Week one of college football is almost here, and the Hawkeyes are ready to get back on the gridiron and show what they can do.
The long offseason is finally over, and the players and coaches have been itching to get back to actual gameplay. No more playing against your own team; Saturday is for real. The official depth chart was released earlier this week, and while we still don't know who the starting quarterback is, we know who will get the first crack at starting reps this season. Even with only eight total returning starters, the expectations are very high for the No. 22-ranked Hawkeyes. Lingering questions remain ahead of week one, but a good performance against NIU would go a long way to quelling some of those concerns.
No: 1: The starting quarterback dilemma
We have discussed the starting quarterback situation at length, and while week one likely won't fully determine who earns the job, a solid performance against NIU would ease many concerns from fans and the media. Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski have battled for the starting job since January, and we still don't have a clear winner. Kirk Ferentz has been adamant that the race is still too close to call, and both players will get an opportunity to show what they can do in week one. Ferentz recently revealed that both players will play on Saturday and should get 2-3 possessions each.
While the "pitch count" strategy isn't a long-term solution, it will give each quarterback a chance to get solid game reps. There isn't a good time to experiment with a two-quarterback system, but luckily for the Hawkeyes, their first three games should be a cakewalk. NIU, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa shouldn't provide much of a challenge for the Hawkeyes, unless something goes horribly wrong and the decision could stretch into the third game. If Ferentz doesn't know who the QB1 is by the Northern Iowa game, they are in big trouble.
It wouldn't be surprising if we had a much clearer idea of who the starter is after week two, but a good performance by one or both players would slightly ease concerns.
No. 2: The offensive line
George Barnett and the offensive line unit had the difficult task of replacing three pivotal players from last year's group, with Beau Stephens, Gennings Dunker, and Logan Jones all heading to the NFL. Iowa returned two potential All-Americans, Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck, and with both being near-locks for a starting spot, that left three vacancies on the line. Despite the lack of starting experience, the Hawkeyes had multiple players waiting in the wings for expanded roles and are getting that chance this season.
Cael Winter was in the same recruiting class as Lauck and played so well this offseason that he pushed Pieper back to right guard. Pieper was rumored to be a lock to earn the starting center role with Jones now in the NFL, but Winter's solid play pushed him back to guard. With Lauck starting at left tackle, Winter at center, and Pieper at right guard, veteran Leighton Jones earned the starting left guard spot, and Jack Dotzler earned the starting right tackle spot.
No one ever worries about the offensive line unit, but a year after winning the Joe Moore Award, there were concerns about replacing all the talent they lost. We recently had the amazing opportunity to interview Lauck, and he expressed complete confidence in the group. He knows firsthand how hard everyone in the group has worked to replace what they've lost, and noted that they aren't just throwing a bunch of freshmen into the fire. The players who earned starting roles have past experience, but had to wait their turn behind all the talent in front of them.
If the offensive line can lean on an inexperienced NIU defensive front early and pave the way for Kamari Moulton and the rest of the talented running backs, it will not only ease concerns about the unit but also about the starting quarterback dilemma.
No. 3: The defensive line
One of the hardest-hit position groups after last season is the defensive line, with all four starters gone. Iowa has multiple talented players waiting to step up, but they are very inexperienced. Bryce Hawthorne has the most experience of the group, but aside from him, it will be a completely different front four. We now know that Iose Epenesa (right edge), Hawthorne (defensive tackle), Will Hubert (defensive tackle), and Kenneth Merrieweather (left edge) will start on Saturday, and they need to make their presence known early.
The linebackers and secondary are two of the strongest units the program has, and if the front four can get solid pressure on NIU, it could be a long night for the Huskies offense. Epenesa and Merrieweather should have great games against a suspect NIU offensive line, and if Hawthorne and Hubert can get pressure up the middle, they will force the NIU offense into some off-schedule throws and hopefully make them one-dimensional.
No one ever doubts a Phil Parker-coached defense, but solid pressure from the front four keeps everyone on time and on schedule. Pressure early and often, as well as multiple sacks and QB pressures will ease concerns about the defense losing all four starters up front.
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