The countdown after the long layoff of football withdrawal is finally coming to a close. With Saturday a couple sleeps away, we are set for another season of Hawkeyes football, starting with the matchup with the Wyoming Cowboys.
Of course, the player bringing the most eyeballs to the Big Ten Network for the Hawkeyes against Cowboys is quarterback Josh Allen.
Allen has already been the ‘darling’ of draftniks taking a glance at the 2018 crop of quarterbacks. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report has Allen going second overall to the 49ers. Obviously, that raises so eyebrows for Iowa fans since San Fransisco invested a third round pick in the 2017 draft in Iowa quarterback CJ Beathard.
Allen possesses all the tools. With one of the best arms in the country, and the ability to pull it down and run, it provides a tough day at the office for defensive coordinator Phil Parker and the Hawk defense. Kirk Ferentz spoke to the things that Allen can do:
"if you give him a lot of time he’s going to find somebody open, and somebody is going to be open because you can only cover for so long. So yeah, you want to disrupt him if possible, and preferably, like every coach, you’d like to do it with four guys. It would be nice if you could do it with three. But the danger is if you get out of your lanes and are reckless, he’ll pull it down and run. He’s done a nice job that way converting into good 1st downs for them. He’s just a really good football player. And full disclosure, I didn’t hear about him or know about him until watching the draft last April. After hearing what they said there, I can certainly see — you watch tape, you can understand why he was being lauded so highly."
Allen returns in 2017 without his top wide receiver Tanner Gentry who could very well be making the Chicago Bears. Also, moving on was his running back Brian Hill who was one of the best running backs in the country in last year, and was All-Mountain West. The running back position will be by committee it appears with several candidates looking to take over the duties.
Josey Jewell on Wyoming's Josh Allen: "I guess we'll find out Saturday how good he is. Right now, just preparing for him like a normal guy."
— Chad Leistikow🆑 (@ChadLeistikow) August 29, 2017
The defense for the Cowboys wasn’t good to be frank in 2016. They do come back with the majority of the same players, and could be improved with a new coach on that side of the ball.
History Of The Opponent
- The two teams have met twice in their history. Iowa won both ballgames.
- The Cowboys have won 15 conference titles all-time
- Former Purdue coach Joe Tiller coached the Cowboys from 1991-1996
- Wyoming features 2 players with Iowa ties.
- SR CB Rico Gafford attended Iowa Western
- JR C Cole Turner is from Cedar Rapids
Prediction
The great unknowns remain with the new starting quarterback in town for the Hawkeyes in Nathan Stanley. Add that to the new dimension of having first year OC Brian Ferentz in the booth, or not each Saturday.
The Hawkeyes face an interesting challenge right out of the gate mainly due to Josh Allen who could keep it close into the fourth quarter. But, in the end, the Hawkeyes have 8 to 9 in the rotation for the offensive line that was one of the best in the country last year, and the linebacker group is among the most seasoned in the country.
It should be a good game, but in the end the Hawkeyes ware the Pokes’ down.
Predictions
Joe Favia (Dear Old Gold): Hawkeyes 30 Over Cowboys 23
Patrick Mooney (Dear Old Gold): Hawkeyes Over Cowboys
Derrick Mitchell (Former Hawkeye RB): Hawkeyes 35 Over Cowboys 28
Brendan Stiles (Hawkeye Expert): Hawkeyes Over Cowboys
Buffalo @ Minnesota:
Joe, Patrick, Derrick, Brendan- Minnesota
Ohio State @ Indiana
Joe, Patrick, Derrick, Brendan- Ohio State
Washington @ Rutgers
Joe, Patrick, Derrick, Brendan- Rut… Washington (Of Course)
Utah State @ Wisconsin
Joe, Patrick, Derrick, Brendan- Wisconsin
Bowling Green @ Michigan State
Joe, Patrick, Derrick, Brendan- Michigan State
Akron @ Penn State
Joe, Patrick, Derrick, Brendan- Penn State
Ball State @ Illinois
Patrick, Derrick, Brendan- Illinois
Joe – Ball State
Maryland @ Texas
Joe, Patrick, Derrick, Brendan- Texas
Michigan vs Florida
Patrick, Derrick, Brendan- Michigan
Joe- Florida
Nevada @ Northwestern
Joe, Patrick, Derrick, Brendan- Northwestern
Louisville vs Purdue
Joe, Patrick, Derrick, Brendan –Louisville
Arkansas State @ Nebraska
Joe, Patrick, Brendan – Nebraska
Derrick– Arkansas State