Downfall of the Bend but don't Break Defense??

MelroseHawkins

MelroseHawkins

Well-Known Member
This is basically the defensive game plan for Iowa the course of Ferentz's tenure at Iowa. We have all gotten used to it, giving up some yards between the 20's while hoping the offense makes a mistake that the defense can exploit. I've been fine with it all these years as have gotten used to it.

There is a downside to this game plan and Iowa has gotten bit by it at times in previous years. The problem arises when a defense has little depth at some positions and players don't get off the field and get tired. I recall this happening against Northwestern at times in the past, those teams where a defense is constantly chasing a QB on every play or against a team where the offense runs a fast pace with over 85-90 plays a game. Nothing breaks a D players back more than giving up a 3rd and 8, or worse, consecutive 3rd down conversions. This can happen when a D gets worn down.

This is where being able to get pressure on the QB is very important, to get some 3rd and outs and get off the field. Hopefully, Iowa has some decent depth to help as well.
 
Iowa doesn't sub very often during a series. the exception being injuries. They used to do this with the offense too, running our backs into the ground (Coker against MN a few years ago was a great example)

Teams with accurate QBs eat us alive. Problem is, because of our soft zone coverage most QB end up getting into a rhythm and we struggle to stop them. How many times have we seen a weak QB (or supposed to be weak) end up having the game of their life against us?

One thing that has never changed is KF adapting during the game until it's the very last grasp. We won't see blitz until we know for sure our DL can't make plays. We won't throw deep until we're down late.

Our defense is very frustrating to watch, and has been for the past six years. Teams know they have to spread us out, banking on our LB not being all world. I hope A. Nelson can really step up this year and get us some pass rush, otherwise we'll continue to see the same thing every week.
 
Teams with 4 downs at the end of the game also move the ball. It wasn't just KF. HF went the the Prevent Defense late in games with leads which led to Prevented Wins by the Hawks on a number of occasions. How many times have you heard Dolph late in the game referring to: The TIRED IOWA DEFENSE. Very frustrating.

I"m not seeing tremendous D quickness this year. PAST really good Iowa teams had surprising D Line and D End game speed. Maybe is my biggest concern for a tough but predictable Defense. The offense will largely be fine excepting speed at receiver.. .which could be a big issue against real teams.
 
That's why I've appreciated the implementation of the Raider package that has helped us get off the field faster on obvious 3rd down passing downs. It's a lot better than what we used to do when we sat back in our base quarters zone defense and let accurate, patient QBs pick us apart. It was death by a thousand papercuts.
 
The worst thing is our defensive philosophy is its OK to give up yards as long as they don't score while our offensive philosophy is its OK if we don't score as long as we get yards. It's so strange to be so overly concerned about winning the field position battle on one side of the ball yet so willing to lose field position on the other.
 
One thing I've always noticed (and maybe it's common with every team) is if we don't get a 3 and out, we're in trouble. It's like the qb just needs to complete that one 3rd down play to turn into Montana against us.
 
Name of the game is pass rush... Collapsing the pocket against a non mobile QB is what makes Iowa does successful. I agree it seems like in 2nd halfs of games Iowa's Dline and D overall just tires. Against Miami Iowa scored so quickly in the first quarter it put the D right back out there giving them more and more snaps to get going. Their QB seemed pretty decent to me only made 2 or 3 questionable decisions/bad throws. Otherwise he was good I'll be curious how they do the rest of the way. I didn't expect him to be capable of a game like that.
I wonder if we'll see more of the Raider package this wk and just more aggressive play overall. This is a game they obviously want to not mess around and let them hang around and have any hope. If Iowa can get up 4 scores on them or more you do it....
 
HawkGold said:
Teams with 4 downs at the end of the game also move the ball. It wasn't just KF. HF went the the Prevent Defense late in games with leads which led to Prevented Wins by the Hawks on a number of occasions. How many times have you heard Dolph late in the game referring to: The TIRED IOWA DEFENSE. Very frustrating.

I"m not seeing tremendous D quickness this year. PAST really good Iowa teams had surprising D Line and D End game speed. Maybe is my biggest concern for a tough but predictable Defense. The offense will largely be fine excepting speed at receiver.. .which could be a big issue against real teams.
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I've noticed that too. In a position where the opponent has to go for it on 4th down, we struggle bad. It's just too easy to gain 10 yards on 4 plays against a soft defense.

That's why we almost always give up late garbage tds. It's either a touchdown or a turnover. I can probably count on one hand the number of times our opponent turned it over on downs late in a game in the last 1 years.
 
SpiderRico said:
That's why I've appreciated the implementation of the Raider package that has helped us get off the field faster on obvious 3rd down passing downs. It's a lot better than what we used to do when we sat back in our base quarters zone defense and let accurate, patient QBs pick us apart. It was death by a thousand papercuts.
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Imagine how much better our past great defenses would have been with that package.
 
SpiderRico said:
If we had run that package in 2010, we might have a Nat'l Championship under our belt.....or at least a Rose Bowl Championship.
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That was the first year that came to mind. 09 would have looked better during the games but record wise it didn't really hurt.
 
SpiderRico said:
If we had run that package in 2010, we might have a Nat'l Championship under our belt.....or at least a Rose Bowl Championship.
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I truly believe this might have happened. Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Northwestern could have easily turned out different if we could have gotten off the feild. If we win those 3 games, no way we lose to Minnesota. Not sure if it would have helped against Arizona tho.
 
KF and their style under both Parkers is to stop the run and stop big pass plays. I overall agree with that because I remember 2 of Fry's teams that could not stop the run, 1994 maybe and his last team. if you can't stop the run u are sunk. Miami ran too well against us.

the only thing I really hate is playing soft on defensive long yardage plays. I believe in getting in the face of college qbs as most of them are not pro material. the raider pkg allows the hawks to keep them guessing and bring an unblocked rusher.
 
You do realize we went 12-0 in the regular season with this defensive philosophy. I'd rather see us not give up big plays for TD's like you see so many defenses do these days. Make an offense earn it. I know many won't want to hear this, but statistically the more plays an offense has to run the less likely they are to score. Yes I know there are exceptions to this.
 
IAHAWK1982 said:
You do realize we went 12-0 in the regular season with this defensive philosophy. I'd rather see us not give up big plays for TD's like you see so many defenses do these days. Make an offense earn it. I know many won't want to hear this, but statistically the more plays an offense has to run the less likely they are to score. Yes I know there are exceptions to this.
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It worked against Wisky and almost did against MSU. Of course you also realize Iowa didn't play OSU and MI and allowed a not so good Nebby team to stay in the game.

12 and 0 is a very good accomplishment though. If they'd stopped MSU we'd all being singing the virtues. Knowing how it turned out we all would have like to have seen some change up. MSU had more firepower for trench warfare than did Wisky.
 
people act like the point of the defense is to keep the D on the field and not get 3 and outs?? The goal of the defense is to always stop teams as quickly as possible and get the offense the ball back. However, I agree with the defensive philosophy that says you would rather give up a first down than a long play for a TD. It is harder for the other team to score if you force them to keep trying to convert on 3rd downs.
 
I think Iowa started to blitz a bit more last year, mainly out of need I would guess. It seemed a few times a game they brought a d-back. Iowa's always had the best luck if they can successfully get pressure with the front four but that is not always the case. I like the philosophy of blitzing a college QB. Yes, you give the other team a chance at a fast break but that QB has to make the correct read.

Blitzing is not mainly about always sacking the QB. It's really about speeding the clock up in the QB and making do something they really didn't want to do. I guess I don't mind the Bend but don't break D, but mix in several blitzes a game just to keep the QB off kilter a bit, get into his head. If you NEVER blitz they get comfortable. If you blitz 8-12 times a game, they have to game plan even more and you can get into his head. Make them play your speed.
 
IAHAWK1982 said:
You do realize we went 12-0 in the regular season with this defensive philosophy. I'd rather see us not give up big plays for TD's like you see so many defenses do these days. Make an offense earn it. I know many won't want to hear this, but statistically the more plays an offense has to run the less likely they are to score. Yes I know there are exceptions to this.
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When we have a good offense like this year, I would rather give up one big play for a score than give up a long scoring drive. It keeps our defense off the field so they don't get tired, gets our offense back on the field quicker, and keeps their quarterback on the sideline instead of allowing him to get comfortable on the field. When you have the best team, giving up a quick score is better than giving up a 12 play drive score.
 
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