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

[Mademyaccount4u]

I saw an article recently about the pro game explaining how "base" (7 LB/DL, 4 DBs) is no longer base in the NFL. This defense only accounted for about 30% of defensive snaps in the pro-game, while nickel (5 DBs) accounted for 51% of the snaps. They talked about how this was trickling up from the college game, where even more teams are using 5-6 DBs the majority of the time to combat spread offenses.

As Icke said, Iowa has done a lot more nickel and dime the last few years. It will be interesting to see if they get even more creative with personnel packages this year with an experienced back end, along with relative inexperience at WLB and DE. It is not really in their nature, but it seems like they have the tools to potentially pull it off.

I can't help but to agree with this.

The question I've been thinking of isn't really the "aggressiveness" of the defense or more specifically bend don't break vs a high pressure defense. The implementation of these packages help quite a bit, however I wonder if Iowa would consider running a 3-4 or a 4-2-5 defense. It would be nice to have the "right guys" in on the majority of plays, especially given the number of teams out there that run the spread.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Thought fitting to resurrect this thread after the debacle to NDSU.

 

[PCHawk]

Thought fitting to resurrect this thread after the debacle to NDSU.

I just listened to the HN podcast and Jon said we are second to last in the nation on how many offensive plays we've run this year. We have big play running backs with a big play receiver and a very average oline. That means we are either going to score fast or punt fast. That explains why we've run such few plays.

Now add this to a defensive scheme that normally forces your defense to be on the field for a lot of plays and it makes it even worse on them. Getting killed in the 4th quarter isn't a Doyle problem. It's a Kirk prolem. If we are going to have I quick strike offense that gets off the field quick, we need a defense that gets off the field quick or we're going to see a lot more of what happened Saturday.