Depth Chart Monday

Jake Rudock (lower-body injury strain thingie) is listed as the starter for Purdue.

Chill down and/or out

. . . I've written just about every angle I can think of on the QB thing. The only place left to go is here: It's all about what Kirk Ferentz is seeing and has seen.

The meter starts for a player the minute he walks into the door. If the statements he and Greg Davis made during spring about C.J. Beathard getting playing time (like in real game situations and whatnot) wasn't double talk, that left it up to Beathard to wow and impress coaches during camp with his ability, preparation and knowledge of the offense.

As the challenger, Beathard was going to have to score a pin to win the job, don't you think? That must not have happened, BUT we don't know.

This is about the files and practice videos and film breakdowns that are done in the Iowa complex. This is the communication between players and coaches. This isn't about trust, at least going off what Kirk Ferentz said in the Pitt postgame. He likes both of his QBs, thinks they're winners and good football players.

It's about stuff we're simply not privy to. I hate it as much as you do, but this is every team and every reporter in the country. We're not exactly being invited in to break down video.

Here's what it feels like: Iowa's starting QB was hurt. The backup went in. If the starter is healthy, he goes back in.

That's the transaction.

Wait, wait, wait. Another thing we don't know if Rudock's health, information that is volunteered by only a few programs in the country.

Iowa has a bye week after Purdue. Maybe that will influence the decision.

I'm going to wait for more info and try to see what I can find out. One thing I won't argue with you, yes, CJB looked great. Iowa did have to use a couple of timeouts because of confusion, but you'll have that on the road with a new QB.

Also, Rudock had a pretty good game going until the injury, which, I think, happened during the picture above this post. Maybe a helmet on the hip?

There are politics here, like it or not. There are messages being sent with every move. Bottom line, Ferentz is going to make the best decision for Iowa. He's not in the business of undermining himself, right? Right?

Besides, I often am told how little the Monday depth chart means.

Points of interest

. . . (From Iowa sports info) Iowa has won three straight and five of its last six on the road. The Hawkeyes have won three 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.

' This is the second time in school history Iowa opened the season with four games decided by one possession. The first four games of the 1948 season were also decided by one possession.

' Iowa's quarterback duo of Jake Rudock (66.9) and C.J. Beathard (81.8) has combined for a 68.1 completion percentage, the highest percentage in the Big Ten.

Here's a taste of what's coming

. . . Iowa got through it at Pitt. Panthers running back James Conners leads the nation with 35 runs that have resulted in a first down. Whew! Clear sailing from here, right?

No.

Next on that 'first down” run list are Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah and Minnesota's David Cobb, who each have 27 first down runs.

Here's how four of the five running backs Iowa will face in November fared in the final week of non-conference:

' Nov. 8:

Cobb ran for 207 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over San Jose State.

' Nov. 15

: Illinois running back Josh Ferguson had 190 yards and averaged 13.6 yards on 14 carries with two TDs in a shootout win over Texas State.

' Nov. 22:

Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon rushed for career highs of 253 yards and five touchdowns in a blowout over Bowling Green. Wisconsin ran for a Big Ten-record 644 yards.

' Nov. 28:

Abdullah ran 35 times for 229 yards to lead a punishing ground game in Nebraska's cruise over Miami (Fla.).

One of the backs Iowa faces in October might be one of the national offensive players of the week. Indiana running back Tevin Coleman rushed for 132 yards and a TD and caught three passes for 53 yards.

The other offense Iowa faces in October (Hawkeyes have two games and two byes) is Maryland. QB C.J. Brown passed for 280 yards and two TDs in a 34-20 win over Syracuse.

More football nerdiness

. . . Iowa's personnel groups last week against Pitt (said hello to the three-TE sets last week):

11 (one RB, one TE) - 11 (19.2 percent -- first week this wasn't Iowa's dominant personnel group)

12 (one RB, two TE) - 2 (3.5 percent -- it was 31 percent of the offense against ISU)

21 (RB, FB and one TE) - 5 (8.7 percent)

22 (RB, FB, two TEs) - 23 (40 percent - number has steadily climbed here)

23 (RB, FB, three TEs) - 4 (7 percent)

13 (RB, three TEs) - 12 (21 percent - making its season debut)

Where Iowa's O did stuff

. . . Here's what they did and where they went:

Series 1

- run left (+2 Canzeri), run right (+5 Weisman), pass short left (+4 Martin-Manley, first down conversion), rush right (+1 Canzeri), pass deep middle (INT, horrible luck, Powell target)

Series 2

- rush left (+3 Canzeri), pass short left (+14 Smith), rush left (+2 Canzeri), pass mid right (incomplete, VandeBerg drop), pass mid left (incomplete, Duzey target)

Series 3

- rush right (+6 Weisman), rush middle (+4 Weisman), pass deep middle (+44 VandeBerg), pass mid left (incomplete, Duzey target), rush right (+3 Weisman), rush left (+3 Bullock), pass mid right (+13 Krieger-Coble, TD)

Series 4

- rush left (+9 Weisman), rush middle (+5 Weisman), pass short middle (+5 Bullock), rush right (+2 Weisman), pass short middle (incomplete, Smith target)

Series 5

- rush left (+4 Weisman), rush right (+3 Weisman), pass left short (+7 Martin-Manley, pass first down), pass deep middle (+62 Powell), rush right (+7 Canzeri), rush right +2 Canzeri), rush middle (+9 Weisman, TD)

Series 6

- rush middle (0 Weisman), pass short right (+14 Powell, ruled a lateral so went down as a rush), pass short right (+6 Duzey, play-action roll), rush left (+8 Canzeri), pass short right (+3 Hamilton, play-action roll), rush left (+1 Weisman), pass deep right (incomplete, VandeBerg targeted), rush left (0 Bullock)

Series 7

- pass interference (target Smith), rush left (-2 Canzeri), pass short middle (+5 Duzey), pass mid right (+10 Hamilton, third down converted), rush right (+1 Weisman), pass short right (+5 Kenny), pass short left (+3 Hillyer), rush middle (+1 Beathard), rush middle (+5 Weisman), rush middle (+3 Weisman), rush right (+1 Weisman), rush middle (+3 Weisman), rush left (0 Weisman), rush middle (+1 Weisman, TD)

Series 8

- rush left (+19 Weisman), rush left (0 Weisman), rush middle (0 Weisman), rush right (+4 Beathard)

TWO DEEPS

Offense

SE - 4 ** Tevaun Smith ^ 6-2 200 Jr. Toronto, Ontario (Kent School, Conn.) 18 Derrick Willies 6-4 210 #Fr. Rock Island, Ill. (Rock Island)

LT - 68 *** Brandon Scherff 6-5 320 Sr. Denison, Iowa (Denison) 75 Ike Boettger 6-6 267 #Fr. Cedar Falls, Iowa (Cedar Falls)

LG - 79 Sean Welsh 6-3 285 #Fr. Springboro, Ohio (Springboro) 52 Boone Myers 6-5 285 #Fr. Webster City, Iowa (Webster City)

C - 63 ** Austin Blythe 6-3 290 Jr. Williamsburg, Iowa (Williamsburg) 58 Eric Simmons 6-2 295 Jr. Madrid, Iowa (Iowa Western CC) OR 57 * Tommy Gaul 6-3 280 Sr. Des Moines, Iowa (Dowling Catholic)

RG - 65 ** Jordan Walsh 6-4 290 Jr. Glendale Heights, Ill. (Glenbard West) 74 Mitch Keppy 6-5 298 So. Port Byron, Ill. (Riverdale)

RT- 78 ** Andrew Donnal 6-7 305 Sr. Montclova, Ohio (Anthony Wayne) 64 Cole Croston 6-5 270 So. Sergeant Bluff, Iowa (Sergeant Bluff-Luton)

TE - 82 *** Ray Hamilton ^ 6-5 252 Sr. Strongsville, Ohio (Strongsville) 80 ** Henry Krieger Coble 6-4 250 Jr. Mount Pleasant, Iowa (Mount Pleasant)

WR - 11 *** Kevonte Martin-Manley 6-0 205 Sr. Pontiac, Mich. (Brother Rice) 89 * Matt VandeBerg ^ 6-1 175 So. Brandon, S.D. (Brandon Valley)

WR - 17 ** Jacob Hillyer 6-4 208 Jr. Somerset, Texas (Somerset) 22 * Damond Powell ^ 5-11 180 Sr. Toledo, Ohio (Rogers HS/Snow CC)

QB - 15 * Jake Rudock 6-3 208 Jr. Weston, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas) 16 * C.J. Beathard 6-2 203 So. Franklin, Tenn. (Battle Ground Academy)

RB - 45 ** Mark Weisman 6-0 240 Sr. Buffalo Grove, Ill. (Stevenson) OR 33 ** Jordan Canzeri 5-9 192 Jr. Troy, N.Y. (Troy) 5 *** Damon Bullock 6-0 205 Sr. Mansfield, Texas (Mansfield) OR 29 * LeShun Daniels, Jr. ^ 6-0 230 So. Warren, Ohio (Harding)

FB - 47 John Kenny 6-2 225 #Fr. Carmel, Ind. (Carmel)

PK - 1 Marshall Koehn 6-0 195 Jr. Solon, Iowa (Solon) OR 2 Mick Ellis ^ 5-10 OR 180 Fr. Allen, Texas (Lovejoy)

Defense

LE - 34 * Nate Meier ^ 6-2 244 Jr. Tabor, Iowa (Fremont-Mills) 98 ** Mike Hardy 6-5 280 Sr. Appleton, Wis. (Kimberly)

LT - 71 ** Carl Davis 6-5 315 Sr. Detroit, Mich. (Stevenson) 56 Faith Ekakitie 6-3 287 So. Brampton, Ontario (Lake Forest Academy)

RT- 90 ** Louis Trinca-Pasat 6-3 290 Sr. Chicago, Ill. (Lane Tech) 99 Nathan Bazata 6-2 284 #Fr. Howells, Neb. (Howells-Dodge) OR 67 Jaleel Johnson 6-4 310 So. Lombard, Ill. (Montini Catholic)

RE - 95 * Drew Ott^ 6-4 270 Jr. Trumbull, Neb. (Giltner) 98 ** Mike Hardy 6-5 280 Sr. Appleton, Wis. (Kimberly)

OLB - 41 Bo Bower 6-1 220 #Fr. West Branch, Iowa (West Branch) 44 Ben Niemann ^ 6-3 205 Fr. Sycamore, Ill. (Sycamore)

MLB - 52 *** Quinton Alston ^ 6-1 232 Sr. Sicklerville, N.J. (Timber Creek Reg.) 39 ** Travis Perry 6-3 232 Jr. Urbandale, Iowa (Urbandale)

WLB - 6 * Reggie Spearman ^ 6-3 230 So. Chicago, Ill. (Simeon) 43 Josey Jewell 6-2 225 #Fr. Decorah, Iowa (Decorah)

LC - 13 Greg Mabin 6-2 195 So. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Calvery Christian Academy) 28 * Maurice Fleming 6-0 200 So. Chicago, Ill. (Curie Metropolitan)

SS - 37 *** John Lowdermilk ^ 6-2 210 Sr. Carrollton, Ohio (Carrollton) 19 Miles Taylor ^ 6-0 185 Fr. Silver Springs, Md. (Gonzaga College)

FS - 27 ** Jordan Lomax 5-10 200 Jr. Upper Marlboro, Md. (DeMatha Catholic) 12 * Anthony Gair 6-2 200 So. Plano, Texas (Prestonwood Christian)

RC - 14 * Desmond King ^ 5-11 190 So. Detroit, Mich. (East English Village) 7 ** Sean Draper ^ 6-0 190 Jr. Cleveland, Ohio (Glenville)

PT - 16 Dillon Kidd 6-2 230 Jr. Deerfield Beach, Fla. (El Camino CC) 98 ** Connor Kornbrath ^ 6-6 240 Jr. Bridgeport, W. Va. (Bridgeport)

Specialists

Punt Returns

: 83 Riley McCarron 89 Matt VandeBerg

Kickoff Returns

: 10 Jonathan Parker OR 33 Jordan Canzeri

Deep Snaps

: 97 Tyler Kluver

Holder:

16 Dillon Kidd 98 Connor Kornbrath

* - - Letters won ^ - - Redshirt year still available # - - Indicates redshirt freshman

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@sourcemedia.net