Hawkeyes headed for probable 10-2 season in 09

Last year, the Iowa Hawkeyes capped off a 9-4 season with a 31-10 win in the Outback Bowl over SEC opponent South Carolina. In that game, Safety Tyler Sash had two interceptions. Sash led the Big 10 in interceptions with five in 12 games. He, along with DB Brent Greenwood and LB A.J. Edds led a Hawkeye defense that finished fifth in the nation in defensive scoring with 13 points per game, ninth in fewest rushing yards allowed (94.0 yards per game) and 12th in total defense (291.31 yards per game).

Tyler Sash knows that there's a lot of experience returning for Iowa in 09, but he says that doesn't really matter: "We have a lot of experienced guys, but experience doesn't mean anything unless you go out and prove it every day," Sash said. Along with Sash, Greenwood and Edds, five other defensive starters return for Iowa: Defensive End Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard, Linebackers Pat Angerer and Jeremiha Hunter, and CB Amari Spiveye.

On the other side of the ball, starting QB Ricky Stanzi returns for his Junior season. Stanzi played in all 13 games for the Hawks in 09, starting 12 of them. He completed 150-254 passes for 1,956 yards and 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and was ranked fourth in the Big Ten and 40th in the nation in pass efficiency (134.8 yards per game. 2008 Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene departed for the NFL so Fullbacks Brett Morse and Wade Leppert will have to carry some of the load. Soph, RB Jewel Hampton looks to be the probable starting running back. He will have tremendous shoes to fill with the loss of Greene.

All football coaches at any level will tell you that a successful offense begins at the Offensive Line. For the Iowa Hawkeyes, this is no exception. Here's what Iowa Offensive Coordinator Ken O'Keefe had to say: "The offensive line is where everything begins and ends for us, it always has and we don't see that ever changing, especially with our style of play," O'Keefe said. In 08, the Iowa Offense ranked 26th in the nation in yards on the ground (188.69 per game) and 90th in the air (181.7 per game). Tackles Bryan Bulaga and Kyle Calloway return for the Hawkeyes. Another lineman that the coaches were very high on in the Spring is Sr. Dace Richardson. The 6'6 300 lbs fifth year senior from Wheaton, Ill overcame several injuries in his career to land a co-starting spot at left guard. Another lineman that will provide depth for the O-line is R-shirt Soph. Adam Gettis. The 6'4 280 lb. Gettis was able to make the two deep group during Spring practice. There will most definitely be some games this year that the Hawkeyes will have to rely on the leg of Jr. Kicker Daniel Murray. In 2008, Murray Made 6-9 field goals and 14-14 PATs during the season, ranking fourth on the team in scoring with 32 points.

The Hawkeyes will definitely have another outstanding season this year. The question is do they have a legitimate shot at winning the big 10 Title. The schedule is a tough one with away games against Ohio St., Penn St. and Michigan St. Iowa did very well on the ground last year, as RB Shonn Greene won the Doak Walker Award for the best running back in the country. Greene rushed for 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns last season en route to winning the award, and was no. 1 in the Big 10 and second in the country in rushing yards per game with 142.3. Greene is gone, so the offensive line needs to block well for Jewl Hampton. If Hampton can produce numbers anywhere close to what Greene did last year, the Hawkeyes have a shot at the Big 10 Title. The defense had an outstanding year last year, in particular Safety Tyler Sash leading the Big Ten in interceptions as a Freshman. Imagine what he will do in 09. Stanzi had a good year in 08 and looks to improve on that in his junior season.

Based on the number of starters and key backups returning for the Hawkeyes even with the loss of Shonn Greene, I see Iowa going 10-2 this season with the only losses coming to Ohio St. and Penn St. Michigan St. will be a tough road game, but I'm predicting a win. Obviously they will win their opener against Northern Iowa (That's what Michigan thought when they played App. State a few years ago). NIU is a fine Playoff div. team, but the Hawks will take care of business. Michigan comes into Kinnick Stadium for Homecoming and they are still rebuilding. It's a win. The other home games don't look to bad with Ark. St., Indiana, Arizona, Northwestern and Minnesota. Iowa doesn't play Illinois this season. If they get the breaks, they could win the Big Ten. The talent is there, but I think wins at the Horseshoe and Happy Valley are gonna be hard to come by, 10-2 for the Hawks in 09.

One more thing, I must continue my theme with Gwinnett County high school athletes succeeding in college athletics. Iowa has a scout team defensive back on their roster. He's Tom Donatell out of Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, GA. Donatell was a Team Captain for the Lions his Senior year at Peachtree Ridge when the Lions won the Ga. State AAAAA Championship in 2006. He played quarterback and safety for the Lions. He redshirted at Iowa his Freshman year and saw no game action in 2008. Right now, he's not listed on the two-deep, but he's a redshirt sophomore and hopefully he will see playing time this year and before his college career is over. I still say 10-2, but as a Hawkeye fan myself, I want more. More information on the Iowa Hawkeyes can be found at http://www.hawkeyesports.com/.