Thoughts on Minnesota Game

The 120th season of Iowa football filled the entire spectrum of feelings one can feel during a season. Remember the feeling after the UNI game? A feeling that the season could be a long one. How about the win at Happy Valley? A feeling that we were on top of the world. The last second victory against MSU? A feeling that maybe this was our year. The loss against Northwestern? A feeling of what might have been. The heartbreaking loss against Ohio State? Oh so close. After riding this emotional roller coaster all year, it is hard to imagine what else we as fans might experience in the bowl game. At the end of the rollercoaster ride was the Minnesota game, which certainly was a microcosm of the entire season. Here are my thoughts.

Defense Rules the Day. The Iowa defense has been, as the defense puts it, putting out fires all season long. Yesterday’s game was no different. The Iowa defense caused two turnovers and five sacks while shutting out Minnesota for the second consecutive year. The goal line stand by the defense encompassed how the defense has responded to precarious positions all year. The defensive line looked dominate and the Iowa linebacker corps was stout. Speaking of which, Troy Johnson fit the “next man in” manta perfectly. Johnson ended up with eleven tackles, one forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a sack. If he can build on that performance, he will be able to fill in nicely for AJ Edds. I mentioned this earlier in the year, but I am even more convinced that Iowa will miss Edds more than any other player on defense next season, even if Adrian Clayborn or Amari Spievey decide to enter the draft. Edds’ ability to cover receivers in space and be in the right position to make tackles will sorely be missed next year. I place the probability of Clayborn and Spievey turning professional at about 50/50 for each. Regardless of Iowa’s bowl opponent, I like Iowa’s chances to be able to shut down any offense in the country.

Offensive Struggles. As much as this game was a great example of how the defense has performed all season, the offense looked the way that it has looked most of the season. The inability of the offense to sustain drives and effectively establish a running game hurt Iowa again on Saturday. I think many of the problems resulted from Adam Robinson’s injury. Before Robinson left with an injury, he was averaging 6 yards a carry. Given that Brandon Wegher has been dealing with an injury to his intercostal muscles for a long time, it is no wonder that the running game has struggled at times since the Wisconsin game. My prediction about the offense stepping out did not come true, but I am really convinced that with a healthy Ricky Stanzi, Adam Robinson, and Dace Richardson, the Iowa offense will look completely different than the way they looked on Saturday.

Playbook. I know that the offensive game plans have been criticized at times this year and that people have been upset with the play calling at times. There were certainly times yesterday that I was frustrated with some of the calls that were made, but I also think that the coaches did not have the confidence in James Vandenberg to call pass plays that involve routes between the hash marks. In re-watching the game, it appears that most, if not all, of Vandenberg’s throws were either out routes or patterns that were thrown to the sideline. With more than three weeks to prepare for their bowl opponent, I am going to give the benefit of the doubt to Ken O’Keefe and Kirk Ferentz to develop a gameplan that will surprise Iowa’s opponent, especially with a healthy Stanzi.

Bowl Prediction. Iowa will able to sit back for the next two weeks and let teams ahead of them in the BCS rankings fall down, but on the other hand, they will not have the opportunity to win any games and impress voters. I still think that Iowa has all but secured a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. Even with an Oklahoma State win, the Fiesta Bowl representatives have to look at Iowa’s fanbase and the economic impact that Iowans would have in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area over the course of two to four days. Unless things change dramatically, I am going to hold strong with the Fiesta Bowl prediction that Iowa will play Boise State on January 4th in Glendale, AZ.

The comments made by AJ Edds in the postgame make me think that Iowa will be focused like they were for the 2004 Outback Bowl when they played Florida. Depending on how the rest of the regular season plays out, with a bowl victory Iowa would likely finish the season in the top five. Likewise, depending on the personnel that could return next year, I think that Iowa is looking at a preseason ranking in the top ten at worst. Get ready for a whirlwind two weeks, Iowa fans. December 6 will be an exciting day and given all of the possibilities out there, I still think we will hear Iowa announced as one of the teams to play in the Fiesta Bowl.