thejumper5

Position Battles: Pre-Spring 2011
Part 1: Offense

Clear-Cut Starters:
RB--If Marcus Coker can play every game 80% as well as he played the Insight Bowl, Shonn Greene will have company in Iowa football lore. At 230 pounds, Coker is a monster between the tackles, but he still has the speed to break off long runs. Just a sophomore, should Coker stay healthy he has the athletic potential to be the most productive rusher in Iowa history. Beyond Coker is a giant question ...

On September 25, Iowa ends their non-conference schedule with a home matchup against Mid-American Conference foe Ball State. The Cardinals, from Muncie, Indiana are led by Stan Parrish. Parrish is in his second season at Ball State; last year, he led the Cardinals to a 2-10 record. In his Division I-FBS career, Parrish is 4-41-1, including a 2-31-1 stint in the ‘80’s at Kansas State. Ball State’s 2-6 conference record a year ago was fifth out of six MAC West teams. The Hawkeyes and Cardinals ...

Click here for part 1:
http://www.hawkeyenation.com/forum/b...1-offense.html

Defensive Breakdown:
DL—Arizona’s line could struggle mightily this year and could break out, depending on the play of new starters on the interior. The Wildcats return Brooks Reed and Ricky Elmore at the end positions. Elmore had 44 tackles (11.5 TFL) and 10.5 sacks last year, but Reed recorded just 23 tackles (5 TFL) and two sacks last season. ...

For Iowa’s third game of the season, the Hawkeyes head to Tucson, Arizona for their first road contest: a September 18th meeting with the University of Arizona Wildcats. Last season, the Wildcats were 8-5 and finished tied for second in the Pac-10 with a conference record of 6-3. They lost 33-0 to Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. This is the second consecutive year that the teams have met; last season, Iowa defeated Arizona 27-17 in Iowa City. In all, the Wildcats and Hawkeyes have met twelve times, ...

Click here to read Part 1: Offense

Defensive Breakdown:
DL—The Cyclones return three players that started last season, but those three combined for just 21 starts. Senior end Rashawn Parker played four games for ISU before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Junior end Patrick Neal, who played tight end in 2008, started the final nine games and made 27 tackles, including one sack. Tackle Bailey Johnson started eight games last season and recorded 22 tackles, including ...