Iowa Hawkeyes
Preview 2009 - Offense
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2009 CFN Iowa Preview |
2009 Iowa Offense
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2009 Iowa Defense |
2009 Iowa Depth
Chart
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2008 Iowa Preview |
2007 Iowa Preview |
2006 Iowa Preview
What you need to know: Lost in the production and the good
things that happened last season was that the star of the show,
RB Shonn Greene, wasn't even expected to be a sure-thing starter
until just before the start of the season, and no one had a clue
he'd be a Doak Walker winner. Now that he's gone, the pressure
falls on the veteran line to pave the way for quick back Jewel
Hampton and to keep QB Ricky Stanzi upright. The receiving corps
should be strong with former QB Marvin McNutt becoming a
playmaker this spring, and the tight end combination of Tony
Moeaki and Allen Reisner will be strong. But it'll all come down
to the line that returns four starters and plenty of good
reserves, but health has been an issue over the past few seasons
and there's a ton of injury concerns on the inside. Fortunately,
the Hawkeyes have an NFL pair of tackles in Bryan Bulaga and
Kyle Calloway.
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Returning
Leaders
Passing: Ricki Stanzi
150-254, 1,956 yds, 14 TD, 9 INT
Rushing: Jewel Hampton
91 carries, 463 yds, 7 TD
Receiving: Derrell Johnson-Koulianos
44 catches, 639 yds, 3 TD
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Star of the offense:
Junior OT Bryan Bulaga
Player who has to step up and become a star: Sophomore RB
Jewel Hampton
Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore WR Marvin McNutt
Best pro prospect:
Bulaga
Top three all-star candidates:
1) Bulaga, 2) OT Kyle
Calloway, 3) Hampton
Strength of the offense:
Line, Overall Experience
Weakness of the offense:
Line Health, No Shonn Greene
Quarterbacks
Projected Starter:
There was an early battle for the starting
quarterback job, and then Ricky Stanzi took
over. The inconsistency of Jake Christensen was part of the
reason if became Stanzi's full-time gig, but it also became a
matter of production. The 6-4, 218-pound junior completed
8-of-10 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns in an early
win over FIU, and then he handed off to Shonn Greene for the
rest of the year. No, the offense wasn't all Greene, and Stanzi
did a nice job when everyone focused on the running game, but
now he'll have to do more. He completed 59% of his throws for
1,956 yards with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and he
was tremendously efficient. Now he's the leader of the attack.
Projected Top Reserves: Stanzi is the unquestioned
full-time No. 1 quarterback, but there's a good buzz around
James Vandenberg, a 6-3, 195-pound redshirt
freshman who was the 2007 Iowa High School Player of the Year
and set several state records throwing for 7,709 yards and 93
touchdown passes. He's smart, has a live arm, and has big-time
upside.
6-5, 220-pound redshirt freshman John Wienke
isn't quite the prospect that Vandenberg is, but he's being
given every shot to win the No. 2 job. The lefty threw for 6,070
yards and 68 touchdowns in high school and was also a key
defender making 113 tackles and six sacks. If that wasn't
enough, he was an Illinois all-state punter.
Watch Out For ... Stanzi to be better. He didn't have
to carry the offense last year with the running game handling
the work, but he was a difference maker when he was on. When he
was off, like he was against Illinois, his mistakes were part of
the difference in the loss. He should be more consistent if this
spring was any indication.
Strength: The backups. It's an excellent
situation with Stanzi the starter for the next two years,
allowing Vandenberg and Wienke time to develop. The backups are
as talented as any quarterback prospects that Iowa has had in a
long, long time.
Weakness: Backup experience.
This was supposed to be an issue going into last year, and then
Stanzi stepped up and was solid. If Stanzi goes down there are
great prospects waiting in the wings, but they'll be very, very
green. The more mop-up work they can get, the better. In a
desperate pitch, QB-turned-WR Marvin McNutt could step in.
Outlook: Ricky Stanzi turned out to be a good,
efficient passer who showed he could get through the rough spots
and come through when absolutely needed (Penn State). Now he'll
be more consistent, more of a playmaker, and more of a bomber
with experience and the success of last year to build on. James
Vandenberg and John Wienke are more talented than Stanzi, but
they'll have to wait two years before they can battle for the
starting gig.
Rating: 7
Running
Backs
Projected Starters:
All those who saw that
coming raise your hand. Everyone knew Shonn Greene had talent,
but no one had a clue that he had the potential to be a Doak
Walker winner who could tear off 1,850 yards, 20 touchdowns, and
run for 100 yards in every game. That included the Iowa coaches.
Was he that good or was it the line that paved the way? Both,
and now it's up to Jewel Hampton to keep the
production rolling. The 5-9, 210-pound sophomore isn't the power
back that Greene was, but he has more speed and the quickness to
be ultra-productive once he's healthy. And that could be the
problem. Greene ran the ball 307 times, and Hampton doesn't have
the make-up to handle that much work. Already hurt, he missed
time this spring with a hamstring injury, he has to prove he can
hold up. He was great when he got his chance as a true freshman
rushing for 463 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards
per carry and highlighted by a 114-yard, three touchdown day
against Indiana, and he also averaged 23.3 yards per kickoff
return.
Back at fullback is junior Brett Morse, a 6-3,
238-pound blaster of a blocker who has also been fantastic on
special teams. While he's a good short-yardage prospect, he
wasn't needed with Greene handling all the tough work. In fact,
he didn't get a carry and caught five passes for 40 yards. The
former high school quarterback struggled with an ankle problem
over the second half of last season, but he's back and healthy.
Projected Top Reserves: Before there was a Shonne
Greene the talk of the 2008 offseason was Paki O'Meara,
a star of last year's spring showing toughness, power, and
breakaway speed. The junior walk-on only got 21 carries for 62
yards and two touchdowns, but now he'll play a bigger role
trying to add more power than Jewel Hampton with 5-11, 211-pound
size.
5-11, 215-pound Jeff Brinson was a nice get for
the program last year. The redshirt freshman from Florida has a
nice blend of power and speed, and he has the smarts to pick up
blocking schemes right away. However, he was hurt this spring
and missed too much time to challenge for the starting spot.
While Brett Morse is the team's top fullback, sophomore
Wade Leppert isn't far behind. The 6-0, 245-pounder
didn't get a carry last season, but he stepped in and was
fantastic for the running game late in the year when Morse went
down and finished with five catches for 22 yards. With more size
than Morse, and with big-time upside, he'll be No. 1A on the
depth chart.
Watch Out For ... Hampton to be good. Really good.
He's not going to run for over 1,800 yards and win the Doak
Walker Award, but he'll be a lock for 1,000 yards if he can stay
healthy.
Strength: The offensive line. With four starters
back on the line that blasted away for Greene, and with both
fullbacks returning along with a decent starting quarterback,
there won't be a lot of pressure on the backs early on. Even so,
whoever gets to carry the ball should produce big-time.
Weakness:
Backups. This was supposed to be a problem last year, when
Greene wasn't even on the fall depth chart, so the lack of
backup experience needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
O'Meara will get more work and Brinson, when healthy, should be
fine, but they're unproven.
Outlook: It's asking a lot to just pick up where
Shonn Greene left off, and there isn't a back on the roster who
can be the same workhorse. However, Jewel Hampton is a terrific
prospect who should blow up if he can stay healthy. Paki O'Meara
will be serviceable for stretches and Jeff Brinson should be
good when healthy, but if Hampton isn't great, the ground game
will be inconsistent. The fullbacks might be the best in the Big
Ten.
Rating: 7
Receivers
Projected Starters:
The team needs reliable
receivers to count on, and shockingly, one of them came out of
the backfield. 6-4, 215-pound sophomore Marvin McNutt
struggled whenever he was under center, completing
one-of-three passes for ten yards with an interception, but he
has looked like a whale of a target at split end this spring
showing off speed, hands, and toughness to become a matchup
nightmare. While he's still going to need a bit of time and
work, he's going to be a dangerous go-to target as the season
goes on.
Senior Trey Stross is one of
the team's best athletes, serving as a high jumper for the Iowa
track team, but he has had a problems staying healthy. Even so,
he's on the verge of playing a much bigger role after catching
13 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown last season with 6-4,
200-pound size, deep speed, and the leaping ability to do far
more around the goal line.
Tony Moeaki
was a phenomenal tight end talent who was never quite healthy
enough to live up to his potential. At 6-4 and 250 pounds with
fantastic speed and great blocking skills, he can do it all, but
now he has to do more than catch just 13 passes for 144 yards
and a touchdown. A wrist injury was an issue in the past, but
he's fine now and he should add big numbers to his résumé after
catching 46 career passes for 566 yards and seven scores.
Projected Top Reserves: Will
Derrell Johnson-Koulianos ever get in the good graces of
the coaching staff? The team's leading receiver last year caught
44 passes for 639 yards and three touchdowns, but he became too
enamored with making the deep play, averaging 14.5 yards per
catch, and wasn't quite consistent enough with the routine. DJK
has 6-1, 215-pound size, tremendous deep speed, and next-level
skills. Not only did he come up with a few huge games, catching
seven passes for 181 yards and a score against Minnesota, but he
also saw time as a dangerous kickoff returner.
Even if
Tony Moeaki is the team's No. 1 tight end, Allen Reisner
won't be far behind. The 6-3, 235-pound junior caught
11 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown, averaging 18.2 yards
per catch, but most of his work came in the first three games of
the year. While he's not huge, he's a strong blocker who'll see
plenty of time in two tight end sets.
Junior Colin Sandeman saw time as a punt
returner, averaging just six yards per try, and he caught six
passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Now the 6-1, 200-pound
veteran will work at split end behind Marvin McNutt and should
stretch the field with his great athleticism. He's smart enough
to be a reliable route runner.
While 5-9, 167-pound
junior Paul Chaney isn't all that big, he's
tremendously quick with good upside as a possible No. 3 option
in certain situations. He only caught two passes for 19 yards in
five games, but he'll see more work in the rotation behind Trey
Stross.
Watch Out For ... McNutt. Losing Andy Brodell isn't a
plus, but the receiving corps might have gotten stronger with
the emergence of McNutt. He's not going to be a finished product
right away, but he has the size and the talent to become a major
star before he's done.
Strength: Size. Everyone can run and there's
talent across the board, including tight end, but the sheer size
of this group is one of the major plusses. Throw in the
next-level leaping ability of Stross, and the corps plays even
bigger than its height.
Weakness: A sure-thing when the lights are on. McNutt is still
unproven as a target in game action, Johnson-Koulianos might
have a hard time making grabs from the doghouse, and Moeaki
hasn't been able to stay healthy. If everyone is on the field
and everyone is playing well, the corps will be unstoppable at
times. That's a big if.
Outlook: It's an interesting group that could be
one of the team's major positives if all the breaks go the right
way. The play of Marvin McNutt this spring opened up everyone's
eyes, while there's the potential for this to be a devastating
unit if Trey Stross turns into a consistent producer, if Derrell Johnson-Koulianos
can be back in everyone's good graces and can make more midrange
grabs, and if tight end Tony Moeaki can stay in one piece. The
raw talent is there, and now it needs to come together to form a
combination of a consistent and a home-run hitting set of
targets.
Rating: 7
Offensive
Line
Projected Starters:
6-6, 315-pound junior Bryan
Bulaga came into last season as a possible starting guard with
enough versatility to move outside. He ended the year as a rock of a
starting left tackle who has started 18 games up front and who's now
being mentioned among the top NFL offensive lineman prospects. He earned
second-team All-Big Ten honors after dominating for the Iowa running
game. While he still needs a little work and polish as a pass blocker,
with his size and athleticism he'll be under the scouting microscope all
year and will be the anchor for the line.
On the other side is
Kyle Calloway, a 6-7, 315-pound senior who has started
26 straight games and is coming off a second-team All-Big Ten season.
Capable of working on either side, he's now a fixture at right tackle
where he has good athleticism to go along with his size. More
consistency as a pass protector would be nice, but he's talented,
durable, and will be a rock of an all-star for the good front five.
The only big loss is at guard where
Seth Olsen is gone, but there might actually be an upgrade with
the return of Dace Richardson, a one-time
superstar tackle prospect who had a great NFL future ahead of
him. A horrendous knee injury in 2006 turned into more problems
in 2007 with the thought that his career might be over. After
more surgery, and after missing all of last year, his completely
reconstructed knee, and not just the ligaments, held up in
spring ball. Now, he's not just being considered for playing
time, he'll be the starting left guard. While there's no way he
can be the player he was before the injury, if he's close, the
Hawkeyes got a gift.
The leader of the line and one of
the leaders of the team is Rafael Eubanks, a
6-3, 280-pound all-star who overcame a knee problem that limited
him in 2007 to regain his form last year at guard. While he's
tough, he had issues with a leg injury. The senior, who has 25
games of starting experience, also saw time at center, where
he's a more natural fit, and he should be a tough all-around
blocker again in the middle if he can stay healthy.
6-3,
300-pound junior Julian Vandervelde is a very
smart, very tough interior blocker who blasts away for the
running game and is now a fixture for the line. He started the
final nine games of last year and got better and better by the
week. While he's not going to be in the spotlight on a great
line, he'll be in the mix for all-star honors at either right
guard or center.
Projected Top Reserves: Considering Dace
Richardson is hardly a sure thing with his repaired knee, senior
Andy Kuempel has to be ready. A tackle by
trade, considered a main option for the left side coming into
last year, he ended up as a key reserve at guard and got the
start in a few games late in the year before getting knocked out
for the year against Illinois with a shoulder problem. He's
versatile enough to play either tackle spot if needed.
6-6, 300-pound senior Dan Doering was the 2004
Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year, and while he hasn't lived
up to his prep hype, he has been a good blocker on the inside
when healthy. He'll have to fight for time at left guard with a
logjam of talent, but he's versatile enough to play either guard
spot.
About to become a major factor is Adam
Gettis, a 6-4, 280-pound sophomore guard who was
fantastic this spring and could end up seeing time on either
side. Listed as a co-No. 2 at right guard, he has seen a little
bit of time and is athletic enough to be groomed for a 2010
starting spot. The sky's the limit.
Watch Out For ... Gettis. There's a free-for-all for
spots in the interior and while Vandervelde is a lock for one
guard spot, it'll be a good battle for the other position and
center. Gettis might not win a starting job, but he's on the
radar for the near future as a key blocker somewhere along the
front.
Strength: Talent and experience. There's depth,
veterans, and options to play around with, This was one of the
nation's dominant run blocking units last year, and now it
should be even better with two NFL bookends and several good
veterans for the inside.
Weakness: Pass protection and health. After allowing 35 sacks in
2007, the improved line gave up 27. That's not good, but it's
better. The big key is health with everyone on the inside having
one problem or another. It'll be hard to put together a
consistent lineup.
Outlook: After a disastrous 2007 when no one could
stay healthy, last year's line came together and was a dominant
force by the end of the season. Now it'll be among the best
lines in America if, and it's a huge, screaming if, injuries
aren't an issue. Bryan Bulaga and Kyle Calloway aren't the
problems at tackle, but from Dace Richardson's knee, to the
shoulder of Andy Kuempel, to the leg problems of Rafael Eubanks,
the Iowa line has several players who likely won't play an
entire season. Better pass protection is a must, but the running
game will thrive under this group.
Rating:
9
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