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Iowa Football vs Northwestern: Three Players to Watch
Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
A look at which players will have the biggest impact when the Iowa Hawkeyes and Northwestern Wildcats meet
Homecoming is always an exciting time, although there are even more storylines surrounding Iowa football this season. Whether it’s due to the Iowa Hawkeyes inconsistent play on both sides of the ball or Matt VandeBerg possibly being out for the year, Iowa enters the game with many questions needing to be answered.
With VandeBerg out, Iowa will likely return to what Kirk Ferentz is known for on offense, running the football. Northwestern is also a ground and pound team, therefore the battle between LeShun Daniels Jr and Akrum Wadley, and Justin Jackson, will be on full display. Whoever gains the slight edge on the ground will give their team a significant advantage.
That being said, Iowa has blown out the Wildcats the past two seasons. With both teams owning veteran players, this is a game with very different view points. On one hand, all Iowa knows is easy victories over Northwestern over the past couple of seasons. On the other hand, seniors on Northwestern don’t want to leave Iowa City with another loss, especially not another 30-plus point loss.
It will make for a very interesting game as both teams enter the season as underachievers in 2016. Despite Northwestern entering the game 1-3, Iowa can’t take them lightly because they’ve played tough in their three losses and are better than their record indicates.
That being said, here’s a look at a few players who will have the biggest impact on the game this Saturday.
Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
LB Anthony Walker
2016 Stats: 23 Tackles, 2.5 Tackles for Loss, 1 Forced Fumble/Recovery
All Northwestern fans held their breath in the fourth quarter against Nebraska a week ago when Anthony Walker went down. He only missed a couple of plays, however, for a second, the Wildcats thought even more disaster hit their 2016 season.
Northwestern is only 1-3 this season, although their defense is still one of the best in the nation, and it’s led by Anthony Walker. The junior linebacker does a little of everything for a defense that allows a mere 17 points per game — 23rd in the nation. In fact, many people consider Walker and Hawkeyes linebacker Josey Jewell the best in the Big Ten.
It makes sense considering Walker is coming off a 120 tackle season that also included 19 tackles for loss, four sacks and three forced fumbles. Walker ranks just fourth on the team in tackles this season, although there is no doubting he’s the heart and soul of this defense.
He is constantly all over the field and has the same impact on the game as Josey Jewell. He does a great job in coverage, ranking third on the team with two pass deflections. In fact, Walker nearly had a pick-six against Nebraska a week ago, however dropped any easy interception. Nonetheless, the linebacker makes a significant impact in the passing game and will be someone C.J. Beathard can’t ignore.
Although, his ability to stop the run is the best facet of his game. The Wildcats don’t ask Walker to blitz or rush the quarterback often, which has led to a measly 6.5 sacks over his three-year career. That being said, linebackers play a huge role in stopping the run.
With Matt VandeBerg out indefinitely, many expect the Hawkeyes to turn to their running game this week. It won’t be easy against Northwestern, especially when considering Walker’s athleticism and the range that he covers.
Anthony Walker will be playing on Sundays very soon. He has recorded 11 tackles in two career games against Iowa, but Walker is one of the only players on the Wildcats defense that you can’t forget about.
Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
WR Austin Carr
2016 Stats: 26 Receptions, 392 Yards, 2 Touchdowns
Justin Jackson receives the most attention on the Northwestern offense because of his usage. Although, the Wildcats have been down or in hard-fought games where running the ball wasn’t their most viable option. That has led to the Wildcats trusting quarterback Clayton Thorson.
Thorson won’t tear the Hawkeyes defense apart, although his connection with wide receiver Austin Carr has made them one of the deadliest duos in the Big Ten.
Thorson is completing just 53.2 percent of his passes this season, to go along with five touchdowns and four interceptions. Frankly, Thorson is inaccurate and doesn’t have the strongest arm, which makes Austin Carr’s production so surprising and exemplifies his skill set.
After a slow start to his collegiate career, Carr has exploded onto the scene in 2016. Through his first 20 career games, Carr recorded 23 receptions, 403 yards and two touchdowns. Through the Wildcats first four games in 2016, Carr leads the Big Ten with 26 receptions and 392 yards, as well as catching three touchdowns.
Carr has caught 26 of Thorson’s 74 completions in 2016 — 35.1 percent. In fact, Flynn Nagel is the only other Northwestern receiver with double-digits receptions and at least 100 yards on the season. Simply put, Austin Carr is Northwestern’s Matt VandeBerg.
Keeping him away from Desmond King is an obvious tactic Northwestern will use. Either way, Iowa’s secondary has been shaky at times. Janarion Grant caught a 76-yard pass and had 98 yards in the first half before going down with an injury a week ago. Not to mention that Allen Lazard of Iowa State and Miami (OH) receivers Rokeem Williams and James Gardner all recorded at least 95 yards against Iowa this season.
They now take on arguably the best receiver they’ll have faced up to this point. Even though Northwestern wants to run the ball, Pat Fitzgerald has not been afraid to abandon the run when the offensive line struggles. Getting pressure on Thorson will be key, because if he gets time, he’s shown the ability to consistently connect with Carr.
Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
TE George Kittle
2016 Stats: 10 Receptions, 192 Yards, 2 Touchdowns
The whole week is leading up to how well Iowa’s offense will function without Matt VandeBerg. The running game will have to be a bigger part of Iowa’s game plan and at least one receiver will have to step up and try to somewhat fill the void VandeBerg left. Although, all eyes will be on tight end George Kittle this Saturday.
Kittle ranked second on the team in receptions (10), yards (192) and touchdowns (2) in 2016, and also led the team with six touchdown grabs a season ago. That being said, this is the first time Kittle will be the top option in the passing game. In 2015, he backed up Henry Krieger-Coble, and this year Matt VandeBerg received most of the attention from opposing secondaries.
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Although, Kittle has been the Hawkeyes only consistent target outside of VandeBerg this season. Sure, he’s had a couple of drops, however he’s led the team in receiving yards the past two weeks. Kittle is no longer simply a red zone target, C.J. Beathard has looked for him all over the field and will turn to him early against Northwestern.
Teams have completed 65.2 percent of passes against Northwestern, although the Wildcats don’t give up the big play. They have allowed just two touchdowns longer than 10 yards this season. That being said, Kittle will have a very interesting transition as the new top option considering he’s thrived on big gains.
Kittle is averaging 19.2 yards per reception and 20-plus in each of his past two games. Not to mention also scoring against Rutgers on a 36-yard touchdown. As big of a red zone threat as he’s become at Iowa, Kittle has been the Hawkeyes big play receiver in 2016.
In an offense that has had trouble moving the ball over the past two weeks, breaking this secondary for a long gain will help instill confidence in the Hawkeyes and open up the field more. The Hawkeyes have a long and proud history of tight ends, and George Kittle has a chance to put his name among the greats.
He’s arguably been more productive than VandeBerg over the past two weeks, therefore expect Beathard to look his way even more this week against a defense who won’t give him a ton of time to throw.
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