September 23, 2025 • 38 mins
Peegs.com's Jared Kelly and HawkeyeInsider's Sean Bock preview No. 11 Indiana vs. Iowa on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. Can IU escape with its first win in Iowa City since 2017? Jared and Sean break it all down.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome and everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
It is Tuesday, September twenty third Peaks dot Com.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Is Jerry Kelly here.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
A couple of days after Indiana's a huge win over
number nine Illinois sixty three to ten, the Hoosiers one
to go to four and oh on the season. But
next up, Indiana hits the road, first protest of the
season for Kurtzignetti and the Hoosiers. They're headed to Iowa
City in a place they haven't won it since two
thousand and seven when they take on Kirk Fares and
the Iowa Hawk.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Guys.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Today, we have a little bit of special episode of
our podcast. We have Sean Bach from Hawkeye illustrated over
on the Iowa two four to seven site. Shawn, I
imagine you watched the Illinois Indiana game and did it
make you feel any worse about this matchup coming up
on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Yeah, I mean Jared, first of all, great to be
on the podcast. As you know, I've got some ties
to Indiana with my dad going there. He's a big
member of Peaks. He hits me up more than about
Indiana stuff that he does Iowa stuff. Was probably visited
the Peak site way more than he's visited, guy insider,
so reaching guy too, so got some ties there. But yeah, no,
(01:06):
it's uh, that game was something else. I mean, not
to like get too big picture, because I know you
guys do that a lot, but just to see like
what Indiana football has become over the last couple of years,
or over the last two years with Kirk Signetti and
what he's been able to do with that program in
Bloomington obviously being known as a basketball heavy program and
(01:29):
just like a blue blood in that perspective, just becoming
a football powerhouse in the Big Ten has been really
impressive to see. I think the last the first Indiana
game I went to was probably two thousand and eight.
I think it was again in Illinois where Memorial Stadium
was like forty And to see like what it's become
(01:52):
in the last couple of last two years especially has
been it's been crazy. And I mean that game on
sad it's kind of like, I mean, I know how
you guys probably felt covering it. It's just like a
fever dream because just how to see what the success
has been like and with how Illinois was ranked coming
into the year and how everyone was talking about them,
(02:13):
just to see Indiana kind of just dominate from him
start to finish was a was something to see. And yeah,
I mean just looking at that game too, like it's
weird because it's I'm not sure if that says more
about Indiana, it says more about Illinois. I mean, having
Illinois they were so like beat up on the injury front,
especially in the secondary. Their offensive line was really having
(02:35):
troubles throughout the start of the season, and just to
see Indiana kind of take advantage of those and not
only win, but just win and dominating fash I mean,
that's a super, super impressive victory, and I think it
really says a lot about both teams, and with this
Indiana team too, I mean, I just think it goes
to show how good they really are. I think Illinois
(02:55):
is a is a solid team. Like I'm not gonna
say sit here and say the number nineteam theree, but
I think just to dominate that much and really just
impose their will, as kurtik Netty said, or that just
kind of really was the story of the game. And
I think it definitely has some people a little you know,
(03:16):
iffy on the Iowa side going to this game, not
inside the program, but the fan base and just like
you know, beat reporters, because we're I think everyone is Iowa.
Especially everyone's kind of the notion of oh, it's Indiana,
like it's just Indiana football. But now that's really not
the case. And I think last week really showed that.
And you know, I obviously don't want to get too
much into the debate of well, Indiana they played the
(03:39):
two teams that you know ended up playing the national championship,
the two teams they lost to ended up playing the
national championship last year. But yeah, I mean, this is
not the Indiana team that I think obviously the whole nation,
And you know, it's a much different story from that
twenty twenty one game. I think too when Indiana last
came into Iowa City and Riley Moss said the two
(04:00):
sixes and you know the advantage for the Hawk Gys
just kind of went from there. It's a different Indiana team,
a different program, and you know, it's gonna be really
excited to see what goes down on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Yeah, it's certainly in Indiana all over Illinois on in
Week four. Curious before we hop into this Iowa game
from an outside perspective somebody that hasn't been around the
AYU program as much. The sentiment around Iowa and their
fan base when they look at Indiana, when they like
how they perceive the Hoosiers now as compared a few
years ago, Like, is there still a little bit of hey,
(04:30):
that it's just Indiana, you know they're bound to fall
off or do you feel like Iowa, especially their fan base,
is sort of taking Indiana series with like the real
deal that they've looked like the past few years.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Yeah, I think they're taking them like the real deal.
And I think that that performance against Illinois was really
telling of that, and like to see Fernando Mendoza's stat line, Like,
I think a lot of people in Iowa City and
just Iowa fans in general to kill for that, especially
with the way that quarterback could play as really struggled
here the last couple of years. And you know, I
(05:03):
think a lot of it too is like I think
that twenty twenty one game, you're kind of like, oh, Wow,
this is really going to be like a premier, premier game,
and that just wasn't the case. And you know, I
think from the jump it's just like Indiana didn't really
have a I guess like ability to respond. And I
mean that Iowa defense was so talented too, with all
(05:24):
the NFL as that they had on that on that unit,
but it just feels like from a x's and O standpoint,
like a coaching and culture standpoint, the Indiana program is
like in a much much, much much better place to
respond to that kind of adversity and respond to the
adversity that Kanick City and ultimately brings, because I don't
(05:45):
I mean, I'm definitely like, I think home field advantage
is true, Like I definitely think there's a something to it,
but I think ultimately, like the most talented team is
the team that's going to have the advantage of at
of where the game is at, like I think last
week for uh, we'll get into that later, but yeah,
(06:07):
I think from in Iowa perspective, a lot of people
are taking this game seriously. I mean, especially after last week,
and I think Kurt Signetti will see what he's done
and just been able to like ring the program because
I mean Iowa fans like this is a long time
ago and like you know, a couple like over a
decade ago, but they were in a really tough spot
(06:27):
too for some time, and you know, kirk Ference was
able to kind of pull them out multiple times. Like
for the his first couple of years, they won. I
think in the first two years kirk Ference only won
one game or Iowa only won one game. And then
there were a couple of years in the last decade
where you know, things weren't going so hot, and then
they had some of their better seasons, you know, in
the following years. So I think a program like Iowa
(06:51):
really appreciates a coach like Kurt Signetti who has proven
that he can kind of take a program who was
really in a tough spot and then just bring them
back up and you know, really revived that program. And yeah,
it's been, uh, it's been entertaining to see. And yeah,
I think a lot of people are really taking this
game seriously on Saturday even I mean they were before,
(07:12):
but especially after seeing what Indiana did just dismantling IWLLINOI was, uh,
you know, I think it has a lot of people
being like, Okay, yes, we know Indiana is a good team,
but man, that was really really something.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
You talk about how Iowa, you know, I feel like
there's a lot of similarities between these two programs just
culturally and how they're built. You know, they're really like gritty,
blue collar guys, you know, especially upfront, like that's where
curs of Netty pride himself. Obviously Kirk Ferris has done
done that for decades, pride of himself in the trenches.
It feels like these two teams are very similar culturally,
(07:46):
you know, And obviously Indiana's offense this season last season
has been has been prolific. Iowa Indiana both their defense
have been very good the last couple of years. But
Iowa this year. Give me the lay of the land
because obviously you guys bringing Gronowski from South Dakota State
three and one right now going into into this Week
five matchup. Offensively, that's obviously you know where where Iowa
(08:07):
has you know, caught caught a couple of bullets over
the years, you know, just their trouble at quarterback and
being able to move the ball. Just give us the
lay of the land there. Do you feel like it
has improved this year with you know, Gernazzi coming in
Tim Lester's column plays at the offense Cordners spot.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Yeah, it's improved, and I think last week again to
Rutgers was a really strong indicator of that it's really
been a long time. Was like, I mean, I've been
I went to Iowa, Like I attended Iowa when school there, graduated,
but I wasn't really like too like into the Iowa
universe until I went to Iowa. And that was back
(08:44):
in twenty seventeen when I first got there. And I
really can't remember a game where Iowa's defense struggled but
Iowa's offense was able to keep up with the opposing
team and like win the game in that regard, because
don't get me wrong, the defense held its own in
the second half. But man, I'm not sure Jared, if
you watched that, if you watched that first half, like
(09:06):
Rutgers was getting whatever they wanted in the passing game,
and Iowa's defense has been so stout the last couple
of years under Phil Parker that you know, it happened
last year too, like they were kind of grown to
giving up big plays in the passing game. And you know,
obviously Rutgers wasn't doing too much like they challenged Iowa
(09:27):
was secondary to kind of you know, force them into
pis and be aggressive and old them because they couldn't
really keep up with them. But to see what Rutgers'
defense did against Iowa's offense, or Rutgers offenses go against
Iowa's defense and kind of picked them apart in the
passing game in that way was something that you know,
(09:49):
Iowa fans aren't really used to, and it did that.
It dates back to last year a little bit, because
the passing defense was a little was a little spot
body at times and really just hasn't been that elite
level to which it was in which it needed to
be when Iowa was going to the Big Ten Wins
championships despite having the worst offense in college football, which
(10:11):
in of its own is just like insane too. But
with this, yeah, with this offense, like Rutgers defense, is
nothing really to write home about. But if you watched
any of Iowa's offense the last couple of years, it
didn't really matter who you were going up against. I mean,
don't get me wrong with South Dakota State, it's a
very good program, but that seven to three game back
in twenty twenty two, when Mark Kronowski was a starting
(10:33):
quarterback for South Dakota State, you're kind of like dude,
the only way that this team can score is that
the defenses and special teams are able to make place.
And with Tim Wester coming in that really, you know,
Iowa's identity has always been running the football and winning
in the trenches. And Kirk Currance has always said, if
we have a pretty good offensive line, if we have
(10:54):
a pretty good run game, we have a chance of
being a pretty good offensive team. And that was the
caselast season where i Will would just could just run
teams over, just demolish some teams. But there were other
teams that were able to kind of scheme against that well,
and i was passing the tack you know, couldn't keep
defenses honest, and defense is kind of just knew that, hey,
(11:16):
we're gonna stack eight or nine guys in the box
and you know you're gonna have to beat us that way.
But with Mark Ronowski, his ability to make plays as
a passer and also as a with his feet as
a running quarterback has really opened things up for the
Siowa offense and really opened things up for you know,
the run game too. I mean, the run game doesn't
have that elite talent like it did last year in
(11:37):
Caleb Johnson. But they have a number of running backs
that they feel are really capable of having okay, like
you know, five six seven yards per carry and that's
really important too. But then they also have a pretty
experienced offensive line this season and they feel like, i mean,
coming into the year, they felt like they had a
veteran wide receiver corp that could really take a step forward.
And it's improved a little bit, but the drops have
(11:59):
still and kind of you know, one of the big
kind of warning signs or at least you know, not
so good things for this sewall offense and for the
wide receiver corp. But having Gronowski back there, I mean,
so he had off season shoulder surgery and a lot
of people are like, oh boy, here we go again,
because what was one of the big issues with Kate Macnaer,
(12:19):
who you know, everyone kind of considered there, you know,
the Iowa Golden Boy when he first came to Iowa City.
It was injuries, like he just from the jump, injuries
where you know, hindered him and hindered his career. And
you know, people are kind of like, oh boy, here
we go again with Mark Ronowski And it really took
some time for him to get adjusted in the offseason,
(12:40):
he wasn't really you know, he couldn't do anything until June.
All he could really do was, you know, sit and
like kind of observe and watch and like kind of
go through the motions, but not really like apply it.
And it really it's a difficult offense to really understand.
It comes from the Shanahan tree in the NFL. To
s was with the Green Bay Packers for a while
(13:02):
or for a year or so before he came to
Iowa after he got fired from Western Michigan, so he
was able to really adapt that and you know throughout
his career, but it's not me. He's the offensive grasp
and you know, it's really important to get the timing
down to really understand their oute concepts and just kind
of like everything that goes into running an offense like
(13:23):
on time, like and you had to be confident and throwing,
and I don't think Gronowski was super confident with his
arm and making some of the decisions that he had
to make at the beginning of the season. The first
couple of games for Iowa, especially against Albany and Iowa State,
he got a little bit better against Iowa State, but
it wasn't to the level that he needed to be
to win that game. But the last two games against
(13:44):
UMAs and Rutgers, he's really started to show some promise.
And I think a lot of I mean with Iowa's
offensive struggles and the quarterbacks struggles the last couple of years,
Like any sort of improvement is improvement from the last
couple of years. And you know, the standard is not
super high in that guard, but Gronowski's done enough to
(14:05):
in that I mean, especially in that Rutgers game, he
did enough to you know, like I said, deep Rutgers,
honest and also like be able to move the chains
and hit on some pretty beat some pretty deep throws
and some pretty impressive balls that he had throughout the game.
And you know another thing that kind of gives defense
(14:26):
as a second sort of I guess what's the word
I want to say, Like it like makes him more
alert or makes defenses have to like really try to
like go against him and defend him. As his ability
to run, he is the ability to I mean he's
not he's not an elite athlete, Like he's not Michael
Vick back there, but he's six foot two two hundred
and thirty pounds and he can move pretty well. And
(14:47):
he's not a guy who's afraid to like go between
the tackles too, like he will. He's a guy that will,
you know, kind of not just get outside the tackles
and kind of make plays in space, but he'll, like
if he has to go get three or four yards
if nothing's there, he's not afraid to tuck it and
run inside. But the dynamic that he's brought is just
what iowad needs at the quarterback position. And that's honestly
(15:07):
just a gamer. Like that's a guy who has been
in some pretty big spots in the past from his
experience at South Dakota State. I mean, he won the
FCS Heisman Award, he's won two national championships. Yes, he's
played five years of college football, but he's the all
time winning this quarterback in college football. Like that's a
pretty you know, that's a pretty good put degree to have.
(15:29):
And you know, his experience and his just kind of
growing comfort in the past in the IOWA offense has
really you know, helped descended this group. And it's a
smaller sample size because you know, Rutgers is not necessarily
one of the better defensive teams in the Big Ten,
but still like for him to go do what he
did and help lea De Sillowa offense to a win
(15:51):
in that in that way like was something that you know,
we honestly haven't seen in the last couple of years,
and people are kind of hoping that continues in that
direction too.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
So I think with Gronowski one of the one of
the big questions coming in at least from outside of
looking in, was you know, the obviously the FCS jump
to to not not just the FBS level, but to
you know, the Big Ten. And you know, obviously the
Big Ten season has just started. We'll see how it
ended upends up playing out for them, but you know,
two good data points with the Iowa State game, which
he didn't perform all that well in and then the
Rutgers game, which he quite honestly kind of led led
(16:22):
Iowa to that win. Uh, how how have you seen
him maybe assimilate to the Big Ten? Do you feel
like the first the first few weeks were just him
getting his feet under him, and in the improvement from
week to week, Like, where do you think he's at
in terms of making that jump and then going into
this Indiana game.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Yeah, I think one thing's his confidence. I mean there
are a couple of times too where he kind of
locks in on one receiver really only tries to make
one read. And I think, I mean, he had some
talented players that at South Dakota State. I mean, they
had a really good running game for a while. Green
Bay Packers tight end Tucker Craft was one of his
UH top targets at South Dakota State throughout his career,
(17:04):
and he had a number of really talented receivers too.
And I think, I mean, obviously the offense wasn't too
different at Iowa compared to what they ran at South
Dakota State, but it was definitely different in various ways.
But I think just making some of the throws that
you know aren't necessarily the easiest throws to make. I
think he just struggled with the confidence. And I think
obviously the timing, because I mean it's crazy how much
(17:26):
a second or a second and a half or like
a half a second can make a difference with you know,
if a guy's open or like kind of how the offense,
I don't know how the offense works, are like if
you know the play is supposed to go how it's
supposed to go, and I think he just wasn't. Really
he's not sometimes he's not really confident making those throws,
and he kind of keys in on his first read
(17:48):
and isn't able to make you know, as many of
the reads as he wants to. If you know, his
first read isn't there, he's just gonna tuck it and
run it. And I think that's one thing that Indiana's
really going to try and take away on Saturday. It's
just his ability to move in the pot or move
outside of the pocket and you know, get upfielding that way.
Because they do a really good job with disguise in
(18:09):
their coverages and you know, kind of doing like, you know,
making you making you a little like eye happy at first,
where you're kind of just like, okay, you know, you're
kind of overthinking a little bit. I think they do
a really good job of that, and that's one area
where I'm kind of like, Okay, Gronowski, that's you know,
something that you kind of got to pick up on,
which I mean is a plus. It's you'd rather him
(18:30):
be a guy in his shoes with his experience as
opposed to like having a super highly talented freshman guy
because he's kind of been in some of these spots before.
But also one of the things that I didn't mention
against Rutgers is I felt like he did a really
good job of, you know, checking at the line of scrimmage, like,
you know, making sure his offensive line was in sync
with their blocks and you know, changing the cover like
(18:52):
the block and coverages in that regard, and then like
call and play like different plays audibles at the line
of scrimmage. That's one thing that this Iowa staff has
been really keen on him doing, and he did a
pretty good job of that against Rutgers, and I think
that's really gonna be something that he has to do
against Indiana as well, considering, you know how much they
kind of, you know, cause havoc and the different looks
(19:15):
that they give offenses too.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
So take us through these skill positions, because it seems
like once again Iowa has a running backs stamele where
they can kind of give the ball to anybody and
feel decent about what they're going to get at that spot.
And then wide receiver, it looks like they're still trying
to They're still looking for a clear cut number one there. Obviously,
Iowa has good tight ends every year. Take us through
the skill positions and the key guys.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
I Yawa is here. Yeah, running back. The two names,
the two main names you know are Kamari Moulton and
Jay z and Patterson. Both like Kamari's more of a scatback,
but he's a pretty physical guy too. He's you know,
projected to take that number one spot with Caleb Johnson
going to the NFL. He had a really good game
against Rutgers, but he missed the Iowa stayed in UMass
(19:58):
game due to an injury that he suffered in the
season opening against Albany. And you know, his ability to
really you know, finished forward like you know, with his
when guys are tackling him rather than you know, going
back or going to the side is something that's really
impressive with him. And he had I think, you know
sixty or something yards after contact against Rutgers. So that's
a really, you know, big part of his game. And
(20:20):
with Patterson, he's a pretty good complimentary back. He's probably
been the most consistent back for Iowa this season because
you know, he's just such a hard runner man like
he will. He's not really necessarily the most natural or
discipline runner, Like you're patient, I should say, he just
kind of goes and you know that's kind of helped
Iowan some in some games because defenses really haven't been
(20:40):
ready for it, or he's kind of a hard guy
to game plan for because he just he's so unpredictable.
Turow Washington's kind of a their third back right now.
He was a wide receiver last year, came to Iowa
as a running back, moved to wide receiver last year.
He's kind of struggled a little bit, doesn't really seem
like he's super decisive with his you know, thinking and
(21:00):
you know where he's kind of gonna go, and seems
to really go down pretty easily at the line of
scrimmage or at first contact in that's an area where
they kind of where. Honestly, Caleb Johnson struggled when he
first got to Iowa, when he first got to college.
So you know, he's still trying to, you know, get
some things figured out. This is kind of his first
year stepping into a bigger role. Then they have true
freshman Nathan McNeil, who's a very promising back. I think
(21:23):
he had a pretty he had like a ten yard
run against Rutgers last week in a pretty pivotal spot.
So they like what he brings. He's got some wiggle
to him, but he's a true freshman, like so his
experience is very limited, but he's promising back. And they're
without Xavier Williams, who is actually a Lake centralum out
of Saint John, Indiana in the region, who was a
(21:44):
bigger He's like, oh my gosh, this guy is huge.
He's like six foot two hundred thirty pounds and he
just like he's not six but he's like, I think
he's like five ten five eleven, two hundred thirty pounds,
and he just got some of the biggest legs I
have ever seen, like in a in a running back,
and it's just it's super impressive. So they kind of
go with Moulton and Patterson. They'll occasionally throw Washington and
(22:08):
McNeill back there, but it's mainly I would expect it
to be mainly Moulten and Patterson on Saturday and then
maybe some Washington and we'll see about McNeil. But the
wide receiver position has not been so like the standard
for I will like wide receivers. The last couple of years,
in terms of talent, it's been not so not so hot,
(22:30):
just kind of you know, depth has been an issue
and just talent and like recruiting has kind of been
a struggle because they don't really have much to show
with the passing offense. But this is kind of the
year that they fought like, okay, we could take a
really big step forward on the the at the wide
receiver position and some of the main guys there, Jacob
Gill who is in Northwestern transfer last year became I
(22:52):
was number one receiver this fall, or no became I
was number one receiver last year when he was thought
to be like the number three, number four guy, but
he really you know, took on that role and probably
was the most viable reliable receiver last year. He's kind
of stepping into that number two or three spot. They
really like chat and NUGA transfer Sam Phillips, who's a
(23:12):
listed that's five foot seven, yes, five foot seven, but
he's got some really good speed to him and that's
something that Iowa didn't really have last year at the
wide receiver position. Was a guy who could kind of
unlock things a little bit with his speed and you know,
receiver ability, which Phillips is able to do. And then
there's a couple of other guys too that are really
that are coming to mind. Dayton Howard, you know, flashed
(23:35):
last week against Rutgers. He had a pretty good outing.
He had a really big patch towards the end of
the game that you know, led to Iowa taking the lead,
uh later on in the game in the fourth quarter.
Seth Anderson got hurt in the last game too. He's
a He's an older guy who's a pretty experienced but
he struggled with injuries throughout his career. Has some pretty
(23:56):
good speed to him. Kayden Weaching is the the All
American and returner who's a really dynamic player, but you know,
he's not as much molded in terms of receiver. They'll
use him on a lot of jet sweeps and whatnot.
One of the guys that they've really missed though is
Rhees Vandersy, who was kind of projected to be that
number one or number two guy coming into this season.
(24:18):
You've suffered a freak freak stress or freak injury before
the season. I think it was a stress fracture and
he was you know, He's a big body receiver for
six foot four, two hundred and fifteen pounds. Red shirt
freshman really or no true or sophomore, sorry, not a
red ship freshman, uh, sophomore. But he showed a lot
of promise last year when he was healthy, had two
(24:39):
touchdowns in his college debut against Illinois State. And they've
really missed him because that's kind of a guy that
they've that Gronowski formed that really strong bond with during
fall camp and you know, like I said, Granowski didn't
have a ton of time to really you know, adapt
to the offense in fall camp because like it's you know,
full go and missing. I mean, he was kind of
(25:01):
the guy that he built the number one report with,
So they've really missed out on him. And at the
tight end position, it's not as elite as it you
know usually is or what I kind of gets known for.
They have a couple of younger guys that have you know,
flashed pretty well. DJ van Ami is a guy that
they really like. Edison a stranger their number one tight
end is out for the year. He's more of like
kind of an inline blocking tight end, but also is
(25:22):
kind of a checkdown guy that they feel pretty good
about pretty like pretty safe with him, you know, getting
some of those balls and you know, kind of moving
to the chains and you know, being that kind of
last line of defense. And then zach Ortle was kind
of their downfield threat to at the tight end position,
kind of a you know, not necessarily an older guy,
but he's a junior and it just kind of feels
like he's still you know, younger, but he just hasn't
(25:45):
really been able to expand to that, you know, bigger role,
and he's been doing that recently well this season. Then
Hayden Large is a former h back or former NAI
a tight end transfer. Came in not last year, but
the year before. It was kind of an h back
for a while. Came in like full back age back,
but he's transitioning well to the tight end position, which
he played at the NAI level, and he's been a
(26:08):
pretty you know, good piece in terms of like a
run blocker, an occasional receiver threat, but he's more of
a run blocker type.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
So up Frunt, I think I saw like it might
have been yesterday or something somewhere on Twitter. I wasn't
tired starting five ranks, either number one or number two
in a PFF blocking grade in the entire FBS. That's
a unit that you know, obviously, Kirk farans every year
that they're really strong up front. This year it looks
like they're they're you know, right on track with with
how they've been in the past.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Yeah, I mean, it's been a it's been a nice
change of pace because, yes, I has been known to
have a really good offensive line tradition, but before last year,
like the first two or three years, that they were
really relying on a number of younger guys and it
really you know, that was part of the offensive struggles too,
is the offensive line wasn't totally consistent and last year
was able to take a major step forward because you
(27:01):
know that's I mean that kind of goes to show
with the running game, with how good the offensive line
was and you know, just how he will how they
wible to kind of ascend everything with the offense, mainly
the rushing attack, and this year they feel like they
have you know, this could be one of their better
offensive lines since like the Tristan Wurth offensive lines, with
the amount of experience that they have up run and
(27:22):
I mean at center and you start at center and
right tackle, with Logan Jones and at center, and then
Jennings Dunker at right tackle, and then the other spots
like Bo Stevens at left guard. He's been pretty solid
this season. One of the better offensive linemen in the country.
He's kind of just struggled with injuries throughout his career,
but this year he's been very, very consistent, and that's
(27:42):
a really good time for Iowa Gay people. At the
right guard spot, he's more of kind of a physical mauler,
really getting the run blocking. Then Trevor Lockett left tackle.
That left tackle spot was very up in the air
for a while. It was between Louk and Jack Doetzler,
who's a he's a red shirt junior, but Dots are
a ron Kali alum. He's was a pretty highly sought
(28:04):
after recruit for Iowa back in that twenty twenty three class,
and you know, he seems to really be coming into
his own is really confident. It doesn't really feel like
that left tackle position has been you know, it's not
as you're not talking about it as much because you
know you're not struggling, and I think that's kind of
been the good. The good thing about that left tackle position,
(28:25):
because that was a really big question mark coming into
this year, and Louck seems to be really you know,
holding his own in that regard right there.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
So defensively here for for Iowa, obviously we saw everyone
every we all saw what Indiana did against Illinois. You know,
Illinois was thought to have a really vaunted defense, cave
Gay Bacus. You know, obviously they had some injuries in
the secondary, but Indiana just carved him up. And I
don't think anybody thought Fanana mund Knowsa was gonna look
as good as he did against Illinois, Like that was
truly like one of the best probably quarterback performances in
(28:56):
all of college football this season. But when you look
at Indiana's offense and what they have done this season
to this point going up against Iowa, d uh, do
you feel like Iowa has any chance to stop them
or at least limit them more so than than than
Illinois is able to do.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
Yeah, it's really going to come down to pressure from
the defensive line, but also also the secondary, because we
saw what the secondary was prone to giving up last
week again still or against Rutgers, and I think that's
going to be an area where there's a lot of
focus and you know, tackling is going to be huge
because I think it's you guys that put out the
stat about Indiana's yards after the catch. That's a really
(29:33):
big focal point for the Iowa staff and the Iowa
defense this this week is you know, gang tackling, you know,
staying disciplined on your keys and keeping things in front.
That's what the Iowa defense is really, you know, done
a good job of it is like keeping keeping opponents
in front. Like obviously I talked about how they were,
you know, struggled last year with the loam on big plays,
(29:54):
allowing chunk plays through the passing game, but they're really
built on like prevent defense and like keeping that everybody,
keeping everybody in front and not allowing those big chunk plays.
And that's me a really big focus on on Saturday too,
especially with the secondary, because it's not the secondary like
where there's full of NFL guys. I think there's a
number of couple of NFL talents. I think t J.
(30:15):
Hall could be a UDFA guy, think go and entering
her could be a really you know, possible draft pick
in the future. Xavier Wompo is the former five star
recruit h Deshaun Lee is a little bit undersize, but
you make itself forward with some of his athleticism. And
really the what I have a little bit of more
concern with too is a linebacker position, because you know,
(30:37):
we talked about Iowa having these linebackers all American guys.
That is not the case this season. They have a
bunch of older guys that are getting their first like
extended action this year, and they've looked better, They've looked solid,
but they've been you know, kind of waiting in the
wings the last couple of years behind guys like Jay Higgins,
Jack Campbell, Nick Jackson, Seth Benson, and they got to
(30:59):
be good in cover because Rutgers was able to kind
of put those guys in space. Carson Shire especially was
able to put those guys in space and made them
really uncomfortable and coverage. And you know, Jaden Harrow has
been like so so this season. I think he's been
getting better, but they're gonna try him like try and
get him in the run and you know, try to
make him, you know, kind of confused in terms of
(31:19):
their different you know, run designs and whatnot, and you know,
It's gonna be really interesting to see how those guys
compete against this, uh, this Indiana defense or Indiana offense,
because I mean Indiana's offense could really really kind of
scheme that up and you know, make like difficult for
i as linebackers and secondaries. So Iowa's secondary and linebackers
(31:40):
need to have their best game this season. Like it's
no debate if they want to beat this Indiana team,
they they have to be playing at their best.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Wrapping us up here, Sean obviously, you know this is
this is a game for Ioware they have a chance
to really knock off you know, a top top what
the top eleven team in Indiana. Kind of a roles
reverse from what we've seen in this matchup before. But
it really feels like Indias has a ton of momentum
going into this game. Iowa looking for, you know, a
statement victory, which you couldn't say in the past when
they played Indiana. In this one, you know, we've seen
(32:11):
what Indiana has done this season, high powered offense, really
really a stout defense. What if you're Iowa, what concerns
you the most about Indiana on both sides of the
ball and the vice versa. What do you think of
give Indiana some of the biggest problems.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Yeah, I mean with Indiana on the offensive side of
the ball, Like I said, it's it's the ability to
get yards after the catch, I think with their receivers
and just how dynamic the receivers are. And you know,
for Mando Mendoza, I mean, just to see what he did,
I know it was basically Illinois's second second defense or
second you know team secondary. Like just to see what
(32:44):
he did and what he did against Indiana State too,
like that is that is very impressive. And you know,
it's not just a passing game, it's it's a run
game too. They have a pretty dynamic rung game, a
pretty strong duo of Kalen Black and Roman Mby which
you know, complement each other really well. So you've got
to be, you know, really really disciplined in your defense
and really execute on the defensive side of the ball
(33:06):
to take down that kind of that balance attack or
at least tainment. And I think with the offense, if
you can pick up what they're doing with the different
blitzes and different stunts, like I think that could really
really if you can execute two in terms of like,
you know, making plays in the passing game, Brenowski being
big in that regard, and then with the receivers and
(33:26):
connecting with them. That can really you know, put your
offense in a good position to potentially, you know, make
things interesting for this Indiana defense. But my biggest key
for Iowa was to maximize possessions. You can't have your
defense on the field for extended periods of time, or
you can't have your offense on the field for you know,
really short periods of time. You have to avoid three
(33:47):
and out and you have to be able to put
together solid drives. Because I kind of compare this to
the Iowa Ohio State game last year, where the temple
of the game was working in Iowa was face for
in the first half, but then there were a couple
of turnovers offensively, and you know, Iowa was having quick
sessions on offense, so it Ohio State just kind of
(34:10):
took advantage of that and you know kind of you know,
up the tempo, increase the tempo, and you know, things
really you know blew open from there. And I think
Iowa's defense is you know, I think that the matchup
between these two teams is a lot more even than
it was you know, Iowa Ohio State last year. But Indiana,
as we saw against Illinois as that ability to you know,
(34:31):
put points up in a hurry, and if you are
having your defense on the field constantly, that's not a
good sign. So they have to really maximize possessions of
the Iowa offense. I was put together strong drives get
the wrong game going, and you know, find that consistency
through the air as well.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
So right now, I believe ESPN's FPI has Indiana seventy
eight point four percent favorites going to this game to
spread open at three and a half, but a lot
of the money seems to be in Indiana right now
that the line is all the way up to seven
and a half points in favor of the Hoosiahs right now,
First of all, Sean, we'll get to your pick at
a second here. Did did it Did it surprise that
(35:08):
the Indian only open up at three and a half.
I know it's at Kannick, a place that Indiana hasn't
won in quite a while, but three and a half,
especially off the win that India was coming off of,
to me that that seemed shockingly low.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
Yeah, No, That's that's really low to me. I thought
it would be. I mean, Iowa usually doesn't, I mean
against ranked opponents. They've really struggled as a play too.
I think their own eleven in their past you know,
eleven ranked per games against ranked opponents since their last win,
which is back in twenty twenty one against Penn State
(35:40):
in Kannick Stadium when Iowa was also a top ten team.
But then Iowa managed to lose to Purdue the next
week I think twenty four to seven. So yeah, that
that definitely surprised me a little bit. I know, Kinnick
obviously has an edge to it. It's a really fun
place to watch a game, and you know, a tough
place for opponents to play because it's so loud and
like all the fans are just on top of you.
(36:02):
It's not like a Memorial stadium where there's like a
clear like kind of gap in between the fans in
the uh in the playing field, like literally everyone's on
top of you there. So yeah, I mean, I I
was a little surprised by that, and I think I
think Indiana should. I mean, I think I saw seven
and a half this week or like the other day,
I think Indiana should cover, but I mean I could
(36:24):
see the scenario where I keeps it close too.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
Yeah. Yeah, it feels like a game where I was
gonna kind of have to dictate the terms and drag
Indiana through the mud with them.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Sure they're gonna keep it close.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
All right, Sean, Before to let you go here, how
do you see this game playing out? And then what
ultimately is your corporation for this one?
Speaker 1 (36:41):
Yeah, I mean, like you said, I think I was
gonna have to really drag Indiana through the mud and
make them uncomfortable and kind of, you know, slop this
game up and if they can do that four quarters,
they're really gonna have a chance to win. But the
margin for error against a team like Indiana, especially in
all three phases, is very small. Indian has got a
good special teams unit. I was obviously known for that,
(37:03):
but iwas also had some issues with making field goals
this year, and they've had a block punt this year
or the opposing team has blocked the punt. Indiana had
a block punt yes last week against Illinois that ultimately
kind of I know it was the first score of
the game, but that really felt they could change some
momentum right off the bat. So for Iowa, you have
to be getting all three phases. I think it starts
(37:23):
with the offense being able to sustain drives and maximize possessions.
And then the defense is really going to have to
you know, kind of stay on their keys and you know,
be a discipline group and you know, be a really
strong attacking group, because Indiana can make you pay, whether
that be deep or you know, some of those short
yard intermediate routes, especially a guy like Omar Cooper. Got
to be able to bring him down and you know,
(37:44):
keep keep him from you know, getting those yards after
the catch and really limiting him. I had I have
Indiana winning thirty four to twenty four. I think it's
gonna be a close game throughout, but I think Indiana
just has too much in all three phases to you know,
trying to keep Iowa keep or prevent Iowa from winning
this game. I mean, I could see being thirty four
(38:05):
twenty four. I could see it, you know, being like
twenty to seventeen. Like it's you know, it's really goes
both ways. But I'm gonna go with the indie gam
a year.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
Okay, So I will leave our prediction for our next
podcast with Matt Weaver and I when we preview this
Iowa game. But Sean has the Hoosias win thirty four
to twenty four at Kennec Stadium, Indiana, looking for its
first win in Iowa City since two thousand and seven.
It's a three thirty pm kick on Peacock two thirty
pm Central. Hoosias right now our seven and a half
point favorites. We'll see if they can get it done.
(38:35):
Go to five and zero on the twenty twenty five season, Sean.
You can catch them over on Hawkeye Insider. They do
great stuff over there. I highly recommend if you guys
are looking for a pregame content this week going into
Indiana Iowa. Sean, thanks for the time.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
I appreciate it, Man, Yeah, for sure, Jered, thanks for
having me, Man,
Welcome and everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
It is Tuesday, September twenty third Peaks dot Com.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Is Jerry Kelly here.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
A couple of days after Indiana's a huge win over
number nine Illinois sixty three to ten, the Hoosiers one
to go to four and oh on the season. But
next up, Indiana hits the road, first protest of the
season for Kurtzignetti and the Hoosiers. They're headed to Iowa
City in a place they haven't won it since two
thousand and seven when they take on Kirk Fares and
the Iowa Hawk.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Guys.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Today, we have a little bit of special episode of
our podcast. We have Sean Bach from Hawkeye illustrated over
on the Iowa two four to seven site. Shawn, I
imagine you watched the Illinois Indiana game and did it
make you feel any worse about this matchup coming up
on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Yeah, I mean Jared, first of all, great to be
on the podcast. As you know, I've got some ties
to Indiana with my dad going there. He's a big
member of Peaks. He hits me up more than about
Indiana stuff that he does Iowa stuff. Was probably visited
the Peak site way more than he's visited, guy insider,
so reaching guy too, so got some ties there. But yeah, no,
(01:06):
it's uh, that game was something else. I mean, not
to like get too big picture, because I know you
guys do that a lot, but just to see like
what Indiana football has become over the last couple of years,
or over the last two years with Kirk Signetti and
what he's been able to do with that program in
Bloomington obviously being known as a basketball heavy program and
(01:29):
just like a blue blood in that perspective, just becoming
a football powerhouse in the Big Ten has been really
impressive to see. I think the last the first Indiana
game I went to was probably two thousand and eight.
I think it was again in Illinois where Memorial Stadium
was like forty And to see like what it's become
(01:52):
in the last couple of last two years especially has
been it's been crazy. And I mean that game on
sad it's kind of like, I mean, I know how
you guys probably felt covering it. It's just like a
fever dream because just how to see what the success
has been like and with how Illinois was ranked coming
into the year and how everyone was talking about them,
(02:13):
just to see Indiana kind of just dominate from him
start to finish was a was something to see. And yeah,
I mean just looking at that game too, like it's
weird because it's I'm not sure if that says more
about Indiana, it says more about Illinois. I mean, having
Illinois they were so like beat up on the injury front,
especially in the secondary. Their offensive line was really having
(02:35):
troubles throughout the start of the season, and just to
see Indiana kind of take advantage of those and not
only win, but just win and dominating fash I mean,
that's a super, super impressive victory, and I think it
really says a lot about both teams, and with this
Indiana team too, I mean, I just think it goes
to show how good they really are. I think Illinois
(02:55):
is a is a solid team. Like I'm not gonna
say sit here and say the number nineteam theree, but
I think just to dominate that much and really just
impose their will, as kurtik Netty said, or that just
kind of really was the story of the game. And
I think it definitely has some people a little you know,
(03:16):
iffy on the Iowa side going to this game, not
inside the program, but the fan base and just like
you know, beat reporters, because we're I think everyone is Iowa.
Especially everyone's kind of the notion of oh, it's Indiana,
like it's just Indiana football. But now that's really not
the case. And I think last week really showed that.
And you know, I obviously don't want to get too
much into the debate of well, Indiana they played the
(03:39):
two teams that you know ended up playing the national championship,
the two teams they lost to ended up playing the
national championship last year. But yeah, I mean, this is
not the Indiana team that I think obviously the whole nation,
And you know, it's a much different story from that
twenty twenty one game. I think too when Indiana last
came into Iowa City and Riley Moss said the two
(04:00):
sixes and you know the advantage for the Hawk Gys
just kind of went from there. It's a different Indiana team,
a different program, and you know, it's gonna be really
excited to see what goes down on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Yeah, it's certainly in Indiana all over Illinois on in
Week four. Curious before we hop into this Iowa game
from an outside perspective somebody that hasn't been around the
AYU program as much. The sentiment around Iowa and their
fan base when they look at Indiana, when they like
how they perceive the Hoosiers now as compared a few
years ago, Like, is there still a little bit of hey,
(04:30):
that it's just Indiana, you know they're bound to fall
off or do you feel like Iowa, especially their fan base,
is sort of taking Indiana series with like the real
deal that they've looked like the past few years.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Yeah, I think they're taking them like the real deal.
And I think that that performance against Illinois was really
telling of that, and like to see Fernando Mendoza's stat line, Like,
I think a lot of people in Iowa City and
just Iowa fans in general to kill for that, especially
with the way that quarterback could play as really struggled
here the last couple of years. And you know, I
(05:03):
think a lot of it too is like I think
that twenty twenty one game, you're kind of like, oh, Wow,
this is really going to be like a premier, premier game,
and that just wasn't the case. And you know, I
think from the jump it's just like Indiana didn't really
have a I guess like ability to respond. And I
mean that Iowa defense was so talented too, with all
(05:24):
the NFL as that they had on that on that unit,
but it just feels like from a x's and O standpoint,
like a coaching and culture standpoint, the Indiana program is
like in a much much, much much better place to
respond to that kind of adversity and respond to the
adversity that Kanick City and ultimately brings, because I don't
(05:45):
I mean, I'm definitely like, I think home field advantage
is true, Like I definitely think there's a something to it,
but I think ultimately, like the most talented team is
the team that's going to have the advantage of at
of where the game is at, like I think last
week for uh, we'll get into that later, but yeah,
(06:07):
I think from in Iowa perspective, a lot of people
are taking this game seriously. I mean, especially after last week,
and I think Kurt Signetti will see what he's done
and just been able to like ring the program because
I mean Iowa fans like this is a long time
ago and like you know, a couple like over a
decade ago, but they were in a really tough spot
(06:27):
too for some time, and you know, kirk Ference was
able to kind of pull them out multiple times. Like
for the his first couple of years, they won. I
think in the first two years kirk Ference only won
one game or Iowa only won one game. And then
there were a couple of years in the last decade
where you know, things weren't going so hot, and then
they had some of their better seasons, you know, in
the following years. So I think a program like Iowa
(06:51):
really appreciates a coach like Kurt Signetti who has proven
that he can kind of take a program who was
really in a tough spot and then just bring them
back up and you know, really revived that program. And yeah,
it's been, uh, it's been entertaining to see. And yeah,
I think a lot of people are really taking this
game seriously on Saturday even I mean they were before,
(07:12):
but especially after seeing what Indiana did just dismantling IWLLINOI was, uh,
you know, I think it has a lot of people
being like, Okay, yes, we know Indiana is a good team,
but man, that was really really something.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
You talk about how Iowa, you know, I feel like
there's a lot of similarities between these two programs just
culturally and how they're built. You know, they're really like gritty,
blue collar guys, you know, especially upfront, like that's where
curs of Netty pride himself. Obviously Kirk Ferris has done
done that for decades, pride of himself in the trenches.
It feels like these two teams are very similar culturally,
(07:46):
you know, And obviously Indiana's offense this season last season
has been has been prolific. Iowa Indiana both their defense
have been very good the last couple of years. But
Iowa this year. Give me the lay of the land
because obviously you guys bringing Gronowski from South Dakota State
three and one right now going into into this Week
five matchup. Offensively, that's obviously you know where where Iowa
(08:07):
has you know, caught caught a couple of bullets over
the years, you know, just their trouble at quarterback and
being able to move the ball. Just give us the
lay of the land there. Do you feel like it
has improved this year with you know, Gernazzi coming in
Tim Lester's column plays at the offense Cordners spot.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Yeah, it's improved, and I think last week again to
Rutgers was a really strong indicator of that it's really
been a long time. Was like, I mean, I've been
I went to Iowa, Like I attended Iowa when school there, graduated,
but I wasn't really like too like into the Iowa
universe until I went to Iowa. And that was back
(08:44):
in twenty seventeen when I first got there. And I
really can't remember a game where Iowa's defense struggled but
Iowa's offense was able to keep up with the opposing
team and like win the game in that regard, because
don't get me wrong, the defense held its own in
the second half. But man, I'm not sure Jared, if
you watched that, if you watched that first half, like
(09:06):
Rutgers was getting whatever they wanted in the passing game,
and Iowa's defense has been so stout the last couple
of years under Phil Parker that you know, it happened
last year too, like they were kind of grown to
giving up big plays in the passing game. And you know,
obviously Rutgers wasn't doing too much like they challenged Iowa
(09:27):
was secondary to kind of you know, force them into
pis and be aggressive and old them because they couldn't
really keep up with them. But to see what Rutgers'
defense did against Iowa's offense, or Rutgers offenses go against
Iowa's defense and kind of picked them apart in the
passing game in that way was something that you know,
(09:49):
Iowa fans aren't really used to, and it did that.
It dates back to last year a little bit, because
the passing defense was a little was a little spot
body at times and really just hasn't been that elite
level to which it was in which it needed to
be when Iowa was going to the Big Ten Wins
championships despite having the worst offense in college football, which
(10:11):
in of its own is just like insane too. But
with this, yeah, with this offense, like Rutgers defense, is
nothing really to write home about. But if you watched
any of Iowa's offense the last couple of years, it
didn't really matter who you were going up against. I mean,
don't get me wrong with South Dakota State, it's a
very good program, but that seven to three game back
in twenty twenty two, when Mark Kronowski was a starting
(10:33):
quarterback for South Dakota State, you're kind of like dude,
the only way that this team can score is that
the defenses and special teams are able to make place.
And with Tim Wester coming in that really, you know,
Iowa's identity has always been running the football and winning
in the trenches. And Kirk Currance has always said, if
we have a pretty good offensive line, if we have
(10:54):
a pretty good run game, we have a chance of
being a pretty good offensive team. And that was the
caselast season where i Will would just could just run
teams over, just demolish some teams. But there were other
teams that were able to kind of scheme against that well,
and i was passing the tack you know, couldn't keep
defenses honest, and defense is kind of just knew that, hey,
(11:16):
we're gonna stack eight or nine guys in the box
and you know you're gonna have to beat us that way.
But with Mark Ronowski, his ability to make plays as
a passer and also as a with his feet as
a running quarterback has really opened things up for the
Siowa offense and really opened things up for you know,
the run game too. I mean, the run game doesn't
have that elite talent like it did last year in
(11:37):
Caleb Johnson. But they have a number of running backs
that they feel are really capable of having okay, like
you know, five six seven yards per carry and that's
really important too. But then they also have a pretty
experienced offensive line this season and they feel like, i mean,
coming into the year, they felt like they had a
veteran wide receiver corp that could really take a step forward.
And it's improved a little bit, but the drops have
(11:59):
still and kind of you know, one of the big
kind of warning signs or at least you know, not
so good things for this sewall offense and for the
wide receiver corp. But having Gronowski back there, I mean,
so he had off season shoulder surgery and a lot
of people are like, oh boy, here we go again,
because what was one of the big issues with Kate Macnaer,
(12:19):
who you know, everyone kind of considered there, you know,
the Iowa Golden Boy when he first came to Iowa City.
It was injuries, like he just from the jump, injuries
where you know, hindered him and hindered his career. And
you know, people are kind of like, oh boy, here
we go again with Mark Ronowski And it really took
some time for him to get adjusted in the offseason,
(12:40):
he wasn't really you know, he couldn't do anything until June.
All he could really do was, you know, sit and
like kind of observe and watch and like kind of
go through the motions, but not really like apply it.
And it really it's a difficult offense to really understand.
It comes from the Shanahan tree in the NFL. To
s was with the Green Bay Packers for a while
(13:02):
or for a year or so before he came to
Iowa after he got fired from Western Michigan, so he
was able to really adapt that and you know throughout
his career, but it's not me. He's the offensive grasp
and you know, it's really important to get the timing
down to really understand their oute concepts and just kind
of like everything that goes into running an offense like
(13:23):
on time, like and you had to be confident and throwing,
and I don't think Gronowski was super confident with his
arm and making some of the decisions that he had
to make at the beginning of the season. The first
couple of games for Iowa, especially against Albany and Iowa State,
he got a little bit better against Iowa State, but
it wasn't to the level that he needed to be
to win that game. But the last two games against
(13:44):
UMAs and Rutgers, he's really started to show some promise.
And I think a lot of I mean with Iowa's
offensive struggles and the quarterbacks struggles the last couple of years,
Like any sort of improvement is improvement from the last
couple of years. And you know, the standard is not
super high in that guard, but Gronowski's done enough to
(14:05):
in that I mean, especially in that Rutgers game, he
did enough to you know, like I said, deep Rutgers,
honest and also like be able to move the chains
and hit on some pretty beat some pretty deep throws
and some pretty impressive balls that he had throughout the game.
And you know another thing that kind of gives defense
(14:26):
as a second sort of I guess what's the word
I want to say, Like it like makes him more
alert or makes defenses have to like really try to
like go against him and defend him. As his ability
to run, he is the ability to I mean he's
not he's not an elite athlete, Like he's not Michael
Vick back there, but he's six foot two two hundred
and thirty pounds and he can move pretty well. And
(14:47):
he's not a guy who's afraid to like go between
the tackles too, like he will. He's a guy that will,
you know, kind of not just get outside the tackles
and kind of make plays in space, but he'll, like
if he has to go get three or four yards
if nothing's there, he's not afraid to tuck it and
run inside. But the dynamic that he's brought is just
what iowad needs at the quarterback position. And that's honestly
(15:07):
just a gamer. Like that's a guy who has been
in some pretty big spots in the past from his
experience at South Dakota State. I mean, he won the
FCS Heisman Award, he's won two national championships. Yes, he's
played five years of college football, but he's the all
time winning this quarterback in college football. Like that's a
pretty you know, that's a pretty good put degree to have.
(15:29):
And you know, his experience and his just kind of
growing comfort in the past in the IOWA offense has
really you know, helped descended this group. And it's a
smaller sample size because you know, Rutgers is not necessarily
one of the better defensive teams in the Big Ten,
but still like for him to go do what he
did and help lea De Sillowa offense to a win
(15:51):
in that in that way like was something that you know,
we honestly haven't seen in the last couple of years,
and people are kind of hoping that continues in that
direction too.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
So I think with Gronowski one of the one of
the big questions coming in at least from outside of
looking in, was you know, the obviously the FCS jump
to to not not just the FBS level, but to
you know, the Big Ten. And you know, obviously the
Big Ten season has just started. We'll see how it
ended upends up playing out for them, but you know,
two good data points with the Iowa State game, which
he didn't perform all that well in and then the
Rutgers game, which he quite honestly kind of led led
(16:22):
Iowa to that win. Uh, how how have you seen
him maybe assimilate to the Big Ten? Do you feel
like the first the first few weeks were just him
getting his feet under him, and in the improvement from
week to week, Like, where do you think he's at
in terms of making that jump and then going into
this Indiana game.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Yeah, I think one thing's his confidence. I mean there
are a couple of times too where he kind of
locks in on one receiver really only tries to make
one read. And I think, I mean, he had some
talented players that at South Dakota State. I mean, they
had a really good running game for a while. Green
Bay Packers tight end Tucker Craft was one of his
UH top targets at South Dakota State throughout his career,
(17:04):
and he had a number of really talented receivers too.
And I think, I mean, obviously the offense wasn't too
different at Iowa compared to what they ran at South
Dakota State, but it was definitely different in various ways.
But I think just making some of the throws that
you know aren't necessarily the easiest throws to make. I
think he just struggled with the confidence. And I think
obviously the timing, because I mean it's crazy how much
(17:26):
a second or a second and a half or like
a half a second can make a difference with you know,
if a guy's open or like kind of how the offense,
I don't know how the offense works, are like if
you know the play is supposed to go how it's
supposed to go, and I think he just wasn't. Really
he's not sometimes he's not really confident making those throws,
and he kind of keys in on his first read
(17:48):
and isn't able to make you know, as many of
the reads as he wants to. If you know, his
first read isn't there, he's just gonna tuck it and
run it. And I think that's one thing that Indiana's
really going to try and take away on Saturday. It's
just his ability to move in the pot or move
outside of the pocket and you know, get upfielding that way.
Because they do a really good job with disguise in
(18:09):
their coverages and you know, kind of doing like, you know,
making you making you a little like eye happy at first,
where you're kind of just like, okay, you know, you're
kind of overthinking a little bit. I think they do
a really good job of that, and that's one area
where I'm kind of like, Okay, Gronowski, that's you know,
something that you kind of got to pick up on,
which I mean is a plus. It's you'd rather him
(18:30):
be a guy in his shoes with his experience as
opposed to like having a super highly talented freshman guy
because he's kind of been in some of these spots before.
But also one of the things that I didn't mention
against Rutgers is I felt like he did a really
good job of, you know, checking at the line of scrimmage, like,
you know, making sure his offensive line was in sync
with their blocks and you know, changing the cover like
(18:52):
the block and coverages in that regard, and then like
call and play like different plays audibles at the line
of scrimmage. That's one thing that this Iowa staff has
been really keen on him doing, and he did a
pretty good job of that against Rutgers, and I think
that's really gonna be something that he has to do
against Indiana as well, considering, you know how much they
kind of, you know, cause havoc and the different looks
(19:15):
that they give offenses too.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
So take us through these skill positions, because it seems
like once again Iowa has a running backs stamele where
they can kind of give the ball to anybody and
feel decent about what they're going to get at that spot.
And then wide receiver, it looks like they're still trying
to They're still looking for a clear cut number one there. Obviously,
Iowa has good tight ends every year. Take us through
the skill positions and the key guys.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
I Yawa is here. Yeah, running back. The two names,
the two main names you know are Kamari Moulton and
Jay z and Patterson. Both like Kamari's more of a scatback,
but he's a pretty physical guy too. He's you know,
projected to take that number one spot with Caleb Johnson
going to the NFL. He had a really good game
against Rutgers, but he missed the Iowa stayed in UMass
(19:58):
game due to an injury that he suffered in the
season opening against Albany. And you know, his ability to
really you know, finished forward like you know, with his
when guys are tackling him rather than you know, going
back or going to the side is something that's really
impressive with him. And he had I think, you know
sixty or something yards after contact against Rutgers. So that's
a really, you know, big part of his game. And
(20:20):
with Patterson, he's a pretty good complimentary back. He's probably
been the most consistent back for Iowa this season because
you know, he's just such a hard runner man like
he will. He's not really necessarily the most natural or
discipline runner, Like you're patient, I should say, he just
kind of goes and you know that's kind of helped
Iowan some in some games because defenses really haven't been
(20:40):
ready for it, or he's kind of a hard guy
to game plan for because he just he's so unpredictable.
Turow Washington's kind of a their third back right now.
He was a wide receiver last year, came to Iowa
as a running back, moved to wide receiver last year.
He's kind of struggled a little bit, doesn't really seem
like he's super decisive with his you know, thinking and
(21:00):
you know where he's kind of gonna go, and seems
to really go down pretty easily at the line of
scrimmage or at first contact in that's an area where
they kind of where. Honestly, Caleb Johnson struggled when he
first got to Iowa, when he first got to college.
So you know, he's still trying to, you know, get
some things figured out. This is kind of his first
year stepping into a bigger role. Then they have true
freshman Nathan McNeil, who's a very promising back. I think
(21:23):
he had a pretty he had like a ten yard
run against Rutgers last week in a pretty pivotal spot.
So they like what he brings. He's got some wiggle
to him, but he's a true freshman, like so his
experience is very limited, but he's promising back. And they're
without Xavier Williams, who is actually a Lake centralum out
of Saint John, Indiana in the region, who was a
(21:44):
bigger He's like, oh my gosh, this guy is huge.
He's like six foot two hundred thirty pounds and he
just like he's not six but he's like, I think
he's like five ten five eleven, two hundred thirty pounds,
and he just got some of the biggest legs I
have ever seen, like in a in a running back,
and it's just it's super impressive. So they kind of
go with Moulton and Patterson. They'll occasionally throw Washington and
(22:08):
McNeill back there, but it's mainly I would expect it
to be mainly Moulten and Patterson on Saturday and then
maybe some Washington and we'll see about McNeil. But the
wide receiver position has not been so like the standard
for I will like wide receivers. The last couple of years,
in terms of talent, it's been not so not so hot,
(22:30):
just kind of you know, depth has been an issue
and just talent and like recruiting has kind of been
a struggle because they don't really have much to show
with the passing offense. But this is kind of the
year that they fought like, okay, we could take a
really big step forward on the the at the wide
receiver position and some of the main guys there, Jacob
Gill who is in Northwestern transfer last year became I
(22:52):
was number one receiver this fall, or no became I
was number one receiver last year when he was thought
to be like the number three, number four guy, but
he really you know, took on that role and probably
was the most viable reliable receiver last year. He's kind
of stepping into that number two or three spot. They
really like chat and NUGA transfer Sam Phillips, who's a
(23:12):
listed that's five foot seven, yes, five foot seven, but
he's got some really good speed to him and that's
something that Iowa didn't really have last year at the
wide receiver position. Was a guy who could kind of
unlock things a little bit with his speed and you know,
receiver ability, which Phillips is able to do. And then
there's a couple of other guys too that are really
that are coming to mind. Dayton Howard, you know, flashed
(23:35):
last week against Rutgers. He had a pretty good outing.
He had a really big patch towards the end of
the game that you know, led to Iowa taking the lead,
uh later on in the game in the fourth quarter.
Seth Anderson got hurt in the last game too. He's
a He's an older guy who's a pretty experienced but
he struggled with injuries throughout his career. Has some pretty
(23:56):
good speed to him. Kayden Weaching is the the All
American and returner who's a really dynamic player, but you know,
he's not as much molded in terms of receiver. They'll
use him on a lot of jet sweeps and whatnot.
One of the guys that they've really missed though is
Rhees Vandersy, who was kind of projected to be that
number one or number two guy coming into this season.
(24:18):
You've suffered a freak freak stress or freak injury before
the season. I think it was a stress fracture and
he was you know, He's a big body receiver for
six foot four, two hundred and fifteen pounds. Red shirt
freshman really or no true or sophomore, sorry, not a
red ship freshman, uh, sophomore. But he showed a lot
of promise last year when he was healthy, had two
(24:39):
touchdowns in his college debut against Illinois State. And they've
really missed him because that's kind of a guy that
they've that Gronowski formed that really strong bond with during
fall camp and you know, like I said, Granowski didn't
have a ton of time to really you know, adapt
to the offense in fall camp because like it's you know,
full go and missing. I mean, he was kind of
(25:01):
the guy that he built the number one report with,
So they've really missed out on him. And at the
tight end position, it's not as elite as it you
know usually is or what I kind of gets known for.
They have a couple of younger guys that have you know,
flashed pretty well. DJ van Ami is a guy that
they really like. Edison a stranger their number one tight
end is out for the year. He's more of like
kind of an inline blocking tight end, but also is
(25:22):
kind of a checkdown guy that they feel pretty good
about pretty like pretty safe with him, you know, getting
some of those balls and you know, kind of moving
to the chains and you know, being that kind of
last line of defense. And then zach Ortle was kind
of their downfield threat to at the tight end position,
kind of a you know, not necessarily an older guy,
but he's a junior and it just kind of feels
like he's still you know, younger, but he just hasn't
(25:45):
really been able to expand to that, you know, bigger role,
and he's been doing that recently well this season. Then
Hayden Large is a former h back or former NAI
a tight end transfer. Came in not last year, but
the year before. It was kind of an h back
for a while. Came in like full back age back,
but he's transitioning well to the tight end position, which
he played at the NAI level, and he's been a
(26:08):
pretty you know, good piece in terms of like a
run blocker, an occasional receiver threat, but he's more of
a run blocker type.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
So up Frunt, I think I saw like it might
have been yesterday or something somewhere on Twitter. I wasn't
tired starting five ranks, either number one or number two
in a PFF blocking grade in the entire FBS. That's
a unit that you know, obviously, Kirk farans every year
that they're really strong up front. This year it looks
like they're they're you know, right on track with with
how they've been in the past.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Yeah, I mean, it's been a it's been a nice
change of pace because, yes, I has been known to
have a really good offensive line tradition, but before last year,
like the first two or three years, that they were
really relying on a number of younger guys and it
really you know, that was part of the offensive struggles too,
is the offensive line wasn't totally consistent and last year
was able to take a major step forward because you
(27:01):
know that's I mean that kind of goes to show
with the running game, with how good the offensive line
was and you know, just how he will how they
wible to kind of ascend everything with the offense, mainly
the rushing attack, and this year they feel like they
have you know, this could be one of their better
offensive lines since like the Tristan Wurth offensive lines, with
the amount of experience that they have up run and
(27:22):
I mean at center and you start at center and
right tackle, with Logan Jones and at center, and then
Jennings Dunker at right tackle, and then the other spots
like Bo Stevens at left guard. He's been pretty solid
this season. One of the better offensive linemen in the country.
He's kind of just struggled with injuries throughout his career,
but this year he's been very, very consistent, and that's
(27:42):
a really good time for Iowa Gay people. At the
right guard spot, he's more of kind of a physical mauler,
really getting the run blocking. Then Trevor Lockett left tackle.
That left tackle spot was very up in the air
for a while. It was between Louk and Jack Doetzler,
who's a he's a red shirt junior, but Dots are
a ron Kali alum. He's was a pretty highly sought
(28:04):
after recruit for Iowa back in that twenty twenty three class,
and you know, he seems to really be coming into
his own is really confident. It doesn't really feel like
that left tackle position has been you know, it's not
as you're not talking about it as much because you
know you're not struggling, and I think that's kind of
been the good. The good thing about that left tackle position,
(28:25):
because that was a really big question mark coming into
this year, and Louck seems to be really you know,
holding his own in that regard right there.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
So defensively here for for Iowa, obviously we saw everyone
every we all saw what Indiana did against Illinois. You know,
Illinois was thought to have a really vaunted defense, cave
Gay Bacus. You know, obviously they had some injuries in
the secondary, but Indiana just carved him up. And I
don't think anybody thought Fanana mund Knowsa was gonna look
as good as he did against Illinois, Like that was
truly like one of the best probably quarterback performances in
(28:56):
all of college football this season. But when you look
at Indiana's offense and what they have done this season
to this point going up against Iowa, d uh, do
you feel like Iowa has any chance to stop them
or at least limit them more so than than than
Illinois is able to do.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
Yeah, it's really going to come down to pressure from
the defensive line, but also also the secondary, because we
saw what the secondary was prone to giving up last
week again still or against Rutgers, and I think that's
going to be an area where there's a lot of
focus and you know, tackling is going to be huge
because I think it's you guys that put out the
stat about Indiana's yards after the catch. That's a really
(29:33):
big focal point for the Iowa staff and the Iowa
defense this this week is you know, gang tackling, you know,
staying disciplined on your keys and keeping things in front.
That's what the Iowa defense is really, you know, done
a good job of it is like keeping keeping opponents
in front. Like obviously I talked about how they were,
you know, struggled last year with the loam on big plays,
(29:54):
allowing chunk plays through the passing game, but they're really
built on like prevent defense and like keeping that everybody,
keeping everybody in front and not allowing those big chunk plays.
And that's me a really big focus on on Saturday too,
especially with the secondary, because it's not the secondary like
where there's full of NFL guys. I think there's a
number of couple of NFL talents. I think t J.
(30:15):
Hall could be a UDFA guy, think go and entering
her could be a really you know, possible draft pick
in the future. Xavier Wompo is the former five star
recruit h Deshaun Lee is a little bit undersize, but
you make itself forward with some of his athleticism. And
really the what I have a little bit of more
concern with too is a linebacker position, because you know,
(30:37):
we talked about Iowa having these linebackers all American guys.
That is not the case this season. They have a
bunch of older guys that are getting their first like
extended action this year, and they've looked better, They've looked solid,
but they've been you know, kind of waiting in the
wings the last couple of years behind guys like Jay Higgins,
Jack Campbell, Nick Jackson, Seth Benson, and they got to
(30:59):
be good in cover because Rutgers was able to kind
of put those guys in space. Carson Shire especially was
able to put those guys in space and made them
really uncomfortable and coverage. And you know, Jaden Harrow has
been like so so this season. I think he's been
getting better, but they're gonna try him like try and
get him in the run and you know, try to
make him, you know, kind of confused in terms of
(31:19):
their different you know, run designs and whatnot, and you know,
It's gonna be really interesting to see how those guys
compete against this, uh, this Indiana defense or Indiana offense,
because I mean Indiana's offense could really really kind of
scheme that up and you know, make like difficult for
i as linebackers and secondaries. So Iowa's secondary and linebackers
(31:40):
need to have their best game this season. Like it's
no debate if they want to beat this Indiana team,
they they have to be playing at their best.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Wrapping us up here, Sean obviously, you know this is
this is a game for Ioware they have a chance
to really knock off you know, a top top what
the top eleven team in Indiana. Kind of a roles
reverse from what we've seen in this matchup before. But
it really feels like Indias has a ton of momentum
going into this game. Iowa looking for, you know, a
statement victory, which you couldn't say in the past when
they played Indiana. In this one, you know, we've seen
(32:11):
what Indiana has done this season, high powered offense, really
really a stout defense. What if you're Iowa, what concerns
you the most about Indiana on both sides of the
ball and the vice versa. What do you think of
give Indiana some of the biggest problems.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Yeah, I mean with Indiana on the offensive side of
the ball, Like I said, it's it's the ability to
get yards after the catch, I think with their receivers
and just how dynamic the receivers are. And you know,
for Mando Mendoza, I mean, just to see what he did,
I know it was basically Illinois's second second defense or
second you know team secondary. Like just to see what
(32:44):
he did and what he did against Indiana State too,
like that is that is very impressive. And you know,
it's not just a passing game, it's it's a run
game too. They have a pretty dynamic rung game, a
pretty strong duo of Kalen Black and Roman Mby which
you know, complement each other really well. So you've got
to be, you know, really really disciplined in your defense
and really execute on the defensive side of the ball
(33:06):
to take down that kind of that balance attack or
at least tainment. And I think with the offense, if
you can pick up what they're doing with the different
blitzes and different stunts, like I think that could really
really if you can execute two in terms of like,
you know, making plays in the passing game, Brenowski being
big in that regard, and then with the receivers and
(33:26):
connecting with them. That can really you know, put your
offense in a good position to potentially, you know, make
things interesting for this Indiana defense. But my biggest key
for Iowa was to maximize possessions. You can't have your
defense on the field for extended periods of time, or
you can't have your offense on the field for you know,
really short periods of time. You have to avoid three
(33:47):
and out and you have to be able to put
together solid drives. Because I kind of compare this to
the Iowa Ohio State game last year, where the temple
of the game was working in Iowa was face for
in the first half, but then there were a couple
of turnovers offensively, and you know, Iowa was having quick
sessions on offense, so it Ohio State just kind of
(34:10):
took advantage of that and you know kind of you know,
up the tempo, increase the tempo, and you know, things
really you know blew open from there. And I think
Iowa's defense is you know, I think that the matchup
between these two teams is a lot more even than
it was you know, Iowa Ohio State last year. But Indiana,
as we saw against Illinois as that ability to you know,
(34:31):
put points up in a hurry, and if you are
having your defense on the field constantly, that's not a
good sign. So they have to really maximize possessions of
the Iowa offense. I was put together strong drives get
the wrong game going, and you know, find that consistency
through the air as well.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
So right now, I believe ESPN's FPI has Indiana seventy
eight point four percent favorites going to this game to
spread open at three and a half, but a lot
of the money seems to be in Indiana right now
that the line is all the way up to seven
and a half points in favor of the Hoosiahs right now,
First of all, Sean, we'll get to your pick at
a second here. Did did it Did it surprise that
(35:08):
the Indian only open up at three and a half.
I know it's at Kannick, a place that Indiana hasn't
won in quite a while, but three and a half,
especially off the win that India was coming off of,
to me that that seemed shockingly low.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
Yeah, No, That's that's really low to me. I thought
it would be. I mean, Iowa usually doesn't, I mean
against ranked opponents. They've really struggled as a play too.
I think their own eleven in their past you know,
eleven ranked per games against ranked opponents since their last win,
which is back in twenty twenty one against Penn State
(35:40):
in Kannick Stadium when Iowa was also a top ten team.
But then Iowa managed to lose to Purdue the next
week I think twenty four to seven. So yeah, that
that definitely surprised me a little bit. I know, Kinnick
obviously has an edge to it. It's a really fun
place to watch a game, and you know, a tough
place for opponents to play because it's so loud and
like all the fans are just on top of you.
(36:02):
It's not like a Memorial stadium where there's like a
clear like kind of gap in between the fans in
the uh in the playing field, like literally everyone's on
top of you there. So yeah, I mean, I I
was a little surprised by that, and I think I
think Indiana should. I mean, I think I saw seven
and a half this week or like the other day,
I think Indiana should cover, but I mean I could
(36:24):
see the scenario where I keeps it close too.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
Yeah. Yeah, it feels like a game where I was
gonna kind of have to dictate the terms and drag
Indiana through the mud with them.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Sure they're gonna keep it close.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
All right, Sean, Before to let you go here, how
do you see this game playing out? And then what
ultimately is your corporation for this one?
Speaker 1 (36:41):
Yeah, I mean, like you said, I think I was
gonna have to really drag Indiana through the mud and
make them uncomfortable and kind of, you know, slop this
game up and if they can do that four quarters,
they're really gonna have a chance to win. But the
margin for error against a team like Indiana, especially in
all three phases, is very small. Indian has got a
good special teams unit. I was obviously known for that,
(37:03):
but iwas also had some issues with making field goals
this year, and they've had a block punt this year
or the opposing team has blocked the punt. Indiana had
a block punt yes last week against Illinois that ultimately
kind of I know it was the first score of
the game, but that really felt they could change some
momentum right off the bat. So for Iowa, you have
to be getting all three phases. I think it starts
(37:23):
with the offense being able to sustain drives and maximize possessions.
And then the defense is really going to have to
you know, kind of stay on their keys and you know,
be a discipline group and you know, be a really
strong attacking group, because Indiana can make you pay, whether
that be deep or you know, some of those short
yard intermediate routes, especially a guy like Omar Cooper. Got
to be able to bring him down and you know,
(37:44):
keep keep him from you know, getting those yards after
the catch and really limiting him. I had I have
Indiana winning thirty four to twenty four. I think it's
gonna be a close game throughout, but I think Indiana
just has too much in all three phases to you know,
trying to keep Iowa keep or prevent Iowa from winning
this game. I mean, I could see being thirty four
(38:05):
twenty four. I could see it, you know, being like
twenty to seventeen. Like it's you know, it's really goes
both ways. But I'm gonna go with the indie gam
a year.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
Okay, So I will leave our prediction for our next
podcast with Matt Weaver and I when we preview this
Iowa game. But Sean has the Hoosias win thirty four
to twenty four at Kennec Stadium, Indiana, looking for its
first win in Iowa City since two thousand and seven.
It's a three thirty pm kick on Peacock two thirty
pm Central. Hoosias right now our seven and a half
point favorites. We'll see if they can get it done.
(38:35):
Go to five and zero on the twenty twenty five season, Sean.
You can catch them over on Hawkeye Insider. They do
great stuff over there. I highly recommend if you guys
are looking for a pregame content this week going into
Indiana Iowa. Sean, thanks for the time.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
I appreciate it, Man, Yeah, for sure, Jered, thanks for
having me, Man,
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