Defense ranked number 4 against big plays

PJHawk

PJHawk

Well-Known Member
BIG-PLAY DEFENSE

The Big Ten had four defenses ranked among the top 20 nationally in preventing the big play (20 yards or longer) after placing three defenses among the top six in 2009. Three Big Ten squads -- Iowa, Ohio State and Penn State -- have been among the national leaders in each of the past three seasons.

Here's how the Big Ten defenses ranked in 2010:

T-4: Iowa (33 plays of 20 yards or longer allowed)
T-11: Ohio State (37)
T-14: Penn State (39)
T-14: Purdue (39)
T-31: Illinois (45)
T-36: Michigan State (46)
T-41: Wisconsin (48)
T-49: Indiana (49)
T-99: Northwestern (63)
T-102: Michigan (64)
106: Minnesota (66)

Iowa is the lone Big Ten team to rank among the top 10 nationally in preventing big plays in each of the past three seasons.
Big Ten Blog - ESPN
 




Just shows that stats don't give you the whole story. Statistically, we're one of the best defenses in the country, and have been for several years now. Yet, last year, we collapsed late in games and gave up big drives on defense.

Also, this specific statistic doesn't show things like that 4th and 13 or whatever we forced tOSU into, before giving up 14 yards to a Pryor scramble. Had they not converted, we'd likely have beaten them.
 


edr247 said:
Just shows that stats don't give you the whole story. Statistically, we're one of the best defenses in the country, and have been for several years now. Yet, last year, we collapsed late in games and gave up big drives on defense.

Also, this specific statistic doesn't show things like that 4th and 13 or whatever we forced tOSU into, before giving up 14 yards to a Pryor scramble. Had they not converted, we'd likely have beaten them.
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Very valid point yes defense numbers looked good last season, but when we needed a stop late it games it never game. Only an over turned call in the bowl game changed the out come of that game as well.
 


Can someone get me the numbers on 6 yards given up on 3rd and 5? Specifically on the slant pass vs. a 10 yard cushion? :)
 


OnLookin08 said:
Can someone get me the numbers on 6 yards given up on 3rd and 5? Specifically on the slant pass vs. a 10 yard cushion? :)
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Defensive Rankings on 3rd Down and 5 Plays When You GOTTA Have a Stop

T-116. Iowa Hawkeyes

117. Iowa State Cyclones
 
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Saginawbay said:
Very valid point yes defense numbers looked good last season, but when we needed a stop late it games it never game. Only an over turned call in the bowl game changed the out come of that game as well.
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To put the blame on Iowa's defense is just an easy way out. Statistically, Iowa's defense is and has been one of the best in the country for several years now. Games are played for 60 minutes. Perhaps Iowa's offense needs to score more points to prevent putting the defense in those situations time and time again....especially against inferior teams.

Statistically, and in the win/loss column, Iowa's offense is and always has been the weak link.
 


INTIMIDATORHawk said:
To put the blame on Iowa's defense is just an easy way out. Statistically, Iowa's defense is and has been one of the best in the country for several years now. Games are played for 60 minutes. Perhaps Iowa's offense needs to score more points to prevent putting the defense in those situations time and time again....especially against inferior teams.

Statistically, and in the win/loss column, Iowa's offense is and always has been the weak link.
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Totally agree. The defense took a step back in '10 but it was still very good.
Meanwhile, the offense scored 18 points against Indiana. 'Nuff said.
 


edr247 said:
Just shows that stats don't give you the whole story. Statistically, we're one of the best defenses in the country, and have been for several years now. Yet, last year, we collapsed late in games and gave up big drives on defense.

Also, this specific statistic doesn't show things like that 4th and 13 or whatever we forced tOSU into, before giving up 14 yards to a Pryor scramble. Had they not converted, we'd likely have beaten them.
Click to expand...


I think these stats tell an accurate story:

Here's how the Big Ten offenses ranked nationally in 2010:

T-18: Ohio State (67 plays of 20 yards or longer)
T-24: Michigan (65 plays)
T-32: Penn State (61)
T-35: Michigan State (60)
T-62: Illinois (54)
T-62: Wisconsin (54)
T-66: Minnesota (53)
T-72: Northwestern (51)
T-77: Iowa (49)
T-84: Indiana (47)
T-117: Purdue (28)
 


HawkAttack said:
Totally agree. The defense took a step back in '10 but it was still very good.
Meanwhile, the offense scored 18 points against Indiana.
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Even worse is that at Minnesota our offense (minus DJK's kickoff return) scored a pathetic 17 points vs. the worst defense in the Big Ten.
 






The Offense and Special Teams put the Defense in some bad positions. If we convert like we should have an eliminated the ST mistakes then we have another 10 win season.
 


PeoriaHWKI said:
The Offense and Special Teams put the Defense in some bad positions. If we convert like we should have an eliminated the ST mistakes then we have another 10 win season.
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Perhaps, but how does that excuse giving up game losing 70+ yard drives to Arizona, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Ohio State and Minnesota? And nearly giving up one to Indiana?

Obviously, the offense and special teams did the defense no favors, but there were clear holes in our defense (especially at LB). When push came to shove, they could not make the stops they needed to (such as 4th and a mile against Ohio State).
 




There's always been a big hole in our pass defense. And please, don't allow a one on one matchup against our defense because our defense loses against that kind of matchup every time.
 
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cabse5 said:
There's always been a big hole in our pass defense. And please, don't allow a one on one matchup against our defense because our defense loses against that kind of matchup every time.
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We were damn good in 2009, but with the loss of Angerer, Edds and Spievey, we saw a drop in our pass defense. Just goes to show how vital those three were to our defense.
 


You're saying that Iowa's d would be better if they had their NFL quality athletes back? Duh.

That doesn't say as much for Parker's system as it does for the athlete. Besides, how credible can you be if you demand NFL quality athletes for the d to be good? Parker has attested (but not me), that good athletes don't come to Iowa because of the weather or lack of entertainment or something...

Among other things, like poor pass defense, this kind of explains the cyclical quality of Iowa's d.

BTW, what was tOSU's offensive rating when they won the national championship in 2002? I'm guessing it was pretty low. They had a great d though. You know the saying:(great) defense wins championships. Not (great run) defense wins championships.

Is TCU's DC available?

Edit: I've got to address this fallacy about Iowa's pass d being subpar because of "inexperienced" linebackers...
How well did Iowa's Eds and Angerer do against sophisticated passing attacks like, for example, NW or Indiana in, for example, 2009?
Not well.
How well did Iowa's Greenway and Hodge do against sophisticated passing attacks like, for example, NW or Indiana in, for example, 2006?
Not well.
Iowa's d traditionally has problems with teams who have sophisticated passing attacks.

later edit: I had to answer my own question so I looked up tOSU's total team offense stats for 2002, their championship year, from the NCAA site:

Ranked 70th nationally in total team offense.
Craig Krenziel (sp?) and that bunch.
An average of 364.50 yards per game.
A total of 5,103 yards.

As someone has already posted, Iowa ranked 77th nationally last year in total offense.

You can draw your own unbiased conclusions.


Who put the frowny face in my post?
Would the frowny face have appeared if I'd criticized KOK?
 
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