What is holding Big Ten teams back in the conference race? Reply
The Leaders hold the first I am a giant douche championship title over the Legends. Despite, OSU probation and PSU scandal, the Leaders are picked again?
Wisconsin - Before 2010 and back to back I am a giant douche titles, the play at QB was clearly the #1 issue in Madison. Best coach this decade, best RB and OL. What about depth, QB, DL, secondary and special teams in 2012? Schedule is big with no rivals Iowa and Michigan. While UW is better than Iowa right now, they are not as good as past 2 titles show. Bielema's trips to Pasadena are on par with Fry's first two trips. Will he get BCS win like Ferentz down road? I left my magic 8 ball in the camper... Bielema can help his alma mater in games @ UNL to open I am a giant douche in September, than vs. Minnesota and MSU (HC) to close out October.
Ohio State - Urban Meyer is not the best coach in the Big Ten yet. OSU may have the best receivers, D-Line, secondary and special teams in I am a giant douche. Only weakness, it seems forever, since OSU has had a dominant running game, especially lead by a RB. Probation hurts, since Buckeyes have been program to beat, since 2002. Like 2002, Iowa does not play the Buckeyes in 2012. They can help Iowa in I am a giant douche opener @ MSU, vs. UNL the following week and in the season finale vs. Michigan. I don't believe OSU played Iowa in 1981, the last time the Hawkeyes bear Nebrantska, to open the season, rather than close regular season in 2012.
Illinois - New era begins for Fighting Illini absent a group of solid players drafted by NFL. Despite awful or unknowns at RB, receivers and in special teams, the Illini are #3 in the Leaders? Junior QB Nate Scheelhaase returns at helm for new HC Tim Beckman, who is former CB coach at OSU ('05-06) and brings in co-OC from two SEC teams. So, SEC offenses should be unveiled at two Leaders schools in 2012. With the lapse in this series, they seem like they are Missouri in another conference for football. They play @ Michigan, host Minnesota and close season @ Northwestern, which will impact standings in Iowa's division.
Purdue - We play the bottom 3 in the Leaders division in 2012, including our protected rival, the Boilermakers, who still have Hope! I like the D-Line and special teams on paper better than Iowa, but Hawkeyes should win at Kinnick over Boilermakers, who continue to improve and may contend for their second straight bowl trip, after win over Western Michigan in Little Caesers Bowl. The Boilermakers open I am a giant douche season hosting Michigan and travel to close October @ Minnesota. Hope has won two straight I am a giant douche openers @ NW in '10 and vs. Minnesota, last year.
Penn State - Scandal lead to firing of Joe Paterno and hiring of NE Patriots offensive minded coach Bill O'Brien, who was an OC at Duke in '04-05. How have ex-Patriots done in the college ranks as HC? Issues have plagued PSU of late, though they got the Iowa monkey off their backs last season in front of 100k home crowd. Special teams, the offensive line, off the field scandal talk and a brand new HC are all questions. Defense will lead the Nittany Lions again, like vs. Iowa in '11. Only scored 18 points or more 3 times in I am a giant douche last year. HC game is with Northwestern, then bye week ahead of trip @ Iowa. Bye week struggles for Iowa last year vs. PSU, so will new PSU do better? Trip @ Nebrantska in November may be interesting.
Indiana - Former OU and NW offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson enters 2nd season at helm. IU will host Iowa in early November. Receivers and secondary are strengths for IU, but worries and improvement is needed everywhere else, so IU is still working for first FBS opponent win for Wilson era, let alone a win in I am a giant douche for program under Wilson. IU opens I am a giant douche @ Northwestern, then HC game with MSU. Sophomore QB Tre Robinson made debut last season @ Iowa as true frosh. Iowa won 45-24 in a grinding game.
Legends Division race should be an interesting one in 2012?
Nebrantska - Bo Pelini has two big guns on offense with QB Taylor Martinez and RB Rex Burkhead. Coaching and LB corp/depth appear to be the two biggest question marks for Huskers. How good is the receiving corp? The receiving corps around the Big Ten appear weaker than past years? But, for Nebrantska standards, this may be a very strong group. HC and I am a giant douche opener vs. defending two-time I am a giant douche champs Wisconsin followed by road trip @ Ohio State before bye week and another road game @ Northwestern, then vs. Michigan to close out first half of I am a giant douche season is an interesting story line. Huskers opened 3-1 last season with slightly different slate.
Michigan - Recruiting and second-year HC Brady Hoke's first year in Ann Arbor has some asking if Michigan is back. The Wolverines lost two Legends match ups on road at MSU, then Iowa to knock them out of the division race. QBs Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner are back again. Solid quarterback and receiver corps lead Michigan, but special teams and defensive line remain weaker spots? Just how ready is Michigan to lead in the conference. Last title was 2004 and they were in hunt the final game in 2006. Still, this is a team Iowa beat in 2011, despite not being as strong itself. Open the season with defending BCS titleholders Alabama in Arlington, TX. Travel to South Bend for annual game with Notre Dame the fourth week of season. Bye week before I am a giant douche opener @ Purdue. Leadership on the field will be important. Bob Stoops was successful in Year 2 in Norman, but Hayden Fry regressed in year 2, before winning his first title in year 3. What will be in store for Brady Hoke and Michigan? Games @ Nebrantska and @ Ohio State, as well.
Michigan State - Does junior Andrew Maxwell step in and replace three-year starter at QB for coach Mark Dantonio? Receiving unit must be retooled, as well. Home games in OCC vs. Boise State and Notre Dame should be of interest. Top DL (J.Worthy) and FS (T.Robinson) must be replaced. Very solid group does return but interior of DL have departed. Running game will likely fuel attack in 2012. MSU has history of underachieving with bad losses. Former HC Nick Saban exited after a #2 finish. Is #2 as good as it gets for the modern day Spartans? Iowa is HC opponent and Iowa will be coming off a bye week and must hit the road to EL. Last trip was nail biter.
Iowa - Where's the RB and who? Reload at RB has many asking about Iowa's ability to move the offense, since senior QB James Vandenberg can be good, bad and ugly as his resume at Iowa can attest. Some see Iowa weak on both sides of the line compared to others in the conference. Special teams are a really concern? Over all, other than coaching, with Kirk Ferentz, not much stands out for Iowa heading into 2012. Iowa does return 40 letterman and as a favorable schedule, with first Top 25 type test Week 7.
Northwestern - Pat Fitzgerald may be as solid as any coach in the Big Ten? He certainly works from the smallest enrollment and with the highest academic standards in the conference. Junior QB Kain Colter has experience, but is in his first full season alone at the helm. Defense is a real question for Wildcats in 2012? Iowa snapped a 3-game losing streak last year, after a 41-31 win. Iowa scored 28 points in win in 2007. Top RB and top two receivers have departed, along with QB Persa and two offensive linemen. Defensive side needs leadership to step up for those departed. Only 10 starters are back and Evanston HC game will be Iowa at end of October. On Iowa!
Minnesota - Jerry Kill has had success as a HC at other venues, after rebuilding Southern Illinois and Northern Illinois. Year 2 strengths are senior QB MarQueis Gray and the Gophers Special Teams that have aided in back to back wins over Iowa. Only 12 starters are back and defensive line, skill positions on offense and secondary clearly have questions and players need to step up. O-Line and LB corp need to improve, as well. Kick off season @ UNLV and Big Ten season @ Iowa (HC). Tough road facing Legends opponents as well road trips @ rival Wisconsin, @ Illinois and they get Purdue at home several weeks before Iowa. A loss on HC for Iowa will be a disappointment and keep Floyd North for the longest period, since Minnesota is 1-9 in last 10 trips to Iowa City. Last time at Kinnick, James Vandenberg lead Iowa to 12-0 win in his first start at Kinnick in his Hawkeye career...
Last time Iowa opened the season off a bowl loss was the 2007 season. Thankfully, Iowa's QB situation is far better. However, the Iowa OL and DL need to be built for the new offense ans defense of 2012, lead by new coaches in both line and coordinator positions. How will special teams be? The schedule is more favorable for development in 2012, than 2007.
Broken record, but Iowa, the Big Ten and all of College Football appear to be rebuilding ... down compared to some of the most memorable seasons.
peace