Midseason report
Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 3:29 pm
Many teams are halfway through their schedule and the others are close, so let's give some midseason grades for our teams and if they're where you expected, better than expected, or worse than expected. Then also some 2nd half predictions.
For Iowa........
It's quite simple, we're 6-0 and so I can't do a lot of complaining but there are some things that need improvement. The offensive line is having some issues opening up holes against for the running backs. Bryan Bulaga, our all-american LT, is getting tore the fuck up. If he's not healthy, he should not be playing and I think it's obvious he's not right. His backup was doing a much better job. The only other issue I really have with this team is Stanzi's boneheaded mistakes. Get Bulaga healthy and Stanzi quit making dumb mistakes and this will be a complete football team.
At 6-0, it's pretty close to where I had projected at this point. I thought we'd be 5-1 or 6-0 right now, so I don't think they've really exceeded my expectations. I said at the beginning of the year that Iowa and Ohio State would be battling for the conference title and I still feel that way. The edge goes to tOSU because of their schedule. But I think Iowa is clearly a better football team. Terrelle Pryor is a BAD quarterback. They don't have many offensive weapons and the defense is no better than Iowa's. There's no way they would come into Kinnick and win, but it's a toss-up in Columbus.
I am rooting for Northwestern to beat Michigan State this week because I think if that happens, Sparty will just quit. It will make the game in 2 weeks much easier. If they win, that's 3 straight and I could see them go on a nice run and really end up with a decent season. I felt this way about them heading into the Wisconsin game because you got the feeling they were a better team than their record- much like Iowa last year at this point.
We face Wisconsin and Michigan State on the road these next 2 games. I think we will lose 1 of those games. But if we can find a way to win them both, that Ohio State game not only will end up being for a Big-10 title, it could also be for a national title shot for Iowa. But it's way too early to be having this discussion............
So I'm still sticking to my preseason prediction of 10-2. We lose either to MSU or Wisconsin and then to Ohio State and go to the CapitalOne Bowl to face LSU. Exactly what I predicted preseason.
For Iowa........
It's quite simple, we're 6-0 and so I can't do a lot of complaining but there are some things that need improvement. The offensive line is having some issues opening up holes against for the running backs. Bryan Bulaga, our all-american LT, is getting tore the fuck up. If he's not healthy, he should not be playing and I think it's obvious he's not right. His backup was doing a much better job. The only other issue I really have with this team is Stanzi's boneheaded mistakes. Get Bulaga healthy and Stanzi quit making dumb mistakes and this will be a complete football team.
At 6-0, it's pretty close to where I had projected at this point. I thought we'd be 5-1 or 6-0 right now, so I don't think they've really exceeded my expectations. I said at the beginning of the year that Iowa and Ohio State would be battling for the conference title and I still feel that way. The edge goes to tOSU because of their schedule. But I think Iowa is clearly a better football team. Terrelle Pryor is a BAD quarterback. They don't have many offensive weapons and the defense is no better than Iowa's. There's no way they would come into Kinnick and win, but it's a toss-up in Columbus.
I am rooting for Northwestern to beat Michigan State this week because I think if that happens, Sparty will just quit. It will make the game in 2 weeks much easier. If they win, that's 3 straight and I could see them go on a nice run and really end up with a decent season. I felt this way about them heading into the Wisconsin game because you got the feeling they were a better team than their record- much like Iowa last year at this point.
We face Wisconsin and Michigan State on the road these next 2 games. I think we will lose 1 of those games. But if we can find a way to win them both, that Ohio State game not only will end up being for a Big-10 title, it could also be for a national title shot for Iowa. But it's way too early to be having this discussion............
So I'm still sticking to my preseason prediction of 10-2. We lose either to MSU or Wisconsin and then to Ohio State and go to the CapitalOne Bowl to face LSU. Exactly what I predicted preseason.