The Big Analysis -- Minnesota

When the Hawkeyes have the ball

Minnesota has gone through 11 defensive coordinators in the last 20 years, but that's OK for first-year coordinator Tracy Claeys. He's been with head coach Jerry Kill since 1995, so, with Kill's contract extension through 2018 announced this week, it's a good bet he's sticking. But still, this defense, a 4-3 that has thrived on pressure in other Kill/Claeys stops, is a project.

The Gophers are more experienced this season, with most of that experience showing up in the front seven. Senior defensive tackle Anthony Jacobs leads Gopher defensive linemen with 13 total tackles. He's third on the team with 3.0 tackles for loss. Senior defensive tackle Brandon Kirksey, the nephew of Iowa sophomore linebacker Christian Kirksey, has 11.5 tackles for loss in his career. True freshman end Michael Amaefula has 12 tackles.

The Gophers D-line is clearly searching for a vein of stability with 11 linemen seeing action in 2011. There isn't a lot of disruption, though. The Gophers have just five sacks, last in the Big Ten and last in FBS. They've also gained just four turnovers, last in the Big Ten and last in FBS. UM is 96th in the nation in rush defense (192.14). The future is now at defensive end, with freshmen Amaefula and Ben Perry in the starting lineup.

Linebackers Gary Tinsley and Keanon Cooper are battling veterans. Cooper, who is playing with an injured wrist that requires a cast, turned in a career-best 12-tackle effort last week against Nebraska. Tinsley led the team in tackles last season. Junior WLB Mike Rallis played in just nine 2010 games, but finished fourth on the team in tackles for loss (6.0) and led the team in interceptions (3).

Senior cornerback Troy Stoudermire, who has a pair of interceptions this season, could be the star of this defense, but he's missed the last three games with a broken left wrist. He's questionable for Saturday's game. Safety Kim Royston leads the Gophers with 61 tackles. He missed last season with a broken leg, but received a sixth year of eligibility.

The Hawkeyes' offense is all systems go right now. After a rough outing at Penn State -- two picks, no TDs and five sacks -- quarterback James Vandenberg has completed 26 of 38 for 477 yards, one interception and six TDs. That's a pass efficiency of 220.70, which means he's throwing the ball smartly and accurately.

Running back Marcus Coker has raised his yards per carry from 3.86 after three games to 4.8, with 100-yard games in three of his last four outings. Still, Iowa hasn't called on a No. 2 running back in a clutch situation. It's clear seven games in the plan is to ride Coker.

Wide receiver Marvin McNutt put on a show against Indiana in Kinnick Stadium. He needs 243 yards to become the first Iowa receiver since Kevin Kasper (1,010) in 2000 to break the 1,000-yard mark. Keith Chappelle's season receiving yardage record (1,037 yards in 1980) wouldn't be far off and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos' career yardage record is just 314 yards in the distance.

The offensive line could use some tightening, but at least two of the four sacks Indiana came up with last week were on Vandenberg, who needs to better identify blitzes. But really, the blemishes are few and far between and probably won't come to light this week.

Advantage: Iowa

When the Golden Gophers have the ball

Minnesota's biggest offensive threat literally and figuratively is quarterback MarQueis Gray. At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, Gray is a freak athlete who averages 4.7 yards on 94 carries. Gray's touch in the passing game is still a work in progress -- Gophers have the Big Ten's lowest pass efficiency (103.7) and fewest TD passes (five) -- but Gray can use the threat of the pass to set up the run, a tactic Iowa has seen from QBs in consecutive weeks. Iowa's tackling needs to be thorough, or Gray will make something happen with his feet.

With Gray, Minnesota has a trio of athletes who will give the Hawkeyes plenty to worry about. Senior wide receiver Da'Jon McKnight led the Gophers with 48 receptions for 750 yards and 10 TDs in 2010. In three games against Iowa, McKnight has six catches for 108 yards. He needs just 106 yards to crack the Gophers career top 10 for receiving yards. Running back Duane Bennett has rushed for 1,792 yards in his career, which is 18th in UM history. In three career games against Iowa, Bennett has 33 carries for 117 yards and a TD.

Minnesota defensive coordinator Matt Limegrover has been with Kill for 12 seasons. At their other stops, the combo has produced a diverse offense known for running the ball, with gap and zone blocking and with some read option. The offensive line has been beaten up a bit this season, with three combinations in seven games. The latest fivesome has fifth-year senior Chris Bunders at right tackle after 28 career starts at guard. Freshman Tommy Olson will make his third career start at left guard next to his brother, in his 16th career start at left tackle. It's pretty new up front and that shows in the 11th in rushing in the Big Ten and fewest rushing TDs (eight).

Iowa's defense is living off fumes. The red zone defense is a respectable at No. 2 in the Big Ten (scores allowed 70.97 percent of the time). The turnover margin remains on the positive side (plus-3) and the Hawkeyes aren't committing penalties (36.7 yards a game, seventh in the nation).

Health is an issue and could be again this week. Senior linebacker Tyler Nielsen (broken hand), senior tackle Tom Nardo and sophomore linebacker Anthony Hitchens (knee) have a chance to play after missing one to three weeks. At one point against Indiana, senior tackle Mike Daniels limped off the field. He returned, but the Hawkeyes clearly missed a push up the middle.

Right now, this is a defense that performs well as the field shortens (red zone), can't get off the field on third down (50.88 percent is 112th in the country) and is literally going play-to-play with some of the injuries, specifically at linebacker. There's the immediate injuries there and then the "forgotten linebackers," including sophomores Shane DiBona (Achilles) and Dakota Getza (ACL) and redshirt freshman Jim Poggi.

The one thought that kept emerging from players during the Indiana postgame was "next play," as in don't dwell on something you can't change but move on to the next challenge. Maybe there are a few more moving on to that challenge this week.

Advantage: Iowa

Special teams

In a season where the losses and the negativity has piled up, the Gophers are playing solid special teams. Or maybe more accurately, they're making the most of limited opportunities (UM has kicked off just eight times in Big Ten play). The Gophers allow just 19.60 yards a kick return and 4.50 yards a punt return.

Sophomore Dan Orseske averaged just 36.1 yards per punt and was 94th in the nation last season. Through the first seven games, he's punted 33 times for 40.2 yards. The Gophers are No. 49 ranking in net punting, averaging 37.18 yards of field position per punt. Kicker Chris Hawthorne isn't bad, hitting 6 of 9 with a long of 47. Marcus Jones returned a kick 92 yards for a TD against Purdue on Oct. 8.

Jordan Bernstine is very close to breaking a kick return for a TD. On a return to the right last week, the senior broke loose for a career-long 62-yarder. Bernstine believed he should've gone the distance. The way Iowa's kick return is blocking right now, he should get another shot.

Conversely, after a horrible start, Iowa's kick coverage team has held opponents to averages of 12.5, 20.29 and 14.50 the last three weeks. The 14.50 number came on eight kickoffs against Indiana.

Advantage: Iowa

The Scoreboard

When Kirk Ferentz speaks of losses that have left a sour taste in his mouth, Minnesota 2006 springs to his mind (a 34-24 defeat that dropped Iowa to 6-6) and Minnesota last season comes up quickly thereafter. It was 14 or so degrees and Minnesota grounds crew spent time before the game melting frozen spots on the field. Ferentz said Iowa practiced well and then showed up and was "clearly not interested in competing." Ouch.

First-year Minnesota coach Jerry Kill finds himself walking the fine line between future hopes and win now. A win Saturday would probably fortify a fanbase for 2011 with Michigan State and Wisconsin staring at the Gophers. After that, maybe on the road at Northwestern. The Gophers haven't beaten Iowa in consecutive games since three straight in 1998-00.

The Hawkeyes have lost three consecutive trophy games (Wisconsin '10, Minnesota '10 and Iowa State '11). The lobby of the Hayden Fry Football Complex still has the Orange Bowl trophy, but the pig, bull and whatever the Cy-Hawk ends up being leaves a void. After last season, Iowa's guard is up.

Iowa 48, Minnesota 24