Luke Lachey's return, Brian Ferentz's surprise presser & more on Iowa football ahead of Citrus Bowl

hey Hawkeye fans Chad Leo of the de Mo register a newsy day here in Orlando um man uh my head's kind of spinning here Tyler tashman also the registered joining us uh he wrote the the latest news story uh to develop on the hawkey football beat which is Luke Lee coming back for the 2024 season uh man uh you know I kind of thought it was maybe trending this way Tyler but uh definitely didn't anticipate it actually you know being announced today I just feel like it's sort of continuing what's been a good news week for the Hawkeyes it's a lot of these kind of staygo decisions as the you know bowl season gets or bowl game gets closer that um you know are really pivotal into how I was roster is going to look like um in 2024 but uh Jay Higgins announces he's coming back uh now Luke Lee so some of those you know dominoes kind of falling uh you know in the in favor of Iowa and uh it seems like Iowa right now at least is is going addition by retention right they're kind of you know last season was a little bit heavier in the portal than usual but a lot of those guys that are kind of could leave or could come back um Iowa really wants them back and they're probably honestly better than anybody else that Iowa could get in the portal so um you know I think that plan is uh a good one based on those guys those kind of group of guys that that you have with that could go either way but um and luk Lee is I mean he he looked like he was gonna have a really good season this season and then obviously he goes down against Western Michigan uh he he was good in 2022 but he was kind of in the shadow of Sam leaport you know when leaport wasn't hurt but it it felt like this season was his chance to be kind of that primary option um and he was that way until he got hurt but now coming back you know gives him another chance to to be that guy I was just texting dargan who's uh coordinating the podcast he's goingon to jump on a little later for a five big question segment I thought he was gonna jump on then all of a sudden we started and he just disappeared so uh you know not that not that we can't do it but he's like our Tennessee expert so we're gonna get to five big questions this is gonna be like our Citrus Bowl preview episode uh dargan says his son was being loud in the background so now I get it okay got it but so Tyler and I will take it for now but yeah Luke Lee you know Tyler Barnes the recruiting director tweeted this and I kind of retweeted it um you know just to get Higgins and Lee back those were two two year four game day captains to start the year it's really rare that you bring back one of those guys now you're getting two back for the 2024 season and actually Kade mcnamer would be three right so I was he ever a captain he was right he was the start the season yeah so they before you got hurt yeah so yeah it's uh you know they're just bringing back like all their leadership uh which is you know which actually was an offseason storyline this past year like oh how do you get back after losing Jack Campbell Sam lorta you know those kind of kind of leaders Kavon Merryweather whatnot Riley moss and uh yeah they've you know they're gonna have two straight years of pretty strong leadership and I will have to say just being down here it's just uh I mean this team is just so together so tight and uh to continue that is uh it's really a big deal for the Hawkeyes whoever the offensive coordinator is and we're going to get to that a little bit but I've had people ask me also Tyler you know what you know is Eric all gonna come back too and um I don't I just don't think that it there's really a need for him you know Iowa would have to kind of make room for him you know probably get some nil money for him whatever I'm not saying he can't or wouldn't but I think they're pretty good with Lee and O stranga at this point coming back for next year and I honestly if you're Eric all it's sort of like you know you know what is my place I don't know I I just I'm kind of discarding I haven't really heard any any movement on him but I think the Lee OST stranga combo next year really sounds I mean that's a great starting point for whoever the new OC is gonna be it's a great Foundation to continue to build off of because there's so much unknown going into the offense offense next season starting with the fact that we don't even know who's going to be offensive coordinator yet excuse me but then you also have the fact that like Kade mcnamer is coming off two con you know consecutive uh season ending injuries like is he gon to be ready for you know the the first game of the season is he gonna be healthy can he stay healthy uh then you have the question of like is Iowa gonna have enough rece like capable receivers you know what you know what is that you know what does that look like it it certainly seems like tight end is a position where uh it's going to be it's going to be a strong position group for Iowa next season and that's why I think Lee coming back Really cements that and it's not luk Lee coming back is by no means like Iowa's offense is gonna turn around you know but it's a step in the right direction toward getting there because it's an offense that um the the past two seasons has just been really really bad so it's going to take a a you know a collective effort but to have a guy like Luke Le coming back who if he's healthy for the entirety of a season feels like he could be the number one guy on an offense that's meaningful especially when you have a lot of unknown moving forward in the next season and to that point uh you know we talked to AR stranga a couple days ago and you know he's not much of a quote yet but uh he's he's becoming a really good player and he kind of talked about how and and imagine kind of that room I mean he had Sam pora and Luke Lee in there to kind of guide him along and then Eric all as well to go along with that and so he he learned pretty quickly about what it t what it takes to be you know a player on the field he was just a true sophomore this year and so I really like his I really like what he's potentially gonna bring next year to this team so I'm I'm pretty pumped um to watch le and a stringa and then to continue what you were talking about in the receiver room uh talk to n regini today and uh he he kind of talked about how Caleb Brown has really ascended not just on the field but off the field like there's just a Vibe about him he's like growing so much and so fast in confidence um that he can be a weapon for this team and I think we're starting to see that he had all 19 of his catches you know post o post Brian ference announcement um so he's been a late ascending guy but I think he's he's definitely a guy I feel like you can count on also in that passing game going into next year because of just the dynamic athletic ability he brings to the table now he's adding that leadership adding that you know time on the field so I feel really good about those three spots just for Cade to throw to and then just as a little morsel of uh you know people like these things during the bowl games um you know hey who's looking good and the first name out of out of Nico mouth was Jacob bosk and that's another name I've heard a lot this week I I know I keep hyping him up to you uh Tyler but I think he's gonna get his first catch this week that's my prediction U but yeah Jacob bosk tall rangy guy who just had bad injury luck his first two years and you know I think he could be something at some point and so I don't know there's just some pieces now to work with on offense you don't feel like you're you're giving the new OC just a bare cupboard uh coming in I think another guy that that could really use a bowl game to as like a Launchpad is Seth Anderson because he was a guy that like during Kids Day He flashed early in the season he kind of flashed and then he kind of you know emergence of Caleb Brown he kind of seemed to take a backseat but he's a guy that's been he's been productive in college at Charleston Southern this season just you know with everything that's gone on in the offense um hasn't quite found his footing but I feel like if he can have a really good bowl game use that as a long pad in the next season he's a guy that uh could have a lot of value um in next season's offense and and as a you know as a reliable Target moving forward seems like uh as we can kind of finish or whatever the leche conversation here is uh there's other guys right that can come back and uh I still you know Cooper de jeene you know I think I've mentioned it on this podcast already he's my number one in terms of guys you'd want to come back but Lea was two and Higgins was three so you got your two three Castro would be for uh he said I think I'm losing track of the days and I don't think we've talked about this in the podcast but he said yesterday that um he would be uh announcing what he's gonna do like within a few days after the bll game uh Jamari Harris kind of indicated the same thing today Quinn schy uh I don't don't know he he didn't he didn't tell much on on what he was going to do but uh I just got the sense Tyler that and I don't want to mislead people because I don't know that I don't know what they're going to do but I just got the feel that Castro and Harris were leaning towards coming back just kind of the vibe I got and I think I think the the Higgins and Lea stuff has to be an incentive to come back you know to be playing with those guys once again and I know go ahead no sorry I thought you were doing good no and I was just gonna say I know Brad heinrich's over at uh Iowa swarm has really been doing working hard to try to get those guys as much as he can to return to kind of sweeten the pot or whatever you want to call it uh to bring those guys back so it is you know it's not like it used to be where there was just ay another year of college you know you know get you know there there is some Financial incentive to come back now as well yeah I mean I was just gonna say when we were talking to the guys um you know before they went down to Florida and all that they were I mean that there are internal conversations about you know who you know are you you know what are you thinking and blah blah blah but you it it does seem like it could be sort of it's easier to see a domino effect happening where if you know Jay comes back and Luke comes back that um there's just more appeal to come back because of what is possible next season it raises the expectations for um you know what seems possible and the Big 10 is changing but there's also going to be a 12 team playoff and I mean I'm sure we'll have a lot of time to talk about that coming in the next season but like Iowa would have been in the conversation for that this season like before the Big 10 Championship if or if they beat Minnesota that's a whole another story but anyways they wouldn't have been like that far out of a 12 team playoff is my point so um and and just like you were saying the the vibe in the program like I think it's the the culture that I was built it's not something that is like makes it easy to leave I think the fact that some of these guys are even considering coming back like is a testament to the culture and bond that those guys and especially what they've been through this season because I feel like that probably brought him even closer all the injuries Brian frence you know uh invalid fair catch that you know the fact that guys are even thinking about coming back is just a testament to you know the culture inside the program never forget the invalid fair catch we will never let anyone forget it no it's it's the gift that keeps on giving um the uh other guy we didn't had you know kind of ruled out almost was Nick Jackson and he talked yesterday about that possibility now that he's uh gotten a waiver from the NCAA to return for a sixth year which is crazy if you look at his career like stats and U just volume of of snaps that he has has played in his career this will be his 60th college game on Monday if he were to somehow come back back I mean this he's going to be Crossing 70 72 73 games in a college career something will will never ever because you know unless there's like a double covid pandemic or something so um it's not something that he was expecting to have to think about and he was pretty intent on going to the NFL it sounds like but he also he also talked about Tyler like how much he loves it here and like how much this one year at Iowa has been so good to him you know personally uh but you know Jay Higgins he said that's my best friend I mean there's gonna be some interesting conversations in the nick Jackson family because he said it will be a family decision as well um on this whole thing so uh that's another one I mean God can you imagine if Castro you know Higgins Jackson Harris maybe schy you know all come back off that defense and I mean I I don't know if they'll if the state of Iowa will be able to contain it if Cooper deene somehow pulls some kind of surprise and says he's coming back too well it's like what if what if next SE if all if a handful of those guys come back on defense and I was like 100th offensively in the FBS like that's all they need to be really like 110th like 96 something in that ballpark and that I mean with that defense I mean they may they may allow less points per game than this season if if a bunch of those guys come back so really the yeah that's the offense that doesn't really even it needs to be bad if like you know the off offense is bad next season they could be in really good shape brings up a whole another conversation which we'll get to in five big questions about next year's quarterback but uh let's move on I thought we'd talk 15 minutes at least on Brian ference we haven't even mentioned his name I don't think yet but Brian ference with a surprise appearance today uh here in the uh Rosen Plaza in Orlando U Abdul Hajj it was supposed to be coordinators so Tennessee's offensive and defensive coordinator came and talked and then um all of a sudden you know Abdu hoders on the menu and uh Brian ference walks through the door and so uh I kind of I put this in my column it's up at Hawk center.com but he apparently decided yesterday afternoon that he was going to go ahead and talk and sort of uh let his you know kind of have the final word I guess on his career I mean the game will sort of say that too but uh interesting that he talked I was not expecting that u in fact Iowa officials weren't even expecting that so what do you make Tyler from afar of Brian just kind of taking the taking the stage so to speak and uh kind of uh becoming the story today even though he didn't want to be the story I think two things can be true one is that it was it was time to move on from him and get a new offensive coordinator I think if it if it wasn't a consensus among the fan base it was a near consensus that there needed to be changes after the last two seasons especially on offense but I also think that the way that Brian fence has handled everything uh has been really admirable he uh just has seemed to really I mean take things in stride and and you know reading through what he said today of just he he doesn't want it to be about him you know he want he wants it to be about the team he cares deeply about Iowa and um you know it's it was a a very difficult situation and the timing of it really I think is what probably ruffled Mo the most feathers the fact that it was during the middle of the Season it was kind of a unnecessary hurdle thrown into things that that didn't need to be that didn't need to be there you know because I the the whole points per game thing I think would made everything more a distraction I think that that could have been eliminated by just either moving on after last season or you know I don't know but I thought that was a real distraction but the way that uh Brian has seemed to handle things um you know I I think has been uh it's been he's been very respectful and just very professional about it yeah Logan Jones really raved about yeah Brian's uh handling or you know how he was as a man and and how his family respects him too and so there is uh there has been some win it for Brian um sentiment among the players some aren't are saying ah it's just you know we just want to win the game and whatnot but and Brian definitely you know wanted to deflect that uh I mean it was he kind of seemed surprised that there were so many questions um you know toward him but he hasn't talked since August 11th so it was it shouldn't have been a surprise uh I I thought his probably best answer wasn't because of my question it just happened to be what his stream of Consciousness led him to but I asked him about um you know going into his final game uh and kind of also the Illinois game where there was clearly emotion his final game at kennick stadium and uh you know you could see there was emotion and you know with him and his dad and all that stuff and uh he kind of downplayed that Illinois part of it and then um you know he basically and then here was kind of the quote I thought was probably the the top quote of the day that sort of captivates I think where Brian's thought process is and he said uh and quite frankly probably what I resent the most about this situation is that the focus has come off of our football players who have really accomplished some tremendous things this year and it's gone on to things that quite simply don't matter they're trivial and silly in my opinion and for whatever reason the focus has gone there instead of on a bunch of players who have worked really hard to overcome a lot of adversity and dealt with a lot of nonsense to win 10 football games and put themselves in a position to win the 11th so I think a I think the two things he was talking about with the nonsense would be the 25 points per game Clause that certainly overshadowed the first half of the season in part uh which was removed by you know Barbara Wilson and Beth Gets By by kind of solidifying his future of not being here but also the clothing apparel choice that was something I don't care about at all but it did become a big talking point among fans uh some fans I should say and so I think that was the other silliness that he was talking about but obviously you know at the same time Tyler you know he kind of brought that on himself by not wearing Hawkeye stuff during some of the games so what are your thoughts when you see hear that quote knowing what he's kind of gone through this year yeah I you know I think one of the other things that he said that stood out to me was the fact that of just how much he enjoyed working with his father and that really painted like the human element to all this and it's easy for that to kind of get overlooked because of social media and just all the criticism and whatnot but um that there is like the very human element to all this behind uh you know the offensive shortcomings and all that of like this is a a father and a son who their relationship is being seared in the National Spotlight um it's a very very diffic difficult uh sensitive personal relationship that is being picked apart by the public eye and when we like the right after that news came out and Kirk fence talked about it he was he was very guarded I would say and and and I don't blame him for being that way but he didn't he didn't really seem to let out like his personal feelings about Brian as a son it was more he tried to do it more so as Brian as a coach but I felt like after Iowa clinched the Big 10 title uh against Illinois he kind of he peeled back the layers a little bit more and it feels like he's he's done that um a little bit now in Orlando as well but uh it does really I think which is the important thing as it comes to a close here and there is kind of a finality to things of just understanding the the father son you know kind of human Dynamic to everything yeah I'm glad you mentioned that because that was kind of the that was the quote I finished my column with uh surrounding what it was like to play for his father not that I was really touching that Brian said you know working with his father you know he had this idealistic view of his father like we all do about our parents and then you know you know how great they are all that thing all that stuff and um to get to work with him side by side for 12 years and also five years as a player he said you know basically um you know he lived up to everything I imagine that he was type of thing so that's pretty emotional that's pretty powerful stuff uh certainly personally wish Brian the best in his next venture probably in the NFL would be my guess uh but uh he's obviously coaching in this game and I think the the biggest takeaway that a lot of folks had from today's press conference was that he ruled out that Mark LZ would play at all in this game and so people are upset about that and I think I think they're more upset about the fact that he said Deacon Hill has played great football for us wow you're really setting me up there with uh are we going into quarterback uh oh no no not yet no I just was I mean great football I don't think he meant that probably I think he probably would have chosen different words but maybe he did I don't know but uh you he said he let us to a lot of wins so yeah I mean he's gonna stick with him and Go the Distance on Monday deakon him yeah well I guess that's a good segue can we go into can I just take that and talk about Marco or oh yeah go yeah talk about Marco Okay yeah okay um uh yeah I was I want to know to say disheartened but or I I don't think I was actually surprised to see that him say that which I mean is kind of telling of the way that things have operated this season that out of all the times for to give Marco lius a chance and there's been a lot of them this season this seems like it might be the best because it's you know it's a bowl game it's a good chance to get younger guys on the field the the players might disagree with this but the the stakes aren't as high as uh you know a big 10 game it doesn't really mean anything in like the standings it feels to me it feels almost like a a preseason game going in the next season of like figuring out what young guys can do and that's why I think it's a great opportunity to to put Marco out there and because we just we really haven't we haven't seen him uh you know outside of like Kids Day at kenck so we don't really know what he can bring uh but intrigued to see like you know what what can he bring to the offense you know known as a guy that can use his legs a little bit more um I think this would have been a great opportunity to see him on the field you know what Deacon Hill can do at this point I you know I'd be surprised if he makes a massive jump between the Big 10 championship in this maybe I'll be wrong but this just seems like a great opportunity to to see what Marco can do to to give him a chance to prove himself in game action but obviously it doesn't seem like it's trending that way who knows maybe it's uh maybe it's Brian ference's greatest uh Houdini act here that he's gonna actually start Marco l or you know do something crazy and uh we did see like a few little Zone read stuff you know and the little bit of practice that we saw you know usually the you know that's kind of interesting you know last year we saw Sam laporta operating the Wildcat that actually came to fruition in the game so we'll see if Iowa runs a little bit of Zone Reed something like that or you know I'm not going to totally rule it out even though he said no but a lot of guys have said this week by the way that Marco has really taken a step forward in December and that's pretty consistent we saw that with Joe lais last year obviously he was in line for the start but this bull prep you know gives Marco a lot more time to you know become an Iowa quarterback so we're going to get into like who the backup quarterback will be next year in our five big questions but um pretty uh it'll be something to watch at least uh on Monday I keep losing track of my days here but let's uh let's transition into game talk if that works for you Tyler is there anything else on your list uh from the last couple days we just jumped in it I just seen him pop up on the no I was just going to say that I saw like a video on social media of of some team running like a wide receiver option so was like a swing pass and then there were two wide receivers one of them had the ball and then one of them like pitched it like 10 yard after running 10 yards I was like what if Iowa just pulls some crazy stuff out like and I still can't believe like they tried to throw a pass to Mason Richmond in like a real game that that play like that play doesn't seem real but I guess they tried it so yeah that's too bad that didn't work but anyway hey welcome darg and Souther he's our uh our uh third guy here on the Hawkeye beat our women's basketball writer and also our local Tennessee expert so he's the perfect guy to have on our five big questions portion of the podcast welcome dargan um how are you feeling about the the vs before we get started you know as as we laid up to to kickoff on Monday yeah so first uh at the beginning I was all ready to hop on and then my son bursted in the room um and was very loud so I am currently in my mother's closet so that uh that's the sound is good the sound is really good maybe we should do all podcasts in the closet moving forward um man this this game has really been interesting to to digest um obviously because um like I said on on the podcast earlier in the week um you know Tennessee fans I think they respect Iowa just because of the consistency but I also feel like they are confident that what Tennessee does is something that Iowa obviously doesn't see hardly at all and that's going to be enough of a a shock I guess to to overcome maybe some of the struggles that you'll see from Nico iama leava there you go on the pronunciation there so um I don't know I I I I've I I guess the what I'll settle on is and I've been telling people this I think this game will look more like an Iowa game than a Tennessee game and so I don't know I guess we'll we'll I'll tease the predictions I don't know if that's going to be enough for Iowa to win but I think that Tennessee fans are going to kind of not be in shock but feel a little out of place playing a game the way that Iowa plays and so um I I I think you know I I was on another podcast and gave my score prediction and it was a Tennessee podcast and the the person just laughed at at what uh I predicted because it's not really anything that Tennessee's ever uh you know I think they I think 20 is maybe the lowest they've scored this year um in a win so uh yeah it'll be a it'll be I'm I'm excited for Monday I I think it'll be a good showing for sure awesome well let's get into our uh we usually do this uh our five big questions and let's you know on our Hawk Center radio show we're going to do it in this uh platform today on this Friday it's a it's weird to do all this stuff on different days but that's it's game week it's Friday today is normally Wednesday right so um might as well do it today right so our first big question um starts with the quarterback uh what should we expect from Nico Yama leava the true freshman the five star hopefully I said it right I was G dolphin was trying to practice it today I don't know if it's going to go too well but on the air but uh uh we heard from Tennessee's offensive coordinator today and I was uh that caught my attention the things he was saying about this uh this Prospect uh he was pretty glowing uh honestly about about Nico uh just in terms of what he has grasped in his short time with the program so they seem pretty excited about what he can bring to the table I'll start with you dargan and then I don't want to go to Tyler too on this but uh you know what are you kind of expect uh from from Nico Yama leava yeah Gary may just want to stick with Nico on that one uh moving forward but no it I guess the biggest thing that I've tried to sift through in absorbing Tennessee fans and media and everybody reacting to this change because it was kind of a big deal and all that is um confusing Nico you know projecting his success with what he's actually going to do on Monday and so you know obviously a lot of the excitement is about next year and you know what this program is going to look like after you know Joe Milton had a good season but I think people were expecting a little more um and so but I actually think that um there are going to be several moments where he looks like a freshman quarterback making his first career start in his first uh significant action um I I just see I guess if I had to predict a little bit about early on you know I think I think Tennessee scores early because they've done that all year now whether that's a seven or a three I think is important obviously points are at a premium here but I I I just feel like the way that that Phil Parker adjusts and reacts in game is going going to be very important in this because it will take a second to adjust to Tennessee's speed and the way and their Tempo and just you know the way that they do things and that's why they have been so successful early in the drive um but you know I I think as the game wears on and and Iowa's defense kind of settles in I think you'll see a lot of drives that look like drives against Iowa's defense this year which are not much explosive plays you know some struggles and just uh you know quick quick drives that that don't amount to much so um you know again I don't know if Iowa's offense is good enough to uh turn that defensive success into a win obviously that's kind of been what they've had to do um all season is just how much is Iowa's offense going to produce and and I think that's that's where my biggest question is but in terms of of Tennessee's offense and and what is expected um I I I would not be surprised if Nico kind of looks like a guy even with all the hype that is you know playing his first extensive College action Tyler what do you expect uh uh from you know a freshman quarterback against Iowa's defense that's that's a brutal task for like here's your first like start in college and you get to go up against Phil Parker's defense but dargan correct me if I'm wrong that he can he can use his legs a little bit um yes he he runs he runs a little more than Milton um which is key for Tennessee's offense to operate you know obviously henden hooker did a lot with his legs and the expectation is that Nico will run a little more and a little uh is a little more aggressive I guess in that element of his game yeah so I mean the the only really other quarterback that Iowa has faced faced similar to at this season is Gavin whims it from ruter and um IA did a really good job with him they did a really good job with Kyle manungi who Ruckers by the way beat uh Miami in the bowl game uh the pinstrip bowl I believe it was but um the thing that you know being a coveted guy whims that or Nico seems like he can do more damage with his arm than whims whims was a he he he didn't have a lot of Firepower with the arm a lot of you know his damage was with his legs so curious to see that's a that's a wrinkle I guess to how Iowa to limit him of a guy that can run and throw effectively where they limited whims it but he was he wasn't much of a threat with his arm so curious to see you know I wouldn't be surprised if Phil Parker tries to eliminate one of those you know you you might have to put a spy on him maybe this is a game where Sebastian Castro is even more important of his abil his his ability to uh move around and you know try to keep him in the keep him in the pocket so um I think you know the indication we've been been given up to this point is Iowa defense can handle it but this might be a kind of unique skill set that they haven't quite seen exactly so far this season yeah good answers there uh based on what I heard today too and uh Jamari Harris talked about you know how Tennessee really spreads you out like sideline to sideline with their formations and so it's really going to be incumbent on the defensive line to win those matchups and um they believe stopping the run is going to be the key to stopping the qub back which sounds counterintuitive but that's kind of that's what you want to do is get him into third and Longs and make him make decisions against you know seven guys in coverage you know and try to find some window and then that's when that's when a Xavier Wampa or Cooper deene in the past uh you know somebody like that would would come in and uh knife in and pick off the ball so those are the TP types of turnovers I was going to have to look for but they got to stop the run first would be my answer number two uh on our big questions on the other side of the ball for Tennessee how many problems will the Hawke guys have blocking James Pierce in that defensive line I know there's been a little bit of attrition here dargan but Pierce uh you know my Legends and listeners uh friend Scott dman says he's the best Edge rusher Iowa will have seen all year and that includes Penn State's chop Robinson so that got my attention how good is James Pierce how good is this D line yeah I mean when when I when sorry when Tennessee's defense has had success this year it's been because the defensive line um you know stays on the quarterback is aggressive in blitzing um and just really disrupts things up front and that kind of allows you know maybe the secondary a little more leeway to uh account for you know some some issues that have popped up back there but yeah Pierce has has really kind of you know taken this defense by storm and and really should you know have all the spotlight on him with with Tyler Baron entering the portal and is now heading to Old Miss so um it's it you know there's been a lot of frustration this year with Tennessee's defense from fans and um you know the defensive coordinator Tim Banks has has gotten some heat this year um but when the defense has performed well in spots it's because um you know the defensive line is really controlling things at the front so um it'll be it'll be a an interesting Challenge and and definitely one that Iowa's o line should embrace because um you know that's that's going to be the key to keeping Tennessee's defense um you know under control and and really staying out of the back field uh Tyler the uh uh the offensive line this week is getting a lot healthier how much do you think that matters Mason Richmond says he's 100% Rusty Feth uh had that shoulder injury that I wrote about um against Northwestern who came back in and played and now he's better you know Logan Jones talked today he's better at Center uh Jennings dunker been practicing at right tackle so it looks like that that front five is probably gonna be a healthier Richmond Feth Jones Conor Colby and dunker this will be the healthiest we've seen the old line since very early in the season does that help you know how much does that help the Hawkeyes maybe try to protect when deakon Hill does drop back yeah I mean I feel like this is a great opportunity for Iowa's offensive line to kind of put a positive stamp on what has been a season where they've taken steps forward and I know that you know last season especially the offensive line play was a major issue and by no means is Iowa offensive line been like World beaters this season you know I you know Iowa isn't running for 200 yards a game or anything like that but um they have been better I think they have taken meaningful steps forward and especially when they've lost some key guys like you've mentioned uh Tyler ellsbury's been a guy that you know stepped up and performed really well when Logan Jones went out uh I think this is a opportunity for now healthy andos their will and kind of put put a stamp on what has been uh you know some good steps forward on an offense where there really hasn't been a whole lot of bright spots this is fun having a a a three person perspective I like it uh we we got to have more you know matchups of teams that you know we're familiar with so maybe some uh Iowa Indiana basketball preview podcast with for sure yeah the three- man weave as our former colleague called it that's right that's right all right number three go ahead go ahead there's a comment uh somebody wants to know about your facial hair Tyler what's going on there yeah that is new um so what happened was I just had a few days off and just let myself go so I'm I'm I'm I'm returning from my uh my hibernation so that's what it is yeah you got men's Hoops tonight right men's Hoops yeah Northern Illinois last game of 2023 all right and the women and dargon's got the women tomorrow against the the I got the women tomorrow Tyler has the women tomorrow that's right that's tashman production that's a it's a tashman week I'm pinch hitting and then you're going up to Madison as well so yeah that's a busy time for you as well in addition he'll be working with the football game with me uh remotely so uh number three uh let's go to the Hawkeye side of like more Hawkeye focused here can the Iowa defense that played against Michigan in the Big 10 title game show up and you know people may laugh and say oh they lost that game 26 to nothing but I think anybody watch that game knows that the Iowa defense made life pretty difficult for the wol Wolverines you can't have um you know an 87 yard punt return things like that and and try to keep up against this team but uh can that defense show up and and I will start here because Joe Evans uh I talked to him for a while yesterday and this is going to be part of my Advance thinks that if they do give that kind of effort again that they can cause that kind of disruption against this Tennessee team which is interesting I think they feel like they they can you know they feel conf idence I feel like after that Michigan game uh you know that they can I know they didn't hold you held them to 26 points is not a victory but it was kind of like the Ohio State game last year where you you could just see the eye test versus the points in the scoreboard that defense played dang dang well so let's start with you Tyler on this one um you know what level of defense do you think we see on Monday I think it's basically what we've seen all this season that you know it's really good um and if it is you know if they pitch a shutout like they did last season or in the ball game or allow two field goals or something I think it's even GNA heighten the expectations even more for what next season's unit can do because you get a look at Jay Higgins is already knows he's coming back but all those other guys that still have decisions to make um you know it it it could give a glimpse into what next season's defense could look like with those guys potentially getting even better so um yeah I think I mean I you know I think Tennessee prevents presents some challenges that Iowa hasn't faced this season but I mean every indication really that we've been given this season is Iowa's defense is going to handle it really well and it's like there's not to our knowledge any like major op outs or anything defensively so it's not like I was running out there with some guys that haven't played a whole lot I'm curious to kind of see defensively of like we we've heard a lot about Cohen entringer and John Nester you know do they do they get any time out there do they are what are the young guys that might kind of show flashes in the bowl game because last season it was Xavier Wampa and obviously that situation was a little bit different because Kavon M Merryweather opted out but uh it was also a game where Jazz Patterson kind of broke off a little bit of of a run that showed what he could do so curious to see you know not only defensively but who else offensively maybe who are the young guys that you know have a play or two that kind of open your eyes a little bit dargon what do you think about you've seen this Iowa defense play all year how do you think it matches up against the Falls yeah I I think um you know when you compare it to the mindset that Iowa had going into that Michigan game the one you know little mental Advantage I see is there was a pretty clear understanding in that Michigan game that Iowa had to play perfect in every element and if they messed up even slightly Michigan was going to absolutely take advantage of it and you know I I imagine that's you know Loosely Iowa's defensive mindset every game with the offense that it has to uh drag around but at the same time I I feel like that's not exactly the case for this game you know the Tennessee offense for as much as that's the identity of the program under Josh hyp it has kind of had some Herky jerkiness to the season where you know you you see uh a stretch where you know they they are going getting off the field quickly three and outs um and so you know if Iowa can get Tennessee in that place where you know it's kind of in a frustrating uh you know sector of the game then I think that really bodess well for Iowa being able to to contain it um obviously the the biggest thing um that I would say is Iowa's got to eliminate the big plays um they can't let you know that's how Tennessee often hits people is you know kind of run run run and then a 40 yard bomb over the top and so you know there Michigan picked on DeShawn Lee a little bit in that game uh you know he was the one that got burned in the Nebraska game for the long touchdown so um that that to me is kind of you know for as much as this Iowa defense is kind of flawless across the board you know there are little spots here and there where you can kind of make her move and and then the other thing I would say is I'm really interested to see how well or not well Tennessee can run the ball because they are down two running backs who are in the portal now Dylan Samson who's going to be the lead guy on Monday there's a lot of excitement about him and there's been a lot of talk that he should have been the lead guy for the whole season so it's not and and also there's a a true freshman who will be the the number two guy so it's not like the cupboards completely bare but um um as you mentioned Chad it sounds a little backwards but if Tennessee you know Tennessee looks uh with this year's team to run the ball and and get that going because that opens up so much more um especially with a a freshman quarterback making his first career start so it's always key for Iowa to stop the run but I feel like this game um is even more impactful and even more important to do that yeah Tyler you brought up a good point about John Nester Cohen entringer I mean uh could those guys see action has John Nester done enough to maybe you know take some snaps from Deshawn Lee we'll see um two freshman that's really gotten a lot of love here in December blll prep uh something to watch but it looks like based on the glimpses that we saw in practice all the same guys out there on defense and um you know really healthy team right now for the Hawkeyes so all right number four is kind of an interesting one is this Deacon Hill's final start as a Hawkeye quarterback this I asked him about this yesterday I was like yeah with you know with Cade Mamer coming back next year like what are your thoughts about this you know you may never start I guess I probably shouldn't have that way but like you may never start another game again I don't think I said it quite that harshly but it's like kind of the writing's on the wall that this is sort of his last real you know clear start as the number one guy for Iowa un something crazy happens and he beats out Kade mcnamer but what are you guys' thoughts Tyler Star with you you know and is he even the backup next year I guess we'll uh we'll see but is this his final start as a Hawkeye well with with Kade Mam's Health you know I feel like that is kind of a big question and I feel like he there's a chance he might be out there on the field more than I would say people would hope but I don't mean I don't know if I'm crazy saying this but I feel like Deacon Hill would be a really good backup like I I feel like he is a guy that if there were the starter to go down in a game you can trust him especially next season as a guy that has a ton of experience in a difficult situation um who can run an offense you know come in as as someone out of the bullpen uh and and steady steady the offense so I don't think you want to have him as your number one Guy moving forward by any means but I feel like he is a guy that there is value um for him to be a backup moving forward or at least the third string or someone you can count on if you know if things go kind of off the wall to put in and kind of settle things down yeah he's a well-liked guy for sure on this team so uh yeah I think there's there definitely is a place for those kinds of guys but obviously a new offensive coordinator coming in dargan is you know probably gonna want Cade and then probably someone else behind Cade before Deon Hill would be my guess your thoughts yeah I would probably agree with that and and I I'll say that this will probably be his last career start but by the same token Deacon Hills already started way more games than I think anybody ever thought he would in Iowa so um I think you know I don't think it's fair to call mcamera injury prone at this point but he has dealt with three you know the the knees and then the quad you know he has dealt with some sign ific injuries and I think it's a fair uh assessment to say that Iowa needs a competent backup plan um next season now again whether that's Deacon Hill lius somebody else um you know that'll all play out down the road but um I I I would not be surprised if more than one quarterback starts a game next year for Iowa I'll say that sure yeah my point and yeah my point of the question was really just you know Ken Deacon he'll make himself into something uh something more than he is now you know Kirk ference talked about you know getting him to kind of cut some weight this off season you know that you know could he be you know trimmed down to let's say 230 or something like that and U you know be a little bit more mobile and really use this year as a launching pad he's still very very young so uh I I I agree that I think this will be his last start I I have confidence that uh you know Kade maer will be ready for the season and I think you know I think Marco L is an ascending guy and I think that'll be a fun I guess for us to watch this spring Deacon Hill and Mark Marco maybe not that much fun but Marco is out there on the practice field you got to alter your definition of fun when yeah what is that you keep hitting I know you're in your mom's closet but I'm just you keep hitting something no it's the other side you keep hitting something when you make points oh I don't know might be a coat or something okay I think it's a coat yeah okay I guess I should I yeah maybe I didn't want to know maybe I didn't want to know it away there uh all right number five guys uh just kind of I like to have a little fun with these last ones a little open-ended what two to three players have to come up big for Iowa to have a chance maybe guys you don't expect uh let's start with you dargan yeah I'll I'll Circle back to what I said earlier I'll say DeShawn Lee because um you know I I would imagine that Tennessee's you know when they dove into Iowa's film particularly film after Cooper deine got hurt um there were you know some moments when Deshawn Lee looked like the guy who was in there for Cooper deene and not the guy who you know is is kind of the next man in and expected you know little drop off so um I think if he has a a game where Tennessee's receivers don't get loose for anything big you know I know obviously all the passes aren't going to go to him or his side but um it was very clear in that Michigan game that they made a point to go after DeShaun Lee and it wasn't just deep shots it was stuff over the middle you know Slants and all that kind of stuff so um I think he has a chance certainly to rebound but um you know I think his play will be uh pretty important all right Tyler T dargan only went with one so you get where's yours I like to like name nine when I get this open up questions you brag about how you're right after it's like you name half the roster it's true it's true I cannot deny it go for it Tyler I'll say Xavier waa um you know he he got the cast off now that ever since he got hurt against Wisconsin and um you know I think if if there's some throws at sale you know that he he has both hands available now to uh intercept him so I think he you know this this could be you know he did last season um against Kentucky in the bowl game had the pick six so could be a chance for him to kind of solidify you know what what has been a solid First full season starting for him you know he hasn't done anything uh you know ridiculous but he's been a solid solid guy on Iowa's defense and then I'll say Caleb Johnson um hasn't been exactly the season that I think people expected from him in terms of of a of a breakout guy but um think that he can break some he's he's hit some home runs this season in terms of in getting some long runs so um you know physical back obviously but I think uh you know him and Leon Williams um you maybe Caleb would be the the second tier guy that you would expect to have a big game out of those two but I you know I think he could he could build some confidence with this game as well yeah I guess this is a good point to or spot to say you know Kirk ference yesterday saying probably won't have an offensive coordinator in place until maybe the third week in j January so um you know how does that affect a guy like you know we we're not planting any rumors or anything like that but just that running back's room is so crowded you know a guy like Caleb Johnson or jazzi and Patterson just their performance in this game you know certainly something to watch you know how much are they used how much are they not used you know could that affect what decision they make because they have until January 2nd to enter the transfer portal um again not suggesting that any of even thinking about it but you just look at the numbers and and kind of how Caleb has been used lately and you just still have to wonder even though he said he's a hug for life okay so I gotta name some you guys left me a lot of names so uh I'm gonna say I'm gonna go with let start on defense uh ya black is that a is that a a guy I mean I think you need kind of five star type of guys um to step up in this game he's been banged up I think he was on the verge of having a really really great year uh I think he's played through some stuff but we've seen him out there in practice now and you know he could be a guy maybe you know uh Jamari talked about you know the defensive line having to win those battles I think maybe this is the the type of guy you want to have out there 65 300 plus pounds to kind of own the line of scrimmage and kind of affect things okay so that's one I got eight more to go uh let's go with no uh I'll stick on that side of the ball just as a little bit of a wild card and just say Brian Allen we saw him in the uh the Big 10 title game he only played a handful of snaps but I you know he's been out there this week and a guy that really is rising could he maybe be again an athletic guy that can compete against this SEC type of talent and uh I didn't mean that negatively darg against SEC type they are SEC Talent um but uh you know Brian Allen uh I got price some more but I'll just stop since you only said one darg I'll give you one more oh man um I'm maybe this is a this is a copout but I'm gonna go Deacon Hill because um his you know even though he's the quarterback he is kind of an X Factor because you don't really know exactly how much production or how much stability you're going to get um and I don't know I I don't know why but I just have this weird feeling that because there's so much confidence from Tennessee's side that Iowa's offense is bad that there's G to be at least one play where you're kind of like did did that did Deacon just do that and so um I don't again I don't want to I don't want to give away my prediction here but um I think there's going to be at least one or two throws that Deacon Hill makes that maybe don't fit with with a lot of the other production that he's put on the field this year so I'll go with Deacon all right my third guy is K we said two to three so I'm I'm gonna stick under three but cayb Brown uh I just think uh he's he I'm sticking with like the athletes here I think he's ascending and I imagine he's a big part of the game plan especially with Tennessee's secondary attrition you got anyone else Tyler I I'll throw in Deontay Craig he's he's had quietly a really good season on the defensive line been an impactful guy know especially rushing the passer think he could be key in um sorry a car is going off around me here uh I think he could be key in um in in being able to just keep the pocket centered wow that's crazy to there that I thought that was there someone like drilling a hole above me I'm just yeah oh man go in your closet all right we got we could we could keep this under an hour so we got three minutes left to do that let's go to predictions darg and you already said you major so that gives me more time to think about mine go ahead I'm gonna say 1713 balls ra so that surprised some people huh that that heard you say that yeah well you know I I think again I I think that this game is going to look like an Iowa game and I think Tennessee's offense is going to be able to break through just a little bit more than some of those teams down the stretch of the Season that Iowa faced um so yeah I I mean I guess that does allow the under to hit because I think it's at like 36 somewhere there6 so that that number that number has been pretty baffling for Tennessee fans to digest um that you know that's that's where Vegas thinks things are going to land but um I think Iowa does cover but I'm gonna go 1713 balls uh noon Central Time on ABC I can't remember if I said that I usually like to say that just for those of you uh tuning in Tyler what do you got 1710 I was I think it'll be similar to a lot of the Iowa Games we've seen this season I think the defense will maybe at first be a little bit having to adjust to to the Freshman QB and I'll just leave it at that before my ceiling collapses on me dargan 10 points for the balls do you see a scenario according to Tyler do you see a scenario in which that occurs yeah absolutely I mean if Tennessee can't run the ball and Nico looks like you know even for is hype looks like a dude who's not been out there I mean that's that's right where Iowa wants Iowa's defense can kind of settle in and really get the game at their pace and their Tempo um so yeah I mean it's I I I know I guess I'm being branded as the Tennessee Homer on this podcast but I I really really wanted to pick Iowa I I came very close to picking Iowa I've been I guess defending Iowa to my uh various friends and family who are asking me about the game um I do feel like I need to get this one right though if I know uh how much how much I pay attention to both of these teams but yeah right yeah I mean I think there's definitely a scenario where Tennessee's offense sputters and and can't really get a whole lot going after maybe the first drive or so so yeah that's that's not absurd by any means I think Iowa scores on defense in this one first be the first defensive touchdown since Sebastian Castro right I'm missing anything um 1716 Iowa and it could be a blocked extra point by ya black that went that wins it for the Hawkeyes We're not gonna see an anterio Thompson block because he's not with the team anymore that's why Brian Allen you mention him but he could be a factor next season because of yeah the kind of hole that antario leaves and I think that came as a little bit of a surprise because it seemed like antario was kind of in line for a big role next season but um Brian Brian Allen because going back to the Kids Day at kenck he looked really good uh you know he was one of the standouts from then so it feels like he he's a guy that has a lot of potential that could be a factor on the defensive line moving forward yeah and Deontay Craig to mention um what you mentioned earlier spoke really glowingly about Brian Allen just how he's a sponge that was the word he used so it's not like he's just an athletic Talent he's a guy that's learning a lot too thanks to both of you for uh your contributions and all year it's been a really fun season to cover the team with you guys and I feel like we've done a pretty good job and there's still more to come at Hawk Central uh got my game preview still to come I guess I spoiled my prediction already but I'll kind of you know go into some details about the game I think it's gon be if Iowa doesn't score on defense I don't know if they win so I'm I guess I'm calling that uh shot there but uh let's see what's next uh the team goes to this Fun Spot theme park tomorrow we'll have a few more interviews tomorrow maybe maybe maybe maybe get to talk to luk Lee there but um we will uh uh kind of and then we get Kirk ference and Josh hyp on Sunday if I can get these these days correct so that's what's on the menu coming up and uh you've got Hoops dargan uh you staying in Tennessee for a while or what yeah I'll be back uh well I I'll actually be back in Iowa by the time the game starts so that's uh that's my first day back from this little PTO stretch and then uh the women have Michigan State at home I believe next week I think that's the next game after Minnesota so jumping right back into the the Caitlyn Clark Show which is never ends that's a good thing well yeah I mean could end this season so she may only have 17 regular season games left whatever so Tyler uh got any Iowa men's Hoops thoughts before we go lot left to prove you know going into big templ after tonight there's opportunities but uh if they want a chance at making the NCAA tournament they gota they got to get things done with some urgency great stuff guys D for darkens Southern and Tyler tashman this is Chad lyso of the de Mo register we all work for the register we thank you very much for tuning in to this extra long podcast we appreciate your uh following our coverage take care