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Updated: August 18, 5:50 PM ET Offense a question in Iowa By Herb Gould Special to ESPN.com |
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Iowa Hawkeyes
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Coach: Kirk Ferentz (22-26, 5th season) 2002 overall record: 11-2 Conference record: 8-0 Returning starters Offense: 4, Defense: 7, Kicker/Punter: 2 2002 statistical leaders (* - returners) Rushing: Fred Russell* (1,264 yds) Passing: Brad Banks (2,573 yds) Receiving: Maurice Brown* (966 yds) Tackles: Fred Barr (114) Sacks: Matt Roth* (10) Interceptions: Jovon Johnson* and Derek Pagel (4 each) Outlook: The Hawkeyes will be hard-pressed to approach last year's marvelous Big Ten championship season. They have lost five players to the NFL draft, and that doesn't include quarterback Brad Banks, who was the key to their Orange Bowl march. But running back Fred Russell, who rushed for a surprising 114.9 yards a game, second among Big Ten returnees, gives Iowa a chance. And Ferentz, who has a knack for developing previously-unknown players, should keep the Hawkeyes competitive. Iowa's defensive losses aren't as serious with all-Big Ten end Howard Hodges, middle linebacker Kevin Worthy and two-time all-Big Ten strong safety Bob Sanders returning, which should help keep the Hawkeyes in games if the offense is reasonably competent. That offense will have a different look. Nate Chandler, a 6-foot-7, 250-pound junior-college transfer who backed up Banks last fall, is a dropback thrower who won't tuck the ball and run the way Banks did. The offensive line, which returns only one starter from last year's standout unit, won't be as dominant. But Ferentz, who was an O-line coach for six years in the NFL, figures to bring the newcomers along. Keep an eye on: Safety Bob Sanders. One of nation's hardest hitters, Sanders could challenge for the Thorpe Award, given to the nation's top DB. Key game: Penn State on Oct. 25. The Hawkeyes play Michigan and Ohio State in the two games before that, and they'll need to step up at home against the Nittany Lions to build some momentum for a difficult stretch run. It's a good year if. . .: Iowa can slip into a third straight bowl trip. The Hawkeyes not only must replace some key performers, they also play what shapes up as the toughest conference schedule in the Big Ten thanks to a conference run that only skips likely tail-enders Indiana and Northwestern. Herb Gould covers the Big Ten for the Chicago Sun-Times.
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