Answer to why AJ didn’t start last year

[kameltoez102]

I think after today it was pretty obvious why AJ was not starting last year. Had to hear all the whining about why he wasn’t playing more downs. After tonight it is pretty obvious he needs much more work on his run defense. His aggressiveness is going to be used against him all year unless he can wrangle that in. Several of the big run plays were a direct result of him not playing his assignment and losing his contain and leverage.

If he could play more under control I think the outcome would not have been as close. Good win and he is very good on pass situations but he needs to really work on that aspect of his game to be more complete. Watching his play I am wondering if he needs to work more out of the 2 point stance similar to what Gholson was doing.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

I think after today it was pretty obvious why AJ was not starting last year. Had to hear all the whining about why he wasn’t playing more downs. After tonight it is pretty obvious he needs much more work on his run defense. His aggressiveness is going to be used against him all year unless he can wrangle that in. Several of the big run plays were a direct result of him not playing his assignment and losing his contain and leverage.

If he could play more under control I think the outcome would not have been as close. Good win and he is very good on pass situations but he needs to really work on that aspect of his game to be more complete. Watching his play I am wondering if he needs to work more out of the 2 point stance similar to what Gholson was doing.

Agreed. He's an absolute stud and takes on a lot of doubles but gets out of position sometimes.

He gets tons of pressures and effects the play a ton, even when he doesn't get home. Hell continue to get better.

 

[Seth53]

He'll get better next year.....playing in the NFL.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Well...here's my take. I'd like to see Phil Parker give him a series off now and then. He had ten sacks last year doing that. We need him fresh in passing situations. He's playing way too many snaps...so is Golston. Let Waggoner and the transfer play...these guys need to be fresher.

 

[JoeyLabasForPresident]

Well...here's my take. I'd like to see Phil Parker give him a series off now and then. He had ten sacks last year doing that. We need him fresh in passing situations. He's playing way too many snaps...so is Golston. Let Waggoner and the transfer play...these guys need to be fresher.

Watching him huffing and puffing, he was gassed much of the second half. I thought Parker wanted depth to prevent that? It’s strange that that depth isn’t being used.

 

[Caddy]

He's completely out of position in the run game. He never sets the edge, ever. Does he get double teamed, yes, but not as much as some people think. If so, then someone else should be freed up. The ISU line handled him well tonight. Purdy had all day to throw the ball.

 

[Hawk1960]

He's completely out of position in the run game. He never sets the edge, ever. Does he get double teamed, yes, but not as much as some people think. If so, then someone else should be freed up. The ISU line handled him well tonight. Purdy had all day to throw the ball.

Your first two sentences are just total B.S.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

He's completely out of position in the run game. He never sets the edge, ever. Does he get double teamed, yes, but not as much as some people think. If so, then someone else should be freed up. The ISU line handled him well tonight. Purdy had all day to throw the ball.

You sure don't seem to like much about Iowa football. Never anything but negative. Oh well, be miserable.

 

[HawksMN]

If he got bottled against a mediocre ISU line....yikes, what happens in conf play?

 

[Northside Hawk]

Your first two sentences are just total B.S.

So is the fourth one.

There are plenty of ways to double team an end and still have everyone else accounted for. It depends on the scheme.

 

[hawkinn3]

He'll get better next year.....playing in the NFL.

NFL is so pass oriented he will be better suited to the game

 

[Scott Leclair]

I think after today it was pretty obvious why AJ was not starting last year. Had to hear all the whining about why he wasn’t playing more downs. After tonight it is pretty obvious he needs much more work on his run defense. His aggressiveness is going to be used against him all year unless he can wrangle that in. Several of the big run plays were a direct result of him not playing his assignment and losing his contain and leverage.

If he could play more under control I think the outcome would not have been as close. Good win and he is very good on pass situations but he needs to really work on that aspect of his game to be more complete. Watching his play I am wondering if he needs to work more out of the 2 point stance similar to what Gholson was doing.

Yes A.J. needs a bit of work. But after watch the past 3 games. Especially today. He is double teamed by 2 lineman and sometime triple teamed with a RB 80% of the time. And he still can cause problems.

 

[HuckFinn]

How many yards did ISU have on the ground? How many big running plays? To claim that Espy was a major problem is just flat wrong.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

He's completely out of position in the run game. He never sets the edge, ever. Does he get double teamed, yes, but not as much as some people think. If so, then someone else should be freed up. The ISU line handled him well tonight. Purdy had all day to throw the ball.

And yet your team lost. So, so gratifying.

 

[deanvogs]

Sometimes people just don't know what to watch for in a game, or understand how AJ is affecting the game even when 99% of fans don't see it or understand it. For instance on 3rd and 8 with ISU knocking at the door to score, AJ whips past the LT, and blows up the play ISU had called. They had no shot completing this play and it forces ISU to attempt a FG.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

Sometimes people just don't know what to watch for in a game, or understand how AJ is affecting the game even when 99% of fans don't see it or understand it. For instance on 3rd and 8 with ISU knocking at the door to score, AJ whips past the LT, and blows up the play ISU had called. They had no shot completing this play and it forces ISU to attempt a FG.

He gets so many pressures it's crazy. He's not quite getting home (many times by inches) but he is affecting the plays a ton. It's likely a little frustrating for him as teams are scheming effectively by either having quick throws, full on doubling, chipping with TE or RB, rolling away from him, or running right at him. He's not getting the "highlight" sacks but he's been very good.

A slight concern is that with him getting so much attention, I would like to see others getting more penetration. That said, with the defensive backfield essentially playing 2nd and 3rd stringers, I think it is effecting how aggressive we are on blitzes and stunts.

I still think Brent's is our best DB, you get him, Hankins, Stone all healthy....I think we'll see more pressure and sacks. The reps the 2s and 3s are getting is building solid depth but is forcing Phil to be very conservative.

 

[trj]

I hate to be that guy, but AJE was held quite a bit in that game and nothing was called. Especially early in the game.

AJE gives you relentless effort ALL THE TIME. If you can’t see that I am not sure what you are watching. Despite the double teams, teams sliding protection toward him, he is still a disruptive force, it really is incredible to watch.

 

[trj]

He gets so many pressures it's crazy. He's not quite getting home (many times by inches) but he is affecting the plays a ton. It's likely a little frustrating for him as teams are scheming effectively by either having quick throws, full on doubling, chipping with TE or RB, rolling away from him, or running right at him. He's not getting the "highlight" sacks but he's been very good.

A slight concern is that with him getting so much attention, I would like to see others getting more penetration. That said, with the defensive backfield essentially playing 2nd and 3rd stringers, I think it is effecting how aggressive we are on blitzes and stunts.

I still think Brent's is our best DB, you get him, Hankins, Stone all healthy....I think we'll see more pressure and sacks. The reps the 2s and 3s are getting is building solid depth but is forcing Phil to be very conservative.

Look man, you can’t steal my thunder because you can type faster. I was thinking the same thing.

 

[kameltoez102]

Look man, you can’t steal my thunder because you can type faster. I was thinking the same thing.

In my OP I said I had no issues with his pass rush, it is specifically on his running defense. I think he is too aggressive at times and he loses his leverage and contain on the outside by getting too far upfield. As another poster put I too am a little concerned at the amount of attention he is getting and how we had to start bringing more linebackers and corners for pressure. I feel we could be more creative in some stunts during pass downs to manufacture some rush because against some teams we need to get pressure with 4 to be consistently successful.

Maybe the coaches had some special calls from the plays I remember and the linebackers aren’t filling behind him. Just from my observations that didn’t seem the case. The second half he was all over the backfield and almost got home a few times

 

[cincyhawk]

I hate to be that guy, but AJE was held quite a bit in that game and nothing was called. Especially early in the game.

AJE gives you relentless effort ALL THE TIME. If you can’t see that I am not sure what you are watching. Despite the double teams, teams sliding protection toward him, he is still a disruptive force, it really is incredible to watch.

Everyone was being held - I saw Hawks tackled from behind in the backfield and nothing was being called. When they finally called the hold in the 4th quarter on the pi offset, I was like - thank God.