Iowa will be without their # 1 go to guy

[Coach007]

Entering the Draft and will not go to bowl

[Dawgtini]

According to the Hawk in the other thread he is their #2 guy.

[Hawkeyegoofball]

According to the Hawk in the other thread he is their #2 guy.

Junior Noah Fant, the TE declaring and sitting out the bowl game, is the unquestionably the better athlete (42" vertical, runs like a deer, and so on....) RS Sophomore TJ Hockenson who will be playing in the bowl game (2018 B1G TE of the year, 2018 Ozzie Smith Award recipient, finalist for 2018 Mackey Award) is the better overall football player. Hockenson was more productive this season - largely due to the curious decisions in a stretch of games to not have Fant on the field. It will be interesting to see the impact of Fant's absence - i.e., Fant requires keen attention when on the field, which opens up Hockenson, WRs and the running game. When Iowa goes 22 personnel (2 TEs, 2 RBs) - it creates problems for defenses (pick your poison). Without Fant, that advantage is neutralized to say the least.

I've enjoyed watching the Bulldogs play this year - really appreciate their style, skill and speed...particularly on defense. They get after it an will be uber physical. On offense, they can't seem to get out of their own way and are constantly stepping on their collective di*ks. Kinda like Iowa - but Iowa has a slightly better offense and MSU has a much better defense, relatively speaking.

This looks to be a 13-10 type game. A game that is highly entertaining to each fan base, but somewhat of a bore to those outsiders looking to get their drink going early on Jan 1. But, I could be wrong...wouldn't be the first or last time. :)

Good luck to the Bulldogs - let's have some fun leading up to this game.

[Tbonewannabe]

Junior Noah Fant, the TE declaring and sitting out the bowl game, is the unquestionably the better athlete (42" vertical, runs like a deer, and so on....) RS Sophomore TJ Hockenson who will be playing in the bowl game (2018 B1G TE of the year, 2018 Ozzie Smith Award recipient, finalist for 2018 Mackey Award) is the better overall football player. Hockenson was more productive this season - largely due to the curious decisions in a stretch of games to not have Fant on the field. It will be interesting to see the impact of Fant's absence - i.e., Fant requires keen attention when on the field, which opens up Hockenson, WRs and the running game. When Iowa goes 22 personnel (2 TEs, 2 RBs) - it creates problems for defenses (pick your poison). Without Fant, that advantage is neutralized to say the least.

I've enjoyed watching the Bulldogs play this year - really appreciate their style, skill and speed...particularly on defense. They get after it an will be uber physical. On offense, they can't seem to get out of their own way and are constantly stepping on their collective di*ks. Kinda like Iowa - but Iowa has a slightly better offense and MSU has a much better defense, relatively speaking.

This looks to be a 13-10 type game. A game that is highly entertaining to each fan base, but somewhat of a bore to those outsiders looking to get their drink going early on Jan 1. But, I could be wrong...wouldn't be the first or last time. :)

Good luck to the Bulldogs - let's have some fun leading up to this game.

Our offense is either grinding out yardage on the ground or our passing game is boom or bust. Our QB Fitz doesn't complete a high enough percentage to really make the offense run smooth except for a couple of games. When he is completing over 60% of his passes then our offense looks great, unfortunately he hasn't done that against a good defense except for the A&M game. 13-10 is probably a good score to expect.

[Hawkeyegoofball]

Our offense is either grinding out yardage on the ground or our passing game is boom or bust. Our QB Fitz doesn't complete a high enough percentage to really make the offense run smooth except for a couple of games. When he is completing over 60% of his passes then our offense looks great, unfortunately he hasn't done that against a good defense except for the A&M game. 13-10 is probably a good score to expect.

What you said makes complete sense.

There are growing pains associated with the first year in a new offensive system (Iowa went through those pains last year with its new OC [Brian Ferentz, HC's son], and there have been some lingering effects at times this year). Joe Moorhead is a very good and experienced coach - and has quite the creative mind when it comes to offense, particularly formations. But, as we all know, thinking it and executing it are often two completely different things. It will be interesting/exciting to see how MSU evolves once Joe and his staff get their players recruited and integrated into the program.

Over the past 10 years, MSU and Iowa really mirror one another in terms of stature in their respective conferences - good, solid, fundamentally sound teams with sprinkles of very good athletes that compliment hard nosed football players that fill out the majority of the roster. You can count on each team, as an average, to win around 8 games a season - and there are times when they are in an developmental downswing and post a 4, 5, or 6 win season, or those times when they rise up to win 9 or 10 (or 12 in Iowa's case a couple years ago) - yet they are constantly nipping at the heels of the conference big dogs yet not quite able to get a solid bite in there.

Both teams are dangerous and frustrating in the same regard.

This sets up to be a good football game.

[Coach007]

Junior Noah Fant, the TE declaring and sitting out the bowl game, is the unquestionably the better athlete (42" vertical, runs like a deer, and so on....) RS Sophomore TJ Hockenson who will be playing in the bowl game (2018 B1G TE of the year, 2018 Ozzie Smith Award recipient, finalist for 2018 Mackey Award) is the better overall football player. Hockenson was more productive this season - largely due to the curious decisions in a stretch of games to not have Fant on the field. It will be interesting to see the impact of Fant's absence - i.e., Fant requires keen attention when on the field, which opens up Hockenson, WRs and the running game. When Iowa goes 22 personnel (2 TEs, 2 RBs) - it creates problems for defenses (pick your poison). Without Fant, that advantage is neutralized to say the least.

I've enjoyed watching the Bulldogs play this year - really appreciate their style, skill and speed...particularly on defense. They get after it an will be uber physical. On offense, they can't seem to get out of their own way and are constantly stepping on their collective di*ks. Kinda like Iowa - but Iowa has a slightly better offense and MSU has a much better defense, relatively speaking.

This looks to be a 13-10 type game. A game that is highly entertaining to each fan base, but somewhat of a bore to those outsiders looking to get their drink going early on Jan 1. But, I could be wrong...wouldn't be the first or last time. :)

Good luck to the Bulldogs - let's have some fun leading up to this game.

What is a great board for Iowa to talk serious football and not mud slinging?

[RiverCityDawg]

Do y'all have the backup personnel to run 22 with Fant gone? We haven't faced very much 22 at all, but it would likely take us out of our base 4-2-5 and out 3 true LBs on the field. That's of note because we only really play 3 linebackers and one of them is below average. Fortunately we are physical and deep enough on the D line that I don't really think it matters. I'm looking forward to the matchup.

[Recreationalgynecologist]

Do y'all have the backup personnel to run 22 with Fant gone? We haven't faced very much 22 at all, but it would likely take us out of our base 4-2-5 and out 3 true LBs on the field. That's of note because we only really play 3 linebackers and one of them is below average. Fortunately we are physical and deep enough on the D line that I don't really think it matters. I'm looking forward to the matchup.

Iowa played about 5 TEs this season. They?ll run 22 quite often, even without Fant

[Hawkeyegoofball]

I would suggest the following...

https://iowa.forums.rivals.com/forums/iowa-football.26/

https://www.hawkeyenation.com/forum/forums/football.6/

These are public forums, so they can be hit and miss in terms of maturity level of discussion. No different with any fan forum...we have our share of dickheads, drunkards, rabble rousers, pillow biters, etc. But there are also really great people to connect with. So it's a bit of buyer beware, but by and large it can and should be a great experience.

The advice I would lend (and this goes for all message boards) is upfront you would state your desire to learn,inform and discuss about this game and keep the testosterone on the sidelines. There will be enough good posters who will help root out the BS comments and insults, wanting to keep the conversation going and elevating a positive vibe for all. These aforementioned boards have a very good history with South Carolina from our bowl experience in 2009 - and still have good conversations with them to this day - and I don't see why you and your fellow posters (along with good Iowa posters) couldn't replicate that same kind of long term respect and interest in one another. You don't have to cow-tow or bend over backwards to be nice - just state your intentions, ignore the fools, parse through responses and have fun!

The Iowa football program is VERY similar to that of the Bulldogs - we don't know much of one another, but should be able over the better part of this month to find common ground, have good discussions and debates, and ramp up to the bowl game.

Best of luck. Enjoy!

[Hawkeyegoofball]

Do y'all have the backup personnel to run 22 with Fant gone? We haven't faced very much 22 at all, but it would likely take us out of our base 4-2-5 and out 3 true LBs on the field. That's of note because we only really play 3 linebackers and one of them is below average. Fortunately we are physical and deep enough on the D line that I don't really think it matters. I'm looking forward to the matchup.

Good question.

We have a small sample size of experience, but like most other teams you can't just replace a threat like Fant.

It's going to be a different game plan than what is on film to date. The two players who will share Fant's playing time are RS Jr Drew Cook (6'5, 235, son of former Iowa All-America and NFL Pro Bowl tight end Marv Cook) and RS Jr Nate Wieting, 6'4, 250. Both are pretty good sized fellas. Wieting has more experience, and is a very good blocker so would play the in-line position and not near the threat that Fant presented when flexed out. Cook is an unknown - he moved from QB to TE, and so there is no real understanding or assessment of his abilities at the position when the bullets are flying.

This game will be a litmus test for Hockenson - will he move to the flex TE position and can he demand extra attention and perform as the #1 guy? Both he and Wieting are excellent blockers, so will Iowa shift to more of a run-based approach for this game? It's going to be different, by necessity, than what Iowa has shown on film this season - so strategies and adjustments will be key for both teams.

Most realists would believe that Iowa is going to try to shrink the game. They are more than comfortable playing in a low scoring contest (see Iowa 6, Penn State 4 in Happy Valley, circa 2004...and the only reason Penn State got to 4 was that Iowa's punter was instructed to step out of the end zone for a safety with 3 minutes left...Iowa believes in its defenses late in games).

It's going to be a battle. :)

[Tbonewannabe]

What you said makes complete sense.

There are growing pains associated with the first year in a new offensive system (Iowa went through those pains last year with its new OC , and there have been some lingering effects at times this year). Joe Moorhead is a very good and experienced coach - and has quite the creative mind when it comes to offense, particularly formations. But, as we all know, thinking it and executing it are often two completely different things. It will be interesting/exciting to see how MSU evolves once Joe and his staff get their players recruited and integrated into the program.

[B]Over the past 10 years, MSU and Iowa really mirror one another in terms of stature in their respective conferences - good, solid, fundamentally sound teams with sprinkles of very good athletes that compliment hard nosed football players that fill out the majority of the roster. You can count on each team, as an average, to win around 8 games a season - and there are times when they are in an developmental downswing and post a 4, 5, or 6 win season, or those times when they rise up to win 9 or 10 (or 12 in Iowa's case a couple years ago) - yet they are constantly nipping at the heels of the conference big dogs yet not quite able to get a solid bite in there.

Both teams are dangerous and frustrating in the same regard.

This sets up to be a good football game.

They really do look very similar over the past decade even to the point of our high level we both played GA Tech in the Orange Bowl. Iowa has been a lot more consistent than we have since 1980. We had a lot more ups and downs whereas Iowa has been consistent. Over the last decade, we have gotten that consistency with Mullen and hopefully Moorhead keeps the consistency with higher peaks more often.

[Dawg61]

They really do look very similar over the past decade even to the point of our high level we both played GA Tech in the Orange Bowl. Iowa has been a lot more consistent than we have since 1980. We had a lot more ups and downs whereas Iowa has been consistent. Over the last decade, we have gotten that consistency with Mullen and hopefully Moorhead keeps the consistency with higher peaks more often.

Ferencz is the longest tenured HC in FBS. He's been there since 1999. Big reason for their consistency.

[Gonzo]

Ferencz is the longest tenured HC in FBS. He's been there since 1999. Big reason for their consistency.

Consistency is a funny thing. We've had two head coaches since 1979, Hayden Fry and Kirk Ferentz. That's resulted in great consistency for us as a pretty solid program year in and year out. At the same time, Ferentz has been our coach for 20 years, and pretty much every season our teams have been wildly inconsistent in how they come out and perform week to week. We'll come out and walk through Ohio St. by 35+ points, and then the next week lay an egg with 60 yards of offense against Wisco.

[Dawg61]

Consistency is a funny thing. We've had two head coaches since 1979, Hayden Fry and Kirk Ferentz. That's resulted in great consistency for us as a pretty solid program year in and year out. At the same time, Ferentz has been our coach for 20 years, and pretty much every season our teams have been wildly inconsistent in how they come out and perform week to week. We'll come out and walk through Ohio St. by 35+ points, and then the next week lay an egg with 60 yards of offense against Wisco.

I hear ya but I'm pretty sure without looking it up you only walked through Ohio State once in the last 20 years.

[KnightHawk]

I hear ya but I'm pretty sure without looking it up you only walked through Ohio State once in the last 20 years.

Twice actually, but it doesn't happen often, that's for sure. We have played them tough over the years, mostly coming up short.

[Lumpy Chucklelips]

Good question.

We have a small sample size of experience, but like most other teams you can't just replace a threat like Fant.

It's going to be a different game plan than what is on film to date. The two players who will share Fant's playing time are RS Jr Drew Cook (6'5, 235, son of former Iowa All-America and NFL Pro Bowl tight end Marv Cook) and RS Jr Nate Wieting, 6'4, 250. Both are pretty good sized fellas. Wieting has more experience, and is a very good blocker so would play the in-line position and not near the threat that Fant presented when flexed out. Cook is an unknown - he moved from QB to TE, and so there is no real understanding or assessment of his abilities at the position when the bullets are flying.

This game will be a litmus test for Hockenson - will he move to the flex TE position and can he demand extra attention and perform as the #1 guy? Both he and Wieting are excellent blockers, so will Iowa shift to more of a run-based approach for this game? It's going to be different, by necessity, than what Iowa has shown on film this season - so strategies and adjustments will be key for both teams.

Most realists would believe that Iowa is going to try to shrink the game. They are more than comfortable playing in a low scoring contest (see Iowa 6, Penn State 4 in Happy Valley, circa 2004...and the only reason Penn State got to 4 was that Iowa's punter was instructed to step out of the end zone for a safety with 3 minutes left...Iowa believes in its defenses late in games).

It's going to be a battle. :)

6 to 4! Shoot, we beat that! We had a 3 to 2 game! This game might beat both of those!

[MoreCowbell]

What you said makes complete sense.

There are growing pains associated with the first year in a new offensive system (Iowa went through those pains last year with its new OC [Brian Ferentz, HC's son], and there have been some lingering effects at times this year). Joe Moorhead is a very good and experienced coach - and has quite the creative mind when it comes to offense, particularly formations. But, as we all know, thinking it and executing it are often two completely different things. It will be interesting/exciting to see how MSU evolves once Joe and his staff get their players recruited and integrated into the program.

Over the past 10 years, MSU and Iowa really mirror one another in terms of stature in their respective conferences - good, solid, fundamentally sound teams with sprinkles of very good athletes that compliment hard nosed football players that fill out the majority of the roster. You can count on each team, as an average, to win around 8 games a season - and there are times when they are in an developmental downswing and post a 4, 5, or 6 win season, or those times when they rise up to win 9 or 10 (or 12 in Iowa's case a couple years ago) - yet they are constantly nipping at the heels of the conference big dogs yet not quite able to get a solid bite in there.

Both teams are dangerous and frustrating in the same regard.

This sets up to be a good football game.

Did Iowa just become my 2nd favorite team? Maybe so

[RougeDawg]

Our offense is either grinding out yardage on the ground or our passing game is boom or bust. Our QB Fitz doesn't complete a high enough percentage to really make the offense run smooth except for a couple of games. When he is completing over 60% of his passes then our offense looks great, unfortunately he hasn't done that against a good defense except for the A&M game. 13-10 is probably a good score to expect.

The passing game in November was light years better than the first 8. Even had some success against Bama. People mainly look at final scores but that game should have been a single possession win for Bama. If our passing game was November old in September we finish 10-2. Sucks that it took over half a season to start somewhat clicking on offense.

[Tbonewannabe]

The passing game in November was light years better than the first 8. Even had some success against Bama. People mainly look at final scores but that game should have been a single possession win for Bama. If our passing game was November old in September we finish 10-2. Sucks that it took over half a season to start somewhat clicking on offense.

Fitz did get a lot better at his progressions as the season went on.