Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - SHOWDOWN: Iowa Hawkeyes Face CRUCIAL Battle for Floyd of Rosedale Trophy | Can Ferentz OUTFOX Fleck?

Starting point is 00:00:00 It's the battle for the pig, Floyd of Rosedale. What's it going to take for Iowa to get the victory against Minnesota and avenged the last time the gophers came to Kinnick? You are Locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome in, I'm Trent Condon, and this is the Lockdown. Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen

Starting point is 00:00:33 every day. We're available wherever you find podcasts and you can also watch us on YouTube. I've been covering the Hawkeyes for over 20 years on the radio here in the great state of Iowa, including currently on the Iowa Sports Radio Network with stations in Des Moines, Sioux City, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and the

Starting point is 00:00:49 Quad Cities. You can hear me each weekday from noon to two. Today's episode of Lockdown Hawkeyes is brought to you by Fandual. Right now, new customers can bet just $5. And if your bet wins, you'll get $300 in bonus best to use across the app. Download the app today. Well, Iowa with a basketball scrimmage on Friday against, yes, the Texas Tech Red Raiders

Starting point is 00:01:12 preseason top 10 team. We'll talk a little bit about that. We got some picks for you presented by Fanduel. We'll hear from Tom Kakert from hawkeye report.com. We'll get Tom's thoughts on everything that is happening with the Hawkeyes as we preview the matchup against the gophers. But we start today with a look at just that. Your ultimate preview for the game and the way that this thing is going to play out

Starting point is 00:01:34 what we anticipate that we're going to see in this one. Some of the keys to the game for the Hawkeyes and what it's going to take for Iowa to get the victory. So I want to start with a couple of thoughts on Minnesota. And we talked a lot about the coach on the other side, Phil Fleck, and what an unlikable figure he is at a rivalry. But we're leaving that to the side for today. Let's actually talk about the X's and O's get into what it's going to. going to take for Iowa to get this done is they're currently at Fandul an eight and a half point

Starting point is 00:02:01 favorite. When you start looking at this team, I think really it all starts with Darius Taylor. This has been certainly a different Minnesota team this season when we've seen him out there for the gophers. And you just go back to last Friday night. What we saw in the matchup against Nebraska, how different they looked offensively with him in there. He is a physical running back. Now, he has had two pretty poor games against Iowa. One was injury ravage. And he's been banged up this season. But he absolutely is a difference maker at the running back position. We've seen in the past a couple of different times, Minnesota has been able to run against some really good Iowa rush defenses and you know that they're going to be

Starting point is 00:02:39 able to ready to run the football and that's certainly going to be the game plan. Of course, the quarterback also bears consideration and what we've seen out of their freshman quarterback and Drake Lindsay. A Lindsay completing 62% of his passes on the season, nearly 1,500 yards on the year, 10 touchdowns against three interceptions. Something interesting, though, with Lindsay that I thought could maybe play in to the game plan we see from Phil Parker. You know, this season, we've seen Phil Parker dial up pressure, maybe unlike anything we've seen ever before as him as the defensive coordinator.

Starting point is 00:03:13 And they've done it a myriad of different ways. A big part of that, though, has been bringing safeties. We've seen Xavier Wampa a ton of times coming on the blitzes. And one thing that I think really is done. different about Iowa blitzing this year as it just feels like their timing has been so much better on those blitzes, not in terms of game time or game situation, just the actual guys timing up when the snap comes, they've been a lot better at that this season. But Drake Lindsay this year, when he has been blitz, he's been good. He has thrown seven of his 10 touchdowns

Starting point is 00:03:45 against blitzes this year has just been intercepted one time, 6.1 yards per attempt against the blitz this year. When he's not blitz, that's been the time that's been the time that Lindsay hasn't been quite as good. Three touchdowns, two interceptions when teams are dropping back seven in coverage. So maybe something to keep an eye on and maybe we won't see at least initially, Iowa dialing up the pressure the same way even against a young quarterback. And then you go the other way and you start thinking, well, it's a young quarterback. You want to dial up some pressure.

Starting point is 00:04:14 But just one to maybe stick into the back of your mind if you're wondering early on if I was not blitzing, if that is a reason for that in this one. This is going to be a game where I was going to have to stop the run. I mean, you just go through and you look at what Minnesota wants to do and the way that certainly they run their offense. This is going to be another one. They throw the football about 53% of the time, 47% of the time. They run it, so very balanced attack.

Starting point is 00:04:40 And that's what you're going to see, I believe, overall. The grade for the passing game has been pretty good. They got a couple of big targets as well. So we will see. Now, the other thing about Minnesota this year is they've been a completely different team at home compared to on the road. And because of that, I think it gives a little bit of maybe a little extra

Starting point is 00:04:59 here for Iowa. We know what an advantage Kinnick Stadium obviously is. There'll be some gophers. That'll sneak their way in. But overall, it's going to be a decided home field advantage once again. We know how special it can be. Rivalry game. We all remember what happened the last time Minnesota came to Kinnick

Starting point is 00:05:14 two years ago in the Cooper DeGene game. And if that could be an aspect that gives a little bit extra on the motivational side for Iowa. A couple other names to mention when we look at this Minnesota team and ones that definitely are going to be a big part of it. One of them, we don't know yet if he's going to play, but that is a former Hawkeye and John Nester,

Starting point is 00:05:36 who leads Minnesota interceptions with three. He is a guy that has been a good playmaker, and we saw glimpses of Nester, certainly when he was at Iowa that he could develop into a good guy. You're hopeful that he was going to be another guy that was going to continue to progress. And it turned out to be like we're seeing with T.J. Hall, seeing the essential. We're seeing how to Deshaun Lee.

Starting point is 00:05:57 But he made the decision. He was going to go. His dad was also a coach of West Branch, a high school football coach. And that didn't continue. So maybe that was a reason also that he was looking to move on. But that aside, if he's healthy, if he is out there, this is a guy that has been a playmaker. You know, he's going to be ready, obviously, to play against his former team. Speaking of defense, and when you talk about that defensive backfield, you know, being a Big Ten football media,

Starting point is 00:06:21 days this summer. What are the names with all the Minnesota people that continue to come up was Coy Perich. And Perich was a guy that was anticipated, he was going to be there, Cooper DeGine, a guy that was outstanding defensively, was a guy that was going to be a big part of the return game. And during his freshman campaign, he was that. They also made the decision that they were going to use him offensively, much like Iowa

Starting point is 00:06:45 did with Cooper DeGine. Unfortunately, of course, Cooper got injured in practice working on offense. And oh boy, what a just absolutely devastating loss that was that season. Still, that is Coy Perich. Perich is a talented guy, but he hasn't had a very good year this year. We know he's talented. It's not a talent thing. You do wonder maybe the extra work that he's putting in offense has maybe led to him not

Starting point is 00:07:10 being at that same level defensively, but definitely a guy to keep your eye on for the gophers. And then finally, Anthony Smith, the big guy for that defensive line, and he has been tremendous. You go back the last 14 games, he has, I think, 17 and a half tackles for a loss. He is disruptive. He can get to the quarterback. He leads Minnesota with seven sacks this year. This is a high-level talent that plays on that defensive line.

Starting point is 00:07:33 He doesn't have a ton of help. Overall, this is not a deep Minnesota defensive line, and maybe he doesn't have some of the behemus, but he is definitely one of them. So Anthony Smith, definitely an eye to target. I think this is a good matchup for Iowa. It's a team that wants to play Iowa style that wants to play Iowa's way. if they can get some semblance of a passing game going, obviously with what they've been able to do in the run game.

Starting point is 00:07:55 And I do also wonder now, as we're removed another week with the injury of Mark Grinowski. With Grinowski's knee injury, we saw those big runs last week against Penn State, what he was able to do in the ground game. I do wonder if it did catch Penn State by surprise. I think they were maybe anticipating and look at the way he played against Wisconsin,

Starting point is 00:08:15 didn't have to run it very much. If they anticipated it was going to be a diminished running Mark Grinowski and because of that they didn't game plan and scheme. Well, obviously after the performance he did on the ground with the 130 rushing yards that he had last week against Penn State, you know Minnesota is going to be geared up for that. And if there's not going to be as many running avenues, Minnesota also has a couple of pretty good linebackers and we're going to see a spy on him. They're going to be falling around and not allow Mark Groski to do things with his legs.

Starting point is 00:08:44 If that's the case, well, that means he's going to have to throw the football. We saw it after a struggle early on, both last week against Penn State. He completes nine of his last 10 against Indiana. He had a long stretch where I think he had, what, 11 out of 12 at one point in the football game before the injury obviously happened against the Hoosiers. But it does feel like this is going to be a game where you're probably going to have to see Gronowski make a little bit more in the passing game. It feels like always a dangerous situation for Iowa.

Starting point is 00:09:14 Like the matchup, like the spot. I'll make my pick a little bit later on here as we get into our picks presented by Fanduil for Iowa, Minnesota. Let's dive deeper into it. We'll go inside the Hawkeyes with Beat Rider for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He is Tom Kekert from Hawkeye Report.com and the emotions of the win against Penn State. We'll talk about Kirk Perrin's and his thoughts on that. Plus, we get his thoughts on the matchup against Minnesota. It's your ultimate preview, the battle for the pig, Floyd of Rosedale.

Starting point is 00:09:43 Tom Kaker joins us next as we roll through this. This is the Locked-on, Hawkeyes podcast. One of the tools that help make a huge difference for business owners is Quo, formerly open phone. It's the same great business phone system you've heard me talk about before just with a new name. And here's why it matters. Every miss call is money left on the table. When every customer conversation counts, you need a phone system that keeps you connected 24-7. Quo is the number one business phone system that streamlines customer communications.

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Starting point is 00:12:13 Hawkeye Report.com. It's the Gophers. It's the Hawkeyes, 2.30 tomorrow. You can hear the game. Can't be there or in front of your TV down the hall for must flagship to News Radio 1040 WHA. Tom Trent and Ken, as always, good to speak with you. I watched the Gophers and the Huskers play last Friday night. I'm guessing a lot of Big Ten fans did as well.

Starting point is 00:12:33 I was, I don't know if I was more impressed with the gophers or just realized that Huskers is really, really bad. Drake Lindsay has my full attention. I'm guessing he also has Phil Parker's and companies full attention. I think the gophers have a pretty good quarterback. Let's start there, Tom. Yeah, I think he's pretty good too. I think he's settled in pretty well right out of the gate for them and done a nice job. Brockington kid seems to be pretty explosive athlete, wide receiver.

Starting point is 00:13:08 so got some weapons we'll see how that how that offensive line holds up this week I thought the story of last Friday was the both of the Nebraska lines just no-showed and nice facts tells you that yeah not good not good it was an ugly perform but certainly over there so not only that Minnesota maybe has the best defense alignment in this game. That involves Aaron Graves. And Max Llewellyn and Ethan Hercid

Starting point is 00:13:44 and on and on and on. Now, it's not a deep defensive line. It's really one guy, but tell us a little bit about him. I think I saw in the article that you guys have at Hawkeye Report. In his last 14 games, he's got, what, some ridiculous number of tackles for loss and pressures. This guy's outstanding. Yeah, really talented players.

Starting point is 00:14:04 you know, they've got guys sort of getting after it up front. And Flex teams bring in some more pressure, too. They're bringing more blitzing stuff this year than they have in the past, sort of like Phil. Phil Parker doing that, and I think that's part of the method to the madness this year for Minnesota is that they're really dialing up more pressure situations this season. bringing more guys trying to get the ball out of the hands of a quarterback quick and they certainly did that last week with Rayola and he's he's a

Starting point is 00:14:41 quarterback that's known to kind of hold on to the ball sure too yeah no doubt about that there's a big spot Tom obviously for Iowa with the best trophy in all college sports that will stay with the winner obviously Grinowski was really good with his legs last last week yes the numbers were I mean they got better as the game went on throwing the football, not that he's throwing the ball down the field for a ton of yards, but that's obviously, I guess, the one critique and the one, or maybe better to put, the one question still, still lingering out there for Mark Grinowski is getting the ball down the field. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:15:20 I don't know how many college football games this year had both quarterbacks under 100 yards passing, but there was one last weekend in Iowa City. And that's not great. and it seems to have just fallen back into this. I don't know if it's a trap, but it's just something with Iowa football, but your quarterback has more rushing yards than passing yards. Generally not great these days. But wins are wins, and you just find ways to win games,

Starting point is 00:15:55 but I think eventually they're going to have to start throwing the ball a little bit more, or at least complete more passes because you just can't live by this over and over again every week. Tom, speaking of that, I heard that you've took a trip on the other side of the river over to Illinois. Here we go. And you were able to take a look at some of those player props that are out there. So let's take a stab here. Mark Grunowski, what is it right now? The prop that is not available in the state of Iowa, just to put that out there.

Starting point is 00:16:23 But what is it right now in Illinois? Can we set the number of trends? You want to take a stab at? He told me off there. So you guess it, Tom. passing yards for Garnowski is it's a hundred one go ahead go ahead 105 140 whoa I think we know where Ken's got would be under yeah in a heartbeat and did I also see that his passing touchdown number number is a half yeah

Starting point is 00:16:50 and yet he's going to throw for a buck 40 um let's show those you can throw a one yard touchdown pass that's true that still goes over yeah no uh I'll take the over on that. Minnesota is going to be geared up for him, though, in the running, right? And what he's been in the red zone on top of it, I mean, you have to have not just a spy, maybe multiple spies on him. Do you think that's going to be the game plan here?

Starting point is 00:17:11 We're going to let me either make him beat us with his arm or secondly, he's not going to be able to beat us with his legs. Yeah, I think they're probably going to try to come up with something because what Penn State had, last game was just not very good. It just didn't work out very well. By the way, I don't think Grinowski's thrown a touchdown pass in a Big Ten game this year.

Starting point is 00:17:36 So there's why the number is what it is. Maybe I should take the under. No refund, sir. He's due. He's also due. There you can look at it that way. That's a good point. Hey, Thomas, Quiparish,

Starting point is 00:17:51 who got so much hype prior to the year, and I think deservedly so, because he really flashed last year. you know he was the you know the minnesota's version of cooper de jean is he is he had the year that a lot of people speculated he would have i put in jinx i would have more by saying that by throwing some shade on him but but has he had the kind of year that a lot of gopher fans and a lot of college football people thought he would have he really hasn't but i haven't watched a ton of minnesota but it just seems like i haven't seen like those those plays because you're right

Starting point is 00:18:26 He was Cooper to Gene for them. He hasn't, you know, I was writing my game preview and looking at his return numbers. And it's like, he hasn't busted one, hasn't done anything explosive. By the way, my game preview, I predicted Caden Weegean as the, Ken, you will enjoy this because I said he's going to be the pick-to-click. All right. He's going to return a punt for a touchdown. And then he's going to signal a fair catch when he gets into the end. Wouldn't that be apropole?

Starting point is 00:18:55 Oh, my gosh. Oh, that would bring down the house. Yes. I mean, bring down the house if he scores, but then to add that, that's a cherry on top. That's awesome. Is that still linger, Tom? You know what? Last year was the first time back and it was up in Minnesota, but now the first time back in Kinnick,

Starting point is 00:19:10 it's the only time that Phil Flex been able to get Kirk was in that game. Does that still linger? Because we know it certainly bothered Kirk throughout the rest of 2023. Oh, he's still mad about it. I'm sure. He's still, because he doesn't like losing to that guy. It doesn't. I mean, it's just, you know, they're very different people.

Starting point is 00:19:30 But it's always interesting because, you know, PJ does things obviously drastically different than Kirk and handles himself very different than Kirk. But they kind of play similar styles of football. Just kind of just grind out on the football, ball control, try to play good defense, don't make mistakes. And it's the same kind of ball, but it's just a different way of getting there. One guy hurls himself into his players after postgames and body surfs, and the other guy starts crying all the time in the locker room. Yeah, I'd rather have a lot of it. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:20:11 Hey, if you could give Ferren's truth serum about one coach he'd like to beat every single year, would it be Fleck? Yeah, it would have probably been James Franklin before this. Yeah, yeah, I think. No longer in a picture, yeah, yeah. He's out of the picture now. It would have been, you know, Kirk may have retired on the spot

Starting point is 00:20:33 if he could have gotten to James Franklin and B.J. Fleck and back-to-back weed. I'm done. Done all I can here. Yeah, really. That's funny. Do you think last week beating Penn State, which we know matters, he wanted to go to Penn State?

Starting point is 00:20:48 He wasn't good enough. He said as much. Coupled with the likelihood that this is the final time, that at minimum it feels like probably going to play Penn State at Kinnick Stadium. Do you think that's why we saw a little bit more emotion out of Kirk in this one and fighting away? He was disappointed himself and some of the decisions and he also brought that up, but also knowing we know how important Penn State and beating Penn State is for Kirk Barron's. Oh, it is.

Starting point is 00:21:11 It's such a big game for him growing up in Pennsylvania and, you know, looking at that program and, you know, just being around that program up there. And as a kid, kind of looking up to everything that went on at Penn State, that's a huge game for him. And it's just him just kind of saying, I can't blow these games for my guys. I got to be better. But I still didn't have a problem with him doing that play because everybody wanted him to do it at the end of the Iowa State game a couple of years, you know, a year ago. I wish we would have seen it. Would you not want to?

Starting point is 00:21:48 Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's just an unfortunate result. And, you know, especially if you bet beyond her, it was a really bad result. Yeah, no kidding. Tom Kaker at HawkeyeReport.com, part of On3 Media. 2.30 kick tomorrow. Tom will be in the press box.

Starting point is 00:22:07 What time? 12.30? Yeah, probably be up there at least probably before, maybe before that. Maybe closer noon. What does the availability report come? out is it are you do you beat the availability that's what i thought so by right around the same time you get there uh the availability yeah 12 30 it'll you'll pop up and uh we'll see if there's any surprises on there i don't anticipate gotcha a whole lot of surprises so yeah you just never know

Starting point is 00:22:35 tom keker good stuff tom as always thank you i will run you down next week tom thanks bud yeah sounds good thanks guys good to talk to you tom kakert hawkeye report dot com Thanks as always to Tom for all of his help as we get ready for Iowa, Minnesota and the best rivalry trophy that is out there. Iowa basketball with a big one plus my picks. We'll talk about Iowa's exhibition game against Texas Tech and what we hope to learn. We continue, Locked on Hawkeyes. Mazda crafts cars for those who do more than simply move. Mazda delivers confidence with every ride.

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Starting point is 00:23:57 on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for being with us, as always, and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. As we continue, look at a little basketball for you, plus some picks coming up for the weekend, presented by Fandul. A big thank you to our everyday listeners. We are your daily.

Starting point is 00:24:14 Iowa Hawkeye podcast as we got you covered and we will be back with you after things go final Saturday night after the Iowa, Minnesota matchup and we will have a rapid reaction podcast here for you right on your feeds. Make sure you get that. Subscribe right now if you're watching us on YouTube or if you're on the podcast side. Hit subscribe and give us a five-star review. All that helps get in front of you and more Hawkeye fans. Iowa basketball against Texas Tech. Very interested. Friday afternoon, Texas Tech comes in as the men's team will host a top.

Starting point is 00:24:44 10 team and Texas Tech. Of course, Texas Tech a year ago with Coach McCollum at Drake, they were the team that knocked them out of the NCAA tournament in the round of 32. Texas Tech didn't shoot the ball very well in that game, but they went inside. What's the big question mark about this year's Iowa team? What they have certainly defensively inside. So I think it's going to be a very good measuring stick. Going back to the conversation we had here a week ago on Lockdown Hawkeyes during Iowa Basketball Media Day, I talked a little bit about their first exhibition or their

Starting point is 00:25:14 scrimmage game against St. Louis. Coach McCullum talked a little bit about that and more than anything, he uses that first game as a hope to try to find out a little bit more, right? Trying to figure out exactly what they're doing and the way that they had things set up. Getting some younger guys, some more reps. This will be more of a game. Not close. I didn't want to overreact to that first one and I probably won't overact here, but we'll hear what we get that comes out of that scrimmage and of course pass that along to you. Picks for this week. I got Iowa winning it against Minnesota. But I think it's going to be tighter than the experts think. Iowa north of a touchdown favorite currently at Fanduil. As always, subject to change. But Hawkeyes are an

Starting point is 00:26:01 eight and a half point favorite. Looks like there's a lot in the market that really likes Iowa in this spot. I think we've got a tight one here. I got the Hawkeyes winning at 2013, though, getting the victory and keeping the pig in Iowa City. couple other games I got my eyes on this weekend. Iowa State, this is a smash spot. An unranked team hosting an undefeated ranked team. This is a spot historically that goes the way of the unranked team. So yes, I'm playing the cyclones this week and laying the two and a half.

Starting point is 00:26:30 In the Big Ten, I'm also going to be playing Washington this weekend. I'm going to be taking the Huskies, now down to a three and a half point favorite against the Aligni, just like the angle. And they played so poorly, you know, a week you go against Michigan. And I think they bounce back, certainly offensively, against this Illinois team. So there's a three-pack for you, a games that I like coming up this weekend. And we will be back with you, of course, to grade our work. All that matters for Iowa, get a win.

Starting point is 00:26:55 Get to the bye week at 6 and 2. And our conversation starts to change with Oregon on tap after that. Got to get the win first, though, against the gophers. It's a blackout. Make sure you're wearing your all black get up. And let's be ready to go against the gofers coming up, 2.30 on CBS. Thanks for being with us and making lockdown Hawkeyes, your first listen every day, your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast, and a shout out to you, every dayers out there. Thank you to all of you.

Starting point is 00:27:21 We'll talk to you again after it goes final with Iowa, Minnesota. Until then, go Hawks.

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - SHOWDOWN: Iowa Hawkeyes Face CRUCIAL Battle for Floyd of Rosedale Trophy | Can Ferentz OUTFOX Fleck?

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