Game preview: No. 13 Michigan visits Kinnick on Saturday

[ 0 ] November 4, 2011 | Randy Peterson

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, center left, sing the school fight song with defensive tackle Mike Martin, center right, and teammates after an NCAA college football game against Purdue, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, in Ann Arbor. Michigan won 36-14. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

IOWA CITY, Ia. – Just when Iowa football fans thought things couldn’t get worse than losing at Minnesota again, 13th-ranked Michigan invades Kinnick Stadium for a game that could make or break the Hawkeyes’ season.

A win, and there’s legitimate hope for the remainder of the season, which includes games against rateds Michigan State and Nebraska. Lose Saturday’s 11 a.m. game, and fans will continue clamoring.

“I’m more focused on the players’ frustration and their feelings, quite frankly,” coach Kirk Ferentz said this week. “That’s who I really care about the most.

“I don’t mean to sound callous. My No. 1 responsibility is how our players are feeling and how they’re reacting to things and responding to things.

“That being said, we don’t ever want to disappoint our fans. Nobody’s got better fans than us, home or away. The people that are pulling for us, I’m sure they’re all dying a thousand deaths, just like we do.”

Iowa has won two-in-a-row against Michigan, a solid Hawkeye defense allowing 28 points in both games. What’s the forecast today — with a struggling defense facing the most potent offensive team in the Big Ten Conference?

Stay tuned.

“The last few years, November hasn’t been our friend,” said defensive end Broderick Binns about the Hawkeyes’ 2-5 November record the past two seasons. “We’ve got to make it our friend.”

How does that happen?

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I SPY

Someone asked defensive back Jordan Bernstine this week if the Hawkeyes planned to designate one player to be accountable for versatile Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson.

“If it’s me, I’m up for the challenge,” he said.

Contain the Big Ten Conference’s offensive leader, and an opponent has a shot to win.

“He’s a running back who can throw,” linebacker Christian Kirksey said. “We’ve seen athletic quarterbacks all season, but none quite like this.”

Robinson is Michigan’s top rusher, averaging 103.1 yards a game. He also averages 177.9 yards through the air, but was held to considerably less in the Wolverines’ lone loss.

Michigan State defeated Michigan 28-14 after holding Robinson to 42 rushing yards. The Spartans also sacked Wolverine quarterbacks a whopping seven sacks, and forced Robinson into 9-of-24 passing accuracy for 123 yards.

“He’s electric,” Bernstine said. “I like watching him, but this week I’m not going to like watching him. I’m going to like stopping him.”

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OWN THE BALL

The best way to prevent Robinson from hurting Iowa is to keep him on the sideline.

The best way to do that is a steady diet of positive Marcus Coker rushes, and chains-moving James Vandenberg passes.

“If we could keep him off the field and work the clock with some long drives, that would be ideal,” Vandenberg said. “That would be the biggest thing we could do to help the defense, not put the ball in Michigan’s hands.”

That’s easier said than done against a defense that has limited conference opponents to an average of 120.5 rushing yards.

“It’s something we’re going to have to do,” Coker said. “We have to put together some drives, and then finish them.

“If we do that, we’ll give ourselves a chance.”

Coker is coming off a 252-yard game against Minnesota, but today, he could have some assistance – freshman Mika’il McCall is expected back after breaking an ankle in the season-opening game.

“He’s been out there running in practice like the old McCall,” Coker said.

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MAKE THAT KICK

If Iowa is fortunate enough to keep the score close, then place-kicker Mike Meyer must be better than he was last Saturday.

The usually-dependable Meyer missed twice in the first half – from 24 and 43 yards. He entered the game making 12 of his 14 attempts, four-of-six from 40 yards or longer.

“Mike Meyer is a good kicker,” Ferentz said. “We all have games like that. The best miss ‘em. Things like that happen. He’s going to work through it.”

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QUOTABLE

“Stick with us,” Bernstine said when asked what he’d tell Iowa football fans. “We’re not giving up.”