Michigan - What we learned

Iowa went in to the new "Big House" and came away with a solid road victory.  Here are some things that we learned about Iowa this week.

1. Adam Robinson is a stud.  A lot of Iowa fans are concerned about Robinson being able to be a full-time Big Ten running back, but so far this season he is proving them wrong.  Not only is he a good runner, but he is probably the best pass receiving running back at Iowa since Albert Young.  You could go as far as to say that Adam Robinson is exactly what head coach Kirk Ferentz wants as a running back.  He runs hard, never seems to go down with first contact, never fumbles, blocks, and catches the ball out of the backfield.  Currently Robinson is 4th in the Big Ten in rushing yards and third in all-purpose yards.
2. Brad Rodgers is versatile.  Brad Rodgers came to Iowa as a running back and played there in his true freshman year on the scout team.  This season he was buried on the depth chart early, so he moved to fullback and is listed as the backup.  Last weekend when Brett Morse couldn't play due to injury, he got his first ever start and quietly had a really nice game.  Earlier this season, he played running back in mop up duty and did a nice job.  The rest of this season and the next three years, Rodgers brings an element to Iowa's offense that we haven't seen in several years, a full back that can carry the ball.
3. Ricky Stanzi a 2010 version of Brad Banks?  Are the same style of quarterback? No, but the parallels of their senior season's is too much to ignore.  Through 6 games, Banks was completing 60% of his passes for 1231 yards with 12 TD's and 2 interceptions.  Stanzi is completing 68% of his passes for 1474 yards with 13 TD's and 2 interceptions.  Both teams were 5-1 through six games and Iowa was the better team in the losses.  If the 2010 Hawkeyes can run the table like the 2002 Hawks, look for Stanzi to be in New York come December.
4. The road to the Rose Bowl travels through Iowa City.  The four teams considered to be the front runners are Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, all three of these teams have to come to Kinnick stadium to play the Hawks.  If Iowa can take care of business at home, Pasadena in January sounds very nice.