**2026 Iowa Football Season Thread**

[RazHawk]

DT is the biggest red flag by far on the team and where the defense could fall apart, I'm a little worried about CB too, but you can move Lut out opposite Lee if they need too and put Tommy Soybean at FS to survive. Hopefully they don't need to, but that's an option.

If DT is just JAGs and they struggle, that waterfalls to LB and that's your recipe to get to 7-5/8-4 unless Hecklinski vastly outperforms expectations.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

DT is the biggest red flag by far on the team and where the defense could fall apart, I'm a little worried about CB too, but you can move Lut out opposite Lee if they need too and put Tommy Soybean at FS to survive. Hopefully they don't need to, but that's an option.

If DT is just JAGs and they struggle, that waterfalls to LB and that's your recipe to get to 7-5/8-4 unless Hecklinski vastly outperforms expectations.

We could still be 8-4 with everything going right on defense

 

[Monster]

the midget LB doesnt make me confident on this defense.

He's not even close to the biggest issue. Or smallest. Whatever.

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

He's not even close to the biggest issue. Or smallest. Whatever.

Don’t do this to yourself

 

[KitKatApples]

DT is the biggest red flag by far on the team and where the defense could fall apart, I'm a little worried about CB too, but you can move Lut out opposite Lee if they need too and put Tommy Soybean at FS to survive. Hopefully they don't need to, but that's an option.

If DT is just JAGs and they struggle, that waterfalls to LB and that's your recipe to get to 7-5/8-4 unless Hecklinski vastly outperforms expectations.

Were just inexperienced at DT right? We don't know if any of these guy are worth a shit or not is the concern correct?

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Worrying for worrying sake.

Let it play out before panicking.

 

[RazHawk]

We could still be 8-4 with everything going right on defense

if Phil gets the defense right and and QB is merely ok (which I acknowledge is a large step up vs what it's been), this team will go 9-3/10-2.

Defense is more important to me than QB, they've gone 8-4 with dog poo level production in the passing game, and the OL is not going to drop off a lot when they're starting with two NFL level guys and experienced depth. It won't be Joe Moore level, but defenses will have to sell out to slow it down.

They need to get something through the air now that they aren't getting 16 rushing TDs from QB, but they didn't have that in 2024 and Kaleb Johnson still ran the ball really well. The run game is fixed, I'm not worried about it.

They beat Wisconsin, Minny and Nebbie last year by a combined 118-19. Those games will all be closer this year I'm sure, but those programs all have a lot less stability than Iowa does, Illinois worries me more than those three and they lost a ton from last year's squad. If they can be merely not bottom 10 in the country in the pass game and find a couple of dudes at DT, I think 10-2 is a lot more likely than 8-4.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

I'll wait until.we.get a @Jim Tebow snap count prediction

 

[Monster]

If the defense takes a step down, Tim is gonna be way more aggressive offensively, which bodes well for Jeremy H.

 

[RazHawk]

Were just inexperienced at DT right? We don't know if any of these guy are worth a shit or not is the concern correct?

The number of portal guys they've brought in the last two years on the DL is not encouraging, IMO.

Hopefully they hit on them.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

I'm hoping they're more aggressive regardless. Take the handcuffs off.

 

[Monster]

I'm hoping they're more aggressive regardless. Take the handcuffs off.

I generally despise that tired cliche.

And in this case, they haven't been handcuffed as the offense has increasingly expanded options the past couple years and, according to Lester, will continue to do so as both QBs have been in the system for nearly 2 years. They were limited a bit last season, particularly in the beginning, because MG was so new and it's a difficult system to pick up. Late in the year you could see things open up.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

It also didn't help that their receiving options had been decimated. Vanderzee missing the first half of the year was a huge killer, then you lose your only known TE for the season. Knock on wood, having all of your receiving options healthy will hopefully help a lot.

 

[Monster]

If anyone mentions anything about a playbook opening I'm going to pistol whip them. Or a positional "room".

Sports is a haven for tired stock phrases and cliches, mostly because sports fans generally are retarded.

 

[Laplace]

Biggest handcuff has been lack of talent at the WR position imo.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Biggest handcuff has always been Kirk

 

[Laplace]

If anyone mentions anything about a playbook opening I'm going to pistol whip them.

Have you considered therapy?

Or a positional "room".

Ok. Now I'm with you.

 

[Lee Beevers]

If anyone mentions anything about a playbook opening I'm going to pistol whip them. Or a positional "room".

Sports is a haven for tired stock phrases and cliches, mostly because sports fans generally are retarded.

Not you though!!!

 

[Shawneemicks]

I’ll say they average right at 30ppg and
allow just a titty hair less than 20ppg for the season

 

[Monster]

Not you though!!!

That's correct.

 

[Monster]

Have you considered therapy?

I used to see a therapist. But your mom is such a good listener I just quit making appointments.

 

[KitKatApples]

I’ll say they average right at 30ppg and
allow just a titty hair less than 20ppg for the season

 

[Swingin' Dick Stanzi]

Even if the defense takes a bit of a step back, it will likely still be a Top 20 or 25 defense. If they can get average production out of the passing game it should be enough to offset the slight downtick defensively.

 

[KitKatApples]

He's not even close to the biggest issue. Or smallest. Whatever.

He's great between the tackles. I assume his height putting him at a disadvantage covering tight ends is what's concerning

 

[L. Wade Childress]

If the defense takes a step down, Tim is gonna be way more aggressive offensively, which bodes well for Jeremy H.

 

[Monster]

View attachment 73774

Yeah, I get it. The ol ball coach gonna shut it down. Except, as I pointed out, the offense has expanded quite a bit the past two years. Kirk has stepped back.

 

[StinkyMcFadden]

Worrying for worrying sake.

Let it play out before panicking.

That's the way sports discussions work, of course.

 

[The Dad]

That's the way sports discussions work, of course.

Not if you love the sunshine.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Yeah, I get it. The ol ball coach gonna shut it down. Except, as I pointed out, the offense has expanded quite a bit the past two years. Kirk has stepped back.

Not really. We just have a non retarded OC.

 

[Monster]

Not really. We just have a non retarded OC.

Two things can be true simultaneously.

 

[Hawk_Kegmasters]

The upgraded talent in the WR room will allow the offense to take the handcuffs off and for the playbook to open up.

 

[Hawk_Kegmasters]

 

[KitKatApples]

This guy gets it

 

[Monster]

The upgraded talent in the WR room will allow the offense to take the handcuffs off and for the playbook to open up.

 

[nolookpass]

He's great between the tackles. I assume his height putting him at a disadvantage covering tight ends is what's concerning

Great? He was 6th on the team in tackles.

 

[LifelongHawk]

The upgraded talent in the WR room will allow the offense to take the handcuffs off and for the playbook to open up.

I think our playbook room is elite.

 

[KitKatApples]

Great? He was 6th on the team in tackles.

I recall him making good reads, getting to the ball carrier, wrapping up, and not whiffing with his head down just trying to deliver a blow.

 

[Monster]

He's a decent player playing a position that has had several excellent players preceed him.

 

[KitKatApples]

Yea I shouldn’t have said great. As Captain time zones pointed out it was an over exaggeration

 

[Hawk&Balls]

He's a decent player playing a position that has had several excellent players preceed him.

And a bunch of likely studs waiting behind him

 

[6deuce]

Hoping it’s a Kevin Worthy situation. Played as a junior because Greenway was injured then Greenway started and Worthy was a backup.

 

[Monster]

Hoping it’s a Kevin Worthy situation. Played as a junior because Greenway was injured then Greenway started and Worthy was a backup.

Yep. I'm predicting Weiskopf by week 4.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Yep. I'm predicting Weiskopf by week 4.

Kirk usually makes the move a week or two too late. Before the Washington game.

 

[Shawneemicks]

Buffington was easy to see coming, Ries, Weiskopf haven’t looked near that level to me.
I think Montgomery is the guy there all year barring injury

 

[AZmessDAWG]

I didnt say it was the biggest issue- just that they should prioritize getting a #1 LB. Sorry Cam Buffington is not that guy- He's "Fine"

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

 

[cloudhawk]

Lulz- the next Chad Greenway

 

[brantshawks]

Nobody was a bigger fan of Greenway than me, but that dude always looked like he was in an audition to be an extra in Idiocracy.

 

[6deuce]

Lulz- the next Chad Greenway

I’m not saying he’s the next greenway I just mean hoping the senior is replaced by a better underclassman

 

[Monster]

I’m not saying he’s the next greenway I just mean hoping the senior is replaced by a better underclassman

Right. Montgomery is pretty much at his ceiling. Sure, his experience is valuable. But guys like Weiskopf has a much higher ceiling, and he needs the experience.