We won. Awesome. The pain has mostly subsided, and the preseason is over. Let the real season begin.
F$%kin' Iowa, Man
Look at it. I SAID F%^KING LOOK AT IT. DO YOU SEE? Now don't look. NOW LOOK BELOW:
To say the least, last year's matchup was disappointing. The weather sucked, PSU forgot the sideline heaters, and opted to pass into the wind 3 times on it's opening possession. PSU had multiple chances to put this game away in the first half, but kept coming up with field goals. And then Iowa realized that they weren't the team who lost to Pitt. Or something.
I was so depressed after this game that I spent $250 on dinner for me and the ex at the Capital Grille.
But all that is done with. Iowa has been owning our collective keister's now for the better part of the past 10 months, and it ends on Saturday.
Preview
Iowa started the year with a near bedshitting to Northern Iowa. I watched. This wasn't the Iowa team that dominated the backstretch of their schedule and postseason. This was the Iowa team that lost to Pitt. They won on two FG blocks at the end of regulation. The skin of their teeth, indeed.
No, I say throw that game out. The Iowa team that rolls into town on Saturday is the one that blew out Arizona and Iowa state. Let's take a look at the relevant stats from Iowa's two games vs. PSU's season:
Offense
(all stats from ESPN, BSD, and big12sports.com)
Statistic (units) : Iowa/ PSU
Rush (yds/game) : 162/ 133.3
Pass (yds/game) : 220/ 264.0
PPG : 31/ 30.0
Sacks (allowed/game) : 2.0/ 1.67
Turnovers (lost/game): 1.5/ 2.0
Defense
Pass (yds/game) : 109.0/ 166.0
Rush (yds/game) : 149.0/ 46.3
Turnovers (rec'vrd/game) : 3.5/ 1.33
Sacks (inflicted/game) : 1.0/ 3.33
PPG : 10.0/ 6.67
For a PSU victory:
PSU needs to limit the turnovers, run the ball, and wreak havoc in the Iowa backfield. Earth-shattering, eh?
For an Iowa Victory:
Keep picking off Clark, stack the line, and dominate special teams.
Other stuff:
Sean Lee is out for the week. Ouch. He would have a field day, considering Iowa dominating LT Bryan Beluga is on the mend.
The good news? Navarro Bowman is back from his groin issues, so that sheds some of the Lee injury evil mojo. But not all.
Other bad news includes Stupar tweaked his ankle in practice this week. I would feel much better with him in the lineup this week.
Intangibles:
PSU has them all-a home game, at night, revenge, and the whiteout. Plus, I heard Stanzi called Jack Crawford's mother a "stink pig".
Final Thoughts:
I have no problems with the PSU offense in this game. However, I do have issues with the defense, the onus of which will be on the defensive line. The tackles have to make up for Lee's presence (or lack thereof), and must get some heat on on Stanzi. The line can handle Iowa's running game, it's just I fear that PSU goes into the dreaded "rush four tired lineman late in the game, back the corners off" EPIC FAIL gameplan. We saw how that ended last year. Rush 4 with a "joker" LB shooting the gaps. Their armor is weak on the left side, and that's where the first point of attack should be. Above all else, exploit the mismatches created by the inexperienced Beluga replacement.
Iowa 13
PSU 20
Let's Go Fishing
Iowa reminds me of the King Mackerel, aka the "Kingfish"
Noted parallels include:
- The kingfish has one hell of a bite, and will make you work for a victory. Any weakness in skill will be exploited. Ditto Iowa.
- The kingfish is higher in the food chain in its realm. The same can be said for Iowa to this point in our schedule.
- I usually haul 2 out of every 8 hits in. Kind of like the success rate of PSU vs. Iowa.
- They are a very striking looking fish-the above picture does no justice to it's rather distinct appearance in blue waters. I've always liked Iowa's uniforms.
- Thoroughly enjoyable to fight and land. Best consumed when smoked. Just like Iowa.
- Children and pregnant women should stay away from both of them due to high mercury content.
Recently, I haven't caught many. When I do, yer for damn sure I light up afterwords.
Trap Game?
Meh, it already happened last night with Ole Miss.
