Iowa Football: 2011 Expectations

With the Spring season being done there are still lingering questions surrounding the Iowa Football Program. How good will James Vandenberg be? Can Marcus Coker carry the load? Will the defensive line be good enough? Whose going to play safety? All of these questions are on the minds of Hawk Fans but I think I have one more: Is this the type of year that makes or breaks a program?

Is James Vandenberg the answer? 

Now when I say “break” I don't mean fall apart like SMU in the 80's but more like Michigan over the past 3-4 years. Michigan was everything to college football and the Big Ten when I was growing up but since the Rich Rod era began they have fallen out of national importance.

From a distance, meaning not being a Michigan fan I can see reasons why the program started it downfall. A lack of talent at certain positions, a total lack of discipline and a defense all together. The back and forth of quarterbacks Denard Robinson and Tate Forcier or maybe it was the coaching change. Maybe it was something more.

Now, I believe that they made a coaching change they shouldn't have with booting out Lloyd Carr but look at the list of notable NFL players Michigan lost in a 2 year span from 2007-2008:

Chad Henne, Mike Hart, Jake Long, Mario Manningham, Ryan Mallett(crazy right?), LaMarr Woodley, Alan Branch, Leon Hall and Steve Breaston.

When you think about that it really doesn't come off as crazy that in 2009, under a new head coach Michigan went 3-9 and lost to Appalachian State now does it?

Now think about this, over the past 2 seasons Iowa has lost: Bryan Bulaga, Tony Moeaki, Brandon Myers, Ricky Stanzi, Adrian Clayborn, Amari Spievey, Christian Ballard, Karl Klug, Julian Vandervelde and Tyler Sash all to the NFL.

Also consider Ryan Donahue, DJK and Allen Reisner who should be on NFL rosters this fall.

Can this line be replaced? 

I think most people will agree with me that the talent level and expectations of this year's football team are lower than last year's.

I also think most would agree that last year was a very defiant confidence of “We Will Be Good”, (let's not forget, Jon Miller picked Iowa to go 12-0!) This year it is more of a wishful, “Gosh I hope were good” feeling that I get from most fans.

Is this the type of season that the program either rises and shows it is a Big Ten contender or it falls a little more, going say 4-8. I have on many occasions told people I think Iowa will open 2011 at 4-0. Just as likely thought I can see 2-2. What if it's 3-1 and the loss is to ISU? Is that considered a letdown? Last year Iowa went 8-5 and won a bowl game and fans considered it a lost season. What about this year? What are the realistic expectations of a brand new QB, RB, WR corp, DLine, LB's, CB's and Punter? I say not high.

The 2011 recruiting class though might be the rattlesnake in the grass waiting to strike. I have never been as close to a recruting class as this one, mostly due to Twitter and Facebook so maybe that's why I feel like I do, but in my eyes, they look good.

Every one of them seem ready to be Hawkeyes today. Ready to play, fight, sweat and bleed Hawkeye Black & Gold. Some of them might actually play right away. From my understanding most will arrive in June and get to work on becoming Hawkeyes. The like of Darian Cooper, Nicholas Law, Marcus Grant, Quinton Alston, Marcus Collins and Jordan Canzeri are all names that could be said a lot by Gary Dolphin this coming fall.

I was talking with LB recruit Quinton Alston the other day and joking about how I've been talking up the 2011 class, and how he needs to make me look good. He then said, “A national championship and a Big Ten title is our goal, we want to make you look good too.”

I love hearing that from an 18-year old who hasnt vene played a down. Goal in mind, saying “we” not “I” and understanding what Hawkeye Football means to us Hawkeye Fans. After reading that, I'm ready for some football.

So in the end I guess the questions are the same. How good will Vandenberg be? Can Marcus Coker carry the load? Will the defensive line be good enough? Whose going to play safety? We have 4 months to wait and see. All I know is I'm going to have one heck of a time in Kinnick, learning the answers!

Joseph Larsen