p u r d u e - i o w a
p r e v i e w
said. "They're pretty disciplined. They've
got a great front seven. We're just going
to have to find completions anywhere
we can. We don't have to go for the big
one. We just have to find ways to move
the ball and just try to get in the red zone
and just try to finish drives on these guys.
"We've just got to focus on ourselves
and say, 'What do we have to do to keep
getting better?' Because we've got the
right game plan, we've got the right
coaches, we just have to look at us as
players and say, 'Let's get this thing in the
end zone.' "
Easier said than done, particular with
the state Purdue's offense has been in
lately, ranking among college football's
least productive units and struggling unlike few others in school history.
The good news, then, is that Iowa's
not exactly putting up video game numbers either.
Granted the gulf between 11th place
and 12th is gigantic, but Iowa's offense,
statistically, ranks second in the Big Ten
only to Purdue in terms of futility, averaging 25.3 points.
It's ninth in total offense, generating
386 yards, but coming off a game against
Wisconsin in which it managed just three
field goals and left with its quarterback,
Jake Rudock, and top running back,
Mark Weisman, banged up, though both
should be ready to play at Purdue.
"The offensive issues are much more
pronounced in the second half of Big Ten
games, where Iowa has been outscored
78-16," Kakert said. "The Hawkeyes' only
touchdown in the second half was a long
pass to tight end Jake Duzey at Ohio
State. Other than that, Iowa's offense has
really struggled moving the ball and particularly in the red zone."
So it should be interesting Saturday
at Purdue to see which middling offense
can take a bigger step forward.
Neither have much room to go anywhere but up. j
What You Need To Know About
Saturday's Opponent
BY GOLD AND BLACK STAFF
back Jake Rudock is expected to play
after leaving this past weekend's WisWORTH NOTING
consin game with a knee injury.
R Iowa is banged up, but quarterLeading rusher Mark Weisman is
The last time...
opponent newsstand
• Iowa City Press-Citizen: Quarterback looking to bounce back from
Wisconsin loss
• Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa looking for momentum
• Cedar Rapids Gazette: Hawkeyes searching for hot hand at running back
• Cedar Rapids Gazette: Offensive line wants to leave footprint
• HawkeyeSports.com: Kirk Ferentz press conference
• HawkeyeSports.com: Purdue game notes
Text is linked live to corresponding story
Tom Campbell
Robert Marve, torn ACL and all, made this key 17-yard run to set up the Boilermakers' game-winning field goal in
last year's 27-24 win in Iowa City. It was Purdue's first win on the Hawkeyes' home field in 20 years and helped the
Boilermakers remain bowl eligible.
GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 9 • 10
