Oct. 20, 2011
- 2011 Game Day Central
- 2011 Fall Camp Central
- America Needs Farmers
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- gohawks.com
- Iowa Football Wallpaper
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Perhaps in honor of America’s farmers on ANF Day at historick Kinnick Stadium, the Iowa Hawkeyes turned to its ground game last Saturday night to continue its success when inside the red zone.
Kirk Ferentz’s squad was perfect on four visits in the Northwestern Wildcat 20 yard line, coming away with a pair of field goals compliments of Mike Meyer and a pair of one-yard touchdowns by running back Marcus Coker. Iowa enters Saturday’s game against Indiana having scored on 22 of its 23 trips inside the red zone, a total that includes nine rushing touchdowns, five passing touchdowns and eight field goals.
“I thought we ran the ball a little more aggressively Saturday,” Ferentz said Tuesday during his weekly visit with the media.
They did. Coker bullied Wildcat defenders for 124 yards on 22 carries. His first touchdown capped an 11-play scoring drive in which his number was called nine different times. The 6-foot, 230-pound sophomore was simply punishing.
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“I can’t imagine it’s a lot of fun tackling him. It’s been 35 years since I’ve played, but, to me, I think he’s got to make that an advantage. If you’re a strong guy, run strong.”
Kirk Ferentz
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“I can’t imagine it’s a lot of fun tackling him,” Ferentz offered with a grin. “It’s been 35 years since I’ve played, but, to me, I think he’s got to make that an advantage. If you’re a strong guy, run strong.”
Iowa has now scored on 128 of its last 139 visits to the red zone possession dating back to its game against Michigan State in 2008.
On the other side of the ball, Iowa’s defense ranks 10th best in the country in red zone defense. The Hawkeyes’ opponents have scored on just 18 of their 26 visits inside Iowa’s 20.
Click HERE to watch this week’s Case IH Red Zone highlights package inside Hawkeye All-Access, the multi-media portal of hawkeyesports.com and a part of the Big Ten Digital Network.