The five people you meet in Iowa: Oregon's Kinnick challenge looms large

Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa, Kinnick Stadium, the place great teams go to die.

For years the Hawkeyes have cultivated more than corn, specializing in tough, physical defense. A game in Iowa City stays with you, a rock 'em, sock 'em brand of football featuring bruising tight ends and crashing cornerbacks, a brisk, raucous environment where the cheerleaders wear stocking caps and warm leggings and ruddy-cheeked nose tackles collapse the line of scrimmage and root like prize hogs.

Iowa's defense ranks No. 2 in the country, giving up just 235 yards a game and 4.01 yards per play, a rock-wall solidity that starts up front with Max Llewellyn, Aaron Graves and Ethan Hurkett, who have combined for 14 sacks.

Opponents average just 2.64 yards a carry against this defense, and the secondary isn't any easier to solve. They rank sixth in the country defending the pass, with 26 pass breakups and 9 interceptions. Cornerback Zach Lutner, 6-0, 205 from Rock Rapids, Iowa leads that group. Against Minnesota he returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown, and he had another one against Indiana, returned 38 yards.

The Hawkeyes pummel you with defense and break your back with big special teams plays. Senior returner Kaden Wetjen, 5-9, 196 from Williamsburg, Iowa, is the only one in the country with three return touchdowns, one kickoff and two punts. In all he has 653 yards of returns, an explosiveness that creates field position and game-breaking moments for a conservative offense.

"I think it starts that he's fearless," Dan Lanning said Monday. Especially in the punt return game, he catches everything. He's not looking to fair catch. But his stop-go is really impressive."

"The ability to stop-and-go, similar to Tez running full speed in five yards for us, this guy can be running at full speed in five yards. He doesn't need 20 yards to get to full speed. Changes direction, strong runner - fearless as a returner. When he catches the ball, he's looking to create dynamic plays and has done that for them."

Quarterback Mark Gronowski fits this Iowa team perfectly in that he's tough and resourceful, the only player in the country to score a touchdown in every game this season. He's thrown for just 946 yards this season with four touchdowns, but he's a dangerous and pesky runner who has scored 11 touchdowns on the ground.

He's 6-2, 235 and hard to bring down. He broke off a 67-yard run against Penn State, gashing the Nittany Lions for 130 yards rushing, a school record for quarterbacks.

With the dogged personality of this Iowa team and their unrelenting toughness, it's imperative that the Ducks don't allow themselves to be dragged into another rock fight. They need a fast start on the road and must try to stay on schedule, stay out of situations that allow Phil Parker's blitz packages to overwhelm Dante Moore.

If Jordon Davison and the offensive line can pierce that Hawkeye defensive front for consistent yards (tough to do) the Ducks can come home with a win and stay in the playoff race.