IOWA OFFENSE

Right now the offense looks worse… but there’s a little reason for optimism, too. 

Losing both of last year’s starting tackles (including all-everything left tackle Brandon Scherff) is a huge blow, especially with their replacements being very untested (one of them is a former walk-on). 

Iowa’s offense is also losing a two-year starter at quarterback (Jake Rudock), a three-year starter at running back (Mark Weisman), and their most reliable possession receiver (Kevonte Martin-Manley) — that’s a lot to replace and the early returns in spring were concerning.  That said, remember those reasons for optimism?  

Iowa’s losing a lot of experience at QB, but they’re gaining some intriguing talent there in C.J. Beathard, who has a stronger arm and more mobility than his replacement, Rudock.  He’ll likely have his struggles, but the hope is that his higher upside pays off in the form of improved QB play down the road. 

Similarly, Iowa loses a lot of experience (and a tremendous goal-line threat) with the departure of Mark Weisman… but he was also a fullback masquerading as a running back.  Putting an actual tailback in the running back position — someone with better quickness and an ability to make defenders miss (rather than just plowing through them) — seems like it could pay dividends, assuming the offensive line is able to open a few holes for the running backs.  

 

IOWA DEFENSE

Like the offense, the defense is losing a few key contributors — notably a brutally effective defensive tackle tandem (Carl Davis and Louis Trinca-Pasat) and a two-year starter at safety (Johnny Lowdermilk). 

Iowa does return starters at every other position, which is… probably a good thing.  I say “probably” because Iowa received pretty inconsistent play last year at linebacker and free safety; the hope is that another year of experience will produce some more consistent and effective performances from the starters there. 

The two key faces among Iowa’s returning starters on defense are DE Drew Ott (a disruptive pass-rusher) and CB Desmond King (a tremendous coverage cornerback).  If they can produce at an even higher level, the other returning starters can become more consistent, and the new starters at defensive tackle and free safety can hold their own, then there’s reason to hope that Iowa’s defense could be as good — or perhaps even better — than it was a year ago. 

 

BUY OR SELL?

Selling, I suppose.  I expect this team to win 6 or 7 games in 2015, which certainly isn’t going to put them in contention for anything more than a middling bowl bid. 

If they exceed that win total, it likely means that the defense took a step or three forward and the new faces on offense were able to hit the ground running and liven up a moribund attack. That’s certainly what I hope happens this fall… but I’d certainly be lying if I said that was what I expected to happen. 

There are too many question marks across the roster and too few reasons to trust in the coaching staff to scheme their way into improved results.  

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Ross of Black Heart Gold Pants provided the information for our Iowa Football 2015 Spring recap. For more Hawkeye football information, commentary and analysis, you can follow Ross on Twitter @RossWB.

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