Online Now 286

Why UI will - or will not - win B1G

With the season opener against Northern Illinois at Soldier Field just eight days away, Voice of the Hawkeyes examines eight reasons why Iowa will - or will not - win the B1G in 2012. Be sure to stay tuned, as we will be revealing one reason every day leading up to the opener.

James Vandenberg

REASON NUMBER ONE WHY IOWA WILL - OR WILL NOT - WIN THE B1G IN 2012: JAMES VANDENBERG

Will: James Vandeberg is arguably the top pro-style quarterback returning in the B1G this season. He passed for over 3,000 yards in his first full season as a starter, and should be much more confident and comfortable with 13 more starts under his belt. In terms of his arm strength, accuracy and release, he doesn't take a back seat to anyone in the B1G.

As a pure passer, there may not have been anyone better in the B1G in 2011. With another offseason to get stronger, fine-tune his mechanics and develop more chemistry with some of his receivers, Vandenberg could emerge as an even better passer in 2012.

Vandenberg's number one problem throughout the 2011 season was his pocket presence. In order to improve a quarterback's pocket presence, gaining experience in the heat of battle on Saturday afternoons is vital. Vandenberg did exactly that last year, and should be poised to take the next step in 2012.

If he does take that next step, the Hawkeyes could become that much more difficult to stop on offense, and that would take some pressure off of the defense and special teams. Football is a game of inches, and each game is often decided by 3-5 plays. With a veteran quarterback with the improved pocket presence, arm strength and accuracy that Vandenberg may display, the Hawkeyes may be able to make those plays more often in 2012 than they did in 2011.

Will not: Arguably, Iowa's top three offensive linemen in 2011 are now playing in the NFL, with Riley Reiff being selected in the first round. Simply put, if Vandenberg struggled with his pocket presence playing behind a first round pick and two other NFL-caliber offensive linemen, what will happen when he plays behind a much less-experienced offensive line in 2012?

Additionally, Marcus Coker was the epitome of a workhorse in 2011, carrying the ball 281 times. It is not news to any Hawkeye fans that there are not any proven running backs on the roster heading into the 2012 season. If the running game takes a step back because of the inexperience up front and at running back, that may put even more pressure on Vandbenberg.

Further, Vandenberg's go-to receiver in 2011, Marvin McNutt, was by many measures the top receiver in school history. With McNutt now in the NFL, will Vandenberg be forced to hold onto the ball for an extra split second at times this fall?

There are several ways Iowa may be able to replace McNutt's production. Maybe Keenan Davis has a breakout season and virtually matches McNutt's production, or maybe the combination of Davis, Kevonte Martin-Manley and C.J. Fiedorowicz is better in 2012 than Iowa's top three receivers were in 2011. While both of those scenarios are certainly possible, neither one has actually happened yet.

Lastly, up until this spring, Vandenberg had played his entire Iowa career in Ken O'Keefe's system. How long will it take Vandenberg to feel fully comfortable when the bullets are flying in the relatively new system implemented by Greg Davis? And if that proves to be a bit of a challenge for Vandenberg, does that essentially negate some of the benefits of the experience he gained in 2011?

Todd Worly

    • What do you all think we'll see out of Vandenberg this season?

      Todd Worly

    • Todd Worly said...

      What do you all think we'll see out of Vandenberg this season?

      I think JVB might actually be the first senior QB that improves under the KF era in the W - L area.

      Last year was...... meh. Great stats, but W-L wasnt so hot. On the road jitters, no pocket presence, and became a deer in the headlights for a couple plays after he's scramble.

      fuisu

    • Good read! Thanks Todd. I think JVB has some great weapons to work with. I think Davis, KMM, and CJ could all have big years.

      Morrison71

    • I think it absolutely comes down to how improved JVB is in the pocket and how quickly the lines can progress. RB will work its self out. Hell, we had a great season with Sam Brownlee getting carries. RB is not a concern for me. There is talent at the position, someone just has to show they want the job. I can't wait till next Saturday!

      KCHawk25

    • KCHawk25 said...

      I think it absolutely comes down to how improved JVB is in the pocket and how quickly the lines can progress. RB will work its self out. Hell, we had a great season with Sam Brownlee getting carries. RB is not a concern for me. There is talent at the position, someone just has to show they want the job. I can't wait till next Saturday!

      This. I think Iowa's offense will be fine. They have a good offensive line and a returning senior QB as well as some good receiving targets. Vandenberg will have another good statistical year, and hopefully that results in more wins than last year. The key to Iowa's season is DL. If guys step up, Iowa can be good.

      UI2015

    • in my mental tally of the team's prospects i have jvb solidly in the plus column. in fact, i'm so confident in what he can do, my ideas about the season don't treat his play as a variable. i simply assume that if he's healthy he'll be real good.

      now i'm not so confident about the season's outcome. with questions at rb, wr, o-line, and d-line plus concerns about the answers in place at lb, i'm afraid that getting more than 7 wins will be uncertain. the schedule will help--and, yes, the hawks might turn up aces in all the questionable areas.

      i count 5 areas of concern. roughly (and a little whimsically) speaking, a positive outcome in any of these areas will add one win to 7. heck, just 5 aces away from a big date in january.

      silverhawk

    • I say that there is a 50% chance we shock people this year and a 50% chance we don't biggrin

      HawkiBrad55 ●

    • UI2015 said...

      This. I think Iowa's offense will be fine. They have a good offensive line and a returning senior QB as well as some good receiving targets. Vandenberg will have another good statistical year, and hopefully that results in more wins than last year. The key to Iowa's season is DL. If guys step up, Iowa can be good.

      I know Iowa has traditionally fielded a very good offensive line every year, but I don't think it's necessarily a given that it'll happen once again this year. Losing the three best linemen from a year ago, combined with a new position coach for that group, I think it'll definitely be a challenge. Not saying it won't - or can't - happen, but I'm still not 100% convinced that the offensive line will reload. Heading into last year, a lot of people were saying similar things about the defensive line (that they'll find a way to be successful because that's what the Hawkeyes always do), but it really didn't turn out that way. Again, the offensive line certainly COULD emerge as a great unit this season, but there's still a little doubt in my mind.

      Todd Worly

    • hawkeyebrad55 said...

      I say that there is a 50% chance we shock people this year and a 50% chance we don't biggrin

      lol You're really going out on a limb there!

      Todd Worly

    • I use the Meteorology tactic that is why i am always right

      HawkiBrad55 ●

    • KCHawk25 said...

      I think it absolutely comes down to how improved JVB is in the pocket and how quickly the lines can progress. RB will work its self out. Hell, we had a great season with Sam Brownlee getting carries. RB is not a concern for me. There is talent at the position, someone just has to show they want the job. I can't wait till next Saturday!

      Great post here, and I really agree for the most part. I do think someone (or more than one person) will emerge at running back as at least an adequate option for Iowa when it comes to carrying the ball and making plays in the passing game. The two places where the inexperience at running back could catch up with Iowa are in ball security and pass protection. Ball security is obvious, as a fumble at an inopportune time can really impact the outcome of a game, and even a season. And while this is a worst-case scenario, mistakes by the back in pass protection can lead to big hits on Vandenberg, which can lead to turnovers and/or a serious injury.

      Todd Worly

    • hawkeyebrad55 said...

      I use the Meteorology tactic that is why i am always right

      lol

      Todd Worly

    • I find the analogy of the 2011 D-line to the 2012 O-line grossly flawed. The 2010 D-line showed a penchance for folding late, which was a precursor to the bad showing by the D-line in 2011. The 2011 O-line was damned good. The continuation of that trend to a bad O-line in 2012 is a direct contradiction to the flow in the D-line from 2010 to 2011.

      By and large I agree with a lot of your insights. But I think you missed on this one. I feel very confident that the same Offensive Line wizard is coaching the Hawks this year and his hand picked choice as the groom will produce a cast of players that will meet or exceed the Iowa expectations this year.

      GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!

      WiscHawk ●

    • WiscHawk said...

      I find the analogy of the 2011 D-line to the 2012 O-line grossly flawed. The 2010 D-line showed a penchance for folding late, which was a precursor to the bad showing by the D-line in 2011. The 2011 O-line was damned good. The continuation of that trend to a bad O-line in 2012 is a direct contradiction to the flow in the D-line from 2010 to 2011.

      By and large I agree with a lot of your insights. But I think you missed on this one. I feel very confident that the same Offensive Line wizard is coaching the Hawks this year and his hand picked choice as the groom will produce a cast of players that will meet or exceed the Iowa expectations this year.

      GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!

      I think the o line is going to be very very good.....with a 50% chance of not being so good

      HawkiBrad55 ●

    • WiscHawk said...

      I find the analogy of the 2011 D-line to the 2012 O-line grossly flawed. The 2010 D-line showed a penchance for folding late, which was a precursor to the bad showing by the D-line in 2011. The 2011 O-line was damned good. The continuation of that trend to a bad O-line in 2012 is a direct contradiction to the flow in the D-line from 2010 to 2011.

      By and large I agree with a lot of your insights. But I think you missed on this one. I feel very confident that the same Offensive Line wizard is coaching the Hawks this year and his hand picked choice as the groom will produce a cast of players that will meet or exceed the Iowa expectations this year.

      GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!

      I see what you're saying, and in general, always feel free to disagree with me.

      Just to explain my thinking on this one, while the 2010 defensive line's problem may have been folding late, they still played at a much, much higher level from kickoff to the final gun than the 2011 defensive line did. Honestly, the level of play at defensive end in 2011 was below average, and I'm trying to be nice here, whether it was the first snap or the last snap of the game. Even the games Iowa won and/or held teams to relatively low scoring totals, the Hawkeyes never really shut anyone down, even Tennessee Tech and Louisiana Monroe. The defensive line just wasn't very good at all, and that made it very difficult to get off the field on third down.

      Todd Worly

    • hawkeyebrad55 said...

      I think the o line is going to be very very good.....with a 50% chance of not being so good

      lol Now all you have to do is shout that at the top of your lungs, and you'll probably have your own sports talk show and/or get hired by ESPN.

      Todd Worly

    • Todd Worly said...

      lol Now all you have to do is shout that at the top of your lungs, and you'll probably have your own sports talk show and/or get hired by ESPN.

      roflmao I am on it

      HawkiBrad55 ●

    • I would have to agree, I think the biggest thing Vandenberg has to improve is his pocket presence. If he does, this could be a very good year because nothing kills a drive more than a sack in a Ken O'Keefe offense.

      derHawkeye

Already have an account? Sign In

Add a comment
Want to be involved in the discussion? Start Free Trial
Iowa
247Sports
Features
Resources
Connect

247Sports In partnership with CBS Sports