Iowa 2017 Season Thread

[Hawkeye0111]

Iowa just added a second graduate transfer with WR Matt Quarells from New Mexico.  He is originally from St. Louis, so Iowa kind of makes sense.  From Iowa's perspective, he will have the second most college career catches of any WR on the team behind Matt Vandeberg.  His stats from New Mexico are not impressive, but they primarily run a triple option offense, so that would not really be expected.  He does appear to have some speed based on his HS track numbers.  He is also a two-year grad transfer player, as he redshirted and graduated in three years from New Mexico.

[fezzador]

Iowa needs all the help they can get at wideout.  Quarells is a former 3-star prospect and has FBS experience and had several P5 offers (Illinois, Indiana, Mizzou, & Purdue).  I expect he'll be able to contribute right away.

[LittlePig]

Sounds like the type of WR that gets thrown to deep once or twice a game, and might end up with 1 or 2 TD's over the entire season.  But that's ok.  That's better than Iowa having no deep threats which seemed to be Iowa's problem in 2016.

His numbers were low at New Mexico partly because Bob Davie runs a run-first option attack.  But maybe that means he already knows how to block for running plays, which would make KF very happy.

[FearlessF]

Sounds like the type of WR that gets thrown to deep once or twice a game, and might end up with 1 or 2 TD's over the entire season.  But that's ok.  That's better than Iowa having no deep threats which seemed to be Iowa's problem in 2016.

Hey, GD Greg Davis is gone!

[Hawkinole]

This addition has to help.

In the spring game, the quarterbacking looked as bad as the receivers, whilst the offensive line was putting up the best pass protection I have seen at Iowa in quite a while. Maybe Iowa can finish 4th in the division, after all.

[fezzador]

I'm surprised that Stanley hasn't really separated himself further from the rest of the pack.  From the brief glimpses I saw of him last season, he certainly has some potential.

Of course, even the best QBs need targets besides RBs and TEs to throw to.

My guess is that Iowa's passing game is next to non-existent for much of September, but becomes at least serviceable during conference play.

[Hawkinole]

CJ Beathard may have been more important to Iowa football than what it seemed in 2016. He had quite a debut at the pro level.  http://www.espn.com/blog/san-francisco-49ers/post/_/id/26254/c-j-beathard-poised-in-preseason-debut-taking-aim-at-no-2-qb-job

[ELA]

Rudock looked good too.  He looks like a legit NFL #2 QB.  Who knew in 2014 that Iowa had two NFL QBs on the roster?

[FearlessF]

now the question is:


do they have 1 NFL QB on the roster now?

[fezzador]

Well considering there are effectively only 60-80 active QB's at any one time in the NFL, probably not.

Besides, what a QB does in college has next to no bearing on his NFL career.  Lots of terrific college QBs either wash out after a couple of years, or don't make it to the NFL at all.  Conversely, there are also QBs that get next to no collegiate recognition who become All Pros (i.e. Tom Brady).

[Hawkinole]

Rudock looked good too.  He looks like a legit NFL #2 QB.  Who knew in 2014 that Iowa had two NFL QBs on the roster?

I didn't see that until you posted it. I didn't think Rudock had it in him. He is a bright young guy; but I considered him a very average NCAA QB. Maybe FBS Top 65-70 QB.

[Hawkinole]

now the question is:


do they have 1 NFL QB on the roster now?

In spring ball it didn't appear as they had a legitimate FCS starting QB, but Saturday it appeared Nathan Stanley was amping up his credentials.

[LittlePig]

Iowa did not get a single vote in the preseason AP top 25 poll.  Iowa is officially on nobody's radar this year.

[FearlessF]

they will be if they upset Penn St.