The Walk Through: Iowa at Iowa State

OK, half way.

1. Iowa QB Nate Stanley had another slow start and then rebound.

He has a passer rating of 195 right now. Two TD passes.

If you had Iowa's first five TDs of the season as passes, please, collect your winnings at the booth.

Iowa's OL kept a clean pocket. There was a hold and a false start.

2. The Iowa drive at the end of the first half, did it serve notice?

It was 10 plays, 91 yards. It overcame a holding call. Really, it was all-systems go. Everything worked pretty well.

Akrum Wadley's 35-yard run spurred the drive. It was well blocked, but it was Wadley doing Wadley things.

3. Jacob Park is pretty good.

If you have a favorite Iowa cornerback, you're going to have to hang with him today. Manny Rugamba and Josh Jackson are seeing targets.

You have to like ISU RB David Montgomery. That 36-yard run of his was a Wadley thing of beauty.

But ISU doesn't seem interested in running the ball. Lots of pressure on Park to be perfect. He wasn't quite in the first half. There were a couple of drops that hurt, too.

4. I thought the first half was going to be a story of who did and who didn't go for a fourth down.

ISU converted its and ended up in the end zone. Iowa tried to draw ISU offsides and punted. Iowa State took that momentum and rode it to a 10-7 lead.

5. . . . But then Iowa had that drive at the end of the first half.

I would think ISU will pressure a rookie QB a ton in the second half. Offensively, I think the Cyclones will bomb it. It seems like that choice has been made.

Iowa? Lots of two tight ends. More of James Butler. Iowa did run a split-back play with Wadley and Butler on the field.

Ihmir Smith-Marsette quickly erases last week's fumble with two receptions and 24 yards from scrimmage.

Iowa blitzed a few times and played nickel a handful.

Still anyone's game, but Iowa's thrust at the end of the half and the fact that it gets the ball back, huge third quarter.

Hello from Ames.

It's really nice here. Going to be a beautiful sunny day. The tailgate area was teeming with people having fun, throwing footballs and eating.

— According to Gary Dolphin on Iowa's radio broadcast, Iowa center James Daniels (knee) and guard/tackle Boone Myers (ankle) will play today.

Daniels sat out last week. Head coach Kirk Ferentz said Daniels knocked on his door 2:30 last Friday and asked to play. It was one of those deals where they didn't want to sacrifice two or three weeks to play just one. Junior Keegan Render slid into center. Redshirt freshman Alaric Jackson went the distace at left tackle. Junior Ross Reynolds shared left guard with Myers.

The best five is sure to change some today.

— A little more info here: The starting lineup is up in the air. Render is moving back to his left guard spot. The left tackle will be Jackson or Myers or Jackson and Myers. Daniels will be back at center. Sean Welsh and Ike Boettger will be in place on the right side.

— Iowa's skill players have done their warmup thingie here. New to their pregame this is are a series of foot drills, hurdles and pushups on a medicine ball. (I know, it's trivia, but just in case you're interested).

— Iowa's specilists are warming up.

One noteworthy presense is true freshman punter Ryan Gersonde. Sophomore Cole Rastetter was OK in his first start, averaging 38.25 yards on four punts. Hang time was OK. He got a few bounces. One thing about Ferentz and staff, they know there will be a little bit of a rollercoaster effect with a new specialist. I think Rastetter sticks, but interesting that Gersonde is here.

As far as I understand, when a team takes a bus, it can bring as many players as it wants on a road trip. That might not hold true for Big Ten road trips. I'll try to figure that rule out, but Gersonde is here.

— Miguel Recinos just put a 42-yarder through the south uprights. It's not terribly windy here. The Google says wind won't go above single digits and will be out of the southwest.

— On the radio, Kirk Ferentz said he expects more 'octane' in the running game with Daniels return.

How many carries for James Butler this week? I think more than 10.

— Senior fullback Drake Kulick is leading Iowa's psyche up huddle thingie in the south end zone.

— Our first look at the Iowa OL has Daniels and Jackson in the starting lineup. Myers likely will play.

— True freshman Tristan Wirfs is No. 2 RT.

— Same starters on defense except for Manny Rugamba. He's back after serving a one-week suspension for an undisclosed team violation.

— In team drills, Daniels at C and Jackson at LT.

— Second-team OL: Myers, Ross Reynolds, Spencer Williams, Levi Paulsen and Wirfs

— Second DL: AJ Epenesa, Brady Reiff, Matt Nelson, Sam Brincks

— It's going to be warm here. Remember, last week Iowa played eight defensive linemen. That might pay dividends today.

OK, I'll update this post with quick halftime thoughts and really quick postgame thoughts.

Enjoy the game.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com