Bend But Don't Break - both Iowa (331 yds) and Mich St (349 yds) give up some yards not a lot but teams still can move the ball on them. Both teams deploy the bend but dont break D not taking huge risks but counting on the D to force and win a 3rd down battle. Both teams on O like to grind the clock and try to sustain long drives. One thing in Iowa's favor is that Iowa is much better in the red zone on D. 35 times opponents have reached the red zone against Mich St and have scored 85.7% of those times 23 times for TD's at a 66% TD rate. Iowa has allowed opps into the red zone 30 times with a scoring success of 80% and allowed 16 TD's at only a 53% TD rate much lower than Mich St. Both teams will reach the red zone but Iowa can win this battle of who scores more points in there. This brings me to my next point.
Make Mich St Kick FG's - As I stated above Mich St likes to score by sustaining long drives chewing up a lot of the clock. They don't go for big explosive plays much like Iowa. If they happen great. Iowa is pretty good this year at the bend but dont break D. If a team is driving on Iowa, Iowa doesnt change things around or take bigger risks they will just try to prevent a TD and force a FG. Which is a Mich St weakness. The Mich St kicking game inside the red zone is 6 for 10 on the year and only 9 for 14 from total distance on the year. So they only make 60% of their kicks in the red zone and only 64% overall. This is good news for a team like Iowa.
Stop Mich St Run Game - I know its Cook and the passing game we should be more worried about. MSU's run game is a bit deceptive. Yes they dont churn up big numbers but their primary use is to run clock and to set up short 3rd downs and a few. And Cook is one if not thee best QB in college football at picking up 3rd down converisons. Mich St is actually the best in the B1G. If the Mich St run game is consistent at geting 5-7yds on 1st and/or 2nd downs it is almost a given Mich St will score 24 + points. If Cook is having to consistently pick up more than 5yds on 3rd down you will win the TOP game as well as your share of 3rd downs. MSU RB's are very good at getting the 5-7yds every set of downs. A good example of stopping the run game was the Michigan game. Cook was forced to throw deeper balls he still had over 300yds but he only completed 46% of his passes and MSU was only 3 for 13 on 3rd downs. Also Mich caved in the Red Zone in that game.
Balanced Attack- Iowa needs to come at Mich St with a balanced attack. A lot of people and teams make the mistake of saying be pass happy on them that is where they are weakest. Its true they are weak against the pass but you wont be able to keep up with them all game and their D will make the stops it needs to against the pass. Teams that have had the best success on them balanced the attack and ran the clock. Against MSU your running game is going to keep your passing game alive as well as the drive and your passing game is going to win you the game because of you running game. Nebraska had 179yds on the ground against them, and 320yds in the air. Inidana was on the right track with a great balanced attack and then they went pass only and the wheels came off. Iowa has the ability to have a very good balanced attack against MSU.
Canzeri and Wadley- Much like the Nebraska game this isnt a good matchup for Daniels. However Canzeri and Wadley can exploit weak areas in the Mich St D and keep drives going for Iowa.
Make Mich St Kick FG's - As I stated above Mich St likes to score by sustaining long drives chewing up a lot of the clock. They don't go for big explosive plays much like Iowa. If they happen great. Iowa is pretty good this year at the bend but dont break D. If a team is driving on Iowa, Iowa doesnt change things around or take bigger risks they will just try to prevent a TD and force a FG. Which is a Mich St weakness. The Mich St kicking game inside the red zone is 6 for 10 on the year and only 9 for 14 from total distance on the year. So they only make 60% of their kicks in the red zone and only 64% overall. This is good news for a team like Iowa.
Stop Mich St Run Game - I know its Cook and the passing game we should be more worried about. MSU's run game is a bit deceptive. Yes they dont churn up big numbers but their primary use is to run clock and to set up short 3rd downs and a few. And Cook is one if not thee best QB in college football at picking up 3rd down converisons. Mich St is actually the best in the B1G. If the Mich St run game is consistent at geting 5-7yds on 1st and/or 2nd downs it is almost a given Mich St will score 24 + points. If Cook is having to consistently pick up more than 5yds on 3rd down you will win the TOP game as well as your share of 3rd downs. MSU RB's are very good at getting the 5-7yds every set of downs. A good example of stopping the run game was the Michigan game. Cook was forced to throw deeper balls he still had over 300yds but he only completed 46% of his passes and MSU was only 3 for 13 on 3rd downs. Also Mich caved in the Red Zone in that game.
Balanced Attack- Iowa needs to come at Mich St with a balanced attack. A lot of people and teams make the mistake of saying be pass happy on them that is where they are weakest. Its true they are weak against the pass but you wont be able to keep up with them all game and their D will make the stops it needs to against the pass. Teams that have had the best success on them balanced the attack and ran the clock. Against MSU your running game is going to keep your passing game alive as well as the drive and your passing game is going to win you the game because of you running game. Nebraska had 179yds on the ground against them, and 320yds in the air. Inidana was on the right track with a great balanced attack and then they went pass only and the wheels came off. Iowa has the ability to have a very good balanced attack against MSU.
Canzeri and Wadley- Much like the Nebraska game this isnt a good matchup for Daniels. However Canzeri and Wadley can exploit weak areas in the Mich St D and keep drives going for Iowa.
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