Iowa at Purdue, Week 1

[cidsports]

“Iowa-Purdue rivalry has always been keen, and the tilt with the Hawkeyes this fall is expected to mark one of the high spots of the season,” wrote the Journal & Courier, in reference to the 1930 game found in The Athletic article.

Behind Minnesota and Wisconsin, the Iowa-Purdue series ranks third for the Hawkeyes in games played at 90.

In 2018, Northwestern won the Big Ten West ultimately fueled by an opening season win at Purdue. Of course, the next three weeks were ugly for Wildcats. There is no taking off weeks in 2020, with an 8 +1 game only B1G season.

Week 1 is going to be interesting with two showdowns in the State of Indiana. Up in Bloomington, it is Penn State at Indiana, which could be a trap game for the Nittany Lions, who have managed two straight one possession wins over the Hoosiers. The Nittany Lions potential problem "adjusting to 4 new assistants, including OC" in 2020?

Iowa released their preseason depth chart today. Kirk Ferentz already shared it is wrong. Two OL, lol, were mentioned today during the mini-media day.

Iowa and Purdue both gave Urban Meyer a little payback, before he moved on to his better gig at FOX Sports. Frankly, he is worthy of a good listen now.

Moving to the West for 2020.

The coaches announced today, if the game was played right now, Coy Cronk would be the starting RT for Iowa, opposite all Big Ten candidate LT Alaric Jackson. Iowa should have a very solid O-Line, for new QB Spencer Petras in his debut at Purdue.

Who's going to open at QB for Purdue?

 

[Dennis H.]

Going to be a hell of an opener. Even in 1920 we jumped through hoops to play our most hated rival😀

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

“Iowa-Purdue rivalry has always been keen, and the tilt with the Hawkeyes this fall is expected to mark one of the high spots of the season,” wrote the Journal & Courier, in reference to the 1930 game found in The Athletic article.

View embedded media

Behind Minnesota and Wisconsin, the Iowa-Purdue series ranks third for the Hawkeyes in games played at 90.

View embedded media

In 2018, Northwestern won the Big Ten West ultimately fueled by an opening season win at Purdue. Of course, the next three weeks were ugly for Wildcats. There is no taking off weeks in 2020, with an 8 +1 game only B1G season.

View embedded media

Week 1 is going to be interesting with two showdowns in the State of Indiana. Up in Bloomington, it is Penn State at Indiana, which could be a trap game for the Nittany Lions, who have managed two straight one possession wins over the Hoosiers. The Nittany Lions potential problem "adjusting to 4 new assistants, including OC" in 2020?

View embedded media

Iowa released their preseason depth chart today. Kirk Ferentz already shared it is wrong. Two OL, lol, were mentioned today during the mini-media day.

View embedded media

Iowa and Purdue both gave Urban Meyer a little payback, before he moved on to his better gig at FOX Sports. Frankly, he is worthy of a good listen now.

View embedded media

Moving to the West for 2020.

View embedded media

The coaches announced today, if the game was played right now, Coy Cronk would be the starting RT for Iowa, opposite all Big Ten candidate LT Alaric Jackson. Iowa should have a very solid O-Line, for new QB Spencer Petras in his debut at Purdue.

View embedded media

Who's going to open at QB for Purdue?

I think you'll see either Austin Burton or Jack Plummer take the majority of snaps against Iowa. With the extended 'camp' players from the B1G were able to have, I think that benefits Burton who was able to get a better handle on the playbook while also still having the opportunity to throw to WR's/TE's. I'll go with Burton because I think he provides a bit more in the run game that Brohm appeared to start using with the QB's more with Plummer behind center.

 

[bananabucket]

I think our WRs are going to off. Pretty confident we'll win this one.

 

[SDBoiler1]

I think you'll see either Austin Burton or Jack Plummer take the majority of snaps against Iowa. With the extended 'camp' players from the B1G were able to have, I think that benefits Burton who was able to get a better handle on the playbook while also still having the opportunity to throw to WR's/TE's. I'll go with Burton because I think he provides a bit more in the run game that Brohm appeared to start using with the QB's more with Plummer behind center.

As of right now, Burton is not the starter. He’s behind Jack Plummer and Aidan O’Connell, not due to lack of talent, but due to lack of understanding of Brohm’s scheme and thick playbook.

 

[SDBoiler1]

As of right now, Burton is not the starter. He’s behind Jack Plummer and Aidan O’Connell, not due to lack of talent, but due to lack of understanding of Brohm’s scheme and thick playbook.

So far Brohm has done well vs. Kirk Ferentz - even last season with our injury-ravaged roster. It took everything your SR QB and experienced roster had to beat Purdue in Iowa City 26-20. Brohm is 0-3 in openers at Purdue including a 35-28 loss to Lamar Jackson-led Louisville in Indy, 31-27 loss to eventual BIG West Champion Northwestern when Rondale Moore burst into the scene with 313 all-purpose yards, and last year’s abortion of a 34-31 loss at Nevada in a game Purdue had a decent lead but melted in the heat and altitude. It was a harbinger of what Purdue’s 2019 season would become.

Brohm’s opener record at Purdue is a concern, but his body language in camp has been positive so far. He seems pleased with Bob Diaco. The defense looks to be improved especially with Lorenzo Neal coming back at NT and the new additions to the team including former Iowa DB DJ Johnson. We are more seasoned and experienced. We have a stacked WR corps and good TEs. This could be Purdue’s best OL in years.

Beating Iowa is never easy, but I think Brohm gets off the snide in openers against “Purdue’s most hated rival”. Iowa seems to be bringing an experienced team back this season except at QB. I believe that will be the difference. No SR QB with a strong arm this year.

 

[cidsports]

So far Brohm has done well vs. Kirk Ferentz - even last season with our injury-ravaged roster. It took everything your SR QB and experienced roster had to beat Purdue in Iowa City 26-20. Brohm is 0-3 in openers at Purdue including a 35-28 loss to Lamar Jackson-led Louisville in Indy, 31-27 loss to eventual BIG West Champion Northwestern when Rondale Moore burst into the scene with 313 all-purpose yards, and last year’s abortion of a 34-31 loss at Nevada in a game Purdue had a decent lead but melted in the heat and altitude. It was a harbinger of what Purdue’s 2019 season would become.

Brohm’s opener record at Purdue is a concern, but his body language in camp has been positive so far. He seems pleased with Bob Diaco. The defense looks to be improved especially with Lorenzo Neal coming back at NT and the new additions to the team including former Iowa DB DJ Johnson. We are more seasoned and experienced. We have a stacked WR corps and good TEs. This could be Purdue’s best OL in years.

Beating Iowa is never easy, but I think Brohm gets off the snide in openers against “Purdue’s most hated rival”. Iowa seems to be bringing an experienced team back this season except at QB. I believe that will be the difference. No SR QB with a strong arm this year.

Purdue is the young team, not Iowa. Who has the 87 underclassmen?

Nate Stanley was a true sophomore, when he was given the keys from CJ Beathard. QB Spencer Petras is a third year sophomore. Stanley was not a consistent passer, never reaching 60% completion rate.

Kirk Ferentz is high on Petras. He simply needs to perform his role. Strong HS player, followed Jared Goff and broke his records there.

Iowa returns three starting RBs, lead by super sophomore Tyler Goodson. Iowa will use RBs in passing game. The other two RBs are a senior and forth year senior, each being a former starter at Iowa.

This is the most experienced receiver room in Kirk Ferentz's 22 years. The not ready for prime time players broke out in the 49-35 win at USC in the Holiday Bowl. Iowa enters the season on 4 game winning streak.

Iowa very solid OL and the guards now have experience from last year.

• LT Jackson is a possible first rounder
• LG Kallenberger was very solid by year end
• C Linderbaum is only a sophomore, but may be Big Ten's top C by season's end. On AA lists with Jackson
• RG Schott started 7 games, as a first year player last year. PFF
• RT Coy Cronk brings 40 starts over from IU

Iowa has some depth inside now, unlike last year in OL. This may turn out to be one of the strongest Iowa offenses under Kirk Ferentz. Iowa will have a better balanced offense, then Purdue’s better WR room.

PK Keith Duncan is #1 in Big Ten. KR Ihmir Smith-Marsette and PR Nico Ragani have done well. Special teams should continue to be a positive for Hawkeyes.

Iowa did lost players on defense, but just when you need it, Iowa got the top MAC DT from Northern Illinois, plus his best running mate.


Purdue has George Karlafatis and Iowa has Chauncey Golston back for his senior year at DE.

Iowa's top DTs are two seniors and a junior. Daviyon Nixon was recruited by Purdue, then Alabama. The junior is now a starter, he had 3 sacks and 2.5 tfl as a backup last year, in one start.

Sophomore Joe Evans had 4 sacks last year. Redshirt freshman DL Logan Lee was a more highly regarded TE, but he moved to defense and could be a breakout in 2020. Neither start, senior grad transfer Zack VanValkenberg was a reserve last year and will begin with #1 unit.

Iowa has been recruiting well and hopes to be 8-10 deep again in 2020, as they were in 2017, when Iowa took down Ohio State.

The starting linebackers are set. Iowa has replaced their MLB and will have more length at LB than ever before.

Iowa will play 4-2-5 again.

The secondary lost CB Michael Ojemudia to Denver NFL. He is now starting there. SS Geno Stone elected to go pro.

Iowa has three CBs with starting experience dating back to 2018: Senior Matt Hankins, junior Riley Moss and sophomore Julius Brents. DC Phil Parker has been DB coach 21 of his 22 seasons at Iowa under Kirk Ferentz.

Iowa reloads year in and year out in secondary. The unit may not be perfect, but NFL and Big Ten has seen the results, nearing numbers of Ohio State.

Cash/S Dane Belton will start and play. He may have similar role to Amani Hooker in 2018, when Iowa unveiled 4-2-5 in 48-31 win at Minnesota, after 4-3 LB Nick Niemann was injured in loss against Wisconsin to kickoff Big Ten.

He will start at WLB at 6-4. Sophomore Jack Campbell at 6-5 will be at MLB. If Iowa goes to 3 LBs, senior Barrington Wade is 3rd man in. 6-4 redshirt freshman Jestin Jacobs left Ohio, despite OSU offer late. Iowa has a mix of youth and experience at LB.

Safeties are important. Iowa returns junior FS Jack Koerner.

Look for DC Parker to get his best 5 on the field. Best players on all three levels.

It is a new year. Unlike Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State and Purdue, Iowa returns their complete coaching staff that has been 8-5, 9-4 and 10-3 the last 3 seasons.

Iowa wants to play in Indianapolis. Players are allowed to tweet now. Schedule 3.0. Kirk Ferentz 3.0

 

[SDBoiler1]

Purdue is the young team, not Iowa. Who has the 87 underclassmen?

View embedded media

Nate Stanley was a true sophomore, when he was given the keys from CJ Beathard. QB Spencer Petras is a third year sophomore. Stanley was not a consistent passer, never reaching 60% completion rate.

Kirk Ferentz is high on Petras. He simply needs to perform his role. Strong HS player, followed Jared Goff and broke his records there.

Iowa returns three starting RBs, lead by super sophomore Tyler Goodson. Iowa will use RBs in passing game. The other two RBs are a senior and forth year senior, each being a former starter at Iowa.

This is the most experienced receiver room in Kirk Ferentz's 22 years. The not ready for prime time players broke out in the 49-35 win at USC in the Holiday Bowl. Iowa enters the season on 4 game winning streak.

Iowa very solid OL and the guards now have experience from last year.

• LT Jackson is a possible first rounder
• LG Kallenberger was very solid by year end
• C Linderbaum is only a sophomore, but may be Big Ten's top C by season's end. On AA lists with Jackson
• RG Schott started 7 games, as a first year player last year. PFF
• RT Coy Cronk brings 40 starts over from IU

Iowa has some depth inside now, unlike last year in OL. This may turn out to be one of the strongest Iowa offenses under Kirk Ferentz. Iowa will have a better balanced offense, then Purdue’s better WR room.

PK Keith Duncan is #1 in Big Ten. KR Ihmir Smith-Marsette and PR Nico Ragani have done well. Special teams should continue to be a positive for Hawkeyes.

View embedded media

Iowa did lost players on defense, but just when you need it, Iowa got the top MAC DT from Northern Illinois, plus his best running mate.

View embedded media

Purdue has George Karlafatis and Iowa has Chauncey Golston back for his senior year at DE.

Iowa's top DTs are two seniors and a junior. Daviyon Nixon was recruited by Purdue, then Alabama. The junior is now a starter, he had 3 sacks and 2.5 tfl as a backup last year, in one start.

Sophomore Joe Evans had 4 sacks last year. Redshirt freshman DL Logan Lee was a more highly regarded TE, but he moved to defense and could be a breakout in 2020. Neither start, senior grad transfer Zack VanValkenberg was a reserve last year and will begin with #1 unit.

Iowa has been recruiting well and hopes to be 8-10 deep again in 2020, as they were in 2017, when Iowa took down Ohio State.

The starting linebackers are set. Iowa has replaced their MLB and will have more length at LB than ever before.

Iowa will play 4-2-5 again.

The secondary lost CB Michael Ojemudia to Denver NFL. He is now starting there. SS Geno Stone elected to go pro.

Iowa has three CBs with starting experience dating back to 2018: Senior Matt Hankins, junior Riley Moss and sophomore Julius Brents. DC Phil Parker has been DB coach 21 of his 22 seasons at Iowa under Kirk Ferentz.

Iowa reloads year in and year out in secondary. The unit may not be perfect, but NFL and Big Ten has seen the results, nearing numbers of Ohio State.

Cash/S Dane Belton will start and play. He may have similar role to Amani Hooker in 2018, when Iowa unveiled 4-2-5 in 48-31 win at Minnesota, after 4-3 LB Nick Niemann was injured in loss against Wisconsin to kickoff Big Ten.

He will start at WLB at 6-4. Sophomore Jack Campbell at 6-5 will be at MLB. If Iowa goes to 3 LBs, senior Barrington Wade is 3rd man in. 6-4 redshirt freshman Jestin Jacobs left Ohio, despite OSU offer late. Iowa has a mix of youth and experience at LB.

Safeties are important. Iowa returns junior FS Jack Koerner.

Look for DC Parker to get his best 5 on the field. Best players on all three levels.

It is a new year. Unlike Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State and Purdue, Iowa returns their complete coaching staff that has been 8-5, 9-4 and 10-3 the last 3 seasons.

Iowa wants to play in Indianapolis. Players are allowed to tweet now. Schedule 3.0. Kirk Ferentz 3.0

View embedded media

Purdue will have arguably the most explosive offense in the BIG this year. And don’t forget - Brohm beat Nate Stanley in 2017 and 2018. Bring it in on, Petras.

 

[cidsports]

Purdue will have arguably the most explosive offense in the BIG this year. And don’t forget - Brohm beat Nate Stanley in 2017 and 2018. Bring it in on, Petras.

And, that is the issue with QB Nate Stanley.

He finished well, Iowa won the final 4 games, but statistically, Stanley left a lot to be desired.

Iowa first year starting QBs often are better than later years.

Stanley won at Iowa State and against Ohio State in 2017, then at IU in 2018. 16 of his career TDs came in those three games. Fwiw

 

[cidsports]

Going to be a hell of an opener. Even in 1920 we jumped through hoops to play our most hated rival😀

1930, not 1920. lol

Iowa vs. Purdue has provided 90 games over the years.

My first one was in West Lafayette 49 years ago.

Hard to believe, Kirk Ferentz has been part of 31 years of this series.

 

[Boilerscuz]

Purdue will have arguably the most explosive offense in the BIG this year.

How can you say that without even knowing our starting QB? Kind of a most pivotal role in explosivity

 

[Dennis H.]

Iowa will most likely have a better defense than us so I hope with this chaotic training camp our offense be a little ahead of defenses and it becomes a bit of a shoot out.

 

[cidsports]

Iowa is coming into game on 4 game winning steak. 49-24 win over USC has team excited, with most of the parts back on offense.

New RT has 40 starts in Big Ten for IU.
New QB may be an improvement over 1-2 Nate Stanley vs. Purdue.
Iowa's last QB to debut in West Lafayette was CJ Beathard, who finished 3-0 as a starter against Purdue. 4th win he scored a running TD, as a redshirt freshman in relief in 2014, also in West Lafayette.

Since 2011, 3 of 4 QBs have won in West Lafayette first time they played there. Nate Stanley was only one that didn't.

"Petras’ carries himself kind of like C.J. Beathard, who I always compared to Jax Teller from Sons of Anarchy. When Beathard walked in the room, everybody knew he was there. Petras is that way, too, although he’s funnier. Petras’ style of play is more reminiscent of Ricky Stanzi in that they are tall, linear quarterbacks with decent running ability. Petras has a stronger arm than Stanzi or Beathard but he doesn’t throw quite as hard as Nate Stanley."

Stanley never threw better than 59% for a season. He could put steam on it, but finese wasn't always his bread and butter, when he missed an open receiver over the years.

This is also OC Brian Ferentz's fourth season.

We shall see how this plays out, but Iowa returns majority of playmakers from 2019 team that finished 10-3, but 6-3 in B1G.

 

[SDBoiler1]

How can you say that without even knowing our starting QB? Kind of a most pivotal role in explosivity

Aidan O’Connell led Purdue to wins in come-from-behind fashion vs Nebraska and Northwestern, and if Milton Wright catches the 4th down attempt vs IU we’d would have had a FG attempt with almost no time left to win in regulation.

Our team’s record hinges on the defense this year, not who the QB is. Any of the three QBs can run the offense and make Purdue successful.

 

[purduepat1969]

Aidan O’Connell led Purdue to wins in come-from-behind fashion vs Nebraska and Northwestern, and if Milton Wright catches the 4th down attempt vs IU we’d would have had a FG attempt with almost no time left to win in regulation.

Our team’s record hinges on the defense this year, not who the QB is. Any of the three QBs can run the offense and make Purdue successful.

Nebraska and Northwestern weren't lighting the world on fire last year. And Indiana isn't known to be a defensive juggernaut. He had a 60 QBR rating in that game. An 80 QBR against Wisconsin. And less than 80 against NW. My point in the other thread is that if he's the best QB Purdue has, it's not a great sign.

 

[cidsports]

1. Ohio State (74-10) - how goes Ryan Day in his second full season without Urban Meyer? QB Justin Fields should help ease the 2020 speed bumps.
2. Wisconsin - lose #1 QB, #1 RB and #1 WR, but since a remarkable 2010 win on the road and the beginning of division play in 2011, this team has gone 64-20 over last 10 years. Get to know QB Graham Mertz, RB Nakia Watson and receivers TE Jake Ferguson, WRs Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor, each upperclassmen in the receiver room.
3. Penn State - James Franklin is 20-7 the past 3 B1G seasons, and QB Sean Clifford is back in 2020. Strongest RB room in Big Ten, new OC Kirk Ciarrocca comes over from Row The Boat U in 2020. A #1 receiver does need to emerge in this offense. Opening at IU, then hosting Ohio State makes for an interesting start in 2020!
4. Michigan - Jim Harbaugh missed two years ago losing 62-39 at OSU, in an 8-1 B1G campaign, his best, as he enters his 6th season back in Ann Arbor at his alma mater. The Wolverines are 19-8 the past 3 seasons in B1G. New starting QB Joe Milton beat out Dylan McCaffrey, the favorite by many. Does OC Josh Gattis make noise in his "Pro spread no-huddle" offense in covid-19 2020?
5. Northwestern - went 8-1 in 2018 to win the B1G West only to fall to 1-8 in 2019. Former IU QB Peyton Ramsey is in. New OC Mike Bajakian arrives from NFL, after one season at BC. But, can the offense rebound enough, in a season that the rest of college football is witnessing defense, as optional, during covid-19 2020 season?
6. Michigan State - Why are the Spartans this high? They are coming off a 4-5 B1G season and have look to even the series with Iowa in 2020 (22-23-2) in Week 3. Iowan QB Rocky Lombardi enters with most experience.
7. Iowa - Kirk Ferentz and son, OC Brian Ferentz are 15-12 the past 3 B1G seasons, one game behind MSU. The Hawkeyes are coming off a 6-3 and are excited about new QB Spencer Petras and the mix of offense, defense and special teams for 2020. We shall see how high the Hawkeyes can go this year. 8-0 has happened twice, each time as senior Ferentz's OC entered their 4th OC season at Iowa.
8. Minnesota - the Golden Gophers enter Year 4 for PJ Fleck coming off a 7-2 B1G season with lone losses at Iowa and against West leader, Wisconsin. QB Tanner Morgan is back, as OC Mike Sanford arrives to lead offense, with new #1 RB and #WR. The defense only returns 4 starters from last year's breakout season!
9. Indiana - Tom Allen had a breakout year of sorts, as well, for IU standards. The Hoosiers finished 5-4, with a 44-41 2ot win to finish above .500 in B1G in a decade. QB Michael Pennix was handed the keys, but he only made it through 6 starts last year. Opener hosting PSU is huge opportunity for Hoosiers!
10. Purdue - Jeff Brohm began career with a 4-2 home record, but 3-4 the past two seasons. The Boilermakers have the top receiver room in the B1G, but who will start at QB among 3 candidates, each with P5 experience? The breakout candidate in Year 4 could be Jeff Brohm's Boilermakers, but plenty of questions to be answered, with new coaches, including co-DC Bob Diaco this offseason.
11. Nebraska - Scott Frost enters his 3rd season back in Lincoln, his alma mater, at 6-12 in B1G. QBs Adrian Martinez and Luke McCaffrey are battling for the #1 position. The Huskers open at Ohio State. Two years ago, it was a 36-31 battle in Urban Meyer's final year. Opportunity knocks in covid-19 2020!
12. Illinois - Lovie Smith enters his fifth season coming off his first bowl season and a 4-5 B1G finish. Huge wins over Wisconsin, at Purdue and at Michigan State. QB Brandon Peters is back for his 2nd season in Champaign, since move from Ann Arbor.
13. Maryland - Mike Locksley finished 1-8 last year to up his overall B1G record to 2-13, after serving as interim in 2015. Sophomore campaigns can be mixed. Bob Stoops won a National Title down in OU in 2000 in his 2nd season, but the Terps haven't had a winning season, since 2014. lol
14. Rutgers - the Scarlet Knights are 0-18 the past two seasons in the Big Ten. Ouch! Greg Schiano is back in New Brunswick, where he went 68-67 from 2001 to 2011, before taking a cup of coffee in the NFL as a HC. Like Maryland, the Knights haven't had a winning season, since 2014, when both teams joined the B1G.