DARIAN COOPER SO
DE-DREW OTT SO/FAITH EKAKITIE FR
OLB-CHRISTIAN KIRKSEY SR
MLB-JAMES MORRIS SR
OLB-ANTHONY HITCHENS SR
CB-BJ LOWERY SR
CB-JORDAN LOMAX SO
S-TANNER MILLER SR
S-NICO LAW JR
P-CONNOR KORNBRATH SO
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