|
LB
Mike Klinkenborg |
|
|
|
Coach:
Kirk Ferentz
55-43,
8 years |
2006
Record: 6-7 |
|
MONTANA |
WON
41-7 |
at
Syracuse |
WON
20-13 (2OT) |
IOWA
STATE |
WON
27-17 |
at
Illinois |
WON
24-7 |
OHIO
STATE |
LOST
17-38 |
PURDUE |
WON
47-17 |
at
Indiana |
LOST
28-31 |
at
Michigan |
LOST
6-20 |
NORTHERN
ILLINOIS |
WON
24-14 |
NORTHWESTERN |
LOST
7-21 |
WISCONSIN |
LOST
21-24 |
at
Minnesota |
LOST
24-34 |
ALAMO
BOWL |
Texas |
LOST
24-26 |
|
2006
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2007
Outlook |
In
going 6-7 last year, the Hawkeyes
suffered their first losing season
since head coach Kirk Ferentz’s
second campaign began. What was worse
was how they started off 5-1 and then
collapsed and went 1-6 the rest of
the way – morale needs some
help. Now-departed QB Drew Tate failed
to deliver on expectations as a well-prepared
senior, so new field general Jake
Christiansen wipes the slate clean
as he makes this his team. Expect
early efforts to predictably focus
on reestablishing the running game.
Backs Sims and Young can be assured
that what seems like a young line
lacking much real-game cohesion will
quickly gel to supply ample holes
for ground improvements to occur.
Defensively, it is just the opposite
– the run defense looks great
while the safeties will need development
time. There may be a lot of ‘if’s’
heading into 2007, but one thing Iowa
has working in their favor is that
they will not have to play either
Michigan or Ohio State. There is nothing
easy about going to Ames, Madison
(Wisc.) and Happy Valley (Penn State)
within a four week span, but the second
half of the slate looks like it could
see Iowa climbing the rankings. Just
remember how well Ferentz did (went
10-2) with a young Tate in 2004 when
expectations were also lowered just
like they are for the 2007 Hawkeyes.
We know never to underestimate what
Ferentz can do in motivating seemingly
unknown, inexperienced young men,
so we see Iowa’s glass as half
full and likely growing fuller with
their new look and attitude.
Projected
2007 record: 8-4
|
|
IOWA
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 3.5 |
DL
- 4 |
RB
- 4 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 4 |
DB
- 3 |
OL
- 3 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Jake Christensen, 23-35-2, 285 yds.,
2 TD
Rushing: Albert Young, 178
att., 779 yds., 7 TD
Receiving: Dominique Douglas,
49 rec., 654 yds., 2 TD
Scoring: Albert Young, 8 TD,
48 pts.
Punting: None
Kicking: Austin Signor, 2-2
FG, 5-5 PAT, 11 pts.
Tackles: Mike Klinkenborg,
129 tot., 61 solo
Sacks: Bryan Mattison, 6.5
sacks
Interceptions: Mike Humpal,
3 for 0 yds.; Adam Shada, 3 for 113
yds., 1 TD
Kickoff Returns: Damian Sims,
10 ret., 18.4 avg., 0 TD
Punt Returns: Dominique Douglas,
14 ret., 10.2 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
CB
Adam Shada |
|
|
|
IOWA |
|
|
OFFENSE
- 7 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 8 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Drew Tate-QB, Scott Chandler-TE, Mike
Jones-OG, Mike Elgin-OG, Marshal Yanda-OT,
Calvin Davis-WR, Herb Grigsby-WR, Kyle
Schlicher-K |
DEFENSE:
Edmond
Miles-WLB, Miguel Merrick-SS, Marcus
Paschal-FS, Andy Fenstermaker-P |
|
|
2007
OFFENSE |
Three
solid years of Drew Tate now yield to the
trials of sophomore Jake Christiansen. The
kid stands in the pocket and throws a rope,
but he offers less mobility than did Tate.
Still, with the mediocrity Tate displayed
as a senior, the Hawkeyes are likely to
be better under Christiansen once he settles
in. How long that takes will be the difference
between a ho-hum year and a special one
in Iowa City. One thing the new QB has to
help ease him in is a quality set of senior
backs. Albert Young and Damian Sims form
a thunder-and-lightning combo that runs
effectively behind lead blocking former-LB
Tom Busch. Iowa has to control the clock
more with these capable backs – more
time of possession will equal more victories.
The big factor in all of this will be the
line. Only sophomore center Rafael Eubanks
and juniors Dace Richardson and Seth Olsen
have any starting experience. Line coach
Reese Morgan has done more with less, so
expect guys like Dan Doering and Brian Bulaga
(true frosh) to help effectively establish
viable holes for the backs to get through.
What will take more time is coming together
as a cohesive pass blocking unit for a less
mobile QB. Roles have already been sorted
out amongst the receivers. Dominique Douglas
was the team’s leading snarler as
a freshman, ostensibly the “go to”
type. Lanky junior Andy Brodell is the deep
guy ready to burn DBs for more YAC. Christiansen
even has TE Tony Moeaki, a sure-handed pancake
blocker who can stay home as well as he
goes deep over the middle. This offense
may sputter a bit early, but by mid-season
they should be capable of winning close
ones and will be the reason Iowa gets back
into the top 25, if they do.
|
|
RB
Albert Young
|
|
|
IOWA
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Jake
Christensen-So (6-1, 205) |
Arvell
Nelson-Fr (6-4, 175) |
FB |
Tom
Busch-Sr (5-11, 231) |
Jordan
McLaughlin-Jr (6-0, 227) |
RB |
Albert
Young-Sr (5-10, 209) |
Damian
Sims-Sr (5-9, 185)
Shonn Greene-Jr (5-11, 225) |
WR |
Dominique
Douglas-So (6-1, 186) |
Trey
Stross-So (6-3, 190) |
WR |
Andy
Brodell-Jr (6-3, 193) |
James
Cleveland-Fr (6-1, 185) |
TE |
Tony
Moeaki-Jr (6-4, 250) |
Brandon
Myers-Jr (6-4, 242) |
OT |
Dace
Richardson-Jr (6-6, 306) |
Kyle
Calloway-So (6-7, 295) |
OG |
Andy
Kuempel-So (6-7, 295) |
Dan
Doering-So (6-7, 290) |
C |
Rafael
Eubanks-So (6-3, 288) |
Rob
Bruggeman-Jr (6-3, 280)
Alex Kanellis-Jr (6-4, 281) |
OG |
Wes
Aeschliman-Jr (6-8, 315) |
Travis
Meade-So (6-0, 280) |
OT |
Seth
Olsen-Jr (6-5, 301) |
Tyler
Blum-So (6-6, 260) |
K |
Ryan
Donahue-Fr (6-3, 180) |
Austin
Signor-So (6-4, 230) |
|
|
2007
DEFENSE |
With
the same starting front four all back, the
Hawkeye’s pedestrian run stopping
efforts should improve. Led by senior all-Big
Ten end Bryan Matterson (6.5 sacks and four
forced fumbles both team highs), Iowa has
four rather interchangeable parts. Tackle
Mitch King (12.5 TFLs team high) can bring
the speed and heat inside, so it is tough
for foes to find schemes to effectively
block them all. Senior all-conference MLB
Mike Klinkenborg is not a stat-heavy player;
he is just there to make the stop seemingly
every down. He and classmate Mike Humpal
will join coordinator Norm Parker (also
LB coach) to orientate a new batch of wanna-be’s
at a school that has produced some of the
best corps in the last decade. The experience
up front should keep the front seven’s
impact consistent. Senior corners Adam Shada
and Charles Godfrey are possibly the best
pair in the league. Both are 6’1”,
though Godfrey is over 200 lbs. and can
make any tackle. With heir-apparent Bradley
Fletcher a solid nickel guy, this is definitely
the strength of the secondary. Sophomore
Marcus Wilson is the lone safety with quality
playing time under his belt. The LBs may
only need help with backups, but the safeties
are in dire need almost across the entire
two-/three-deep. This year’s recruits
offer several four-star finds (Bernstine
and Morrow) who could easily see real game
reps come fall. Essential will be the front
four getting into opposing QB’s faces
fast so the nubile safeties won’t
be nearly as exploited during the early
going. Foes will be picking on the deep
middle until Iowa proves they can handle
such, for if the LBs and/or nickel/dime
packages are leaned upon too much for help,
it will be another long campaign in 2007.
|
|
DE
Bryan Mattison
|
|
|
IOWA
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Kenny
Iwebema-Sr (6-4, 270) |
Adrian
Clayborn-Fr (6-3, 250) |
DT |
Matt
Kroul-Jr (6-3, 271) |
Rashad
Dunn-Jr (6-3, 290) |
DT |
Mitch
King-Jr (6-3, 264) |
Ryan
Bain-Jr (6-2, 282) |
DE |
Bryan
Mattison-Sr (6-3, 272) |
Chad
Geary-So (6-3, 220) |
WLB |
A.J.
Edds-So (6-4, 224) |
Jeremiha
Hunter-Fr (6-2, 217) |
MLB |
Mike
Klinkenborg-Sr (6-2, 240) |
Bryon
Gattas-Sr (6-1, 233) |
OLB |
Mike
Humpal-Sr (6-2, 232) |
Pat
Angerer-So (6-1, 222) |
CB |
Charles
Godfrey-Sr (6-1, 208) |
Bradley
Fletcher-Jr (6-2, 195( |
CB |
Adam
Shada-Sr (6-1, 185) |
Amari
Spievey-Fr (6-0, 175) |
SS |
Harold
Dalton-Jr (6-1, 192) |
Lance
Tillison-Fr (6-2, 205) |
FS |
Brett
Greenwood-Fr (6-0, 185) |
Marcus
Wilson-So (6-3, 198) |
P |
Ryan
Donahue-Fr (6-3, 180) |
.. |
|
|
|
2007
SPECIAL TEAMS |
It
appears the punting job is Ryan Donahue’s
to lose (42 ypp prep average). A former first-team
USA Today All-American, Donahue can also sub for
first-time starting PK Austin Signor ‘just
in case’ (Signor went 2-for-2 and proved
worthy on kickoffs). The return game needs some
help on kicks, though Douglas and Brodell seem
to share the PR duties with competitive effectiveness.
|
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