Enjoy Michigan football. I’ve seen a lot of complaints about Michigan’s offense, which we will indeed discuss. But those complaints are probably coming from a lot of the same people who have said Jim Harbaugh can’t win big games against tough opponents. Iowa was 4-0 and ranked #14 coming to Ann Arbor. It wasn’t a pretty win, but it counts the same in the Big Ten standings as a win over Ohio State or Rutgers.
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RUSH OFFENSE vs. IOWA RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is kinda bad at running the ball. They rank #94 nationally (131 yards/game), and the 3.48 yards per carry is even worse at #106. Those numbers could be better if the option runs were actually options, but Shea Patterson won’t keep the ball and Dylan McCaffrey got knocked out cold the last time he did. It doesn’t appear to matter who lines up at running back right now, because the offensive line doesn’t want to move anyone off the ball. Iowa is #10 in rushing defense (77 yards allowed/game) and #36 in yards allowed per carry (3.42). No team has topped 91 rushing yards this season. Senior linebacker Kristian Welch (6’1″, 239 lbs.) leads the team with 31 tackles, and sophomore Djimon Colbert (6’1″, 235) is second with 23. Sophomore defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon (6’3″, 309) leads the squad with 2.5 tackles for loss. This looks like a bad matchup for the Wolverines.
Advantage: Iowa
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Edwardsville (IL) Edwardsville DE A.J. Epenesa (image via Twitter)
2017 Team Ranking: #41. Iowa signed one 5-star, one 4-star, eighteen 3-stars, and two 2-stars.
Cream of the 2017 Crop: The Hawkeyes landed their to player very early in the process with Edwardsville (IL) Edwardsville defensive end A.J. Epenesa in January of 2016. The 5-star, #2 strongside end, and #29 overall player went on to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Despite a bunch of powerhouse teams trying to pull Epenesa away, the Iowa legacy stayed committed. Mt. Vernon (IA) Mt. Vernon offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, another Army Bowl participant, is a 4-star, the #31 offensive tackle, and #327 overall. He did impress during Army week, but he’s Iowa’s only other player above a 3-star ranking.
2018 Team Ranking: #46. Two 3-stars are committed to the Hawkeyes.
Cream of the 2018 Crop: The cream hasn’t really risen to the top. Both of Iowa’s commits are ranked in the 900s. One is Crystal Lake (IL) Prairie Ridge offensive guard Jeffrey Jenkins, and the other is Thiensville (WI) Homestead linebacker Mike Bruner.
RUSH OFFENSE vs. IOWA RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is #15 in rushing (252 yards/game) and yards per carry (5.52). They’re #29 in Adjusted Line Yards with an offensive front that has been a bit of a revolving door on the left side. Freshman Ben Bredeson and fifth year senior Ben Braden are now the starters on the left, while the other three starters have played every game. Starting running back De’Veon Smith had his second 100-yard game of the season against Maryland last week with 19 carries for 114 yards and 3 touchdowns. All the tailbacks average more than 5.1 yards/carry, and the guy dragging down the rushing average is fullback Khalid Hill . . . who’s the short yardage option and has 9 touchdowns. Iowa is #118 in defensive ALY, #72 in rushing defense (177 yards allowed/game), and #65 in yards allowed per carry (4.29). Linebacker Josey Jewell (6’2″, 235 lbs.) leads the team by a large margin with 87 tackles, which is 19 more than fellow linebacker Bo Bower (6’1″, 235). Defensive end Parker Hesse (6’3″, 250) is a solid run defender with 5.5 tackles for loss. The Hawkeyes run a rather predictable 4-3 defense, but they’re usually disciplined and well coached.
Advantage: Michigan
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| Warren (OH) Harding center James Daniels |
Note: All rankings are 247 Composite rankings unless otherwise noted.
2015 Team Ranking: #59. Iowa signed one 4-star, nineteen 3-stars, and one 2-star.
Cream of the 2015 Crop: Warren (OH) Harding center James Daniels, who held a Michigan offer, was a 247 Composite 4-star, the #6 center, and #336 overall. He’s Iowa’s top recruit and a strong blocking prospect whose brother also plays for Iowa. Meanwhile, former Hawkeye and first round draft pick Riley Reiff (Detroit Lions) has a brother named Brady Reiff who signed with the Hawkeyes as a 6’3″, 215 lb. weakside end. A 3-star and the #49 player at his position, you might not expect much from him . . . but Riley was a 6’6″, 250 lb. strongside end with a Rivals 3-star ranking in the 2018 class. Iowa has a history of taking undersized, underrated guys and turning them into very solid players. (On a side note, Iowa also signed Farmington Hills Harrison linebacker Michael Ojemudia, the brother of Michigan defensive end Mario.)
2016 Team Ranking: #79. Iowa has two 3-stars committed.
Cream of the 2016 Crop: Menomonie (WI) Menomonie pro-style quarterback Nate Stanley is a 247 Composite 3-star, the #52 player at his position, and #962 overall.
