We need to stay focused. I think the game will be close early. Hoping we can pound later.
@hoosierific I’m not. The Iowa secondary isn’t the same group as years past. Iowa has a really good o-line with a below average QB. He’s not very accurate. This will/should be a 14 point game. Now Iowa has a really good return/special teams. They are an average Iowa team.
Real good OL but below BT average QB, WRs. No stud TB like last year. And no ultra talented TE like they've had on occasions in years past.
Defensively, very sound but no 1st team ABT DL/LB types as far as I could see.
I watched most of the Iowa-Rutgers game. In the first half Rutgers was passing the ball up and down the field with not much resistance. Iowa tightened things up in the 2nd half and did dominate the 2nd half physically with their OL and DL.
Just saw an article from SI that said Iowa's OL is grading out 1st nationally collectively, with 4 of the first top 8 rated players nationally.....so obviously that's concerning.......what's crazy is that other than the OL I'm not sure there's anyone else on the roster that would rate 2nd team ABT consideration.
@iugradman this game has a lot higher likelihood of looking like MSU’s stadium emptying out after chanting overrated than anything else. Iowa is no OSU or ND.
Quality opponent, but we are in different tiers
I watched this breakdown (from Iowa fans), and came away impressed. They did a really good job breaking down both their team and ours on both sides of the ball (the last 40 minutes or so is about us, the first half breaks down their Rutgers game). Cool to see the fear IU puts into other fanbases. Iowa fans seem to be a lot more respectful of IU being good than Nebraska and Illinois fans were
Their score predictions were 34-20 IU and 21-13 IU
@irregulars I was pretty familiar with what we do on defense from a technical perspective, but the offensive side was enlightening.
Really appreciate how Shanahan and Cig developed an offense designed to beat 2 high safety looks, even NFL teams have struggled with that.
@mushroomgod If they can sustain longer drives in to IU's territory, on the backs of their elite OL, they'll be able to limit possessions, and stay in the game. At that point, turnovers and special teams plays could become a factor. I think IU is a markedly better football team, but Kinnick is one of the bigger home advantages in the conference, and they do have an NFL caliber offensive line. If we force any decent amount of 3 and outs, and/or if we turn them over, I can't see them keeping up with us.
An important thing for Saturday is Franke putting the kickoffs out the back of end zone. Wetjen is a hell of a returner. He housed the opening kick against Rutgers from 4 yards deep in the end zone. We can't afford giving up points/field position against them.
I'll also note from the Iowa/Rutgers game, Rutgers was able to drive on Iowa the whole first half. So this might not be one of the classic super salty Iowa defenses. Still, got to play a clean game against good opponents.
@hoosierdaddy me too. What fun it was to hear them go through the options on the routes.
BEAT PURDUE
So this might not be one of the classic super salty Iowa defenses
Its not, they dont have dominant pass rush, their LBs are slow and get out of position, and their DBs dont have NFL speed. They still have Phil Parker at DC though, which can cover up quite a bit of that
An important thing for Saturday is Franke putting the kickoffs out the back of end zone. Wetjen is a hell of a returner. He housed the opening kick against Rutgers from 4 yards deep in the end zone. We can't afford giving up points/field position against them.
I'll also note from the Iowa/Rutgers game, Rutgers was able to drive on Iowa the whole first half. So this might not be one of the classic super salty Iowa defenses. Still, got to play a clean game against good opponents.
Iowa pretty much shut Rutgers down after halftime, but Rutgers did score on a 75 yard drive to make it Rutgers 28 to 24 with 9:48 in the 4th. I watched the entire 1st half and most of the 3rd....by that time I felt Iowa pretty much had it won as they were dominating the game physically, and didn't see much of the 4th quarter.
If I had quit watching at half time I'd feel extremely confident this week, but Iowa looked much better in the 2nd half than in the first. That said, Rutgers was not impressive, especially on the lines, and most especially on the DL. Their D linemen looked like LBers.
Iowa's QB didn't impress at all. Pretty thick guy....weighs something like 235, but isn't fast at all, and not much of a passer. Maybe 6'1" or 6'2". He must have leadership qualities because he was very effective at a lower level.
College Football Reference ranks Indiana third in the nation according to its SRS metric. Iowa is 62nd. Rutgers is 71st. FYI.
For grins I checked Sagarin's computer rankings. IU is 11th overall, 10th by his "predictor" criteria.
Based on predictor, IU should be favored over #32 Iowa by about 9 points on a neutral field, but by only about 4 on the road.
He has Ohio St., Oregon, Penn State 1-2-3 in his rankings.
http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm
"You can't make someone listen to reason if they aren't willing to think"-- Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451