Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/207768
matchup preview: Purdue advantage? PURDUE PASSING GAME VS. iowa PASS DEFENSE After facing just about all the Big Ten's most daunting pass rushes to date, Iowa marks a bit of relief. But Purdue doesn't look like it can block anyone right now, as QB Danny Etling's eaten 19 sacks since halftime of the Northern Illinois game, five or more each of the past three games. Iowa's pass D is stingy but hasn't been tested by a great passing game yet. Saturday, it may not even face a functional one, if the past month or so is any indication. vs. Iowa player to watch advantage? Freshman quarterback Danny Eitling is making mistakes and taking a pounding. Considering the circumstances, real improvement might have to wait until spring. PURDUE running GAME VS. iowa rush DEFENSE Iowa is always going to be physical and Purdue just hasn't shown any potential to win — or even compete at — the line of scrimmage enough to put together drives. At some point, Purdue has to break a long one, right? Well, there's no reason at all to think that's coming. Purdue has just two rushes of 20 or more yards this season and three rushing touchdowns, and none of either of those things was accomplished by a running back. You'd think that with defenses putting so much pressure on Etling, Purdue could find speedy running back Akeem Hunt a seam every now and then. Nope. iowa PASSING GAME VS. purdue PASS DEFENSE Iowa is an average passing team, but Purdue looked so out of sorts against the passing game against Ohio State, it looks like a defense that'll struggle against just about anyone right now. The bigger fronts being used make Purdue more physical at the line of scrimmage, but compromise coverage somewhat, as Ohio State's tight ends exploited badly. It's been very difficult for opponents to get pressure on QB Jake Rudock, an area Purdue's struggled in general anyway. Hawkeye tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz is Iowa's second-leading receiver and has scored four touchdowns. Purdue lost the tight end over and over against the Buckeyes. iowa running GAME VS. purdue rush DEFENSE Make no mistake: Iowa is no Ohio State and quarterback Jake Rudock certainly no Braxton Miller, but he can move around and give the Hawkeyes another dimension to go along with Mark Weisman's physical running. Iowa will challenge Purdue at the line of scrimmage, a challenge the Boilermakers haven't won yet this season. The Boilermakers need their best defensive lineman to influence plays up front in addition to making them. Bruce Gaston was a non-factor against Ohio State, but it's unfair to single out any one guy. special teams Purdue punter Cody Webster's been the best in college football, arguably, aside from a bad kick here or there. When you kick as much as he has, though, there's bound to be an occasional shank. Iowa has returned two punts for touchdowns, so not only will Webster be asked to turn the field over, but play keep-away too. boilers 10 Junior Kevonte Martin-Manley is averaging a whopping 21 yards per punt return and scored touchdowns of 83 and 63 yards against Western Michigan. prediction hawkeyes Iowa is vulnerable. It's the second lowest-scoring team in the Big Ten and still largely the same team the Boilermakers beat on the road last season. But the Hawkeyes are respectable and the Boilermakers just don't look capable of beating anybody respectable right now. 27 GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 9 • 13