So, Iowa managed to beat Illinois. They finally got around to really running the ball, play after play and getting first down after first down. I have been begging for more running plays all season. Don’t worry, Hawkeye coaches. I don’t expect any compensation for helping you tweak your game plan.
And as I’ve been saying all along, that Iowa defense is pretty insane when given the chance to catch their breath every now and then.
And just like that, people are starting to talk about the Hawkeyes chances of a bowl game which is probably actually fairly reasonable given the insane number of bowl games and the fact that you just need to win half your games to be eligible for one of those bowls.
The good news is that with Minnesota and Western Michigan at the end of the schedule, there is a great chance at getting at least 2 more wins which would make the Hawkeyes bowl eligible.
In the other 3 games, Iowa plays Purdue, Michigan State, and Northwestern. Slam dunks right? That would leave Iowa a very respectable 8-4.
Michigan State has scored 32 TDs. Purdue has 30 TDs. Northwestern only has 24 TDs but most of those have come during wins the last two weeks where they scored 48 and 49 points. Iowa has only scored 14 TDs.
Iowa’s defense should do just fine but in addition to just moving the ball, the Hawkeyes are going to need to actually get the ball into the end zone which is still a problem with all the injuries and youth on the offensive side of the ball. Hopefully, they will continue running the ball a lot and start breaking a couple plays a game. I don’t think 10 points will end up beating Purdue, Michigan State, or Northwestern.
I’d really like to jump on the bandwagon but this is still a team that has only beaten one team not named Syracuse or Northern Illinois, is second from last in the Big Ten and still has not won a real road game. However, if the offense can show some ability to actually get the football in the end zone on the road against Purdue I’ll probably start feeling a lot more confident about doing a little trash talking.
November 9th, 2007 at 7:42 am
well if the hawkeyes win out were will they go will it be to the Insight bowl or somewhere else but if the hawkeyes play an entire game like they have in the second half the last two weeks they will be scary good and wow look at how jake played this is what he can do so those that called for his job i bet your taking that back right now he will be good here you just got give him time and the hawks seem to be doing alright in the recruting front but wins for the next two weeks would help with that and going to a bowl game shows you just what kind of a coach Kirk is even with people ion this state jumping all over him after the isu game he can handle adversity and has shown that this year with this young group of guys