Resources: My charting, Iowa game notes, Iowa roster, CFBstats
Yep, it's Iowa.
The film: Yep, it's El Assico. Yes, Iowa has played two of Michigan's opponents—Rutgers and MTSU—since their 38-14 opening romp over Not THAT Miami. The only one of those with a pulse was ISU, a rain-soaked event in Ames that ended in a perfectly El Assico 18-17. For the un-EDSBS initiated, this rivalry is referred to "El-Assico" because it takes place early in the season before either team has really had a chance to remember how to football correctly. This particular episode will probably be the example we use in the future to show what that means. There was a rain delay. People were falling down. Linemen and linebackers, possessed by evil spirits, ran right past eminently hittable opponents to attack ghosts, or teammates.
Personnel: My diagram:
PDF version, full-size version (or click on the image)
Two NFL-bound OTs are the highlight here of course. Tristan Wirfs is a donkey-hatin' Taylor Lewan minus two inches, and easily the best run blocker I've ever charted. Left tackle Alaric Jackson, the Detroiter who was all set to sign with Michigan until Drevno didn't send an LOI, has been out most of the season with a knee injury. He dressed but did not play last week versus MTSU, and is listed second on the depth chart at LT this week behind Wirfs. I'm guessing they'll try to get him out there, but he won't be 100%. He has a star for past performance, which had him PFF's top offensive tackle in the conference and one of the best pass protectors in the nation.
In the event Jackson can't go, Iowa has been playing around with two responses, both fine. One is to put one of the twin vikings, sixth OL Levi Paulsen (+3.5/-0, –1 pass pro), at right tackle and move Wirfs to left. The other is to leave Wirfs where he is and play a redshirt sophomore named Mark Kallenberger (+3/-1, –0.5 pass pro) at left tackle. I think they believe Paulsen's a better run blocker, but I thought Kallenberger was the better answer; he's less refined but a load as a run blocker, athletic enough for pass pro (Paulsen is more of a guard), and allows Wirfs to stay at right tackle, where he's more comfortable smashing puny humans' faces into dirt.
[after THE JUMP: EL ASSSSSIIIICCCCOOOOOO]
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