Defense wins championships ...
Michigan is playing, as well, as anyone right now. Senior leadership has really made a difference for both Iowa and Michigan to kickoff the 2015 season.
A couple of Pat Fitzgerald quotes ...
On the play of Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock...
"I think Jake took what we gave him. You can't take everything away. He was able to find things. He is a veteran quarterback. He has played a lot of Big Ten games and he was smart with the ball, got it out of his hands quickly. Especially when we had some pressure. They are doing a good job. They have a lot of volume in their offense. They build in news things in the first quarter of each game and obviously our guys didn't respond well. You can't anticipate what some of those things are going to be. Some of their plays were off of some areas we thought they would go, but we weren't disciplined enough."
On the Michigan being a veteran football team...
"I said it on Monday. This isn't to discredit the job of Coach Harbaugh and his staff are doing, they are doing a terrific job; outstanding. That is a veteran team we just played. That is a senior-laden football team that is a very good football team. Obviously, Coach Harbaugh and his staff are doing a great job, but we've got to play better and we've got to coach them better. We got beat by a veteran team today and we have to learn from it."
Iowa is celebrating 30 years this season ... the seventh game was at Northwestern, where Iowa won 49-10 to reach 7-0.
Iowa's leadership needs to really step up, circle the wagons, especially due to the loss of one of our key leaders. Pat Fitzgerald was lost during the Iowa game in 1995, but that was the seventh Big Ten game, unlike #2 here.
It is time to scratch where it itches more than ever in 2015 for the Iowa football team heading to Northwestern on Saturday. Let's ruin a Homecoming Hawks!
Here's to a 7-0 start in 2015, like 2009, but more importantly, like 1985.
- Northwestern's lost at Michigan can be washed, if they take care of business in the B1G West.
- Illinois is clearly improved. Iowa did leave some plays on the field, but they continue to close things out in tight ball games in the fourth quarter, but it would be helpful to not leave it all for the fourth quarter heroics (bye week this week)
- Minnesota will be seeking to win third straight over Nebraska on Saturday at home
- Purdue @ Wisconsin - The Badgers won with a passing game, very little running game for the first time in years
Team Statistics
Game Stats NU IOWA
First Downs 13 24
Total Offensive Yards 180 483
Passing Yards 75 262
Rushing Yards 105 221
Penalty Yards 5-53 5-35
3rd Downs 4-15 8-14
4th Downs 1-2 0-1
Time Of Possession 27:03 32:57
Last year, it was Jake Rudock leading Iowa over Northwestern. Rudock is now 3-0 vs. Northwestern. So, offensive coordinator Greg Davis, defensive coordinator Phil Parker need to put together another winning game plan, after a strong 6-0 start in 2015.
RB Justin Jackson ran for nearly 100 yards against Iowa last year, as a true freshman.
Special teams could be a huge difference maker on Saturday. It certainly gave a huge boost in Michigan's 38-0 win over Northwestern in Ann Arbor, for the Wolverines Homecoming win.
Balance is needed on Saturday, if Iowa is going to get to 7-0.
Next Man In: a common trend at Iowa in 2015. Iowa has seen this over the years in championship years. For example, Iowa had to dress and turn to a third string center during the important Big Ten game @ Michigan in 1981.
