Consistency the next step for Iowa's Stanzi - ESPN

Consistency the next step for Iowa's Stanzi - Big Ten - ESPN: "Kirk Ferentz calls them Ricky Stanzi's Kodak moments, and Stanzi had an album full of them last season for Iowa. Stanzi made his share of mistakes in his first year as the Hawkeyes' starting quarterback, but he also showed impressive poise to bounce back virtually every time."

In Ricky's defense, he didn't get a lot of PT in the first four games as Jake got most of the snaps. It had to be difficult coming off the bench in those first four games then going into NW as the starter. He threw the ball well against NW just his TOs killed the Hawks. Inexperience has a lot to do with that. Hawks were up 17-10 at half but didn't score in the 2H. Would the Hawks have won if Ricky started and played all of the first four games. I would have to say very much so, YES! Sure Jake didn't turn the ball over often but he also couldn't throw the ball close to our WRs no longer their DBs.

I heard from a very good source that Ricky was practicing with the 1st string in bowl preparation after the 2007 season (which Jake was just horrid). Ricky was going to be named the starter if Iowa made a bowl game. Unfortunately, the Hawks didn't get a bowl invite because I think Ricky would have lit it up and the experience would have carried well into the 2008 season. Instead, he had to go back to sharing time with Jake.

Now to the present, Ricky is the clear cut starter and working full time during the spring and summer with the 1st string. He played extremely well against Minny last year and then again against SC in the Outback Bowl (except the two INTs but they weren't both his fault). If Ricky can cut down his TOs especially the Fumbles, I look for him to have an outstanding Junior year.

His backups: Ricky isn't sitting really comfortable as the starter. I have heard many good reports about his two redshirt freshmen backups in Vandenberg/Wienke. Wienke was an Elite 11 QB (but so was Jake) and has a very strong, accurate arm. He was initially committed to Michigan until Rod took over the HC job. Vandy by all accounts has taken the #2 role. With how good Wienke is, Vandy is a little bit more accurate and possesses an even stronger arm. Even though both are very inexperienced, I feel confident either one could come in and get the job done. They are the reason the Hawks are only looking to take 1 QB in the 2010 class!!!