Gopher Football
Minnesota Backfield vs. Iowa Linebackers
In what is probably the marquee position match-up in this game, the two strengths of each team line up opposite one another. For Iowa, the defense is led by two All-American candidates at linebacker: Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge. Last season, Greenway, a junior, showed signs of greatness, receiving second team All-Big Ten honors. This year, he leads the Hawkeyes in tackles with 86, has 2 interceptions on the year, and has recorded 2 sacks. Next to Greenway is Hodge, a junior who last season garnered first team All-Big Ten accolades and led the conference in tackles per game with an average of 10.8. Through nine games this season, Hodge is slightly behind his pace from last year but is still performing very well nonetheless. His 82 tackles rank second on the team, right behind Greenway.
This will undoubtedly be the toughest test of the year for the Minnesota backfield, and they will need to get off their slide if they hope to contend in this match-up. Bryan Cupito struggled at times last week against Wisconsin and could not get into a rhythm against Indiana two weeks ago. He will need to calm his nerves early, and though the game is in the friendly confines of home, it won’t seem that way as the annual flock of Hawks invades the Dome on the 13th. His ability to play well under pressure could make or break the game if the Gophers are down early. To avoid getting down early, however, the running game will need to be established in the beginning stages of the game, something which Minnesota was unable to do against Wisconsin.
Marion Barber, who missed almost all of last year’s battle for Floyd of Rosedale because of an injury sustained in the Gophers first drive, will look to have a great game after a couple of down weeks. His ability to drive through defenders probably won’t help much against such a great tackling defense, though if his game is on, he should be able to get at least 3 to 4 yards per carry. The number one man in this game, at least in my opinion, is going to have to be Laurence Maroney. Were it not for his fumble on the 1 yard line last year, he would have had a solid game. This year, his speed and elusiveness will be key if Minnesota hopes to run the ball effectively and manage the clock against such a great linebacking corps.
Summary:
When a team has two players with the talent of Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney in their backfield, it should almost be a guarantee for them to be favored in a match-up against linebackers. Almost. The Hawkeye linebackers could be one of the only groups in the country that match-up and nearly overpower the Minnesota backfield. This could be a long day for Gopher fans if the Iowa linebackers get involved early, and that’s exactly what I see happening.
Advantage: Iowa
Minnesota O-Line vs. Iowa D-Line
Dominant would be a word to describe the Iowa defensive ends; through nine games, the two starters have combined for thirteen of the team’s twenty sacks and 16.5 of the team’s 54 tackles for loss. Senior Matt Roth, a first team All-Big Ten selection last season and a pre-season All-American by some writers this year, leads the Hawkeyes with 7 sacks on the season. His presence on the line was noticed last season against Gophers; he recorded a sack on the elusive Asad Abdul-Khaliq and was a force all game long. On the opposite side of the Iowa line is senior Jonathan Babineaux. Babineaux’s best game of the season came last week against Purdue, as he had 5 tackles, 3 sacks, and a fumble recovery. The inside of Iowa’s line is slightly undersized, but very good nevertheless. Defensive tackle Tyler Luebke, third on the team in tackles with 44, is only 278 pounds yet is a major presence on the inside of the line. He is certainly more oriented to run-stopping than pass-stopping, though can get pressure on the quarterback at times.
Summary:
The Gopher line has, as I have said all season, left something to be desired this year. Unfortunately, they have faced stacked defenses all season long and therefore are almost always overpowered by blitzing safeties and linebackers. This is their last chance to show the dominance which many expected out of them this year. Against such an experienced front, this will be difficult to do, but depending on which plays are called when, this match-up could go either way. If Iowa’s line can get help in blitz packages and mental errors from the Gopher line, they could disrupt play in the backfield all game long. However, I still believe Minnesota has the better talent in this match-up, and that gives them the advantage.
Advantage: Minnesota
Minnesota Receivers vs. Iowa Secondary
The Hawkeye secondary is sort of the unsung heroes of the Iowa defense; with such great linebackers and the talent they have at defensive line, it’s not hard to see why. However, amidst all the accolades and praise going to the front seven, the secondary has held their own in nearly all of their games, and has really come together as the season has progressed. One player in particular has helped to gel this defense: sophomore safety Marcus Paschal. He has had some big shoes to fill after standout Bob Sanders departed after last season. Paschal leads the secondary with 43 tackles on the year and has intercepted two passes this year. The other notable player in Iowa’s secondary is junior cornerback Antwan Allen. Allen has intercepted four passes this season, tops on the defense. Sean Considine, the top returning tackler in the Iowa secondary this season, has been experiencing a down year, playing in just 7 games and recording 31 tackles.
Ernie Wheelwright will likely be matched up against Allen in this game, and he will certainly have his hands full. Though he has a noticeable size advantage (Wheelwright is 6’5″, Allen is 5’10″), Wheelwright could have a tough time weaving his way between Allen and the two Iowa safeties to make the big plays he is becoming known for. The receiver who may have to have a huge day is Jared Ellerson. He hasn’t found the endzone or any big plays as of late, though he certainly has the ability to do so. If he can find a seam, he could be a difference maker in this one. Tight end Matt Spaeth could also be a forgotten member of the Gopher receiving corps and could provide a few big catches against Iowa if the Hawkeye linebackers are found out of position.
Summary:
This is the Gophers best chance to take advantage of the Iowa defense. The Hawkeye secondary has already been scorched by Arizona State this year, and though they have improved significantly as the year has progressed, they are still the most vulnerable segment of the defense. If Bryan Cupito can find his receivers for a few big plays as well as complete the easy passes underneath, the Gophers could have the advantage in this one.
Advantage: Minnesota