Another week, and another trophy game for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa lost the battle for the Floyd of Rosedale against Minnesota in week eight, and is back home for another rivalry game against No. 25 Wisconsin in week nine. It will be Iowa and Wisconsin's 100th meeting on the gridiron on Halloween, and it is also Homecoming weekend for the University. The weekend is chock-full of events, including Fox's "Big Noon Kickoff" on campus, and Iowa must do three things to end October on a high note.
Get Tony Diaz involved early and often
Since the beginning of the Big Ten schedule, talented wide receiver Tony Diaz has been virtually non-existent in the Iowa offense. Hank Brown and the Iowa offense targeted Diaz 13 times in week one, and haven't gotten close to that mark since. Diaz was so heavily involved early in the season that he still leads the program in receiving yards (386), but hasn't found the end zone since week one against Northern Illinois. They call Diaz "The Boogeyman" for a reason, and it's past time the offense used him more often.
It isn't completely Diaz's fault for failing to impact games, with the revolving door at quarterback and Iowa's heavy reliance on the run. Neither Hank Brown nor Jeremy Hecklinski has been proficient at throwing the ball downfield, which has largely limited Diaz's effectiveness. He and Reece Vander Zee have formed a nice one-two punch on the perimeter, but the offense hasn't gotten them the ball regularly.
This week is a perfect time to get Diaz involved, but that doesn't mean forcing it to him on third and long. Diaz is a versatile pass-catcher who can be effective at all three levels, and Tim Lester has to work him into the game plan. Wisconsin has a solid rush defense, and especially with starting running back Kamari Moulton out for the season, Iowa has to find different ways to move the ball downfield. Getting Diaz involved in WR screens, quick slants, or even designed WR runs could catch the defense off guard, and it isn't a bad idea to get him touches early.
Iowa must win the rushing battle
Iowa and Wisconsin are very similar programs, as both offenses try to establish the run early and play solid defense. Luckily for Iowa, Wisconsin's offense doesn't scare anyone, but they have done enough to win games. Iowa is in an odd position: its rushing attack has been nowhere near as good as in past seasons, with the offensive line and running backs struggling with inconsistency. If Iowa wants to win, it has to win the rushing battle and keep the game low-scoring. It won't be easy, but if they use their running back depth effectively, the Hawkeyes can win.
Wisconsin's starting quarterback, Colton Joseph, is more comfortable running than passing, and he is leading the team in both categories. He is a plus-one in the running game, much like Mark Gronowski was for Iowa last season. If Iowa can slow down the Badger's rushing attack and contain Joseph, they have a good chance. Iowa's defense has been strong against the run this season, so the bigger concern is the offense. If Iowa can't establish the run, Brown and/or Hecklinski will be forced to throw it more, and we've all seen how that goes.
Iowa can't afford to lose the rushing battle with how much the quarterbacks have struggled, and Wisconsin's defense will be ready for them.
The Hawkeyes must win the turnover battle
Iowa had one of the worst games of the Kirk Ferentz era in turnovers, coughing the ball up 4 times against Minnesota. It was uncharacteristically bad for the Hawkeyes, and they can't do that again. Wisconsin held the high-powered USC offense to seven points, and if Iowa turns the ball over, they won't stay in the game very long. The defense hasn't generated many turnovers this season, and Saturday's game is a perfect time to change that.
That doesn't mean Iowa has to create 5+ turnovers and dominate the game, but playing mistake-free on offense and special teams and forcing at least one turnover on defense is a good recipe for success. Brown and the running backs have to be better with the ball, and fixing that will go a long way toward fixing Iowa's offensive woes.
It doesn't have to be pretty, but playing mistake-free football and grinding out a win is the most important thing.
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