Three solid years of Drew Tate now yield to the trials of sophomore Jake Christiansen. The kid stands in the pocket and throws a rope, but he offers less mobility than did Tate. Still, with the mediocrity Tate displayed as a senior, the Hawkeyes are likely to be better under Christiansen once he settles in. How long that takes will be the difference between a ho-hum year and a special one in Iowa City. One thing the new QB has to help ease him in is a quality set of senior backs. Albert Young and Damian Sims form a thunder-and-lightning combo that runs effectively behind lead blocking former-LB Tom Busch. Iowa has to control the clock more with these capable backs – more time of possession will equal more victories. The big factor in all of this will be the line. Only sophomore center Rafael Eubanks and juniors Dace Richardson and Seth Olsen have any starting experience. Line coach Reese Morgan has done more with less, so expect guys like Dan Doering and Brian Bulaga (true frosh) to help effectively establish viable holes for the backs to get through. What will take more time is coming together as a cohesive pass blocking unit for a less mobile QB. Roles have already been sorted out amongst the receivers. Dominique Douglas was the team’s leading snarler as a freshman, ostensibly the “go to” type. Lanky junior Andy Brodell is the deep guy ready to burn DBs for more YAC. Christiansen even has TE Tony Moeaki, a sure-handed pancake blocker who can stay home as well as he goes deep over the middle. This offense may sputter a bit early, but by mid-season they should be capable of winning close ones and will be the reason Iowa gets back into the top 25, if they do.

With the same starting front four all back, the Hawkeye’s pedestrian run stopping efforts should improve. Led by senior all-Big Ten end Bryan Matterson (6.5 sacks and four forced fumbles both team highs), Iowa has four rather interchangeable parts. Tackle Mitch King (12.5 TFLs team high) can bring the speed and heat inside, so it is tough for foes to find schemes to effectively block them all. Senior all-conference MLB Mike Klinkenborg is not a stat-heavy player; he is just there to make the stop seemingly every down. He and classmate Mike Humpal will join coordinator Norm Parker (also LB coach) to orientate a new batch of wanna-be’s at a school that has produced some of the best corps in the last decade. The experience up front should keep the front seven’s impact consistent. Senior corners Adam Shada and Charles Godfrey are possibly the best pair in the league. Both are 6’1”, though Godfrey is over 200 lbs. and can make any tackle. With heir-apparent Bradley Fletcher a solid nickel guy, this is definitely the strength of the secondary. Sophomore Marcus Wilson is the lone safety with quality playing time under his belt. The LBs may only need help with backups, but the safeties are in dire need almost across the entire two-/three-deep. This year’s recruits offer several four-star finds (Bernstine and Morrow) who could easily see real game reps come fall. Essential will be the front four getting into opposing QB’s faces fast so the nubile safeties won’t be nearly as exploited during the early going. Foes will be picking on the deep middle until Iowa proves they can handle such, for if the LBs and/or nickel/dime packages are leaned upon too much for help, it will be another long campaign in 2007.