Featured matchup: Adrian Clayborn vs. Gabe Carimi
Name: Adrian Clayborn and the Iowa defensive line
Year: Senior
Position: Defensive end
Breakdown: Iowa has two players in the Big Ten’s top-seven leaders of tackles for loss — and neither one is named Adrian Clayborn. Mike Daniels (eight tackles for loss) and Karl Klug (six tackles for loss) lead the way statistically for the Hawkeyes along the defensive line.
Clayborn, though, remains Iowa’s linchpin up front, simply because the attention he demands. It seems as if he leads the country in double teams (and triple teams). Still, he has found a way to be effective, recording five tackles for loss and one-and-a-half sacks.
This week, Iowa’s defensive line will face its toughest test yet against Wisconsin’s mammoth offensive line. The Hawkeyes’ six defensive players up front weigh an average of 273 pounds — nearly 50 pounds less than the average weight of Wisconsin’s starting offensive linemen.
“We can’t get any bigger. Our guys on defense, fortunately, aren’t real small,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “You just have to be really good with your technique. You can’t hang around. You better get off blocks and get moving because if you hang around too long, you’re going to get gobbled up.”
Name: Gabe Carimi and the Wisconsin offensive line
Year: Senior
Position: Left tackle
Breakdown: When asked about Wisconsin’s offensive line, the first thing Ferentz said was “they’re gigantic.” Indeed, the Badgers’ five starters weigh an average of more than 320 pounds.
The group is highlighted by left tackle Gabe Carimi, who manhandled All-Big Ten performer Cameron Heyward last week. The Ohio State defensive end never touched quarterback Scott Tolzien and only recorded one tackle for loss.
The opponent will get a little tougher this week, though. Iowa features one of the most dynamic defensive lines in the country, starting with Clayborn, who will line up against Carimi.
For Ferentz, the key to winning this matchup is simple: Leverage.
“If you give up your leverage, it means you’re going to get jacked out of there pretty significantly,” Ferentz said. “So you’ve got to fight like crazy for leverage, and you really have to compete hard. Otherwise, you’re just going to get moved out of there.”
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