Let's not beat around the bush and get right to it.
Offense
1] Have success passing the football on first down---Both Rs. So. FS Brandon Snyder and Jr. SS Miles Taylor are key elements in Iowa's defense stopping the run, particularly on first down. If Penn State can have success throwing the football both vertically and in the intermediate zone of the football field between the hash marks in the center of the field, that will open up the running lanes for Saquon Barkley and Penn State's running game.
Iowa likes to walk up both Snyder and Taylor on first down to close down running lanes between the tackles. The Hawkeyes' basically prefer to play various zone pass coverage schemes in the secondary and by passing the ball effectively on first down, Penn State will force Iowa's three leading tacklers LBs Josey Jewell [72 tackles], Bo Bower [61 tackles] and Ben Niemann [ 50 tackles] to drop back in zone pass coverage and keep Snyder [50 tackles] and Taylor [40 tackles] back in a 2-deep zone coverage scheme against the pass with its "read option" RPO offense.
2] Penn State's two OGs Ryan Bates and Connor McGovern need to get to the second level with their blocks for Penn State's running game to be effective.---This is easy to understand. Iowa's three leading tacklers are its three LBs, Jr. MLB Josey Jewell [72 tackles] Jr. WLB Bo Bower [61 tackles] and Jr. SLB Ben Niemann [50 tackles]. It is one of the better LB units in the Big Ten with Jewell receiving preseason all-Big Ten recognition.
Bates and McGovern can't let Iowa's two DTs Sr. Jaleen Johnson and Jr. Nathan Bazata dominate at the point of attack at the line of scrimmage and prevent Bates and McGovern from getting to the second level with their blocks.
3] Penn State can not be one-dimensional with its attack on offense--- Iowa's defense has not been up to expected preseason standards both against the run and the pass this season. With eight starters returning on defense Iowa's run defense ranks 7th in the Big Ten allowing 153.8 YPG and 3.9 YPC., compared to last season when Iowa ranked 15th in the country allowing just 121.4 YPG.
The Hawkeyes' pass defense has struggled. It ranks 12th in the Big Ten allowing 223.6 YPG and 13.5 YPC. Teams have had success throwing the ball vertically down the field against Iowa. Last year Hawkeye CB Desmond King won the Jim Thorpe Award with a Big Ten leading eight interceptions. So far through eight games this year King has one interception and Iowa has totaled just five interceptions.
Defense
1] Penn State's defense has to control Iowa's running game on first down--- Can't allow Iowa with its running backs Jr. Akrum Wadley and Sr. LeShun Daniels to place the Hawkeyes' offense in reasonable second down and third down situations where they can either run or pass the football. For Iowa's offense to be successful it must have a ball control offensive attack.
2] Penn State must have an effective pass rush with just its front four on defense--- All season long Iowa's offensive line has had trouble protecting its QB Sr. C.J. Beathard. Iowa stands 11th in the Big Ten allowing an average of 2.5 sacks per game in its first eight games. It's passing game is basically in the short and medium range on the field. With an effective pass rush from its front four on defense, Penn State will be able to drop seven players in coverage and shut off Iowa's short and medium passing lanes.
With its top receiver Sr. Matt VandeBerb lost for the season with a broken ankle and Sr. TE George Kittle , whose 16.5 YPC average leads the team questionable with a sprained ankle, the Hawkeyes' leading receiver is former walk-on Sr. WR Riley McCarron with 30 catches for 336 yards [11.3 YPC].
3] Force Iowa to throw the football when they have to throw the football---Not when they want to throw the football. Penn State's defense can accomplish that by making Iowa a one-dimensional football team on second and third down by placing the Hawkeyes' offense in second and third and long situations.
But one word of caution for Penn State's defense. With VandeBerg not playing and Kittle questionable with a sprained ankle, Penn State must be aware of the fact Coach Ferentz might utilize Wadley in the slot and try to use him as an effective part of their passing game. Wadley is a solid receiver coming out of the backfield with 18 catches for 188 yards [10.4 YPC].
If Penn State's offense and defense can accomplish all these goals on offense and defense, I believe the Nittany Lions will control the game and post their fifth consecutive win by a score like 31-17.
Offense
1] Have success passing the football on first down---Both Rs. So. FS Brandon Snyder and Jr. SS Miles Taylor are key elements in Iowa's defense stopping the run, particularly on first down. If Penn State can have success throwing the football both vertically and in the intermediate zone of the football field between the hash marks in the center of the field, that will open up the running lanes for Saquon Barkley and Penn State's running game.
Iowa likes to walk up both Snyder and Taylor on first down to close down running lanes between the tackles. The Hawkeyes' basically prefer to play various zone pass coverage schemes in the secondary and by passing the ball effectively on first down, Penn State will force Iowa's three leading tacklers LBs Josey Jewell [72 tackles], Bo Bower [61 tackles] and Ben Niemann [ 50 tackles] to drop back in zone pass coverage and keep Snyder [50 tackles] and Taylor [40 tackles] back in a 2-deep zone coverage scheme against the pass with its "read option" RPO offense.
2] Penn State's two OGs Ryan Bates and Connor McGovern need to get to the second level with their blocks for Penn State's running game to be effective.---This is easy to understand. Iowa's three leading tacklers are its three LBs, Jr. MLB Josey Jewell [72 tackles] Jr. WLB Bo Bower [61 tackles] and Jr. SLB Ben Niemann [50 tackles]. It is one of the better LB units in the Big Ten with Jewell receiving preseason all-Big Ten recognition.
Bates and McGovern can't let Iowa's two DTs Sr. Jaleen Johnson and Jr. Nathan Bazata dominate at the point of attack at the line of scrimmage and prevent Bates and McGovern from getting to the second level with their blocks.
3] Penn State can not be one-dimensional with its attack on offense--- Iowa's defense has not been up to expected preseason standards both against the run and the pass this season. With eight starters returning on defense Iowa's run defense ranks 7th in the Big Ten allowing 153.8 YPG and 3.9 YPC., compared to last season when Iowa ranked 15th in the country allowing just 121.4 YPG.
The Hawkeyes' pass defense has struggled. It ranks 12th in the Big Ten allowing 223.6 YPG and 13.5 YPC. Teams have had success throwing the ball vertically down the field against Iowa. Last year Hawkeye CB Desmond King won the Jim Thorpe Award with a Big Ten leading eight interceptions. So far through eight games this year King has one interception and Iowa has totaled just five interceptions.
Defense
1] Penn State's defense has to control Iowa's running game on first down--- Can't allow Iowa with its running backs Jr. Akrum Wadley and Sr. LeShun Daniels to place the Hawkeyes' offense in reasonable second down and third down situations where they can either run or pass the football. For Iowa's offense to be successful it must have a ball control offensive attack.
2] Penn State must have an effective pass rush with just its front four on defense--- All season long Iowa's offensive line has had trouble protecting its QB Sr. C.J. Beathard. Iowa stands 11th in the Big Ten allowing an average of 2.5 sacks per game in its first eight games. It's passing game is basically in the short and medium range on the field. With an effective pass rush from its front four on defense, Penn State will be able to drop seven players in coverage and shut off Iowa's short and medium passing lanes.
With its top receiver Sr. Matt VandeBerb lost for the season with a broken ankle and Sr. TE George Kittle , whose 16.5 YPC average leads the team questionable with a sprained ankle, the Hawkeyes' leading receiver is former walk-on Sr. WR Riley McCarron with 30 catches for 336 yards [11.3 YPC].
3] Force Iowa to throw the football when they have to throw the football---Not when they want to throw the football. Penn State's defense can accomplish that by making Iowa a one-dimensional football team on second and third down by placing the Hawkeyes' offense in second and third and long situations.
But one word of caution for Penn State's defense. With VandeBerg not playing and Kittle questionable with a sprained ankle, Penn State must be aware of the fact Coach Ferentz might utilize Wadley in the slot and try to use him as an effective part of their passing game. Wadley is a solid receiver coming out of the backfield with 18 catches for 188 yards [10.4 YPC].
If Penn State's offense and defense can accomplish all these goals on offense and defense, I believe the Nittany Lions will control the game and post their fifth consecutive win by a score like 31-17.
