Iowa vs. ULM (What to expect)
Posted on 23. Sep, 2011 by admin in Iowa Football
By Brendan Stiles
HawkeyeDrive.com
To get you all ready for Saturday’s game between Iowa and ULM, I put together a list of things you ought to know before heading to Kinnick Stadium.
At the end, I’ll provide what I think are three keys to an Iowa victory.
Iowa Hawkeyes (2-1) vs. ULM Warhawks (1-2)
Kinnick Stadium; Iowa City, Iowa
Sept. 24, 2011
11 a.m. Central
TV: BTN (Kevin Kugler, Danan Hughes, Stacy Paetz)
Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network (Gary Dolphin, Ed Podolak, Rob Brooks)
Weather: 58 degrees
Brendan’s Three Keys to the Game:
1. Carry momentum from last game over
Iowa ought to feel fortunate after last weekend. Not only because the Hawkeyes overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat Pittsburgh, but because all three phases kicked it up a notch during the rally. Factor in that ULM has already faced both Florida State and TCU on the road this season, and it’s essential for Iowa to carry over that late-game momentum from last week and start out firing on Saturday. The longer ULM hangs around, the less confidence there might be among the Hawkeyes heading into next week’s bye, even with a victory.
2. Offensive balance
The run-pass ratio from last week is skewed by the fact Iowa trailed by three touchdowns in the third quarter, but the end result proved to be 33 runs to 48 pass attempts. That ratio has to be closer to 50-50 this week. Yes, the Hawkeyes showed they could execute a no-huddle offense against Pittsburgh, but this week’s contest is one where the running game needs to be established, otherwise ULM will start sending one or two of those defensive backs to supply pressure to the O-line, and in particular, James Vandenberg.
3. Get out of this game healthy
With a bye next week, coming out of Saturday’s game without any significant injuries is paramount. The more healthy bodies Iowa has entering Big Ten play two weeks from now, the more confident it ought to feel going into that league opener at Penn State. Next week will also provide additional recovery for those who do have minor injuries. Should Iowa dominate from the start, the coaches need to play it safe and know when to take starters out. It might not get to that point, but preparation in this department is just as important.
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