When I cover a 7 p.m. kick off. I don't have time for anything but typing, which, oddly enough isn't the same thing as blogging.
Some thoughts . . .
Andy Brodell is on the edge of being an all-Big Ten superstar. He runs good routes and he runs so well after the catch. He needs to be consistent with the catch part. He was last night and he was a weapon. He's totally consistent as a punt returner. It's early, but he might be the best in the Ferentz era at the job.
Same deal for Tony Moeaki. The one thing he really, really answered last night was the run after the catch complaint. Last week, he stumbled after a few catches and had 32 yards on three receptions. Last night, he had 112 yards receiving, including a 52 yarder. He's also on the edge of all-Big Ten.
One thing about Iowa's D-line, it has a chance to find a bad matchup every game. Whether it's Bryan Mattison and Kenny Iwebema or Mitch King and Matt Kroul, one of them has the tools to make a tubby, slow lineman look very, very bad. It was Mattison's turn last night. He was unblockable. He tooled Larry Norton.
So the game has passed Norm Parker by? For the record, I've never thought this or questioned this with Parker or Kirk Ferentz. I have asked about the schemes, the philosophy. But passed Norm by? No. He brushes more football off his teeth in the morning than I'll ever know. The Adam Shada and Devan Moylan blitzes were great calls that were perfectly executed. I think on passing downs, Iowa LBs are playing a few more yards off the ball this year. Linebacker Mike Humpal got his second INT of the year last night.
It's going to be a ride with freshman punter Ryan Donahue. He had an 8 yarder and a 49 yarder last night. Coaches would probably vote for the 49 one.
Jake Christensen looked oh so comfortable running the show last night. He took what the defense gave, the pass. He looked very comfortable, very settled.