Biggest Key to the Game

[Auger]

Protect Beathard and allow for a passing attack. Last week things got interesting in the Illinois game after Ike went down and the Iowa OL could no longer protect Beathard. Beathard no longer had time to throw and started getting lit up. I think Iowa had only something like 10 yds passing in the 2nd half. Luckily Canzeri ran wild and the Illini didnt have the players to stop the Iowa run game.


Northwestern has a better pass rush then the Illini as well as a better run defense. What has me worried is the Illini have the worst pass rush in the league but they were able to get to Beathard pretty easily. Northwestern isnt great at rushing the QB but they are much better then the Illini. Fitz is going to go for a knockout and come at Beathard and make Iowa a run only team this game. If Iowa cant protect Beathard then Canzeri better be ready for another 40 plus carries and hopefully he can hold up in what will be a very physical game.

 

[whatsup13579er]

I would hope that KF/GD will use a TE and RB to chip the DEs this week.

 

[ichawk24]

The key is the running game. Passing will be a struggle, both our blocking and their defense.

 

[Auger]

I will add the second biggest key is to protect the edge. With Ott out that will be an even bigger challenge this week than it has prior weeks. Northwestern likes to play the edges in their passing game and run their RB's out there often as well. Iowa has improved this year but still has trouble in that area of the field. Thorson has movement to him so I expect him to look at the edges.

 

[IACub]

Protect Beathard and allow for a passing attack. Last week things got interesting in the Illinois game after Ike went down and the Iowa OL could no longer protect Beathard. Beathard no longer had time to throw and started getting lit up. I think Iowa had only something like 10 yds passing in the 2nd half. Luckily Canzeri ran wild and the Illini didnt have the players to stop the Iowa run game.


Northwestern has a better pass rush then the Illini as well as a better run defense. What has me worried is the Illini have the worst pass rush in the league but they were able to get to Beathard pretty easily. Northwestern isnt great at rushing the QB but they are much better then the Illini. Fitz is going to go for a knockout and come at Beathard and make Iowa a run only team this game. If Iowa cant protect Beathard then Canzeri better be ready for another 40 plus carries and hopefully he can hold up in what will be a very physical game.

I would agree that the offensive line is key, but I'd predict we run more than we pass.

 

[bagdropper]

This might give us some clues...

http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/13/9509453/northwestern-michigan-recap-nate-williams-pat-fitzgerald

Not many punches pulled there...

 

[Auger]

The key is the running game. Passing will be a struggle, both our blocking and their defense.

Their best cover DB is out for the game from what ive heard. I think there will open routes its just if Beathard has time to hit the WR's. I don't like the idea of running Canzeri 40 times in a physical game like this. Michigan opened up their run game with about 5 different RB's against Northwestern always running our fresh RB's. Not sure Canzeri can take a pounding all game as the only RB again. That is why the passing attack is key for Iowa.

Against the Illini Iowa couldnt pass the ball in the 2nd half. In the 2nd half Beathard was 2-7 for 10yds and Smoot was all over him almost every drop back.

 

[BUCKSNDUCKS]

need 3 TE sets for pass and blocking protection - then release and hit them across the middle

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

This might give us some clues...

http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/13/9509453/northwestern-michigan-recap-nate-williams-pat-fitzgerald

Not many punches pulled there...

That would suggest that Iowa could have some success passing the ball to TEs and running the ball ... if we can overcome the quality of their DL play. An interesting challenge.

 

[Auger]

This might give us some clues...

http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/13/9509453/northwestern-michigan-recap-nate-williams-pat-fitzgerald

Not many punches pulled there...

Great article only problems I have with it as far as how it relates to this week are all those defensive issues can be fixed and the fact Northwestern got their butts kicked likley means a lot of film sessions and drills this week for those LB's. 2nd Iowa's OL is not Michigans OL and Iowa's D is now without Ott definately not Michigans D. I think right now Michigan is the best team in the B1G and may have the best D in the country.

Of course this could compare to the Iowa LB's last year. Last year after every game it was pointed out all the miss reads and bad positioning the LB's had. Many expected those issues to be cleaned up by the next week but week after week the same mistakes were made. Hopefully the same happens with Northwestern.

 

[BleedingBlack-Gold]

It's pretty simple. If Daniels doesn't get significant help holding down the right side (he was almost a non-entity against Illinois, which is understandable since he is a freshman guard/center playing right tackle) then CJ is going to get taken off the field on a stretcher and Iowa will lose.

 

[Auger]

It's pretty simple. If Daniels doesn't get significant help holding down the right side (he was almost a non-entity against Illinois, which is understandable since he is a freshman guard/center playing right tackle) then CJ is going to get taken off the field on a stretcher and Iowa will lose.

Could happen and if Canzeri has to carry the ball another 40 times he also could get carried off.

 

[IACub]

Could happen and if Canzeri has to carry the ball another 40 times he also could get carried off.

On the team's shoulders?

 

[dadster]

No turnovers.
Success with the short/quick release passing game on offense.
Shut down the edges on defense.

I think their focus will be on stopping our run game and Fitz knows how to do that. CJB can throw quickly and accurately so we should take advantage of that skill. Their running back is stealthy and makes good use of small openings. Teams don't get called as much for holding on the edges so I see them going after us there. The score will be close and a field goal could win it a the end.

 

[Pepperman]

Does it seem like Iowa is doing less zone blocking this year? I could be wrong about that, but it might be better to do less of it in this game and let guys like Daniels just push straight ahead on his man. Of course I'm talking run blocking here.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I don't know who 78 is, but he was getting owned last week. I could not understand why the coaches didn't use a RB/TE to help him?

CJB is going to have to use his legs a little bit and keep the LB's honest. Then and only then will the crossing patterns and the middle of the field will open up for our WR/TEs. I also think that Vandenburg/Hilleyer/Jerminic will need to have flawless games catching the ball.

 

[whatsup13579er]

I don't know who 78 is, but he was getting owned last week. I could not understand why the coaches didn't use a RB/TE to help him?

CJB is going to have to use his legs a little bit and keep the LB's honest. Then and only then will the crossing patterns and the middle of the field will open up for our WR/TEs. I also think that Vandenburg/Hilleyer/Jerminic will need to have flawless games catching the ball.

He is KFs biggest OL recruit in quite some time. He was recruited to take over at C when Blythe graduates, started playing a little Guard pushing Welsh/Walsh and was the emergency guy to fill in at Tackle. I don't think he has ever played Tackle before in his life.

 

[farhawks]

I think there might be a little overreaction going on here. Daniels is an amazing athlete that given a week of prep he will have a much better game than last week. Other than that the oline if the current line stays healthy will be good to go. Croston was basically listed 1A as the left tackle. I think the fear that we won't can't or shouldn't throw the ball downfield is insane. CJ had a couple of really nice down field throws last week. If Iowa would go into this game with some of the game plans being listed on here...they will lose. smh