No. 12 Iowa Preps To Mobile Michigan QB

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Put a pocket passer in front of Iowa's defense, and chances are the Hawkeyes will eat him alive.

Stopping a quarterback who can make plays when the pocket breaks down has been more difficult for Iowa. And that's exactly the kind of quarterback the 12th-ranked Hawkeyes (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) will face on Saturday night when freshman Tate Forcier and Michigan visit Kinnick Stadium in a Big Ten showdown.

Forcier, who has helped the Wolverines (4-1, 1-1) bounce back from last season's 3-9 debacle, has an elusive style similar to Northern Iowa's Pat Grace and Arkansas State's Corey Leonard - the two quarterbacks who've had success against Iowa so far.

Forcier has thrown nine touchdowns against three interceptions, and he's second in the Big Ten in pass efficiency. Last week in a loss to Michigan State, Forcier threw a pair of fourth-quarter TD passes, including a 9-yarder with two seconds left, to force overtime.

"He's very aware. He's got a great presence out there, and he is a playmaker. He can improvise, which is the sign of a good quarterback," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "He can get out of trouble with his feet, and he can certainly hurt you with his throwing."

It hasn't been easy for opponents to find holes in an Iowa defense that ranks 10th in the nation in points allowed at just 13.4 per game, is fourth nationally in pass efficiency defense and has been the key to the Hawkeyes best start since 1995.

The two games Iowa struggled to pull out came against Northern Iowa and Arkansas State - teams the Hawkeyes were expected to have the easiest time with.

In both of those contests, mobile quarterbacks Grace and Leonard used their feet to keep plays alive on long touchdown drives.

Grace drove the Panthers 91 yards on 15 plays for a TD in the opener. Last week, Leonard led an 89-yard scoring drive and a 17-play, 68-yard drive late in the fourth quarter to throw a major scare into the Hawkeyes, who managed a 24-21 win.

Those efforts are glaring given what Iowa did to the quarterbacks of Iowa State, Arizona and Penn State, who couldn't throw their way out of trouble. Those teams combined to go 35-of-89 passing with nine interceptions.

And Forcier?

"He's probably (going to) break some runs loose, he's probably going to break some passes," Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer said of Forcier. "He's very talented, but the key is to have everybody do their job and contain the guy."

Perhaps the key for Forcier will be for Michigan to get its running game going.

The Wolverines have one of the best rushing attacks in the Big Ten, with 197.8 yards per game and 12 TDs on the ground. Iowa hasn't allowed a rushing touchdown in 33 quarters dating to last season, and it's no coincidence that they're undefeated during that stretch.

"This may be the biggest challenge our guys have faced so far this year with the front seven of Iowa, particularly their front four," Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said. "Their linebackers are very good, but their front four are outstanding, and that's a big, big challenge for our guys up front."

The Hawkeyes also figure to be healthier this week. Starting cornerback Shaun Prater will likely play after missing last week's game, and oft-injured tight end Tony Moeaki should return to action after missing three weeks with an ankle injury.