This being a rivalry week, P.J. Fleck didn't want it to come off as an insult.
"They do what they do,'' the Gophers coach said Tuesday of the Iowa Hawkeyes, adding "respectful'' and "compliment'' as qualifiers. "And they do what they do very well — probably better than any other team I've ever watched in terms of, they are who they are.''
Who these Hawkeyes are is who they've usually been for the better part of four decades — a solid, no-frills team that wins on the strength of defense. This year, Iowa is particularly stout against the run, allowing 84 rushing yards per game, a figure that is tied for fourth-best nationally.
One of the Gophers' missions Saturday afternoon at TCF Bank Stadium in the battle for the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy is to get their running game going. Minnesota (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) averaged 181.7 rushing yards per game during a 3-0 nonconference start but was held to 94 yards on 40 carries in the 42-13 loss to Maryland in the Big Ten opener.
"Iowa is going to do what they do. And we've got to do what we do better,'' Gophers senior center Jared Weyler said, echoing his coach. "We run the ball a lot, and we've got to establish a physical presence.''
That will be easier said than done against Iowa's defense, especially its front four. The quartet of ends Anthony Nelson (6-7, 271 pounds) and Parker Hesse (6-3, 261) and tackles Sam Brincks (6-5, 275) and Matt Nelson (6-8, 295) are a formidable wall. Throw in end A.J. Epenesa, a 6-5, 277-pounder who rotates in and is tied for the Big Ten sacks lead with four, and the Hawkeyes (3-1, 0-1) are stocked.
"They've got big, long, tall, rangy defensive linemen, active linebackers,'' Fleck said, "and they tackle better than probably any team I've watched.''
Added Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, "For us to have depth at any position is really rare. Nice to have that, at least with the defensive line.''
