Michigan State Spartans Football: Scouting the Iowa Hawkeyes

To this point in the 2010 season, the Week 9 matchup for the Spartans in Iowa City, Iowa will be their toughest yet. 

The Hawkeyes are very well aware that this game could save their season, or squander away their chances for at least a share of the Big Ten title.

Expect them to come into this game more prepared than any other game this season.

Michigan State, on the other hand, has been gaining control of their own destiny more and more each week.

With a win over Wisconsin, not having to play Ohio State, and a current undefeated record, Sparty has seemingly less pressure heading into this week than Iowa. But that's no excuse not to be prepared, regardless of who your opponent is. 

Offensively Iowa is ranked 38th in passing yards per game (253), and 31st in points per game (33). Now don't be deceived by these numbers. Being ranked in the top 40 puts that team in the top one-third echelon throughout all of college football for that specific stat. 

Their QB, Rick Stanzi, is arguably the most efficient passer in all of college football. Through seven games, he has compiled 1,732 passing yards, with 16 TDs and a only two picks. Also, his two interceptions tie him with Boise State's Kellen Moore for least number of picks thrown.

Stanzi's receiving corps. is led by Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, who has 30 catches for 497 yards and eight TDs.

Four of his other receivers have more than 10 catches, and they all average at least 11 yards per catch. 

Michigan State's defense should focus on mainly trying to isolate the Iowa passing attack.

If they can force early confusion, and have consistent lock-down coverage in the first quarter, the Hawkeyes will have to revert to the ground attack (not their primary game plan).

In order to stop Iowa on the ground, Coach Dantonio's defense must focus on sophomore Adam Robinson.

As Iowa's leading rusher with 737 yards on 152 carries and nine TDs, he also averages 4.8 yards every time he is fed the rock. The next best rusher, Jewel Hampton, has only 114 yards on 27 carries. 

If the Spartan defense can force the Hawkeyes to put the pigskin on the ground, then they will have gone above and beyond the call of duty. 

Changing gears and now looking at the Iowa defense, Kirk Cousins and the Spartan offense have their hands full. 

The Hawkeyes defense only gives up an average of 15 points per game, good enough to be ranked 11th. Also with the difficult schedule they have faced, they manage to only give up 297 yards per game, ranking them 13th in the country. 

In facing a difficult schedule this stat must not go overlooked. This means that they know how to play well on a consistent basis, and not just in the big games.

I suspect Coach Dantonio will have Cousins come out firing.

The stingy Iowa defense has only given up 54 first-half points, 27 of them coming against then-No. 24 ranked Arizona in Week 3.

If Cousins comes out throwing and manages to get Sparty around 14 to 17 first-half points, look for the Hawkeyes to start blitzing more. In doing so will allow the Spartan receivers to get underneath the secondary, and/or outside the linebackers. 

Cousins being efficient this week is crucial because the Hawkeyes are very experienced within the front seven. They have seven seniors and eight juniors who are positioned within their front, which also means they have depth, experience and situational versatility.

Therefore running the rock with either Edwin Baker or Le'Veon Bell must be chosen wisely.

These two backs have the KSAs required (knowledge, skills and abilities) to do the job right. But against an experienced front seven, spreading the ball around will keep the aggressive Iowa defense honest. 

As college football fans, we all know that any team can win on any given Saturday. This game is no different, and arguably the game of the week in college football.