After watching Replay - Dline and OLine and how will it bode going forward

[uihawk82]

I watched the replay of Missouri St game on btn2go and really focused on the line play. I have to say we have some strength, push and disruptive force with the Def Tackles, davis, cooper, and T-passat. They had the tackles going into two offensive linemen and using them up. I hope their technique keeps getting better and they can plug up the holes against B1g 10 lines.

Of course I have no idea how Blythe is grading out in his blocking calls. But overall the Oline seemed to get their reach blocks, pass players on to other linemen and then skip to the lbkr level in a fluid way. Again, maybe their tempo and work as a unit gets even better. Some jet sweep counter plays and the QB keeping the ball a few times out of the read option can also held hold off the backside pursuit.

If the lines can improve more this week and control ISU then we get the win, keep improving and take care of WMU then pound the gophers. Then the real fun starts in a tough back half of the season.

We are farther behind Michigan than I thought. But Jake can throw the ball, that very first pass to shumpert was a strike as were many others. He we can run the ball against most teams and Jake can find receivers in 'holes' I think we can win 5-6 more games.

I sit even with the south goal line and I immediately thought weisman got screwed on the 4th down spot. The announcers were polite to say he was closer to the 1 yard line than where they spotted him as he might have had the ball inside the one. I wish the Umpires had the ability to jump in on those plays and make a spot as they see it better most times.

 

[Billso]

A lot of people commented we were overmatched physically, which surprised me. I wouldn't know, thanks to f%#*^&@ Comcast. Sounds like that wasn't your take?

 

[Eda]

I agree 82. I think both lines look very good. The defensive line was obviously playing contain against NIU, and thus looked like a lack of rush. They got after it a little more against MizzSt, but still had to contain the QB. He did break a couple runs, but the D did recover as a unit very well.

I will also say, in regards to the overall D, it looks like the whole group is flying around out there, they swarm to the ball (much like some of the great D's we've seen in the past), and they appear to be looking to punish the opponents.

Real good stuff!

 

[Hawks19]

We were playing one of the worst teams in recent football history the other day. I wouldn't get too gaga over some slight domination at the LOS. The lack of any real pass rush from the DEs in a game like that is just terrifying. Also, I don't care how accurate Rudock's arm is, we still have the worst group of WRs in major college football, and that's not going to change without at least a few more recruiting classes. And our secondary is just beyond awful. Seriously, I don't think I've ever seen it in worse shape. There are serious and severe flaws on this team that are glaring, even against a cupcake like Mizzou-lite. Once their QB and WRs were able to get on the same page, they were able to move the ball far too easily against our defense in the 2nd half. So, um, yeah, 6 games is a PIPEDREAM at this point.

 

[STILLBUSTER]

Not trying to be the dark cloud but it should never have come down to a spot on the goal line against a mediocre FCS DL. If this OL is "the strength" it was expected to be, that should have been 6. Not to mention, 7 zero or negative rushing plays and 2 sacks, numerous motion and holding penalties, of course, at cruicial, drive-killing times.

I get having a bad day but am still a bit underwhelmed with the OL. At the very least, they have yet to consistently gel both as a unit and with the RB's. Potential but still pretty sloppy.

 

[bigjim]

I watched the replay of Missouri St game on btn2go and really focused on the line play. I have to say we have some strength, push and disruptive force with the Def Tackles, davis, cooper, and T-passat. They had the tackles going into two offensive linemen and using them up. I hope their technique keeps getting better and they can plug up the holes against B1g 10 lines.

Of course I have no idea how Blythe is grading out in his blocking calls. But overall the Oline seemed to get their reach blocks, pass players on to other linemen and then skip to the lbkr level in a fluid way. Again, maybe their tempo and work as a unit gets even better. Some jet sweep counter plays and the QB keeping the ball a few times out of the read option can also held hold off the backside pursuit.

If the lines can improve more this week and control ISU then we get the win, keep improving and take care of WMU then pound the gophers. Then the real fun starts in a tough back half of the season.

We are farther behind Michigan than I thought. But Jake can throw the ball, that very first pass to shumpert was a strike as were many others. He we can run the ball against most teams and Jake can find receivers in 'holes' I think we can win 5-6 more games.

I sit even with the south goal line and I immediately thought weisman got screwed on the 4th down spot. The announcers were polite to say he was closer to the 1 yard line than where they spotted him as he might have had the ball inside the one. I wish the Umpires had the ability to jump in on those plays and make a spot as they see it better most times.

I think the D line and the linebackers are the brightest spots on the team as of right now. I just wish we had some more team speed. I think that is what's going to hurt us the most this season

 

[vosov]

A lot of people commented we were overmatched physically, which surprised me. I wouldn't know, thanks to f%#*^&@ Comcast. Sounds like that wasn't your take?

Did someone actually say this?

 

[JonDMiller]

So, um, yeah, 6 games is a PIPEDREAM at this point.

I don't think wins at ISU, Purdue and Minnesota are pipe dreams. I don't think wins against WMU and Michigan State are pipe dreams. I think Iowa has a shot against Wisconsin. Now, at this point to think all of those will happen, I am not ready to go there just yet.

Michigan State's offense is one of the worst Big Ten offenses I have seen since Northwestern's program turned around in the 1990's.

 

[1hawkeye1]

I was underwhelmed by our line play on both sides of the ball vs Mo St. Did we "contain" them defensively? Maybe. But against that team we should dominate. And we didn't.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Not trying to be the dark cloud but it should never have come down to a spot on the goal line against a mediocre FCS DL. If this OL is "the strength" it was expected to be, that should have been 6. Not to mention, 7 zero or negative rushing plays and 2 sacks, numerous motion and holding penalties, of course, at cruicial, drive-killing times.

I get having a bad day but am still a bit underwhelmed with the OL. At the very least, they have yet to consistently gel both as a unit and with the RB's. Potential but still pretty sloppy.

You forgot to add that Weisman went for 180 and we had 300 yards rushing. Those freaking bastards on the Oline better get their act together cause we aren't going to put up with numbers like those against teams that went toe to toe with North Dakota State last year and had a pretty veteran club. And the fact that Rudock has time to look downfield, then progress to his checkdowns...that **** has to stop now.

 

[OO44]

UNI's wide spacing of the OL is not something Ferentz has done agaist ISU.

 

[SheagleHawk]

You forgot to add that Weisman went for 180 and we had 300 yards rushing. Those freaking bastards on the Oline better get their act together cause we aren't going to put up with numbers like those against teams that went toe to toe with North Dakota State last year and had a pretty veteran club. And the fact that Rudock has time to look downfield, then progress to his checkdowns...that **** has to stop now.

So people should be happy about 300 yds against some dogchit program "that went toe to toe with North Dakota State last year?" I get that some are tired of the negativity, but using the above as an argument to show how effective the o line was is just indicative of where we are as a program and how far we've fallen.

 

[ICHawk24]

I was underwhelmed by our line play on both sides of the ball vs Mo St. Did we "contain" them defensively? Maybe. But against that team we should dominate. And we didn't.

489 yards to 197 is pretty much dominating. The Gazette guys agree, saying so in the OnIowa podcast.

Our defense limited them to 3.0 ypc and 4.2 ypa and 7 points. 1 for 10 on 3rd down. Those are very good numbers. First sub-200 yard defensive day since EIU 2010.

 

[DP5555]

I don't think wins at ISU, Purdue and Minnesota are pipe dreams. I don't think wins against WMU and Michigan State are pipe dreams. I think Iowa has a shot against Wisconsin. Now, at this point to think all of those will happen, I am not ready to go there just yet.

Michigan State's offense is one of the worst Big Ten offenses I have seen since Northwestern's program turned around in the 1990's.

I think people tend to forget how slowly Iowa teams tend to start under KF. I understand it's human nature to let frustration get the best of you, but sometimes it's a wise decision to look backwards when predicting how far the team can go forward. I'm not saying this team is capable of big things, but I am saying it's wayyyy to premature to suggest this team can't win 6 or more games. History suggests it's more than capable of improving:

2002 - Damn good Iowa team lost 31-36 against what ended up being an above average ISU team (7-7)

2004 - Barely won their second game of the season to Iowa State (17-10), got smoked in game #3 by Arizona State (44-7), in game #4 lost to 18th ranked Michigan 30-17, and then after that they went on to win the rest of their games and capped it off with a Capitol One Bowl victory over LSU to finish 10-2.

2005 - Lost 23-3 to Iowa State and went on to finish 7-5

2009 - Barely beat Northern Iowa 17-16 to start off the season and went on to finish 11-2


I know I'm preaching to the choir because everyone here is well aware of Iowa's history. I'm only mentioning it as a reminder that Iowa teams tend to grow up a lot throughout the season. Who knows where this group will end up... They certainly will need to have some playmakers emerge, and the WR's need to start catching the ball. However, suggesting they aren't capable of winning more than 6 games at this point in the season is a bit premature. Patience is a virtue. Just think about how everyone felt when it looked like UNI was going to beat the Hawks... even after they squeezed out a win in that game no one thought that team was going to accomplish anything.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

Iowa's O and D lines are decent. The offensive line will get much better and probably end up the better of the two. So far the defensive line has pretty much played contain in both games and while they didn't register a sack, they have gotten some hurries and yards lost plays. When both of these lines get consistent then the team will be much better. Unlike last year, I can see some potential with this group.

 

[OLWPAORWWM]

We were playing one of the worst teams in recent football history the other day. I wouldn't get too gaga over some slight domination at the LOS. The lack of any real pass rush from the DEs in a game like that is just terrifying. Also, I don't care how accurate Rudock's arm is, we still have the worst group of WRs in major college football, and that's not going to change without at least a few more recruiting classes. And our secondary is just beyond awful. Seriously, I don't think I've ever seen it in worse shape. There are serious and severe flaws on this team that are glaring, even against a cupcake like Mizzou-lite. Once their QB and WRs were able to get on the same page, they were able to move the ball far too easily against our defense in the 2nd half. So, um, yeah, 6 games is a PIPEDREAM at this point.

There is a limit to the number of times you can call things "worst" and still allow me to take you seriously.

 

[theboat]

There is a limit to the number of times you can call things "worst" and still allow me to take you seriously.

this is the worst post ever.

 

[theboat]

Honestly, there are a lot of chicken littles running around Iowa these days.

After 2 games, this team is who I thought they would be (except I expected them to pull it out against NIU).
They are young, they are strong, but they will get better. When they role off the next 4 games, some of them ugly, some folks will still be ready to jump, and others will be calling for a new extension for Ferentz.

 

[OLWPAORWWM]

this is the worst post ever.

You used it an appropriate number of times. I can take this seriously.

 

[tubahawk]

A lot of people commented we were overmatched physically, which surprised me. I wouldn't know, thanks to f%#*^&@ Comcast. Sounds like that wasn't your take?

I wouldn't say we were overmatched by any stretch. However, our O-line has gone up against two inferior D-lines (I believe most if not all of the NIU d-line were 1st year starters). For those two games we gained a good number of yards on the ground, but we didn't dominate either d-line like we should have.

As for our D-line, I think they have been average and have some upside. The problem with only having them contain is it exposes a huge weakness in our secondary. To successfully run the Cover 2 & Cover 4 defenses it requires getting pressure on the QB, otherwise the WRs have too much time to find space.

Lynch was able to burn us a couple of times with the deep ball, Missouri State wasn't able to connect on the 1 or 2 chances they had. The teams that remain on our schedule (save ISU) will likely be able connect on those deep passes.

At this point I'd give the O-line a C- and D-line a B-.