A bounce-back game for every Wildcat unit is needed to compete with Iowa’s squad.
After a tough 23-3 loss against Wisconsin, Northwestern is back in action this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CST. They will face off against the Iowa Hawkeyes who are coming off of a 32-20 loss against Michigan State. Currently one game behind Iowa, Northwestern looks to overtake the Hawkeyes in the Big Ten standings and get back to .500 for the season. Here are three things to watch for during the game:
Running it up
Prior to the Wisconsin game, a big question for Northwestern was the rushing game. Up until that point, it had failed to reincorporate Cam Porter back into the offensive scheme following his injury. The Wildcats had that mission on their minds last Saturday as Porter racked up 14 carries during the game. However, these attempts only resulted in 48 yards against the 62nd ranked Wisconsin run defense, which allows only 139.9 rushing yards per game. Regardless of last game’s stats, Northwestern will want to continue to rely on Cam Porter and the run game. Iowa has the country’s 29th ranked run defense, allowing only 112 rushing yards per game, so it will be a battle for Cam and crew.
Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson is in a similar situation. Last week against Michigan State, Johnson had 14 carries that he converted into 98 yards and one touchdown in the loss to the Spartans. Don’t expect him to have that good of a game come Saturday. While Michigan State has the 53rd ranked run defense allowing 131.1 rushing yards per game, NU is ranked 17th in run defense, allowing a measly 103.4 rushing yards per game. Northwestern’s defensive line looked unstoppable against Maryland but faltered against Wisconsin, allowing Tawee Walker to scaper for 126 yards. A bounce-back game for the Wildcats’ defensive line is required if they want to combat Johnson’s game. Ultimately, Saturday’s game will be partly decided upon by whose run-defense/running backs are superior.
A deadly combo vs. a stacked unit
The run game won’t be the only deciding factor of Saturday’s game. Another key factor will be the role that A.J. Henning and Bryce Kirtz play in getting open — assuming Henning is good to go that is. Last week, the receivers had arguably their worst performance of the year with Kirtz catching only two balls for 23 yards and Henning rushing once for two yards. Henning entered the medical tent in the middle of the Wisconsin game and did not return.
Iowa’s secondary is led by safety Sebastian Castro who has 28 tackles and one interception this season. Possibly the best NFL defensive prospect on the team, Castro is aided by free safety Quinn Schulte who has 33 tackles and one interception. Corner back Jermari Harris has 17 tackles, three interceptions, five pass deflections and one touchdown this season, while corner Deshaun Lee has 19 tackles and one pass deflection. Although Lee is not listed on any injury report, he did not play against Michigan State. He is someone to look for come Saturday. It will be Bryce Kirtz and Henning’s task to get open and navigate this formidable defense if the Wildcats want any shot at establishing a passing game. Kirtz and Henning are also searching for that bounce-back week. That said, it is still unclear if Henning will play on Saturday. He is currently listed as questionable with an undisclosed injury.
QB Redemption Time
Speaking of bouncing back, nobody is searching for a bounce-back game quite like Jack Lausch. Even if Kirtz and Henning can get open, it’s Lausch’s job to get them the ball. Last week, Lausch threw for 82 yards and completed only nine of his 24 passing attempts. When Lausch had his best game of the season against Maryland, he was playing the 119th ranked pass defense in college football. Last week, he faced off against Wisconsin, the seventh best pass defense in college football. This week, Lausch will face Iowa’s mediocre 83rd ranked pass defense, allowing 224.9 passing yards per game. Look for Lausch to throw a better ball this week while also carrying over his running display from last week. His performance will be instrumental in the outcome of this game.