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Iowa has a huge opportunity to turn a good season into a special season on Saturday. Some of the most memorable victories of the Kirk Ferentz era were won against Penn State. The punt blocked Adrian Clayborn in 2008, Brad Banks at C.J Jones in 2002 and the biggest match ever played – 6 to 4 in 2004.
This is the opportunity for the Hawkeyes to become a national name for the 2018 season. They have started developing outside noises, but they do not have the signature win. The Nittany Lions have lost two of their last three games, but it's never easy to go to Beaver Stadium and topple the mighty Penn State. When you look at the statistics, it's simple that when Iowa beats Penn State, it's more than likely that they'll have a special season. Does this group have what it takes? We will dive into a few topics.
Mix and match the defensive line
It's time to release the beast that is A.J Epenesa. The Nittany Lions' offensive line allowed 13 sacks of the season and did not stay in front of faster / explosive defensive goals. This is not against Parker Hesse because he was the defensive leader of this team. It would be interesting to see a defensive line consisting of Epenesa, Hesse, Matt Nelson and Anthony Nelson.
Sam Brincks, a fifth-year senior, should always be a good player by rotation on this line in this game. As Hesse says, he was underrated for this team.
"He is extremely selfless and is part of the team," said Hesse on Tuesday. "He'll never get enough credit for what he's done for this program.It's just a guy in the locker room and on the training ground that comes up every day with a positive attitude – it's a person that everyone can understand and see.I think everyone is happy for him.It does a great job for us in the interior. "
Epenesa has been dynamic for Iowa this season, and when you're facing a running quarterback like Trace McSorley, it's critical to put as much pressure as possible on him as quickly as possible . Epenesa does it better than anyone in the team.
One of the big problems of this Penn State team is the number of drop that they have. The Nittany Lions have a big lead of 21, with 21 losses and if the Hawkeyes can put pressure on quarterback Trace McSorley, that number could increase.
The Iowa racing game must play the best game of the season
They do not need to have their best game in terms of yards, touchdowns or passes, but they must be reliable. It is difficult to win important matches in the event of a one-dimensional offense. There is good news that the runner Toren Young should not be limited against Penn State. His upper body was injured in the second half of the Maryland match, but he should be ready to go.
Iowa have not yet managed to beat more than 100 yards this season. Their best single outing was Ivory Kelly-Martin last weekend when he went for 24 races for 98 yards. The Kelly-Martin, Mekhi Sargent and Young trios will need to save an average of more than four meters to give Iowa the confidence it needs to pull the Penn State monkey out of his back. The Hawkeyes have lost four times in a row against the Nittany Lions.
Penn State is the 10th best run defense in the Big Ten (165 yards per game, 4 yards per run). Iowa is the ninth best Big Ten offense (165.4 yards, 4.2 yards per race). The Hawkeyes will have to find a way to dominate the line of scrimmage and get the boost they need to relieve themselves.
Do Penn State's already exhausted defense work
One of the most wacky stories about this game is the amount of work that the Nittany Lions defense has had to perform on the previous two weekends. Penn State's defense has played 189 times in the last two weeks. The defense of Iowa will be well rested. They played only 39 shots in their match against Maryland. It's the least clichés that the defense of an FBS team has played in the 2018 season.
Iowa wins when they do what they do best. They physically dominate the line of scrimmage and exhaust the other team. The Hawkeyes must stay true to their game and take advantage of a Penn State defense that must be exhausted after their last matches.
Stanley must show himself
Yes, I said that the game being played should be at its best, but Stanley was to be the five affected by the Iowa State / Ohio State version we saw before. He has become a leader and his game has changed a lot over the past year.
Last season he was stuck in the pocket. He did not seem comfortable moving his feet or getting out of his pocket. It would almost always be an interception or a bag. It's almost a natural movement when he plays plays. His footwork has been much developed since last year. He will leave the pocket and will not seem uncomfortable to do so. He is also much more mentally conscious of the moment the pocket collapses.
Stanley is excellent for limiting outside noise. He is often in his own world and closes everything that upsets him. Stanley sleeps more than eight hours a night. He is studying gaming films when his predecessor, C. J. Beathard, plays football on Monday night. It does not use social media. He is getting ready this week like any other week and does not think about the grief of last year. This is what helps to appear in these game styles.
"We will watch the tape last year for preparation," Stanley said. "We will learn what we can learn from it and then purge it – it's a new year, a new team, and we're really focused on what we can do from the rest of the week, and then we Let's turn to the past. "
Get the ball at Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson
This seems to be the game plan every week, but there should be the move this week. Fant and Hockenson ranked 1-2 on the home team and combined 736 yards on 51 receptions, including nine touchdowns. They form the tightest duet the most dynamic of the country. The defense of the Nittany Lions has had the advantage of training against the restricted group of Miami Dolphins, Mike Gesicki, so it is not as if they had never seen an outstanding athlete in this position.
It should be noted that covers Fant and Hockenson. PennState247's Mark Brennan said that no Penn State linebacker had emerged as a solid cover man, but that a defensive back had been primarily used to cover the tight ends. We'll see if it works in favor of the Hawkeyes.
Third magic
Iowa was one of the best teams in the country at the third trials. They are tied for 10th place in the country in third decay with 49.1%. The team is confident about the third try.
"I think our coaches have done a good job in developing a realistic plan for the third downhill," said Ferentz. "More importantly, our players have executed. Then, make the link with the success and the first and second tests. You are not always third and seven or more, these types of situations. If you can control them, your skill is obvious, because the distance and distance tags are a little better for you. "
Sargent became a reliable receiving option and a key locker at the third stop. Tight ends do what they do best, and Hawkeye receivers have multiplied. Stanley's completion percentage at the third try is 68%. Penn State is ranked 30th in the country in defense of third decline (conversion rate of 32.1).
Quick shots:
** Penn State leads the Big Ten on average with 3.5 sacks per game. Iowa has only allowed six sacks this season. It's the least of the Big Ten. Stanley mentioned that it was one of the most physical teams that the Hawkeyes will play all year long.
** McSorley and Penn State running back Miles Sanders accounted for more than 66% of his "explosive" pieces this season. Sanders is not Saquon Barkley, but he 's made a name this season. He has 772 yards and eight touchdowns on 119 rushes. He also has 15 receptions for 112 yards. The Hawkeye Running Defense has passed all tests so far this season, but it will be another big challenge. The Iowa defense allows 2.7 yards per run, sixth in the country. The Hawkeyes are one of three defenders in the country to have allowed only three touchdowns.
** The last time Iowa and Penn State met the two schools ranked in the Top 25 AP, it was in 2010, when Iowa, 17th, defeated the 20th state of Penn, 24-3, in Iowa City. This is the last victory of the Hawkeyes in this series.
** The defense of Iowa ranks fifth in the country in defense (14.1). Iowa held four of its opponents at a low point of the season. (State of Iowa, North Iowa, Indiana and Maryland)
** Penn State has scored more than 30 points in 23 of its last 27 games. That's what happens when you have a school of all time as great as McSorley. He is leading in almost all pass categories.
** Nate Stanley has 16 touchdowns this season, making him second in the Big Ten behind the Ohio State. Dwayne Haskins.
Prediction:
Earlier this week, I said Iowa would lose another player close to Penn State 24-23. As the week went by, I came and went, but the number says a lot. What Penn State is fighting with, Iowa excels in. This season is the fourth time under Kirk Ferentz that Iowa has started 6-1 or better. In the last three editions, Iowa has won 11 games.
The defensive lineup of Iowa puts pressure on McSorley throughout the match. Defensive coordinator Phil Parker has a game plan that will limit the damage that Penn State is able to cause. The Hawkeyes become the favorite of Big Ten West after this weekend.
Iowa 34, Penn State 24
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