News and notes from week six

Iowa is 6-0 and they have looked pretty solid through the first half of the season. But I think they could look better. Iowa should have beaten Michigan by more than two points (30-28) after forcing five turnovers and shutting down Michigan's Tate Forcier, yet once again, questionable playcalling on offense and another free touchdown handout by Ricky Stanzi kept the Maize and Blue in the game. Iowa is 6-0, though, regardless of style points and I'll take it.

And the game ball goes to...: TE Tony Moeaki. Moeaki went all Marvin McNutt on the young Michigan secondary, pulling in touchdown passes of 34 and 42 yards. All in all, the finally healthy senior from Wheaton, Ill., snagged six passes for 105 yards and that pair of touchdowns. The first touchdown could be credited mostly to Stanzi, who checked off at the line of scrimmage when he recognized an all out blitz from the Wolverines' D. But Moeaki did have to make it all the way to the endzone without getting hurt (knock on wood), which he did.

Tip of the cap: to Iowa's big hits. Jeff Tarpinian popped Michigan return man Junior Hemingway (awesome name!), and Adrian Clayborn dropped Forcier on a third down at the beginning of the fourth quarter. After the big hit, Forcier spent the rest of the game on the sideline.

Wag of the finger: at Iowa's cover two defense against Denard Robinson at the end of the game. I mean, come on guys. It's pretty obvious what the Wolverines use Robinson for. Next week though, a looooot of cover two.

Final thoughts: I usually spend a lot of time thinking about what could go wrong for Iowa in the next game, but this group really has made me a believer. How could anyone argue this is not the best team Kirk Ferentz has coached? Not once have the Hawks been 6-0 under Ferentz. Until now. The attitude in the locker room this week? I say bring on another road test.

Next week: the Hawks travel to Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisc., to take on the Wisconsin Badgers (5-1, 2-1) hoping to defend the Heartland Trophy. Wisconsin fell last week against Ohio State in the Horseshoe despite a respectable effort. The Badgers killed themselves with two pick-sixes and a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Ohio State's Ray Small. This game is always more like a bar fight than a football game, that's why the play for the bull.