Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says receiver Andy Brodell is out for the season with a torn hamstring. The Ankeny native was injured in Saturday’s 17-13 loss to Wisconsin as was tight end Tony Moeaki, who suffered a dislocated elbow and a broken bone in his hand.
Ferentz says Moeaki is out at least two weeks and the young receivers that took their place will be counted on for this weekend’s homecoming matchup against Indiana. He says that’s part of the game and you keep playing, and the good news is they have some guys who can come in and play. Ferentz says they’ll have a little less experience, but they aren’t making excuses and will be ready to go Saturday.
Ferentz says the young receivers may lack experience but they have potential. He says that’s what he has said about his whole team. At one time the Hawkeyes found a way to win the close games but the tables have now turned and Saturday’s loss was another in a string of close closes. Ferentz says everything gets magnified in close games and you never know which plays will impact the game, and the challenge is to get over the hump in the areas where you need to come through.
Ferentz says it would be a big plus for the Hawkeyes to break that string. The Hawkeye defense has been outstanding but will face a new challenge this week against the Hoosier’s spread offense. Ferentz says it’s a matter of playing good team defense, and then if someone can make a good play on top of that, it’s a positive.
The Hoosiers are coming off a loss to Illinois in their Big Ten opener and coach Bill Lynch says Iowa’s success on defense begins up front. Lynch says Iowa is very active up front and make it hard to get big plays. Lynch says Iowa wants to make it a very physical game. He says he has great respect for Iowa and how they’ve built the program and play good defense, and are a good physical running team.