Hawkeyes: 5 reasons for optimism, pessimism

1. Hello, Boilermakers

Kirk Ferentz said he looks at the 2011 schedule, particularly the Big Ten portion, as about the same as last year. Two good teams went off — Ohio State and Wisconsin. Two good teams came on — Nebraska and . Purdue? There aren't too many easy trips through the Big Ten, but you could do worse than playing a road game against a team that went 4-8 instead of playing against a team that played on New Year's Day, no matter how tough Ferentz perceives the Boilermakers to be. Michigan, Michigan State and Northwestern are at home, though road games at Penn State and Nebraska to open and close the league season figure to be big challenges.

2. In steps Vandenberg

Ricky Stanzi was 26-9 as Iowa's starting quarterback, passing for 7,377 yards and 56 touchdowns before leaving as a fifth-round draft pick, yet the Hawkeyes seem nonplussed by his departure. Confidence is shown in James Vandenberg, who has played sparingly but made two starts for an injured Stanzi in 2009 and played well, including his work in a near-upset at Ohio State.

3. Big boys up front

Iowa has been churning out high-caliber offensive linemen for a while now, and tackle Riley Reiff is next on the assembly line. He's the headliner in a unit that comes in with more experience than last year's group did. The linemen also have a chip on their collective shoulders after struggling to move the ball consistently last year.

4. Just play ball

From drug charges against wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Adam Robinson late last season to the hospitalization of 13 players with a muscle disorder brought about by a grueling offseason workout, there's been plenty of drama off the field. Maybe the Hawkeyes can find comfort — and focus — in the in-season routine of practice and games.

5. Under the radar

Some of Ferentz's best Iowa teams have been those of whom little — or at least not much — was expected. With predictions that have put the Hawkeyes in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten's Legends Division and outside the national top 25, this team would qualify.

1. D-line in reload mode

All-American Adrian Clayborn, All-Big Ten pick Karl Klug and steady Christian Ballard were fixtures along the Iowa defensive line, combining for 102 career starts and 332 tackles. Considered the key to Iowa's terrific defense, the defensive line is undergoing a major upheaval without those three NFL draft picks. Broderick Binns and Mike Daniels have started in the past, effectively splitting time last year as Ballard shifted from one position to another. But that covers only two of the four starting spots. Iowa likely needs to identify four more contributors up front — and even then will be hard-pressed to make up for the losses of Clayborn, Klug and Ballard.

2. Who's backing up Coker?

Asked to address the depth beyond running back Marcus Coker heading into fall camp, coach Kirk Ferentz quickly replied, “There's not much.” Rarely are teams able to get through the season with one back carrying the load, so Iowa is hopeful someone emerges at the position — just like Coker did last year.

3. Mcnutt, davis, then whom?
Marvin McNutt is a big, skilled wide receiver who has caught 88 passes for 1,546 yards in his career after converting from quarterback. Keenan Davis (6-3, 215) looks the part at the other wide receiver spot. Beyond them, though, is a largely untested group. Iowa needs to identify more playmakers for first-year quarterback James Vandenberg.

4. Good size at ... punter
At 6-6 and 245 pounds, senior Eric Guthrie looks like a tight end. The problem is, with only one career punt to his credit, so far he's kicked about as often as a tight end, too. Replacing Ryan Donahue, third in the Big Ten and 15th in the country with a 44.6-yard average, will be critical for a team that may struggle to consistently move the ball and put points on the board.

5. filling the holes

Iowa is a proponent of the next man, in theory. As in, don't worry, the next man in is ready to pick up where the previous guy left off. But there are so many next men moving in this season — six starters on both sides of the ball need to be replaced — that it may take a while to reach the point where talent and experience intersect. Oct. 8 at Penn State might come too soon.

— Rob White

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