Can Iowa's Defense Lead The Way To a BCS Bowl Berth?

In many ways, this year will be a typical year in the Kirk Ferentz era of Iowa football with another tough, hard-nosed, physical and competitive team on both sides of the ball.  But, if the Hawkeyes can meet the test of its toughest schedule in recent years, a BCS bowl berth just might be in reach.

Defensively, Norm Parker’s very conservative…bend but don’t break… take away the big play and keep everything in front of you Tampa Two...will be no surprise to Hawkeye opponents.  What will surprise some is that eight (8) starters and 17 players on the two-deeps return from last year’s Nationally ranked defense. It’s clear that Iowa’s Defense will be its greatest strength and set the tone for the entire 2009 season.  Iowa’s returning defensive back field led by CB Amory Spivey, FS Brent Greenwood and Fr. phenom SS Tyler Sash will combine with perhaps the best returning line-backing core in the Big Ten, led by Sr. Pat Angerer, Sr. AJ Eds and Jr. Jeremiah Hunter.  Still, the lone secondary departure, St Louis Rams CB Bradley Fletcher, and the two interior line standouts, All American DT Mitch King (Titans free agent ) and DT Matt Kroul (Jets free agent), will all be sorely missed.

At corner, either speedy Jr. back-up from Des Moines, Jordan Bernstein or equally speedy Nebraska native Soph. Shawn Prater could plug-and-play quite nicely. While rumors that Jr.DE Christian Ballard (6-4, 284) may have out-grown his DE position go unconfirmed by the Iowa coaching staff, it is clear the best 4 lineman will be on the field in a variety of configurations. Joining the afore mentioned Ballard, should include last year’s proven backup to King and Kroul, Karl Klug, seasoned backup and Big Ten Player of the week Soph. Broderick Bins and stalwart anchor on weak side DE Adrian Clayborn. With only promising youngsters backing these four up, “experienced depth in the defensive line” might be Norm’s only weakness.

Offensively, the Hawks will scratch where it itches in its typical “no frills” Ken O’Keefe philosophy, relying primarily on the zone running attack and the play action pass featuring the sure handed Tight End as the major pass receiving target…with a couple of intriguing wrinkles.

Although the Offensive unit was most hard hit by expired college eligibility and the NFL draft (RB Shonn Greene, TE Brandon Meyers, Guard Seth Olsen, Center Rob Brugerman), five very strong starters return led by the much improved QB Ricky Stanzi, standout Left Tackle Bryan Bulaga , Right Tackle Kyle Calloway, Left Guard Julian Vandervelde and leading team receiver wide-out Derrel Johnson -Koulianos (DJK). The good news is this solid core is joined by a strangely forgotten string of 2006, 2007 and 2008 starters that are now healthy: TE Toney Moeaki , Sr. Guard Dace Richardson, Jr. Center Raphael Eubanks, Sr. Guard Dan Doering and acrobatic Jr. wide-out Trey Stross, all with significant Big Ten game experience.  With the addition of last year’s impressive backup RB, Jewel Hampton (avg. over 5 yds per carry and 7 TDs), one might say the Hawkeyes are fully “re-loaded “. They will have plenty of highly competitive experienced gamers and young depth to spare on the line, in the backfield and in the air, led by the much anticipated emergence of 4 new comers: impressive Redshirt RB, Jeff Brinson, two highly coveted incoming true Freshmen RB Brandon Wagher and the tall fleet footed wide-out Keenan Davis (6-3 205 lb., 4.45 forty) and the interesting prep from Maryland, Stephane Ngoumou (6-4 195 lb, 4.55 forty).

Yet, perhaps the most intriguing development on the offense is the surprise emergence of QB converted receiver and St-Louis prep standout, Marvin McNutt (6-4, 210 lbs, 4.5 forty).  Marvin finished spring ball as the Hawks No. 1 wide-out, ahead of last year’s team leading receiver D.J.K.  With the fast and illusive ex-QB McNutt at flanker, we may see a few plays resembling the “wild cat” sneak into O’Keefe’s playbook. Plus, should Davis and Ngoumou work their way into the lineup, suddenly the Hawkeyes have a big, physical and fast receiving core to complement Stanzi’s golden arm.

However, thanks to the odd conspiracy between Iowa AD Gary Barta and the Big Ten Conference scheduling genies, 2009 will be Iowa’s toughest schedule in recent memory with non-conference games against perennial Gateway Conference crown contender (UNI), defensive minded Paul Rhoads inaugural Big 12 team (ISU) and Mike Stoops PAC 10 Team (Arizona) combined with an in-conference schedule slotting all of its most highly ranked matchups on the road (PSU, MSU, Wisconsin and Ohio State). Ouch!

If travelling to Happy Valley for its Big Ten opener against the Nittany Lions is somehow not tough enough, expect this to be a grudge match over last year’s “Perfect Season” ending loss to Iowa in Kinnick Stadium.  Throw in back-to-back road games against the Michigan State Spartans and boarder rival Wisconsin Badgers, and it is clear this schedule will be no “tip-toe through the tulips”. Top it off with what could be the “Big Ten Game of the Year” traveling to the ever friendly home of Hop-a-Long Cassidy and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Iowa’s last win in Columbus was in 1991.

Thanks to its defense, Hawk fans can expect that practically every game in 2009 will be a close one, home and away. If Iowa’s defensive and offensive interior lines jell in time for its road games in the Big Ten while taking care of business in the tough preseason, they could show up in the “Horse Shoe” with only one (1) or two (2) losses. Should they enjoy three (3) victories out of (4) conference road games, a record of 11-1 could vault them into a BCS Bowl as Big Ten Champs. Should these heights be achieved, not only will the Hawkeye faithful fill the air with rousing renditions of the famous polka classic “In heaven there is no beer” …But, Coach Kirk Ferentz may be forced to dust off the most famous tradition of his predecessor and beloved mentor, Haden Fry; the dreaded dance of the giant bumble bee, more commonly known by the rest of the world, including most Grade schoolers as, the “Hokey-Pokey”, fittingly reserved for only the greatest moments in Hawkeye Football lore. 

A Hawkeye can dream can’t he.