Expectations for UNI football not changing with host of new coaches

CCEDAR FALLS - With seven new coaches on staff, a new quarterback under center, and four Missouri Valley Football Conference teams besides UNI in the preseason top 25, one might think expectations in Cedar Falls could be tempered.

Not the case.

In a media day twist head coach Mark Farley had each of his nine assistants come to the podium and talk about themselves, their decision to come to UNI, and what they've seen so far from the positions they coach. Each coach spoke to the status the UNI program has achieved at the FCS level, and hearing Farley's assistants speak it was obvious that the expectation - or, the 'standard” as Farley likes to call it - is approaching each and every season with a championship mindset.

The Panthers' championship mindset - if history is any sort of indicator - is most likely to first be born on the defensive side of the ball, and with nine starters returning it's poised to be a formidable unit. It's anticipated that the defense will pace this 2017 team, and while Farley has acknowledged that the new coaches are behind the players, he doesn't necessarily think that it's a detriment.

'What I like about our team and the way this place has been built, and I'm going to go back to Sam Kuhter teaching the (special teams) group right now, because he was taught by the guys before him that were really good,” said Farley.

'Now you go back to D-line and they pass the baton around a little bit of who coaches who. Adam Reth is carrying the load right now of leadership. Preston Woods is carrying the load of leadership. (Preston's) sat in that room now for four years and it's his time to pass along the ideas of what it is to play that position. You put somebody in a room for four years with some guys they become that room, but the room usually becomes like the coach. And I always look at the coach because there can be a lot of similarities from the coach to the person playing the position.”

Offensively the Panthers are in a position to unveil an attack that has the potential, on paper, to become championship caliber. That's largely due to a number of versatile skill position players that flashed their potential a season ago.

Headlined by senior Daurice Fountain and sophomore Jalen Rima, the wide receiver group has the potential to contribute in a big way, according to Farley.

'The wide receivers are successful based off of how good the (offensive) line is. I think we can all look to the receivers (and see) a lot of youth, a lot of speed, and a lot of unknowns. And only because of inexperience,” Farley said. 'It looks good on paper because of what they could be, but when you're looking at a bunch of guys that are 6-4, 6-5 and can run, you know you have a chance if we can catch and protect. It's as good of a (group) as we've had in a long time.”

Outside of the wide receivers there's a position battle taking place at running back between senior J'Veyon Browning, junior Marcus Weymiller and sophomore Trevor Allen. And while it is a position battle there won't necessarily be a black-and-white winner of the battle, because there frankly doesn't need to be. A running back-by -ommittee, or running back-by-matchup approach, seems to be in the cards given the different skill-sets each offers.

New running backs coach D.P. Eyman - a former Panther wide receiver from 2005-2009 - said the trio of backs in the mix offer new co-offensive coordinators Mike Simmonds and John Bond just what they're looking for. Eyman also gave high praise to sophomore Trevor Allen, comparing him to Panther great Corey Lewis.

'I see a lot of Corey Lewis in Trevor Allen with the way he plays. J'Veyon Browning, he's a different type of player and I can't think of anything better in a running back room than having different types of players. Marcus Weymiller, he's a walk-on that ended up getting some playing time and earning a scholarship. I mean, that's awesome right there, that's what I came from. That's University of Northern Iowa,” Eyman said.

'I was thinking about our three guys: Corey Lewis, Derek Law and Carlos Anderson were all on the same team. That's a pretty good 1-2-3 punch right there. I think we have the same 1-2-3 punch in our room.”

With the defense once again likely to be counted upon to provide impactful performances on a week-to-week basis it's going to boil down to what the UNI offense can do to complement its defense.

Between now and the season opener on Sept. 2 in Ames against Iowa State, the difference between a good Northern Iowa team and a great team will come down to quarterback Eli Dunne's development, and the offensive line's ability to perform and therefore allow the development of Dunne and the rest of the offense.