It was not all that long ago when Iowa fans would never count the Hawks out of a game until the clock struck zero. In 2009, Iowa won their first nine games of the season, three of which (Northern Iowa, Michigan, and Michigan State) came down to the last few plays of the games. However, these heroics have seemed to have left Iowa City along with the legendary players that made these come backs, and victories, possible. As the loses continue to add up, Hawkeye Nation has been left searching for answers.

It’s easy to pinpoint when the wind was taken out of the sails of the once promising future of the Hawkeye football program. Iowa entered the 2010 season fresh off an Orange Bowl victory and was ranked as a top ten team in the country. After starting 2-0, the Hawks took a trip to Arizona on September 18, 2010. On the first drive of the game, Ryan Donahue’s punt was blocked by Arizona, and the problems only stockpiled from there. Even though Iowa only lost by 7, there was a strange feeling that came over the fan base. Where was the game winning drive that had become commonplace to Iowa? How about the key defensive stand that was part of every successful Kirk Ferentz team? After rounding out the 2010 season with an 8-5 record, the attitude around the Iowa fan base had changed. The optimism and elite talent was gone.

After last years underwhelming 7-6 season, Kirk Ferentz readjusted his coaching staff, and a new sense of intrigue came back to the program. New Offensive Coordinator Greg Davis was expected to bring the spark Iowa needed on offense to begin the long climb back to the top of the Big 10. But after facing 5 mediocre opponents and starting 3-2 (including arguably the most embarrassing loss of the Ferentz era to Central Michigan), the hype brought by the new coaching staff is gone, and fans are beginning to look for answers yet again.

One of the glaring deficiencies seems to be the offensive skill position depth. After Marvin McNutt’s historic 2011 season, a gaping hole has been left at the wide receiver position. Drops plagued every receiver, including tight ends, in the first few games, but now an obvious lack of depth has greatly hindered the offense. When the top two receivers, Keenan Davis and Kevonte Martin-Manley, have been covered, there has really been no other target to throw to downfield. This has left quarterback James Vandenberg to check down to the running backs for minimal gains. There just haven’t been those one or two deep passes per game that were always expected when McNutt or even Derrell Johnson-Koulianos were playing for the black and gold. If the Hawks want to improve, a third wide receiver and deep ball threat, must emerge. Perhaps Jordan Cotton is the man for the job. He showed off his speed in the Minnesota game, but is yet to contribute on a regular basis. Who ever it is going to be, Iowa needs someone to step up.

Another problem, and probably the most important, has been the performance of senior quarterback James Vandenberg. After having a very impressive junior season, Vandenberg is yet to show the skills or consistency that led him to be one of the Big Ten’s best quarterbacks in 2011. He has missed many receivers and is yet to flash the talent that everyone knows he has. He has shown signs of catching on to the new offense, but still has not had the kind of game that turns heads. He has to step up his play if Iowa wants to win many more games.

However gloomy this season has started, there are signs of life amongst the team. The defense has played well all year and has shown signs of greatness. The Iowa defense, lead by linebackers James Morris and Christian Kirksey, has been able to  make big plays that have kept Iowa in games. Also, the emergence of fullback-turned-runningback, Mark Weisman, has led to a consistent power running game, which has lightened the load for Vandenberg. Weisman has strung together one of the most impressive three game stretches by any Iowa running back. Since he stepped in for the injured Damon Bullock and Greg Garmon, Weisman has accumulated 515 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Even though Iowa has had a roller-coaster type season thus far, do not give up on them yet. Last weeks bye week hit a great time in the season. After getting to 3-2 by a commanding victory over Minnesota, the Hawks have a chance to get healthy and prepare for one of the best defenses they will face all year. Next week will go a long way in determining what kind of team Iowa has. Will the Hawks come out flat or will they continue to improve and pull off a shocker? Stayed tuned Iowa fans, the season is still young.

The post Iowa Football: The Questions and Uncertainties Continue appeared first on KRUI Radio.

After posting a 15-1 record last season but having a disappointing playoffs, the Green Bay Packers look to start, and finish, the 2012 season strong this year.

Last season, Green Bay was as bipolar of a team as you could have.

Led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is the reigning MVP, the Packers had one of the most lethal passing attacks in the game last season. Rodgers led the NFL with a 122.5 quarterback rating, was second in the league with 45 touchdown passes, and had the fewest interceptions thrown among qualifying quarterbacks.

In addition to Rodgers, the Packers also had one of the best receiving corps in the league, led by Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson.

The area for improvement on this offense is the running game. The Packers ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in all rushing statistics last season, and this season does not show any signs of being different. The addition of Cedric Benson should ease the pain of some cheese heads but as a 30-year-old running back in a pass-happy system, you never know what to expect.

On the other side of the ball, the Pack had a surprisingly bad defense last year.

They gave up the most passing yards of any defense in the game and had mediocre run-stopping abilities. This black hole was addressed during this last spring’s draft, spending their first six draft picks on defensive players, most notably was linebacker Nick Perry out of USC.

Perry is projected to be the pass rusher opposite of Clay Matthews that Green Bay has needed for a few years now, and with a 6’3” 265 pound frame, it is easy to see where the hype comes from.

Even though Green Bay should have an improved defense, there will be plenty of rookie mistakes and in a division where the offenses have only gotten better over the offseason, these young players will be tested early.

After looking at the Packers schedule, if they can get through the first four weeks unscathed, this could be another special season for the cheese heads.

However, I look for the Packers to split their first two games against San Francisco and Chicago. Green Bay should then handle the Seahawks in the following week. After that, New Orleans comes to town and I am going to give the Packers the win here due to all the offseason drama the Saints have endured this year.

Over the next five weeks, I see Green Bay winning against Indianapolis, St. Louis, Jacksonville, and Arizona with a tough road loss to Houston on October 14th. Green Bay will then come out of their bye week with a 7-2 record, but will get beat in consecutive weeks by the Lions in Detroit on November 18th and by the reigning Super Bowl Champion New York Giants the following week.

I then see Green Bay winning their remaining 5 games, finishing the season with a 12-4 record and being poised for a deep playoff run again in 2013.

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The Purdue Boilermakers enter the 2012 season after a 7-6 campaign in 2011, which was topped off with a victory over the Western Michigan Broncos in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

This season, the Boilers are shaping up to be one of the most interesting teams in the Big Ten due to nine returning starters on both sides of the ball.

For the first time in the Danny Hope era, Purdue enters this season without a question mark at the quarterback position. Caleb TerBush, who had been battling with Robert Marve the last few seasons, has been named the starter for week one. TerBush had a very strong 2011 season; passing for 1,905 yards with 13 touchdowns while splitting time with Marve.

Purdue also has some veteran skill position players returning, which can only help their cause.

Ralph Bolden is looking to return to the starting line-up after sitting out last year, but as of now Akeem Shavers leads the way for the running backs. He has seen limited playing time over his career, but he has shown flashes on special teams.

At the wide receiver position, Purdue’s top 5 receivers are either juniors or seniors who have all seen playing time in the past. Purdue also returns a veteran offensive line.

The Boilermakers defense is the piece of their team that stands out on paper.

Led by defensive tackle and potential first-round draft pick, Kawann Short, Purdue is poised to have the best defense since Hope took over the reigns in West Lafayette. Along with Short, fellow defensive tackle Bruce Gaston has shown flashes and should be a big contributor this season.

Leading the back seven is cornerback Ricardo Allen. Allen, who started as a true freshman two years ago, enters his junior year after showing gradual progression throughout his career. This defensive unit could be one of the better defenses in the Big Ten.

Purdue’s schedule is full of intriguing games.

After a week one win over Eastern Kentucky, the Boilers travel to South Bend for a match-up with Notre Dame. The Irish simply has more talent than Purdue so I have to pick Notre Dame here.

The next two weeks are against Eastern Michigan and Marshall, so I will pick the Boilers to be 3-1 entering Big Ten play. The following week, Michigan comes to town and I have to pick Purdue to come out with an upset win in this game due to their staunch run defense.

The following week, Purdue plays host to the Wisconsin Badgers. As I said in my Wisconsin pre-season overview, I think Purdue wins this game as well thanks to their defense. On October 20th, the Boilers travel to Ohio St. and will leave with a loss, leaving them 5-2.

I then feel that Purdue will lose a shocker to Minnesota the following week due to Minnesota coach, Jerry Kill, really starting to revitalize that program and outwitting Danny Hope and his moustache. Purdue will return to the win column with a win over Penn St. the following week.

I then see the Boilermakers splitting their final two road games of the season against Iowa and Illinois leaving them with a 7-4 record. To close out the regular season, Purdue will be victorious over the Indiana Hoosiers and finish the year with an 8-4 record.

The post The Season Ahead: Purdue appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Consistency. This word has become common place in Madison, Wisconsin over the last two years due to the strong performances of the University of Wisconsin’s football Badgers.

After back-to-back Big Ten championships, coach Bret Bielema’s group is poised to make it a historic three-peat this season as many key players return from last year.

One of these players is running back Montee Ball. You may have heard of him. Ball finished forth in the Heisman Trophy voting and recorded 1,923 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns last year, and there are no signs of a drop off in Ball’s performance this year.

One reason for this is the strength of his returning offensive line. As the depth chart stands now, Wisconsin’s offensive line is set to average almost 326 pounds and stand 6’6” tall.

Now, you may be thinking, “Just because they are HUGE, doesn’t mean they are good,” but you would be wrong. Wisconsin’s left tackle, Ricky Wagner, and center, Travis Fredrick, were members of the First-Team Big Ten squad last year and should pick up where they left off.

What also seems to be a reoccurring theme within the Wisconsin football program is their ability to find free agent quarterbacks.

Last season, Russell Wilson transferred from North Carolina State and was an integral piece of the Badgers’ Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl birth.

This season, Danny O’Brien transferred into the program from Maryland. O’Brien has not had the career that Wilson had prior to transferring, but O’Brien will be the Badgers’ starter for week one when they face off against Northern Iowa.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Badgers return two of the Big Ten’s top defensive players in linebackers Mike Taylor and Chris Borland; both of which were top five in tackles last year. Wisconsin also returns an experienced defensive line and secondary.

After looking at Wisconsin’s schedule, there is even more reason for Badger fans to be excited about the 2012-13 season.

With an extremely weak nonconference schedule of Northern Iowa, at Oregon State, Utah State, and UTEP the Badgers should start 4-0 without any problem.

Their next game is at Nebraska, which should be a rather intriguing matchup. With one year of Big Ten football under their belt, the Cornhuskers should be one of the stronger teams in the league this year, but I will give Wisconsin the nod in this one.

After a 5-0 start, Wisconsin should have no problem handling the Illini on October 6th in Madison. The Badgers would then take their 6-0 record to West Lafayette for a match up with the Boilermakers of Purdue.

Purdue has all the makings of a sleeper team in the Big Ten this year, and I am going to give them the upset win due to their great defensive line being able to shut down Wisconsin’s vaunted run game.

The following week the Badgers limp home to hold on to Paul Bunyan’s Axe as they defeat the Golden Gophers. On October 27th the Badgers take on Michigan St. in a rematch of last year’s inaugural Big Ten Championship game. With Michigan State’s fantastic defense, I am going to call them to defeat Wisconsin in a close game at Camp-Randall.

I will then say the Badgers close out with three consecutive wins over Indiana, Ohio St., and Penn St., giving them an 11-2 record and a legitimate shot at returning to the Championship game

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