Depth Chart Monday: Jordan Walsh listed as starter

I think the QB thing has been beaten to death. If I run any farther with it, I'll start seeing things that may or may not be there.

I might already be doing that. I don't want to do that.

OK, that said, UI SID Steve Roe said Monday that sophomore C.J. Beathard won't be available for interviews on Tuesday because of a scheduling conflict. He's been in the last two Tuesdays, but he hasn't been a regular. So, take that for what it's worth. (I don't think it means anything. He talked after the game on Saturday. What else can he say at this point?)

What else can junior Jake Rudock say? It's a results-driven deal now. Both will play, two good QBs, all of that stuff. It really does seem to be just that.

Here's what Kirk Ferentz said about playing two QBs this week against Maryland (4-2, 1-1): 'We'll see. We'll cross that bridge when we get there. If we do, I'll feel good about it. I like the way Jake and C.J. work. They practice well. They're invested. And I talked about some guys earlier, they're the same way. Maybe at the front of the class there. If your quarterbacks aren't, you're in trouble there. So it's really good, and the good news, too, we got to work [Tyler] Wiegers last week during the bye week when Jake was still resting.

'Have a positive there with Jake sitting out a little bit, gave the other guy a chance to run our offense. He got better as well.”

The ESPNU announcers said Rudock's injury was a multitude of things, including hip, leg and midsection. He's a tough guy. I thought he showed a lot of heart to stay out there at Pitt in the second half. Had to have been painful.

Moving along.

The actual depth chart . . . FWIW, Rudock is listed as the starter, just as he was last week.

OK, really moving along.

Junior Jordan Walsh is listed as the starter at right guard. He left Saturday's game with a right ankle injury after the second play. Iowa radio reported that he limped on the sideline, had his ankle re-taped and looked as though he could go back in.

Senior Tommy Gaul moved in at center. Junior Austin Blythe slide over to right guard. Iowa clicked along OK.

Here's what Kirk Ferentz said about Walsh: 'It's an ankle. I don't think anything too bad. Can he play next week? We'll probably know more tomorrow, or maybe Monday and Tuesday.”

FWIW, being listed on Monday's depth chart means there's a likelihood that the player plays. That isn't always the case, however. Remember what former No. 2 running back emeritus Jason White said about depth charts: 'An unofficial record of what's supposed to happen.”

That remains one of my favorite quotes in 21 years of sprotz writing.

WR Derrick Willies was out last week and isn't on the depth chart. Iowa radio injury report said muscle strain. Who knows. OL Boone Myers missed last week and also isn't on the depth chart. He hurt an elbow in practice last week.

Here's Ferentz: 'We lost two guys during the week. Derrick since Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Derrick and Boone Myers, didn't dress either of them. I think we're hopeful to have them both next week. Probably know more tomorrow and know more Tuesday when we talk.”

Sounds like uncertainty remains. I wouldn't count on seeing them this week. This also might be part of the reason you saw Gaul jump into the game last week.

Where's RB Damon Bullock? He's not on the depth chart. He missed the Purdue game with an undisclosed injury (it had been nagging and needed addressing, Ferentz said), but played last week against Indiana, He had no carries and two receptions for 14 yards. He's not listed. Sophomore LeShun Daniels is. He filled in for Bullock at Purdue, but didn't play a down of offense against the Hoosiers.

TV stuff . . . Game is 11 a.m. Iowa time and on ESPN2. The announcers are Beth Mowins, Joey Galloway and Paul Carcaterra.

I'm going to channel Ferentz a little bit here. I don't want to lecture, but I'm going to. Automatically hating on Beth Mowins because she's a woman who handles college football is sexist. You know that, right? I think she's good. She contacted me once to put in the homework before doing an Iowa game. You can boo whatever announcer you want based on merit, but please, announce your complaint intent before bagging on Beth Mowins. If you don't like her voice, that's fine. But please don't blindly attack women announcers. It's bad form.

TV next week . . . Oh yeah, Iowa is on a bye and not back in action until Nov. 1 vs. Northwestern at the Kinnick place. That TV time likely won't be announced until next Monday.

Oh wait, almost forgot, more football nerdiness . . . Iowa's personnel groups last week against Indiana (goodbye, three TEs!).

11 (one RB, one TE) - 21 (27.6 percent -- It's still not an optimum run formation. I haven't charted all of it, but in the first half the 11 went two carries for minus-4 yards.

21 (RB, FB and one TE) - 21 (27.4 percent -- This isn't a perfect count. I thought there were a few more 21s than I came up with. Anyway, this is a position group that Iowa is liking more and more. Twelve runs for 50 yards in the first half.)

13 (RB, three TEs) - 1 (1.3 percent - After a decent percentage at Pitt, this one has been peeled out of the playbook. One cursory this week and they sneaked it in there. Maybe looking for less heavy and more wheels? Yeah, that's it.)

22 (RB, FB, two TEs) - 16 (21 percent - This is the formation Iowa sprung the jet sweep of justice. They're keeping this one in the playbook. Still not a hugely successful pass personnel group, but it's not really built for that.)

12 (one RB, two TE) - 13 (13.1 percent -- This one doubles from Purdue. This personnel group came up with Rudock-to-Powell for 72.)

23 (RB, FB, three TEs) - 4 (5.2 percent -- Goal line or short yardage. It works. No. 40 is OT Ryan Ward. No position change, but he's made a role for himself.)

Where Iowa's O did stuff . . . Here's what they did and where they went (I included the formations this week):

Series 1 - pass right short (+6 Martin-Manley, 12 personnel), rush right (+1 Wesiman, 21), sack (-10 Rudock, 11)

Series 2 - pass right short (+10 Smith, 12), rush right (+8 Canzeri, 12), rush left (+3 Parker, quick pitch, 21), pass right mid (incomplete, throwaway, 12), rush middle (+4 Rudock scramble, 21), pass left mid (+14 Smith, 11), pass left short (+3 Plewa, 21), rush left (+11 Canzeri, 21), pass right deep (incomplete, KMM target, 12), pass right short (+3 VandeBerg, 12), pass right short (+5 Duzey, 12), rush middle (+3 Weisman, 22), rush right (+1 Weisman, 21), pass middle short (+3 Bullock, 11), pass middle mid (+12 Duzey, TD, 11)

Series 3 - pass middle deep (+72 Powell, TD, 12)

Series 4 - rush left (+60 Parker, jet sweep, 22)

Series 5 - rush left (+2 Canzeri, 12), rush left (+2 Canzeri, 21), pass mid left (incomplete, KMM target, 11)

Series 6 - rush right (+6 Beathard, option, 11), pass left short (incomplete, KMM target, 11), pass mid middle (incomplete, KMM target, 11)

Series 7 - pass mid right (+31 Smith, 21), rush right (+11 Weisman, 21), rush left (+6 Weisman, 21), rush left (+5 Weisman, 21), rush right (+2 Weisman, 21), rush middle (+4 Canzeri, 21), pass short left (incomplete, Hamilton target, 22)

Series 8 - sack (-1 Rudock, 12), pass right short (-1 Parker, 11), pass mid right (+14 Smith, 11), pass left short (+1 KMM, 21), pass mid middle (incomplete, KMM target, PI, 21), pass right short (+6 Hillyer, 11), rush right (+1 Weisman, 21), rush left (+1 Weisman, 23), rush right (+1 Weisman, TD, 23)

Series 8 - rush middle (+3 Canzeri, 12), pass right short (+3 Duzey, 12), pass short left (incomplete, Bullock target, 11)

Series 9 - rush middle (+2 Weisman, 21), rush right (+9 Weisman, 21), pass deep middle (incomplete, Powell target, 21), pass right short (+4 Hamilton, 11), pass mid middle (incomplete, Smith target, PI, 11), pass left short (incomplete, throwaway, 21), pass right mid (incomplete, Smith target, 11), pass short left (+11 screen Bullock, 11)

Series 10 - rush middle (+2 Weisman, 22), rush middle (+4 Weisman, 22), rush right (0 Beathard, 11)

Series 11 - pass left deep (incomplete, Smith target, PI, 22), rush middle (+1 Canzeri, 22), pass left short (incomplete, KMM target, 11), rush left (+20 CJB, draw, 11), rush left (-3 Parker, personal foul IU, 21), pass right short (+6 KMM, 21), rush right (+3 Weisman), rush middle (+1 CJB sneak, 22), pass right short (+3 Duzey, 13), rush middle (+1 Weisman TD, 23)

Series 12 - rush left (-4 Weisman, 21), pass left short (incomplete, Powell target, 11), pass mid left (+14 Powell, 11)

Series 13 - rush right (+8 Weisman, 22), rush right (+4 Weisman, 22), rush middle (+7 Weisman, 21), rush middle (+6 Weisman, 22), rush right (+7 Smith, 21), rush right (+1 Canzeri, 22), rush middle (+1 Weisman, 22)

Series 14 - rush middle (+3 Weisman, 22), rush right (+8 Weisman, 21), rush middle (+2 Weisman, 21)

If someone would like to add up the runs and passes per formation, I'd appreciate it. If not, I might try to get to it tonight.

Points of interest . . . Good stuff from Iowa sports info:

' Saturday is the first ever football game between the two schools.

' Iowa has won four straight and six of its last seven on the road.

' Iowa and Maryland have benefitted from opponents penalties more than any other schools. Iowa's opponents have been flagged for an average of 72.0 penalty yards per game; Maryland's opponents have been flagged for 61.8 yards per game. Those numbers rank 1-2, respectively, in the Big Ten.

' Iowa has eight interceptions this season, tied for fourth most in the Big Ten. Maryland has thrown eight interceptions this season, the second-highest total in the conference.

' Maryland allows 212.0 rushing yards per game, ranking 13th in the Big Ten. Iowa's rushing yards have increased in five straight games, including a season high 207 rushing yards against Indiana on Oct. 11.

' DT Louis Trinca-Pasat (39) and Maryland DL Andre Malone (36) rank first and second, respectively, in tackles among Big Ten linemen.

' Iowa has converted nine fourth-down attempts, more than any other Big Ten team. Maryland is perfect on five fourth-down attempts.

' Iowa's defense has allowed only four red-zone touchdowns, the fewest in the Big Ten. Maryland's offense has 12 red-zone touchdowns, the second-fewest in the Big Ten.

' Maryland leads the Big Ten in red-zone defense, allowing 15 scores on 24 redzone trips. Iowa ranks 13th in red zone offense, scoring on 19-of-26 trips.

' Iowa has won four straight and six of its last seven on the road. The Hawkeyes have won four consecutive road games, dating back to last season, for the first time since 2009, when they won their first four road games of the season.

' Iowa has won six road games since the start of the 2013 season, which tie for the seventh most in the country during that span.

' Iowa has recorded an interception on its opponents' final drive in four games this season (CB Greg Mabin vs. UNI; FS Anthony Gair at Pitt; SS John Lowdermilk at Purdue; FS Jordan Lomax vs. Indiana).

' Iowa has had an interception return for a touchdown in each of the last seven seasons and 12 of the last 14 seasons. CB Desmond King returned an interception for a touchdown (35 yards) against Indiana on Oct. 11.

' Iowa has used 12 first-time starters -- four on offense (FB John Kenny, WR Jacob Hillyer, FB Macon Plewa, OL Sean Welsh) six on defense (DE Nate Meier, LB Bo Bower, CB Maurice Fleming, FS Anthony Gair, CB Greg Mabin, LB Reggie Spearman), and two on special teams (P Dillon Kidd and K Marshall Koehn).

' Three true freshmen have seen action -- K Mick Ellis, LB Ben Niemann and DB Miles Taylor.