The University of Minnesota Gophers football team will battle the University of Iowa Hawkeyes tonight for the annual Floyd of Rosedale Trophy and much more. Both teams come into the game with a record of 2-1. Minnesota let one get away against North Carolina in their first game, but they have pitched two consecutive shutouts against overmatched opponents Rhode Island and Nevada. With a trip to Michigan on the docket for next weekend, this game hovers in the must-win category for the Gophers.
Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes started the season with a blowout win over Northern Illinois. But they stumbled badly in Week 2, surrendering a 12-point lead to state rival Iowa State, which led to a 20-19 loss. However, they rebounded last week to hand Troy a 17-point loss.
Let’s take a look at both teams as they enter this important matchup.
Iowa Means Defense
No conversation about an Iowa football team can commence without discussing their defense. Year after year, Kirk Ferentz’s defensive units are ranked among the top in the nation, and this season is no different. The unit is led by its linebackers Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson, both of whom will be playing on Sunday afternoons next fall. The defensive line is big and nasty, with ends Ethan Hurkett and Brian Allen providing a swarming pass rush.
If there is an area of concern for the Hawkeyes on defense, their secondary has been uncharacteristically vulnerable to the deep pass this season. Cornerback T.J. Hall was burned for two long touchdown receptions last week against Troy and was briefly benched. And stud nickelback Sebastian Castro and safety Xavier Nwankpa looked confused and out of position against Iowa State. Look for Max Brosmer and the Gophers offense to test that secondary early in the contest.
Hawkeyes Offense is a Mixed Bag
The most glaring weakness of the Iowa football team last year was its inability to move the ball through the air. The Iowa air attack is not as anemic as last season, but it is hardly a finished product. A more uptempo offensive philosophy has allowed quarterback Cade McNamara to have some effective moments this season. But the Hawkeyes still lack big-play potential. Look for numerous short passes to tight ends Addison Ostrenga and Luke Lachey.
However, the Hawkeye offense centers around tailback Kaleb Johnson, who leads the FBS with 479 rushing yards while sporting a lofty 7.9 yards a carry. He’s big and athletic, and the Gophers defense will see a steady diet of him all day long.
Brosmer Has to Air it Out
The Gophers’ offense has established a pattern over the past few weeks. If they are going to run the ball successfully, they have to establish a passing attack first. This is a big change from previous years when P.J. Fleck-led offenses would run you off the field. With stacked defenses and multiple shifts, the sledding has become much more difficult for Gopher running backs Darius Taylor and Marcus Major.
Brosmer must find wideouts Daniel Jackson and Elijah Spencer, early and often, as well as underneath throws to tight end Jameson Geers and the running backs. Iowa is especially vulnerable to deep passes, so the offensive line led by All-American candidate tackle Aireontae Ersey needs to give their quarterback time to take some shots down the field.
Gophers Have to Stop Kaleb Johnson
Three weeks ago, when the Gophers lost to North Carolina, they committed 22 missed tackles, and the Tar Heels tailback Omarion Hampton ran wild on the Minnesota defense. If the Gophers D repeats that performance today, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson might set an NCAA single-game rushing record. Stopping him is priority one, two, and three for defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman’s defense. Linebackers Cody Lindenberg, Maverick Baranowski, and Devon Williams must be up to the task all day.
McNamara had a great game the first week against Northern Illinois but has struggled to find a confident pocket presence, and his deep ball ability is still in question. As they have the past two weeks, the Gophers defensive line led by Jah Joyner and Anthony Smith has to apply constant pressure on the Iowa quarterback. If they do that, there may be turnover opportunities for defensive backs Kerry Brown, Jack Henderson, and Ethan Robinson. It would also help if veteran cornerback Justin Walley could return to action after sustaining a knee injury last week against Nevada.
Outcome
This will be a knockout, drag-out defensive battle. The contest may turn on a big play. Both teams’ special teams units have shown vulnerabilities, so look for a possible break there. For those of you who enjoy an old-fashioned “three yards and a cloud of dust” Big Ten game, this one is for you. And don’t forget, the Gophers want nothing more than to retain Floyd for another year.
As mentioned earlier, the Gophers travel to Ann Arbor next week to take on the defending national champions, the Michigan Wolverines. Meanwhile, Iowa is idle next week, but they travel to Columbus, Ohio, to play the #3 Ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on October 5.
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