ESPNWisconsin Article: 'Born to Play Iowa'
- Thread starter HawkeyeHypnosis
- Start date
biasedHAWKEYE
Well-Known Member
That is a great primer article. One of the better ones I've read on ESPN in awhile.
HawkeyeMHA
Well-Known Member
This. The years where wisky has been good and we've beaten them is because we are a good match for them as well. In years past, when they've run it right at us, they've ran right at our strength, our d line and we've stuffed them. We are of course not as strong this year, but we will fight and scrap.
HawkeyeHypnosis
Well-Known Member
I have always loved this rivalry. Always seems to be evenly matched and a real dogfight. Can't wait to be in Kinnick Saturday.
HawkeyeMHA
Well-Known Member
Maybe another thread, but some good lbs on the field in Saturday with our three and Borland. Who do you take if you are neutral fan, Borland or Morris?
NEIChawk
Well-Known Member
no kidding, that's all we need is to have Anderson fist pump his daughter on the sidelines.......
HawkIMalaise
Banned
I have bad feeling we are not going to able to run against these guys, ala MSU.
HawkeyeMHA
Well-Known Member
Really? It's not even close?
HawkIMalaise
Banned
I guess I am not that "up" on this. Who is better?
HawkeyeMHA
Well-Known Member
Me neither apparently. I thought both were thought to be pretty good but not so per Hoffa....
DP5555
Well-Known Member
I generally respect your posts Hoffa... What do you mean by this?
I'm assuming you don't think Morris is even in the same category as Borland. I'm not sure I agree with that statement, and after I checked the stats I definitely don't agree. Borland gets more hype because he plays for a better team. I certainly understand stats don't tell the whole story. However, Morris is just as important to Iowa's defense as Borland is to Wisconsin's. If you are indeed insinuating that James isn't even comparable to Borland then I think you may be letting the media's hype slightly effect your opinion.
This year James Morris has played 8 games, has 64 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and one recovered fumble.
This year Chris Borland has 57 total tackles, 2 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 forced fumbles, 0 recovered fumbles...
That's not what I was expecting when I looked up the stats.
Biggusblockus
Well-Known Member
I'll take Morris against the run and at the goal line and also if I need a great SAT score.
I'll take Borland against the pass and as a blitzer.
Both are fine LBs and an asset to their teams and the B1G.
Ah yes the stat battle.
I did indeed look up the stats but you are aware those stats are with almost 2 extra games for Morris correct?
Morris is a decent LB but he gets caught out of position, gets washed out by blocks, misses open field tackles, and a lot of times is about a step slow in reading plays.
Again, stats don't tell the whole story you need to watch games and focus on only that position. If you do that you will be shocked how many times he is nowhere to be found or chasing.
DP5555
Well-Known Member
First of all, I made it clear in my post that I'm aware stats don't tell the whole story. Admittedly, I was not aware Morris had played 2 more games than Borland when looking at those stats. I'm sure that's why I was so surprised at the difference because prior to looking them up I had little doubt Borland's would be better. I was surprised how difficult it was for me to find individual defensive stats this time of year. Hawkeyesports made it pretty easy for James, but I had to do a little more digging for Borland's and by the time I found them I didn't even look at how many games he had played. However, even when you consider the fact James has played two more games one could argue he's still in the same category as Borland given his 3 picks, 4 sacks, and forced fumble.
I think Morris is having a much better year this year regarding the things you mention (getting caught out of position, getting washed out by blocks, missing tackles, and being a step slow). Those are problems that were glaring last year, but to be fair to James I think you have to consider the fact he was nursing an injury that slowed him down and he had a very young defensive line in front of him. This year he's healthy, the defensive line is playing better, and he's putting himself in position to make more plays. Sure he still misses tackles and makes the wrong reads occasionally. Show me a linebacker who doesn't. I think you're being a bit nitpicky.
kicker22
Well-Known Member
IMO I think Borland is the better player. That said, they are both very good lbs and that is by no means a slap in the face to Morris. The difference, IMO is that Borland appears to be involved in almost every play, while for Iowa it is one of the three lbs. Borland appears to be everywhere for Wiscy's D where as we have 3 lbs. that have that luxury. I think we're in a great situation where we've got three very solid linebackers, but again we're talking about 3 very good lbs. as a unit. Borland is one man that seems to be everywhere at once.
