Stat Pak: Iowa relentless against Wildcats

FIVE BULLET POINTS ON THE NORTHWESTERN RESULT

1. Taking care of business

- Northwestern was depleted on the defensive line. It was missing perhaps its best defensive player in safety Ibraheim Campbell, an all-Big Ten pick last season. DT Chance Carter left the game with an ankle injury. DT Greg Kuhar was in and out of the game with an ankle injury.

So, yeah, but this was a team that demanded respect, with Big Ten victories over Wisconsin and at Penn State. And the Hawkeyes were a team coming off an absolute gut bomb at Maryland.

Seriously, I've done this forever and I've never seen these guys steam over a loss like that thing out there. Even on interview day last week, safety John Lowdermilk spoke about the Iowa effort there like he had spoiled milk in his mouth. He couldn't spit out the words fast enough.

Depleted or not, in the Big Ten, the train is always coming. And depleted or not, the Hawkeyes trucked Northwestern with its most complete effort of the season.

Offense, defense, special teams. This was Iowa full throttle. The offense pumped out explosive plays. The defense caused nearly one major disaster for the Wildcats in just about every drive. And true freshman Ben Niemann blocked a punt and picked up the spinner for a score.

Northwestern is now 3-5 and will have to beat three of Michigan, at Notre Dame, at Purdue and Illinois to get to a bowl. It's not one of Pat Fitzgerald's best editions.

That said, this was the type of effort Iowa needed to put out. It's centered and has the taste for the kill. It will face better teams, but this is a start. Best win of the season.

2. Better call Gaul and Macon County Line or something

- I watched the living daylights out of this game. I wanted to reacquaint with Iowa's running game and see what makes it go when it goes.

In every running play of consequence, I wrote center Tommy Gaul's and fullback Macon Plewa's names in the notebook. Mark Weisman's 8-yard TD? Gaul pulled and kicked out #10. Plewa kicked out No. 2 (OT Brandon Scherff, I couldn't even see the guy's number). Weisman's 14-yard TD run? Gaul reached blocked the DT. Plewa pancaked #9. Akrum Wadley 23-yarder? Gaul and guard Austin Blythe executed a gorgeous combo block, with Gaul arriving at #44 just as Wadley arrived. It was the block Wadley made his cut off.

Two plays later, Gaul and guard Jordan Walsh combo'd a clump out of the way. Plewa kicked out #23. Tackle Andrew Donnal kicked out the DE and it was a nearly untouched 8-yard TD for Weisman. On Wadley's 26-yarder, Plewa iso'd #44, Gaul combo'd and #18 bowed his approach and opened up the middle on the inside zone.

3. Best game of Rudock's career

- I run that QB calculator stuff and, yes, Rudock's 186.2 pass efficiency was the best of his career. I don't know exactly what that number means, but he was smart, efficient and the timing in the passing game was probably the biggest difference between Maryland and Northwestern.

That and pass protection. Iowa allowed four sacks and nine QBH vs. the Terps. Yesterday, no sacks, one hurry and one hit on CJB.

As you heard BTN/former Iowa QB Chuck Long say on the broadcast, Rudock's timing was brilliant. On a 23-yarder to WR Tevaun Smith, the ball was on Smith just as he made his break.

Thought the 43-yarder to WR Kevonte Martin-Manley was Rudock's best throw of the day and maybe the year. Iowa was in spread 11 personnel on third-and-9. Northwestern had I think a cover 2 with two safeties high and five covering underneath. KMM cleared #9 and the windown opened with #16 closing. Rudock hit KMM on the numbers on maybe 25 air yards. It ended up being a 43-yarder with Weisman going 14 for the score.

And then the 31-yard TD to Smith was a beautiful touch. Iowa lined up trips to the left, so the safety shaded that side, leaving Smith one-on-one with #23. Smith ran a fade and Rudock dropped the ball down the chimney, just floating the ball over #23's outstretched arms.

He missed TE Jake Duzey for a short TD. That was the flaw. That was it. Rudock finished 12 of 19 for 239 yards and 1 TD. Brilliantly executed game by the junior.

4. LTP embodied the Iowa defense

- Sack 1: Senior Louis Trinca-Pasat beat #66 with his first step. He kept a low inside shoulder and got #66 to open the door to the QB. This was NU's first drive. It pretty much set the tone.

Sack 2: This was a stunt with DE Drew Ott. LTP took a jab step toward the tackle. This froze the guard, who sensed that Ott was going to loop. The tackle, #78, didn't pick up on it until LTP had his helmet in his ear. LTP split the two and won a race to the QB with DT Jaleel Johnson.

Sack 3: Same move with Ott. #78 ended up isolated on LTP. NU QB held the ball too long. Iowa covered the play really well and LTP broke free for this third sack.

Should be a B1G defensive player of the week.

5. Punt formations = syncronized swimming

- When did we, as a society, jump the rails on punt formations?

Northwestern's seems vulnerable. I don't know if this is the same formation NU had last season, but it had a punt blocked then, too. One a year isn't what you're shooting for.

Anyway, NU goes with three down linemen and three in punt shield. Niemann nearly blocked NU's first punt, so he knew he could get there. NU didn't shut the door. Niemann got an angle on #93 and blocked the punt with his left hand. He didn't have to totally sell out, either. He was on his feet and the first to the ball for a TD.

'I thought I had a chance to get to the first punt and I missed it,” Niemann said. 'Their personal protector didn't really come out to me. I noticed that, so the second time I tried to bend it a little more and got the block.”

Smart play, a coach's kid (Niemann's dad is the DC at Northern Illinois) kind of a play.

THREE STARS

1. SS John Lowdermilk

- When Iowa goes sour, Lowdermilk gets it pretty good from the cybers. He doesn't complain. No one is tougher on Lowdermilk than himself. I know, that's as cliche as it gets, but I wouldn't mention it if I hadn't seen it.

The senior led Iowa with 12 tackles, forced the first fumble of his career (it ended up a TD for Iowa) and broke up a pass. Lowdermilk and free safety Jordan Lomax lowered the boom several times Saturday. Excellent performance.

2. RB Mark Weisman

- I'm leaving out Rudock and LTP here. I didn't write enough about Weisman. He scored three TDs in the first half, and they weren't his usual 1-yard tractor pulls. He scored on runs of 8, 14 and 8.

Weisman finished the day with 20 carries for 94 yards and three TDs. He would've had 100, but he was disappeared in the fourth quarter. Weisman is climbing the TD list and has multiple TDs in five straight games, but enough was enough. It is 'save some for next week” with Weisman.

3. RB Akrum Wadley

- The redshirt freshman can dance. He finished with 106 yards on 15 carries, including a 5-yard TD run and runs of 23 and 26 yards. Weisman TD vulture'd him, but you're going to have that.

One technique thing that I'm sure RB coach Chris White will remind Wadley on: that spin move in traffic. I think Wadley actually figured that out during the game. He fumbled on a spin move when LB #44 was there to clean him up. #44 knocked the ball loose and Iowa lost the fumble. There was another run later where Wadley spun #27 off at the line of scrimmage and made a 9-yard gain out of it. The difference was he did it on the outside when he was one-on-one.

This is kind of important. Iowa ran him on inside zones and Wadley did some serious business there, rattling off both of his 20-plus runs off IZs.

FILM ROOM

Back to shifting personnel on defense

- Sophomore Reggie Spearman's suspension put freshman Josey Jewell . . . No wait, it put junior Travis Perry at middle linebacker and shifted senior Quinton Alston to weakside. But every other series or so, Jewell went in at WLB and moved Alston to the middle.

Jewell and Perry collected career highs with 6 and 5 tackles, respectively. Perry blitzed and had a sack that really seemed to punctuate the pinning that was going on in Kinnick. Was it Iowa's best LB game of the season? NU RB Justin Jackson went for 96 yards on 24 carries, but NU averaged just 2.4 yards a carry. Plus, that D-line won the line of scrimmage on every play. It was a good day for the LBs, though.

More personnel: Sophomore Jaleel Johnson went in when LTP went to the lockerroom for most of the third quarter with cramps (that's what he said, thought maybe it was friendly fire from Ott). You're seeing a higher percentage of Nate Meier at DE than Mike Hardy now. Not sure on the snaps, but it's tilted to Meier, who also still plays noseguard on goalline.

Ever more personnel: Alston and Jewell stayed in for nickel packages with OLB Bo Bower being replaced by junior CB Sean Draper. Dime personnel was Draper and sophomore CB Maurice Fleming in and Bower and the weakside LB out, with Alston kept in.

Iowa didn't run a lot of raider on third-and-long because the front four took care of pass rush. The one I remember, Alston blitzed.

Anyway, just FYI.

TWO PLAYS

1. Second-and-10 from Iowa's 3

- I asked Rudock this week if the TD throw he made in OT to CJ Fiedorowicz (I can still spell it!) last season was his best play as a Hawkeye. He laughed and said, of course, that it was a good play because it put the pressure on NU to answer with at TD in the OT.

On that play, two NU defenders flew in and rocked Rudock. I'm mentioning this because he had another one of those Saturday.

It was second-and-10 from Iowa's 3. #55 LB blitzed. Iowa was in 22 personnel (two backs, two TEs). WR Matt VandeBerg broke open on a deep crossing pattern. Before #55 delivered the hit on Rudock, he put the ball where only MVB could make a play. It ended up being a 26-yard gain. The drive stalled, but Iowa wouldn't be punting from its end zone, and that's always a good deal.

2. The 17-play, 81-yard, 8:37 drive

- You've seen enough Iowa-NU games in recent history to know that the Wildcats don't die easily. (The ‘05 game with the onside kick, that one still probably gets to you.)

So, you have to give it up for the monster drive that Iowa threaded together in the fourth quarter.

It was a C.J. Beathard drive. I doubt this was the case, but he seemed pretty determined to make this something. It was his only series Saturday after being shut out at Maryland. No, I'm not even arguing QB contro. I'm just guessing at what CJB's mindset probably was. Agree? Disagree? Cool.

This was Iowa's longest drive of the season by more than a minute (Iowa has had two other 17-play drives). This thing had a little bit of everything, including a zone option run by Beathard for 13 yards, three converted third downs, a personal foul on Scherff for running into the back of Wadley (late on the pile, had to call it), a personal foul on NU LB #18 and Wadley's first TD.

Iowa got the ball at 11:54 and didn't give it back until 3:17. Just a marvel of a drive.

UP NEXT - 'WE HATE IOWA”

- This is kind of a big one. Iowa (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten) travels to Minnesota (6-2, 3-1) for a FIRST PLACE SHOWDOWN in the Big Ten West Division.

You'll hear the 'We hate Iowa,” it's what Minnesota does. It's their thing, like Husker Du and Mary Tyler Moore.

When you hear 'We hate Iowa,” know that it's no longer officially sanctioned by the school. Last season it was, when the U put out a 'How to be a Gophers Fan” guide or some such that included a page with a guy wearing a 'We hate Iowa” T-shirt and a section on why they hate Iowa.

That was a one-year deal, Minnesota athletics director Norwood Teague said from the Big Ten spring meetings this spring. Apparently, he said, it was a mistake last year.

'It ended up in our game program, which I didn't know about,” said Teague, who's entering his third year at Minnesota. 'I told our guys to take it out.”

Don't look for it to make a comeback, at least one officially sanctioned by the UM athletics department. You'll hear it, though. It's Minnesota's thing, like crappie fishing and Bob Dylan.

'I don't like the cheer, at all,” Teague said. 'I've talked to Gary [Iowa athletics director Gary Barta] about that. I don't like it a bit and, hopefully, we can try to steer away from it.

'I think for some kids it's funny and it takes on a life of its own. I don't like it.”

- Beer O' Clock in TCF Bank Stadium, though.

You can buy beer all over the joint now. Last year, it was a section about the size of your living room. The Vikings are now living in TCF Bank and the only way to deal with being a Vikings fan is an aquarium of Grain Belt. Dunk your head, dream of Bud Grant and repeat.

Enjoy!

THE NUMBERS GAME

Touchdowns in the red zone

Iowa

- 4 of 5

Northwestern

- 1 of 2

Tracking the Hawkeyes

: Week 1 vs. UNI - 4 of 6 (off), 3 of 3 (def); Week 2 vs. BSU - 2 of 6 (off), 1 of 2 (def); Week 3 vs. ISU - 2 of 2 (off), 1 of 2 (def); Week 4 vs. Pitt - 3 of 3 (off), 2 of 4 (def); Week 5 at Purdue - 2 of 5 (off), 0-1 (def); Week 6 vs. Indiana - 3 of 4 (off), 1 of 2 (def); Week 7 at Maryland - 4 of 5 (off), 2 of 3 (def)

The takeaway

: For the second straight week, Iowa puts up a 4-for-5. That'll get you to the hall of fame. Iowa's 66.67 TD percentage is middle-of-the-road in the B1G, but it's also up more than 15 percentage points from last season.

3 and outs (forced by defense)

Iowa

- 5

Northwestern

- 0

Tracking the Hawkeyes

: Week 1 vs. UNI - 3 (off), 3 (def); Week 2 vs. BSU - 5 (def), 3 (off); Week 3 vs. ISU - 2 (def), 3 (off); Week 4 vs. Pitt - 0 (off) 2 (def); Week 5 at Purdue - 7 (def), 6 (off); Week 6 vs. Indiana - 8 (def), 6 (off); Week 7 at Maryland - 8 (def), 10 (off)

The takeaway

: Iowa's offense put out 10 three-and-outs at Marland. Ouch. This week, a total switcheroo. First time this season Iowa's offense didn't have any 3-Os. The defense held NU to five 3-Os in its 13 drives.

Second half adjustments

Iowa

- 185 yards, 5.78 yards per play (32 plays)

Northwestern

- 125 yards, 3.47 yards per play (36 plays)

Tracking the Hawkeyes

: Week 1 vs. UNI - 190 yards, 5.93 yards per play (32 offensive plays), 199 yards, 5.68 yards per play (35 plays on defense); Week 2 vs. BSU - 247 yards, 5.61 yards per play (44 plays on offense), 128 yards, 3.55 yards per play (30 plays on defense); Week 3 vs. ISU - 102 yards, 3.64 yards per play (28 plays on offense), 190 yards, 5.27 yards per play (36 plays on defense); Week 4 vs. Pitt - 183 yards, 5.90 yards per play (31 plays on offense), 173 yards, 5.40 yards per play (32 plays on defense); Week 5 at Purdue - 284 yards, 5.65 yards per play (50 plays on offense), 56 yards, 1.86 yards per play (30 plays on defense); Week 6 vs. Indiana - 126 yards, 3.6 yards per play (35 plays on offense), 185 yards, 5.78 yards per play (32 plays on defense); Week 7 at Maryland - 263 yards, 4.78 yards per play (55 plays on offense), 172 yards, 4.77 yards per play (36 plays on defense)

The takeaway

: It was 24-0 after the first quarter. Iowa has outscored opponents 87-31 in the first quarter this year. The difference between this week and Maryland was the finish. Iowa piled up 298 yards in the first half.

20-plus plays

Iowa

- 7

Northwestern

- 1

Tracking the Hawkeyes

: Week 1 vs. UNI - 3 (off), 7 (allowed); Week 2 vs. BSU - 1 (off), 1 (def); Week 3 vs. ISU - 1 (off), 3 (def); Week 4 vs. Pitt - 2 (off), 7 (def); Week 5 at Purdue 4 (off), 1 (def); Week 6 vs Indiana - 4 (off), 5 (def); Week 7 at Maryland - 4 (off), 5 (def)

The takeaway:

Rudock had five 20-plus passes. I think that's a career-high, and it's Iowa's best effort in explosion this season. Wadley had two 20-plus runs that were inside zones. Iowa hasn't popped those easily this season. Northwestern's one 20-plus was a miracle catch by #83, sticking a foot on the ground just before tumbling out of bounds. Great, great play. The Cats had a 29-rush and a 29-pass wiped off the board by a pair of holding penalties on #76.

The Iowa/Greg Davis definition of explosive (it's 12-plus runs and 16-plus passes)

: 13 (Indiana 4, Purdue 13, UNI 6, BSU 6, ISU 1, Pitt 4, Maryland 10)

Magic points (scores inside of two minutes)

Iowa

- 7

Northwestern

- 0

Tracking the Hawkeyes

: Week 1 vs. UNI - 3 (off), 0 (allowed); Week 2 vs. BSU - 7 (off), 0 (allowed) Week 3 vs. ISU - 0 (off), 3 (allowed); Week 4 vs. Pitt - 0 (off), 3 (def); Week 5 at Purdue - 3 (off), 0 (def); Week 6 vs. Indiana - 7 (off), 0 (def); Week 7 at Maryland - 3 (off), 0 (def)

The takeaway

: SS John Lowdermilk made this happen, forcing a fumble on a catch-hit. He put his head on the ball, excellent play. Wadley sprinted 23 yards to set it up, and Weisman finished with an 8-yard TD with 54 seconds left before halftime, lifting Iowa to a 38-7 lead. It was a crushing development in what already was a dismal first half for NU. I'd say Iowa is improving in two-minute offense, but this wasn't really that.

Short yardage (converted second-5 and third-5)

Iowa

- 7 of 12

Northwestern

- 9 of 11

Tracking the Hawkeyes

: Week 1 vs. UNI - 9 of 15 (off), 5 of 10 (def); Week 2 vs. BSU - 9 of 13 (off), 5 of 7 (def); Week 3 vs. ISU: 14 of 19 (off), 10 of 14 (def); Week 4 vs. Pitt - 10 of 17 (off), 8 of 15 (def); Week 5 at Purdue - 8 of 18 (off), 7 of 18 (def); Week 6 vs. Indiana - 3 of 14 (off), 3 of 9 (def); Week 7 at Maryland - 10 of 17 (off), 8 of 10 (def)

The takeaway

: Iowa passed to convert three short yardages and scored on one (Wadley 5-yard run). Also, Iowa had false starts push two third-and-shorts back to third-and-longs that Rudock converted with his arm, including the 31-yard TD pass to Smith. Iowa's defense also stopped NU four times from Iowa's 4 in the third quarter.

Disruption numbers (number of TFLs/sacks, QB hurries, passes defended and turnovers divided by total number of opponent plays)

Iowa

- 8.0 TFL/sacks (5.0 sacks), 8 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 blocked punt = 21 divided into 67 = 31.3 percent

Northwestern

- 5 TFL/sacks (0 sacks), 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 QBH, 2 PBU = 10 divided into 71 = 14.0 percent

Tracking the Hawkeyes

: Week 1 vs. UNI - 14.2 percent (off), 29 percent (def); Week 2 vs. BSU - 18 percent (def), 18 percent (vs. off); Week 3 vs. ISU - 17 percent (def), 22 percent (vs. off); Week 4 vs. Pitt - 16.7 percent (def), 11.3 percent (vs. off); Week 5 at Purdue - 19.1 percent (def), 15.9 percent (off); Week 6 vs. Indiana - 23.3 percent (def), 14.4 percent (off); Week 7 at Maryland - 20.2 percent (def), 28.7 percent (off)

The takeaway

: When Iowa is around 20 percent, it's got a good chance to win. When it reaches into the 30s, it's everything ravaged, everything burned for the defense. Iowa's highest number of the year through efforts from the front seven and the back-end. I had to include the blocked punt. It just felt right. Conversely, it's good if the offense can keep this around 14 percent. This was Iowa's cleanest game offensively since Pitt. I think this stat is starting to mean a little more now.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com