.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
Iowa Hawkeyes vs Minnesota: Three Players to Watch
Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Three players to keep an eye on when Iowa and Minnesota take the field
There is a lot riding on this week’s game against Minnesota for the Iowa Hawkeyes. They’ve struggled over the past three weeks and their 42-3 win over Iowa State seems like decades ago. They’re lacking confidence and simply aren’t playing good football as of late.
Now, Iowa is a loss away from dropping to 3-3 and seemingly out of the Big Ten West picture. Minnesota is one of the better teams in the Big Ten West this year, and a win over them would instill confidence in the Hawkeyes and could also be the boost they need to turn their season around.
Minnesota enters the game 3-1, with only an overtime loss to Penn State a week ago from entering this week undefeated. While Minnesota isn’t traditionally a powerhouse in football, they have the team to make noise in the Big Ten West this year.
Although, a big weakness for the Hawkeyes this season has been their inability to stop key players on opposing teams. King Frazier and Easton Stick helped North Dakota State escape with a victory. Robert Martin and Janarion Grant kept Rutgers in the game. Last week, Justin Jackson, Austin Carr and Ifeadi Odenigbo led Northwestern to a victory.
That being said, here are three players to watch during Iowa’s matchup with Minnesota this week.
Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
RB Rodney Smith
2016 Stats: 82 Carries, 402 Yards, 5 Touchdowns
Iowa is a week removed from allowing Justin Jackson to rush for 171 yards against them. On the season, opposing teams have averaged 182.8 rushing yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry. The Hawkeyes defensive line hasn’t been able to penetrate opposing offensive lines and, in turn, have struggled against the run.
Minnesota will run a zone-read at times with athletic quarterback Mitch Leidner, however running back Rodney Smith has been the heart of their offense this season. The Gophers want to pound the ball and that starts with Smith. He leads the team 82 carries, 402 yards and five rushing touchdowns.
Smith took on a bigger role at the start of the season due to an injury to Shannon Brooks. He started the season against Oregon State rushing for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Although, Smith’s role and production has not decreased with the return of Brooks.
Smith has still managed to rush for 203 yards and two touchdowns on 40 carries in the two weeks since Brooks returned from injury — 5.1 yards per carry. In fact, Brooks’ return has helped Smith by keeping the defense on their toes and keeping him fresher late in the game.
That being said, Smith is still the workhorse back for Minnesota. He has received at least 17 carries in every game this season and has never averaged fewer than 4.4 yards per carry. Plus, he’s the better pass-catching back between he and Brooks. He isn’t used a ton in the passing game, however he has seven receptions on the season and caught four passes for 39 yards a week ago.
Teams have found success running the ball against Iowa this season, especially in the fourth quarter. Teams who can keep their backs fresh late in the game have even more success in the fourth quarter, as we saw against North Dakota State.
Rodney Smith is off to a fast start in 2016, and Minnesota will want to run early and often to establish a ground game. Shannon Brooks is averaging 6.9 yards per carry in two games and could break a long run against Iowa. However, if the Gophers get Smith going, the Hawkeyes will have a hard time stopping the Gopher’s offense.
Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
WR Drew Wolitarsky
2016 Stats: 24 Receptions, 321 Yards, 3 Touchdowns
Despite averaging a mere 30 pass attempts per game, and the desire to run the ball with Rodney Smith, Minnesota has to eventually throw the ball. Mitch Leidner, while not a superstar, has put together a solid 2016 campaign thus far.
He’s completed 62.9 percent of passes and has thrown five touchdowns to just two interceptions. Leidner has found the most success throwing to senior wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky.
Wolitarsky leads the Gophers in all three major receiving categories. In fact, he has recorded at least 10 more receptions and 100 more yards than anyone else on Minnesota, and is the only receiver with more than one receiving touchdown. Not to mention that he accounts for 32.9 percent of Leidner’s completions, 38.2 percent of Leidner’s passing yards and 60 percent of his touchdown passes.
hawkeyes
Dear Old Gold 1 dIowa Basketball: Why Hawkeyes Will Make NCAA Tournament
More headlines around FanSided:
1 d - Big Ten West Power Ranking: Iowa Hawkeyes Falling Quickly4d - Iowa Football: 3 Takeaways from loss to Northwestern4d - Northwestern vs Iowa Live Stream: Watch Wildcats vs Hawkeyes Online5d - Preview: Iowa Hawkeyes Look to Make Splash on Homecoming Weekend5d - Iowa Football: Keys to Defeating the Northwestern WildcatsMore News at Dear Old Gold
Despite the presence of Desmond King, Iowa’s secondary has been shaky this season. Top receiving options have been able to torch the Hawkeyes defense for big games with ease. Not to mention avoiding King and picking on Greg Mabin hasn’t been challenging.
Most notably, last week against Northwestern, Austin Carr, the Big Ten’s top receiver in 2016, burned Iowa for six receptions, 73 yards and three touchdowns. They did hold Carr to under 75 yards, a feat that they haven’t been able to do consistently against top receivers this year. Although, Carr’s three touchdown receptions once again shows the problems the secondary has trying to limit big plays, especially when considering the shaky, inconsistent passing Clayton Thorson has displayed in 2016.
While Leidner isn’t a gun-slinger, he’s shown the ability to be accurate. Plus, a strong run game could force the Hawkeyes to play the run and leave less coverage down field. Iowa can’t forget about Wolitarsky, though, because he has big play ability.
Wolitarsky has a 20-yard touchdown reception in 2016 and averaged at least 13 yards per reception in each of Minnesota’s first three games. Although, he flashed his short route running against Penn State with seven receptions for 99 yards.
Teams with dominating top options in the passing game have had no problem finding ways to use them against Iowa in 2016. As important as stopping the run will be for Iowa, they can’t allow Wolitarsky to have a big game. Receivers like Drew Wolitarsky can’t be stopped, however containing him and limiting big plays will be enough to somewhat hinder Minnesota’s offense.
Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
WR Riley McCarron
2016 Stats: 14 Receptions, 153 Yards, 2 Touchdowns
The loss of senior wide receiver Matt VandeBerg is still looming over the Hawkeyes offense. Northwestern was able to hone in on Iowa’s run game and effectively shut it down. Iowa averaged a mere 1.9 yards per carry, and Minnesota’s stifling defense that has allowed 3.4 yards per carry will try to do the same.
Therefore, the Hawkeyes will turn to the air again, looking for someone to step up. Many people expected George Kittle to emerge as the Hawkeyes top option in the passing game against Northwestern, however, Riley McCarron put together the best game of his career.
Through Iowa’s first four games, McCarron compiled a mediocre six receptions, 75 yards and one touchdown. He topped all those marks a week ago as he went off for eight catches, 78 yards and a score.
Neither Jerminic Smith nor Jay Scheel are slot receivers, therefore it left the door open for McCarron to finally break out of his shell and make an impact on the Hawkeyes offense.
It’s easy to look at McCarron’s drops early in the season, and the fact that his lone touchdown reception resulted from his defender slipping early in the play. Although, when Iowa needed someone to step up in the passing game, he answered the call.
Minnesota is only allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 54 percent of passes against them. While they’ve allowed 26 points per game, they’re not an easy team to move the ball against, especially when considering the Hawkeyes offensive struggles as of late.
George Kittle and Jerminic Smith might return to form this week with a couple of big plays and touchdown grabs. That being said, the importance of the slot receiver was exemplified by VandeBerg, although it’s still a big part of Iowa’s game plan. McCarron came into the season listed as the team’s second option, and this is his chance to emerge as a leader on the Hawkeyes offense.
At this point, the Hawkeyes need any sort of consistency to give their offense a boost. Iowa doesn’t need McCarron to be Matt VandeBerg, however C.J. Beathard needs a consistent target. The Hawkeyes run game has proven to be stoppable, putting more pressure on the passing game to perform.
More from Dear Old Gold
This article originally appeared on 
