Blitzing

MeatMan

Well-Known Member
So, this came up on the "On Iowa" podcast and it really bothers me too. Why is it that when Iowa is blitzing that they show it so early? The LB or Safety will walk up to the line of scrimmage long before the snap. What good does that do? This happened on that one TD that Draper got burned on. Miller (I think) walked right up to the line and there was no question for Cook that he would have a huge opening right over the middle.

Do we ever do this and then not blitz? I haven't noticed that, so why do it at all then if it make for a super easy read for the opposing QB?
 
Because they are not quick enough to make it to the QB without cheating up.

In other words, low talent level.
 
Two things, most FB analysts know that QBs hate the blitz right up the middle in their face.

Considine and Sanders were fast enough to time it and do a safety blitz up the middle from 5-7 yards back.

You are correct that we almost always blitz the safety when he shows it that close to the LOS.

Second thing, MSU really disrupted Iowa's pass protection by going to all front seven players being in a standup position at pre-snap. And they moved around so that we didnt know who was coming.

It was very effective and when Iowa would have 2nd or 3rd and short their front 4 would go to a 3 point stance.

Third thing is I dont think the hawks should send more than one or two extra on a blitz. One guy usually from the side the QB throwing arm is on and one usually up the middle.
 
sometimes you can force QB to do something, identify it and jump it next time - (baiting).

other times you can get there or atleast force them to hurry -owning them (mastry).
 
sometimes you can force QB to do something, identify it and jump it next time - (baiting).

other times you can get there or atleast force them to hurry -owning them (mastry).

The hawks forced NIU QB Jordan Lynch into about 4-5 quick bad throws in the first game. The blitz and the defense in general played well except for about 3-4 big pass breakdowns.
 
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You are only on the field if your feet are actually touching the ground. So, we need our smallest players piggy backing on the LBs who will need thrown them at the QB while dropping back. Itll be 14 on 11, unstoppable.
 
Two things, most FB analysts know that QBs hate the blitz right up the middle in their face.

Considine and Sanders were fast enough to time it and do a safety blitz up the middle from 5-7 yards back.

You are correct that we almost always blitz the safety when he shows it that close to the LOS.

Second thing, MSU really disrupted Iowa's pass protection by going to all front seven players being in a standup position at pre-snap. And they moved around so that we didnt know who was coming.

It was very effective and when Iowa would have 2nd or 3rd and short their front 4 would go to a 3 point stance.

Third thing is I dont think the hawks should send more than one or two extra on a blitz. One guy usually from the side the QB throwing arm is on and one usually up the middle.

Sounds to me like we were out coached? We are now getting outcoached by Dantonio. Yikes..
 
Because they are not quick enough to make it to the QB without cheating up.

In other words, low talent level.

Safeties play 10-12 yds deep, the QB drops 5-7 yds on a pass play. Lets be realistic here. There are few players in the country that could make it to the QB without cheating up.

The play in which the OP was talking about, Draper was on coverage and was picked by an inside receiver allowing the MSU player to get free. To compound the situation, Draper whiffed on the TD saving tackle attempt.

Granted, Miller isn't the most athletic guy in CFB, but he's not completely devoid of all talent.

But I'll will give you kudos for the pile on attempt.
 
Safeties play 10-12 yds deep, the QB drops 5-7 yds on a pass play. Lets be realistic here. There are few players in the country that could make it to the QB without cheating up.

The play in which the OP was talking about, Draper was on coverage and was picked by an inside receiver allowing the MSU player to get free. To compound the situation, Draper whiffed on the TD saving tackle attempt.

Granted, Miller isn't the most athletic guy in CFB, but he's not completely devoid of all talent.

But I'll will give you kudos for the pile on attempt.

But you can scheme this so the safety is sometimes close to the LOS like he is head up spying on the RB and sometimes he drops into coverage, sometimes he takes the RB and every once in a while he blitzes.

This could put him 5-8 yards closer to QB, miller is a free safety and can be lined up about anywhere
 
Sounds to me like we were out coached? We are now getting outcoached by Dantonio. Yikes..

It was very effective for MSU in the second half but the hawk coaches can't do much about it since the offensive line cannot move. The coaches can only hope they can pick up the blitzes and stunts.

It was a bit like the buddy ryan bears 42 defense, which the hawks showed a couple times last saturday.
 
Iowa has not historically blitzed very much; we still don't do it a lot; you don't get good at something over night; I have observed that Iowa's blitzers do get picked up pretty frequently; maybe this phase is still a work in progress. Another thought: We do expect Iowa's offensive line and backs to pick up blitzes. I guess other teams can be successful in this phase, too.
 
Safeties play 10-12 yds deep, the QB drops 5-7 yds on a pass play. Lets be realistic here. There are few players in the country that could make it to the QB without cheating up.

The play in which the OP was talking about, Draper was on coverage and was picked by an inside receiver allowing the MSU player to get free. To compound the situation, Draper whiffed on the TD saving tackle attempt.

Granted, Miller isn't the most athletic guy in CFB, but he's not completely devoid of all talent.

But I'll will give you kudos for the pile on attempt.



Huh? I give an honest opinion and you single me out for a "pile on attempt"? You seem confused. Maybe take a little break there, champ.
 
Sounds to me like we were out coached? We are now getting outcoached by Dantonio. Yikes..
Not rocket science... Attack Iowa's secondary with passes. Iowa's pass rush used to compensate for Iowa's poor secondary defenses.. Now, even MSU realizes this... Who's next? Nebraska?
 
Huh? I give an honest opinion and you single me out for a "pile on attempt"? You seem confused. Maybe take a little break there, champ.

If you're new here and didn't know that Miller is an often cited weakness (although sometimes unfairly), then I'll excuse you. However in the play cited, he was not the player that gave up the TD (I will add that the RB made a great play to pick up the blitz). Therefore the comment wasn't warranted.
 
But you can scheme this so the safety is sometimes close to the LOS like he is head up spying on the RB and sometimes he drops into coverage, sometimes he takes the RB and every once in a while he blitzes.

This could put him 5-8 yards closer to QB, miller is a free safety and can be lined up about anywhere

IMO, Phil Parker has done a good job of switching things up from the base defense and that includes bringing safeties in closer to the LOS. Whether that's on the line or 5-8 yds off. Some blitzes (and particularly many of Iowa's) are designed to get the ball out sooner than when the offense wanted. I'd imagine that was the design of the particular blitz I was talking about.
 
If you're new here and didn't know that Miller is an often cited weakness (although sometimes unfairly), then I'll excuse you. However in the play cited, he was not the player that gave up the TD (I will add that the RB made a great play to pick up the blitz). Therefore the comment wasn't warranted.

That's quite a statement. I'm pretty sure if that RB missed the blitz pick-up on the play we're talking about, he would have found himself a seat on the pine the remainder of the game. It was telegraphed for about five seconds before the ball was snapped. Anyone watching the action knew exactly what was coming. And then Miller ran right into him, and was subseuqently swallowed up.
 
I do agree that it may not exactly have been rocket science for the RB to know, "hey, I'm gonna get this guy when he comes in" because it wasn't a secret that he was coming. But where I will say the RB made a good play is that he picked up the blitz and stopped it stone cold. Some running backs have problems with picking up blitzers because of poor blocking technique or they are reluctant to take on the contact. If Miller can merely knock the running back a lil bit, that could have thrown the play off. But the RB stood his ground. That's where I'd say he did a good job.
 

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