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Series History Since 1950
Overall Series Record: Iowa leads 28-20-2
Longest Wisconsin winning streak: 4 (1997-2001 and 1950-53)
Longest Iowa winning streak: 10 (1985-1996)
Best Wisconsin "run": Wisconsin defeated Iowa 4 of 5 times from 1950-1955.
Best Iowa "run": Iowa beat Wisconsin 17 of 18 times from 1977-1996, with the lone exception
being a tie in 1984.
Wisconsin record when favored: 14-5
Iowa record when favored: 17-3-2
Tossup games: Iowa leads 6-3.
Biggest Wisconsin upset: #97 Wisconsin upsets #67 Iowa 23-17 in 1969.
Biggest Iowa upset: #122 Iowa shocks #76 Wisconsin 38-24 in 1978. The win is one of only two
for the season for the Hawkeyes, and keeps Wisconsin from winning their 6th game and becoming bowl eligible (though they
almost assuredly still would not have gone to one).
Most important game: #5 Iowa defeats #10 Wisconsin 20-9 in 1958, handing Wisconsin their only loss of the season.
Least meaningful game: #99 Iowa (1 win) and #111 Wisconsin (winless) fittingly battle to a 21-21 tie in 1967.
Biggest Wisconsin blowout: Wisconsin blitzes Iowa 41-3 in the "Ron Dayne" game in 1999.
Biggest Iowa blowout: Iowa beats Wisconsin 41-0 in 1968.
November 22, 2003
Iowa Season Preview
The Line Says...
Sagarin has Iowa as a 3 point favorite. Howell has the Badgers as a 1 point underdog with a 48% chance of victory and a projected score of 24-23.
NCAA Stat Rankings
Here is how the two teams rank in terms of NCAA stats:
Rushing Offense: WIS 25, IA 50
Wisconsin has played the 37th toughest schedule in the country, while Iowa has played the 28th toughest schedule.
Analysis of Badgermaniac's Keys to the Game
Both Roth and Hodges had their moments, but Davis and Lorenz did ok and did give the Wisconsin QBs
time to throw.
Chandler had a miserable day as Wisconsin did a solid job in coverage.
A big key to the game. Wisconsin missed their long field goal while Iowa made theirs. Wisconsin also
had a few possessions where they were at the edge of FG range but didn't play for the FG. Switch a FG
around one way or the other and you may have a new game.
Wisconsin broke a couple solid runs in the middle of the field, but Iowa held solid once they were
in their own territory.
The turnovers were directly responsible for the slightly higher than expected score. Once Sorgi went down,
it changed the complexion of the game. I believe Wisconsin wins if he stays healthy.
Badgermaniac's Keys to the Game
Roth and Hodges are two of the better defensive ends in the Big Ten in terms of generating pass rush. They are able
to get decent pressure without blitzing as much as other teams need to. Like MSU, Iowa may be vulnerable
through the air but Davis and Lorenz need to give Sorgi time.
Iowa doesn't throw for many yards, but they are quite efficient. I believe the Badgers need to get
Chanlder out of his comfort zone by taking away a lot of the short and medium range passes that they
like to run. Make Chandler throw the ball down the field.
Iowa has a big advantage in the placekicking as it is. Wisconsin has been horrible from 40 yards and out.
If the game is close, like I expect it to be, Wisconsin cannot rely on any long field goals to tie or win the game.
Iowa has been great in the redzone. Can Wisconsin run the ball in order to capitalize on red zone chances?
The numbers suggest a game in the mid to high 20's, but I see this one as a closer to vest showdown of who blinks first. I think
Wisconsin needs to hit on some big pass plays to loosen things up, as Iowa excells at playing small-ball (tight in the red zone,
not many turnovers, strong against the run). I think Wisconsin will get off early, capitalizing on their
momentum from last week, but Iowa's defense will keep it from getting out of hand. Iowa comes back to even or close to even before
Allen kicks a short field goal late to give Wisconsin the win, 20-17.
UNIT MATCHUPS
WISCONSIN'S TOTAL OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S TOTAL
DEFENSE:
Both units are solid. Wisconsin has been playing lights out the last two weeks. Very slight advantage: WISCONSIN.
IOWA'S TOTAL OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S TOTAL
DEFENSE
Once again, a pretty even matchup. Advantage: EVEN.
IOWA'S RUSHING OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S RUSHING
DEFENSE
Wisconsin's rating is pedestrian, but they have not given up a ton in straight up running situations other than vs. Minnesota. Advantage: SLIGHT TO IOWA.
WISCONSIN'S RUSHING OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S RUSHING
DEFENSE
This should be a key battle. Advantage: EVEN.
IOWA'S PASSING OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S PASSING
DEFENSE
Basically a mirror image of each other. Iowa doesn't throw much, but has been moderately effective doing so. Advantage: EVEN.
WISCONSIN'S PASSING OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S PASSING
DEFENSE
Given time to throw, Wisconsin should be able to move the ball through the air. Advantage: WISCONSIN.
IOWA'S SCORING OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S SCORING
DEFENSE
Look For Iowa to score in the mid 20's. Advantage: SLIGHT TO IOWA.
WISCONSIN'S SCORING OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S SCORING
DEFENSE
Again, this looks pretty even. Both units are the strength of the team. Advantage: EVEN.
IOWA'S PUNTING VS. WISCONSIN PUNT RETURNING
Iowa's punting game has been ok, but Leonhard has been great this year. Advantage: WISCONSIN.
WISCONSIN PUNTING VS. IOWA'S PUNT RETURNING
Wisconsin's net problems have been more the result of an inability to pin a team deep in their own territory as opposed to giving up substantial returns. Advantage: EVEN.
WISCONSIN KICK RETURNS VS. IOWA'S KICK COVERAGE
Advantage: IOWA.
IOWA'S KICK RETURNS VS. WISCONSIN'S KICK COVERAGE
This continues to be a problem for the Badgers. Advantage: IOWA.
WISCONSIN 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS VS. IOWA'S 3RD DOWN
DEFENSE
Both teams are good, but Wisconsin has been just a little better. Advantage: SLIGHT TO WISCONSIN..
IOWA'S 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS VS. WISCONSIN'S 3RD DOWN
DEFENSE
Iowa has been marginal while Wisconsin has been surprisingly decent. Advantage: SLIGHT TO WISCONSIN.
TURNOVER MARGIN
Both teams are around even for the season. Advantage: VERY SLIGHT TO IOWA.
WISCONSIN PASS RUSH VS. IOWA'S PASS PROTECTION
Both teams solid. Neither team great. Advantage: EVEN.
IOWA'S PASS RUSH VS. WISCONSIN'S PASS PROTECTION
Iowa generates good pressure from their ends. Pressure from the outside has been a problem for Wisconsin. Advantage: IOWA.
FG KICKING
Wisconsin has been erratic while Kaeding is one of the best around. Advantage: IOWA
PENALTIES
Advantage: WISCONSIN.
TIME OF POSSESSION
Advantage: WISCONSIN.
WISCONSIN'S RED ZONE OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S RED ZONE DEFENSE.
Wisconsin has done a solid job of scoring touchdowns, but Iowa has been great in the red zone. Advantage: IOWA.
IOWA'S RED ZONE OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S RED ZONE OFFENSE.
Iowa has converted a high percentage due to great FG accuracy, but Wisconsin actually has a slight edge in terms of TD rate. Advantage: EVEN.
November 3, 2001
Iowa Season Preview
Analysis of Badgermaniac's Keys to the Game
1.) Brooks Bollinger
Bollinger played exceptionally well, converting first downs with his arm and his legs on the way to a time of possession of over 37 minutes.
At the same time, he took his shots (and hit) on the deep passes.
2.) "Extra"-points
It wasn't the special teams like I thought it might be, but they got one score off of the field position as a result of a fumble.
3.)Limiting snaps
I was happy to see that Iowa did NOT choose to pound the Wisconsin line which I believe helped them hold up for four quarters.
Iowa hit my target of 60 snaps exactly.
4.) Going to the well
Wisconsin not only got off to a solid start, but they maintained their poise when Iowa narrowed the gap early in the second half and looked to be in position to take over the game.
The defense also held firm after Neuser missed the chip shot field goal to give Iowa hope.
PREDICTION
Well, Iowa did gash them for some big plays and 28 points, Wisconsin was able to throw the ball as I thought they would, Davis did not have many big holes (though he did get his 100), and I had the score as 34-27. But, I am happy to say wrong team.
Badgermaniac's Keys to the Game
1.) Brooks Bollinger
First off, will he play and how healthy is he? Note that Alvarez is well-known for his injury concealment so don't be stunned if Bollinger does NOT go on Saturday despite all the press accounts that he will. Not a prediction, but something to keep in mind.
Secondly, can Bollinger provide a balance? No, not a run/pass balance, but a balance between keeping the chains moving with an effective short game and hitting the home run when the opportunity presents itself (and it will on Saturday).
2.) "Extra"-points
No, not PAT's...but rather points generated from special teams and the defense. I believe Wisconsin is going to have trouble keeping anybody out of the endzone at this point in the season. Iowa's offense isn't bad by any means, but isn't very explosive either. Yet, they should be right around the 30 point mark. I believe Wisconsin can put up high 20's on a solid Iowa defense, but they may need a punt return or a defensive touchdown to get over that hump.
If it happens, look for it to be Nick Davis on a punt return.
3.)Limiting snaps
It is going to be a war of attrition for Wisconsin's defensive line. Iowa will try to run the ball and pound away with their experience offensive line and Ladell Betts. Wisconsin held up pretty well early vs. MSU, but as the game progressed, the Spartans were able to hit on some big runs.
Can very small defensive linemen hold up for 4 quarters? Can they get off the field enough early in the game to limit their snaps? Anything over 60 snaps is going to be rough on the Badgers.
4.) Going to the well
Wisconsin has faced a ton of adversity this year and has already had fan-proclaimed "gut-check" games on more than one occasion.
However, Wisconsin is 1-5 in their last 6 home games, have played very poorly in a number of those game, and generally have failed to get the crowd into the games.
This is a rivalry game and despite their tough loss vs. Michigan last week, Iowa has to be chomping at the big for a little payback. Can/will Wisconsin respond and be able to go the well once again for that extra oomph? The Badgers cannot come out of the gate flat.
PREDICTION
As I stated earlier, I have a hard time seeing this defense stopping anybody in their current state. They haven't quit and have had their moments, but there are just too many holes for them to shut anybody down.
On the other side of the ball, I believe Wisconsin should be able to throw the ball on Iowa. Look for Anthony Davis to have his first sub-100 yard game, but Bollinger could do some damage against Iowa, especially considering that Iowa does not possess a big pass rush and is without a starting cornerback.
Wisconsin hangs in there early, but fades in the second half.....Iowa 34-Wisconsin 27.
WISCONSIN'S TOTAL OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S TOTAL
DEFENSE:
Wisconsin's offense has been somewhat underrated this year, but they should have a tough go of it against Iowa. Advantage: IOWA.
IOWA'S TOTAL OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S TOTAL
DEFENSE
Both units have been poor this year. Since Wisconsin is so depleted...Advantage: IOWA.
IOWA'S RUSHING OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S RUSHING
DEFENSE
Another situation in which two units who have struggled will match up. Look for Iowa to have a solid but unspectacular rushing game. Advantage: EVEN.
WISCONSIN'S RUSHING OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S RUSHING
DEFENSE
Wisconsin has had moderate success running the ball, but has not dominated against strong rushing defenses. No reason to expect a change now. Advantage: IOWA.
IOWA'S PASSING OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S PASSING
DEFENSE
For all the slack Kyle McCann has gotten this year from Iowa fans, he is no worse than an average passer. Given Wisconsin's trouble, look for McCann to be very efficient. Advantage: IOWA.
WISCONSIN'S PASSING OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S PASSING
DEFENSE
Wisconsin's numbers look very good, especially considering the disarray they have had at quarterback. However, Iowa's passing defense ranks right there with their rushing defense. One wildcard is the loss of starting cornerback Matt Stockdale for the season. I believe Wisconsin can have some success here. Advantage: EVEN.
IOWA'S SCORING OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S SCORING
DEFENSE
Look for Iowa to be somewhere in the low 30's if form holds. Advantage: IOWA.
WISCONSIN'S SCORING OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S SCORING
DEFENSE
While Iowa's defense has been stellar in yardage allowed, their points alowed total is only average. I can see Wisconsin putting up close to 30 if they can get some turnover or special teams help. Advantage: EVEN.
IOWA'S PUNTING VS. WISCONSIN PUNT RETURNING
Wisconsin has lost the special teams yardage game all year, but if the defense can force some punts, Wisconsin could get an advantage. Advantage: WISCONSIN.
WISCONSIN PUNTING VS. IOWA'S PUNT RETURNING
Morse looks to have upgraded this position. Advantage: Wisconsin.
WISCONSIN KICK RETURNS VS. IOWA'S KICK COVERAGE
Both units have been poor, but at least Nick Davis has proven to be a threat in the past. Advantage: WISCONSIN.
IOWA'S KICK RETURNS VS. WISCONSIN'S KICK COVERAGE
Once you also consider that Wisconsin has had problems kicking the ball out of bounds...Advantage: IOWA.
WISCONSIN 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS VS. IOWA'S 3RD DOWN
DEFENSE
Wisconsin has been surprisingly effective here, especially with Bollinger at the helm. Advantage: WISCONSIN..
IOWA'S 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS VS. WISCONSIN'S 3RD DOWN
DEFENSE
About the same types of numbers going the other direction. Advantage: IOWA.
TURNOVER MARGIN
Advantage: Very slight to WISCONSIN.
WISCONSIN PASS RUSH VS. IOWA'S PASS PROTECTION
On paper this looks to be a slight Wisconsin edge. However, since the injuries, Wisconsin has not put any real heat on the QB. Advantage: IOWA.
IOWA'S PASS RUSH VS. WISCONSIN'S PASS PROTECTION
Wisconsin has done ok in pass protection. Iowa isn't very athletic up front and has not rushed the passer very well. Advantage: WISCONSIN.
FG KICKING
Advantage: EVEN
PENALTIES
Advantage: WISCONSIN.
TIME OF POSSESSION
Advantage: EVEN.
WISCONSIN'S RED ZONE OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S RED ZONE DEFENSE.
Wisconsin has been fairly effective in the red zone despite primarily being a big play offense. Advantage: WISCONSIN.
IOWA'S RED ZONE OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S RED ZONE OFFENSE.
Iowa hasn't been anything special, but Wisconsin has been terrible. Advantage: IOWA.
Here is how the Badgers and Hawkeyes compare:
Total offense: WIS 55, IA 61
Wisconsin has played the 24th toughest schedule in the nation. Iowa has played the 23rd toughest schedule in the country.
For Wisconsin...
Anthony Davis is 9th in the nation in yards rushing per game and 35th in all-purpose running.
For Iowa...
Ladell Betts is 61st in rushing yards per game.
Sagarin has Iowa as a 6 point favorite. Howell has the Wisconsin as a 1.5 point favorite with an 53% chance of winning. Projected score is 28-27.
NOTES
Here are the game grades:
QB: B
RB: C+
WR: A
TE: B
OL: C-
DL: B+
LB: B
DB:B
Special Teams: C+
Here are how Badgermaniac's Keys to the Game panned out against Iowa.
1. Dominating the trenches
2. Ending the game early
3. Bollinger consistency
4. Pass defense assignments
PREDICTION
Here are Badgermaniac's Keys to the Game for tomorrow's game against Iowa.
1. Dominating the trenches
2. Ending the game early
3. Bollinger consistency
4. Pass defense assignments
PREDICTION
Sagarin has this game as an 11 point Badger victory. Howell has Wisconsin as a 13 point favorite with a 70% chance of winning. Projected score of Wisconsin 29, Iowa 16.
Big Ten ranking matchups:
WISCONSIN'S TOTAL OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S TOTAL
DEFENSE:
COMMENT: Both units have been struggling. However, with a Wisconsin offense finally seeming to get a little bit of continuity last week against a decent Purdue defense, I expect Wisconsin to be over 400 yards of offense.
IOWA'S TOTAL OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S TOTAL
DEFENSE
COMMENT: For perhaps the first time this year, Wisconsin will play an offense that isn't a potent unit while having most of their starting defense available. The stats would indicate a push, but I expect Wisconsin's defense to dominate the Hawks, possibly holding them under 300 yards.
IOWA'S RUSHING OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S RUSHING
DEFENSE
COMMENT: Despite the presence of Ladell Betts, offensive line problems have reduced the Iowa rushing game to mush. Wisconsin should be able to shut down the run.
WISCONSIN'S RUSHING OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S RUSHING
DEFENSE
COMMENT: Big mismatch here as well.
IOWA'S PASSING OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S PASSING
DEFENSE
COMMENT: The raw totals are deceiving based on the fact that Iowa has had to throw a ton while Wisconsin has faced a bundle of passing teams. When looking at the efficiency numbers, it becomes a pretty even matchup. I expect Iowa to get some yardage through the air, but not enough to do serious damage.
WISCONSIN'S PASSING OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S PASSING
DEFENSE
COMMENT: Both units have been feeble to say the least. If Wisconsin is going to be able to throw against anyone in a big way, it should be Iowa.
IOWA'S SCORING OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S SCORING
DEFENSE
COMMENT: Despite some decent offensive passing numbers, Iowa just hasn't been able to put points on the board. Wisconsin's numbers are also pedestrian, but when we adjust for overtime scores, Wisconsin's defense would rank 3rd in the Big Ten. There should be no way Iowa gets to 20.
WISCONSIN'S SCORING OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S SCORING
DEFENSE
COMMENT: Again, adjusting for overtime scores, Wisconsin would lose 2 PPG off of their average. Still, with Iowa giving up over 30 PPG, I expect a conservative estimate to be 28-32 points for Wisconsin.
IOWA'S PUNTING VS. WISCONSIN PUNT RETURNING
COMMENT: Iowa's punting has been decent, though whenever the net average is worse relative to the gross average, it indicates that the punter may be more of a distance punter as opposed to a hang time punter, which could be good news for Nick Davis.
WISCONSIN PUNTING VS. IOWA'S PUNT RETURNING
COMMENT: Stemke has been the best punter in the country, bar none this year. What is amazing is the 1.2 return yards per kick.
WISCONSIN KICK RETURNS VS. IOWA'S KICK RETURNS
COMMENT: Edge to Iowa. Iowa has had some success with kick returns this year, and with Pisetsky's inconsistent kickoffs, this could be an area of concern.
WISCONSIN 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS VS. IOWA'S 3RD DOWN
DEFENSE
COMMENT: Wisconsin has been very poor in this regard all season long. Hopefully, the big edge in the running game should keep Wisconsin out of the tough down and distance situations, something that Iowa has allowed all year long.
IOWA'S 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS VS. WISCONSIN'S 3RD DOWN
DEFENSE
COMMENT: No huge edge here.
TURNOVER MARGIN
COMMENT: Slight edge to Wisconsin.
WISCONSIN PASS RUSH VS. IOWA'S PASS PROTECTION
COMMENT: Yes, it is true...a team with more troubles protecting the passer than Wisconsin (though not true if you look at per pass ratios). Wisconsin should be able to get some heat on the QB this week.
IOWA'S PASS RUSH VS. WISCONSIN'S PASS PROTECTION
COMMENT: Wisconsin's struggling pass blocking line should get a little bit of a break this week. No edge.
FG KICKING
COMMENT: Pisetky is 0 of 4 from beyond 50 yards, which skews his numbers a bit. Edge to Wisconsin.
PENALTIES
COMMENT: Not much of a factor.
TIME OF POSSESSION
COMMENT: Not surpising given the rushing numbers.
Here is how the Badgers and Hawkeyes match up nationally:
Total offense: WIS 83, IA 95
November 13, 1999
As some may have noticed, I didn't give any keys to the game as I didn't really see any way that Iowa could win the game. However, I did predict 42-3 with Dayne getting the record at the 4 minute mark of the second quarter, so pat on my own back for that one (as they say, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while).
Here are Badgermaniac's Keys to the Game against Iowa.
Who are we kidding? Iowa stinks and we all know it. Normally, I would post something about staying focused, but with all that is at stake, this will not be a problem. Wisconsin should be able to do as they please.
PREDICTION
Here is the statistical rundown of the Iowa-Wisconsin game.
Sagarin has the game as a 36 point Badger victory. Howell's computer has the game as a 30 point Badger victory with a predicted score of 39 to 9. Wisconsin has a 92% chance of
winning.
Sagarin now has Wisconsin at #8 in the country while Howell has them at 8th as well.
Here is how the Badgers and Hawkeyes match up nationally.
Total offense: WIS 27, Iowa 98
Nationally....
WISCONSIN'S TOTAL OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S TOTAL
DEFENSE:
COMMENT: OUCH.
IOWA'S TOTAL OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S TOTAL
DEFENSE
COMMENT: OUCH.
IOWA'S RUSHING OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S RUSHING
DEFENSE
COMMENT: OUCH.
WISCONSIN'S RUSHING OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S RUSHING
DEFENSE
COMMENT: OUCH, OUCH, HURT ME BABY.
IOWA'S PASSING OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S PASSING
DEFENSE
COMMENT: OUCH. Is there anything we can expect Iowa to do well in?
WISCONSIN'S PASSING OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S PASSING
DEFENSE
COMMENT: Hey, a category that is a push (probably because teams have been able to run the ball up and down the field with Iowa with a huge lead).
IOWA'S SCORING OFFENSE VS. WISCONSIN'S SCORING
DEFENSE
COMMENT: Ouch. Put the over/under at about 7.
WISCONSIN'S SCORING OFFENSE VS. IOWA'S SCORING
DEFENSE
COMMENT: 40 sounds about right here.
IOWA'S PUNTING VS. WISCONSIN PUNT RETURNING
COMMENT: Run Nick Run.
WISCONSIN PUNTING VS. IOWA'S PUNT RETURNING
COMMENT: Nope.
WISCONSIN KICK RETURNS VS. IOWA'S KICK RETURNS
COMMENT: Edge to Wisconsin.
WISCONSIN 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS VS. IOWA'S 3RD DOWN
DEFENSE
COMMENT: What else is new?
IOWA'S 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS VS. WISCONSIN'S 3RD DOWN
DEFENSE
COMMENT: Iowa really stinks.
TURNOVER MARGIN
COMMENT: Anyone still with me?.
WISCONSIN PASS RUSH VS. IOWA'S PASS PROTECTION
COMMENT: Could this be an Iowa edge? I predict 7 sacks for the Badgers.
IOWA'S PASS RUSH VS. WISCONSIN'S PASS PROTECTION
COMMENT: Throw Brooks throw.
FG KICKING
COMMENT: Let's give Vitaly the day off (at least on FGs).
PENALTIES
COMMENT: Not much of a factor.
TIME OF POSSESSION
COMMENT: Will Iowa even see the ball?
Return to Game Previews/Reviews Page
Return to Badgermaniac.com
Here are my positional grades for the Iowa game.
QB: C
His running plays on the options were the main source of offense for much of the early part of the ball game. Although never pretty, he has taken away teams wishing to focus on Dayne on the pitch. Late in the game, when they did decide to take Samuel away, he pitched the ball and Dayne picked up about 10 yards.
His ball handling on the option has been pretty good overall this year. He had the bad pitch off Dayne's facemask (Purdue?) and the one fumble (Purdue), but generally has made some solid decisions.
His passing was another story. The big problem for Samuel against Iowa was holding the ball. At least 5 times he held the ball too long in the pocket. Just when I would assume the receivers weren't open, the replay would show a pocket view and in fact, open receivers. Once he did complete the pass, but cost the receiver yards after the catch due to the lateness of the throw.
Now, I would rather he not throw the ball than make a mistake, but his lack of confidence throwing the ball is really evident.
As for the passes he did throw, the short passes were generally on the mark, while the medium passes were sketchy at best. There were no long throws, perhaps due to the increased pass blocking problems as of late.
RB: A-
As the holes opened later in the game, he hit the holes quicker and with more authority. It is truly scary to think what he would do on a balanced offensive attack.
Cecil Martin continued his outstanding play. He provided key lead blocks on at least 8 big running plays. He is super at locking up that first defender and providing the seam. As I mentioned in a previous update, it is too bad the Big Ten does not give out a pure fullback all-confernce honor (like the NFL does).
Faulkner once again ran very hard in his limited time. I have been critical of Faulkner in the past for his lack of toughness, but he is slowly beginning to make me question this. I am not ready to say that he is ready for full time duty yet, but I am at least pondering it.
WR: C
Ahmad Merritt did make a couple of nice grabs early, though he did run a questionable route in the endzone which could have been a touchdown.
Chambers was not thrown to at all for the most part. This is disappointing as a guy like him needs to get even some token touches each game considering his big play ablitity. Good teams get the ball to their playmakers. Chambers is one of those for the Badgers. I kind of like the WR screen Northwestern runs with Bates or SDSU ran with their WRs. Has he ran a slant this year yet? What happened to the out and up he ran so well early in the year for big yards?
TE: C
OL: B
One worry is the recent lack of solid pass protection, much of it in blitz pickup (which Alvarez mentioned in his post game comments). Samuel was pressured on nearly 50% of the pass plays against Iowa. This prevented them from being able to throw down the field very much. Now, granted some of the problem is Samuel and his slow progressions, but we HAVE to get better heading down the stretch. For much of the year, I have contended that the Badger OL was better pass blockers than run blockers, but I think I am changing my mind.
Bill Ferrario continued his solid recent play with another outstanding performance against Iowa. He blew out many enormous holes inside, especially late in the game. He was getting constant push in addition to being positionally sound.
Aaron Gibson was also a standout although he gave up a few sacks to DeVries when he gave up on the play. Still, most big plays for the Badgers once again were behind big Aaron.
McIntosh was his usual steady self, providing solid if unspectacular play. I think Badger fans (myself included) often take player like Mac for granted. They may not make the glamour blocks like Gibby, but having a solid tackle who you don't really notice is really a plus.
Rabach had some nice seal blocks inside (which is his strength). He is getting to be quite good at influencing the tackle to shade to a side, thereby opening a hole. He is no Cory Raymer yet, but is certainly evolving into that type of player.
Dave Costa had the most trouble overall, although even he played pretty solid with a number of nice kick out blocks. Generally though, when a DL made a big play, it was often Costa's man.
DL: A
Not only did Burke notch 5 sacks in the game, but he had pressures on at least 5 or 6 other plays as well. He singlehandedly took Iowa out of their offensive gameplan, forcing them to keep the tightend in pass protection for much of the game.
The other standout up front was Ross Kolodziej. Although Mahlik, Janek, Bryant, and Williams played pretty well while he was hurt, they clearly are at a different level when Ross is in there. He was able to get solid penetration on numerous occasions and notched a couple of coverage sacks. He has shown improved lateral movement from last season.
Favret was realatively quiet, though his pursuit continues to be excellent.
The DL was also able to get numerous deflections when the rush couldn't get there.
LB: A
Donnell Thompson's big plays were nice coverage on the TE on the Iowa deep pass as well as the fantastic closing on the safety. Maybe it is just my impression, but it seems like Thompson is taking better angles to the ball. Last year it seemed like he would be in position, but be just a step late from making the play.
Bob Adamov had the big hit on the sack and is generally the best cover man of the LBs, though he was a big soft when the speedy receivers came underneath.
DB: A
A better QB/better receivers would have gotten a few more underneath plays, but everything more than 10 yards down the field was covered like a glove.
Fantastic overall play.
Special Teams: B
Davis provided two really nice returns, one a nice shifty punt return, and the other on the free kick.
Coverage was pretty good all around.
Davenport hit the FGs early when the game was close, though he missed another XP (costing me $$).
I think the team as a whole is due for another big play or two in the next two or three weeks.
Here are Badgermaniac's Keys to the Game panned out.
1. Special Teams
2. Costa, Rabach, and Ferrario vs. DeVries
He actually ended up on Gibson much more than on the interior guys. Despite DeVries' gaudy stats, Gibson did a reasonable job on him. At least 2 of DeVries' sacks were coverage sacks where Gibson finally seemed to give up on the play (gotta play to the whistle).
I thought the main area that DeVries wreaked havoc was on the screen passes and on the waggles. On the screen passed, the OL are supposed to release the DL in order to set up the play, but DeVries just got to Samuel too quickly. His closing speed on Samuel on the waggle passes completely disrupted the plays.
On the bright side, they did not allow him to force any big plays in the form of turnovers.
3. Hawkeye OL vs. Badger DL
4. First Quarter
The bottom line is that when your defense surrenders 138 yards, you are going to win.
PREDICTION: I would say it was a hit.
Here are Badgermaniac's Keys to the Game against Iowa.
1. Special Teams
2. Costa, Rabach, and Ferrario vs. DeVries
3. Hawkeye OL vs. Badger DL
4. First Quarter
PREDICTION: I know many Badger fans are worried about this game, in no small part to the long win streak Iowa has against Wisconsin in Iowa City. However, the Badgers really match up well against Iowa. Iowa has a poor OL, and had had erratic play at QB, playing right into the strength of the Badger defense. I just don't see how Iowa is going to get any points, barring turnovers or freak plays.
On the other side of the ball, I think DeVries and company should be able to contain the Badgers early, but much like last week against Illinois, Wisconsin will gradually assume control. Anything can happen in a border war, but I like the Badgers to win handily.
Davenport kicks 3 FGs as Wisconsin wins 23 to 6.
In this weeks matchup with the Hawkeyes, the computer has the Badgers as a 13.5 point favorite with a 75% chance of winning. Predicted score is 28-15.
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Iowa Depth Chart
Iowa Stats
Passing Offense: WIS 58, IA 102
Passing Efficiency: WIS 20, IA 53
Total Offense: WIS 36, IA 95
Scoring Offense: WIS 43, IA 51
Rushing Defense: WIS 37, IA 10
Passing Defense: WIS 74, IA 64
Passing Efficiency Defense: WIS 47, IA 28
Total Defense: WIS 52, IA 17
Scoring Defense: WIS 45, IA 9
Turnover Margin: WIS 66, IA 50
Net Punting: WIS 47, IA 38
Punt Returns: WIS 4, IA 18
Kickoff Returns: WIS 108, IA 29
Analysis of Badgermaniac's Prediction
Badgermaniac's Prediction
Wisconsin is 3rd at 410 YPG while Iowa is 4th at 309 YPG.
Iowa is 8th at 334 YPG while Wisconsin is 7th at 364 YPG.
Iowa is 5th in the conference at 165 YPG while Wisconsin is 7th at 132 YPG.
Wisconsin is 2nd at 188 YPG while Iowa is 3rd at 89 YPG allowed.
Iowa is 5th in efficiency with a rating of 129 and 11th in yardage at 169 YPG while Wisconsin is 7th in efficiency defense with an opposing rating of 119 and 8th in yardage allowed with 232 YPG.
Wisconsin is 2nd in efficiency with a rating of 146 and 5th in yardage at 222 YPG while
Iowa is 6th in efficieny defense with an opposing rating of 112 and is 6th in yardage allowed with 220 YPG.
Iowa is 5th in scoring at 28 PG while Wisconsin is allowing 23 PG, which is 7th.
Wisconsin is 3rd at 29 PG while Iowa is 3rd with 16 points allowed per game.
Iowa is 7th in gross average at 40 yards per punt, and 4th in net yardage at 37 yards per punt while Wisconsin is 1st in punt returns at 16 yards per return.
Wisconsin's gross average is 6th in the conference at 41 yards per punt with a net is of 37 which is 5th. Iowa ranks 4th in punt returns at 13 yards per return.
Wisconsin is 9th at just 18 yards per return while Iowa is 4th allowing 17 yards per return.
Iowa is 2nd at 23 yards per return while Wisconsin is 9th allowing 22 per return.
Wisconsin is 3rd in the conference at 46% while Iowa ranks 5th at 37% allowed.
Iowa is 8th at 38% while Wisconsin ranks 4th at 36% allowed.
Wisconsin is 7th at -1 while Iowa is 3rd at +2
Wisconsin is 5th in the conference with 29 sacks while Iowa ranks 6th with 20 sacks allowed.
Iowa is 4th with 30 sacks while Wisconsin ranks 10th in sacks allowed with 30.
Wisconsin is 11 for 18 for 61% while Iowa is 15 of 16 for 94%.
Wisconsin is 2nd in fewest penalites with 39+ yards per game. Iowa is 8th with 55+.
Wisconsin ranks 3rd at 31+ minutes per game while Iowa 8th at 29+ minutes per game.
Wisconsin is 6th in red zone efficiency at 82% (59% TDs) while Iowa is 1st allowing scores 63% of the time (41% TDs).
Iowa is 3rd at 87% (59% TDs) while Wisconsin is 8th, allowing scores 84% of the time (49% TDs).
Iowa Depth Chart
Iowa Stats
Wisconsin is 6th at 389 YPG while Iowa is 2nd at 289 YPG.
Iowa is 9th at 331 YPG while Wisconsin is 9th at 430 YPG.
Iowa is 9th in the conference at 114 YPG while Wisconsin is 7th at 200 YPG.
Wisconsin is 5th at 166 YPG while Iowa is 2nd at 113 YPG allowed.
Iowa is 5th in efficiency with a rating of 127 and 7th in yardage at 216 YPG while Wisconsin is 10th in efficiency defense with an opposing rating of 150 and 8th in yardage allowed with 230 YPG.
Wisconsin is 2nd in efficiency with a rating of 141 and 5th in yardage at 223 YPG while
Iowa is 2nd in efficieny defense with an opposing rating of 104 and is 1st in yardage allowed with 176 YPG.
Iowa is 6th in scoring at 26.8 PG while Wisconsin is allowing 34.0 PG, which is 10th.
Wisconsin is 7th at 26.6 PG while Iowa is 6th with 26.4 points allowed per game.
Iowa is 10th in gross average at just 35 yards per punt, and 10th in net yardage at 31.5 yards per punt while Wisconsin is 4th in punt returns at 12.6.
Wisconsin's gross average is 8th in the conference at 37.9 yards per punt with a net is of 34.5 which is 6th. Iowa ranks 7th in punt returns at 9.9 yards per return.
Wisconsin is 11th at just 14.9 yards per return while Iowa is 10th allowing 22.9 yards per return.
Iowa is 3rd at 21.2 yards per return while Wisconsin is 8th allowing 19.4 per return.
Wisconsin is 4th in the conference at 46% while Iowa ranks 5th at 41% allowed.
Iowa is 7th at 40% while Wisconsin ranks 9th at 46% allowed.
Wisconsin is 6th at -1 while Iowa is 10th at -3
Wisconsin is 2nd in the conference with 15 sacks while Iowa ranks 5th with 11 sacks allowed.
Iowa is last with just 5 sacks while Wisconsin ranks 8th in sacks allowed with 13.
Wisconsin is 5 for 8 for 63% while Iowa is 3 of 5 for 60%.
Wisconsin is 2nd in fewest penalites with 35+ yards per game. Iowa is 8th with 56+.
Wisconsin ranks 5th at 30+ minutes per game while Iowa 7th at 29+ minutes per game.
Wisconsin is 6th in red zone efficiency at 88% (47% TDs) while Iowa is 9th allowing scores 94% of the time (47% TDs).
Iowa is 5th at 88% (44% TDs) while Wisconsin is last, allowing scores 100% of the time (72% TDs).
Passing offense: WIS 59, IA 52
Passing efficiency: WIS 43, IA 25
Rushing offense: WIS 41, IA 65
Scoring offense: WIS 57, IA 24
Total defense: WIS 67, IA 13
Rushing defense: WIS 72, IA 32
Passing defense: WIS 55, IA 13
Passing efficiency defense: WIS 79, IA 19
Scoring defense: WIS 84, IA 37
Turnover margin: WIS 64, IA 56
Lee Evans is 27th in receptions per game, 30th in all-purpose running, 87th in scoring, and 2nd in receiving yards per game.
Michael Broussard is 69th in interceptions per game.
Kirk Munden is 64th in punting.
Nick Davis is 55th in punt returns, 91st in all-purpose running, and 61st in kickoff returns.
Mike Allen is 86th in field goals per game.
Kyle McCann is 25th in passing efficiency and 56th in total offense.
Kahlil Hill is 55th in receptions per game, 92nd in punt returns, 16th in kickoff returns, 57th in all-purpose running, and 70th in receiving yards per game.
Aaron Kampman and Bob Sanders are 83rd in interceptions per game.
David Bradley is 98th in punting.
Nate Kaeding is 42nd in field goals per game and 53rd in scoring.
October 28, 2000
Bollinger was productive in terms of moving the ball, but had trouble getting the offense into the endzone. He made pretty good reads and delivered the ball when he needed to, though his accuracy wasn't spectacular by any means. Once again, made one critical terrible throw when he was picked off deep in Iowa territory when a pass sailed on him. Still, a solid performance.
Bennett didn't have a lot of room to run, but didn't seem to make many assertive cuts either. He did run hard in traffic. Blitz pickup by Bennett was borderline awful.
The best game of the year by the receivers, specifically Chambers. They caught everything thrown their way, made big plays, got separation, you name it other than consistently getting into the endzone.
The tightends did a pretty good job of finding the underneath seam on the bootlegs, something that has not always happened this year. Their blocking on the perimeter wasn't outstanding, but realize that Iowa was bringing a lot of heat to the line.
Again, the Badger OL had trouble at times with the run blitz, specifically from safety Bob Sanders. They could also not get a push up front nor create many creases in the Iowa defensive front. They had some things going early, though the loss of Ben Johnson seemed to coincide with the collapse of the running game. The pass protection is showing signs of coming along, but is still too inconsistent.
Other than one big Betts run (which was made worse by a missed tackle by Aiello), the Badger DL controlled the line of scrimmage against the run. They also put decent pressure on McCann, specifically Ross Kolodziej. Though they didn't wrap up consistently, McCann could not just sit in the pocket all day, something that has happened too often this year.
A solid effort from the LB corps. Nick Greisen once again played a strong game and is seemingly making all the right reads consistenly. No, he doesn't have the footspeed to cover sideline to sideline, but he is turning into a very solid backer. Knight also continued his pretty consistent second half of the season.
The corners were excellent and all but elimated their men from the context of the offense. The safety play was somewhat erratic, as they seem to still have that occasional breakdown down the middle of the field at least once per game. Lucky for them the Iowa receivers aren't all that great. Boese had a bit of trouble with Hill in the slot.
Stemke was masterful as he has been all season long. Pistesky was only 2 of 3 on FGs (though his miss looked good to me). Kick coverage was decent, though Hill came close a couple of times to breaking one. Davis had a fumbled punt.
Wisconsin's DL dominated Iowa's OL, but the same could be said for Iowa's DL as Wisconsin could not get anything going running the ball. Iowa's pluggers up front stood firm, and they put pressure on Bollinger via the blitz to keep the score down despite giving up a ton of yards.
Didn't happen. Wisconsin settled for field goals early and two turnovers didn't help. Iowa hung in the game and certainly had a chance to win.
He played pretty well, other than two throws. The interception got away from him and the force to Chambers in the 4th (with Sigmund running wide open) were his only two bad decisions. He consistently hit the short outs and rollouts to produce nearly 300 yards passing.
Only one noticably blown assignment, but McCann overthrew Hill. The TD catch was not a blown assigment per se, but poorly executed coverage nonetheless. Still not perfect, but good enough against a team like Iowa.
Wisconsin started what looked like a methodical victory, but the failure of the running game and poor field position kept the Wisconsin offense out of the endzone, which led to a much closer game than most anticipated. What is that they say about a home dog in a game with a greater than 10 point line?
Iowa has been dismal in both running the ball and defending the run. Wisconsin should be able to control both lines of scrimmage, giving Micheal Bennett room to run and limiting what LaDell Betts can do.
For whatever the reasons might be, Wisconsin hasn't finished anybody off early. They had their chance vs. Northwestern, but allowed NW back in the game and we all know how that turned out. Iowa is a team that can be dangerous if allowed to hang in the game as I am sure they believe they can defeat Wisconsin. That feeling needs to be crushed by halftime.
With the success of Jim Sorgi with the short passing game, I think it is important that the staff continue in this regard in order to give Bollinger some confidence. He doesn't need to be great, but simply needs to make the easy plays that Sorgi proved to do so well. (Contrary to what I said earlier this week, I also think Bollinger will go the whole way.)
Presuming they have trouble running the ball, it would hold that Iowa will put the ball in the air quite a bit and I expect them to get some yards. However, they need to be underneath yards, NOT the big homerun plays. The Wisconsin secondary has continued to blow deep assignments and allow the big plays at key moments (see Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan, Northwestern). These kind of mistakes need to be eliminated.
With a few exceptions, Wisconsin finally seems to be in decent shape with the continuity from last week. If they can put a solid 60 minutes of football together as they seemed close to doing at times last week, I expect a methodical steady victory. Look for a lot of holes on defense for Iowa, and if Bollinger is consistent and Bennett can hit the holes correctly, they will get some yards. I look for a 35-17 Wisconsin win.
Wisconsin is 9th at 328 YPG while Iowa is 10th at 454 YPG.
Iowa is 10th at 303 YPG while Wisconsin is 8th at 393 YPG.
Iowa is 11th in the conference at 76 YPG while Wisconsin is 5th at 146 YPG.
Wisconsin is 4th at 194 YPG while Iowa is 11th at 226 YPG allowed.
Iowa is 8th in efficiency with a rating of 116 and 2nd in yardage at 227 YPG while Wisconsin is 6th in efficiency defense with an opposing rating of 118 and a yardage allowed rating of 247 YPG, which ranks 10th.
Wisconsin is 9th in efficiency with a rating of 112 and 11th in yardage at 133 YPG while
Iowa is 10th in efficieny defense with an opposing rating of 142 and is 9th yardage allowed rating of 227 YPG.
Iowa is 11th in scoring at 14.9 PG while Wisconsin is allowing 22.2 PG, 7th in the conference.
Wisconsin is 8th at 22.0 PG while Iowa is 10th with 31.2 points allowed per game.
Iowa is 3rd in gross average (43.3) and 5th in net yardage (38.5) while Wisconsin is 4th in punt returns (10.8).
Stemke's gross average is 2nd in the conference (45.4), and his net is 1st (44.2). Iowa ranks 8th in punt returns (9.3).
Wisconsin is #9 while Iowa is #2.
Wisconsin is 9th in the conference at 33% while Iowa ranks 10th at 45% allowed.
Iowa is 6th at 39% while Wisconsin ranks 3rd at 36% allowed.
Wisconsin is 4th at +4 while Iowa is 8th at -3
Wisconsin is tied for 5th in the conference with 15 sacks while Iowa ranks last with 39 sacks allowed.
Iowa is last with 12 sacks while Wisconsin ranks 10th in sacks allowed with 34.
Wisconsin is 9 for 16 for 56% while Iowa is 7 of 15 for 47%.
Wisconsin is 5th in penalites with 46. Iowa is 8th with 49.
Wisconsin ranks 1st at 32+ minutes per game while Iowa ranks 7th at 29+ minutes per game.
Passing offense: WIS 106, IA 45
Rushing offense: WIS 19, IA 109
Scoring offense: WIS 75, IA 104
Total defense: WIS 85, IA 105
Rushing defense: WIS 60, IA 109
Passing defense: WIS 99, IA 83
Scoring defense: WIS 52, IA 90
Turnover margin: WIS 42, IA 77
Wisconsin 42-Iowa 3. Dayne gets his 100th yard with about 4 minutes remaining in the first half on a 7 yard burst up the middle. Penn State beats Michigan, but loses to Michigan State next week. Badgers are Big Ten champs outright.
Passing offense: WIS 100, Iowa 68
Rushing offense: WIS 5, Iowa 103
Scoring offense: WIS 13, Iowa 103
Total defense: WIS 19, Iowa 107
Rushing defense: WIS 29, Iowa 109
Passing defense: WIS 9, Iowa 109
Scoring defense: WIS 7, Iowa 98
Turnover margin: WIS 6, Iowa 74
Ron Dayne is 2nd in rushing, 4th in scoring, and 10th in all-purpose yardage.
Ladell Betts is 50th in rushing.
Kevin Kasper is 30th in receptions per game.
Vitaly Pisetsky is 24th in scoring and 15th in FG/game.
Jason Baker is 37th in punting.
Nick Davis is 10th in kickoff returns, and 16th in punt returns.
Tim Dodge is 36th in kickoff returns.
Jamar Fletcher is 6th in interceptions.
Big Ten ranking matchups:
Wisconsin is 3rd at 405 YPG while Iowa is 11th at 447 YPG.
Iowa is 10th at 293 YPG while Wisconsin is 3rd at 307 YPG.
Iowa is 11th in the conference at 93 YPG while Wisconsin is 4th at 121 YPG.
Wisconsin is 1st at 264 YPG while Iowa is 11th at 220 YPG allowed.
Iowa is 10th in efficiency with a rating of 104 and 7th in yardage at 200 YPG while Wisconsin is 2nd in efficiency defense with an opposing rating of 98 and a yardage allowed rating of 186 YPG, also 2nd in the conference.
Wisconsin is 7th in efficiency with a rating of 127 and 11th in yardage at 141 YPG while
Iowa is 11th in efficieny defense with an opposing rating of 142 and is 7th yardage allowed rating of 227 YPG.
Iowa is 10th in scoring at 15.3 PG while Wisconsin is allowing 14.2 PG, tops in the conference.
Wisconsin is 1st at 35.1 PG while Iowa is 10th with 31.2 points allowed per game.
Iowa is 4th in gross average and 7th in net yardage while Wisconsin is 2nd in punt returns.
Stemke's gross average is 5th in the conference, and his net is 2nd. Iowa ranks 9th in punt returns.
Wisconsin is #1 (by a wide margin) while Iowa is #3. No info available on kick coverage.
Wisconsin is 2nd in the conference at 47% while Iowa ranks 9th at 44% allowed.
Iowa is last in the conference at 30% while Wisconsin ranks 6th at 35% allowed.
Wisconsin is 1st at +10 while Purdue is 8th at -2
Wisconsin is 9th in the conference with 20 sacks while Iowa ranks 7th with 25 sacks allowed.
Iowa is last with 11 sacks while Wisconsin ranks 5th in sacks allowed with 20.
Wisconsin is 15 for 18 for 83% while Iowa is 6 of 11 for 55%.
Wisconsin is 7th in fewest penalites with 57. Iowa is 3rd with 50.
Wisconsin ranks 1st at 33+ minutes per game while Iowa ranks last at 26+ minutes per game.
October 24, 1998
As has become the case with Samuel, he gets an A for rushing the ball and a D for passing the ball.
Ron Dayne was very productive given the lack of holes early (AGAIN!!). He did a nice job of finding the few creases that were there. He also gained about 60% of his first 80 yards after contact, making quite a few plays out of nothing.
I should start thinking about giving out imcompletes as it is getting really hard to evaluate the play of the WRs due to lack of evidence, pro or con.
Grams was ok. He missed an early chip block on DeVries that let DeVries run wild in the backfield, but was generally assignment stable. He doesn't seem to have the great lower body strength so is periodically pushed into the play, but he is a good effort guy who works hard at proper technique. He is a capable replacement for a backup.
Well, as long as the Badgers are in command of the game, things look good for the offensive line. Once again, they had some trouble early, but wore on the defensive front until they had their way in the 4th quarter.
Once again, all over the field. They dominate against the run and put solid pressure on the QB without too many blitzes.
Great filling with sporadic great plays. All season the Badger LBs have been very solid, making the plays they need to make. The Iowa game was no different.
The DBs gain more and more confidence each week. Although being aided greatly by the great QB pressure, there was outstanding coverage thoughout the game. It would be interesting to see us go back and play Purdue at this point in the season and see if the Badger defense would play any different knowing now what they know.
Stemke provided some key field position punts with some real boomers. Not only is Stemke maintained his distance on his punts this season, but his hang time has improved greatly and his squib punting has been excellent as well.
All around great job (other than Davenport missing the XP which cost me $20). Stemke was the special teams player of the week by far, averaging in the neighborhood of 48 yards per kick. Not only were they deep, but the hang time took away Khalil Hill completely. While the offense struggled early, the punting team continued to give them better and better field position.
DeVries certainly proved his ability throughout the afternoon to say the least.
Complete and utter domination!
Typical Badger performance. Slow starting offense put in great field position due to dominating defense. This slow and methodical start continues to have me worried at times, but seeing as how they seem comfortable in this role and it seems to be working, we will let it slide for now.
For the first time since the Northwestern game, I have listed this as a key to the game. Khalil Hill leads the Big Ten in punt returns and has returned 3 kicks for TDs this year already. For a team hurting in the offensive area, getting a special teams TD could be huge. Normally, I look for the Badgers to have the edge in special team. Although I still think they will, I will be content in a standoff, simply not allowing Hill to affect the game positively for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa has one of the top defensive players in the conference in defensive tackle Jared DeVries. He is one of the few players that can single handedly take over a game, either by shutting down the inside rushing game, or by pressuring the QB from many different areas of the DL. The Badgers must be aware of his presence and negate his big plays.
This is the one single reason I like the Badgers in this game. The OL has given Iowa troubles all year, as they rank last in the Big Ten in rushing despite the presence of promising RB Ladell Betts. The Badger DL should not only be able to shut down the run, but should get solid pressure on either Reiners or McCann.
Always a key for a team like the Badgers, but especially on Saturday. Keeping the game under control before the fans have a chance to get into the game and allowing the big Badger OL to pound on the Iowa defense should pave the way to victory. Iowa has shown that they will wear down as the game has progressed, and the Badgers have been at their strongest in the 4th quarter in all of their close games. If Iowa doesn't have anything going early, it could be a long day for the Hawks.
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