The Legends Division Just Got Interesting

       Iowa is in the driver’s seat in the Legends division.  Iowa, a team most wrote off after their loss to Central Michigan, has come back strong and is now 2-0 in the division.  Central Michigan, by the way went on to lose their next three games to Northern Illinois, Toledo, and Air Force by double digits.  The season is really backwards from what most expected before the season started.  The strengths and weaknesses have flipped flopped.  The only continuity with this team is the strength on the offensive line.
A strength coming into the 2012 season was senior quarterback, James Vandenberg.  Through the first half of the season, it has been the Hawkeye’s biggest weakness.  His passing has been inaccurate after throwing 25 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions last year.  There is a simple answer to his drop in skilled play, new coaches.  James Vandenberg acquired a new offensive coordinator, Greg Davis.  Greg Davis changed the whole play book and allowed receivers to break off their routes.  James Vandenberg was basically told to erase the whole playbook and memorize a new one.  He was also told to anticipate the breakoffs of the receivers.  Finally, he was told he had to anticipate the blitz and change the blocking coverage.  This was too much for quarterback James Vandenberg.  He has sacrificed his ability to look at multiple receivers and tends to stare down one.  This makes the passing game a lot easier to defend and makes passing unsuccessful.
There were two major weaknesses prior to the season.  First, the defensive line was new and inexperienced.  Many thought this group would be one of the worst in the Big Ten.  The defensive line has proved the doubters.  They are one of the best run defenses in the Big Ten.  They recorded multiple sacks and provide a good pass rush.  This has allowed our secondary to capitalize with interceptions on bad passes.  The defensive line has saved so many games for the team and cause critical stops on third downs with sacks.  They are a real strong point to this Hawkeye team as they continue with Big Ten play.
The second weakness was the inexperience at running back.  After last season, three running backs left the program.  We were forced with two freshmen at running back.  They were decent though two games.  Both running backs were injured in the first half of the third game.  This forced walk on fullback Mark Weisman to carry the pigskin and carry it he did.  Through four games, he has recorded eight touchdowns and 631 yards on 100 carries.  Every time he touches the ball, he averages six yards.  That is amazing for any running back, not to mention a fullback.  He has been the best story in the Big Ten this year.  His power and athleticism allows him to pile drive over defenders as he runs for first downs.
Nobody knows what the Hawkeyes will be able to do for the rest of the season.  Will the passing game step up?  If it does, and Mark Weisman stays healthy, the sky is the limit for the Hawkeye season.  They are in control of what bowl they go to.  The question is whether the bowl is the Ticket-City Bowl or the Rose Bowl.    

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