Pregame reads

[Matt Jessen-Howard]

Pregame coverage of the battle for the Pig:

• Matchup Preview: Gophers at Iowa
• Facts & Figures: Iowa
• Film Room: Iowa Run Game
• Behind Enemy Lines: Iowa
• Kirk Ferentz talks Minnesota
• Tuesday presser notes: Fleck and Ayinde
• PJ Fleck previews Iowa
• Iowa and Minnesota square off for Floyd from the Associated Press
• The Preview: Minnesota vs. Iowa from Hawkeye Report
• Noah Stanley ready for the Gophers from Hawkeye Report

Iowa's been very competitive in all of their losses this year, including just at two-point loss to Penn State. They have a lot of pieces this year but haven't always been able to piece them together: especially on the offensive line, run game, and front seven. Last year, Iowa won the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation's best offensive line, and returned most of their line, but two tackles are hurt, meaning a true freshman and redshirt freshman are starting, and All-Big Ten tackle center James Daniels has been playing hurt and isn't himself. Nathan Stanley, on the other hand, has overperformed at quarterback, despite not having any receivers that can really take the top off the defense. Iowa runs their bread and butter outside zone, and in the passing game, do a lot of short checkdowns, out routes, and play action dump offs, and on third down run a lot of crossers.

Iowa's front seven is very experienced and led by All-American Josey Jewell but the run defense has just been middle of the road this year. The front seven tackles well but the team speed isn't great. Defensive ends Anthony Nelson, who's 6'7", and AJ Epenesa, a five-star true freshman, are both great pass rushers. Iowa doesn't blitz often and runs a crafty cover 2 zone and plays man on third down. The secondary is fairly inexperienced but has been solid, led by cornerback Josh Jackson, who leads the Big Ten in passes defended and broken up.