Hawkeye Report Podcast 806

This week the Iowa football team will hold their annual media day and Kids Day open practice at Kinnick Stadium. Tom Kakert is joined by Chad Leistikow from the Des Moines Register to talk about what they are expecting and hoping to learn this week about the Hawkeye football team. 

We open with a discussion about the hottest topic heading into the season, the quarterback battle and why we expect it will carry over into the season. What do we think of the race and who could end up winning the race? 

Then we move over to talking about defense and the concerns surrounding the defensive line and their lack of experience this year. Is it wrong to doubt a Phil Parker defense and what do we need to see from that group early this season? Are we buying into Cam Buffington being the next great middle linebacker at Iowa? 

On the offensive side, we talk about is Kade Pieper and if he is going to be a center this year. Will Cael Winter be in the starting five, potentially at center? Is this the best potential collection of skill position players in several years and are we buying the hype surrounding transfer Tony Diaz? 

We also discuss special teams and what our concerns could be with a new placekicker, a new punter, and someone taking over as  the return man. We think the coverage teams will be solid, but what about the return game and kicking game. 

Finally we look at some of the over-unders for Big Ten teams and who we like and who we don't like this year in the conference.