Whats up Hawk fans the Outback Bowl is next Wednesday so I thought I would write up a preview of the matchup between the Tigers and Hawkeyes.This should be a great match up,of course everyone is probably going to be picking LSU in this game. Iowa is 5-1 vs SEC Teams so they are one of the teams in the BIG Ten that has had success against teams from the SEC. I'm really excited for this game Iowa will be facing a real challenge LSU is a lot like a BIG Ten team, they play a very physical brand of football. This will be a very physical football game so lets jump in and look at the Iowa Offense against the LSU Defense.
The Iowa offense improved every week of the season so I expect we will see a very strong offense next Wednesday. Jake Rudock has been a very solid quarterback for the Hawks he had a tendency to turn the ball over so he will have to be very careful with the football vs a ball hawking Tiger defense. On the season Iowa averaged 200 yards passing per game with Jake Rudock throwing for 18 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. Iowa's offense is built around the rushing attack led by Weisman and Jordan Canzeri the running game was really elevated in the last few weeks. As a team Iowa is rushing for 188 yards per game while scoring 27.3 points per game. The one constant was the ability to run the football they will need that to be able to move the football against LSU. The Tigers defense is ranked 17th in the nation against the pass only allowing 200.8 yards per game. They also have a decent run defense ranking number 48 in the country giving up 148.6 yards rushing per game. As a team LSU is allowing 22.7 points per game so they have a pretty solid defense. This isn't going to be the best defense we have played this season but will probably be one of the most athletic defenses we've seen. LSU has 24 sacks on the season so they have a decent pass rushing. The good thing is Iowa has allowed the 11th fewest sacks this season with only 12. This will be a key, if Iowa can protect Jake Rudock they will have a great shot to win. Receiver play is another key for Iowa they improved over the course of the season but will need to be consistent for Iowa to win this game. I look for CJ Fiedorwicz to have a strong game this will be his last game at Iowa one last chance to show pro scouts what he is capable of. The guy that I think will step up to make plays will be Don Shumpert he has had an up and down career but came on strong towards the end of the season. Keyvonte Martin Manley is probably the most consistent receiver for the Hawks so he should be able to find openings in the LSU defense. A guy that hasn't been mentioned in a while that could play a bigger role Wednesday is Damond Powell he has the ability to make a big play I wouldn't be surprised if we some package plays designed to get him the football. Tevaun Smith is another guy who has been inconsistent so hopefully he can find that consistency on Wednesday.
Looking at the LSU offense they are going to be missing a huge piece that is their starting Quarterback Zach Mettenberger who is out with a Torn ACL. Anthony Jennings will start in his place on the season he is 6-10 for 99 yards one touchdown. Jennings is a very mobile quarterback so we will probably see a lot of QB runs in the game plan for LSU. Iowa has faced a number of mobile QB's this year so although I'm worried about his ability to run I don't think it will make a huge difference. The Tigers are rushing for 200 yards per game while being led by Jeremy Hill who has run the ball for 1185 yards 14 TD's. The Second Running Back for LSU will be Terrance McGee who has 614 yards 8 TD's. Iowa's run defense has been very good this season only allowing 120 yards rushing per game. Expect LSU to run the football a lot without Mettenberger. Iowa should be able to slow down the run forcing the Tigers to beat them through the air. One of the things that separates the Tigers from other teams Iowa has played is the Wide Receiver position they have two legitimate NFL Receivers. Jarvis Landry has 75 receptions for 1172 yards 10 touchdowns. Odell Beckham is a dangerous speedster has 57 catches for 1117 yards and 8 touchdowns. The Iowa pass defense although they have given up a lot of big plays this season has been very good only allowing 182.4 yards passing. Big plays have been a weakness. LSU has some guys that can exploit the defense like Ohio State did so getting pressure on Jennings will be a real key. The LSU offensive line has allowed 21 sacks this season while the Iowa defense has sacked the QB 20 times. LSU averages 37 points per game while allowing 22.7 points per game, Iowa on the season is scoring 27.3 points per game while allowing 18.8 points per game.
Special teams can completely change a football game LSU has some big time playmakers for the return game. The kickoff return game has been very good for LSU as they averaged almost 26 yards per kick return. The Iowa kickoff unit hasn't always been great so for this game this has to be a major focus the Tigers haven't had a TD yet on the return but still very dangerous. The Hawks have some playmakers in the return game too Kevonte Martin Manley is the 5th leading punt returner averaging 15 yards per return. LSU is the number one unit in the country only allowing .91 yard per return. This could be a key on Wednesday Iowa's punt return game against LSU's punt defense and their kick return game against the Iowa kickoff coverage. I see this being one of the key factors the team that controls special teams will win this football game. To go along with special teams turnovers will be a factor on the season Iowa has forced 20 turnovers 8 fumbles and 12 interceptions, while LSU has 7 fumbles and 9 interceptions. I give Iowa a slight edge here with an inexperienced Quarterback in Jennings playing I think he will make some mistakes with the football. Iowa's linebacking core is if not the best one of the best in the country so it will be fun to see them against a strong Tigers rushing attack.
I think the Hawks will make enough plays to win this one with an inexperienced QB for LSU I think Iowa will be able to design packages to pressure him. I think the real key will be if Iowa can run the football if so I think Rudock will be able to make plays in the play action passing game. I think for Iowa to win Rudock can't throw interceptions he had a tendency to throw an interception per game this season. Tackling is extremely important this week LSU has receivers that can take a short pass and turn it into a long touchdown if they aren't wrapped up. Alright it's prediction time I see Iowa finding a way to win this game 27 to 20. I think this will be a very close game but I think the Iowa defense will force Jennings into a couple of turnovers helping the Hawks become Outback Bowl Champions. I'll have a review of the game next week so check back thanks for reading.
Go Hawks.
No comments:
Post a Comment