Iowa Football: A look at Illinois State, Tom Kakert joins, what makes Kinnick so special?

It's the final preview we take a look at Illinois State what do we expect to see on the field at kinnick Stadium what makes kinck such a special place plus we'll make some picks against the spread and be joined by Tom ker all today lock on Hawkeye you are locked on Hawkeyes your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes part of the locked on podcast Network your team everyday hey welcome in I'm Trent Conan and this is the locked on hawkey podcast thanks for making locked on Hawk guys your first listen every day we're available wherever you find podcast you can also watch us on YouTube while you're there hit that subscribe button you're listening on the audio side five star reviews helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans today's episode is brought to you by 5our energy 5H Hour Energy fixes tired fast with zero sugar and a convenient p size it's the perfect pickme up for getting stuff done go to 5our energy.com and use promo code locked on CFB to receive 20% off your order this offer is only valid until September 30th on one order and cannot be used with other promotions go to 5our energy.com today here we are on the eve of Iowa football and their matchup against Illinois State we'll take a quick look at the Red Birds and what we anticipate we're going to see some final thoughts on this Iowa football season what is that biggest concern that still sits in the back of my mind as we go through this one we'll talk with Tom ker from Hawkeye Report and make some picks and just talk about the kinck stadium but we begin today with the opponent on the other side something that frankly we just haven't touched on a whole lot Brock back brings his squad over from Illinois State a team that Iowa saw one other time in program history that came back in 2015 now I think you hear 2015 and our memory go to that undefeated regular season the 12-0 year it opened up with Illinois state in the opener remember also that year as we're equating things just a little bit how did 2014 end with a disaster in a blll game and the hawk Slayer blll loss to Tennessee how did LA last season end with a disaster of a performance against Tennessee in a bowl game I'm just saying maybe we got some similarities happening here now Ohio state was not on that schedu in 2015 for Iowa nor was Michigan though the Wolverines certainly not the program of today schedule much different yes than what we have coming up this season in 2015 but certainly a path for Iowa to make a deep Deep Run so mention what they're going to see coming up against Illinois State and a huge component to this going up against a brock back team is they are going to be very good defensively they are going to bring pressure they're going to dial up a bunch of different things and it's going to be up to Tim Lester and Company to be able to combat that a year ago we saw the running game though make improvements still wasn't very good they averaged just over 115 yards per game but the more disappointing part of that was just 3.3 yards per carry a season too if this Iowa offense is going to get back on track you want to see that number certainly in the four and a half per carried range even a tick higher than that now yes sacks are a part of that and and it kind of changes exactly kind of the equation if you will and what you're looking for at new erally with a rush game but with Iowa with what they're going to do and what Tim Lester has told us we get excited here in the Shanahan offense and you think about the seam routes you're going to see from tight ends we're going to all have all the motion all over the place but it is predicated by having a strong a strong ground game and in order for that to happen you need this offensive line to take a step forward I think they're going to be aggressive and they're going to be very good in the Run game and we're going to see with that motion with a veteran and healthy offense line that they're going to take that big step forward this season now what are we going to see in the air game I mean that is the great question here and against Illinois State pretty good team a year ago they averaged uh given up just less than 200 yards per game through the air 15 touchdowns also had 30 interceptions a year ago they have Mark Canon back he had three interceptions last season along with McCoy who had a couple so both those guys returned from a year ago I was going to have to answer the bell and they're going to have to show that they have the ability to throw the football I think it's what all of us are going to be looking for that is going to be the huge component there on the other side of the football look this Iowa defense is getting they're going to be able to do whatever they want to do I think they're going to make it incredibly difficult with two quarterbacks going out there writtenhouse likely going to be the starter Jake rubley comes in from Kansas state if you remember the ruble story he's the one that came in in 2020 to play high school football from Colorado at West de Valley and then there was all kinds of craziness that went along with it so uh he's been much traveled making his way to Illinois State he's going to be in there the interesting component though is ritten house he might stay out on the field when Ruble comes in and he might be out there playing wide receiver a good wide receiver also coming back and sow who uh had nearly a thousand yards last year 10 touchdown receptions so there's something to keep an eye on maybe putting a little pressure those young cornerbacks we're going to see TJ Hall out there in his starting role I'm sure sure we're going to see plenty of John Nester we're going to see DeShaun Ali we're going to see all these guys out there in different capacities so at least uh some pretty good wide receivers and an ability to throw the football out of Illinois State another component obviously is the special teams and that is something that Iowa has a huge advantage in this game last year Illinois state only attempted 10 field goals I think that says a lot uh they did not attempt anything only two kicks Beyond 40 yards a year ago their punter Al Wagner averaged 37 yards per punt yuck this is one where IA can get one in fact maybe we'll make a little call here let's make a prediction right now I was going to have a special teams touchdown how about that either a punt return or a kick return I'm going to go that Direction with it this is a game that Iowa should control this is a game that Iowa should dominate I think they will do just that will we see a highflying team that puts up 50 60 points no no it's Iowa I even minus Kirk fence I don't believe that is going to be the case but a little preview there for you for Illinois State and what we expect to see out of the Redbirds more conversation as we get ready for the season and concerns that are still lingering about this Iowa football team we'll talk about that as we continue with Tom ker from hawkeyereport.com your final locked on Hawkeyes podcast before we get to game day and the match up against Illinois State we continue in a moment fuel up with factors no prep No Mess meals meet your Wellness goals thanks to the menu of Chef crafted meals with options like calorie smart Protein Plus and keto factors fresh no never frozen meals are dietitian approved and ready to eat in just two minutes so no matter how busy you are you'll always have time to enjoy nutritious great tasting meals look me and my family we have done meal kits before what I love though about factor is the ability to have it done quick quickly two young kids we got softball we got baseball we got soccer we got piano lessons we got something seemingly every night and yes though it's nice to be able to sit there put together a meal sometimes you just don't have time you don't have to worry about that with Factor not just though quick it is delicious make your day Delicious from breakfast to dessert stay fueled with easy nutritious 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is here tomorrow you'll be inside lovely kinck Stadium I know you're fired up yeah it's uh always a fun day you know to get back at it and season's here um just you know excited to cover another year of Iowa football and Big 10 football and all that uh all that that brings the anticipation certainly is high with this team what remains your biggest concern for Iowa football this year what is the one thing that says you know if it doesn't go well this year it's because of this you know it's an interesting question um I think my biggest positional concern right now is defensive tackle just because they don't have depth there and I'm afraid that teams might be able to run on them uh even though they they're very Stout with Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson and everything thing but beyond ya black and a in Graves there's just not a lot of production that returns they're going to have to have Jeremiah Pitman really play well and hope that Luke daffne and will Herbert can can step forward and and and be good players that can give them some snaps uh and then obviously on the other side of the ball I think the passing game I think they're going to run the ball okay but it's the pass game I I really do as long as the offensive line stays healthy I think they're going to run the ball but I I I want to see the pass game and see if they can develop something that's uh that's gonna create some explosive plays all right here's a little something for you I'm giving you a prop you mentioned the wide receiver position cayb Brown when he gets back off the suspension I think he's going to be good this year I think he's going to take a step forward Jacob Gil I think we've heard enough about him that at minimum he's a competent guy I want to go with two young receivers one a true freshman ree vandery the other red shirt freshman and Jared Buie of those two who has more catches this year for the hawkey good question I think it's probably gonna end up being buoy yeah I just I think sometimes those true freshman they flash a little bit in Camp and then kind of Fade Away we've seen that story before with different guys um heck Buie was like that last year where he was kind of the buzz of camp Hey that kid might be able to play and he might help us and it just never really materialized uh I do think vanders is good but I think Bo's going to be more of a an impact guy for for Iowa this year Tom ker from Hawkeye Report with us here uh jumping from there and we look to tomorrow it's Illinois State we want to see this offense ramped up in a big time way but it's also going to be so different without Kirk fence and as you guys make your way down to the postgame press conference it won't be him there we saw the emotion that came over him after he announced the suspension a week ago and and you could tell how much that hurt him what about the team what has this done for the team I know talking to the guys earlier this week what do you expect to see minus Kirk fence tomorrow yeah I think they're going to be pretty motivated to win that game for Kirk I think they feel like he kind kind of got wronged here I think they feel like he um um he should be there and and I think they want to win one for him tomorrow so I I suspect you're going to have a you know we're we coming into this maybe they would have kind of slept lock through this one even though they're excited for the first game of the year still it's Illinois state to just you know you got Iowa State on Deck you just kind of meander through it I think this time they want to I really think the guys on the offensive side too I think they feel like they've got something to prove and and uh I suspect they're going to have a really solid performance on both sides of the ball on Saturday Illinois State what do you know about the red bird I know there's a connection over in your neck of the woods with the rubly family as a guy that had an Iowa offer uh made his way here to Westy Valley and that weird 2020 season there was all kind of circumstances there uh what can you tell us though about the Red Birds yeah they've they're probably gonna play two quarterbacks Tommy rittenhouse's probably G to start uh he played a little bit last year really mobile quarterback can run a little bit pass um played you know I think eight nine games last year um he may end up playing a little bit of wide receiver when they bring in Jake rubley who's you know TJ ruley's son and uh but they' they're pretty stout on the back uh back seven on defense got a uh adulla is a linebacker that they've got and uh Hine Camp I think it was the Young Guy's name at uh at linebacker too who's uh who's pretty good um earned all Valley honors last year so they've got some experience there and we know we always know Brock back everybody who's been around the Big 10 uh for a long time remembers him being the the DC for Joe tiller and and doing always doing a really good job with Coach tiller's teams and those teams always gave Iowa fits so uh we know that BRX back can uh can do some stuff up that generally works pretty well against Iowa h no doubt about it we saw that in some Purdue teams you know we talk about the offense and basketball on grass and all those things though defenses was SP they had some really good players and really good teams that you're right did give eye with some trouble there including 2002 as we go on the way back machine needed a Dallas Clark 90 y up the sideline to win that one and adula Shelton with the interception to cap it off and get the victory in that one all right Tom um as we make our way forward a question that Still Remains for me we've heard nothing but great things about ree staken but two components to it when Tory Taylor took over he was already what 22 23 years old he also did it in 2020 with nobody in the stands I mean it's the first time he walked into a football stadium was at Purdue he hadn't seen a football stadium before that one at least on the road so this is going to be completely different for Reese daen and do we know how quick he is actually getting a punt off with an actual Rush coming his way just the simple little things I saw he was also listed as the starter at at holder something that initially didn't sound like was going to happen putter Still Remains a question for me how about you um everything I've heard about him has been fantastic actually that he's you know that that they think he's going to be really good now it I am curious how he handles it with their when there are people in the stands because that's just it's different just is it's h you can't simulate 70,000 fans and the the pressure that's going to be felt there and uh but I also think boy he just watching him punt it's pretty impressive even in the practice settings that they've had he's he's just blasted some some balls a long way so I think I think he's going to be really good um but there might be some learning experiences uh that that take place in the first uh couple weeks of the season final thing for you Tom and it has to do with h this quarterback position Kade Mamer is a starter we found that out a week ago I felt it was trending that direction kids day was such a rough performance the eight of 24 for 20 yards in the pick six it really left a lot of questions and I think a lot of inks among the Hawkeye fans how's it gone recently for mamero here over the last couple of weeks everything I have heard is that uh he's played better he's he's looked more comfortable and he's taken a step in the right direction and I think the other thing that he's got is the fa his teammates and the teammates really kind of rally around him and want him to be successful and I think that's also really important um because you saw that with the teammates are the guys who elect the team captains every week and he was one of the the four captains this week so that just tells me that uh teammates have got his back they want him to be successful they want him to be the quarterback and that can go a long way so I think he's gonna I think he'll come out and play well I really do thank you Tom out of time for today we'll talk to you again next Friday okay thanks TR Tom ker hawkeyereport.com great stuff as always from Tom kaker appreciate his time talk and Iowa football and we will be there kenck Stadium it's a special place we'll talk about what makes it so special what it does for me and I think a lot of you fans out there as well we'll do that as we continue plus make some picks looking at the Iowa game FanDuel has the point spread at 22 and a half we'll see what we can tackle in that one we'll do that as we continue lock on hawyes today's episode is brought to you by Five Hour Energy tired after lunch well you're not alone in fact re research shows that more than 70% of us hit the wall after lunch let a 5-hour Energy Shot help you leap over that wall instead of crashing into it want to get in shape but having trouble staying motivated make Power 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use that code again at 5 Hour energy.com it's locked on CFB for 20% off your order go to 5our energy.com today back with you one final time I'm Trent ConEd and this is the lock on hawkey podcast thanks for joining us as always appreciate everybody out there if you got a moment hit that subscribe button if you're watching on YouTube hit us up with a festar review if you're listening on Apple greatly appreciate that and we get more and more people in here as we approach 4,000 now subscribers on YouTube thank you to each and every one of you we will be back back with you on Saturday night with an instant reaction or semi instant reaction a podcast after things wrap up every day as you know I mentioned earlier in this week that I will be at kinck Stadium bringing the family over there a little fun and sun in kinnick stadium hopefully not quite as hot as it was a year ago with a nine and fiveyear old because that thing got rough but that aside gonna be there we'll be getting back until later in the day but we'll make sure to react to what we see inside of kinck stadium and have that up into your feeds coming up on Saturday night all right let's continue here and I mentioned going into kinck and I've talked about this before but it is special it's such a special place and I know that's our fandom I know that's growing up I'm 44 I lived an Iowa my whole life I don't want to go anywhere else I love this state I love this University I love this football program I love this athletic department I grew up a Hawkeye went to Iowa I love the University of Iowa and the Hawkeye football program and I remember walking in for the first time to kinnick Stadium as I think I was eight nine years old something like that my uncle Danny and his brother slim take me to the game we stop at the airliner have lunch maybe they had a couple of cold ones they did um and then take the long walk through campus i' never been on a college campus before I don't come from a family that that went to college and it was my first time and just fell in love and the foilage what you see in Fall the incredibly beautiful campus The Walk The Sounds the smells it's special and then walking into kinnick Stadium I still get the Goosebumps I still feel the excitement and I hope I'm able to Parlay that into my kids that they had that same kind of feeling and that they fall in love look I like professional teams I'm a Bears fan jumped on the bandwagon as a kindergartener I'm a twins fan it was great when I was 7 and 11 it was a long time ago as I mentioned but those teams and though I root for them it's not the same as Iowa if I had a choice of what I could choose to hit the greatest Heights it's not even close it's a home State team it's the Hawkeyes and when you walk into kinnick Stadium you can feel that and the Ghost of the past and being around your brethren being around people that are from Iowa that went to Iowa that know that connection that have that same kind of feeling it's special it really is and as life gets busier and busier as my trips don't become nearly as frequent as they once did going to every game for well 15 years plus that feeling is still there and I look forward to getting that feeling again to see it it's going to be even more special as two of my great friends will have a son that'll be running out onto the field as well uh that is going to be just completely wild there's so many great things and there's what hay say it's great to be a Hawkeye it really is can't wait for that prediction time how's this thing going to play out well I gave you my season long predictions yesterday you can check that look back on your feet and find that one as we went on record and yes I do have this one as a Victory I got Iowa getting it done 277 Iowa maybe a little bit of angst a little bit of frustration I don't think you're going to see a top cooking offense out there that's GNA rack up 450 yards gonna run for 250 anything like that I think the Run game will be improved I see them running for 175 plus but you're also going to see the inconsistency and some of the issues that we saw in the passing game early on I think they bottled him up defensively a late touchdown perhaps from Illinois State Maybe something fluky in there I think Iowa controls the game they win it and win it easily though they don't cover the 22 and a half point spread you can find over at FanDuel couple more in the Big 10 this week I'm looking forward to unfortunately it'll be going on at the same time Penn State going to West Virginia a year ago James Franklin muched my chrin as I was on West Virginia and the points ran up a late touchdown and that has not gone unnoticed I've heard by the Mountaineer players this week but you have a matchup that is important this is important for the Big 10 to get off to a good start to put yourself in position to get three maybe four teams in the college football playoff these are the kind of games that you're going to have to win going to West Virginia I will tell you I like the Mountaineers I like getting the points here I'm going to grab the seven and a half that is out there currently at FanDuel give me West Virginia with my second pick all right we got Illinois State we got West Virginia let's grab a couple more that we like here this week in the Big 10 one big 10 team that I really like this week though I like a better when I was getting six is USC taking on LSU in Vegas now this is going to likely be an LSU home game what are you talking about are you crazy kinded just wait LSU fans a are crazy if you've ever been to Omaha for the College World Series you know just that even the years that they don't qualify they are all over there and all over the place not opportunity though for these boys from the Bayou to make their way to Vegas they're going to be there my friend Mike Palm from Circa in Las Vegas said that uh it was 18 to1 people signing up for their pregame party that they're having on Saturday between the two USC will have fans but LSU is going to have the home field advantage even as close to La as they're going to be still I like USC I think the defensive improvements you're going to see right away I think Miller Moss is a darkh horse Heisman Contender and I don't think LSU has done enough to fix their Wes to defensively from a year ago so I'll take my first big 10 team USC it just sounds stupid doesn't it with that pick and then wrapping things up with one more that I like and that one's coming up this evening if you jump aboard with us uh here before this game kicks off I like Michigan State lay in the 13 against Florida Atlantic Florida Atlantic just does not have a whole lot returning yes I know Michigan State new coaching staff new regime I think they're live tonight and I think they're going to look really good Aiden Charles is going to be a stud keep an eye on this one we see uh Michigan State in the middle of the season and I think they're going to be certainly uh playing at a much higher level even than they will here in the beginning portions of the schedule so like Michigan State I'm taking Illinois State and the points like USC and West Virginia four picks for you this week here presented by FanDuel enjoy the game tomorrow enjoy kenck Stadium if you're making way over I know I will nothing better than Iowa football and it is back we'll talk to together tomorrow night after the conclusion of the Iowa game until then go Hawks