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Drew Tate Bob Rosato/SI

The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Kirk Ferentz (8th season, 49-36) 2005 record: 7-5 (Lost to Florida in Outback Bowl) Big Ten finish: 5-3 (t-3rd) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 35th (174.7 ypg) Passing: 27th (257.8 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 29th (126.0 ypg) Passing: 96th (256.7 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 Montana Sept. 9 at Syracuse Sept. 16 Iowa State Sept. 23 at Illinois Sept. 30 Ohio State Oct. 7 Purdue Oct. 14 at Indiana Oct. 21 at Michigan Oct. 28 Northern Illinois Nov. 4 Northwestern Nov. 11 Wisconsin Nov. 18 at Minnesota Depth Chart: Offense 7 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 22 Calvin Davis Sr. 80 Andy Brodell So. WR 4 Herb Grigsby Jr. 7 Eric McCollom Jr. LT 78 Dace Richardson So. 68 Andy Kuempel Fr. LG 76 Mike Jones Sr. 56 Rashad Dunn So. C 52 Rafael Eubanks Fr. 58 Rob Bruggeman So. RG 54 Mike Elgin Sr. 71 Seth Olsen So. RT 73 Marshal Yanda Sr. 79 Dan Doering Fr. TE 87 Scott Chandler Sr. 81 Tony Moeaki So. QB 5 Drew Tate Sr. 16 Jason Manson Sr. FB 35 Tom Busch Jr. 46 Champ Davis Sr. RB 21 Albert Young Jr. 28 Damian Sims Jr. Depth Chart: Defense 7 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 92 Kenny Iwebema Jr. 96 Alex Kanellis So. DT 53 Matt Kroul So. 66 Ryan Bain So. DT 47 Mitch King So. 91 Vernon Jackson Fr. DE 99 Bryan Mattison Jr. 64 Justin Collins Fr. OLB 44 Mike Humpal Jr. 41 Bryon Gattas Jr. MLB 40 Mike Klinkenborg Jr. 51 Zach Gabelmann Sr. WLB 27 Edmond Miles Sr. 43 Pat Angerer Fr. CB 19 Adam Shada Jr. 3 Ma’Quan Dawkins Sr. CB 13 Charles Godfrey Jr. 29 Bradley Fletcher So. SS 15 Miguel Merrick Sr. 14 Devan Moylan Sr. FS 25 Marcus Paschal Sr. 11 Marcus Wilson Fr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 1 Kyle Schlicher Sr. P 6 Andy Fenstermaker Sr. KR 28 Damian Sims Jr. PR 4 Herb Grigsby Jr.

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Fed up with underestimating Iowa for three consecutive seasons, prognosticators finally bought into the hype last year and ranked the Hawkeyes among the nation's elite teams. But once again, the prognosticators were wrong about Kirk Ferentz's crew. The Hawkeyes finished 7-5 and were eliminated from the national title hunt in September after suffering embarrassing defeats at Iowa State (23-3) and Ohio State (31-6). Even more damaging were the back-to-back losses at home to Michigan and at Northwestern by a combined four points.

Iowa returns 14 starters, but Ferentz expects the prognosticators to be more skeptical. "I don't see us getting the same national attention," he says. "Personally, my expectations are the same every year. But those things definitely do affect the way people think. We've always encouraged our guys to be consistent with their approach. I'm not sure that happens all the time."

Overshadowed by the failed expectations was the fact that Iowa played in a January bowl game for the fourth season in a row. The young defensive line also went from being a weakness in the first half of the season to a strength in the second half. Albert Young rushed for 1,334 yards in 2005, the fourth-highest single-season total in school history. And quarterback Drew Tate didn't make first-team All-Big Ten as he did as a sophomore in '04, but he actually had more passing yards last season.

Tate is among seven starters returning on offense, including three linemen. The biggest concern is at receiver, where starters Ed Hinkel and Clinton Solomon have to be replaced. It also won't be easy replacing All-America linebackers Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge or four-year starting cornerbacks Jovon Johnson and Antwan Allen, but the program appears to be in a reloading mode.

OFFENSE

Tate didn't lead Iowa to the 2005 Big Ten title as many expected, but he still led the Hawkeyes to a fourth consecutive January bowl game while passing for over 2,800 yards.

Iowa should be balanced on offense with Tate passing to arguably the best group of tight ends in the Big Ten and handing off to Albert Young, who shed the prone-to-injury label, leading the Big Ten in rushing in conference games with 1,002 yards, and he seemed to get better and faster as the season progressed.

The departure of Hinkel and Solomon has left a big void at receiver, but junior Herb Grigsby started three games last season and had a good spring. Senior Calvin Davis also started four games in '03 and has 36 career receptions.

The offensive line should be Iowa's best since '02.

DEFENSE

It took about half of the '05 season for the defensive linemen to assert themselves. The same group that surrendered 314 rushing to Ohio State in September held Wisconsin to 19 rushing yards in November. All four starters and the top three reserves from last season return on the defensive line. Junior end Kenny Iwebema made first-team All-Big Ten last season, and sophomore tackle Mitch King made several freshmen All-America teams.

The loss of Greenway and Hodge leaves a considerable void, but the cupboard hardly is bare. Junior Mike Humpal had a terrific spring and is poised to start at outside linebacker. Senior Edmond Miles started all 12 games at outside linebacker last season but has since been switched to Greenway's weakside position. Senior Zach Gabelmann and junior Mike Klinkenborg were in a close battle all spring to replace Hodge as the starting middle linebacker. Gabelmann starred on special teams last season. Junior-college transfer Bryon Gattas also cracked the two-deep during spring practice.

The two safety positions are in good hands with seniors Marcus Paschal and Miguel Merrick returning as starters. Paschal has 23 career starts and Merrick has 12. Juniors Adam Shada and Charles Godfrey will replace four-year starters Jovon Johnson and Antwan Allen at the two cornerback positions.

SPECIALISTS

Senior Kyle Schlicher ranks among the top kickers in the Big Ten, if not the country. He made second-team All-Big Ten last season after making 17-of-21 field goal attempts. Senior Andy Fenstermaker also returns as the starting punter, but he will be challenged by incoming freshman Ryan Donahue from Chicago. Donahue was a USA Today first-team All-American as a senior. Grigsby should replace Hinkel as the starting punt returner, and junior running back Damian Sims is an explosive kick returner.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Last season marked the first time that Iowa has underachieved since Ferentz rebuilt the program. The Hawkeyes lost five games, including embarrassing routs at Iowa State and Ohio State. The team's lack of experience was evident during the early stages, especially on defense. However, a late-season surge and the improvement of the defensive line have created a feeling of optimism.

The Hawkeyes have enough talent on both sides of the ball to challenge for the Big Ten title, but they have to stay healthy at key positions. Iowa doesn't have the same quality depth as Michigan and Ohio State. If Tate or Young go down for an extended period, it could be another frustrating season.