Tag: Iowa Rutgers

Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness having success in pass rush, led nation in QB pressures

Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness is quickly going from being known by Iowa faithful to a national name with his pass rush.

Lukas Van Ness is rapidly taking himself from a name known by Iowa Hawkeyes fans to a name known by the Big Ten to a nationally recognized pass rusher and doing so in a hurry.

The Hawkeyes sack leader is making his presence known with his pass rushing ability. This past weekend he led the nation in quarterback pressures with nine against Rutgers per Pro Football Focus.

Van Ness has three sacks on the season, five tackles for loss, and 14 tackles. The biggest play Van Ness made last week was getting home on a pass rush and lighting up Rutgers quarterback Evan Simon causing him to let an errant ball go that turned into a pick six touchdown on an interception return by Cooper DeJean.

His versatility along the defensive front has been a big key to his success. Van Ness has lined up at defensive end, defensive tackle, and been moved around by defensive coordinator Phil Parker to get the best matchups.

Not only does Van Ness play fantastic defense, his willingness and outright success on special teams has been a huge lift to the Hawkeyes as well. Van Ness had two punt blocks against Iowa State in Week 2, which earned him Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

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Iowa Hawkeyes’ Kaevon Merriweather, Tory Taylor named Big Ten Players of the Week

The Iowa Hawkeyes find themselves with two players named as Big Ten Players of the Week after a strong outing against Rutgers.

After an impressive defensive effort on Saturday night against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, the Iowa Hawkeyes find themselves touting the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in safety Kaevon Merriweather and Big Ten Special Teams player of the Week in punter Tory Taylor.

In a performance that saw the Hawkeyes defense score two touchdowns and force three turnovers, Merriweather was at the very forefront of the effort. Taylor continued to pin the Scarlet Knights deep the entire evening making it a constant uphill battle to move the ball out of deep in their own territory.

Merriweather picked up a fumble caused by Jack Campbell and Sebastian Castro in the second quarter that he ran back 30 yards for a touchdown. He also added on an interception in the third quarter. Merriweather finished the game with three tackles. Merriweather has 17 tackles, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, one interception, and one defensive touchdown on the year.

Tory Taylor delivered the show that many expected when he was called upon to punt. Taylor punted five times for an average of 42.6 yards per punt, a long of 51 yards, and dropped four of them inside the 20-yard line.

On the season, Taylor is averaging 47.25 yards per punt, and has put 17 of his punts, over 60%, inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

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5 stars from Iowa’s 27-10 Big Ten-opening win over Rutgers

Which players stood out for the Hawkeyes against Rutgers? Here’s five players that stood out above the rest versus the Scarlet Knights.

Iowa left Piscataway, N.J., feeling good about its start in Big Ten play. After all, the Hawkeyes had just put the finishing touches on a 27-10 road win over Rutgers.

Naturally, there were plenty of standout performers in Iowa’s Big Ten-opening victory. Let’s take a look at five of the stars for the Hawks.

Report card: Grading the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 27-10 win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights

It was a complete performance on the road to start Big Ten Play. As such, the marks reflect that in this week’s report card post-Rutgers.

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.

Social Media Reactions to Iowa’s 27-10 Win Over Rutgers

Iowa dismantled Rutgers in its Big Ten opener. Here was how social media responded to the Hawkeyes’ big win.

Raise your hand if you went into tonight expecting a comfortable win!

All year, it has been difficult for the Iowa Hawkeyes. It was a pain for fans to get through the first two games of the year, the Hawkeyes offense seemingly uninterested in the opposing teams’ end zones, preferring the spotlight to be firmly placed on punter Tory Taylor. It was ugly splitting those first two games against South Dakota State and Iowa State, the Hawkeyes’ 7-3 week one victory over the Jackrabbits providing an immediate damper on the season.

Even in a game where the result was never in question, defeating Nevada 27-0, the weather made this one hard to get through… literally! The game took forever with countless weather delays.

There was none of that tonight though. No reliance on safeties to get you the win, no weather delays to prolong the pending victory, and no Sopranos crew on the sideline hassling the Ferentz’ to throw the game.

In a game many expected to go right down to the wire, Iowa won this one fairly comfortably 27-10. The offense looked better, especially the running game, the defense as stout as expected, and Tory Taylor once again put the team in the best situation to win with his leg.

After a very scary two-week stretch to start the season, we’re starting to see little chunks of improvement by the Hawkeyes each week. Nobody is going to favor them heading into Michigan next week, but the doom and gloom surrounding the program after that 10-7 loss to the Cyclone has somewhat started to dissipate. It was a much cheerier mode on social media, and here are the highlights from the Hawkeyes comfortable win over the Scarlet Knights.

Iowa Hawkeyes’ Jestin Jacobs, Noah Shannon participating in warmups ahead of Big Ten opener at Rutgers

After missing each of the past two contests, linebacker Jestin Jacobs is warming up at Rutgers.

Maybe just maybe Iowa is getting one of its best defensive players back against Rutgers. That sounds like it might be the case for standout Hawkeye linebacker Jestin Jacobs.

The Gazette’s John Steppe reported that Jacobs was warming up ahead of tonight’s Big Ten opener against the Scarlet Knights. This comes on the heels of Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz saying in his weekly press conference that Jacobs had a chance to play tonight.

“So, the first two guys have a shot I think to be back. We’ll see. (Brenden) Deasfernandes, I think, he practiced today and we’re hoping Jestin (Jacobs) does tomorrow. Again, it’s soft tissue so it’s hard to predict. Then, (Josh) Volk has been in and out, but we’ll see where he’s at. He’s not in the two deep right now, though. You won’t see him this weekend,” Ferentz said of several of the team’s injuries in his meeting with the media.

According to Kennington Lloyd Smith III of the Des Moines Register, defensive lineman Noah Shannon was also participating in warmups. Both he and Jacobs returning is big news for the Hawkeyes in their Big Ten opener at Rutgers.

The wide receivers that were going through warmups were Brody Brecht, Arland Bruce IV, Jack Johnson, Nico Ragaini and Alec Wick. Of course, that’s notable because it means the Hawkeyes are likely without wide receiver Keagan Johnson.

Jacobs had five tackles in Iowa’s opener against South Dakota State before exiting with his injury. The Englewood, Ohio, native registered 53 tackles last season. Shannon has seven tackles thus far this season, including a pair of tackles for loss. Last year, he finished with 47 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.

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Iowa versus Rutgers: Point spread, 3 final best bets for Hawkeyes, Scarlet Knights

Iowa kicks off its Big Ten season at Rutgers tonight. Ahead of kickoff, here’s three of our best bets per Tipico Sportsbook.

Iowa is quickly approaching kickoff at Rutgers where it begins its Big Ten slate. The Hawkeyes enter with a record of 2-1, while the Scarlet Knights enter boasting a perfect 3-0 record.

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano said this week that he expects a tough challenge from Iowa in front of a sellout crowd at SHI Stadium.

“Iowa is a different program. They are an established Big Ten program. Coach Ferentz is certainly the dean of the league, but he’s one of the best coaches in America, period, and his program continually, there’s consistency year-in, year-out, and you know exactly what you’re going to get. They play very hard. They are physical. They are technically sound.

“So, it’s a great challenge for our guys, great challenge for our coaching staff. You put all that together and throw it in this Saturday night, wearing red to the game and packing the place, that’s what college football is all about,” Schiano said.

Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz was singing a similar song of respect for Schiano and Rutgers ahead of tonight’s showdown earlier this week.

“It’s our first Big Ten game, needless to say that’s important. First road game and then another night game. All those three things factored in, it’s a little bit different here, and playing a team that’s off to a really good start, Rutgers is playing well with a 3-0 record right now, and they’re playing well, so they certainly have our full attention,” Ferentz said.

As kickoff is nearly upon us, let’s take one final look at three of the best bets for Iowa-Rutgers courtesy of the odds from Tipico Sportsbook.

Iowa Hawkeyes versus Rutgers: Stream, broadcast information, injury report for Saturday’s game

Here is broadcast information, an injury report and final keys for the Iowa Hawkeyes’ Big Ten opener at the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Iowa plays at Rutgers on Saturday night at SHI Stadium in the two teams’ respective Big Ten openers. Iowa (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) makes just its second all-time trip to Rutgers (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten).

In its previous trip in 2016, the Hawkeyes used a late, 26-yard fourth-quarter touchdown run from Akrum Wadley to beat Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., 14-7. Then, in 2019, Iowa blanked Rutgers in Iowa City, 30-0. Now, the two teams meet for just the third time in series history.

“It’s our first Big Ten game, needless to say that’s important. First road game and then another night game. All those three things factored in, it’s a little bit different here, and playing a team that’s off to a really good start, Rutgers is playing well with a 3-0 record right now, and they’re playing well, so they certainly have our full attention,” Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said.

Rutgers hasn’t won a Big Ten home game since Nov. 4, 2017, when the Scarlet Knights topped Maryland, 31-24. The Scarlet Knights will look to reverse that dubious bit of history in front of a sellout crowd when they welcome in the Hawkeyes.

Without further ado, here’s a look at how fans can watch, listen and stream Saturday’s Iowa game against Rutgers.

College Football News predicts Rutgers win over Iowa Hawkeyes in prime-time Big Ten matchup

College Football News’ Pete Fiutak projects Rutgers to beat Iowa at their own game.

Iowa opens up their Big Ten Conference schedule at Rutgers tonight, and there will be plenty of defense played. Both sides, through three games, boast two of the best units in the conference, making life hectic for opposing offenses. Neither though are really known for their ability to score the ball, Rutgers embroiled in a shaky quarterback situation as well.

“Anything from the last time we played them, you know, it’s a whole different ballgame right now. If you look at Coach Schiano’s track record, you know, he really built that program up in the early part of this century here, the first decade here, 2001 to 2011, really gave Rutgers an identity. He did an outstanding job with the program, and you can see him laying the foundation for that right now, at least from our vantage point.

“They’ve got a really good coaching staff. They’re cohesive based on what we’re seeing on film. They definitely have an identity and know what they’re trying to get accomplished, and then more importantly you can see their players really embracing what it is they’re doing and, you know, I think they’ve certainly worked hard to improve their roster,” Ferentz said of Rutgers.

Iowa heads in with a 2-1 record, sporting wins over South Dakota State and Nevada and having lost the Cy-Hawk game versus Iowa State. Meanwhile, Rutgers is a perfect 3-0 with wins over Boston College, Wagner and Temple. This game in Piscataway, N.J., figures to be a fight, one that College Football News projects to go in favor of the Scarlet Knights.

It’s going to be gripping.

Both defenses will take center stage, both punting games are good – the field position battle should be even – and neither team will take any big chances. Here’s the difference.

Rutgers is a wee bit better offensively on third downs. Combine that with the lack of turnovers, and the Scarlet Knights will out-conservative the Hawkeyes.

There will be plenty of chances for both sides to take over, but it’ll be Rutgers that does it at home. – Fiutak, College Football News.

Aligning with his overall synopsis of the matchup, writer Pete Fiutak sees Rutgers grinding out a 19-17 win in front of the home fans at SHI Stadium. Somehow a game that low scoring, between two presumptively bad offenses, receives a three-out-of-five must see rating as well.

Fiutak is not wrong at all. A 3-0 mark is 3-0 no matter who the opponents are. However, with the context of opponents, is Rutgers really “playing Iowa’s style of game and doing it better?”

Currently, the Hawkeyes are only averaging 4.3 points allowed per game, second in the nation. They’ve only allowed a single touchdown this year to rivals Iowa State, blanking Nevada and holding South Dakota State to a field goal. Simply put, there is nobody besides Georgia who is playing Iowa’s game better than them on defense.

Sure the Rutgers offense has better totals, the numbers do look prettier, there is a massive difference in the FCS opponents both teams have played. South Dakota State are a yearly FCS contender, while Wagner hasn’t won a game since who even knows when. Rutgers should beat up on Wagner. The Scarlet Knights were in dog fights with Boston College and Temple. The only wins both teams have so far this season are: Maine and Lafayette. Neither are great opponents.

I agree with the overall synopsis of the game. This will be a dog fight. You have two very good defenses here. However, Iowa’s defense is playing on another plane right now. They look as advertised. Rutgers hasn’t faced nearly the same caliber opponent. It will be close, but I don’t know if Rutgers has earned to right to say they can play Iowa’s style better yet.

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By the numbers: How the Iowa Hawkeyes and Rutgers Scarlet Knights stack up statistically

How do the Iowa Hawkeyes and Rutgers Scarlet Knights stack up in key statistical categories entering Saturday’s Big Ten opener?

Big Ten football season gets underway for both Iowa and Rutgers this weekend from SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J. The Hawkeyes enter at 2-1 after dispatching of Nevada last weekend 27-0 in a game that had three separate lightning delays.

“We got off the mat and got back in the fight and did a good job in unusual circumstances tonight. So to stay focused, that was good to see. Just really pleased. We showed some progress in certain areas. Happy about that. Obviously, it was good to get Nico back and Keagan back and then Brody was able to get involved a little bit too at the receiver position. So gave us a few more guys to throw to.

“All in all, the team effort was good. Again, you go 60 minutes broken down over seven hours, not easy to do. Defensively, you all saw the game, those guys played a good game. They were aggressive and very tough to run against and they made the passing yardage tough as well. I thought especially in the first half. It was a little disjointed once we got back in the second half. But in the first half I thought we had a little rhythm offensively. The run game wasn’t perfect, but we did some better things so that was encouraging,” Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said following the Hawkeyes’ win over Nevada.

Meanwhile, Rutgers is feeling great about its perfect 3-0 start. Wins over Boston College, Wagner and Temple have the Scarlet Knights set up for a sellout crowd to welcome Iowa in.

“Iowa is a different program. They are an established Big Ten program. Coach Ferentz is certainly the dean of the league, but he’s one of the best coaches in America, period, and his program continually, there’s consistency year-in, year-out, and you know exactly what you’re going to get. They play very hard. They are physical. They are technically sound.

“So it’s a great challenge for our guys, great challenge for our coaching staff. You put all that together and throw it in this Saturday night, wearing red to the game and packing the place, that’s what college football is all about,” Schiano said of Ferentz and the Hawkeyes.

Now, the two teams collide with a 1-0 start to Big Ten play on the line. How do the two teams stack up statistically? Let’s take a closer look.