3yardsandacloud
Administrator Emeritus
2006
Iowa Hawkeyes
Game Preview
written by: BB73, BuckeyeRyn, Buckeyeskickbuttocks, Bucklion, DaddyBigBucks, daddyphatsacs, Deety, FKAGobucks877, jwinslow, LordJeffBuck, osugrad21, OSUsushichic, PrincessPeach, and 3yardsandacloud
Link to 2006 Iowa Hawkeyes - Additional Information
The Buckeyes travel to Iowa City on Saturday to face the Hawkeyes in recently renovated Kinnick Stadium. Iowa unveiled a new statue of Nile Kinnick, the only Heisman winner in their history, just before their season opener this year. It's worth learning a few things about him to understand why he is so revered in the annals of Iowa football.
Nile Kinnick won the Heisman Trophy in 1939. He was a jack-of-all-trades player, a halfback that threw 11 TD passes that year, led the nation in kickoff return yardage, punted for a 40-yard average, and frequently drop-kicked the ball through the uprights. It's also a good thing for Buckeye fans that he won the award that year, because that prevented the runner-up from winning a second Heisman the next year: Tom Harmon of Michigan won in 1940.
Kinnick's other accomplishments on the football field include playing 402 of 420 total minutes in the 1939 season (a separated shoulder in the final game is the only thing that got him off the field). He led the nation in punting in 1937, and once punted 16 times for 731 yards in a 7-6 victory over Notre Dame, including a 63-yarder in the last minute that went out of bounds on the 6. He still holds Iowa records for interceptions in a season (8) and a career (18). So he basically ran, threw, blocked, punted, drop-kicked, intercepted and tackled his way into the hearts of Hawkeye fans.
To cap things off, he was also elected student body president in his senior year, and gave the commencement speech for his 1940 graduating class. After spending a year in law school and helping to coach the Iowa football team, he enlisted in the Naval Air Reserve. He was called to active duty three days before Pearl Harbor, and underwent training as a fighter pilot. In June of 1943, Kinnick died when engine trouble forced his plane down before it could reach the aircraft carrier USS Lexington off the coast of Venezuela. He is someone who should be remembered.
Head Coach Kirk Ferentz has done an outstanding job at Iowa. After inheriting a depleted squad that struggled to 1-10 and 3-9 records in his first two years at the helm, he turned the corner with a 7-5 record in 2001, and compiled a 31-7 mark over the 2002-2004 campaigns. He is 1-4 against the Buckeyes, the lone win obviously being the 33-7 debacle in 2004. His head coaching record against Tressel is 1-3, with JT winning 19-10 in Columbus in 2003, 31-6 last year, and 38-17 when Youngstown State faced Maine in 1990.
Iowa had three straight final poll rankings of #8 before finishing out of the polls with a 7-5 mark last year. However, they are one of only 4 teams to play in a January bowl games in each of the last 4 seasons (the others are Georgia, USC, and Florida State, who has 15 straight).
Ohio State once again faces a road opponent at night with ESPN's College Gameday visiting. The only previous visit to Iowa City for the Gameday football crew was in 1996, when #2 tOSU downed #20 Iowa 38-26.
This will be only the second night-time start ever for a football game in Iowa City. Their only previous home game that kicked off under the lights was a 24-7 loss to #1 Miami in 1992.
Iowa has never defeated a team ranked #1 in the AP football poll. Ohio State's only previous appearance as the #1 football team in Iowa City resulted in a 21-19 Buckeye victory in 1964.
Iowa's best home win occurred in Kinnick Stadium on Oct. 19, 1985, when #1 Iowa defeated #2 Michigan 12-10. Iowa ended that season #10 in the AP poll, while Michigan climbed back to a #2 final rating behind Oklahoma.
The Hawkeyes have won 25 of 26 home games since mid-September 2002, the only home loss in that timeframe being a 23-20 setback to Michigan last October.
tOSU is 30-4-1 against the Hawkeyes since 1962.
Just to show what a difference a year makes, these were some questions we were wondering about before the Iowa game last year:
Except for the last one, those questions aren't on many people's minds this year.
Nile Kinnick won the Heisman Trophy in 1939. He was a jack-of-all-trades player, a halfback that threw 11 TD passes that year, led the nation in kickoff return yardage, punted for a 40-yard average, and frequently drop-kicked the ball through the uprights. It's also a good thing for Buckeye fans that he won the award that year, because that prevented the runner-up from winning a second Heisman the next year: Tom Harmon of Michigan won in 1940.
Kinnick's other accomplishments on the football field include playing 402 of 420 total minutes in the 1939 season (a separated shoulder in the final game is the only thing that got him off the field). He led the nation in punting in 1937, and once punted 16 times for 731 yards in a 7-6 victory over Notre Dame, including a 63-yarder in the last minute that went out of bounds on the 6. He still holds Iowa records for interceptions in a season (8) and a career (18). So he basically ran, threw, blocked, punted, drop-kicked, intercepted and tackled his way into the hearts of Hawkeye fans.
To cap things off, he was also elected student body president in his senior year, and gave the commencement speech for his 1940 graduating class. After spending a year in law school and helping to coach the Iowa football team, he enlisted in the Naval Air Reserve. He was called to active duty three days before Pearl Harbor, and underwent training as a fighter pilot. In June of 1943, Kinnick died when engine trouble forced his plane down before it could reach the aircraft carrier USS Lexington off the coast of Venezuela. He is someone who should be remembered.
Head Coach Kirk Ferentz has done an outstanding job at Iowa. After inheriting a depleted squad that struggled to 1-10 and 3-9 records in his first two years at the helm, he turned the corner with a 7-5 record in 2001, and compiled a 31-7 mark over the 2002-2004 campaigns. He is 1-4 against the Buckeyes, the lone win obviously being the 33-7 debacle in 2004. His head coaching record against Tressel is 1-3, with JT winning 19-10 in Columbus in 2003, 31-6 last year, and 38-17 when Youngstown State faced Maine in 1990.
Iowa had three straight final poll rankings of #8 before finishing out of the polls with a 7-5 mark last year. However, they are one of only 4 teams to play in a January bowl games in each of the last 4 seasons (the others are Georgia, USC, and Florida State, who has 15 straight).
Ohio State once again faces a road opponent at night with ESPN's College Gameday visiting. The only previous visit to Iowa City for the Gameday football crew was in 1996, when #2 tOSU downed #20 Iowa 38-26.
This will be only the second night-time start ever for a football game in Iowa City. Their only previous home game that kicked off under the lights was a 24-7 loss to #1 Miami in 1992.
Iowa has never defeated a team ranked #1 in the AP football poll. Ohio State's only previous appearance as the #1 football team in Iowa City resulted in a 21-19 Buckeye victory in 1964.
Iowa's best home win occurred in Kinnick Stadium on Oct. 19, 1985, when #1 Iowa defeated #2 Michigan 12-10. Iowa ended that season #10 in the AP poll, while Michigan climbed back to a #2 final rating behind Oklahoma.
The Hawkeyes have won 25 of 26 home games since mid-September 2002, the only home loss in that timeframe being a 23-20 setback to Michigan last October.
tOSU is 30-4-1 against the Hawkeyes since 1962.
Just to show what a difference a year makes, these were some questions we were wondering about before the Iowa game last year:
- Will Troy Smith go through his progressions before taking off with the ball?
- What would it take for Tressel to make another QB switch?
- Will Boone and Rehring see more action when the game's on the line?
- Can the D-Line get consistent pressure in their pass rush?
- Will we finally get a kickoff or punt return that goes all the way?
- What would it take for Tressel to make another QB switch?
- Will Boone and Rehring see more action when the game's on the line?
- Can the D-Line get consistent pressure in their pass rush?
- Will we finally get a kickoff or punt return that goes all the way?
Except for the last one, those questions aren't on many people's minds this year.
Date and Time
Date: Saturday, September 30th, 2006
Time: 8:00 EDT Kick-off
Location: Kennick Stadium (Iowa City, IA)
Constructed: 1929 (Renovated 2006)
Seating Capacity: 70,585 (Originally 53,000)
Playing Surface: Natural Grass
Honorary Captain: Shaun Gayle
Broadcast Information:
TV Broadcast: ABC (HD): Brent Musburger (Play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit & Bob Davie (Analysis), and Lisa Salters (Sideline) ESPN's College Gameday will also broadcast on location: Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard
Radio Broadcast: Ohio State Radio Network (1460TheFan in Columbus): Paul Keels (Play-by-play), Jim Lachey (Analysis), and Marty Bannister (Sideline)
Guess It's Contagious
After a week of Buck fans imploying their brethren to "Wear Red", it seems Iowa will be installing their version of the clothing war. Where (wear) will it end?
2006 Iowa Hawkeyes Offensive Preview
Returning starters: 7
The Buckeyes are undefeated, and coming off of a sometimes sloppy offensive game in sloppy field conditions against a game opponent in the Penn State defense. Now, the Buckeyes turn their attention to the Iowa Hawkeyes, a spot on the schedule that has been a source of a great deal of media and fan attention. Despite some frustration amongst Buckeye fans that Iowa seems to be in the top 3 of the (unofficial and unrecognized) ESPN analyst poll every season, there is no doubt that coach Ferentz has his team playing solidly on both sides of the ball every season. The Hawkeyes came into this season with high expectations offensively, as they put solid numbers on the board last year across all phases. They scored a very respectable 30 points per game (36th nationally) and were equally adept at running the football (174.7 ypg, 35th nationally) as they were throwing it (257.8 ypg, 27th nationally). All together, the Hawkeyes ranked just outside the top 20 nationally with an impressive 432.4 yards per game. Their turnover margin of -1 for the season was mediocre, however, and the coaching staff and fans alike hoped that veteran leadership at the QB and RB positions, along with experience along the offensive line, would improve that number this year.
So far this season, the Hawkeyes are undefeated, but their offensive production has been inconsistent. Their total offensive output through 4 games is 380.3 per game, which is certainly decent but well down from last season and ranked 41st nationally. The passing game has been respectable at 229 yards per contest, good for 34th nationally, and considering Tate missed a game, this number is not at all bad. However, the running game hasn't been nearly as good as advertised in the preseason, gaining only 151.3 yards per game (50th nationally). Considering the experience in the line and in the backfield, the Hawkeyes will need to keep improving this number if they are to contend for the Big Ten title. Their stiffest test may come this week, as the Buckeyes descend on Kinnick Stadium at night for what can only be described as a major test for this offense. To win, they will have to both run and pass the ball effectively.
Quarterbacks
QB #5 Drew Tate (6-0, 192, SR, Robert E. Lee HS, Baytown, TX)
Tate, from famed Lee HS in Texas, is clearly the emotional heart and soul of this team. This was especially evident in the Iowa State game, and the fiery leader will have to be at his best this weekend. So far in 3 starts he has thrown for 687 yards and 7 TDs to 2 INTs, completing almost 63% of his passes. His best game so far was the rivalry game against the Cyclones, where he basically willed the team to victory with a 2nd half comeback. His final numbers from that game include 274 passing yards on 68% completions, with 3 TDs, and an addition 31 yards on the ground. He followed that effort up with a solid but unspectacular game to open conference play against the Illini, where he threw for 190 yards and a TD. He has thrown an INT in each of his last 2 games, so the Buckeyes will be looking to exploit that possibility. In 3 starts, he has been sacked only 3 times, and though the line certainly deserves a great deal of credit for that, Tate?s maturity as a QB is also partly responsible, considering he was sacked 36 times in 2004. Over the years Buckeye fans and all Big Ten fans have seen what can happen when Tate gets it going, and what can happen when he gets frustrated and lets his emotions get the best of him. It will be very important for the Buckeyes not to allow him to get a hot start early, and to pressure him to set the tone for the rest of the game. How Tate handles some early frustration might be a key to this game.
The backup is fellow senior Jason Manson (#16), who started the Syracuse game for the injured Tate. In it, he completed 16 of 32 passes for 202 yards with a TD, but he also threw 4 INTs and looked lost on occasion. He's a decent player who can create some space, but if the Hawkeyes need to turn to him, it could be trouble for the offense against the Buckeye D. Freshman Jake Christensen rounds out the chart, and had a bit of mop-up duty against Montana.
QB Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State QB
Tate (P/R): 58/93 (62.4%), 687 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs, 145.0 rating; 12/29, 0 TDs.
Smith (P/R): 68/103 (66.0%), 884 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs, 159.9 rating; 15/4, 0 TDs.
This one will be a matchup to watch all night. Smith and Tate are both unquestioned leaders of their teams, and both can make big plays. Both have also made significant strides as QBs, and should be ready to showcase their talents in primetime against each other. Smith is a Heisman candidate who has avenged his two losses as a starter already this year, and Tate is a workhorse who could certainly provide the signature win of his tenure Saturday. This one is close, but given Smith's track record in big games, he gets the nod.
Edge: Ohio State
Running Backs
RB #21 Albert Young (5-10, 209, JR, Moorestown HS, Moorestown, NJ)
FB #35 Tom Busch (5-11, 231, JR, Park HS, Cottage Grove, MN)
It seems like the Buckeyes face an above-average quality tailback every week, and this week is definitely no different. Albert Young has suffered from injuries in his career, but when he is healthy and rolling he is a quality player. However, after rushing for over 1300 yards last season and getting some preseason hype as the best back in the Big Ten, he has gotten off to what can only be described as an average start. So far he has 280 yards and 3 TDs, averaging a little over 4 yards per carry. He has not cracked the 100 yard barrier in any of his 4 games thus far, and he gained only 57 yards on 14 carries against the Illini last week. On the plus side, he has scored a TD in 3 of the 4 games, and has been a significant thread out of the backfield receiving the ball, leading the team so far with 18 receptions, for 152 yards and another TD. This dual threat is significantly greater than last year, when he caught only 24 passes all season, and does increase his value in the offense and in general. The Buckeyes will have to keep an eye on his whereabouts at all times. Expect 20-30 touches for him, and with the inexperience at wide receiver, he becomes all the more important throughout the game.
Second on the chart is fellow junior Damian Sims (#28), a smaller, shiftier back who is also second on the team in carries and yards with 36 carries for 164 yards and a TD. He's also caught 4 passes. He gained 55 yards on 15 carries against Illinois last week, so he could be a more significant part of the offense this weekend than originally thought. Sophomore Shonn Greene (#23) is a good-sized back who can run with some power. He has 12 carries for 79 yards so far, including 8 for 54 yards last week against Illinois. He could also see the field for some important snaps on Saturday.
Busch is a good blocker who will not be a significant part of the offense in terms of handling the ball. He has no carries, and 1 catch for a TD. Backup Champ Davis (#46) has similar size and is also a good blocker.
RB Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State RBs
Young: 69/280 yards, 3 TDs, 4.1 YPC; 18 rec/152 yards, 1 TD, 18.4 YPR
Sims: 36/164 yards, 1 TD, 4.6 YPC; 4 rec/40 yards, 0 TDs, 10.0 YPR
Pittman: 71/450 yards, 4 TDs, 6.3 YPC; 5 rec/21 yards, 0 TDs, 4.2 YPR
C Wells: 25/96, 1 TD, 3.8 YPC; 1 rec/10 yards, 0 TDs, 10.0 YPR
The Iowa backs are a decent unit, and Young has quite a bit of talent, and has become a much bigger threat out of the backfield. However, it became obvious on Saturday how important the Buckeye backs are to the team, whether it is to move the ball with a lead and the passing game struggling, or converting those all-important 3rd and 1 and 3rd and 2 situations. Pittman is the best back that no one outside Columbus seems to want to give enough credit to, and Wells is a bruiser in short yardage. Throw in Maurice Wells as the 3rd man, and the Buckeyes get the edge here, though Young can make a major statement to counter that in this game against the Buckeye defense.
Edge: Ohio State
Wide Receivers
WR #4 Herb Grigsby (6-0, 175, JR, Mayflower HS, Mayflower, AR)
WR #88 Dominique Douglas (6-1, 186, FR, Murray-Wright HS, Detroit, MI)
This is the position where the offense lost the most exiting last season. The loss of Hinkel and Solomon left a huge void for the Hawkeyes, and they have not yet been able to replace their production. Grigsby started a few games last year and offers some experience. He runs good routes, and has decent hands, but has caught only 8 passes for 95 yards so far, including only 1 pass last week. Douglas looks like the playmaker, and has a very bright future at Iowa. He leads the team in yards, having caught 14 passes for 195 yards and a TD to this point. He pulled down 6 important passes for 88 yards against Iowa State, and followed that with a 5 catch, 64 yard game against the Illini last week. He will probably be Tate's number 1 target at the position on Saturday, and he appears to have some big-play ability. He is still relatively inexperienced though, and overall this corps is pretty thin.
Amongst the backups, sophomore Andy Brodell (#80) is a big target, and has 5 catches for 110 yards and a TD so far. He did not catch a pass last week, however. Junior Kennon Christian (#82) and freshman Trey Stross (#86) could also see time, but they have caught just one pass apiece thus far.
WR Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State WRs
Douglas: 14 catches, 195 yards, 1 TD, 13.9 YPR
Grigsby: 8 catches, 95 yards, 0 TDs, 11.9 YPR
Ginn Jr.: 16 catches, 268 yards, 5 TDs, 16.8 YPR
Gonzalez: 19 catches, 296 yards, 2 TDs, 15.6 YPR
This is clearly no contest. Gonzalez is probably one of the best in the country, and when Ginn gets it rolling, he can have a huge, huge impact. Throw in Robiskie and Hartline, and the Buckeye corps is about as good and as deep as one could hope far. The Hawkeyes have a long, long way to go.
Edge: Ohio State
Tight Ends
TE #87 Scott Chandler (6-7, 257, SR, Carroll HS, Southlake, TX)
One place Iowa doesn't have a long way to go is at TE, where Chandler is a bona fide star. He was the leading returning receiver from last year, and he continues to make an impact every week this season. He has 16 catches for 167 yards and 2 TDs. He caught just one pass last week, but had 3 very productive games to start the season. He runs good routes, has good hands, helps out his QB when he gets pressure, and is also a very capable blocker in the running game. He has turned into the TE every program would love to have.
His backup is Tony Moeaki (#81), another TE with good size who can be a threat to catch a big pass. He caught a TD pass against Iowa State, and added 2 catches for 49 yards and a TD last week. With the receivers being inconsistent, look for more work and field time from this player as well.
TE Rating: A
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State TE
Chandler: 16 catches, 167 yards, 2 TDs, 10.4 YPR
Nicol: 6 rec, 52 yards, 0 TDs, 8.7 YPR
This is as much a mismatch as the receiving corps. The Hawkeyes have some of the best TEs in the nation seemingly year after year, and the Penn State game reiterated that the Buckeye TEs have a ways to go to be anywhere in the caliber of Chandler.
Edge: Iowa
Offensive Line
LT #78 Dace Richardson (6-6, 306, SO, Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, IL)
LG #76 Mike Jones (6-5, 302, SR, Richards HS, Oak Lawn, IL)
C #52 Rafael Eubanks (6-3, 288, FR, Cretin-Durham Hall HS, St. Paul, MN)
RG #54 Mike Elgin (6-4, 288, SR, Western Dubuque HS, Bankston, IA)
RT #73 Marshal Yanda (6-4, 305, SR, NIACC, Anamosa, IA)
This unit is usually amongst the best and most disciplined in the conference. The strength is probably the interior guards, who are quick and agile and offer a great deal of experience to the unit. Both Elgin and Jones will probably make some all-conference teams by season's end. Yanda also returns, and offers good size and plenty of experience after transferring from junior college. Eubanks offers the least experience, but he is also very talented and can move well. Richardson is a monster and will be difficult to get around for the ends. This line has yielded only 3 sacks of Tate this year, so they are playing, for the most part, very well. The running game has been inconsistent, and it will be interesting to see how well this unit can open holes for Young against the Buckeyes.
A number of underclassmen are the backups. Tackle Wes Aeschliman (#75) and guard Seth Olsen (#71) have seen significant time, and could see the field Saturday.
OL Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State OL
Both teams offer a combination of size, agility, and experience. The Hawkeyes have smaller, quicker linemen in the interior, where the Buckeyes feature more size and more strength across the lines. As so often happens, the play in the trenches could determine the outcome of this game, and for the most part, the Buckeyes seem to offer just a bit more here than the Hawkeyes. They get the edge, especially based on the production of the running game, but expect the Iowa line to play well.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Offensive Analysis
This offense was very effective last year, and it has been decent for the most part this year. The key for the Hawkeyes will be to get Tate on a roll with some success early, so that his emotional fire will be a positive, and also to establish Young and the ground game. The Buckeyes will be especially prudent to keep an eye on Young and Chandler at all times in the passing game, and the Iowa wideouts will need to produce a significant contribution on the wings to open up the middle of the field. If the Hawkeyes can keep the Buckeye front 4 at bay, then they may have a good chance to establish some offensive success. So much relies on Tate making good decision, avoiding trouble and creating space, and taking care of the football. The past 2 Iowa-Ohio State games have not been close, so whoever can establish some early success has a decided advantage.
Overall Offensive Rating: B
The Buckeyes are undefeated, and coming off of a sometimes sloppy offensive game in sloppy field conditions against a game opponent in the Penn State defense. Now, the Buckeyes turn their attention to the Iowa Hawkeyes, a spot on the schedule that has been a source of a great deal of media and fan attention. Despite some frustration amongst Buckeye fans that Iowa seems to be in the top 3 of the (unofficial and unrecognized) ESPN analyst poll every season, there is no doubt that coach Ferentz has his team playing solidly on both sides of the ball every season. The Hawkeyes came into this season with high expectations offensively, as they put solid numbers on the board last year across all phases. They scored a very respectable 30 points per game (36th nationally) and were equally adept at running the football (174.7 ypg, 35th nationally) as they were throwing it (257.8 ypg, 27th nationally). All together, the Hawkeyes ranked just outside the top 20 nationally with an impressive 432.4 yards per game. Their turnover margin of -1 for the season was mediocre, however, and the coaching staff and fans alike hoped that veteran leadership at the QB and RB positions, along with experience along the offensive line, would improve that number this year.
So far this season, the Hawkeyes are undefeated, but their offensive production has been inconsistent. Their total offensive output through 4 games is 380.3 per game, which is certainly decent but well down from last season and ranked 41st nationally. The passing game has been respectable at 229 yards per contest, good for 34th nationally, and considering Tate missed a game, this number is not at all bad. However, the running game hasn't been nearly as good as advertised in the preseason, gaining only 151.3 yards per game (50th nationally). Considering the experience in the line and in the backfield, the Hawkeyes will need to keep improving this number if they are to contend for the Big Ten title. Their stiffest test may come this week, as the Buckeyes descend on Kinnick Stadium at night for what can only be described as a major test for this offense. To win, they will have to both run and pass the ball effectively.
Quarterbacks
QB #5 Drew Tate (6-0, 192, SR, Robert E. Lee HS, Baytown, TX)
Tate, from famed Lee HS in Texas, is clearly the emotional heart and soul of this team. This was especially evident in the Iowa State game, and the fiery leader will have to be at his best this weekend. So far in 3 starts he has thrown for 687 yards and 7 TDs to 2 INTs, completing almost 63% of his passes. His best game so far was the rivalry game against the Cyclones, where he basically willed the team to victory with a 2nd half comeback. His final numbers from that game include 274 passing yards on 68% completions, with 3 TDs, and an addition 31 yards on the ground. He followed that effort up with a solid but unspectacular game to open conference play against the Illini, where he threw for 190 yards and a TD. He has thrown an INT in each of his last 2 games, so the Buckeyes will be looking to exploit that possibility. In 3 starts, he has been sacked only 3 times, and though the line certainly deserves a great deal of credit for that, Tate?s maturity as a QB is also partly responsible, considering he was sacked 36 times in 2004. Over the years Buckeye fans and all Big Ten fans have seen what can happen when Tate gets it going, and what can happen when he gets frustrated and lets his emotions get the best of him. It will be very important for the Buckeyes not to allow him to get a hot start early, and to pressure him to set the tone for the rest of the game. How Tate handles some early frustration might be a key to this game.
The backup is fellow senior Jason Manson (#16), who started the Syracuse game for the injured Tate. In it, he completed 16 of 32 passes for 202 yards with a TD, but he also threw 4 INTs and looked lost on occasion. He's a decent player who can create some space, but if the Hawkeyes need to turn to him, it could be trouble for the offense against the Buckeye D. Freshman Jake Christensen rounds out the chart, and had a bit of mop-up duty against Montana.
QB Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State QB
Tate (P/R): 58/93 (62.4%), 687 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs, 145.0 rating; 12/29, 0 TDs.
Smith (P/R): 68/103 (66.0%), 884 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs, 159.9 rating; 15/4, 0 TDs.
This one will be a matchup to watch all night. Smith and Tate are both unquestioned leaders of their teams, and both can make big plays. Both have also made significant strides as QBs, and should be ready to showcase their talents in primetime against each other. Smith is a Heisman candidate who has avenged his two losses as a starter already this year, and Tate is a workhorse who could certainly provide the signature win of his tenure Saturday. This one is close, but given Smith's track record in big games, he gets the nod.
Edge: Ohio State
Running Backs
RB #21 Albert Young (5-10, 209, JR, Moorestown HS, Moorestown, NJ)
FB #35 Tom Busch (5-11, 231, JR, Park HS, Cottage Grove, MN)
It seems like the Buckeyes face an above-average quality tailback every week, and this week is definitely no different. Albert Young has suffered from injuries in his career, but when he is healthy and rolling he is a quality player. However, after rushing for over 1300 yards last season and getting some preseason hype as the best back in the Big Ten, he has gotten off to what can only be described as an average start. So far he has 280 yards and 3 TDs, averaging a little over 4 yards per carry. He has not cracked the 100 yard barrier in any of his 4 games thus far, and he gained only 57 yards on 14 carries against the Illini last week. On the plus side, he has scored a TD in 3 of the 4 games, and has been a significant thread out of the backfield receiving the ball, leading the team so far with 18 receptions, for 152 yards and another TD. This dual threat is significantly greater than last year, when he caught only 24 passes all season, and does increase his value in the offense and in general. The Buckeyes will have to keep an eye on his whereabouts at all times. Expect 20-30 touches for him, and with the inexperience at wide receiver, he becomes all the more important throughout the game.
Second on the chart is fellow junior Damian Sims (#28), a smaller, shiftier back who is also second on the team in carries and yards with 36 carries for 164 yards and a TD. He's also caught 4 passes. He gained 55 yards on 15 carries against Illinois last week, so he could be a more significant part of the offense this weekend than originally thought. Sophomore Shonn Greene (#23) is a good-sized back who can run with some power. He has 12 carries for 79 yards so far, including 8 for 54 yards last week against Illinois. He could also see the field for some important snaps on Saturday.
Busch is a good blocker who will not be a significant part of the offense in terms of handling the ball. He has no carries, and 1 catch for a TD. Backup Champ Davis (#46) has similar size and is also a good blocker.
RB Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State RBs
Young: 69/280 yards, 3 TDs, 4.1 YPC; 18 rec/152 yards, 1 TD, 18.4 YPR
Sims: 36/164 yards, 1 TD, 4.6 YPC; 4 rec/40 yards, 0 TDs, 10.0 YPR
Pittman: 71/450 yards, 4 TDs, 6.3 YPC; 5 rec/21 yards, 0 TDs, 4.2 YPR
C Wells: 25/96, 1 TD, 3.8 YPC; 1 rec/10 yards, 0 TDs, 10.0 YPR
The Iowa backs are a decent unit, and Young has quite a bit of talent, and has become a much bigger threat out of the backfield. However, it became obvious on Saturday how important the Buckeye backs are to the team, whether it is to move the ball with a lead and the passing game struggling, or converting those all-important 3rd and 1 and 3rd and 2 situations. Pittman is the best back that no one outside Columbus seems to want to give enough credit to, and Wells is a bruiser in short yardage. Throw in Maurice Wells as the 3rd man, and the Buckeyes get the edge here, though Young can make a major statement to counter that in this game against the Buckeye defense.
Edge: Ohio State
Wide Receivers
WR #4 Herb Grigsby (6-0, 175, JR, Mayflower HS, Mayflower, AR)
WR #88 Dominique Douglas (6-1, 186, FR, Murray-Wright HS, Detroit, MI)
This is the position where the offense lost the most exiting last season. The loss of Hinkel and Solomon left a huge void for the Hawkeyes, and they have not yet been able to replace their production. Grigsby started a few games last year and offers some experience. He runs good routes, and has decent hands, but has caught only 8 passes for 95 yards so far, including only 1 pass last week. Douglas looks like the playmaker, and has a very bright future at Iowa. He leads the team in yards, having caught 14 passes for 195 yards and a TD to this point. He pulled down 6 important passes for 88 yards against Iowa State, and followed that with a 5 catch, 64 yard game against the Illini last week. He will probably be Tate's number 1 target at the position on Saturday, and he appears to have some big-play ability. He is still relatively inexperienced though, and overall this corps is pretty thin.
Amongst the backups, sophomore Andy Brodell (#80) is a big target, and has 5 catches for 110 yards and a TD so far. He did not catch a pass last week, however. Junior Kennon Christian (#82) and freshman Trey Stross (#86) could also see time, but they have caught just one pass apiece thus far.
WR Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State WRs
Douglas: 14 catches, 195 yards, 1 TD, 13.9 YPR
Grigsby: 8 catches, 95 yards, 0 TDs, 11.9 YPR
Ginn Jr.: 16 catches, 268 yards, 5 TDs, 16.8 YPR
Gonzalez: 19 catches, 296 yards, 2 TDs, 15.6 YPR
This is clearly no contest. Gonzalez is probably one of the best in the country, and when Ginn gets it rolling, he can have a huge, huge impact. Throw in Robiskie and Hartline, and the Buckeye corps is about as good and as deep as one could hope far. The Hawkeyes have a long, long way to go.
Edge: Ohio State
Tight Ends
TE #87 Scott Chandler (6-7, 257, SR, Carroll HS, Southlake, TX)
One place Iowa doesn't have a long way to go is at TE, where Chandler is a bona fide star. He was the leading returning receiver from last year, and he continues to make an impact every week this season. He has 16 catches for 167 yards and 2 TDs. He caught just one pass last week, but had 3 very productive games to start the season. He runs good routes, has good hands, helps out his QB when he gets pressure, and is also a very capable blocker in the running game. He has turned into the TE every program would love to have.
His backup is Tony Moeaki (#81), another TE with good size who can be a threat to catch a big pass. He caught a TD pass against Iowa State, and added 2 catches for 49 yards and a TD last week. With the receivers being inconsistent, look for more work and field time from this player as well.
TE Rating: A
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State TE
Chandler: 16 catches, 167 yards, 2 TDs, 10.4 YPR
Nicol: 6 rec, 52 yards, 0 TDs, 8.7 YPR
This is as much a mismatch as the receiving corps. The Hawkeyes have some of the best TEs in the nation seemingly year after year, and the Penn State game reiterated that the Buckeye TEs have a ways to go to be anywhere in the caliber of Chandler.
Edge: Iowa
Offensive Line
LT #78 Dace Richardson (6-6, 306, SO, Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, IL)
LG #76 Mike Jones (6-5, 302, SR, Richards HS, Oak Lawn, IL)
C #52 Rafael Eubanks (6-3, 288, FR, Cretin-Durham Hall HS, St. Paul, MN)
RG #54 Mike Elgin (6-4, 288, SR, Western Dubuque HS, Bankston, IA)
RT #73 Marshal Yanda (6-4, 305, SR, NIACC, Anamosa, IA)
This unit is usually amongst the best and most disciplined in the conference. The strength is probably the interior guards, who are quick and agile and offer a great deal of experience to the unit. Both Elgin and Jones will probably make some all-conference teams by season's end. Yanda also returns, and offers good size and plenty of experience after transferring from junior college. Eubanks offers the least experience, but he is also very talented and can move well. Richardson is a monster and will be difficult to get around for the ends. This line has yielded only 3 sacks of Tate this year, so they are playing, for the most part, very well. The running game has been inconsistent, and it will be interesting to see how well this unit can open holes for Young against the Buckeyes.
A number of underclassmen are the backups. Tackle Wes Aeschliman (#75) and guard Seth Olsen (#71) have seen significant time, and could see the field Saturday.
OL Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State OL
Both teams offer a combination of size, agility, and experience. The Hawkeyes have smaller, quicker linemen in the interior, where the Buckeyes feature more size and more strength across the lines. As so often happens, the play in the trenches could determine the outcome of this game, and for the most part, the Buckeyes seem to offer just a bit more here than the Hawkeyes. They get the edge, especially based on the production of the running game, but expect the Iowa line to play well.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Offensive Analysis
This offense was very effective last year, and it has been decent for the most part this year. The key for the Hawkeyes will be to get Tate on a roll with some success early, so that his emotional fire will be a positive, and also to establish Young and the ground game. The Buckeyes will be especially prudent to keep an eye on Young and Chandler at all times in the passing game, and the Iowa wideouts will need to produce a significant contribution on the wings to open up the middle of the field. If the Hawkeyes can keep the Buckeye front 4 at bay, then they may have a good chance to establish some offensive success. So much relies on Tate making good decision, avoiding trouble and creating space, and taking care of the football. The past 2 Iowa-Ohio State games have not been close, so whoever can establish some early success has a decided advantage.
Overall Offensive Rating: B
2006 Iowa Hawkeyes Defensive Preview
Returning Starters: 7
"As an athlete and competitor, this is what you live for. This is why you play the games. Whenever you have the best, you want to step it up and have a good game." Those are the words of senior safety Miguel Merrick when asked about this week's battle with the #1 team in the land. I think that these words sum up what kind of effort that the Buckeyes are going to get this week from pretty good Iowa defense in Iowa City. ESPN College Football Gameday will also make the trip to Iowa City, for what is shaping up to be one of the biggest hurdles for this Ohio State team in their quest for a National Championship. These games have a way of going the way that people do not expect them to, especially in this kind of environment in what will most definitely be a rowdy Kinnick stadium. Ohio State had better buckle up this week. Below is where the Hawkeyes stand in the Big Ten in several major defensive categories.
Scoring Defense: 11 Points per game (2nd in Big Ten)
Rushing Defense: 93 Yards per game (4th in Big Ten)
Passing Defense: 172.5 YPG (6th in Big Ten)
Total Defense: 265.5 YPG (4th in Big Ten)
Sacks: 12 (3rd in Big Ten)
Interceptions: 5 (T-5th in Big Ten)
Red Zone Defense: Opponents have come away with points 6 out of the 8 times that they have entered the Hawkeye defense's red zone (inside the 20 yard line). 4 of the 6 scores were touchdowns, with the other two being field goals.
Defensive Line
DE: #92 Ken Iwebema (6-4 270 JR)
DT: #53 Matt Kroul (6-3 271 SO)
DT: #47 Mitch King (6-3 264 SO)
DE: #99 Bryan Mattison (6-3 272 JR)
Leading the way up front along the defensive line will be emerging sophomore tackle Mitch King. King, who was tabbed by several publications as a pre-season All Big Ten choice, is out to a very good start this season. So far this season he has 22 tackles, including 6 for a loss, and 5 sacks (T-1st in Big Ten). King is a bit undersized along the defensive front, but has exceptional quickness, and surprising strength. He's got a knack for getting into the backfield quite a bit, and will be one that the Buckeyes will have to contain on Saturday. The other tackle for the Hawkeyes will be sophomore Matt Kroul. On the season Kroul has 15 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, and a half sack.
Getting the start at one of the defensive end spots for the Hawkeyes will be junior Ken Iwebema. On the season Iwebema has 19 tackles, including 5 for a loss, and 3 sacks. He has also forced a fumble. Iwebema is a very dangerous player for the Buckeye offense to defend. He was a first team All Big Ten pick by media last season, and was named to the preseason watch list for the Lott trophy prior to this season. Last week against Illinois he tied a single game Iowa record with two blocked field goals. He is a very disruptive player from his end spot, last season against the Buckeyes he had a sack and a forced fumble. The Buckeye tackles are going to have their hands full with him this week. The other defensive end for the Hawkeyes will be junior Bryan Mattison. On the season Mattison has a total of 17 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss, and 1.5 sacks. He has also broken up 2 passes, and forced a fumble so far this season.
DL Rating: A-
DL Analysis
All 4 of these Iowa defensive lineman are pretty good, a couple are very good. They all have a redshirt year under their belts, and are really developing into a very solid unit for Kirk Ferentz. They are probably up in the top 3 in the Big Ten with Ohio State and Michigan for having the best front 4. One thing that you have to keep your eye on this week is the health of King, he tweaked his hamstring last weekend. A bum wheel will not bode well for him against the Buckeyes. Also keep an eye on Iwebema, who bruised his shoulder up last weekend. If either him or King are dinged up, it changes the complexion of this contest quite a bit from an Iowa defensive standpoint. Through all of this, I have this weird feeling that the Buckeyes are going to have their hands full with this bunch on Saturday, that is unless the injury bug bites them hard. They are pretty stingy against the run, giving up less than 100 yards per game. Pittman is probably going to find his smoothest sailing on the outside, which should bode well for him because that is where he is at his best. Over the past couple of weeks it seems like defenses are starting to find ways to get into the Ohio State backfield against the pass. If Iowa can get pressure on Troy Smith, this game is going to be a nail biter to the end.
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State DL
Ohio State has played very well along the defensive front 4 to date this season, especially in their pass rush. Iowa has also done a nice job of getting to the quarterback. Ohio State has done it against much better competition to this point. Also consider that the Buckeyes have 4 more sacks as a unit, and have a lot more depth than the Hawkeyes. There is no one on the Hawkeyes who is as good as Pitcock, although King may be in a year or two. I also like OSU's advantage over the Iowa unit from a speed standpoint, it seems like the Hawkeyes have strength, but not near the same amount of athleticism as the Buckeyes. I give the nod to the Bucks in this category.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB: #44 Mike Humpal (6-2 232 JR)
MLB: #40 Mike Klinkenborg (6-2 240 JR)
OLB: #27 Edmond Miles (6-1 228 SR)
Leading the way at linebacker for the Hawkeyes will be junior Mike Klinkenborg. On the season Klinkenborg is 2nd in the Big Ten with 41 tackles, including 0.5 for a loss. Klinkenborg has responded pretty well in his first year as a starter for the Hawkeyes. He has good size, but isn't nearly the kind of all around athlete that Abdul Hodge was a year ago for the Hawkeyes. Klinkenborg has great instincts, and always seems to find his way around the ball. He'll need a big game this week, because I'm betting that Pittman is going to see the ball quite a bit.
Getting the nod at one of the outside spots for Iowa will be junior Mike Humpal. On the season Humpal has as total of 21 tackles, including 3 for a loss. Humpal has also picked off a pass this season, and broken up 3 others. Here is another linebacker for the Hawkeyes who is in his first year as a starter. He's got good size, but isn't the fastest guy in town. The other outside linebacker for the Hawkeyes will be senior Edmond Miles. Miles is 2nd on the team with 23 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. He has also forced a fumble so far this season. Miles is probably the best linebacker in this unit. He is also the only returning starter from last year's squad. He was tabbed a preseason 2nd team All Big Ten pick by the Sporting News prior to this season. If any of the Iowa linebackers are going to make any noise this week, I expect Miles to be that guy.
LB Rating: B
LB Analysis
Iowa runs a pretty vanilla defense from a linebacker standpoint. They don't blitz a whole heck of a lot, and rely on their defensive line to keep blockers off of the backers so they can make tackles. Expect to see this bunch sit back and wait for the game to come to them, which could mean a good game for Pittman. Overall, this unit doesn't really scare me a whole hell of a lot. They are kind of like the buddy that you took for granted in High School. Reliable, but not anyone that you'd party with ... unless you needed a ride home afterwards.
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State LBs
Both teams have seen a considerable drop off at the linebacker position from last year's squad. Of course, you are normally going to have that when 3 of the departed 5 go in the 1st round of the NFL draft, and the other 2 go early in the 3rd round. Needless to say, both teams are in a rebuilding stage from a linebacker standpoint. Iowa doesn't have anyone who matches, or has the potential of any of the 5 that I previously mentioned. I'd say that Ohio State probably has a couple that could develop into first round draft picks (Laurinaitis, Freeman) in a year or two. Laurinaitis is quickly emerging into one of the better defensive players in the Big Ten, I don't think that Iowa has anyone who would be considered an impact player. Ohio State also gets the nod on depth in this category. We'll put another one in the OSU column.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB: #19 Adam Shada (6-1 185 JR)
SS: #15 Miguel Merrick (6-0 203 SR)
FS: #25 Marcus Paschal (6-0 207 SR)
CB: #13 Charles Godfrey (6-1 208 JR)
Iowa is led in the secondary by junior cornerback Adam Shada. On the season Shada has a total of 18 tackles. In addition, Shada has also picked off 2 passes, and broken up 4 others. Shada is performing pretty decent in his first year as a starter for the Hawkeyes. He's not a gamebreaker kind of corner though, the Buckeyes should be able to throw at him this week. The other cornerback for the Hawkeyes will be junior Charles Godfrey. On the season Godfrey has a total of 18 tackles, and 3 pass breakups. Godfrey was a standout on special teams last season for the Hawkeyes, and performed admirably filling in at free safety in a couple of games last season. He is probably better in run support than against the pass, it goes to be shown if he can hang with a talented bunch of OSU receivers.
Getting the start at strong safety for Iowa will be senior Miguel Merrick. On the season Merrick has 13 tackles, including 0.5 for a loss. He leads the team with 5 pass breakups, and also has an interception. Merrick is pretty solid against the pass for the Hawkeyes, and is known for his great hustle, and work ethic. The other safety for the Hawkeyes this week will be senior Marcus Paschal. Paschal has a total of 18 tackles, including 0.5 for a loss this season. He has also broken up a pass to date. Paschal is another one that you'll want to keep your eye on from an injury standpoint. He strained his hamstring last week against Illinois, and had to have it wrapped up pretty good before he re-entered the ballgame. Don't think that the Buckeye coaching staff didn't take notice, look for the Bucks to test him deep early on in this ballgame.
DB Rating: B
DB Analysis
Iowa came into the 2006 season with the daunting task of replacing both of their corners from last season. To add insult to injury, both were also 4 year starters. Needless to say, this secondary isn't what it has been in the past. On that note they do have a core group of veterans that have contributed in one, way, shape, or form throughout their careers. None of them are bonafide superstars, but all of them are your typical Kirk Ferentz type of football player. They've all got good size, and are fundamentally sound. What separates them from the big boys is the speed factor. This group has average speed at best, and are prone to the big play. Look for Iowa to give Ohio State a lot of zone looks in an attempt to negate some of the speed differential. This could open up the middle of the field for Gonzo, or possibly Nicol to have a blue collar type game going over the middle against the Hawkeyes. If Smith decides to scramble around a bit more this week, he could tear up this secondary if they sit in zone all night. Time will tell, but this unit is vulnerable.
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State DBs
As we stand, I'd take Malcom Jenkins over anyone in the Iowa secondary. He's an impact player, last week's game sealing interception is a prime example of his athletic ability. I also love his ability to come up and stick his nose in there against the run. He's a physical cornerback, I'm not sure that Iowa has anyone that is at Jenkins' level. They have had some production out of their corners, but they also haven't played anyone yet this season. We'll call Smith even with the Iowa bunch just for arguments sake. At safety Mitchell has really emerged as an impact player for the Buckeyes, I give the Buckeyes the nod there too. The OSU secondary is quickly becoming one of the best in the league as weeks pass.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
All in all, this is an average to slightly above average Iowa defense. They are not anything like they have been in years past. They rely on their front 4 to get pressure, and let their linebackers sit back and make tackles. I'd imagine that you'll see them in a lot of zone coverage this week against the Buckeyes from a secondary standpoint. The key to the game is the Iowa front 4, if they can get pressure on Troy Smith, I think that this one is going to be tight. If Ohio State is able to protect Troy, I think that he'll pick apart this Iowa secondary. I also think that Troy will run the ball the most that he has this season, he fared very well last year when doing so. Look for Antonio Pittman also to put in another work like performance, and get his 100 yards...quietly. This game is shaping up to be a good one, we'll find out if the Buckeyes can finally shake that Big Ten road night game monkey (that's a mouthful) off of their back on Saturday night. There is no better time than now, I think that Ohio State will rise up to the challenge, and Troy Smith will reaffirm his status as the heisman front runner. The Buckeyes will take one step closer to Arizona this weekend with a convincing win in Kinnick stadium.
Overall Defensive Rating: B+
"As an athlete and competitor, this is what you live for. This is why you play the games. Whenever you have the best, you want to step it up and have a good game." Those are the words of senior safety Miguel Merrick when asked about this week's battle with the #1 team in the land. I think that these words sum up what kind of effort that the Buckeyes are going to get this week from pretty good Iowa defense in Iowa City. ESPN College Football Gameday will also make the trip to Iowa City, for what is shaping up to be one of the biggest hurdles for this Ohio State team in their quest for a National Championship. These games have a way of going the way that people do not expect them to, especially in this kind of environment in what will most definitely be a rowdy Kinnick stadium. Ohio State had better buckle up this week. Below is where the Hawkeyes stand in the Big Ten in several major defensive categories.
Scoring Defense: 11 Points per game (2nd in Big Ten)
Rushing Defense: 93 Yards per game (4th in Big Ten)
Passing Defense: 172.5 YPG (6th in Big Ten)
Total Defense: 265.5 YPG (4th in Big Ten)
Sacks: 12 (3rd in Big Ten)
Interceptions: 5 (T-5th in Big Ten)
Red Zone Defense: Opponents have come away with points 6 out of the 8 times that they have entered the Hawkeye defense's red zone (inside the 20 yard line). 4 of the 6 scores were touchdowns, with the other two being field goals.
Defensive Line
DE: #92 Ken Iwebema (6-4 270 JR)
DT: #53 Matt Kroul (6-3 271 SO)
DT: #47 Mitch King (6-3 264 SO)
DE: #99 Bryan Mattison (6-3 272 JR)
Leading the way up front along the defensive line will be emerging sophomore tackle Mitch King. King, who was tabbed by several publications as a pre-season All Big Ten choice, is out to a very good start this season. So far this season he has 22 tackles, including 6 for a loss, and 5 sacks (T-1st in Big Ten). King is a bit undersized along the defensive front, but has exceptional quickness, and surprising strength. He's got a knack for getting into the backfield quite a bit, and will be one that the Buckeyes will have to contain on Saturday. The other tackle for the Hawkeyes will be sophomore Matt Kroul. On the season Kroul has 15 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, and a half sack.
Getting the start at one of the defensive end spots for the Hawkeyes will be junior Ken Iwebema. On the season Iwebema has 19 tackles, including 5 for a loss, and 3 sacks. He has also forced a fumble. Iwebema is a very dangerous player for the Buckeye offense to defend. He was a first team All Big Ten pick by media last season, and was named to the preseason watch list for the Lott trophy prior to this season. Last week against Illinois he tied a single game Iowa record with two blocked field goals. He is a very disruptive player from his end spot, last season against the Buckeyes he had a sack and a forced fumble. The Buckeye tackles are going to have their hands full with him this week. The other defensive end for the Hawkeyes will be junior Bryan Mattison. On the season Mattison has a total of 17 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss, and 1.5 sacks. He has also broken up 2 passes, and forced a fumble so far this season.
DL Rating: A-
DL Analysis
All 4 of these Iowa defensive lineman are pretty good, a couple are very good. They all have a redshirt year under their belts, and are really developing into a very solid unit for Kirk Ferentz. They are probably up in the top 3 in the Big Ten with Ohio State and Michigan for having the best front 4. One thing that you have to keep your eye on this week is the health of King, he tweaked his hamstring last weekend. A bum wheel will not bode well for him against the Buckeyes. Also keep an eye on Iwebema, who bruised his shoulder up last weekend. If either him or King are dinged up, it changes the complexion of this contest quite a bit from an Iowa defensive standpoint. Through all of this, I have this weird feeling that the Buckeyes are going to have their hands full with this bunch on Saturday, that is unless the injury bug bites them hard. They are pretty stingy against the run, giving up less than 100 yards per game. Pittman is probably going to find his smoothest sailing on the outside, which should bode well for him because that is where he is at his best. Over the past couple of weeks it seems like defenses are starting to find ways to get into the Ohio State backfield against the pass. If Iowa can get pressure on Troy Smith, this game is going to be a nail biter to the end.
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State DL
Ohio State has played very well along the defensive front 4 to date this season, especially in their pass rush. Iowa has also done a nice job of getting to the quarterback. Ohio State has done it against much better competition to this point. Also consider that the Buckeyes have 4 more sacks as a unit, and have a lot more depth than the Hawkeyes. There is no one on the Hawkeyes who is as good as Pitcock, although King may be in a year or two. I also like OSU's advantage over the Iowa unit from a speed standpoint, it seems like the Hawkeyes have strength, but not near the same amount of athleticism as the Buckeyes. I give the nod to the Bucks in this category.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB: #44 Mike Humpal (6-2 232 JR)
MLB: #40 Mike Klinkenborg (6-2 240 JR)
OLB: #27 Edmond Miles (6-1 228 SR)
Leading the way at linebacker for the Hawkeyes will be junior Mike Klinkenborg. On the season Klinkenborg is 2nd in the Big Ten with 41 tackles, including 0.5 for a loss. Klinkenborg has responded pretty well in his first year as a starter for the Hawkeyes. He has good size, but isn't nearly the kind of all around athlete that Abdul Hodge was a year ago for the Hawkeyes. Klinkenborg has great instincts, and always seems to find his way around the ball. He'll need a big game this week, because I'm betting that Pittman is going to see the ball quite a bit.
Getting the nod at one of the outside spots for Iowa will be junior Mike Humpal. On the season Humpal has as total of 21 tackles, including 3 for a loss. Humpal has also picked off a pass this season, and broken up 3 others. Here is another linebacker for the Hawkeyes who is in his first year as a starter. He's got good size, but isn't the fastest guy in town. The other outside linebacker for the Hawkeyes will be senior Edmond Miles. Miles is 2nd on the team with 23 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. He has also forced a fumble so far this season. Miles is probably the best linebacker in this unit. He is also the only returning starter from last year's squad. He was tabbed a preseason 2nd team All Big Ten pick by the Sporting News prior to this season. If any of the Iowa linebackers are going to make any noise this week, I expect Miles to be that guy.
LB Rating: B
LB Analysis
Iowa runs a pretty vanilla defense from a linebacker standpoint. They don't blitz a whole heck of a lot, and rely on their defensive line to keep blockers off of the backers so they can make tackles. Expect to see this bunch sit back and wait for the game to come to them, which could mean a good game for Pittman. Overall, this unit doesn't really scare me a whole hell of a lot. They are kind of like the buddy that you took for granted in High School. Reliable, but not anyone that you'd party with ... unless you needed a ride home afterwards.
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State LBs
Both teams have seen a considerable drop off at the linebacker position from last year's squad. Of course, you are normally going to have that when 3 of the departed 5 go in the 1st round of the NFL draft, and the other 2 go early in the 3rd round. Needless to say, both teams are in a rebuilding stage from a linebacker standpoint. Iowa doesn't have anyone who matches, or has the potential of any of the 5 that I previously mentioned. I'd say that Ohio State probably has a couple that could develop into first round draft picks (Laurinaitis, Freeman) in a year or two. Laurinaitis is quickly emerging into one of the better defensive players in the Big Ten, I don't think that Iowa has anyone who would be considered an impact player. Ohio State also gets the nod on depth in this category. We'll put another one in the OSU column.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB: #19 Adam Shada (6-1 185 JR)
SS: #15 Miguel Merrick (6-0 203 SR)
FS: #25 Marcus Paschal (6-0 207 SR)
CB: #13 Charles Godfrey (6-1 208 JR)
Iowa is led in the secondary by junior cornerback Adam Shada. On the season Shada has a total of 18 tackles. In addition, Shada has also picked off 2 passes, and broken up 4 others. Shada is performing pretty decent in his first year as a starter for the Hawkeyes. He's not a gamebreaker kind of corner though, the Buckeyes should be able to throw at him this week. The other cornerback for the Hawkeyes will be junior Charles Godfrey. On the season Godfrey has a total of 18 tackles, and 3 pass breakups. Godfrey was a standout on special teams last season for the Hawkeyes, and performed admirably filling in at free safety in a couple of games last season. He is probably better in run support than against the pass, it goes to be shown if he can hang with a talented bunch of OSU receivers.
Getting the start at strong safety for Iowa will be senior Miguel Merrick. On the season Merrick has 13 tackles, including 0.5 for a loss. He leads the team with 5 pass breakups, and also has an interception. Merrick is pretty solid against the pass for the Hawkeyes, and is known for his great hustle, and work ethic. The other safety for the Hawkeyes this week will be senior Marcus Paschal. Paschal has a total of 18 tackles, including 0.5 for a loss this season. He has also broken up a pass to date. Paschal is another one that you'll want to keep your eye on from an injury standpoint. He strained his hamstring last week against Illinois, and had to have it wrapped up pretty good before he re-entered the ballgame. Don't think that the Buckeye coaching staff didn't take notice, look for the Bucks to test him deep early on in this ballgame.
DB Rating: B
DB Analysis
Iowa came into the 2006 season with the daunting task of replacing both of their corners from last season. To add insult to injury, both were also 4 year starters. Needless to say, this secondary isn't what it has been in the past. On that note they do have a core group of veterans that have contributed in one, way, shape, or form throughout their careers. None of them are bonafide superstars, but all of them are your typical Kirk Ferentz type of football player. They've all got good size, and are fundamentally sound. What separates them from the big boys is the speed factor. This group has average speed at best, and are prone to the big play. Look for Iowa to give Ohio State a lot of zone looks in an attempt to negate some of the speed differential. This could open up the middle of the field for Gonzo, or possibly Nicol to have a blue collar type game going over the middle against the Hawkeyes. If Smith decides to scramble around a bit more this week, he could tear up this secondary if they sit in zone all night. Time will tell, but this unit is vulnerable.
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State DBs
As we stand, I'd take Malcom Jenkins over anyone in the Iowa secondary. He's an impact player, last week's game sealing interception is a prime example of his athletic ability. I also love his ability to come up and stick his nose in there against the run. He's a physical cornerback, I'm not sure that Iowa has anyone that is at Jenkins' level. They have had some production out of their corners, but they also haven't played anyone yet this season. We'll call Smith even with the Iowa bunch just for arguments sake. At safety Mitchell has really emerged as an impact player for the Buckeyes, I give the Buckeyes the nod there too. The OSU secondary is quickly becoming one of the best in the league as weeks pass.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
All in all, this is an average to slightly above average Iowa defense. They are not anything like they have been in years past. They rely on their front 4 to get pressure, and let their linebackers sit back and make tackles. I'd imagine that you'll see them in a lot of zone coverage this week against the Buckeyes from a secondary standpoint. The key to the game is the Iowa front 4, if they can get pressure on Troy Smith, I think that this one is going to be tight. If Ohio State is able to protect Troy, I think that he'll pick apart this Iowa secondary. I also think that Troy will run the ball the most that he has this season, he fared very well last year when doing so. Look for Antonio Pittman also to put in another work like performance, and get his 100 yards...quietly. This game is shaping up to be a good one, we'll find out if the Buckeyes can finally shake that Big Ten road night game monkey (that's a mouthful) off of their back on Saturday night. There is no better time than now, I think that Ohio State will rise up to the challenge, and Troy Smith will reaffirm his status as the heisman front runner. The Buckeyes will take one step closer to Arizona this weekend with a convincing win in Kinnick stadium.
Overall Defensive Rating: B+
2006 Iowa Hawkeyes Special Teams Preview
Returning Starters: 2
Kirk Ferentz is a very good football coach, and as such, he recognizes the intrinsic value of special teams play. Well coached teams always have excellent special teamers. Iowa returns three starters from a 2005 unit that did very well overall, especially in conference play. The Buckeyes have struggled in Iowa City of late, and the Hawkeyes seem to play lights out when Ohio State comes to visit. Look for a smashmouth game, especially on special teams. Iowa does not have the speed that Ohio State boasts, but their coverage is excellent, and they play very smart football.
Special Teams
P #6 Andy Fenstermaker (6-3 225 SR)*
PK#1 Kyle Schlicker (5-9 184 SR)*
PR#80 Andy Brodell (6-3 193 SO)
KR #23 Shonne Greene (5-11, 225 SO)
LS #65 Daniel Olszta (5-11 222 JR)
* = Returning Starter
Kicking Game
Both the placekicker and punter return for Iowa this year. Schlicher is Iowa's Josh Huston, following in the footsteps of Kaeding (as Huston followed Nugent). His accuracy is a very respectable 81% for his career, and with a career long of 52 yards, he has a strong leg to go with it. His strength also shows through on his kickoffs. In 2006, Schlicker has put 11 of his 22 boots into the endzone for touchbacks. This number should actually be higher, but some over-zealous returners have brought several deep kicks out, much to their chagrin. Iowa led the conference in kick coverage in 2005, allowing opponents only 16.5 yards per kick return, and seem to be on the same pace this season.
As good as Schlicher is, however, Fenstermaker (you have to love that name) has struggled. His 38.5 ypp average in 2005 was only enough to rank him 10th in the conference, and so far in 2006 he has only a 35.3 average (with a season long of just 48 yards). He is normally successful in dropping punts inside the 20, however (21 of 49 in 2005), and his net average of 35.9 was good enough for 4th overall in the conference. These numbers give a pretty good indication of the excellent coverage that Iowa has.
Kicking Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State Kickers
Trapasso clearly is a better punter than Fenstermaker, but Schlicher has an advantage in the field goal department. Although Pettrey has consistently booted his kickoffs into the endzone, Iowa's coverage has been somewhat better than Ohio State's. The deciding factor here is the surprising lack of a return game by the Buckeyes. Ginn failed to have the breakout game I predicted last week, and the Bucks have been mediocre in returning both kicks and punts.
Edge: Iowa
Return Game
Damian Sims (#28, 5-9 185 SR) is listed as a returning starter, but was not included for purposes of this preview, as he has only returned one kick for 10 yards. Shonne Greene has returned more than anyone, but still only has four returns (81 yards total, with an average of 20.3 ypkr and a long of 37). Brodell returns the majority of the punts, and boasts a very respectable average of 12.1 ypr (with a long of 31). Both of these returners are new starters, and while solid, neither are All-American candidates. Dominique Douglas (#88, 6-1 193 SO) will assist with returning punts (only one return, but for 25 yards), and Champ Davis' (#46, 6-2 238 SR, one return for 11 yards) number may also be called for kick return duty.
Kicking Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State Returners
The threat of Ginn is still enough to intimidate opponents. While Iowa's return game is solid, on paper the Buckeyes hold a monumental advantage.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Special Teams Analysis
Iowa is well coached, and as mentioned previously, well coached teams normally have excellent special teams play. Outside of Schlicher, none of these names are phenomenal, but all are more than adequate, and will do a solid job. While Ohio State is still waiting for Ginn to break the long one, it is obvious that the talent and speed are there, which would give the Buckeyes the overall advantage.
Overall Special Teams Rating: B-
Kirk Ferentz is a very good football coach, and as such, he recognizes the intrinsic value of special teams play. Well coached teams always have excellent special teamers. Iowa returns three starters from a 2005 unit that did very well overall, especially in conference play. The Buckeyes have struggled in Iowa City of late, and the Hawkeyes seem to play lights out when Ohio State comes to visit. Look for a smashmouth game, especially on special teams. Iowa does not have the speed that Ohio State boasts, but their coverage is excellent, and they play very smart football.
Special Teams
P #6 Andy Fenstermaker (6-3 225 SR)*
PK#1 Kyle Schlicker (5-9 184 SR)*
PR#80 Andy Brodell (6-3 193 SO)
KR #23 Shonne Greene (5-11, 225 SO)
LS #65 Daniel Olszta (5-11 222 JR)
* = Returning Starter
Kicking Game
Both the placekicker and punter return for Iowa this year. Schlicher is Iowa's Josh Huston, following in the footsteps of Kaeding (as Huston followed Nugent). His accuracy is a very respectable 81% for his career, and with a career long of 52 yards, he has a strong leg to go with it. His strength also shows through on his kickoffs. In 2006, Schlicker has put 11 of his 22 boots into the endzone for touchbacks. This number should actually be higher, but some over-zealous returners have brought several deep kicks out, much to their chagrin. Iowa led the conference in kick coverage in 2005, allowing opponents only 16.5 yards per kick return, and seem to be on the same pace this season.
As good as Schlicher is, however, Fenstermaker (you have to love that name) has struggled. His 38.5 ypp average in 2005 was only enough to rank him 10th in the conference, and so far in 2006 he has only a 35.3 average (with a season long of just 48 yards). He is normally successful in dropping punts inside the 20, however (21 of 49 in 2005), and his net average of 35.9 was good enough for 4th overall in the conference. These numbers give a pretty good indication of the excellent coverage that Iowa has.
Kicking Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State Kickers
Trapasso clearly is a better punter than Fenstermaker, but Schlicher has an advantage in the field goal department. Although Pettrey has consistently booted his kickoffs into the endzone, Iowa's coverage has been somewhat better than Ohio State's. The deciding factor here is the surprising lack of a return game by the Buckeyes. Ginn failed to have the breakout game I predicted last week, and the Bucks have been mediocre in returning both kicks and punts.
Edge: Iowa
Return Game
Damian Sims (#28, 5-9 185 SR) is listed as a returning starter, but was not included for purposes of this preview, as he has only returned one kick for 10 yards. Shonne Greene has returned more than anyone, but still only has four returns (81 yards total, with an average of 20.3 ypkr and a long of 37). Brodell returns the majority of the punts, and boasts a very respectable average of 12.1 ypr (with a long of 31). Both of these returners are new starters, and while solid, neither are All-American candidates. Dominique Douglas (#88, 6-1 193 SO) will assist with returning punts (only one return, but for 25 yards), and Champ Davis' (#46, 6-2 238 SR, one return for 11 yards) number may also be called for kick return duty.
Kicking Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Iowa vs Ohio State Returners
The threat of Ginn is still enough to intimidate opponents. While Iowa's return game is solid, on paper the Buckeyes hold a monumental advantage.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Special Teams Analysis
Iowa is well coached, and as mentioned previously, well coached teams normally have excellent special teams play. Outside of Schlicher, none of these names are phenomenal, but all are more than adequate, and will do a solid job. While Ohio State is still waiting for Ginn to break the long one, it is obvious that the talent and speed are there, which would give the Buckeyes the overall advantage.
Overall Special Teams Rating: B-
Predictions
BB73's prediction: 27-13, Ohio State
BuckeyeRyn's prediction: 31-17, Ohio State
Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 38-17, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 24-13, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 27-13, Ohio State
daddyphatsac's prediction: 24-13, Ohio State
Deety's prediction: 27-24, Ohio State
FKAGobucks877's prediction: 38-17, Ohio State
jwinslow's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State
LordJeffBuck's prediction: 29-16, Ohio State
osugrad21's prediction: 24-17, Ohio State
OSUsushichic's prediction: 31-20, Ohio State
PrincessPeach's prediction: ??-??, Ohio State
3yardsandacloud's prediction: 34-13, Ohio State
Last Week's Results (OSU 28 - Penn State 6)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(44) Deety's prediction: 34-10, Ohio State (6 + 4 = 10 + 34 last week)
(45) Bucklion's prediction: 35-16, Ohio State (7 + 10 = 17 + 28 last week)
(46) BB73's prediction: 34-16, Ohio State (6 + 10 = 16 + 30 last week)
(47) Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 34-10, Ohio State (6 + 4 = 10 + 37 last week)
(49) BuckeyeRyn's prediction: 31-17, Ohio State (3 + 11 = 14 + 35 last week)
(51) OSUsushichic's prediction: 33-13, Ohio State (5 + 7 = 12 + 39 last week)
(57) FKAGobucks877's prediction: 34-17, Ohio State (6 + 11 = 17 + 40 last week)
(58) PrincessPeach's prediction: 35-17, Ohio State (7 + 11 = 18 + 40 last week)
(58) osugrad21's prediction: 35-20, Ohio State (7 + 14 = 21 + 37 last week)
(62) daddyphatsac's prediction: 34-13, Ohio State (6 + 7 = 13 + 49 last week)
(65) 3yardsandacloud's prediction: 31-15, Ohio State (3 + 9 = 12 + 53 last week)
(73) LordJeffBuck's prediction: 33-16, Ohio State (5 + 10 = 15 + 68 last week)
(58) jwinslow's prediction: 42-17, Ohio State (14 + 11 = 25 + 33 last week) 3rd week
(33) DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 38-14, Ohio State (10 + 8 = 18 + 15 last week) 2nd week
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