[Herky] Indiana Reflections

[Stephen Somermeyer]

It was a cloudy, chilly morning to tailgate but Chuck cooked up a great hot breakfast at Gwen's and Chuck's tailgate to go with Bloody Marys and beer.  Iowa was well represented in the stadium with probably 20-25% of the smallish crowd for their homecoming.  Worried a bit some of the Iowa injuries especially when the Hoosiers marched down the field with the opening kickoff but Iowa's offense responded well and took the lead which it held for the remainder of the game.  
The tight ends were dominant in the game and Indiana had not answer in slowing them.  Fant had an up and down game that saw him called for 2 offensive interference and one motion penalty but had a great long reception immediately after the first interference call.  The running game looked good and I would have loved to see Toren Young get a 100 yards - he got 96.   Nate Stanley was awesome except for his every game brain fart when he threw an interception directly to a Hoosier player.  He's a real student of the game and seems to go through his progressions well but it seems that once/game he has a hiccup and gives up an easy turnover.  
Speaking of Stanley he is really big and strong and doesn't get sacked easily.  One play Saturday a defensive lineman had his arms around Nate's waist and he just twisted out of the grasp, ran to his right and threw a rope to the end zone for a TD.   I got a glance of him standing next to Noah Fant on the sideline and he is noticeably taller than Fant who is listed as 6'7".  I think I read that the Hawkeyes have given up only 2 sacks in their first 3 Big Ten games which is best in the league and half of Ohio State which is 2nd in sacks allowed.
Defense played well holding down what has been a very productive Indiana offense.  Indiana's running game never got going. Iowa's 2 interceptions were timely and ended Hoosier drives deep in Iowa's red zone.  Special teams also played well, especially on kick returns.  Iowa and Indiana had very difference strategies returning kickoffs - Iowa seemed to run back every kick while Indiana called for fair catches on every kick except the last kickoff I think.
The pocket of Hawkeye fans which we were sitting in marveled at how aggressive the play calling was throughout the game.  Not the typical 'run out the clock with the lead' but keep throwing the ball down the field. 
When we got back to the parking lot to enjoy Kim's Boilermaker chili and a few brews while rehashing the game, we were a bit surprised that almost all of the Indiana tailgaters had already packed up and left.  
I actually was worried about this game in light of how well the Hoosiers had hung with the Buckeyes the week before but Iowa was clearly the dominant team Saturday.  
Go Hawks!!
Steve
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