10 B1G storylines for the Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY - It's OK to pick Iowa to win the Big Ten's West Division. You can do that without a sneer or a snicker. The Hawkeyes are expected to compete with Wisconsin (the favorite), Nebraska (the perennial) and Northwestern (the perennial upstart).

Cleveland.com polled 29 writers from the Big Ten region this week. The Badgers were the favorite to win the West, but Iowa did pick up 11 first-place votes and totaled 173 points, behind Wisconsin's 183.5 and ahead of Nebraska's 157.5.

So, with Big Ten media days beginning tomorrow in Chicago, it's OK to ask the really big questions for the Hawkeyes going into the 2014 season.

1. Can Iowa get more out of quarterback?

It's going to have to if it wants to win the West. One fact that's easily glossed over with Jake Rudock is that he was a first-year starter last season. His poise softened that fact. There is going to be some breakage with every first-year starting QB in the Big Ten.

Let's try to put a definition on what 'more” would be. Certainly, it would be fewer interceptions. Rudock finished with 13 last season. He's the first one to say that's too high. A better definition of 'more” might be completion percentage. Rudock finished at 59.0 percent last season (204 of 346). That was seventh in the league.

During Iowa's bowl prep, offensive coordinator Greg Davis said for Iowa to beat a team like LSU, it would have to move the ball on the ground and in the air. For Iowa to win the Big Ten West, that still holds.

2. Will the wide receiver group takeoff?

This is the third year of Davis' passing system. Rudock has been in it all three seasons. Several wide receivers have been in it all three seasons (Kevonte Martin-Manley, Tevaun Smith and Jacob Hillyer).

Iowa also has spent six scholarships on wide receiver in the last two seasons. Redshirt freshman Derrick Willies was the star of spring practice. With 52 catches, Martin-Manley would become Iowa's career receptions leader. Smith averaged nearly 13 yards a catch, a number that promises only to go up.

Iowa's wide receivers are set up for a breakthrough season.

3. Can Iowa rush the passer?

The obvious answer is 'yes,” but it's not that easy. Last season, second-year defensive coordinator Phil Parker knew he couldn't allow opposing QBs to sit back and pick Iowa's secondary apart. A clear philosophy developed: Iowa played straight-up 4-3 on first and second downs (for the most part) and then inserted a third-down rush package.

Parker didn't show that hand until about halfway through the season. It was a journey for the defense to find its strength. Iowa has to be able to put heat on the passer, but it'll take some time for the 'how” to fully show.

4. Can Iowa's defensive line provide that pass rush?

It very well could. Iowa could have the most productive defensive tackle combo in the Big Ten this season in seniors Carl Davis and Louis Trinca-Pasat. Ends Drew Ott and Mike Hardy also return. They've been asked a few times this offseason about working their pass-rush skills to the point where they stay in the game on third downs.

They should be a year better. Let's see what they, specifically Ott, can do here.

5. Safety?

It's a journey of discovery.

Junior Jordan Lomax moves from corner to free safety. Senior John Lowdermilk returns to his strong safety spot. And then ... And then ...

It's a journey of discovery. Expect a few true freshmen (perhaps Jalen Embry and/or Miles Taylor) to be in the mix.

6. Iowa has two scholarship punters. Why?

Because the Iowa staff wasn't totally happy with junior Connor Kornbrath. Coaches wanted to provide competition. And so here's Dillon Kidd, a junior college transfer.

With two scholarship punters, there's a certain amount of pressure to find a plus performer here. Two scholarship punters is unconventional.

7. How will the running backs be used?

Along with pass rush, this likely will reveal itself as the season progresses. Obviously, health will be key. So will down and distance (maybe more this year than last), clock and who has the hot hand.

Expect less Mark Weisman, especially early. Expect more Jordan Canzeri. And then who knows.

8. Can Iowa be a dominant offensive line?

It has a great chance, anchored by senior left tackle and bona fide Outland Trophy candidate Brandon Scherff. But beyond Scherff, center Austin Blythe has got game. We've not really had a glimpse of what senior right tackle Andrew Donnal can do. He rotated at guard last season after coming off a knee injury. With guards Jordan Walsh and Sean Welsh joining Donnal as (pretty much) first-year starters, it's hard to say Iowa's O-line will be dominant. At least, in July it's hard to say that.

9. Will Kinnick Stadium sell out this season?

For the first time in Kirk Ferentz's 15 seasons as head coach, Iowa didn't record a sellout in 2013. It was close, we're talking around maybe a 1,000 people for a few games. Kinnick Stadium ticket sales have been an interesting news item.

With the numbers the UI provided Wednesday, Iowa is on track to sell out three games (Iowa State, Wisconsin and Nebraska).

Athletics director Gary Barta said Iowa lost some momentum in this area the last few years. Recapturing that momentum is going to take some time. It's a work in progress, like the pass rush and running backs.

10. Scherff really lifted 443 pounds in the hang clean? Three times?

Yes.

Foxsports.com's Bruce Feldman ranked Scherff No. 2 in his annual list of college football's 'freak” workout warriors.

'In terms of pure explosiveness, (Scherff) is the best we've ever had,” Iowa strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle told Feldman. 'He's in a league of his own.”

And with that, the year starts with a grunt, a very Iowa-like start.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@sourcemedia.net