Iowa Football: Keys to Defeating Minnesota Golden Gophers

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

A look at how Iowa can improve to 4-2 with a win over Minnesota

Iowa football is on a slippery slope that needs to end quickly. After starting the season with two dominating wins, they’ve gone 1-2 over the past three weeks, struggling in all three games. This week the Iowa Hawkeyes take on the 3-1 Minnesota Golden Gophers, one of the better teams in the Big Ten this season.

Despite the struggles, Iowa isn’t a terrible football team. There is no doubt that they haven’t performed well as of late, however there is still time for them to turn their season around. This is the halfway point of the season and Iowa can’t afford to enter the second half of the year 3-3.

The last time Minnesota and Iowa met in Minneapolis, the Gophers dominated the game and came away with a 51-14 win. To make matters worse, Iowa isn’t battle-tested on the road this year with their lone road game coming in a brutal 14-7 win over Rutgers. It’s safe to say that if Iowa plays like they did against Rutgers, they won’t be as fortunate against Minnesota.

Iowa will look to avoid an even more disastrous first half to the season. The last thing the Hawkeyes want is to get blown out in Minneapolis, again. Here is how Iowa can avoid a blowout and get their season back on track with a win over Minnesota.

Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Quick Start to the Game and Second Half

It’s no secret that Iowa gets off to slow starts. Other than week one against Miami (OH), Iowa hasn’t found the end zone on their first offensive possession in any other game. Not to mention that North Dakota State and Rutgers moved the ball well on their first drive of the game before penalties halted them, and Northwestern scored after a nice punt return to start their afternoon on offense a week ago.

Together, teams have outscored Iowa 17-7 in the first quarter during their last three games. The good news is that Minnesota also gets out to slow starts. The Gophers have only outscored their opponents 24-21 in the first quarter this year, however the Hawkeyes best chance to strike against Minnesota comes in the third quarter.

Minnesota has struggled mightily coming out of halftime. FCS-Indiana State outscored the Gophers 14-10 in the third quarter, and Minnesota is coming off a week where Penn State got back in the game due to a 17-0 quarter to start the second half. On the flip side, Iowa been outscored 21-10 in third quarters over their past three games.

That being said, questionable penalties wiped out potential 75-yard touchdown runs to start the half in back-to-back weeks by LeShun Daniels Jr, against North Dakota State and Rutgers. In games where Iowa’s offense had trouble finding a rhythm, those penalties proved to be costly and could have altered the Hawkeyes season. Although, it does show that Iowa has a good script coming out of half and has potential to get off to a fast start in the second half.

Despite Minnesota’s struggles coming out of halftime, Iowa has to weather the storm early in the game or else a strong second half won’t matter. This game is a must-win for both teams, therefore Minnesota’s crowd will be rocking early. The Hawkeyes allowed Rutgers’ crowd to get to them during their first road game, which nearly cost them in the end.

For a team lacking confidence, a long drive or score early in the game is exactly what they need. If Iowa gets off to another slow start, they’ll set the Gophers up for an easy win.

Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Control the Run

This is a common theme for the Hawkeyes defense, yet they’ve been unable to successful control a team’s ground game all season. They won’t enter this game overflowing with confidence after arguably the worst offensive line in the Big Ten outplayed them. This week, they’ll have an even tougher test with the two-headed monster in the backfield, Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks, and Minnesota’s athletic quarterback Mitch Leidner running a read option offense.

The Gophers have plenty of options on the ground, and they use all three. Leidner has rushed for at least 50 yards in two of Minnesota’s four games, and both Smith and Brooks gained at least 85 yards in each of the two weeks since Brooks returned from injury.

hawkeyes

Dear Old Gold 1 dIowa Football: Minnesota is a Make or Break Game

More headlines around FanSided:

2d - Iowa Basketball: Why Hawkeyes Will Make NCAA Tournament 2d - Big Ten West Power Ranking: Iowa Hawkeyes Falling Quickly 5d - Iowa Football: 3 Takeaways from loss to Northwestern 5d - Northwestern vs Iowa Live Stream: Watch Wildcats vs Hawkeyes Online 6d - Preview: Iowa Hawkeyes Look to Make Splash on Homecoming WeekendMore News at Dear Old Gold

All three should be licking their lips this week at the sight of an Iowa defense that is allowing 4.2 yards per carry. Not to mention, each of Iowa’s past three opponents have rushed for at least 190 yards. The Hawkeyes’ defense has failed to get a significant push or penetration on opposing offensive lines, and teams have torched them on the ground as a result.

Minnesota wants to keep the ball on the ground and pass every once in a while to keep the defense honest. Unlike Rutgers, who abandoned the run in the second quarter, Minnesota will continue to pound the ball and keep the defense on their toes with a read option. Iowa had a tough time containing North Dakota State’s dual-threat backfield and athletic quarterback, and the same problems could arise this week.

Josey Jewell can only do so much for the run game. At a certain point, Iowa’s defensive line needs to assert themselves. A year removed from allowing a mere 3.6 yards per carry on the ground, Iowa has failed to hold a team to fewer yards per carry in a single game this season.

The Gophers want to run the ball, and they’ve done it successfully this season. They’re coming off a week in which both Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks topped 100 yards on the ground. Penn State escaped with an overtime victory, however, the way Iowa’s offense has played this season, they can’t afford for both Minnesota’s backs to run wild.

Smith, Brooks and Leidner have combined to average 5.1 yards per carry on the ground this season. If they run the ball up the heart up Iowa’s defense with success and reach that mark this week, the Hawkeyes will be in for a long afternoon.

Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Protect C.J. Beathard

C.J. Beathard hasn’t been great this year, however Iowa’s offensive line hasn’t given him a ton of protection, either. Opposing teams have sacked Beathard 14 times this year but force him to hurry throws on many more times.

The bigger problem prior to last week’s game against Northwestern was the small amount of time Beathard had to throw. It led to him being banged up against North Dakota State, eventually resulting in him leaving for a couple of plays. However, last week, Northwestern sacked Beathard six times and four came from Ifeadi Odenigbo. It’s never a good sign when one player dominates an offensive line single-handedly.

After not being 100 percent for most of 2015, it’s likely that the numerous times Beathard has been hit or sacked this year has caused him to be at least a little banged up in 2016, as well. The loss of top receiver Matt VandeBerg makes Beathard’s presence in the passing game even more important, and the Hawkeyes have not protected him like they know that.

Sure, there are times when he could have stepped up, thrown the ball away or scrambled out of the pocket to avoid being hit. Although, it seems like every play Beathard is in constant pressure. Whether it’s poor blocking, calling plays that take too long to develop, or both, Iowa can’t allow Minnesota to get to the quarterback this week.

Minnesota has 10 sacks on the season and will blitz a lot knowing Iowa wants to run the ball and has had a tough time protecting Beathard. While Nate Stanley looked solid in his couple of throws against North Dakota State, the Hawkeyes don’t want to turn to a freshman quarterback with their top receiver out, and right now that’s where they’re headed.

As much as it’s on the offensive line to block for Beathard, he also needs to know when to throw it away. Beathard has shown questionable pocket presence this year, which is a real concern for a senior quarterback.

He can’t hold onto the ball for too long while waiting for a receiver to be open. While multiple hits have hindered his ability to scramble, Beathard knows he doesn’t have a lot of time to throw the ball, therefore quick three-step drops should be his go-to play calling.

Through the multiple sacks and big hits Beathard has suffered during his career, he’s proven to be very durable. That being said, durability doesn’t last forever and the Hawkeyes are putting a lot of strain on how durable Beathard can be. Another four sack performance by one player likely won’t happen this week, however if Minnesota is able to get to the quarterback and shut down the passing game, Iowa will be in big trouble.