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Penn State Football: Keys to the Game vs Iowa

By Corey Hunter

Oct 22, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Football players run onto the field prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
Oct 22, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Football players run onto the field prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O /
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#2 – Penn State OL versus Iowa DL

Oct 22, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

No team in the Big Ten can boast of having three players in the top-11 in individual sacks except for Iowa.  The Hawkeyes defensive front has accounted for 16 sacks this season.  That is more than Michigan or Penn State’s defensive fronts.

The Nittany Lions offensive line has been markedly improved from the start of the year.  Penn State has not seen a drop off in ability moving Mahon from LT to RT and inserting Paris Palmer at LT.  Iowa has also seen improvement in their defensive line play since the early stages of the season.  Jeleel Johnson and his 5.5 sacks anchors the defensive line.

Keep your eye on which team is able to control the line of scrimmage when the Lions have the ball.

Last week, especially in the second half, the Lions were able to control the line of scrimmage; a fact that Saquon Barkley was able exploit for 207 rushing yards.  Iowa, however ranks in the top half of the Big Ten in rush defense holding opposing teams to just under 154 yards per game.

If offensive line coach Matt Limegrover’s men can hold their own or even dominate the line of scrimmage over Iowa, it should be  a long night for the Hawkeyes.

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