Hawkeyes go dead in the red zone

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Just when Iowa's red zone statistics were something the team could point to and say, yeah, not bad, Saturday happened.

The offensive struggles were what might've caught you by surprise coming out of Iowa's 22-21 loss at TCF Bank Stadium. The Hawkeyes were 3 of 6 with scoring points inside Minnesota's 20-yard line. Iowa came into the game No. 1 in the Big Ten in red zone offense, scoring 96.3 percent of the time.

Sophomore kicker Mike Meyer missed on two field goals (24 and 43) to squelch two red zone opportunities. The 43-yarder came about after Iowa had a first down at Minnesota's 11. Quarterback James Vandenberg was sacked and Meyer's kick glanced off the left upright.

"That's big, we know that," Vandenberg said. "We have to execute in the red zone. We didn't do our job down there today and it came back and got us."

Running back Marcus Coker broke a 50-yarder to set up the Hawkeyes at Minnesota's 14. He went to the sideline after the gain and Iowa ran his replacement, De'Andre Johnson, for gains of 1 and two yards. On third down, Vandenberg hit wide receiver Marvin McNutt for 5 yards, sending Meyer into the game.

"We've been a good red zone offensive and defensive team, I think we mentioned that the other day," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "Today, you wouldn't know it."

Like Iowa's performance in the red zone, Meyer also was on a hot streak, hitting his last five field goals before Saturday's 0-fer.

"Mike's a really good football player and I expect him to bounce back," Ferentz said.

Maybe the mention the other day jinxed the Hawkeyes.

Iowa's defense went into Saturday's game No. 2 in the Big Ten in the red zone, holding opponents scoreless 70.97 percent of the time. Minnesota went 4-for-5 with three of those going for TDs.

"We weren't coasting," defensive end Broderick Binns said. "I think more or less us not being in the right positions to just make the plays."