The Big Analysis -- Arizona

When Iowa has the ball

Arizona's defense has been a grind for opponents so far this season. In week one, Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour, one of the MAC'S top offensive players, was held to his third-lowest output (126 total yards) in 40 starts in a 19-6 victory. The Wildcats did give up 17 points to Northern Arizona last week but only allowed 226 yards.

The Cats start seven seniors on defense, including middle linebacker Vuna Tuihalamaka, who leads UA with 12 tackles. Junior Ricky Elmore and nose tackle Donald Horton recorded a sack against Central Michigan but were shut out last week against NAU. Sophomore cornerback Trevin Wade picked off two passes against NAU.

Wade is the star in the secondary. The 5-11, 182-pounder tied for the team lead as a freshman last season with four interceptions. UA coaches estimated he played less than 100 snaps as a freshman and still picked off four passes. Through 15 career games, Wade has six picks.

Wade was maybe the only defensive highlight coming out of the NAU performance. Arizona coaches weren't happy, especially with a 14-play, 79-yard drive in the second quarter.

“Our best defense tonight was our offense,” UA defensive coordinator Mark Stoops told the Arizona Daily Star. He later added that he thought the unit took a step back.

Elmore and fellow defensive end Brooks Reed will be in the spotlight. If they provide a pass rush, Iowa will have problems.

Without much pass rush from Iowa State last week, quarterback Ricky Stanzi struggled in the first half, throwing two interceptions. The slow start has been hammered home, but what's lost is a pretty decent second half of 6-for-10 for 80 yards and two scores.

Blocking is a premium again this week with the ever-shifting offensive line and, possibly this week, tight end.

Last week, left tackle Bryan Bulaga was a midweek scratch after an undisclosed illness put him in the hospital for two nights. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz called him day-to-day. He wasn't cleared to practice as of Wednesday night. Also, tight end Tony Moeaki, who led Iowa with 10 catches in week 1, is nursing an ankle injury and is iffy for today.

Red-shirt freshman Riley Reiff played his first college game last week and fared well, Ferentz said. The tight ends would be junior Allen Reisner and sophomore Brad Herman. There will be a drop-off in blocking. Moeaki is an outstanding blocker, so good that his effort vs. ISU left Ferentz grinning.

True freshman Brandon Wegher impressed in his first action at running back, gaining 101 yards and a TD on 15 carries. It's Wegher and red-shirt freshman Adam Robinson against an Arizona front seven that's allowing just 70.5 rushing yards and 3.6 yards a carry this season.

Stanzi needs a cleaner game against a decided step up in competition.

Advantage: Arizona

When Arizona has the ball

Sophomore quarterback Matt Scott falls in as “the guy after the guy.” The 6-3, 190-pounder takes over for Willie Tuitama, a four-year starter and star for the Cats. It's his third game and there is room for growth. The Cats are No. 72 in the nation with 198 passing yards a game. Passing is only part of the picture with Scott. He's also a terrific runner, averaging 65.5 yards a game.

Scott is the starter, but it was a tight race in camp with sophomore Nick Foles, who completed 6 of 8 for 44 yards with a fumble and a TD last week. Foles is a Michigan State transfer.

Running back Nic Grigsby has made the Cats roll the first two weeks. The 5-10, 190-pounder is No. 2 in the nation with 162.5 yards game with 8.6 yards a carry and three TDs. He's comparable to Michigan State's Javon Ringer. Grigsby is compact, has great vision and has enough speed to go for the fences. Last week, Grigsby burst for a 94-yard run, the second longest in school history. UA offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes said Grigsby reminds him of Gale Sayers and called him UA's “bell cow.”

“Nic is one of the most underrated players in the country,” UA coach Mike Stoops said. “He continues to put up numbers, week in and week out. He' a game changer and a gamebreaker. He's a guy who can hit the home run, and we need that.”

Tight end Rob Gronkowski, the top tight end in the Pac-10 and maybe beyond, has missed the first two weeks with a lower-back strain. The 6-6, 265-pounder missed the first three games of 2008 and still caught 47 passes and 10 TDs. He was scheduled to return to practice this week, but will likely be held out of today's game.

The star unit for Arizona the first two weeks has been its offensive line. It comprises three seniors, including tackles Mike Diaz and Adam Grant, and a whole lot of body mass, going, from left to right, 320, 335, 295, 335, 325.

After squeezing six turnovers out of Iowa State last week, the Hawkeyes' defense has just about everything going for it. Safety Tyler Sash picked off three passes; safety Brett Greenwood picked off two and tipped one to Sash. Sash forced a fumble that LB Jeremiha Hunter recovered. Eventually, Iowa racked up 21 points off ISU turnovers last week.

The Hawkeyes allow just 9.5 points a game, which is 16th in the country, and are fourth in the country with seven turnovers gained.

There are blemishes. Last week, Iowa State gouged the Hawkeyes for 190 rushing yards and a big 5.6 yards a carry. Alexander Robinson was the first back to go for more than 100 yards against the Hawkeyes since the 2008 opener. The Hawkeyes are 68th nationally in rush defense with 137.0 a game and 4.15 a carry.

Also, the pass rush just hasn't been there. Iowa has just two sacks this season and is ranked 90th in FBS. Ferentz said this week that the pass rush has been “OK.”

Iowa's front seven will be tested. Last week, ISU QB Austen Arnaud averaged 6.2 yards on nine carries. Iowa's defense finds itself in the unfamiliar position of having to prove itself against the rush.

Advantage: Iowa

Special teams

Arizona's had some issues here. Northern Arizona scored one of its TDs last week after a 57-yard kick return. Kicker Alex Zendejas had a 27-yard field goal blocked and missed an extra point. He's 4 of 6 this year. Punter Keenyn Crier, who averages 41.0 yards a kick, also had a punt blocked against NAU.

By virtue of back-to-back blocked field goals in week one - a first in NCAA history - Iowa gets the special teams check mark here. Punter Ryan Donahue also has been a weapon, placing seven of his nine punts this season inside the opponent's 20. He's had one 50-plus punt in 11 of the last 13 games.

Advantage: Iowa

The Scoreboard

The team that finds its running game wins today. Everyone is in the same boat here, playing their toughest opponents of the season. It's one of those games where a strong rush offense keeps the other team's offense on the bench and eventually wears out the defense. Arizona has earned some stripes in this regard, while Iowa is sort of in discovery mode at running back and O-line. In his 12 career starts, Stanzi has a signature drive - Penn State last season, of course - but he doesn't have a signature game. That's what it's going to take today.

Iowa 24, Arizona 17