ESPN College Football

Monday, November 23, 2009

Northwestern at Iowa

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By Scouts Inc

Northwestern offense vs. Iowa defense

• There is some question as to who will be at the helm this week for the Wildcats. Starter Mike Kafka suffered a hamstring injury during the second quarter against Penn State and was unable to return. Redshirt sophomore Dan Persa filled in for Kafka the rest of the way, and while his stats weren't terrible (14-of-23 for 123 yards), he was inaccurate on occasion and was able to manufacture just three points the rest of the way. Whether it's Kafka or Persa under center this week, it's crucial that he make smart decisions and not force throws into coverage. The Hawkeyes run a heavy zone-coverage scheme and display excellent discipline in coverage. This means the quarterback must be willing to check the ball down or take a sack on occasion. If, however, Kafka or Persa gets antsy and forces throws into coverage, it could prove costly because Iowa leads the nation with 18 interceptions.

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