Defense Chance to be great---Keep Developeing

Hawkcrush

Well-Known Member
I noticed in the last couple of games--we have rarely heard much from #19. I went and rewatched the game from sat and noticed on the 2 passing Td's he was out of position. I think at this point it comes down to experience, in the 2nd half the middle of the deep field was closed off for sure. On the first td to #9 he appeared to be reading the QB, but did not get a deep enough drop- if hes does the QB either eats it or throws a pick there. The 2nd one kind of the same deal, I now there was some showing of an all out blitz that cost time to get a drop, perhaps comes down to king getting a better jam at LOS to allow time to recover. All in all I think if Iowa continues to develop the way they normally do and blitz with Nieman and Fisher to speed the other team up our defense could be darn salty. I like our ability to stop the run and I like 15 coming in as a nickel. What happened to #7. I for right now am not sold on 28 as a corner just doesn't seem to have good corner instincts, but I could be wrong hopefully I am.
 
Nieman and Fisher have been making a lot of plays. I've been pretty impressed with them so far. Open field tackling has also been great. There have been quite a few times where I think they're going to get a big gain only to see one of our guys fly up and make a tackle. The swarm tackling has been better this year too.
 
Second one was not his fault.

Phil Parker should not be lining up our SS at nose guard on 3 and 17. WTFBBQ.
 
One thing for sure - This team will go as far as this defense can carry them. We have what appears to be a serviceable offense and the special teams seem to be playing fairly error free.

Tackling has been sound - this unit seems to grasp the basics there. The LB play has been exceeding expectations and the line play has been great the first two games. There is some depth on the line which is always a good thing. We have seen some rising stars in the backfield. The mistakes that have been made are entirely correctable. One dimensional teams that depend on the pass shouldn't present much of a problem down the line. We have yet to see how they handle an opponent with a real rushing attack. This is still a big concern.

The Hawks should win every game they are favoured to win. If the D can play with the "we can win this" attitude they have shown, and the younger players stay on their current trajectory, then the West could be Iowa's.
 
Second one was not his fault.

Phil Parker should not be lining up our SS at nose guard on 3 and 17. WTFBBQ.
There were a few times when we were trying to cover Lazard with Nieman. That didn't seem to make a lot of sense to me.
 
This is a defence that will control a lot of games. They are well coached, and every position has players at it that can make the plays. The defensive line is very disruptive. The front 7 covers the gaps too. The secondary plays their assignments, and are great in run support.
 
"It starts up front" and up front, the newbie tackles have played really, really well. Outside of a couple of penalties, there's hasn't been a terribly noticeable drop-off with Johnson (from LTP and Davis). Bazata is less flashy but if he can play the Matt Kroul to Iowa's Mitch King (Johnson), that kind of situation, then Iowa's D will be pretty solid.
 
Not that I disagree that this defense could be very good, but we have played an FCS team and Iowa State. I think we need more of a sample before getting too excited.
 

Latest posts

Top