With their first game behind them, the FIU Golden Panthers (0-1) again to travel to the Midwest, this time to face the Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0), a team that was 6-6 last season and is 1-0 after trouncing the University of Maine 46-3 last weekend at home. FIU’s new spread offense did not result in an improvement against Kansas but offensive coordinator Bill Legg hopes that the second time will be a charm. The offensive general also has experience against the Hawkeyes as he was the co-coordinator for the Purdue Boilermakers last season when they defeated Iowa 31-6. In that contest, the Boilermakers accumulated 431 yards of offense, 315 of which were threw the air. Including last season’s victory, Purdue was 2-3 against Iowa while Legg held his post.

Junior Paul McCall is likely to start again with sophomore Wayne Younger also likely to rotate in once again. McCall finished last week 10-for-28 with 73 yards and two interceptions. If he cannot not substantially help generate some sort of offensive movement, it could be an easy afternoon for the Hawkeyes. The offense managed just 139 total yards as senior A’mod Ned led the way on the ground with 12 carries for 42 yards. Other than Ned, no Golden Panther stepped it up.

The Offense

The defense struggled last week but was facing an extremely talented offense with a special player in Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing. This week, the unit will be facing a team that has a quality quarterback in Jake Christensen. The junior finished 9-for-15 for 122 yards with a touchdown and an interception last week.

The running game for Iowa appeared to be unclear at the start of the season before Shonn Green began the season by making a statement. He rushed 22 times for 109 yards and a touchdown.

Freshman Jewel Hampton started his career off strong with 9 carries for 68 yards and two touchdowns last week. Paki O’Meara excelled during spring ball and had a decent showing last week as well with 7 rushes for 23 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 2 passes for 27 yards.

The receiving game struggled last season but is more experienced this year with Andy Brodell and Trey Stross as well tight ends Tony Moeaki and Brandon Myers.

The Iowa offensive line struggled to stay healthy and finished last in sacks in the Big Ten which in essence did not do the ground game much justice.

If the FIU linebackers can penetrate the offensive line, something they struggled do last week, they can contain the Hawkeye offense. Overall, the offense can be dangerous but based on last season, has shown signs of vulnerability. They did manage 46 points in their opener but it was against a FCS team that clearly was not on the same level.

The Defense

The Hawkeye defense last season was average but particularly excelled at rushing defense as teams averaged just 122 yards a game against the unit which was third best in the Big Ten. Overall, Iowa ranked 5th in total defense but this year the unit will rely on youngsters to produce.

The linebackers led the team in tackles last season and only of them, A.J. Edds, is returning. Two players that FIU should be aware of are senior defensive tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul.

Although the defense is not outstanding, they can expose the FIU offense. They clearly had their way with Maine and if Bill Legg cannot figure out a way to manipulate the unit with FIU’s talent, shutting down the Golden Panthers offense becomes a real possibility.

The Bottom Line

Although the program underachieved for their standards last season, the main reason for the sub-par performance was the rash of devastating injuries. Most of the players are returning with another year of experience and they posses a lot of potential.

While the team has dealt with off-the-field issues such as 14 players having run-ins with the law, the Hawkeyes are a good team that easily could runaway with this game when it’s all said and done.

FIU has got to rebound from last week’s offensive drought and Bill Legg’s knowledge of Iowa could be a difference maker. When it comes to players producing, senior Julian Reams has got to be a factor in the running game and cannot have the performance he had in the opener, 4 carries for a yard.

The receivers must have a stronger presence and have to have better than numbers than 2 receptions for 21 yards, which was what last week’s leaders junior Jeremy Dickens and senior Eric Kirchenberg had. Freshman T.Y. Hilton’s confidence is at a high after returning a punt 74 yards for touchdown in his first collegiate game in front of over 52,000 fans. His blazing speed can certainly be an asset for this anemic offense.

If the defense can somewhat slow down a potentially dangerous offense and the Golden Panthers use the weapons and schemes they have properly, this can be an interesting contest because Iowa is a good team, but not on the same level as the Kansas Jayhawks.