BrewHawk

Hey guys, looking forward to the game on Friday (I think). I read the Iowa State fan post and laughed and then figured I should add my two cents just to balance the hyperbole. First, who the heck knows what team is going to show up in either case? Hopefully both teams play to their potential and we have a knock-down, drag-out contest that lives up to the hype. I'm really not convinced this will happen after watching both teams play on Saturday. If Iowa could play clean we'd have one heck of an offense, but mistake after mistake keeps biting us in the butt. I realize your guys storied history and all, but we Hawkeye fans really are used to watching our team win with execution and lose with the other team just playing better. That hasn't been the case this year as we've really struggled putting a clean game together and have won despite playing some really sloppy, inconsistent football. Saturday's game against Purdue was a microcosm of the season as we probably could have won by four TDs, but only ended up lucking out to win by 10 pts and probably should have come down to covering an onsides kick if Purdue hadn't just fumbled the ball into the endzone for a touchback with a little under two minutes to go. Maddeningly inconsistent. So, all of that said... To beat Iowa you need to stop the run game without needing to commit extra help. If you start to bring extra guys down into the box, you leave a couple really good receivers in MTM coverage and are living on the edge. No question that Dennard is a very good corner, but I'm not sure even he can contain McNutt right now who is playing receiver as well as anyone in the country. If you can stop the run game then you can also start to bring pressure from various angles. Iowa hasn't become enough of a screen team to slow down blitzing. Our best bet is to hit one of the receivers on a hot route and that doesn't happen much either since Vandenburg is still just settling into his position. I really feel for Nebraska to win this game it will have to be with their defense creating issues for our offense, because... ...our defense really has started playing much better as the season has worn on. The teams that give the Iowa defense fits (this year) do one of two things. Either just pound it down our throats or have a short, controlled passing game (see Northwestern). With the Huskers not possessing a short, controlled passing game I would look to see them try to pound the ball, but I'm not so sure you guys are set up that way. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I see your offense as more of a perimeter based/spread option team that really doesn't use a fullback much anymore and really doesn't run a whole bunch up the gut. Iowa does pursue to the edges pretty well and since Iowa State, has placed much more emphasis on contain (see Michigan and Robinson vs the Hawks). My biggest concern in this game is the difference in the abilities of the special teams units. Iowa has been average at best and has given up way to much field position on kickoff returns. The field goal kicker is okay, but again, a bit inconsistent. I'm wondering how your kicker is doing after getting crunched on Saturday. He's been darn good otherwise. This Iowa team has improved over the course of the season, mostly in a two steps forward, one step back fashion. I think the x-factor really could be freshman RB McCall if they actually let him play. He finally got back into action against Purdue, but fumbled a handoff in the redzone that relegated him back to the bench for the rest of the game. The kid has loads of ability, but our coaching staffs' sphincters are so tight that I'm not sure he'll get to see the field much, especially with the game in the balance. I also think that Iowa matches up quite well against the Huskers with our power run game and play-action passing. I do think that your defense will feel the need to commit eight guys in the box which will lead to either Davis or McNutt having a pretty good game. Another variable that's finally coming back into play is our TE, with Fiedorowicz really starting to play up to potential these past couple weeks. Any extra attention given to McNutt will only open him up even more. If Dennard can blanket McNutt MTM, and you can shut down Coker with seven, then the Hawks are in deep doodoo. I think your offense is too one dimensional to really succeed against the Iowa defense unless you absolutely commit to a power run game. Any spread-option/perimeter oriented run game will not work and our secondary will feast on Martinez if he goes to a drop-back passing game. No offense, just how I see that phase of things. The truth lies somewhere in between my optimism and some Nebraska fan out there who feels the same way about your Huskers. I would imagine it should be a pretty close game. I just hope I can walk away from the game thinking that win or lose, Iowa really played clean football. The Hawks' history to this point really argues against that. Good luck guys.