Iowa Hawkeyes Football

I need to tell you something, but you have to promise you aren't going to freak out and run to the message boards.  

Eddie George picked Northern Illinois to upset the Iowa Hawkeyes in the season opener at Solider Field (via Rivals.com).

Stop! We agreed you would not get offended and blow this out of proportion on your fan blog forum of choice. It reflects poorly on the entire Iowa fanbase if you respond with self-righteous big-conference conjecture or tattoo-related mudslinging toward Mr. George's temporarily embattled alma mater (I suspect very temporary, so tread lightly). Let's process this together.

George believes Iowa has too many questions and not enough answers as it enters the season. Naturally, he mentioned uncertainty at running back. He also gives NIU's defense some well-deserved praise. Among the biggest concerns for Iowa is the potential of an entirely one-dimensional offensive attack against quality defenses.

The good news is that one reliable dimension should be awfully stout. James Vandenberg has the tools to be the best pure passer in the Big Ten, C.J. Fiedorowicz is a matchup nightmare and, despite losing Marvin McNutt, the receiving corp is loaded with intriguing potential. One really good offensive dimension may not be enough come October, but it will be just enough Saturday.

NIU is running out a new quarterback in Jordan Lynch. He's a talented young man with a bright future, and Huskies fans will be glad to have him, but this is his first start. More importantly, it is the first start of all five offensive linemen tasked with keeping him upright. Even against Iowa's unproven defensive line, that is too much inexperience to overcome in Week 1.

Coach Dave Doeren has a quality team, and they will absolutely reclaim any respect the casual Big Ten fan misplaced after a blowout loss to Wisconsin in Solider Field last season.

Iowa is not going to lose to Northern Illinois. They may very well sneak out of Chicago with an unimpressive win that indicates a long season ahead, but they will not lose. Prepare for the type of game where fans are left to say things like, "if we had that much trouble moving the ball against a MAC team, how are we going to score against Michigan State?"

As you file out of Solider Field victorious, respond with an answer so perfect you can't help but feel better in an instant:

"There's a bar in Wrigleyville called Sluggers that has batting cages."

Deal with Michigan State another day.

There is an unstoppable force in the Big Ten, one that for the last few years has been unmatched in its ability to inflict pain and suffering on those who stand before it. No, we're not talking about the Wisconsin running game—we're talking about the Angry Iowa Running Back Hating God, or AIRBHG for short.

AIRBHG's latest act of destruction is on the knee—it's always the knee—of freshman tailback Barkley Hill, who was expected to see significant action for the Hawkeyes this year. Footage of the injury—which happened on a touchdown on the last play of an open scrimmage last Saturday, because of course it did—is below, via HawkeyeReport.com. 

And as ESPN.com reports, that's good enough for a torn ACL and a season that's over before it begins: 

Iowa's string of running back problems continued on Tuesday when the school announced that freshman tailback Barkley Hill would miss the season with a torn ACL.

Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz says Hill will have surgery later this week.

Hill, who injured his knee in a Saturday scrimmage, was a candidate to start for the Hawkeyes this season after enrolling early and participating in spring practice. 

Some members of the media don't believe AIRBHG is real. These are what we call denialists, the same people who say global warming is fake or smoking doesn't cause cancer. They are probably on the payroll of AIRBHG and should never be approached or engaged in conversation.

There is incontrovertible evidence that AIRBHG exists. It's called "everything that has happened to Iowa running backs over the last six years". HawkeyeNation.com has the full account, and it's downright terrifying. This is all just for one position on one team. If this was happening on every team, being a running back would be illegal.

How bad is being a running back at Iowa? PSU true freshman Akeel Lynch decided he'd rather stay at Penn State and never play in a bowl game or with a full complement of players than play for Iowa.

It's that bad.

Did they even send a card? They got an All-Big Ten-quality FBS tailback, with two years experience—1,384 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns last year—for nothing. Not even a player to be named later, so you would expect at least a card.

Marcus Coker, the tailback I'm referring to, is preparing for his junior season as usual. Instead of the Iowa Hawkeyes, he will suit up at three-time defending Big South Champion Stony Brook University.

At the same time, Iowa is limping—literally—towards their season opener in Chicago with Northern Illinois on September 1.

Both Coker and the University of Iowa remain mum on why he went from star starting tailback to gone in record time. Meanwhile, the rumors have flown.

Most recently, it was reported in a story by Ryan Suchomel of Hawk Central that Coker's initial suspension was in relation to his being investigated on a possible assault charge. As it turns out, no charges were filed and the potential complainant refused to press any when interviewed by police.

Regardless, the 2011 season that should have ended in glory for Coker ended without a bowl appearance and without the tailback rushing for over 1,400 or possibly 1,500 yards.

Instead, it ended with the player being suspended—then transferring.

Since then, Iowa has been through a number of possible replacements. After a mix of injuries, dismissals, transfers and position changes, things are still unsettled. My money is on sophomore Damon Bulloch or former fullback junior Brad Rogers.

That's the one-two or the two-one, depending on who winds up being the main guy. The position may well start with one and switch to the other through the first couple of games.

In the meantime, Marcus Coker is getting ready to start for Stony Brook. He insists that he was innocent in regards to whatever got him suspended from the bowl game last year. At the time of the transfer, he indicated that was his sole reason for leaving Iowa.

Since then, Coker has stated that it was as much about being home, closer to his family, as it was about the suspension. His interview can be read in the same story on Hawk Central.

In the interview, Coker says all the right things that someone who has moved on is expected to say. He wishes the Hawkeyes well. He also says of the possible slow-down on his fast-track to the NFL that everything happens for a reason.

While we all know that statement to be true, my guess is that Hawkeye fans are still trying to figure out the reason as it relates to their football team this year.

Anyone see the rainbow at the end of this for Iowa? If so, please feel free to drop Kirk Ferentz and his staff a note with the explanation. I'm sure it will be read with great interest.

The hits keep on coming with Iowa's running backs.

On Saturday, Iowa held its second open practice of fall camp—the last time fans will see the Hawks until Sept. 1 when Iowa plays Northern Illinois.

On a routine goal line play, true freshman running back Barkley Hill ran over the left tackle for an eight-yard touchdown. Upon crossing the plane of the goal line, he was hit—though the hit was to his upper body—and he went down clutching his knee.

Marc Morehouse of the Cedar Rapids Gazette tweeted,

Loud pop with Hill’s knee.

— marcmorehouse (@marcmorehouse) August 18, 2012

According to Morehouse, Hill couldn't put any weight on the knee and was carted off the field.

Morehouse further reported that "Iowa sports information director Steve Roe said there would be no official word on the extent of the injury until it was assessed by team doctors."

Oh, and that was going to be the last play from scrimmage of the practice.

Just to go over the carnage, following the 2011 season, leading rusher, sophomore Marcus Coker, and freshman Mika'il McCall opted to transfer out of Iowa City (per Yahoo! Sports). This, of course, followed about seven years of running back injuries and attrition that began in 2004 and became known as the Angry Iowa Running Back Hating God, or AIRBHG for short.

Then, at the beginning of spring practices, probable starting running back, true sophomore Jordan Canzeri, tore his ACL (per ESPN).

Towards the beginning of fall camp, redshirt sophomore De'Andre Johnson was kicked off the team (per CBS Sports) for repeated run-ins with the law.

There have been no major injuries since then, but every time an Iowa running back touches the ball, it seems as if Hawkeye fans have to hold their collective breath.

If Hill does miss significant time, the remaining available scholarship backs are sophomore Damon Bullock, junior fullback Brad Rogers (who has logged carries as a tailback) and true freshman Greg Garmon.

Also, walk-ons, junior Andre Dawson and true freshman Michael Malloy, are available and have logged significant practice time minutes.

Let's hope they can all stay healthy and out of trouble.

He's 6'7", 267 pounds and entering his junior season. Iowa tight end C J Fiedorowicz is all football player. His big, soft hands can cradle a football and he is becoming a favorite target of senior quarterback James Vandenberg,

Fiedorowicz started five and played in 13 games as a sophomore last season. He had 16 catches for 167 yards and three touchdowns.

In an interview by CBSsports.com, Iowa offensive coordinator Greg Davis said the following about his big tight end: "There are not a bunch of guys anywhere that are that size, that can run and catch and do all of those things. C.J.'s got a chance to be an outstanding player." 

Fiedorowicz played seven different positions at Johnsburgh, Illinois high school, including quarterback and wide receiver. He compiled over 3,000 yards in receptions in his four-year high school career. He also led the basketball team in scoring.

Of his 16 total receptions in 2011, 12 were caught for 105 yards and three touchdowns in the last four games. By this time in the year he had become a receiver Vandenberg could depend on, while also improving his blocking technique. 

If you are going to play tight end in the B1G, you must become a good blocker. To be a difference-maker in a run-first offense, you must become versatile—and make the big catches—when the opportunities come.

Last season, Fiedorowicz put it all together. As a result, he may play a big part in the Iowa pass game this year. 

Now Fiedorowicz has a chance to add his name to the list of premier tight ends that have come from Iowa. Names like Dallas Clark, Tony Moeaki, Scott Chandler, Brandon Myers and Marv Cook.

These are top-flight NFL tight ends that learned their craft as part of an Iowa team.

Fiedorowicz has said that the new coordinator's schemes have been easier to learn and remember. He also feels as long as he produces in camp, the passes will come his way in the games as well.

Vandenberg said he likes to throw to the big guy because even when he is covered, he's so big that he is still open.

Sounds like the beginning of a beautiful relationship, at least through the 2012 season!