The Pylons -- Northwestern

1. Who's in, who's out

WR Colin Sandeman is out. He's still suffering from the concussion he sustained at Michigan State. Coach Kirk Ferentz said, "it's still a concussion issue. We met this morning and they'r confident it'll clear by the end of the week. We don't envision him being back, he may exercise this week, but he can't right now." So, punt return again will be an adventure. Corner Amari Spievey and WR Keenan Davis fumbled last week. This week, WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and S Tyler Sash will get their shots.

S Brett Greenwood wasn't on the depth chart this week after taking himself out of last week's game after making a tackle during the first series. He sprained his neck after a helmet-to-helmet collision with Sash at Michigan State. He also played the Indiana game with a shoulder harness. I don't know if he's had that all season. He missed spring practice after shoulder surgery.

WR Trey Stross did interviews this week. He limped off the field against IU and showed up Tuesday with an ankle brace on. Linebacker Jeremiha Hunter was in and out with a hamstring strain.

2. Norm watch

Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker will call the game from the press box again this week. He was hospitalized last week with an ongoing foot infection. Ferentz said he'd been pushing it with the foot and his health and would likely call games from the box the rest of the season.

Did Parker's absence lead to some confusion during the first drive last week? That's a theory out there. Indiana ran the ball down Iowa's throat on the first drive, when three defensive coaches signaled in calls to the line, linebackers and secondary. Was there confusion?  

Parker is 68. He lost a ton of weight in the last year or so, but he did lose another toe last summer (due to infection) and has had health problems due to diabetes. It's not a question for the now, but Parker's health bears watching going into the offseason.

3. ARob rebound?

I keep hearing whispers out of Des Moines that running back Adam Robinson might be able to return for at least a few carries against Ohio State. Remember, he suffered a high-ankle sprain against Michigan State two weeks ago. He sat out the Indiana game.

During the radio show this week, Iowa play-by-play voice Gary Dolphin said he saw Robinson jogging at practice. Ferentz said on the radio show before Indiana that Robinson's ankle wasn't as bad as the high-ankle that kept TE Tony Moeaki out for three weeks. 

I don't see it. If Robinson were a QB or an OL, then maybe. He's a running back. They need all of their bendable leg parts to be in working order, especially an ankle. Iowa running backs need too much lateral movement to be effective with an injured ankle. That cutback move isn't as effective if it isn't sharp and sudden.

Here's what Ferentz said: "There's a chance for anything."

4. Kafka a go

All signs point to Northwestern QB Mike Kafka giving it a go today.

He suffered a strained left hamstring last week against Penn State. He left the game midway through the second quarter.

The 6-3, 215-pound senior was not on the injury report Northwestern releases on Thursday. Reporters saw him practice this week and throw the ball well. But with Kafka, that's just the half of it. He accounts for nearly 70 percent of NU's offense, including a team-high 248 rushing yards and six rush TDs. He's a dual threat who's as capable of doing damage with his feet as he is with his arm.

Northwestern doesn't pretend to run the ball. Kafka is 70 percent of the Wildcats' offense. Will he be 70 percent tomorrow?

The game is on ESPN, 11 a.m. kickoff.