BIG TEN Mistakes prove costly to both Penn St., Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -- Penn State and Iowa need no reminders on the importance of special teams and turnovers -- especially when painful lessons are so fresh in the mind.
Interceptions and mistakes by coverage teams were costly in Penn State's last two games, losses to Wisconsin and Purdue.
The No. 16 Hawkeyes were equally as guilty last week against Ohio State, which used three turnovers and touchdowns on a punt return and blocked punt to win 19-10.
"We have played well," said Penn State coach Joe Paterno, whose team hasn't won since a Sept. 20 victory over Kent State. "But our problem is turnovers and the fact that we haven't done a better job in the kicking game because of missed field goals or people returning punts against us that have licked us against three or four good football teams."
Meet today at noon
Coaches and players on both teams know they must improve in both areas when they meet in Kinnick Stadium today (Noon).
Iowa (5-2, 1-2) looks to bounce back after last week's sloppy loss at Ohio State and retain its recent mastery over the Nittany Lions. The Hawkeyes have won three straight, including a thrilling 42-35 overtime victory last season in State College.
For Penn State (2-5, 0-3), a win in Iowa City would do more than snap a frustrating skid against the Hawkeyes. To do that, Penn State must take better care of the ball and stiffen against the run.
The Nittany Lions are last in the Big Ten in turnover margin, at minus 11, and last in rushing defense, allowing an average of 217 yards per game.
Keeping Iowa's ground game in check will be no easy task, especially since Fred Russell is coming off a bad game and a flood of criticism for trying to be too crafty and clever in the backfield.
Season low last week
Russell, the second leading rusher in the Big Ten, was held to a season-low 42 yards last week. He vows to hit holes faster this week, despite knowing Penn State will ignore Iowa's hobbled passing game and stack the line of scrimmage to stop the run.
Iowa's top receiver, Maurice Brown, will miss his fifth straight game with an ankle injury; starting receiver Ed Hinkel and freshman wide out James Townsend are questionable.
Iowa's defense has had to prepare all week for a Penn State offense that could be a mystery until kickoff.
Paterno said he would decide late in the week whether to play quarterback Zack Mills, who threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns against Iowa last year. If Mills can't play, the Hawkeyes must deal with speedy sophomore Michael Robinson, who in his first start threw and ran for 398 yards against Wisconsin.
Paterno also said earlier this week that he was considering a one-game suspension for top receiver Tony Johnson, who was charged last week with drunken driving.