Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Football: A look at the backup QB and Iowa's offense with former Hawkeye LeShun Daniels & the new Big Ten schedules

Episode Date: October 6, 2023

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Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:00 Is the Hawkeye offense completely broken? We get into that today with former Hawkeye running back LaShawn Daniels. Plus, LaShawn looks to stay red hot in his picks. Brought to you by FanDuel today. Locked on Hawkeyes. You are locked on Hawkeyes. Your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network.
Starting point is 00:00:22 Your team every day. I'm Trent Condon, he's LaShawn Daniels, and we are the Locked On Hawkeyes Podcast. Thanks for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We're available wherever you get your podcasts, and you can also watch us on YouTube. You can always see LaShawn when you're on YouTube with that great beard. I'm trying to get it going here a little bit. I just haven't shaved the last couple of days, but you can see us on YouTube. While you're there, make sure you hit that subscribe button.
Starting point is 00:01:08 These days, every new potential hire can feel like a high-stakes wager for your small business. That's why LinkedIn Jobs helps find the right people for your team faster and for free. Post your job for free at linkedin.com slash lockdowncollege. Terms and conditions apply. LinkedIn, today's title sponsor. All right, LaShawn, here we go. A win last week. That was great.
Starting point is 00:01:33 A environment that was inconsistent, I would say, for a road environment. But night games are always special inside of Kinnick Stadium. It doesn't matter. It doesn't have to be Ohio State or Michigan coming to town, even Michigan State and that kind of next year. You know, it's going to be good in there. But the Fire Brian chants were certainly heard loud through the TV speakers re-watching the game. You could hear those visibly, audibly coming through very quickly there.
Starting point is 00:01:55 Iowa gets the win, but the frustrations continue, even with the loss of Cade McNamara. First, how are you doing? And your thoughts, a quick look back to last week before we look forward. Yeah, for sure. Well, obviously, it's always good to get a Hawkeye win. Like no one's ever going to no one's ever going to complain about winning a football game whatsoever, no matter how it gets done. Right. I mean, you just you typically you feel better after a win no matter what. But obviously, there's some a bunch of things that I was going to have to work out and get cleaned up,
Starting point is 00:02:27 especially if you want to go ahead and compete for a Big Ten West title and then obviously try to win the Big Ten outright. So there's a lot of work that's going to need to be done, especially now with Cade being out and Deacon stepping in. being out and Deacon stepping in, like he's going to be, have some shoes to fill, but really like at this point in time, as far as, you know, the passing offense,
Starting point is 00:02:50 it hasn't been anything, you know, to wow anyone. So it's really a, I think a big opportunity for him to go out and put some. So my big question for you today is this LaShawn, as we look at the system and it just popped to my head this morning. I saw one of those Twitter accounts. I think
Starting point is 00:03:07 it was Hawk Chronicles, something like that. And they put up a bunch of old highlights and this day in history. It was the Minnesota game not too far back. Nate Stanley was a quarterback playing up there. Iowa put up big numbers that day and got the victory.
Starting point is 00:03:23 The offense just looks so completely different than what we've watched the last three years. And my question is this, this offense has been so bad. And we've talked about the running game and changes that need to be made, improvements in the passing game, and boy, just how different it looks today and just what they're doing route- wise and schematically than what they were doing four or five years ago, not very long ago. Is it broken? I mean, because it feels like in a way you should be able to go back to that.
Starting point is 00:03:53 It was the same head coach, the same offensive coordinator. You think you'd be good going back to that? Or is it pretty frank? This offensive line stinks and it's the Jimimmies and joes these guys are now veterans but they weren't very good as underclassmen they're still not very good what do you look at more is it more scheme or is it just frankly the offensive line isn't good enough to even get to the level when they were okay offensively four or five years ago yeah um honestly a great question um obviously i feel like everything starts up front.
Starting point is 00:04:25 Everything starts up in the trenches. And, you know, the fact that you mentioned it, the offensive line really hasn't been up to par what we typically expect in really the run game and the pass game. Obviously, in pass blocking, they've done a much better job this year overall than they've done maybe the past couple of years. But the run game part of it is something that's it's really just it really hasn't been what we typically come to expect. I don't know if it's because, you know, how the recruiting process is gone or, you know, how the coaching is gone.
Starting point is 00:05:02 But it hasn't been what we truly have come to expect and i'm not sure i mean i've talked to some of my offensive line uh friends like a couple like over the past couple weeks and you know just looking at a bunch of different things and uh something that someone mentioned to me was that you know like athleticism overall as a unit isn't as as high as maybe it's been in the past years. I mean, like you think back, like some of the tackles that we've had or inside offensive linemen that we've had, like those were like super, super athletic guys, which, you know, obviously allowed us to do, you know, maybe some more traditional stuff in the run game, you know,
Starting point is 00:05:37 obviously get more outside and be able to, you know, press the edges a little bit more, even if we didn't have, you know, maybe like crazy burners in the backfield, even though like typically, you know, running backs like we've had good speed over the past several years. But that's something that was brought up. And then, you know, another part of it is I feel like the tendencies that Iowa has had really over this year and last year has been extremely strong in one direction or the other. And Scott Dockerman put out a great article, I've been this morning about Iowa's tendencies. And I'm not going to go ahead and I'll spoil everything about it. Like you want to go check it out, go to his Twitter page, you had it on there. But he talked about how, first off, the offense uses obviously a lot of tight ends, right? I think it's like 70% of the time it's two tight end sets, which can be obviously a good
Starting point is 00:06:37 and bad thing. But when you look at some like the offense, maybe a few years ago, a lot of times there was a little bit more balance between two tight end sets or maybe even, and then, you know, one tight end sets and, you know, getting 11 personnel out there. It obviously helped with the receivers that we had at the time, but again, we don't really know enough about our receivers that we have now. Obviously we've seen them make some plays, you know, you think that, you know,
Starting point is 00:07:03 you bring in some new guys that they're going to have potential. But we don't really know enough, at least from a fan perspective. So those are some different things that I feel like has played a part to really the kind of the inconsistencies in our offense and why defenses have been able to scheme against us and really, you know, force us to play left-handed offensively. Really good stuff there, LaShawn. Really enjoyed that. And kind of the way that you broke that down and looking at it, taking it a step further. And another one that you never just know what's going to pop into your head. You know, you talk about tight end usage. In the running game, for you, you know, and looking at the way that Iowa does things, what would you rather have out there? The fullback or an extra tight end? Just as you as a running back, when you were playing, what did you feel was the best for, and especially
Starting point is 00:07:53 when you're running, you know, inside outside zone stuff, what did you believe was the best for you personally as a running back? Yeah. Um, you know, a lot of times, like I loved, I liked running outside zone stuff typically more when out of two tight end sets. It just felt like it was a little bit more space in general. It made it easier to really stretch and read because obviously like when you go, you know, 21 um and you've got that fullback in there condenses everything a little bit because now as a defense you necessarily have like you have to worry about that guy coming out in the past but you're not like uh that worried about it and then obviously like when you're in two tight end sets you have ability to be a little bit more balanced right if you go a traditional ace set or if you but then obviously if you want to go super super
Starting point is 00:08:44 heavy you can go ahead and you know put that tight end as a wing, but then obviously if you want to go super, super heavy, you can go ahead and, you know, put that tight end as a wing slot. And then like when you run the inside zone plays, I felt like it was easier to run out of because obviously you might have that fullback leading up, you know, just run a traditional iso play, or, you know, that fullback is going and doing a seal block, which is basically, you know, fullback is going and running doing a seal block which is basically um you know blocking on that defensive end on the back side and um you know doing it that way but in general like you you typically got similar looks in the fact that it was going to be a heavier box um in general when in those packages and then you know obviously when you go 11 personnel uh you get three receivers out there opens up things a little bit not entirely um because
Starting point is 00:09:31 again it wasn't like our offense passing attack back then was spectacular but you know having the ability to cj had obviously the ability to take advantage of uh you know all of our weapons out there on offense which forced defenses to not go as heavy on the box, no matter which running back, you know, happened to be in that time. So, yeah, it ends up being a big deal thing for each individual running back. But, yeah, that's typically how I liked it running out of, you know, too tight inside or a run back set. But I think, you know, some of my biggest plays came with a fullback in. So I love having the fullbacks in there.
Starting point is 00:10:11 Open it up a little bit for you. Well, LaShawn, when we come back, we will talk a little bit more about the offense and perhaps an infusion. A lot of conversation this week about Cooper DeGene getting some snaps offensively. Talk about that and just this offensive scheme as we dig a little bit deeper. Plus, we'll make our picks. LaShawn Redhot, he looks for another winning week presented by FanDuel. That's all to come here on the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast.
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Starting point is 00:11:43 LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to faster. Post your job for free at linkedin.com slash lockdowncollege, linkedin.com slash lockdowncollege to post your job for free. Terms and conditions apply. Trent LeSean back with you once again here on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast.
Starting point is 00:12:03 Thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. Cooper, stud, punt return. We see him with his ball in his hands, right? We know about all this, Leshawn. But him as an offensive player, him out there. I remember watching him in high school, running quarterback, basically being almost a Wildcat quarterback. He threw it a little bit more than that, but just running around making plays.
Starting point is 00:12:25 We know he's a stud athlete. He's just got that wiggle to him, right? Just something different in the hips where he's just able to slide by people, make people miss. I remember talking about this with way back in the day. Well, not way back, way back in the day, Desmond King. And was this, I can't remember if you were around at the time.
Starting point is 00:12:44 There was like a week where I think Desmond said something to the media on Tuesday. You guys were hit hard by wide receiver injuries. He said, yeah, there might be a chance that, and then of course it didn't happen. So it brings me back to that. So I don't know if you remember that time. I can't remember exactly what year it was, if you were around or not, but you start with, should they?
Starting point is 00:13:05 Yeah, they should. I mean, you have a talented guy like that. You have an offensive struggle. You should. Will they? That's a different question, right? Yeah. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:13:14 I feel like this is kind of just a pipe dream, to be honest. I mean, obviously, when you have a guy that is explosive like that and can make plays you know with the ball in his hands um the way that that cooper can and you know the way that that desmond did when he was in school like you you want those guys to to be involved as much as possible um that's the reason why you have those guys on punt return right to give them another opportunity versus um you know just being on defense and trying to get an interception and or humble return or whatever um but i feel like it's just something that we haven't really seen done i mean i can't even think i don't even know if we ever even did if we did any plays where we just direct direct snapped it to the
Starting point is 00:14:02 to the running back very often right like yeah Yeah. Like that was something that, you know, that we didn't really do. And with those guys over on the defensive side of the ball and being so important to the defensive side of the ball, it feels like trying to move them over and, you know, the risk there. Because obviously you never want to get those guys hurt. You never think that they're going to get hurt. But, you know, it's always something that's in the back of a coach's mind as you're preparing. So I just feel like it's something that they're not willing to take the risk for.
Starting point is 00:14:38 Personally, I feel like there's opportunity there, maybe a package here and and there a special package for them to go ahead and uh whether you put them at a receiver you put them at running back or you just put them in a place where you know the defense has to anticipate the fact of the possibility of them getting the ball i feel like has some opportunity there but to be, I don't really see it happening. If it does, it would definitely be a pleasant surprise, but yeah, I just definitely don't see it happening. All right. One more topic for you before we get into our picks. Yesterday, the Big Ten announced the football schedules going forward for the next five years, starting next year with the additions of USC,
Starting point is 00:15:23 UCLA, Oregon, and Washington. They're difficult. The Iowa schedule becomes much more difficult now than it was in the Big Ten West. Not only that, well, you don't have a division to win. You have to finish amongst the top two of an 18-team conference just to make the conference championship game. Now, you look at that and it's daunting, right? The additions of those four teams, the evolution of college football, where it's going. It's scary. I heard and read and listened to a lot of doom and gloom from a lot of different people. And I just can't go there. Look, Kirk's not going to be around forever, but the Iowa football program is well looked after,
Starting point is 00:16:05 right? Financially, it is one of the top in terms of revenue year after year after year. This is a top 15 program in terms of revenue. This is a top 25 program, certainly in terms of what they've done over the last 45 years and probably even higher than that when you look at the consistent winner that they have become. Can they be a national championship contender? It's probably not realistic. It just isn't right for that to happen.
Starting point is 00:16:30 But out of a decade, can this team make a 12 team playoff every two out of every 10 years? I don't think that's a stretch. Heck, nine and three with that schedule, when you're playing Oregon, USC, Ohio State and Penn State year in a year. You go 9-3, you might sneak in there and get into a college football playoff, and certainly 10-2 is good enough. I don't know, LaShawn. I know the schedule is daunting, but I was surprised how much doom and gloom is out there when people are looking big picture. How about you? Yeah, I honestly, yeah, I'm kind of in the same boat with you like um obviously iowa has had its seasons over you know past 40 50 years are you thinking about like where they've had just special years where um you know gone on runs and beat some really really good teams like there's no reason why
Starting point is 00:17:19 that that can't happen you know in the future especially as you as the big 10 conference expands it's going to be makes 10 conference expands it's going to be makes it more competitive it's going to add more fun games to the schedule um you know get to see new new environments and um obviously the pac-12 uh you know has been a solid conference um over time and um but that said it hasn't been like um you know the teams that they brought over have been you know dominant college football teams over the last 10 years. Obviously, they've had good programs. You know, some of the teams have had some really good seasons, obviously some New Year's six appearances. And obviously, Oregon has been in a national championship game.
Starting point is 00:17:59 But like it's not like you were bringing over the SEC and, you know, adding them to the conference. And there's no reason why Iowa won't be able to compete. I mean, they typically have competed against really, really good teams over years past. Obviously, it hasn't gone in our favor over the past three or so years. But in general, right, Iowa has historically beat some really, really good teams. And the fact that, obviously, Iowa has NIO stuff in general, right, Iowa has historically beat some really, really good teams. And the fact that obviously Iowa has NIO stuff in place, interim AD has been doing, I see,
Starting point is 00:18:32 a fantastic job with trying to build that up, not just for the football program, but for the rest of sports as well. So all in all, I don't see this being, you you know the end of the world for the iowa football program right i mean uh as you mentioned i was program has been extremely strong um you really can look at as a top 25 program overall and then you look at the revenue that they're bringing in it's not like they're gonna have shortage of money it's not like they're gonna have um you know run down facilities and things like that. Like there's going to they're going to have the opportunities there.
Starting point is 00:19:08 And obviously, we know Coach Ferentz is going to be here forever. So the person who they end up bringing in, whoever ends up taking over for him, is going to have a fantastic opportunity to go ahead and continue to build on this program. So, yeah, I don't see all the negativity. Personally, I was super excited for that. I mean, like those are going to be some this program. So, yeah, I don't see all the negativity. Personally, I was super excited for that. I mean, like, those are going to be some fun games. Like, obviously, you know, going to be taking a trip at some point, you know, maybe heading out to Oregon or, you know, you're heading out to, you know, the Coliseum to watch them play USC.
Starting point is 00:19:39 Like, those are going to be fun, you know, games to attend. So, you know, I'm super excited for Iowa as a program and even more excited for the players and the coaches that get to take part in that. Next year, road trip. Well, you got Ohio State back on the schedule, back in Columbus. That's going to be tough.
Starting point is 00:19:57 Going to UCLA, getting to play in the Rose Bowl in a regular season game. You know Hawkeye fans. Let's hope that is late October, early November, a little late fall, get away, get out there and make that what happened for that. Me and my tailgate group, we're already talking about, all right, let's fly into Vegas for a couple of days and we'll drive over to LA for the game on Saturday. Come back. I mean, we're all getting all this planned out and this is something different. This is something Hawkeye fans have been clamoring for this now, since we've seen the nine game conference schedule come in.
Starting point is 00:20:25 Yes, you get another big 10 game, but it's led to more games against Rutgers and Maryland and Purdue in Illinois, as opposed to the heavy heads. Now, Hawkeye fans get it. They get the great non-conference games, quote of the past. Those are back. It's too hard now. The defeatist attitude, it just it can drive me nuts at times. Yes. Is it going to be difficult? Absolutely. Is it daunting? It is. Do we need to be better offensively to compete?
Starting point is 00:20:49 No doubt. But that's regardless. It doesn't matter if you're taking on Minnesota or you're taking on UCLA. This program, if they're going to get to the heights we want to see, yes, they have to be better on that side of the football. We will continue here. We'll make our picks, including the Iowa game against Purdue coming up this weekend. LaShawn, he has been very good. Me, not so much.
Starting point is 00:21:09 We'll do that as we continue on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Today's episode of Lockdown Hawkeyes is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. Snap into NFL this season and all the NFL action with FanDuel. It's America's number one sportsbook.
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Starting point is 00:22:18 Speaking of FanDuel, it is time to make our picks. LaShawn continuing to create distance as he is absolutely clubby throughout this year. So it's time to get on the right track. We have now flipped it over. It is no longer September. It is. Well, you remember Brock Purdy had Brocktober. All right.
Starting point is 00:22:37 This is Trent. This is Trentober. And I know it doesn't work, but this is my month. All right. I've seen all the teams. We got all the database. NFL has been great for me. College. I have stunk to high heaven, but that's okay. I've had these years in the past, but I always find a way to at least get back towards even, and that's what we're going
Starting point is 00:22:54 to do here. So let's get into our picks this week here and take a look at the matchups. Pick number one. This one's intriguing. The tee box is yours. You get the first call. Maryland, the Terrapins getting 20 in Columbus. Yeah. Obviously, we all know how hard it is to go into Columbus and play well and win. That said, this one, I feel like the line is so big, and Maryland has been so strong just in general. They played extremely well uh this entire year uh really I haven't had any close games I want to say their closest game was against
Starting point is 00:23:33 Charlotte maybe something like that something like that um like so they played really strong the entire year obviously the the real matchup for this is going to be Maryland's offense versus that Ohio State defense. Obviously Tua's brother has been doing a fantastic job distributing the football and they've been able to run the ball extremely consistently and I see that as enough reason for
Starting point is 00:23:55 Maryland to be able to cover and keep it somewhat close. Disagree. So I was right away when this line came out. All about Maryland, love the way the Terps have played. And then I did my investigation work and it was time to dig in because I have my initial numbers that I come up with. Then I dig in a little bit more. And when I dug in, it's kind of like I felt when Notre Dame played Ohio state a couple of weeks ago,
Starting point is 00:24:20 remember how I told you I flipped now that thing ended right on the number and depending on where you got it. If you got a three and a half, you got a two and a half, you got a three that depended on if you got a win on that one, but it was a good number. It was a good handicap. But I think this one is too. The step up in competition for Maryland is immense. Looking back at what Ohio state has done. I think we all remember that time that Maryland had a chance to win the game and going for two outside of that game game, though, Ohio State throttles them. They put 60 up. Now, this offense isn't like past offenses.
Starting point is 00:24:49 C.J. Stroud is not there. McCord is not C.J. Stroud. We know that. And going back to the quarterbacks. But can they still score 45? I think so. And the biggest thing, boy, I just, this Ohio State defense, Jim Knowles in year number two, he's got these guys playing well.
Starting point is 00:25:03 It's not going to be the 63-3 games that we've seen in the past in this one, but this thing might be 42-17. I'm going to lay it here, and I'm going to go with the Buckeyes with my first pick. Pick number two, I'm up first here. It is the Red River Shootout. It is Oklahoma against Texas down in the Cotton Bowl. It is the Texas State Fair. It is two teams.
Starting point is 00:25:27 Speaking of not knowing how good they are, that Oklahoma schedule has not been exactly awe-inspiring last week. It was a game against Iowa State before they pulled away in the second half and got it done, but Iowa State was moving up and down the field. I don't want to believe in Texas because I've been so right over the last 15 years not believing in Texas, and now I look like an idiot because for the 16th year, I don't want to believe in Texas because I've been so right over the last 15 years, not believing in Texas. And now I look like an idiot because for the 16th year, I don't believe in Texas. But I don't know how many more data points I'd need.
Starting point is 00:25:53 I mean, you walk into Alabama and do that. Every look ahead spot they have answered. They have done it every single time. And I think they'll do it again. But maybe this is just want more than actual pick. Give me Oklahoma in the points. I just want to see a good game. Yeah, I, this is all, well, usually this is always a great game, right?
Starting point is 00:26:10 It's usually, obviously when you got a rivalry like this, that's a story as electric as this is, it's going to be close. And the thing that intrigues me the most is Oklahoma's defense and the way that they create turnovers. They believe they lead the country in interceptions. And obviously, Texas has found some success in the run game over the past few weeks. We know how good they are in the trenches. So they'll probably try to lean on that. But if it gets to an awkward point where, you know,
Starting point is 00:26:45 they have to throw the ball a lot, I feel like Oklahoma has been really, really good on the back end. And it's going to be a test for the Longhorns, I think there. So give me Oklahoma, give me the points. I think it's going to be close just because it's this rivalry, but I feel like that's where Oklahoma has potential to cause some trouble for Texas. Pick number three, back to you, LaShawn,
Starting point is 00:27:10 and it is an SEC affair with Georgia playing host to Kentucky. Big number here with former Hawkeye Mark Stoops' squad. They're getting 15 down between the hedges. Yeah, should be a good one. Obviously, Kentucky has been playing solid. Obviously, they dominated Florida the other week. Who knows?
Starting point is 00:27:32 They've been good. They've been terrible. Right? You don't really know Florida right now. And Georgia, I don't know. It almost feels like they're kind of coasting a little bit. It's like they start off really, really slow. They get into the locker room, and Kirby Smart goes ahead
Starting point is 00:27:51 and just rips the entire team, a new one, and they come out and they play better. If they get in a situation like that again, I feel like Kentucky is strong enough to at least not let them pull away too far, just kind of like the way that Auburn did last week. So I see that continuing. The line's pretty big. So give me Kentucky.
Starting point is 00:28:16 I feel like they have an opportunity to be competitive and keep this close. I don't think they'll win, but I definitely do think that they'll be competitive. Same thing as I said earlier in the Ohio State game. This was one where the deeper I went into it, same thing. Georgia hasn't covered all season long. And I remember the last couple of these games, Kentucky's come in kind of flying high expectations. They can hang around and it just doesn't work. They don't have the explosiveness offensively to hang around. And. A week ago, they went on the road for the first time. Tough environment. They go down there to Auburn.
Starting point is 00:28:49 Wasn't pretty down 10, nothing right in the football game. And they, oh yeah. Hey, that Brock Bowers guy. Let's, let's get the ball to him a couple of times. It's like Carson finally figured that out. And, and now I think they got it figured out here. I just ultimately don't see how Kentucky can score enough to hang around here. I think Kentucky wins 27-10, 31-13, something like that.
Starting point is 00:29:10 Just kind of a slow, grinded-out kind of game. If it doesn't happen, though, I think we have to start to have some real questions about this Georgia team. Pick number four, Notre Dame. They got up for the big game, obviously, against Ohio State. Last week, game day's in town. They got to go to Duke. They have to go on the road after that emotional game.
Starting point is 00:29:29 Found a way to get it done. The fourth and 16 play by Sam Hartman, incredible to extend the drive, and then they score a play later to survive against the Dukies. Next week, they got USC. Let down, look ahead sandwich. That's what this one is. I'm grabbing the points here give me louisville plus the six and a half uh so i was thinking i was debating that heavy and i was really leaning
Starting point is 00:29:51 that way i was really was but notre dame hasn't done me wrong yet this year so i'm i'm sticking with the fighting irish um they've been playing well obviously they've got a big game next week but uh obviously they they got to come out next week, but, uh, obviously they, they got to come out. They got to play strong. They know, uh, what it looked like last week when they,
Starting point is 00:30:09 um, weren't as locked in. So I don't think they're going to let that happen twice. So, uh, give me another game. They're going to come out and play, play well.
Starting point is 00:30:17 And after the Irish, we wrap up as we do each and every week with the Hawkeyes, Iowa, a two point favorite at home against Purdue you get the first call on this one LaShawn yeah so um obviously anytime over the past few years playing Purdue has obviously made me and probably way more Hawkeye fans crazy nervous right they they've been extremely good offensively and for for some reason on defense, we have not been able to find a way to slow them down that much. Obviously, we were able to last year. So hopefully you can can continue that trend.
Starting point is 00:30:56 But it's obviously going to come down to us on offense. You can't expect the defense always to bail us out. you can't expect the defense always to bail us out. And the thing that I liked last week, even though the stats didn't show it, I love the way that Deacon was spreading the ball around and trying to get other people involved. And, you know, hopefully obviously building on that and a week of practice and getting that rhythm down, hopefully that's going to translate into, you know, more opportunities for us offensively to put
Starting point is 00:31:25 some success out there to make it so hey, the Purdue defense can't just crowd the last scrimmage and go one on one on the edges right because we're not gonna give those guys opportunity so looking forward to this game. I think that I was going to be ahead and cover they should come out and play well. But again, I feel like it's going to depend on, you know, Deacon and how they spread the ball around. I look at this game, and Jeff Brom's not there. That's good.
Starting point is 00:31:55 Yes, you mentioned last season that was also in a wind tunnel, and it was just a game script that worked out incredibly well for Iowa. Caleb went off in that game. He had a monster performance in kind of his coming out party a season ago. Every one of my points that I do, every statistical model that I use, believe that the Cade McNamara injury is overstated. And that's where I am too. Cade's a lot better quarterback when he's healthy than Deacon Hill.
Starting point is 00:32:24 We didn't see a healthy Cade McNamara all season long. And frankly, he was bad his four games in. That's not the guy that we thought we were going to see. I'm excited about Deacon's upside, the strong arm, the ability to go down the field. There's going to be growing pains and the accuracy that does concern me. But I just think Iowa right now is a better football team than Purdue and your number one or Ryan Walters I think they're getting good there I really like the hire for Purdue and what they're trying to do I just don't think they're there right now I
Starting point is 00:32:53 watch re-watch the Illinois Purdue game seemingly every break went their way throughout the course of that football game I think that was probably overstated how good they were in that one too I'm taking the Hawks give me Iowa I'll lay the two and we will see so on the side same side on that one LaShawn with that another week in the books and we are less than a month away from you and me hanging out at Merkel's in Wrigleyville for the Iowa the day before the Iowa Northwestern game down there should be a great time yeah for sure no doubt definitely looking forward to that one looking forward to this one it is Purdue on tap the day before the Iowa Northwestern game down there. It should be a great time. Yeah, for sure. No doubt. Definitely looking forward to that one. Looking forward to this one.
Starting point is 00:33:28 It is Purdue on tap. When you win this one, it is a monster. After that, on the road at Wisconsin. We'll talk about that again next week with you. Hey, LaShawn, thanks as always for your time. Talk to you next week. Yes, sir. Go Hawks.

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