The Hawkeye wheels are turning toward the 2016 season; Iowa has finished reviewing last season (what season?).
By Jordan Hansen
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It’s a new year and a new season.
While Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and the rest of his staff are certainly still digesting what happened in the Rose Bowl, there’s a whole new season in front of the Hawkeyes.
In addition to the coach addressing the media on Jan. 7, the team also released the first 2016 depth chart.
Your two deeps headed into the offseason. pic.twitter.com/EQG7uGtey9
— Daily Iowan Pregame (@dipregame) January 7, 2016
While that chart will no doubt change between now and the end of camp in August, it contains, as Ferentz said several times on Jan. 7, a starting point.
A learning experience
There is no doubt the 45-16 shellacking at the hands of Stanford will not be quickly forgotten.
However, Ferentz wants to use the game as a learning experience. It won’t be easy to swallow, but it could serve as motivation for the season ahead.
“The big thing, I think, as we move forward right now, is that we learn and grow from the things that have happened in the 12 regular-season games, the two postseason games,” Ferentz said. “And basically, again, this team has really modeled good behavior for next year’s football team.”
Following up a good season with another impressive one is a hard thing to do, but things seem to be setting up well for the Hawkeyes to have another run in 2016.
However, big things were expected the year after Iowa’s incredible 2009-10 run that ended in an Orange Bowl victory. It was something Ferentz brought up.
“Our players and staff really need to keep understanding for us to win 12 games, I mean, just about everything has to go right,” he said. “It’s an uphill climb, and it’s how we take those steps.”
Depth chart movers — offense
Iowa will be a fairly experienced team next season, and while there will be some different players in the lineup, they won’t exactly be “new.”
Offensively, Iowa will return three running backs, a good portion of the line, and quarterback C.J. Beathard. That’s not a bad place for the Hawkeyes to start building, but there still are some holes to fill at wide receiver and tight end.
Jerminic Smith — who saw significant snaps when departing senior Tevaun Smith was injured — is now the starting split end, while Riley McCarron is now the No. 2 wide receiver. Matt VandeBerg, of course, is the No. 1 receiver and should continue to be a reliable target for Beathard.
George Kittle is now the No. 1 tight end, taking over the position that his cousin, Henry Krieger Coble, had this season. Iowa likes to use more than one tight end, and it’s a good bet that whoever gets the second-string spot (right now it’s Jameer Outsey) will likely see significant time next season.
As expected, offensive lineman James Daniels — though currently injured — has moved to center, taking over for All-Big Ten pick Austin Blythe. Boone Myers has moved to left guard on the initial depth chart, and Sean Welsh has gone back to guard and will seemingly play on the right side of the line.
With that said, there could be changes on the line before the fall.
“We have three guys who can play tackle right now and seen them do and seen them do it pretty well,” Ferentz said. “All of them have a tremendous amount of room for improvement, and they will improve because they are guys. It’s a flip of last year, for sure, total flip.”
Last, the Hawkeyes will also have to replace fullbacks Macon Plewa and Adam Cox, who both contributed on offense this past season. Drake Kulick is listed as the starter, and Ferentz sung his praises when asked about how his progression has gone.
“He’s really improved this year,” Ferentz said. “I think all of us feel a lot better about him in the December mode than we did back in August.”
Depth chart movers — defense
Iowa scored a major victory when All-American cornerback Desmond King decided to return for his senior season, and he comes back to what could be a very good group of defensive backs.
Safeties Brandon Snyder and Miles Taylor seem to have the safety spots locked down for now. Barring something strange, Taylor should have a spot locked down for Week 1 next year. He started 13 games and played in all 14. Snyder played in 13 games, so also brings some experience to the table.
Linebacker Cole Fisher won’t be around next year at weak-side linebacker and right now, Aaron Mends is listed as the first-stringer, but there’s no question that could change before the spring.
Matt Nelson slips into the starters, because Nate Meier heads for graduation. The 6-8 Cedar Rapids product is in the conversation to start next year, but if Drew Ott is able to return to the team, that might be thrown into flux.
“We just graduated 21 pretty good guys, and now we have to try to fill that void,” Ferentz said. “So we have plenty of room for guys to jump on the boat, that’s for sure.”
Follow @JordyHansen for Iowa football news, updates, and analysis.