BHGP Iowa @ Michigan Preview (pt 2)

Submitted by MGoPony on

Iowa Football Blog, Black Heart Gold Pants, has posted their preseason preview of Michigan:

http://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/2010/8/3/1566925/better-know-an-iowa-football#storyjump

Having grown up in Iowa, and knowing plenty of people attending the U of I, I hear all too much about how Iowa is going to smoke us at home. Looking at some of the comments, and listening to some of my friends, they seem far to willing to write us off.

I cant wait to see Woolfolk snag a pick-6, and watch Denard shred their defense all day long as Iowas bid for national relevance goes up in smoke. I think our 'underdog' status plays a big role in pulling an upset over a well disciplined but not great team. Anyone else think this game is surprisingly winnable?

XxNoRemorsExX

August 3rd, 2010 at 7:59 PM ^

I live in Iowa and was at that game last year.  I was told by many of the Iowa home game regulars that it is referred to as a RickSix.  It was my first ever Michigan game and was amazingly exciting when that happened.  Then I high fived a fellow M fan 2 rows in front of me and was immediately lambasted by a drunk woman 4 seats to my right.  "Michigan f---ing sucks, get out of here.  You're in the wrong f---ing section.  F--- you!"  I politely said have another and went back about my cheering for Michigan.  Midway through the second quarter, she was being dragged from our row by her boyfriend after puking all over the ground.  He must be so proud of her. 

Number 7

August 3rd, 2010 at 4:36 PM ^

I don't doubt that Iowa's defense will be fierce. I think their o will be shaky, though. It's tough to replace an all-America lineman, and Stanzi, G-d bless his American soul, may be a bit overrated.

MGoPony

August 3rd, 2010 at 4:46 PM ^

While their defense will be as good as last years (very good), I dont see their offense (mediocre) getting better. Even though I think they will coach up a line and linebacking corps that are solid, as per usual, I just cant imagine where they will get improvement over last year.  Considering how close the game was, I think this spells trouble for the Hawkeyes.

If we get off to a hot start, especially coming off an emotional home win against Sparty, I see this game being a very exciting upset.

 

wooderson

August 3rd, 2010 at 5:14 PM ^

They do get back RB Jewel Hampton, who was going to be the starter until he was injured prior to the season last year. 

Iowa is a team that really does not have a lot of holes on paper, although I agree that Stanzi is maybe a little overrated.  The good news is we somehow kept it close last year on the road and maybe we won't give up 3rd and 10+ conversions every damn time this year???  Please????

spider

August 3rd, 2010 at 4:42 PM ^

Look, here is the deal....we made way too many mistakes throughout the season to be able to "knock" off the better teams in the Big ten. Anyone remember Denard driving and then throwing the interception? Had we driven down the field and scored, we most likely would have won the game.

As I have mentioned in many other posts, this team needs to be more consistent and mentally focused. Call it youth or whatever you want, but they need to imoprove in this area, in order to win these kind of games

CrankThatDonovan

August 3rd, 2010 at 4:55 PM ^

It’s pretty clear from RR’s career that his system only works if he’s got all-galaxy athleticism at the QB position...RR isn’t a Meyer or Tressel or Saban or Ferentz when it comes to developing talent (or recruiting it).

Except, you know, the fact that Rich Rod developed talent from a meh three star to "all-galaxy athleticism at the QB position" in the form of Pat White.  And one of those coaches is certainly not like the others.  Do these people take pride in their stupidity?

EDIT: I thought the actual article was fair, fwiw

MGoPony

August 3rd, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^

Ferentz isnt on the same level, IMO, because he loves his program, which will never be a Michigan, Ohio State, Texas, Florida caliber pogram, and will stick with them forever. Without program success, hell never get the same level of coaching accolades. Still, I think hes a really good coach (maybe not as good as the others, but well really never know) and his ability to develop talent (or lack thereof) into a decently formidable team is undeniable considering this year's hawkeyes. How many stud recruits does Iowa really get, ever?

Still, I fully expect RichRod to pass Ferentz in success in the (very) near future, and shame on them for doubting his talent development abilities. Theyre riding the richrod is overrated and will never succeed bandwagon. I cant wait to smash that bandwagon to smithereens.

Needs

August 3rd, 2010 at 5:37 PM ^

Ferentz's teams really demonstrate the merits of program stability. Their defense has been using the same, fairly simple philosophy, forever (penetrating d-linemen, two deep safeties, don't give up big plays). Players get 2-3 years of practice, depending on a redshirt, before they're plugged into starting roles, so they're very well drilled in their responsibilities by the time they see the field. It's a system that's allowed Iowa to compete at a fairly high level despite facing talent deficits.

Hopefully, by next year, we can start to have some of the same kind of stability, rather than the recent past of 4 years with 4 different defenses (though this year's defensive philosophy should be close to last year's, hopefully with about 1/4 as many blown assignments) and having to plug in a bunch of inexperienced players -- the reasons for which have been well documented here.

switch26

August 3rd, 2010 at 4:53 PM ^

Whoever wrote the article is an idiot, and clearly has done shit for reasearch on our team..  When mentioning "WILL Hagerup, he puts Chris.. Will's brother from Indiana, he even links his name to an Indiana page.. really?

 

Loved that comment about RR as well.  Putting Ferentz in the picture with 3 other NC winners is a joke.. 

Needs

August 3rd, 2010 at 4:57 PM ^

Seems like a pretty decent evaluation. Nothing we don't know but good reminder of some of the key questions facing the D (another somewhat new system, inexperience in the secondary).

The commenters are hung up on the "Rich Rod's offense breaks qbs" meme, but that's hardly the fault of the author.

jamiemac

August 3rd, 2010 at 5:03 PM ^

20-6 since the December, 2008 coaching search.

Just sayin'

The man can coach. So too can Norm Parker. I give them a really good shot at running the tables this year, but I am sure they'll stumble once or twice, as most teams do. I still think the OSU/Iowa game will decide the Big 10 for the second year in a row.

We'll see.

mgolund

August 3rd, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^

I thought the preview was pretty decent and had fairly solid analysis.  Let's hope that the team exceeds BHGP's (and most folks') expectations.

ituralde

August 3rd, 2010 at 5:21 PM ^

This guy is massively overconfident in Iowa's ability to come back this season. 

If we do nothing this offseason but learn to limit mistakes on offense, we'll win this game.

mschol17

August 3rd, 2010 at 5:34 PM ^

I think anytime you have a quarterback prone to interceptions and some big loses from the O line you should be a little more humble about your chances.

chitown.victor

August 3rd, 2010 at 5:48 PM ^

...that comes with being a Michigan Wolverine is that those who aren't Michigan Wolverines hate us.  Iowa is not within the top three rivals we play, yet they can't stand us to the point that it affects their rationale when it comes to a team analysis.  I love reading "articles" like this one, because it cements the fact that those who can't be can only hate on those who are.  In September we will be saying, "Denard learned how to pass!  Uh oh," with big, cynical grins on our maize and blue faces.  And I, for one, can't wait!

dosleches

August 3rd, 2010 at 6:36 PM ^

The previews written by fans of teams we lost to by like 3 points in dramatic fashion would lead you to believe we are sooo much worse than them and there's nooo chance we'll ever be good *cough MSU, Iowa cough*. HA.  We play both at home this year, and they shall receive their comeuppance.

Space Coyote

August 3rd, 2010 at 7:26 PM ^

Michigan's two best defenders from a year ago, DE Brandon Graham and CB Donovan Warren, are gone

Little do they know that our three best defenders are gone from a year ago.  What idiots!

Other than that they seem pretty fair for an Iowa blog.  I would expect the same veer from unpartial from this site (though toward the other side, the side I would agree with personally) so that can't be faulted.  The "the game wasn't as close as it seemed last year" can easily be flipped in our favor saying "if we wouldn't have had 29 int. and gave up 14 3rd and longs we would have won".  Not bad for an opposing teams blog though.

snowcrash

August 3rd, 2010 at 7:42 PM ^

I thought the author was pretty reasonable if a shade pessimistic for us. Some of the comments sounded a lot like "da bears" but I wouldn't generalize to all Iowa fans based on that. I suspect most Iowa fans aren't taking this game lightly, seeing as we gave them some problems last year with freshman QBs in their building.