SB Nation - Mitch King

Two Years Ago Today...

RossWB — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:07:59 -0000

Worst. Senior Day. Ever.

Funny how much can change in just two years. Two years ago today the Iowa football team suffered arguably its worst -- or most humiliating, at least -- defeat of the last decade. Oh, there have been more lopsided defeats and there have probably even been defeats to teams worse than the 2007 Western Michigan Broncos (who were a pretty middling outfit). Many of those defeats happened during the formative years of Kirk Ferentz's tenure, when his Iowa teams played hard but frequently lacked talent and/or experience. Or they happened against bitter in-state rivals or hyper-motivated conference rivals, so it was easy to rationalize the loss by saying "they wanted it more."

But the November 17, 2007 loss to Western Michigan didn't fit any of those easy categories. It was far from the most talented or most experienced squads of the Ferentz Era, but it wasn't completely lacking in those departments, either. It featured Albert Young and Damian Sims, who had been a dynamite combination in years past. The defensive front seven was pretty well-stocked with talent and experience, too, between Kenny Iwebema, Mitch King, Matt Kroul, Bryan Mattison, Mike Klinkenborg, and Mike Humpal. It wasn't as if the team had nothing to play for, either -- beyond the standard pride of Senior Day, they needed one more win to ensure themselves a trip to a bowl game (Western Michigan didn't even have that to play for; they were just acting as spoilers).

Defeat and misery that week wasn't exclusive to the action on the field, either. The week of November 17, 2007 also saw the first news reports of a sexual assault involving Cedric Everson and Abe Satterfield. Eight months later those reports would explode into a nightmarish scandal that threatened to paint Kirk Ferentz, the athletic department, and the University of Iowa administration as badly negligent and aloof at best and guilty of conspiracy and obstruction of justice at worst; it made Iowa football the leading example of "Programs Gone Wild." That was two years ago.

Today, it seems like a lifetime ago. On the field, Iowa went from a team that was pushed around by Western Michigan to a team that was a play or two away from beating Ohio State in Columbus, winning the Big Ten title, and going to the Rose Bowl for the first time in nearly two decades. That's a pretty remarkable transformation. (The fact that they did it with a team that was ravaged by injuries and missing most of its offensive leaders is even more astounding.) Could you have ever envisioned such a quick turnaround? Many of the guys who have emerged as leaders and key performers on this team were blooded in the painful slog of 2007, like Adrian Clayborn, Christian Ballard, A.J. Edds, and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. The transformation of DJK is a great example of Iowa's turnaround in general. My enduring memory of him from the Western Michigan game is of him seemingly quitting on a play and talking to some fans in the end zone while a Bronco defensive back was running back an interception. My enduring memories of him from the Ohio State game will be of multiple clutch catches and, of course, of the rally-igniting 99-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter when hope was slipping away. He's gone from a talented but raw and sometimes immature talent to an extremely reliable target in the passing game and an explosive playmaker in general.

Yes, he's totally checking out his runback on the Jumbotron.

But many of the top performers in 2009 would have never been predicted back in 2007. Pat Angerer, arguably the heart and soul of the 2009 defense, nearly quit football in 2007 after dealing with a serious of injuries and illnesses. Amari Spievey, one of the best cornerbacks in the conference in 2009, had washed out of Iowa in 2007 thanks to an inability to go to class. Brett Greenwood was, well, EPIC GREENWOOD back then; now he's a guy everyone was relieved to see take the field against the Buckeyes. The other defensive secondary spots were manned by the much-maligned Harold Dalton and the combination of Adam Shada (victim of the third indignity suffered by the Iowa football team that day/week, which was the betrayal of the Iowa fanbase as expressed through the boos directed at him) and Bradley Fletcher (who was burned more than a charcoal briquette back then) and there didn't seem to be much hope of better players in the program if they were the best we could send out there. (A year later, of course, Dalton was quickly replaced by Tyler "Motherfucking" Sash and Fletcher transformed himself into an NFL draft pick.)

Offensively, Iowa went from having one of the worst offenses in football in 2007 to having... well, a more timely offense, at least. Statistically, it's still not very good in most respects, but the ability of the 2009 Iowa team to come through in the clutch is almost unprecedented among other Ferentz Era teams. The 2007 team lost a pair of games in the fourth quarter (at Wisconsin and at Iowa State); the 2009 team has come from behind in the fourth quarter in four of its wins this year (and came from behind to send the game OT last weekend). A few of the faces remain the same from 2007 -- DJK, Tony Moeaki, Bryan Bulaga, Rafael Eubanks (to name a few) -- but experience and maturity have improved their performances tremendously.

Marvin McNutt owns the slant route and don't you ever forget it.

Since that loss to Western Michigan, Iowa has gone 18-6. That run has included a pair of upset wins over top-five teams (Penn State, twice), a program-best 9-0 start this year, wins over every Big Ten team but three (Ohio State, Illinois, and -ugh- Northwestern), a rare win over Iowa State in Ames, a 55-0 demolition of Minnesota in the final Gopher game ever played in the Metrodome, a dominant Outback Bowl victory, and perhaps more come-from-behind wins than in all the other years of the Ferentz Era combined. And while all six of those losses have been painful in their own way, there's something to be said of the competitive spirit that's been on display in all of them as well. The 2007 Western Michigan game was the fourth game that year that Iowa lost by nine or more points -- none of the six subsequent losses have been by more than seven points.

The journey of 2009 is far from over -- a 10-win season is still in our grasp, there's some Gophers to destroy, a big bronze pig to keep, and a bowl game somewhere warm to win -- but on this day, the anniversary of one of the darkest and most depressing moments in recent Iowa football history, it's worth taking a moment to stop and think about how far we've already come in such a short period of time. The pain of losing the de facto Big Ten Championship Game to Ohio State stings, but it feels a hell of a lot better than the ache of losing to Western Michigan and being lost in the college football wilderness.

Kenny bled to get that pig back, man. Floyd is ours, dammit.

Bucknotes states the obvious

Sam @ WWAHT — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:00:12 -0000

More photos » by Terry Gilliam - AP

Browse more photos »

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Ohio State football: Season hinges on key players
Breaks the list down into "knowns" and "little-knowns". Why aren't the unknowns getting any love?

Evan Turner (TheVillain21) on Twitter
No, it's not actually Evan Turner. It's Mark Titus, being Mark Titus. Not quite news, but hilarious.

It's Alcorn State, not Florida International (Hoops & Scoops: an OSU basketball blog)
Ohio State's opening opponent on the court has changed to Steve McNair's alma mater. Following the game against Alcorn State, the Buckeyes will host James Madison before traveling to New York to play North Carolina.

2009 Bowl Projections - Preseason - The Rivalry, Esq.
The Rivalry Esq. puts Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, Notre Dame in the Fiesta, and Penn State all the way down in the Alamo Bowl. Iowa and Illinois both make New Years' Day games.

Comparing the Online Recruiting Ranking Services - The Daily Gopher
Fun... with statistics! TDG evaluates EPSN, Rivals, and Scout's recruiting services and come to the conclusion that Rivals had the "best trendline" for ranking future NFL talent. Recruiting in general: still creepy.

Assume The Position 2009: Defensive Tackle - Black Heart Gold Pants
Last week, I sorta banked on Iowa not having a great set of DTs to follow up the team of Mitch King and Matt Kroul. The Hawkeyes got a needed injection of talent on the interior to go along with Karl Klug by moving Christian Ballard, a big, Cam Heyward-type DE to the inside. Fortunately, this still leaves a question mark at defensive end, and I prefer to focus on that, stick my index fingers in my ears, close my eyes and think of it no more.

LeBeau Named HOF Finalist by Seniors Committee | Eleven Warriors
I never understood how Dick LeBeau could be arguably the greatest defensive coordinator in NFL history and such an awful head coach. Oh, right, he coached the Bengals. Silly me.

Rescue the Queen - Maize n Brew

I know these Evony advertisements have popped up here on WWAHT as well, and for that, I apologize. They're unbelievably sleazy, and they're a malware trap to boot. Don't click them. Don't be enticed by the boobage. Click the above link, however, for a bit of Evony-inspired Jim Tressel nightmare fuel.

Ten Big Big Ten Questions

grahamfiller10 — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:00:10 -0000

In concert with SBN's excellent menagerie of Big Ten minds, we bring to you nine of the most pressing questions facing Big 10 football this year...and one rodent-infused query. Will Terrelle Pryor push the Bucks to another conference title? Which coach won't survive to lead his team in 2010? What is Brutus the Buckeye compensating for with his oversized melon? Enjoy our extensive look at Big Ten football in 2009.

Who is the Big Ten's Player of the Year in 2009 and why?

Kevin HD from Black Shoe Diaries:

What, we aren't just accepting the Big Ten media's pick? The homer in me says it should be either Daryll Clark, Evan Royster, or Sean Lee — all players that I think are the best at their respective position. None of these guys are as far ahead of their competition, though, as Illinois' Arrelious Benn. His game changing ability is bigger than the new Kings Of Leon album and it’s straight scary how easily and unpreventably he can change the direction of an entire game.

What 2008 Big Ten bowl team misses the post season in 2009?

Pete Rossman from The Only Colors:

Seven teams from the Big Ten went to bowl games in 2008. Ohio State, Penn State, and Iowa are shoe-ins for the postseason. Despite question marks at quarterback and running back for the following teams, Michigan State should get there on the strength of eight returning starters on defense, and Northwestern will get to December under a solid coaching job from Pat Fitzgerald.

This leaves Wisconsin and Minnesota, and of those teams, I feel Wisconsin underachieved (stunning loss to Michigan and an implosion at Michigan State last year), and Minnesota overachieved (4-0 in a weak nonconference schedule, and they did not beat a Big 10 bowl team last season). Wisconsin will get luckier this season, and Minnesota less so. Thus, Minnesota will be the Big 10 bowl team that misses the postseason in 2009.

When does Michigan win their next conference championship?

Dave from Maize and Brew:

Probably 2011. As much as I'd love to say 2010, Michigan's going to have a load of holes to fill on the offensive line next year. By 2011 Tate will be a junior, the line will have recovered from this year's coming graduations, and the defense will be veteran. Plus, it'll be year four of Rodriguez offensive system and year three of Robinson's defensive system. There are some obvious counter arguments, Pryor will be a Senior at Ohio State, Michigan State will be in year four under Dantonio, Brewster's got Minnesota on the upswing, yadda yadda. Based on Michigan's recruiting, the time it takes to implement this system, and the kids already in place I think 2011 is Michigan's first real shot since 2007 (we all know what happened then) to capture a Big Ten title.

Are the same 11 head coaches on the sideline at the start of the 2010 season?

Adam from Bucky's 5th Quarter:

No. Ten of the 11 coaches will remain the same, but Indiana will have a new leader after Bill Lynch is let go in the off-season. He took over the IU program under tough circumstances when Terry Hoeppner passed away and whether it's his fault or not, the program has lost all the momentum Hoeppner had going. Rich Rodriguez and Bret Bielema are two other coaches that need to have good seasons, but neither will be fired after this season no matter how hot the seat gets.

Other than your own, whose mascot would you like to have walking your sideline?

Gopher Nation from The Daily Gopher:

A little known fact: Goldy the Gopher is actually a chipmunk with the teeth of a beaver. One of the first cartoon depictions of the Gophers, the artist mistakenly drew a chipmunk, but it stuck and nobody really knows the difference anyway. Here is the wikipedia explanation...

"In a comparison between Goldy and several kinds of rodent, the gopher was judged to look least like Goldy -- the results judged that his appearance was closest to a chipmunk or squirrel. Another animal Goldy is claimed to look like is the beaver, due to the buck teeth and tail. These inaccuracies are because when the gopher was declared the mascot of the University, the artist hired to create the mascot did not know what a gopher looked like. As a replacement, he drew some furry animals he saw at a rest stop."

Here is my answer to the question though: It is undeniable that there are some lame mascots in the Big Ten. Exhibit A: the Ohio State Buckeyes! Really? Years of a Napoleon Complex with their mascot as it's root (pun intended) is probably what led to developing such a dominant football program. If I have to pick something other than my beloved Goldy Gopher I would go sans mascot. While Zips, Banana Slugs, Salukis and Hilltoppers are all clever and very unique I want to stand out from the crowd by being nothing. We would be the only team in the country without a mascot, everything would be non-descript except our dominating football team. One can dream can't he?

Who would you rather have as your starting quarterback in 2009, Juice Williams or Ricky Stanzi?

Toki Wartooth from Hail To The Orange:

I will be brief and to the point. Based on last season's statistics. Juice has a higher QB rating, more passing touchdowns, a higher QB rating, more completions, a slightly worse TD to INT ration (1,5 for Stanzi, 1.38 for Juice) only 2 points lower in the completion percentage, and all with an injury inflicted O-line and nowhere near the RB support that Stanzi had in Greene.

Juice also ran for 700 yards and 5 ground TDs. He may get a bad rap based on his early seasons, but Juice is easily my choice over Stanzi.

If any Big Ten team plays for the National Championship, who is it?

Sam from We Will Always Have Tempe:

Penn State. The schedule is simply set up for it. Both Ohio State and Iowa - almost universally considered to be two of the top three teams in the conference this year - come to Happy Valley, and the OOC schedule is Charmin Soft. Darryl Clark and Evan Royster should keep the Penn State offense at an explosive tempo, and the presence of Jared Odrick, Navarro Bowman and Sean Lee ensure that Penn State's front seven will be one of top 5 in America. If Penn State can get by Ohio State at home and Illinois on the road, there's no reason they shouldn't be playing for the national title in Pasadena.

Indiana or Purdue...who is closer to making a bowl game?

BoilerTMill from Hammer and Rails:

Purdue, and for reasons other than me wearing Gold and Black colored glasses. If both teams are supposedly worse than last year there is no way that Purdue has fallen from that 52 point thumping they handed IU. Purdue's defense is also expected to be much, much better and one of the top units in the Big Ten. I wouldn't be surprised if Purdue squeezed out six wins and went to Detroit, Indiana is a different story, however. If both teams have five wins going into the Bucket game I am picking Purdue solely because of last year's 62-10 drubbing when both teams were "even" coming in.

If Ohio State or Penn State doesn't win the Big Ten, who is the most likely to end up in Pasadena?

Hawkeye State from Black Heart Gold Pants:

It's Iowa, and it's not even up for debate.

Yes, we've heard the critics: Shonn Greene is gone, Mitch King is gone, Bradley Fletcher is gone. But what returns is the best offensive line in the conference, a line so good that I could rack up 5 yards per carry running behind it. What returns is arguably the best linebacker corps and secondary in the conference, 6 starters with a combined 18 interceptions between them (including last season's top 3 conference interception leaders). What returns is a quarterback who entered last season without a meaningful snap under his belt and ended the year by winning 5 of his last 6. What returns is a team drinking its own Kool-Aid, confident in itself in ways we haven't seen in 5 years. On talent and schedule, Ohio State and Penn State might be the preseason darlings. Go ahead. Give them the love before the ball has even been snapped. Once the games are played, once those snaps have been taken, someone else will be getting all that adoration. Mark my words: Iowa is taking the Big Ten.

Who wins the Big Ten?

Law Buckeye from The Rivalry, Esq:

Conference races are frequently defined by three personalities. There's the favorite. There's the challenger. And, there's the darkhorse.

What makes the Big Ten interesting this year is that there are two favorites (Ohio State, Penn State), two challengers (Iowa, Michigan State), and a wild orange Stallion (Illinois).

Each team will probably stumble during conference play. Ohio State has to face Penn State in State College in November. They get Iowa at home, but it's the week before they play That State Up North, up north. Both teams could run over a young Buckeye linebacking corps that (with Tyler Moeller out) doesn't have a clear speedster on the strong side. Penn State gets Iowa at home the week before it hits the road to face Illinois in Champaign. Both Ricky Stanzi and Juice Williams are capable of shooting up a weak Nittany Lion secondary that replaces all four starters from 2008.

Although Iowa is more experienced -- and probably more talented -- than the Spartans, the Hawkeyes have to play away at Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State. At least one of those games will be a deal breaker. Michigan State, on the other hand, gets lucky with visits from Michigan, Iowa, and Penn State. They don't have to play Ohio State either. Finally, Illinois is the rogue outlier. The level of talent Zook brings in is as good as anyone else in the conference, but he hasn't developed his guys to play as a team. Count on the Illini to pull at least one major upset down the stretch.

Ultimately though, it's Ohio State that will carry the day -- adding another entry to a resume that's already littered with four consecutive Big Ten titles. The reason is simple: Terrelle Pryor. Like Vince Young, Pryor has the size, speed, and natural instincts to pick up a team and carry it on his back. Clear gains in passing prowess over the offseason put him in a position to explode out of the gate in 2009.

If he does, the absentee Buckeyes will return to Pasadena. They just won't be there on January 7 when the BCS National Championship is played.

An Early Look: Iowa

Sam @ WWAHT — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:00:16 -0000

Ah, the memories...

I did an interview not too long ago in which I said that I, unlike most college football fans my age, have teams that I root for outside of Ohio State. I just never grew out of that habit. Texas, despite the heartache they've given me, is one, and Iowa is the other. I like Iowa. Really, I do. Not in just a "they gon' be good this year hurrr" way, but in an I-genuinely-like-the-football-program way. Like us, they hail from a state many consider "flyover country", and since as a result they aren't one of the top destinations in college football for big-name recruits, they're a player-development-oriented team, as Hawkeye State from BHGP will later explain. Their entire program rests on the shoulders of their coaching staff; most of the guys they trot out each Saturday do not have the same level of innate ability as some of the guys on Penn State's, Ohio State's and Michigan's respective benches, but they still win, and heck, they've shown up in OOC games quite a bit more often that the conference's big dogs, and that's a plus in my book. Despite not having the best hand on the table, talent-wise, they win enough to keep the denizens happy. Even though I hate the team that inspired them, I love the uniforms too.

For a while there, I thought Kirk Ferentz had lost control of his program. The unbelievable string of arrests, the disturbing sex scandal, and a 19-18 overall record from 2005 to 2007 led me to believe the wheels had come off the wagon, or that at the very least, were threatening to. 2008 did not prove me entirely wrong; Iowa still lost 4 games - including mistifying losses to Pitt, Northwestern and Illinois - but managed to make a bowl game and beat an SEC team. Sure, that SEC team was about as threatening as a bag of dickless weasels, given that it was South Carolina, but they won their bowl game, which more than anyone else in the conference could say. 2009 is a pivotal year for the Hawkeyes, and it's pivotal for many of the same reasons the year will be pivotal for Penn State. The Hawkeyes also have to prove that an earlier malaise is officially behind them, and in doing so prove that they belong in the conference's top tier. They may even be competing with the Lions for the spot vacated - for now - by the Michigan Wolverines. Losing Shonn Greene doesn't help, but as you will see, there are reasons for optimism among the Hawkeye faithful.

Iowa players you should care about:

If you've been living under a rock since the bowl season, breathe a sigh of relief: Shonn Greene is gone. But the Iowa running back situation isn't quite as desperate as it seemed a year ago, when the prospect of Starter: Paki O'Meara horrified the Hawkeye masses prior to Shonn Greene's triumphant arrival. Looking to fill Greene's Shaq-sized 1800-yard back shoes will be Jewel Hampton, provided. Hampton played pretty well in spot duty last year, carrying the ball 91 times for 5.1 yards a pop. He has to stay healthy, and that's not going so well. The passing game revolves around Ricky Stanzi, who has given Iowa football something it has sorely lacked since Drew Tate's sophomore year with consistent play at the quarterback position, but Derrell Johnson-Koulianos needs to get himself back in the good graces of the coaching staff, who have placed him third (!) on the fall depth chart. Ferentz isn't a total idiot, so I imagine Koulianos will get back on the field, in a starting capacity, and he'll do it by September 5th.

Iowa's defense was solid last year, and the fact that seven of the top ten tacklers return may may you a bit queasier about the game, but remember: two of the best players on last year's defense, Mitch King and Matt Kroul, are goners. Iowa won't find anyone who'll even approximate their interior dominance, but if they can just get close enough to it, they're a lock to be a top-3 Big Ten defense. Pat Angerer - who continues a proud Iowa tradition of fantastically-named defenders like Klinkenborg and Humpal - is the leader of the defense.

Fun with statistics:

I do not doubt that Ricky Stanzi is good, but I must admit, I smirked a bit when I saw that 8 of his 14 touchdown passes came against FIU, Indiana and Minnesota.

With the departure of Andy Brodell and Brandon Myers, Iowa loses 37 percent of its receving production from last year. Might not seem like much, but Myers notched 34 grabs on the year last year, and the next-most productive receiver caught just 11. The passing attack will rely more on Johnson-Koulianos than ever.

As good as Iowa's defense was last year, the team as a whole notched just seventeen sacks on the season, five of which left with King and Kroul.

My prediction: Ohio State and Iowa have a quite a bit in common this year - quarterbacks looking to improve on breakout first-year seasons, a star runningback being replaced with a capable back-up and a spectacular defense that might end up being sub-par in one key area: the defensive interior. While I expect Ohio State to find a fairly good replacement to Nader Abdallah, it seems Iowa is just going to throw in a batch of random bodies alongside Karl Klug and hope someone does something other than breathe. Iowa's defense will still be very good, but it almost has to take a hit with the departure of "Kroul and Unusual Punishment", and I'm banking on that. At the very least, I'm hoping it does take a hit, because Iowa's '08 defense was statistically superior to Ohio State's, though it's doubtful they played an offense as good as USC's or Texas'. Expect this game to look a lot like the trip to Happy Valley the week prior, only this time, Ohio State will be able to pass its way out of an early deficit to secure a 24-16 win.

A Hawkeye's Thoughts: Hawkeye State from BHGP was kind enough to give us his thoughts on the game, and Iowa's season in general.

1. Give me one reason the Big Ten should fear Iowa in 2009.

Which team in the top half of the final Big Ten standings returns 18 of 23 starters from a year ago, including five all-Conference selections, a quarterback with a year of experience under his belt, the conference's best offensive lineman (and arguably the best line in general), and six of a defensive back seven that led the conference in interceptions. In fact, only Minnesota has more returning starts, and they're still coached by Tim Brewster. Inexperienced Iowa is scary for us. Experienced Iowa is scary for you.

2. Name a player whose name opposing fans should keep in mind when discussing Iowa. Preferably one we don't already know about..

The beauty of the current Iowa depth chart is there are so few unknown quantities: There are only 3 starters to replace on each side of the ball, and the openings on offense have ready-made, experienced replacements. If you need someone you haven't heard of, watch for Broderick Binns, a defensive end. It looks increasingly likely that one of Iowa's returning ends will move inside as a replacement at defensive tackle and open a spot for Binns, who stood out in rotation duty during the second half of last season and has been described as "unblockable" this fall by the staff. Iowa lost Mitch King and Matt Kroul, but it's not completely out of the question that the defensive line will be better against the pass and competent against the run. Binns will likely be the key.

3. Taking off the black and gold rec specs for a minute - what do you think Iowa's record will be in 2009?

I'm saying 8-4, followed by a bowl win. Ferentz made a good point last week: It's possible - maybe even likely - that Iowa is a better team this season but doesn't have the record to show for it. Road games against Iowa State, Penn State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State are all certainly losable, and the home contests against Northwestern and Michigan are far from gimmies. I can't see Iowa getting through the road schedule with less than three losses, and it's certainly possible they lose a fourth or drop a game at Kinnick. With that said, getting Ohio State late in the schedule gives the Hawks a shot to repeat the Penn State upset from last season; Ferentz-era Iowa teams show near-uniform improvement over the course of the year, and getting them late in the season is a curse generally reserved for Wisconsin and Minnesota.

4. Was Kirk Ferentz ever genuinely on the hot seat in Iowa city? If so, did last season cool it off quite a bit?

No, not really; if he was, he's not anymore. There is a small but vocal minority of the fanbase who call the postgame show and break into hysterics after every loss, but they're not any real threat to the throne. Iowa football, by the very nature of the recruiting base, is a player-development-heavy operation. It's inevitable that, if players don't develop as expected and/or scholarship limits and player attrition force Iowa to field a young lineup, there will be down cycles. That is precisely what happened in 1988-89, when a national championship contender with 29 wins in 3 years, went 11-10-3. It happened in 1992-94, when a 10-1-1 team was followed by three consecutive .500 seasons. And it happened 2006 and 2007, as off-the-field issues decimated the ranks and the most highly-touted (and now clearly most disappointing) recruiting class in school history flamed out. Those with a long view of Iowa football, who have some historical perspective, understand that and refrain from breaking out the torches and pitchforks.

5. Make an off-the-cuff prediction for the Ohio State game.

The Iowa defensive line, never great at getting to the quarterback but always disciplined in containment, stops Pryor from scrambling outside/running the pistol option, and forces him to throw. Given what I saw from your quarterback last year, your returning receivers, and the November date, I feel good about any game where Terrelle Pryor has to throw the ball more than 20 times. Hampton runs effectively behind that line, Stanzi throws as necessary, and Iowa squeaks out a 21-17 win.

That, or we lose by 40.

Pryor has his share of doubters, doesn't he? Nick Siciliano, your time is now.

Previewin': Iowa

Beauford — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:09:08 -0000

Maize n' Brew mercilessly drifts through yet another preview; this one long overdue. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Previously: Illinois, Northwestern, Penn State

Explanation and indemnifications found: here

The Hawkeyes finished last season with a bang, beating Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks in the Outback Bowl 31-10 (of the SEC, no less!). As damn near the only Big Ten team to have anything approaching a resounding bowl victory, Hawkeye fans come into this season with super-high expectations, especially given the effusive praise the defense has received this off season. Of the teams that SCM, MnB Dave, and I have had "roundtable-like-substance" discussions about, Iowa was among the most divergent in opinion, with SCM checking in as "not too concerned" about the Iowa game, and MnB Dave stating it would be the toughest road test of the season. I landed in the middle. On the administrative side, Kirk Ferentz recently signed a 7-year 21-million dollar contract extension. This figures to keep him in Iowa for a long time; he is already the second longest tenured head coach in the Big Ten.

More Previewin' Dead Ahead.

2009 Schedule:

9/05	Northern Iowa	12:05 PM
9/12	@ Iowa State	12:05 PM
9/19	Arizona	3:35 PM
9/26	@ Penn State	8:00 PM
10/03	Arkansas State	TBA
10/10	Michigan	8:05 PM
10/17	@ Wisconsin	12:00 PM
10/24	@ Michigan State	7:00 PM
10/31	Indiana	TBA
11/07	Northwestern	TBA
11/14	@ Ohio State	TBA
11/21	Minnesota	TBA

A "meh-ish" OOC slate, followed by the typical Big Ten fare. I will point out that Iowa has a brutal road schedule this year, traveling to Penn State, Michigan State, and Ohio State - all of which figure to be angling for a New Years Day bowl.

One thing the media will harp on that is off base:

With the early departure of Shonn Greene, destroyer of defenses; worlds, to the NFL, people have been focusing on Jewel Hampton and Jeff Brinson as the flag carriers for the Hawkeye running game that was so effective last year (26th in the nation). What might matter more is the development of the interior offensive line who must find replacements at Center and Guard respectively. New starters-ish (see below) Rafael Eubanks and Dace Richardson look to step into the starting roles. Eubanks is certainly no slouch, a 4-star to Scout who competed for the starting position last year with departed senior Rob Bruggeman. Eubanks had started at Center as a Freshman and a Sophomore before Bruggeman ultimately won the job last year. However, Eubanks should do just fine in the middle. Dace Richardson looks to get the start at Right Guard. Dan Doering was named a starter last year until injury side-tracked much of the season. A 5-star all-world recruit in 2005 with offers from Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and anywhere else he mentioned as possibly having a shot, Iowa is downright USC-esque with their offensive line replacements. Lose a starter? Plug in another top-100 recruit. Richardson is another 5-star recruit. All have seen significant time in back-up rolls or, in Eubanks case, as a former starter, so it's not as if they're true freshman or anything.

The line looks like this, where ** denotes returning starter:

LT: Bryan Bulaga**	Jr.
LG: Julian Vandervelde**	Jr.
C: Rafael Eubanks	Sr.
RG: Dace Richardson	Sr.
RT: Kyle Calloway**	Sr

This offensive line has the potential to shove Iowa towards yet another stellar rushing year, regardless of Shonn Greene's departure.

One thing the media will completely ignore that is integral to this team's success:

While focusing, and deservedly so, on Iowa's stellar trio of linebackers, people are forgetting that they must replace the 95 combined starts of the ferocious defensive tackle duo of Mitch King and Matt Kroul. That Mitch King guy? Yeah, he was an All American. Kroul was a second-team All-Big-Ten selection last year as well. Replacing those bodies isn't going to be easy, and may put an additional strain on the linebacking corp that is expected to carry this defense. Another thing worth mentioning, courtesy of a discussion with OPS, is the fact that new Cornerback Shaun Prater is suspended for two games, and his backup Jordan Bernstine seems not to be able to stay healthy. A situation worth watching.

Most important contributors on each side of the ball:

Offensively, and I hate to pound this into the ground, but this is going to be the offensive line unit as a whole. Ricky Stanzi was good and effective when he could turn and hand the ball to Shonn Greene only throwing when necessary. Granted, he engineered the drive that ended Penn State's national title run, but I just wonder how he will fare if the running game isn't as dominant as it was last year. If the offensive line is as good as it looks on paper, we may not have to find out, which is good for the Hawkeyes, and bad for everyone they play.

Defensively, it's got to be Pat Angerer, the senior outside linebacker and All-Big-Ten selection from 2008. He is undoubtedly the leader of this defense, and with the departure of King and Kroul, will be asked to step up even further this year. A good season this year virtually guarantees a first-round selection come the 2010 NFL draft.

Area that scares you as Michigan Wolverines:

How about that defense? The unit ranked 5th in scoring defense last year in the country and returns all but three starters. The loss of King and Kroul hurts, but jeeeeeezus thats a talented, experienced group.

Area that makes you salivate as the Michigan Wolverines:

The strategy here, having not seen any games, seems to me to be stop the running game and let Stanzi beat you with his arm. While the line and the running backs have potential to be very very good, it still remains only potential. If there is a trouble spot on this team, it's the fact that if the running game isn't working, Stanzi remains a wild Stanzi-ball throwing wildcard.

Random factor that you think will come into play this season:

As always, the BHGP tailgate scares the shit out of me in only the way a few guys standing around a 2006 Hyundai in a gravel parking lot drinking beer can. Oops Pow; this is my serious face.

Overall Record:

9-3

Final Big Ten Standing:

3rd (after a tie for first, so 2nd if you want)

Bowl Destination:

Another New Years Day bowl, movin' on up to the Capital One to beat the shit out of another unwitting SEC team.

And for those coming via twitter, here.

The Great Debate: The Iowa Hawkeyes

Maize n Brew Dave — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:14:57 -0000

With Michigan Football just weeks away, the guys at Maize n Brew are getting a little antsy for the season to start. The only way around it? Argue about football. Argue a lot. Each of us have already gone through Michigan's 2009 Football Schedule with a ~~fine tooth comb~~ half-assed glance and come out with completely different opinions on games, wins, losses, and season outcomes. Take a look for yourself, here are Beauford's, MnB Dave's, and SCM's

predictions.

With the exception of Delaware State, every game is a bone of contention between us. Especially the Iowa game. So rather than duel it out with pistols at dawn or get our brawl on, fight club style, we engage in The Great Debate. Five to six questions on the team in question. Five to six ~~in-depth~~ mediocre answers. You get content, we get to look like complete and total ~~idiots~~ geniuses in a few months. Sounds like a plan to us. We've already covered Notre Dame, so it's time for Iowa.

So, without furhter ado:

The Great Debate: The Iowa Hawkeyes

1. Shonn Greene is thankfully gone, but Ricki Stanzi returns... thoughts on the Iowa signal caller?

SCM: Well, hmmm. Iowa returns most of what was the 90th ranked passing attack in the country last year (8th overall in the conference). Including the vast majority of their receiving corps. That's certainly a bonus for Iowa, and something to beware of with a young secondary (ahem...). Stanzi remains to be a bit of an unknown to me at this point; he had the obvious final drive heroics against Penn State along with the pension to provide a few STANZIBALL tosses a game as BHGP would say. Part of me wishes he had thrown a hail mary in their bowl game to win so he could be wildly overhyped for the remainder of his career. It's particularly tough to gauge any young QB who had someone like Shonn Greene standing behind him getting the ball the majority of the time. 14 TDs against 9 picks on 254 attempts pretty much backs that up if you ask me (Greene had 307 rushing attempts), though do note that he did come in 4th in the conference in pass efficiency. Of course, behind Stanzi is... well pretty much nobody, which is a less than ideal situation (trust me, we can attest to that). I don't think Stanzi is the type of QB who's going to tear a defense to pieces with his arm, but he does look to be a guy who's consistent and with an experienced group to throw to, that's more than enough to put him at "credible threat" level for our tilt. How he does being the offensive leader and "go-to guy" remains to be seen.

Maize n Brew Dave: Based on what I saw at the end of the season, Stanzi's probably the best passer in the Big Ten right now. He split time last season because he got injured in spring practice, allowing Christiansen to take some early snaps. But by mid season it was all Stanzi. Lest we forget, so was the Iowa upset of Penn State:

"Faking the hand off, Ricky Stanzi rolled to his left on what looked like a designed QB run. Three steps in, Stanzi cocked his arm back and fired a strike to Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, 11 positive yards away on the left sideline. While the throw is only measured north-south, the distance was considerably longer and that ball was in the air a long time. But it got there. All of a sudden a 40 plus yard field goal was transformed into a chip shot game winner that needed only one real run to set the ball in the middle of the field."

One of the things I think that will get lost with all the preseasonn discussionn about how "Shonn Greene is gonn," is that Iowa's Offensive line is going to be really, really good. Stanzi's going to have all day to throw the ball, and his blind side is protected by arguably the best left tackle in the Big Ten. Sure the running game wonn't be what it was whenn Greenne was there. But it'll still be pretty good, good enough at least to keep the pass rushers semi-at bay. Don't be shocked if Stanzi leads the Big Ten in passing and passing yardage this season either, especially since his top pass catcher and 6 of the top eight receivers return.

Beauford Bixel: Ricki Stanzi would have been a quarterback that I would have respectfully mocked under the old rules where Michigan was just better than everyone else (except Ohio State...stupid Ohio State). But after going through last season and learning that, indeed, some teams don't get to have 6'5" laser-rocket arms every single year, I've readjusted my scale for ranking quarterbacks. Stanzi was ranked 8th in passing yards per game in the Big Ten, which is ok because he also had the best running back in the big ten to turn and hand the ball to. With only 19 attempts per game - downright Threetian - it's hard to get a good bead on him. It will be very interesting to see what happens this year when he doesn't have Shonn Greene to turn and hand the ball to. It's a question mark on the offense, to be sure, albeit not nearly as big as the one looming for Michigan at the position. That one, my friends, eats puppies.

The Great Debate Continues After the Jump....

2. Iowa held a 22 game home winning streak from 2002-05, and you may have heard that their visitors locker room is pink! We travel to Iowa at night for their homecoming this year... toughest road game on the schedule? If not, who is?

SCM: I don't quite understand why everyone goes into this defacto "fear of playing at Iowa" mode. Michigan has been for the most part successful in their trips to Kinnick over the years. A loss in '03 was their first there since back to back losses in '84 and '85. Iowa has been a tough but not invincible 13-6 at home over the past three seasons. In fact, the Wolverines ended the Hawkeyes' home winning streak back in 2005... Stevie B and Jerome Jackson you say?

That is not to say I am not concerned about this game, but I just don't see it as being our toughest road test of '09. Right now, I think the trip to East Lansing is the toughest road contest for us this year.

MnB Dave: It's between Kinnick or Camp Randal for the title of this year's toughest place to play, but it's not like East Lansing's going to be a walk in the park. Michigan State's going to be a tough, bitter contest; but it's a game I think Michigan has a chance to win. Sure State will be pumped up, sure it'll be hostile, but East Lansing is a place Michigan is used to winning. And as good as the Defense is supposed to be, I can't see State replacing Hoyer and (more importantly) Ringer without a massive drop off. It's going to take more than one loss to erase a decade of ass whuppins the other way. Honestly, I think State's a bit of a paper tiger this year. I've still got Michigan pegged for a loss in East Lansing, but it's a game the Wolverines could pull out and it's also a place where the crowd is used to getting into the "Oh Christ, here we go again" mode when things go poorly.

If I felt the Badgers were going to be a decent team this year, I might be tempted to put Wisconsin as our toughest road contest. But the Badgers are really in disarray, at least from an outside perspective. No QB. Awful Defense. Questionable line. Even so, Camp Randal is easily one of the loudest venues in the country. Come on, "Jump Around"? Awesome. But they don't have it this year.

No. For pure nastiness, situational awareness, and creepiness...it's Kinnick. The students know the game. They drink heavily. There's a certain, as the French say, I don't know what, about Kinnick. It scares me. At night. I said it before:

"It's an 8 p.m. start. It's at Kinnick. More importantly, the BHGP tailgate will be having their tailgate."

Plus, Iowa's the best team we play on the road. That factors into it a tad.

BB: In terms of atmosphere, yes, it will be the toughest road game. However, I'm not entirely sure that Iowa is going to be the best team we face on the road this year. As Dave pointed out, we do travel to Michigan State this year which, lest we forget, is a rivalry game and also has a big fat TBA next to it for the time. My guess is that it will be a night game, making East Lansing every bit as hostile as Kinnick. Dave also mentions that East Lansing is a place Michigan is used to winning at, to which I respond Michigan ain't used to winning anywhere. Maybe we could play that card if Carr was still pacing the sidelines with his hands in his back pockets, but this Michigan team is completely different. On top of all this, Michigan State is the first game for which UM leaves the friendly confines of the Big House. First road game + rivalry game + freshman QB + overall young team = tough game. I give the edge to Michigan State.

3. Iowa possessed a downright stellar defense last season. Most of that group returns. Where, if anywhere, does Michigan have a mismatch they can exploit?

SCM: The only spots I see on the Iowa D that can be listed as "questionable" are the interior line and possibly the safeties. I'm no X's and O's wizard, but my quick summary of how I think we approach this one? Wee spread wee!! Iowa had 23 (!!!!!!) picks last year as a defense. If there's a game where I am going to be really looking for us to pound the football (spread style) this will be it. This is counter-intuitive as Iowa possessed the 9th ranked rush D last year, but I think we have to play to our strengths on the road: O-line and RBs. Spread that excellent defense out across the field and QB read them to death. We are fortunate to have the players to present a number of different looks in the rushing game and I think we're going to have to use all of them to move the ball in this one.

MnB Dave: Any match up against Iowa's defense is going to be tricky, but I think the interior of the Hawkeye line is going to be a major problem for them this year. You can't replace to senior starters (especially a starter like Mitch King) in the middle of the line and not have a drop off. Michigan's interior offensive line will be solid this year with Schilling, Moosman, and Molk at center. I think they'll be able to get some push and I really like their mobility off the ball. Molk especially seems to delight in getting to that next level and burying some poor sap helmet first into the carpet. However, while Iowa isn't strong up the middle, they have all three starting Linebackers back. If Michigan can't get to the second level of blocking, I guarantee those 'Backers will be able to plug the gaps after a couple of yards. But, if Michigan can control the LOS in the middle and send Molk or Schilling or Moosman to the linebackers then the Wolverines are really in business. There aren't a lot of running backs in college football I'd put money on in a head to head collision with a linebacker, but Brandon Minor is one of them. I think the mix of Minor and Carlos Brown this season is going to be just awesome (provided they can both stay healthy). But if either of them go down, Rodriguez has stockpiled a cadre of backs that can easily handle the load.

BB: I think the biggest factor here isn't necessarily one key matchup to exploit, but rather keeping Iowa off balance enough to where their very good linebacking corp has to think twice before reacting. This means, in all likelihood, that two things will have to happen that I'm not sure ever happened last year:

1) We are going to have to show diversity within the spread look. Swing passes, read-option, read-keepers, screens; they're all going to have to be utilized in some way out of the same look.

2) We can't turn the ball over.

As SCM mentions, Iowa had an astounding number of picks last year and Michigan had an astounding number of fumbles. The Rodriguez offense is pretty much designed to keep defenders off balance, so there is hope here. I just remember what happened as soon as defenses figured out that Threet wasn't ever going to keep the ball, and well, it didn't work out. Like, at all. Having a QB that has a modicum of accuracy will help, IMO.

4. Can't talk about Iowa without mentioning Tim Dwight... one sentence please.

SCM: The single scariest moment of '97 bar none was Dwight stunning a Big House crowd right before halftime, here it is at 1:18

MnB Dave: Are we talkin' about Vanilla Chocolate? The fastest white man that ever lived. I hate him for the reasons stated by SCM.

BB: Freshman year of college, SCM and I were in a hall-wide Madden dynasty complete with fantasy draft, etc. My roommate is remarkably good at Madden to the point where I'm sure if he were so inclined he could enter tournaments and probably place very respectably. During the draft, he selected Tim Dwight with his 2nd round pick, to much mockery and scorn. He killed us with a team built around sheer speed at every position. Tim Dwight returned punts and kicks, and caught little Wes Welker-esque (white!) first downs, much to the infuriation of the competition. The super-bowl of that league was watched by all who participated, and even some who didn't. It was an epic battle that saw my roommate - undefeated at the time - get beat by a lucky string of plays and the computer going into f-you, you're not winning this game mode. The victor was the RA on the hall, which turned out to be a good thing as we were never busted for any subsequent parties we had because, um, the RA was there too. There was much celebration. My roommate still won't talk about it.

5. Amount you are willing to wager that they run a piece where they interview Rich Rodriguez and ask him his thoughts about the pink locker-room during the game?

SCM: My entire future earnings.

MnB Dave: There's a suckers bet. That's like asking "Will Stevie Brown miss an assignment or tackle that directly leads to a touchdown?" or "How many Iowa players were arrested in the offseason?" (answer: all of them). They'll run the pink locker room piece right after some jackass declares without support that Rodriguez is on the hot seat because the fan base and the bloggers won't tolerate losing games. At which point I will throw things, scream obscenities at the television, consume my 14th beer and watch as my wife rolls her eyes and tells me I'm sleeping on the couch.

BB: I will stake a great deal of cash, meats, and various sundries that he will be asked. I will also stake a great deal of sundries on him responding with "well, it's something I've not seen before, but we're playing a real good half here, just trying to maintain focus and be strong all 4 quarters." It is the classic non-answer redirect to another...non-answer. Halftime interviews! Love 'em!

Next up in the Great Debate? Michigan State.

Welcome To The NFL, Part 2: The Not Drafteds

Oops Pow Surprise — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:39:26 -0000

As mentioned to the right, Iowa had a few guys go to schools as undrafted free agents. These are they, or whatever the right grammar is.

In what we can all agree was the most egregious oversight by GMs across the league... Andy Brodell went undrafted. Luckily, the Galloping Ankenyman was quickly scooped up by the Green Bay Packers, where he's already drawing obvious comparisons to Sterling Sharpe. At least that's what this gnome is telling me, because I am fucking tripping balls like crazy right now. Did you know my fingers are made of music?

Matt Kroul is totally going to be roomsies with Shonn Greene after he signed with the New York Jets. We're not really sure why he went there. It's possible that he puts on 30 pounds and becomes a 2-gap stuffer or something; that seems more plausible than playing end in a 3-4 system, since Kroul is as much a defensive end as, oh, KOK is. Hope he goes somewhere else.

Rob Bruggeman went to Tampa Bay, so... say hello to the Brugganeers! Yes, I'm still higher than a kite. He's smallish, but Bruggeman's technical skills and pure work ethic are probably going to be enough for him to stick around--remember that Casey Wiegmann was in the exact same boat when he was coming out of Iowa a few years back.

And then there's Mitch King, who signed with the Titans. We don't have much to say about the Titans, but listen. If 32 general managers can't figure out a way to use a 275-280 pound defensive lineman who was generally regarded as the single most unblockable person in the Big Ten last season, we're pretty sure that's not the lineman's fault. King is like a healthier Jared DeVries, who was a 3rd round pick and has only been in the NFL for 11 years now. Further, if you think King can't learn to play at a high level wherever you need him to play, I'm sorry, you're goddamn foolish.

We can say this with a good amount of confidence: King will stick around and make some coach very happy, probably for longer than most of the 21 defensive tackles that got drafted instead of him.

Welcome To The NFL, Part 1: The Drafteds

Oops Pow Surprise — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:30:09 -0000

So, Iowa got a few guys drafted. Four is good, though we were really hoping for five or six, and at least one guy (Shonn) going on Saturday. That didn't happen, but all in all, good times.

This never gets old.

Money is green, and Greene is money: Congrats to the Jets, who said, for all intents and purposes, "screw the rest of the draft; we want Shonn Greene right now." At the start of the 3rd round, the Jets' front office sent every remaining pick but one to the Lions for the first pick of the day, then immediately scooped up Greene. He'll be stepping into a situation where Thomas Jones is getting his bitch on (and kinda for good reason; base salary of $900,000? Jeez), and the only other tailback worth a crap is Leon Washington. Now the only questions are from whom Greene takes carries, and how many.

Rex Ryan and Shonn Greene are a match well made; consider these two quotes:

"He was the best player that was on our board," Jets Coach Rex Ryan said. "In our opinion, it wasn’t close.

"He’s a big, powerful running back. We want to have a little ground and pound."

"The game of football is a physical sport. That’s why I enjoy it so much," Greene told reporters. "I love contact. It’s violent, it’s quick, it’s fast. That’s just the nature of my game, how I like to play the game."

Considering that Jones is 31 in August and about to price himself out of the league--there's not much of a market for slowing tailbacks who command 12-year-veteran money, which Jones ought to be at the end of his contract --it looks like this is a situation where Greene can thrive for years, especially since his knees are younger than his 24 years suggest. Proud ovation for Greene and the Jets.

Fletch lives: We're still in shock as to how Bradley Fletcher could have improved - not even from freshman to senior, but junior to senior - to the point that he's going in the early third round. But sure enough, right after Greene went, the Rams said "oh yeah, Iowa's got some guys"* and took Fletcher with the 66th pick.

Todd McShay immediately killed the pick, using the usual scout-talk overreaction that makes us wonder why Fletcher even plays football in the first place:

Fletcher was the biggest reach. While he's a big, physical corner, he lacks ideal range and is not an overly instinctive playmaker, so I'm not sure he'll ever be more than another sub-package DB on a roster filled with plenty of them already.

Easy there, Todd. Fletcher was also widely considered the best cover-2 corner at the Senior Bowl; the truth likely lies somewhere in the middle. Since we're horribly biased, of course, we'll say "fuck that truth" and demand that ESPN add the phrase "who is covered in Awesomesauce" after Fletcher's name in perpetuity in compensation for such a greivous slight.

A much better selection than his twin sisters, Mary-Kate and Ashley: After a few dozen picks in which we wondered why the hell Unusual Punishment hadn't been drafted yet, Seth Olsen went to Denver with the 132nd pick, late in the 4th round.

You let that belly HANG, brother!

We're not sure he's got the lateral quickness to play tackle and stop an elite pass rusher-- as a matter of fact, we're kind of sure that's one reason why Ferentz plugged him in at guard-- but tackle seems to be where MHR's analysis is projecting him anyway. We'll be very interested to see what kind of playing time Olsen earns, where, and what he does with it.

Um… thank you?: Normally, when a team trades up to take a player, they're so convinced that he's the best player available that he's worth multiple picks to get on the roster. The assumption, though, is that said team's scouting staff is A: competent, B: a staff at all, and C: anybody other than Al Davis.

After two truly miserable selections to start the draft--it's incredible when you take 2009's Troy Williamson at the #7 pick and that's not even your worst move of the first day by a long shot--the Raiders slogged through an uneventful Day 2 before trading their 7th pick and next year's 6th (or something like that) to get TE Brandon Myers. That would usually be an indication that the Raiders think Myers is a lock to make the final roster, but again, the Al Davis thing. Anymore, we're genuinely surprised Davis selected actual, eligible, human football players with every pick, and didn't finally snap and draft his cat. Mr. Snugglestein has the fluid hips and lateral speed for the next level, etc. etc.

But we digress. Myers has a plausible shot at a roster spot, considering the Raiders' TE situation consists of three corpses named Zach Miller, Tony Stewart, and Darrell Strong. We've only ever heard of one of them; that'd be Miller, who we picked up off waivers in fantasy football to fill a bye week slot a couple years ago, then immediately dropped after he contributed zero catches for zero yards. Fuck you Zach Miller.

Miller, seen here playing football like an asshole.

Either way, we hope Myers brings along a wooden stake, as it's entirely possible that he'll need to slay Al Davis in order to save himself from becoming one of the undead.

And then the draft ended, and Mitch King, who we were pretty sure would be picked somewhere around the middle of the draft, was still a free agent. NFL teams can be goddamn stupid sometimes.

Arizona Cardinals Post Draft Coverage: Best Undrafted Free Agents

Hawkwind — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:19:30 -0000

Well the fire from the NFL draft weekend is still smoldering but today, and possibly the next couple of days, will center around the guys who did not get drafted. The Arizona Cardinals signed thirteen undrafted free agents and four of those guys are on the team right now including Ali Highsmith who was a prominent special teams player before hurting his knee midway through the season. The Cardinals could find some very useful pieces on this scrap heap but they'll have to work quickly because they're bidding against every other team in the league. We'll take a look at some of the notable names as well as update when any signings happen:

Here are some names that might ring a bell and will certainly be on the top of quite a few teams' wish list:

Linebackers: The Cardinals didn't draft an ILB for the second consecutive year but there are some notable names still available and with any luck, these guys might turn out even better than Ali Highsmith did last year. There are couple of outside backers at the bottom who might interest the Cardinals considering that they probably stash them on the practice squad and see how they look in a year once they learn the position.

Darry Beckwith (6'0, 234), LSU: Beckwith was thought be a third or fourth round pick at worse but his injury history and lack of great size or athleticism must have hurt him more than scouts thought.
Dannell Ellerbe (6'1 236) Georgia: Teams obviously thought that Ellerbe's breakout season in 2007 was overshadowed by three mediocre seasons. He'll have an uphill battle to make any team but he's got some athleticism and could be a factor on special teams.
Antonio Appleby (6'3 245) Virginia: He's nothing special in terms of production or athletic ability but a 3-4 team will pick him up for depth and his potential as a two down thumper.
Worrell Williams (5'11, 240) California: Williams is undersized but he's got experience in a 3-4 and the athleticism to be an NFL player.
Orion Martin (6'3, 262) Virginia Tech: Another former college DE who is probably best served switching to OLB, he's totaled 14 sacks over the past two seasons but ran a disappointing 4.89 at the combine.

Defensive Line: The Cardinals completely ignored the defensive line in the draft despite some concerns about the depth at defensive end and nose tackle. I'd be surprised if a couple of UDFA's aren't some wide bodied defenders.

Chris Baker (6'2 326) Hampton: Off the field problems forced him to leave Penn State and most likely are the biggest reason that's he field phone calls today instead of packing for an NFL team already. He's got the talent (16.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks) to play in this league but will need soem guidance.
Mitch King (6'1, 280) Iowa: King played defensive end, tackle and even linebacker while at Iowa and could project at either end or linebacker in the NFL. His tweener status probably kept him from being drafted by he's a versatile defender who carried a mid-round grade from some scouts.
Everette Pedescleaux (6'5, 305) Northern Iowa: The Cardinals were rumored to have brought Pedescleaux in for a visit before the draft and he'd offer some depth and athleticism at the defensive end spot.

Offensive skill positions: While the Cardinals might be stacked at running back after the selections of Wells and LSH, it wouldn't hurt to add another body to man the practice squad. Any receiver with some return potential might also be intriguing as should any balanced tight end.

Jeremiah Johnson (5'9 209) Oregon: He was never really a featured runner but he totalled over 2,000 yards at Oregon and averaged over six yards per carry. He's also got experience returning kicks.
Ian Johnson (5'11, 212) Boise State: Johnson ran surprisingly fast at the combine (4.46) but his long list of injury is concerning.
Devin Moore (5'9, 191) Wyoming: Moore's size hurts his stock but his athleticism is amazing and he could help a team as a third down back and kick returner.
Kory Sheets (5'11, 208) Purdue: Another smallish back with outstanding speed (4.47) who doubles as a back and return man.
Marlon Lucky and Arian Foster (5'11, 216 & 6'1, 215): Both Lucky and Foster were starting backs who ran disappointing 40's and failed to establish themselves as NFL material but seven rounds of waiting might just be the motivation that they needed.
Quan Cosby (5'9, 196) Texas: He's small and old for an NFL rookie (26) but he is faster than he timed (4.57) and was a successful punt and kick returner at Texas.
Jeremy Gilchrist (5'9 176) Hampton: Gilchrist is tiny and was neutralized by double teams after totaling over a 1,000 yards in 2007 but his six punt return touchdowns in the past two years is hard to ignore.
Ryan Purvis (6'3, 254) Boston College: A physically limited tight end whose senior production drastically dropped off with Matt Ryan gone, but he's physical, willing blocker who had over 50 reception in 2007.
Jared Bronson (6'4, 254) Central Washington: Bronson's a decent in-line blocker who has also shown the ability to stretch the field (17.9 yards per catch in 2008).

-----------------------------------------------------------------

There are countless other guys we could mention but that's a small taste. Who else would you like to see the Cardinals take a look at? What positions still need the most help?

Tennessee Titans 2009 Undrafted Free Agent Signings *Updated

Jimmy — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:32:51 -0000

As Paul Kuharsky mentioned this morning, signing undrafted free agents will be a challenge for the Titans because they are already so deep. About the best thing an undrafted guy can hope for if he comes here is a shot at the practice squad. There aren't to many guys that are willing to settle for that.

Here are the guys the Titans have signed so far:

WR, Dudley Guice (NW State)

DE, Mitch King (Iowa)

OL, Ryan Schmidt (South Florida)

QB, Alex Mortensen, Arkansas/Samford (Yes, he is Mort's son)

RB, Rodney Ferguson (New Mexico)

CB, Jeremy Haynes (McNeese State)

WR, Phillip Morris (South Carolina State)

P, A.J. Trapasso (Ohio State)

I will update the list when/if more guys are signed gramsey finds them!