Three DI staffers debate the biggest worry about the Iowa football team.

Pass rush
Iowa’s pass rush for the remainder of the year concerns me.
The Hawkeyes have managed 24 sacks as a team this year. That’s good for fifth in the Big Ten and a respectable number.
However, Drew Ott is responsible for 5 of those, and he will not be terrorizing opposing quarterbacks any more this year because of an injury.
Nate Meier is the leading sack man on the team with 6.5. He was seen after last week’s game with his arm in a sling. The senior said he was fine, and head coach Kirk Ferentz has said Meier will play this weekend, but who knows how effective he will be. Arms are important to a pass rusher, in addition to being important to human beings who don’t rush passers.
That leaves 6 sacks spread out through the rest of the defensive line, with 3.5 of those going to Jaleel Johnson. Parker Hesse, Ott’s replacement, only has one.
Iowa faces the best passing offense in the Big Ten this weekend in Indiana. Hoosier QB Nate Sudfeld averages 293 yards through the air, 34 more than the next closest quarterback in the Big Ten. He also leads the conference in efficiency rating at 155.9 and has completed 63 percent of his passes.
It is paramount that Iowa gets pressure on Sudfeld this weekend, something that some really good defenses have yet to do.
The Hoosiers have given up 10 sacks, best in the Big Ten, even after having played Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan State in three of their last four games.
Iowa has got to put Sudfeld on the ground and not let him get comfortable in the pocket. If he does get comfortable, the Iowa pass rush will be chasing a lot of plays downfield on Saturday.
— by Blake Dowson

Ability to finish games
Let’s not beat around the bush; Iowa needs to be good enough to beat Ohio State.
Could the Hawkeyes finish on top in a game against the Buckeyes?
No.
Not if they play as they have all season.
A 2-6 Maryland squad outscored the Hawkeyes 15-10 in the second half of the Oct. 31 game and outgained Iowa 186 yards to 60.
In that game, Iowa relied on another Desmond King game-saving interception, which he took to the house to give Iowa its lone second-half touchdown.
Maryland was not the first game this season in which Iowa’s starting squad choked in the second half.
Against then-unranked Pittsburgh, a 17-7 lead turned into a 24-24 game with a few seconds left, and Iowa needed a 57-yard field goal to snake its way through the uprights.
Wisconsin held the Hawkeyes scoreless throughout the entire second half.
Against Illinois, Iowa let leads of 16-7 and 23-13 become a 23-20 ball game in the fourth quarter.
Taking a little peek at the College Football Playoff rankings, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan — potential Big Ten East champions — are ranked No. 3, 7, and 17, respectively, and have a combined record of 22-2.
Maryland, Pitt (once ranked), Wisconsin (once ranked), and Illinois on the other hand, are all unranked.
These four teams have combined to outscore the Hawkeyes 48-30 in the second half this season.
In the four closest games for Ohio State, the Buckeyes have outscored opponents in the second half 94-41.
May the odds be ever in the Hawkeyes’ favor. They will need it.
— by Mason Clarke

Passing game
Iowa’s biggest weakness heading into its last four regular season games is the passing game.
While QB C.J. Beathard has brought life to a once-dormant aerial attack, his recent stats are pedestrian.
Over the past four games, Beathard has completed 51-of-100 passes while throwing 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Iowa’s 10-7 victory against Wisconsin was arguably Beathard’s worst game as a Hawkeye. In a classic defensive battle, he completed only 9-of-21 passes for 77 yards (he threw a touchdown but also 2 interceptions).
Beathard has yet to repeat a performance like that, and Hawkeye fans are thankful for that.
However, the numbers do not lie: Iowa relies on its running game. It’s the bread and butter of coach Kirk Ferentz’s system.
During the past four games, Iowa has ran for 826 yards and 9 touchdowns.
But let’s not analyze the offense recently; look at it over the entire season.
When Iowa wins by a margin of 15-plus, it’s because of the run. The Hawks have won four game this season by that margin, and in doing so, they’ve only thrown for 3 touchdowns; they’ve ran for 16. The recipe for a big Hawkeye win is a hardy dose of rushing.
In the Hawkeyes’ three games against teams that are or have been ranked at some point this season, they’ve thrown for 533 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions. Compare that with 543 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns.
But what will happen when Iowa struggles to get its ground game rolling? If for some reason the team must rely on Beathard, questions arise.
He started off the season better than most fans would have predicted. His best game of his career came against Iowa State, throwing 3 touchdowns and no interceptions.
In September, Iowa threw for 972 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Recently, Beathard hasn’t been bad —  don’t get me wrong. In October, the Hawkeyes only have thrown for 658 yards and 3 touchdowns. His numbers don’t stand out, and his play has been inconsistent.
I would not like to see Iowa stray from running and switch to the air. Keep the ball on the ground, Iowa.
— by Adam Hensley