5 questions for UNI football entering the 2017 season

CEDAR FALLS — After falling short of expectations last season and going through yet another offseason of coaching staff turnover, the Northern Iowa football team has a number of questions to answer if it wants to return to the FCS playoffs.

Grinnell native Eli Dunne will lead the Panthers from under center in 2017 and looks to re-establish what fans like to call 'Dome-field advantage,' especially given the schedule's road games featuring the likes of Iowa State and defending co-MVFC champions South Dakota State and North Dakota State.

Ahead of Wednesday's media day, here are five big questions facing the Panthers in 2017:

1. Can UNI stand up to the likes of SDSU and NDSU in the trenches?

Mark Farley went on record multiple times in the latter parts of the 2016 season during post-game shows and news conferences saying his team needed to get bigger and better along the offensive line.

It wasn't unusal to hear that type of candidness from Farley, but the specificity gave fans a sobering truth about UNI.

It may be a cliche, but there's not a program in the country that can win a championship if it's unable to dominate in the trenches.

The return of former All-MVFC pick Bryce Sweeney at right tackle should be a boost, but the Panthers — for 2017, at least — will be counting on improvement from within to draw even with their biggest competition.

2. If Dunne is protected, can he lead Northern Iowa to 8-plus wins?

Once elevated to starting quarterback, Dunne more than doubled the production of the Panthers' passing offense.

In his debut — a Week 7 win against Missouri State — Dunne passed for 418 yards and threw two touchdowns in what looked to be a renaissance for the UNI passing attack.

However, Dunne's inexperience and the offensive line's lack of consistency combined for eight interceptions in his five starts. The Panthers went 3-2 in Dunne's starts last season, and seven of those eight interceptions came in two games — losses against NDSU and SDSU.

Farley said Dunne needs to respond to mistakes and to even out the highs and lows that came from his performances a year ago.

If the Panthers are able to protect their pocket-passing gunslinger, last year's experience and an offseason preparing to be the starter should benefit the Panthers.

3. How does the defense replace 17 sacks, a.k.a. 'The Karter Schult Void'?

The Panthers defense ranked at or near the top of the MVFC in a number of categories last season, but the void left by Buck Buchanan award-winner Karter Schult is too big to ignore despite those numbers.

Rickey Neal and Adam Reth, along with less experienced players like Christian Perez, Blake Thomas, Hezekiah Applegate and Seth Thomas will be counted on to provide a consistent pass rush by committee.

After beginning 2016 at linebacker, Neal transitioned to defensive end and thrived. But life won't be as easy for Neal, or any other pass-rusher, without Schlut's presence.

Reth, who missed all of 2016 for using a banned substance, should be a boost to the defensive line similar to that of Sweeney's on the offensive line.

The base defensive alignment the Panthers employ this season may be the biggest factor in recreating the success of their 2016 pass-rush. Don't be surprised if the 3-4 alignment returns given the makeup of the personnel.

4. Is Jalen Rima on the cusp of a breakout?

The Cedar Rapids Prairie alum kept finding his way onto the field as a true freshman, totaling 764 all-purpose yards.

A 99-yard kick return against South Dakota State and a 94-yard punt return against Indiana State are undoubtedly the standout moments from Rima's freshman season.

However, once Dunne took over at quarterback, Rima began to emerge as a weapon at wide receiver. He garnered big gains in a variety of ways, proving to be a dynamic weapon whenever he was on the field.

It feels like a lot is coming together for Rima to have a breakout 2017, and the Panthers offense could go to another level if it happens.

VIDEO: November 5, 2016

VIDEO: @UNIFootball takes this punt 94 yards to the house, makes it 13-0 Panthers. Still in the first quarter. @ValleyFootball pic.twitter.com/DI4bN421V1

— 1130 The Fan (@1130thefan)

5. Where might depth be an issue?

Farley usually doesn't get too far into August before unleashing his classic mantra in regards to his team's depth, or lack thereof, of: 'You need a pair and a spare.'

Offensive line and defensive backfield stand out as the positions where the search for depth may prove most difficult.

A.J. Allen and Elijah Campbell will once again be the starters at safety, but who backs them up is truly a crapshoot. And outside of returning starter Malcolm Washington, the battle for spots on the depth chart at cornerback is up for grabs.

The Panthers like to be able to play man-to-man coverage to free up their front seven for playmaking. It may take most of fall camp to figure out who will round out the secondary, and who will be the sixth and seventh starters on the offensive line.