The Big Analysis -- Indiana

When the Hawkeyes have the ball

Defense has been a bit of a rallying call for first-year Indiana coach Kevin Wilson. The Hoosiers haven't had a statement or stop defense in several years, probably since Bill Mallory was head coach and Joe Novak was defensive coordinator back in the early 1990s.

“I think our defensive coordinators, Doug Mallory and Mike Ekeler and then Mark Hagen, Brandon Shelby, Brett Diersen also, I think they're all right on the same page with that package," Wilson said. "It's a package they believe in, conceptually, and it's a package that can adjust to what our guys can do.”

Mallory and Ekeler have had some impressive stops on their resumes. They've played or coached with Bo Schembechler, Bill Mallory, Jack Harbaugh, Les Miles, Bill Snyder, Bob Stoops and Bo Pelini. So, they know what quality defenses are and what they should do.

Indiana simply isn't there yet. The Hoosiers are 10th in the Big Ten in scoring defense (31.7 ppg), 12th in rush defense (227.43 ypg), ninth in passing defense (208.7 ypg) and again 12th in total defense (436.1 ypg). They're also 10th in sacks with seven.

The Hoosiers can't stop the run, can't pressure the quarterback and suffer too many coverage breakdowns. That is a defense that would make all the coaches mentioned above shudder.

After Ball State gashed the Hoosiers for 210 rush yards in the opener, IU abandoned a two-gap scheme for a gap defense, asking its D-linemen to penetrate gaps rather than locking up with O-linemen. That could be a concession to a lack of physicality up front.

In a rebuild situation, the defense usually takes the longest to come around. This is going to take some time.

Absolutely no question, the Hawkeyes looked the way the want to look last week against Northwestern. They rushed 28 times and passed 22, not perfect balance but the correct shade to the running game that usually says, loudly, victory.

The play-action pass, eaten up against Iowa State and ditched with the short-stay that was the no-huddle, showed up in the form of two long TD passes. A five-minute drive in the fourth quarter, fueled by QB James Vandenberg's arm and running back Marcus Coker's legs, was maybe the most "Iowa" Iowa's offense has looked this season.

Coker, who rushed for 124 yards and two TDs, helped Iowa control clock just enough. The Hawkeyes' 5.54 yards per carry was their best in a Big Ten game they put up 6.35 against Purdue on Nov. 8, 2008.

Iowa's offensive line owned the line of scrimmage against Northwestern. Guard Adam Gettis set the tone with a block that looked like a late hit but was just continuation of a dominating drive block.

Senior wide receiver Marvin McNutt goes into today's game with a wonderful opportunity to set Iowa's career TD receptions record. He tied Tim Dwight and Danan Hughes at 21 with a 35-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter.

Advantage: Iowa

When the Hoosiers have the ball

Indiana's running game showed signs of life last week against the Badgers. So much life, that if it if comes together at QB this week, the Hoosiers should be able to move the ball on Iowa's injury-riddled defense.

Indiana rushed for 223 yards on 45 attempts (5.0 average) against the Badgers. The last time an IU team rushed for 200 yards against a Big Ten foe came against Purdue (219 yards) on Nov. 17, 2007. Stephen Houston recorded his first 100-yard game as a Hoosier at No. 4 Wisconsin. The sophomore gained 135 yards on 19 carries (7.1 average) with a 67-yard touchdown.

That's progress, but the other end of the offense is hurting. Because of injury, the Hoosiers have tried three quarterbacks (Ed Wright-Baker, Dusty Kiel and Tre Roberson) and one wildcat quarterback (Kofi Hughes). The continuity has been non-existent and the production has drooped. The Hoosiers have seen their starting quarterback held to 71 passing yards or fewer and a 40 percent completion percentage in each of the past two weeks. Wright-Baker went 6-for-15 against Wisconsin last week when the Hoosiers totaled 64 yards through the air. The previous week with Wright-Baker injured, Kiel was 6-for-19 for 71 yards before injuring his ankle and giving way to Roberson.

Wilson came to IU from Oklahoma, so you know the Hoosiers are headed toward something spread and something wide open. Wilson uses a no-huddle, spread attack that tries to run as many plays as possible. The big difference between Oklahoma and Indiana is that the Hoosiers lack the playmakers, steady line play and depth of the Sooners.

The Hoosiers have allowed 20 sacks the season, last in the Big Ten and 111th nationally. All of IU's quarterbacks have combined for seven TD passes and six interceptions. WR Demarlo Belcher, who left the Wisconsin game with a knee injury, is among the top receivers in the conference (25 receptions for 286 yards and a TD), but he will not play today.

The Hoosiers have a receiver who gives the Hawkeyes headaches seemingly every season. It won't be Belcher (who has 13 catches for 139 yards and a TD in three career games against Iowa). It could be Duwyce Wilson (5 for 45 last season against Iowa).

Iowa's linebacker corps might regain a few bodies this week. Sophomore MLB James Morris hopes to return from a sprained ankle he suffered two weeks ago at Penn State. Sophomore reserve Anthony Hitchens has missed the last two weeks with a knee injury, but coach Kirk Ferentz said he should return this week. That would be just in time.

Senior Tyler Nielsen could be touch-and-go after a hand injury and subsequent surgery following Northwestern.

Iowa's D-line enjoyed its best, most complete game of the season against the Wildcats. End Dominic Alvis showed terrific range, picking up a pair of tackles for loss and preventing some big gains with solid contain. Junior Steve Bigach had his most notable performance with a sack. He filled in for senior Tom Nardo, who could return this week after sitting with a knee injury.

Senior end Broderick Binns played perhaps his most dominant game since Penn State 2009, picking up a sack and tackle for loss. Senior tackle Mike Daniels also had a sack and tackle for loss and leads the Hawkeyes with six tackles for loss.

This will be a battle of attrition, but can IU execute at QB? That's a huge question to have to answer on the road in the Big Ten.

IU center Will Matte, who's started 31 games at center, also will not play today, Wilson said Wednesday night.

Advantage: Iowa

Special teams

You saw the highlight last week. IU punter Adam Pines uses the run-up rugby style, which means more line-drive type of punts. Last week, Pines grounded into a double play. He chili-dipped a punt that ricocheted off a Wisconsin lineman and was recovered by the Badgers at IU's 26. The punt went for a grand total of 1 yard and basically gift-wrapped a TD for Wisconsin.

Kicker Mitch Ewald is capable of winning games. He made 16 of 19 in 2010 and has made 7 of 9 this season, including 3 of 5 from 40-49 yards.

The Hoosiers have allowed just one kick return of 30-plus yards this season. The Hawkeyes' kick coverage remains a work-in-progress. Iowa has allowed seven kick returns of 30-plus yards, second-most in the Big Ten.

Sophomore Mike Meyer is struggling with kickoffs. He averages 63.08 yards a kickoff, which is sixth in the Big Ten and stresses an unsteady coverage team. Also, he has just one touchback (fewest in the Big Ten) and his 2.70 touchback percentage is 107th in the nation. Auburn's Cody Parkey is the nation's leader at 56.76 percent. This is a startling about-face. Last season, Meyer had 15 touchbacks (21.74 percent, 31st in the country) and kicked just one ball out of bounds, which is a penalty and allows the opponent to start at the 40.

Advantage: Push

The Scoreboard

Iowa has 10 true freshmen in play this season. Just one, linebacker Quinton Alston, has a shot at playing time beyond special teams today. In fact, Alston could see considerable time at middle linebacker with Iowa's shaky injury situation there. Wilson has 16 true freshmen in the mix, which is tied for third most in the country (Texas 18, Auburn 17 and Army 16). Two of the true frosh have started on the O-line. In addition, IU also has started six redshirt freshmen with 10 playing this season. This is a new coach and a new team. In a way, this season is more about building than winning. It sort of has to play out that way for Wilson and the Hoosiers.

Iowa 38, Indiana 24