Kinnick Stadium will be full of Hawkeye fans this Saturday. How many of them know Fitz is 2-0 as a coach there?
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PLAYER(S) TO WATCH:
Junior OL Bryan Bulaga, Freshmen RB Brandon Wegher
Anyone who knows anything about college offensive linemen recognized that Bryan Bulaga was the highest rated (No. 1 according to NFLDraftScout.com), most well-equipped professional prospect in the game heading in the 2009 campaign. What they didn’t know was that he would have to be opening holes for a pair of unknown freshman for the entire season. If there were any doubters prior to Iowa’s 9-0 start, they’re certainly gone now. The left tackle and his superb o-line battery mates have helped make Adam Robinson (out for the year with an ankle injury) and Brandon Wegher look like stars in the making. With Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene departing to the NFL and sophomore Jewel Hampton suffering a season-ending injury, the two baby-faced backs have together gained 1,068 yards and scored 11 TDs while averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Expect a heavy dose of power football with Wegher this Saturday.
PLAYER TO IGNORE:
Iowa’s Risk-Taker: Junior QB Ricky Stanzi
I know what you’re thinking: How the hell are you going to ignore a quarterback that owns a 128.78 passer rating, has thrown for over 2,000 yards and has the propensity to chuck the deep ball with a long of 92 yards this season? Are you crazy? My answer is this: The dude loves throwing to the other team. For almost every touchdown he throws (14) he has an INT to match it (13). Last week in a game that was deemed to be a walk in the park for the Hawkeyes, Stanzi almost single-handedly ruined the squad’s perfect season by tossing five – yes FIVE – picks against the lowly Indiana Hoosiers – at home no less! Stanzi was thought to have solidified the QB position that has been so up-and-down for Iowa over the last few years, but he appears to be reverting back to his early 2008 form. NU’s secondary isn’t exactly a formidable bunch, but expect them to take advantage of a couple of mental errors by the guy they call “Captain Comeback” in Iowa City.
PREMIER MATCH-UP:
Iowa’s Sophomore DB Tyler Sash vs. NU’s Senior QB Mike Kafka
Assuming Kafka has fully recovered from last week’s devastating hamstring strain – he’s not listed on Northwestern’s official injury report – one of the conference’s most prolific passer’s has his work cut out for him against a cadre of defensive backs that have been game-changers in almost all of their match-ups. Led by strong safety Tyler Sash – 6 INTs for 203 yards, 64 tackles, 5.5 of them for a loss – these DBs are nothing to overlook despite how good their defensive line has performed. If the Wildcat’s front five can’t protect Kafka, he might be nursing more than a sore hammy at halftime. And without Kafka, the ‘Cats have really struggled to move the football.
LOPSIDED COMPARISON:
Iowa’s Senior TE Tony Moeaki and Junior TE Adam Reisner vs. NU’s Linebackers
When a tight end is the second-leading receiver on the opposing team, it’s easy to acknowledge that Iowa’s Tony Moeaki is going to be a handful for Northwestern’s linebackers. Exhibiting a rare combination of athleticism, size and strength, Moeaki is at his most dangerous in the red zone. With over 20% of his receptions being touchdowns, Moeaki knows how to get open down the middle of the field when Iowa’s offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe spreads his talented receivers out wide. Someone in a similar mold to Moeaki is heir apparent Adam Reisner who averages 10.3 yards per catch- a sign that the team goes to him in third-and-long situations. Since Iowa has two weapons that can both locate the first-down marker and cross the goal line with consistency – opponents are forced to respect the middle passing game. But if NU keeps pinching in all day long, that’s when deep threats Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Marvin McNutt will find daylight. The ‘Cats might have to find a way to sneak another safety or two on the field without the referees noticing.
EXTRA POINTS:
(1) Iowa’s offense ranks as a team in the bottom half of the conference in points per game, total yards, total points and touchdowns. They are last in fourth down conversion percentage succeeding only 14.3% of the time.
(2) So what DO they do well? Limit their penalties. They are the best in the Big Ten in that category only committing 30 this year for a measly 303 yards. I guess this Kirk Ferentz guy is a pretty good coach.
(3) The talk about Iowa being a clutch team started last year when Iowa’s Junior K Daniel Murray (no relation) sent the game-winning field goal through the uprights against Penn State with :01 remaining. However, Murray has been pretty mediocre this season converting only 73% of his chances. He has brought shame to my name and ruin to my family and I will never forgive him for it. Damn you, Murray!
(4) Iowa has the second-longest winning streak in the nation behind only the defending national champion Florida Gators. Are they on a collision course for the BCS National Championship game in Pasadena on January 7th? Florida’s presumed participation in Dec. 5th’s SEC Championship Game in the Georgia Dome and Iowa’s Nov. 14th contest in Columbus against the Buckeyes still loom large.
