We've spent all week talking about those filthy rodents from the North, but what about our beloved Hawkeyes? Here's the six things you should watch for on Saturday.
Matt
1. More Good Old-Fashioned Iowa Football- Yeah. I'm reusing this one from last week. Sue me. It's Minnesota. There really isn't a whole lot of thought that needs to go into this game. Simply put: Iowa > Minnesota. I could end this paragraph on that. However, being that this is a blog, and you don't read a blog for just a couple of short, smart ass sentences (or maybe you do), here’s some pseudo-analysis for you. The Gophers are allowing 5.27 yards per carry this season (minus sacks), which is 12% worse than the FBS average of 4.69. After playing Iowa last weekend, Indiana now sits at 5.37 yards per carry allowed. That means if Coker can average 6 yards per carry against Indiana, there's no reason he can't do that to Minnesota this weekend too. Also, just as we saw in the Indiana game, that should force Minnesota to bring their safeties down closer to the line of scrimmage, opening up the play action pass to Marvin. So, just like last weekend, expect Coker to go over 100 yards rushing, and don't be surprised if McNutt has over 100 yards receiving. (As if this is actually surprising to anybody anymore) There should be more good old-fashioned Iowa football on display in this one, and nothing makes Kirk Ferentz happier than good old-fashioned Iowa football. Well, nothing besides peppermint gum. But good old-fashioned Iowa football is definitely a close number two.
2. Linebacker Health- Iowa's linebackers are like the walking dead right now. Tyler Nielsen hurt his ankle back in week two against Iowa State, and then went out and broke some bones in one of his hands against Northwestern. James Morris played last weekend, but he was still on a gimpy ankle that he had sprained a few weeks back at Penn State. Anthony Hitchens hasn't played in a few weeks due to an undisclosed knee injury. And to put the big old cherry atop this gigantic shit sundae, Shane DiBona and Dakota Getz are both lost for the year with a torn Achilles and torn ACL. That laundry list of injuries has led to walk-on quarterback/converted safety/converted linebacker Tom Donatell getting a lot of playing time in the past couple weeks. No offense to Donatell, I appreciate his hard work, but he is definitely limited athletically. That being said, whatever happens this weekend, whether that be MarQueis Gray playing like Tre Roberson last weekend or playing like MarQueis Gray, let’s hope Iowa gets the win and comes away with no new injuries to the linebacking core. November is the toughest part of the schedule, and Iowa can't afford lose another linebacker down the stretch. Especially, with Iowa facing quarterbacks like Denard, Cousins, and Martinez in three of their last four games. Because, let’s face it, this defense is vulnerable enough with everybody healthy, but all banged up, this unit is downright defenseless.
Mike
3. Break the Spirit but Spare the Starters- Kirk Ferentz won't run up the score…but I want Kirk Ferentz to run up the score. I want him to show his players photos or a box score from last year. I want him to see Minnesota players holding our trophy and their fans rushing the stadium. I want him to do what Wisconsin did to Minnesota last year. That beating actually sealed Tim Brewster's fate. While I don't want Kirk to go for 2 while up 30 I do want him to stay with an aggressive gameplan for all four quarters. However, I don't want him to keep the starters in for the fourth quarter. Seriously, what's with that? We did it against Michigan State last year and it ended in an A-Rob concussion. We did it against Indiana last week and Keenan Davis limped off the field. Why? I know for a fact that Kirk Ferentz isn't interested in running up the score (although HE SHOULD BE) so why does he do it? If we're comfortably ahead we need to get the backups some time against a "real" Big Ten team. There's no point in risking injury.
4. Communication Breakdown- It's ok. You can call me a broken record. But week after week there is some sort of ridiculous pass play given up on the left side of the field due to a breakdown in communication between Prater and Miller. It didn't happen against Indiana because their 19 year old quarterback had no idea how to throw the football. Marqueis Gray is no Andrew Luck but he does have years of experience and can exploit a breakdown in coverage. I don't ask the Iowa defense to be perfect. Hell, this defense couldn't be perfect if they played perfect. However, I do expect them to not make fundamental mistakes and give up huge chunks of yards because this guy went this way and the other guy went that way. Get it together, secondary.
Eric
5. Another mobile QB - Yeah, contain is the theme of the week for the defense yet again. It has been pretty much every week with all the mobile QB Iowa has faced this year. Marqueis Gray is Minnesota’s leading rusher with 438 yards on 94 carries. The Gophers will run him on designed quarterback rushes, read option plays, and he’ll scramble when necessary. If Iowa can force him to pass, then that’s a definite win. Gray is completing less than 50% of his passes and has thrown more interceptions (4) than touchdowns (3).
6. The Pig Run - Yeah, so it’s probably a little presumptuous assuming Iowa will win this game, but whatever. So, in the waning moments of the game and when(if) Iowa is closing in on the victory, who will be the first player to run over into Minnesota’s sideline and take back Floyd. It will depend on whether the offense is on the field in victory formation or the defense is sitting back in prevent. My offensive player pick is Markus Zusevics (I don’t really know why but he seems like a good choice). And for defense: Shaun Prater (though if Morris is playing, I could see him running over there pretty quickly too).
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