Last Call -- Arkansas State

-- Close calls: There were a lot of plays that were "close" today. I know that's not a popular opinion, but there were.

RB Brandon Wegher was close to breaking a few. QB Ricky Stanzi almost hit WR Trey Stross on the same double-move that worked for WR Marvin McNutt three times for big yards Saturday. On a few plays on the kaput drives in the first half, there was a block here and there that wasn't made that killed drives. G Julian Vandervelde had a couple noticeable misses. McNutt should've run on that WR pass. It was a first down if he does.

ASU QB Corey Leonard was clutch in key situations, keeping several drives alive with some dangerous chances that just happened to find a home in the hands of Red Wolves receivers.

Lots of sniping on the 'net about the defense and Stanzi. Human nature sort of creeps in here, doesn't it? Penn State, Arkansas State and Michigan. That's a factor. Also, Arkansas State isn't bad. That all welled up and gave the Hawkeyes a headache today.

Let's see what happens next week. No, Iowa can't afford a lot of what went on today next week against Michigan. 

They punched in, fell asleep in a storage closet and punched out a winner.

-- It was a pick: Take two throws away, you have very different feelings about Stanzi today.

He completed 18 of 26 for 296 yards and three TDs. Yes, he also had two interceptions, one LB Demario Davis returned 75 yards for a TD and pulled ASU within 21-14 in the fourth quarter.

On his first pick, Stanzi said ASU tricked him on a coverage. On the second, "trying to do something I shouldn't have been doing with the football down in the red zone." He threw on the run and pretty late into the flat. That's a killer combo. If you're going to pull that off, you're wearing a Green Bay Packers No. 4 jersey and it's 1997.

Still, Stanzi finished with a pass efficiency of 187.55 -- it was 384.88 during the nearly perfect opening stretch, which yielded two TD drives -- which is stellar. Take out the two INTs and Stanzi is at 202.93. Of couse, no one is taking those away. Doesn't work like that.

Just like no one can switch the columns on Stanzi's 13-3 record as a starter.

-- Running nowhere: Not a great day for the O-line.

The Hawkeyes averaged 3.8 yards on 33 carries, putting all the pressure on Stanzi to make something happen. This was a week afterRobinson and Wegher gained 161 and averaged 4.8 yards a run at Penn State.

Moving parts = no consistency. OT Bryan Bulaga was back for the first time in three games. He didn't hurt Iowa, but the offensive line had a long day overall. Against Nebraska, this same ASU defense held the Huskers to 136 rushing yards on 28 carries. ASU's front seven played smart, inspired football and won the line of scrimmage. The Wolves lost the game, but won the LOS. Shouldn't happen if you're Iowa, but they did win.

-- Drama?: "Derrell didn't have a good week of practice," Ferentz said after Saturday's 24-21 Hawkeyes win over Arkansas State.

This could easily be taken as injury-related on Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. He did miss Arizona with a hamstring injury. He did look a little tender on his one catch along the sidelines in the second half. Or it could be something else. DJK playing in the first half. He entered the game in the third quarter and caught one pass for 27 yards. He looked a little gimpy making that play.

-- Injuries: TE Tony Moeaki (ankle) has a realistic chance to return for Michigan (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten), coach Kirk Ferentz said. CB Shaun Prater suffered a sprained/hyperextended knee Wednesday in practice. Ferentz said there's no structural damage and he should be available for Michigan. LB Pat Angerer tore a thumb ligament in his right hand early in the game. He returned. He conducted postgame interviews and laughed it off. It was the same injury that Drew Tate had to have surgery on in 2006, but Angerer isn't a QB. Stay tuned. CB Greg Castillo (groin) played special teams today.

-- Inside the numbers

384.88 -- At one point in the first half, Stanzi was 5-for-5 for 91 yards and two TDs - a 33-yarder to WR Trey Stross and a 41-yarder to WR Marvin McNutt. That's a QB efficiency of 384.88.

Minus-3 -- Yeah, Iowa punter Ryan Donahue didn't jump off the page as he has the last few weeks. But the minus-3 yards was ASU's punt return yardage, one punt return for minus-3.

3.9 -- Iowa is averaging 3.9 yards a carry. The Hawkeyes haven't averaged less than 4 yards a carry since 3.42 in 2007.

5 --  Sophomore safety Tyler Sash picked off his fifth pass of the season Saturday. He now has 10 in his career.

33 -- Iowa's defense hasn't allowed a rushing TD in 33 quarters. That's eight-plus games.

 -- Next:  The Michigan Wolverines (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) ride into Kinnick after falling 26-20 in overtime at East Lansing.

The star of the show is true freshman QB Tate Forcier, whose most impressive stat might be 9 TD passes to just three interceptions. But don't discount Denard Robinson, who averages 44.75 rushing yards a game. The Wolverines are tops in the Big Ten with 240.25 rushing yards a game, eighth in the nation.

On the flip side, UM's defense is No. 89 in the country, allowing 385.75 yards.