What does 43 carries say about Iowa’s offense?

IOWA CITY - The 43 carries Jordan Canzeri put up last weekend say a lot about the player, certainly, and the strength of the Hawkeyes.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said after the No. 17 Hawkeyes (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) win over Wisconsin he felt Iowa could attack the middle of Wisconsin's defense. In the 29-20 win over Illinois last weekend, Iowa adjusted to some things the Fighting Illini hadn't showed (mostly the slant moves from the defensive line) and found its stride. And found its stride. And found its stride.

Canzeri finished with a school record 43 rushes and 256 yards, third most in school history, with a rushing TD (a 75-yarder) and a TD reception (17-yard screen pass). On Monday, Canzeri was named the Big Ten's offensive player of the week.

Offensive coordinator Greg Davis calls the plays, but the 13-play, 59-yard drive in which Canzeri carried 11 straight times was Ferentz through and through, be it the head coach or O-line coach/run game coordinator Brian Ferentz.

'It's a testament to his determination and his courage, because those were hard yards,” Kirk Ferentz said. 'Everybody knew what was going on there. He could've put his hand up and said, ‘Hey, I need a break,' but he's a strong team leader right now and he laid it out there for us.”

The drive ended in a field goal, but drained 6:53 off the clock. Canzeri never looked to the sideline, which is the international sign of a tired player. During the drive he ripped off 11 yards on an outside zone run that saw him dip to the line of scrimmage twice and outrun the Illini defense to the edge.

For the second week in a row and third time this season, Iowa rushed for more yards (278) than it passed for (200). In 13 games last year, that happened just two times.

'We're comfortable with the run game,” said quarterback C.J. Beathard, who after putting a few passes up for grabs last week, played a considerably calmer game even in the face of a heavy rush. 'We put a lot on our offensive line. When teams come into play us, they know we're going to run the ball. That's what we did today. He did a good job taking those carries and the line did a great job blocking for him.”

When the Hawkeyes pull into Evanston, Ill., for their matchup with No. 21 Northwestern (5-1, 1-1), the game will feature two of the hardest-working running backs in the nation. Northwestern sophomore Justin Jackson leads the nation with 150 rush attempts (661 yards, 4.41 yards per carry). Canzeri is sixth with 132 (697 yards, 5.28 yards per carry).

More Canzeri numbers: He's carried the ball 69 times the last two weeks, that leads the nation during that span (Northern Illinois' Joel Bouagnon is second with 57). Want a finishing number? Canzeri is second in the nation with 41 fourth-quarter carries (Baylor's Terence Williams leads with 50).

The health of Iowa's O-line is certainly a factor going into the weekend. Right tackle Ike Boettger left last week's game with a left ankle injury. Guard Jordan Walsh went to the lockerroom with a shoulder injury, but returned to finish the game.

Canzeri seems no worse for the wear.

'That was our game plan,” center Austin Blythe said after showing surprise that Canzeri piled up 43 carries. 'We knew we could come out and run the ball. But Jordan did a great job. To have 43 carries and still be pumping his legs at the end of the game like that, that's impressive.”

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