Webb's article on efficiency being the Hawk's buzzword could use an addition in my mind. The Hawks need to be efficient, but his understanding of efficiency, Red Zone scoring, lack of turnovers, and third down conversion, is only part of the story.
Long multi-play drives are great. They keep your defense off the field and keep the ball out of the hands of your opponent's offense. However, drives where you get to third down every series are really hard to convert into points. There are just too many opportunities for penalties, missed assignments, or a great guess by a defensive coordinator that puts you in a more difficult third and long situation.
Think of it this way. In 80 yards of field (from 20 yard line to endzone) if you are getting 4 yards a play, you will convert your third downs. However, you will need 20 efficient plays to get to the endzone. That is putting alot of pressure on your O to be perfect. However, if you have a couple of 20 yard gains in the process, you cut your number of plays in which the team needs to be efficient to 12.
Also, if you take each series to third down, you have the weight of the entire possession on that one down. That is a lot of pressure to be successful.
I think this was one of the Hawk's biggest problems last year. They had some long drives that stalled out because of a penalty or missed assignment and they got no points on the board.
Now, as a play action team you need to be able to come up with the big play via the pass and the run. We saw that in the Orange Bowl with Wegher's big run to clinch the game. When the running back is able to break through a packed box and gain a lot of yards it loosens the defense. Likewise if the other team fears the running game that will open up the pass.
So, Iowa needs to be efficient in holding onto the ball, converting third downs, and in the red zone, but they also must be able to shorten their field by converting some long plays.
Long multi-play drives are great. They keep your defense off the field and keep the ball out of the hands of your opponent's offense. However, drives where you get to third down every series are really hard to convert into points. There are just too many opportunities for penalties, missed assignments, or a great guess by a defensive coordinator that puts you in a more difficult third and long situation.
Think of it this way. In 80 yards of field (from 20 yard line to endzone) if you are getting 4 yards a play, you will convert your third downs. However, you will need 20 efficient plays to get to the endzone. That is putting alot of pressure on your O to be perfect. However, if you have a couple of 20 yard gains in the process, you cut your number of plays in which the team needs to be efficient to 12.
Also, if you take each series to third down, you have the weight of the entire possession on that one down. That is a lot of pressure to be successful.
I think this was one of the Hawk's biggest problems last year. They had some long drives that stalled out because of a penalty or missed assignment and they got no points on the board.
Now, as a play action team you need to be able to come up with the big play via the pass and the run. We saw that in the Orange Bowl with Wegher's big run to clinch the game. When the running back is able to break through a packed box and gain a lot of yards it loosens the defense. Likewise if the other team fears the running game that will open up the pass.
So, Iowa needs to be efficient in holding onto the ball, converting third downs, and in the red zone, but they also must be able to shorten their field by converting some long plays.
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