When it was all said and done, Iowa left Piscataway, N.J., with a resounding 27-10 Big Ten-opening victory over Rutgers. The Hawkeyes improved to 3-1 (1-0 Big Ten) and handed the Scarlet Knights a loss in front of a sellout crowd at SHI Stadium.
With the win, Iowa has now won eight of its pasts 11 Big Ten openers.
“This is certainly the best way to start Big Ten play. Really happy for our coaches and players. Thought they did a great job. You know, hostile environment coming in here. We knew it would be. Guys did a good job concentrating though that, kept their composure and bottom line is I think we really had a good team plan out there, so that’s always a good thing.
“And I think we saw improvement all three phases. At least, that was my vantage point. Talk about the defense. I was told the color analyst said something about, you know, the Iowa defense being a sight to behold. I would not argue that point tonight. A lot of really good efforts out there. Certainly some great play-making by our guys and also the total’s the fewest amount of points now since 1956, which is 66 years. That’s pretty impressive. Cleary, the guys are really playing at a high level right now, doing a good job and, you know, the two defensive touchdowns. It did feel a little bit like the Indiana game and I guess that’s the last time that we did that, too,” Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said.
The defense certainly deserves its flowers, which they’ll receive below. Pull up a chair. Class is back in session. Let’s take a look at the report card following the road win at Rutgers.
The running game
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Grade: B-
Dare we say there’s some signs of life? Iowa combined to rush for 129 yards and one rushing touchdown courtesy of Leshon Williams on 38 carries. Or, put another way, 3.4 yards per carry. Still, at times it felt like the best the Hawkeyes’ offensive line has played and some of the…
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