We finally found a DVR to use, so we re-watched the Iowa-Northwestern game.

By Jordan Hansen
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So we’re doing something different today. I had a chance to DVR Iowa’s 40-10 win over Northwestern, and now it’s time to re-watch it.

I’ll really be watching the running game and how Iowa shut down Northwestern’s offense. This was a pretty entertaining game to watch the first time around and I’m thinking the second time will, too.

The Hawkeyes put themselves in great position with a win and it’s hard to stress how important having that bye week will be.

• First play of the game was a short gain from Canzeri and I thought Iowa was in for a serious contest. Northwestern came into the game with one of the best rushing defenses in the Big Ten, but the Hawkeyes were able to get them.
• The first drive is kind of a mess. Missed pass on second down and then a dropped screen play on third. However, they got bailed out with an offside call and a late hit on Matt VandeBerg after a nice catch-and-run.
• Nice catch Tevaun. Next time don’t push off. I’m still pretty shocked he played.
• That Wildcat growl. Stop it. Right now.
• Man. Northwestern could not run the ball. At all.
• Interception by King. What a nice play. He turned around and the ball was just there.
• Three points off a turnover isn’t bad. I figured this would be a low-scoring defensive slugfest. Marshall Koehn didn’t have his best day, but getting those first three points was important.
• Desmond hasn’t done much on returns as of late.
• Canzeri has a nice little catch-and-run on Iowa’s third series. They’ll miss that, but Derrick Mitchell Jr. might provide a spark in the passing game coming out of the backfield. Wadley also got a couple carries on this ‘drive.’ Canzeri got stuffed on fourth-down.
• Oof. Canzeri injured on that fourth drive. He was mad about it, too. Things were dark on Iowa Twitter during this moment, if I remember correctly. Man. He twisted his ankle pretty bad on that play. Looked broke at first. However, Kirk Ferentz said x-rays were negative following the game.
• Also, Mitchell might only be 212, but he really looks like a Big Ten running back. Bulky, if nothing else.
• Wadley is such a slippery back. He’s such a different type of runner from the rest of the backs Iowa has in its stable.
• Second-and-eight. 35-yard TD run from Wadley. Beautiful block from Jacob Hillyer on the safety and Wadley only had one guy to beat. Corner missed a tackle, too.
• Desmond almost had a pick on the ensuing drive. Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson did not have a good day. He missed something like 11-straight passes in a row.
• Mitchell had a nice screen play early in the second quarter. I think he can do more of that. Iowa’s offensive line also was impressive.
• Two really nice catches by Tevaun Smith, the second one a flip throw forward, were wiped out by penalties.
• Iowa’s offensive linemen were serious brutes in this game. Iowa goes up 16-0 and this game has the early makings of a blowout.
• Northwestern had one good drive. The Wildcats converted a third-and-15. It still took them until third-down on the goal line to punch it in.
• Beathard was picked on the next possession. It was a bad throw all the way around and he didn’t even see the safety.
• Josey Jewell had a great game. He made a bunch of really great plays towards the end of the second half.
• Iowa had a chance to go up 19-10 at the half, but somehoe Koehn missed the 34-yarder to end the frame. It was a nice little drive to get Iowa into that kick, too.
• I love the play where Beathard wanted a timeout and had to run a QB draw play instead. It’s still crazy Iowa got four touchdowns out of Wadley.
• The second half was 100-percent Iowa. Jaleel Johnson had a fumble recovery on the next possession and the Hawkeyes took over from that point on. Once Wadley scored his fourth touchdown and Iowa went up 30-10, this game was pretty much over.
• Beathard made enough plays for Iowa to win, while the defense and the running came pounded the Wildcats into submission.
• Good for Iowa to get Tyler Wiegers into the game late. He’s played in three games this season and had at least one significant drive in each.

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