Hawkeye Defense: How do we get better?

[HawkeyeMcNutt]

Here's for all of the ways you think we can improve, with minor personnel changes, scheme things, etc. This defense has two weeks to get ready for the biggest stretch of the year, what do we need to see out of these guys the next two weeks to feel confident going into the home stretch?

 

[Xerxes]

I don't think Iowa is going to change much scheme wise. They never really have. Maybe run a bit more nickel with Lowery back.

Really the only way the defense is going to get better is to play better.

They've done about all you can ask of them to do the last 2 weeks. They've played well enough that coupled with a solid offensive performance, the game should be won.

 

[olivecourt]

Get healthy.

 

[DTF]

Play better

 

[big10fan]

not play the base 4-3 late in the game in obvious passing situations, would be a nice start. feel bad seeing a less than 100 percent Nielsen out there guarding Ebert all night.

 

[CAARHawk]

Playing will help. Although they went at Neilson a lot and abused him frequently, he did come up on that short pass with the type of urgency the Hawks need. So, I think the more he plays, the stronger he will get.

Prater needs to play too. Remember he was one of the Rhabdo group. Might still be feeling the effects of reduced workouts, etc.

More play for guys like Bigach and Donatell will also help.

This is what is nice about the next couple of weeks.

 

[TylerSash]

I thin we should get some better players, specifically on the DL and at LB.

 

[bud2380]

Our 1st and 2nd down D was good last night. Our 3rd down D was one of the worst performances in school history. When we blitzed on 3rd down it was effective more times than not. I really think that on 3rd downs we will need to blitz more often and take our chances. We have to find ways to get off the field. Our D line actually played their best game of the year in terms of getting pressure. But Persa is just so good that you can't just get pressure, you have to hit him. I think the D can improve a little bit, especially on 3rd down, but the coaches also have to be willing to tweak things a bit more.

 

[JonDMiller]

This defense is close to being what it is. It's gonna take another year in the weight room and another year on the recruiting trails. Norm can push a few buttons, but this defense can only do so much IMO.

It starts with the kind of effort they gave last night as far as energy..they made some strides in contain (Alvis did) and the secondary didn't give up the huge play.

They can tackle better, too.

But I think people need to understand that this year is just going to be a drop off from the last three Top 10 national defenses Iowa has had.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Our 1st and 2nd down D was good last night. Our 3rd down D was one of the worst performances in school history. When we blitzed on 3rd down it was effective more times than not. I really think that on 3rd downs we will need to blitz more often and take our chances. We have to find ways to get off the field. Our D line actually played their best game of the year in terms of getting pressure. But Persa is just so good that you can't just get pressure, you have to hit him. I think the D can improve a little bit, especially on 3rd down, but the coaches also have to be willing to tweak things a bit more.

This...times ten. You can't stay in a base defense on 3rd and 5-8 yards all the time. NW was 16-22 on third down and that includes the 3rd and longs. I would say they were 15-18 on 3rd and less than 8 yards. That's ridiculous and I'll say it...poor coaching. The worst thing that could have happened last night is that the first few NW drives into our red zone were thwarted. It kept us in our scheme or strategy the rest of the night.

The funny thing is that I thought the D line played very well and was relentless despite playing 90 plays. Binns really showed up tonight, but I haven't seen anyone talking him up. Both he and Daniels were disruptive, and Alvis flashed a few times also. I thought they played well.

That being said, you are playing a team whose offense is designed to get 5-7 yards on every play. And they are excellent at doing it. Coulter will simply pick up where Persa left off next year.

The only reason we won this game is because the NW defense may be the worst defense in CFB. How many times do you see WR 15 yards behind a DB in major college ball? Rarely.

 

[SouthSideHawk]

Basically, stop losing recruited defensive line players. John Raymon was the latest to head out. I'm not sure what the problems are in that area. I have mys suspicions. I will leave it at that.

 

[Saginawbay]

I think the defense is just about what it is going to be for this season. We did play better on defense NWestern moves the ball on every team it plays. All the defense can do is keep playing hard and trying to get better during practice which they will.

 

[olivecourt]

Our 1st and 2nd down D was good last night. Our 3rd down D was one of the worst performances in school history. When we blitzed on 3rd down it was effective more times than not. I really think that on 3rd downs we will need to blitz more often and take our chances. We have to find ways to get off the field. Our D line actually played their best game of the year in terms of getting pressure. But Persa is just so good that you can't just get pressure, you have to hit him. I think the D can improve a little bit, especially on 3rd down, but the coaches also have to be willing to tweak things a bit more.

I'm not certain about that. I remember we got burned a few times on the blitz, one of which resulted in a NW touchdown. Several of our sacks and hurries were on a four man rush.

 

[FalseMirage]

Practice, practice, practice.

 

[racerhawk]

Hope for a healthy defensive squad...get some guys back from injury.
Hopefully improve over the next two weeks. They are definitely winnable games and Iowa could be 6-2 when they face Michigan.

Maybe they'll be a little more consistent down the stretch in terms of lapses in the secondary, and perhaps the D line will continue to improve.

I think that's all we can ask.

The offense is going to need to keep putting points on the board, just like last night.

 

[hwks1]

We need the Offense to step up! Until the 4th qtr this game was win or lose or lose for the Defense becasue the Offense was a no show! The defense scored 10 points in this game - take away the pick 6 and Northwestern wins this game.....

The offense was horrible (given the opponent) through three quarters. There is a reason why TOP was so lopsided... we went 3 and out and they went on a 5minute game control drive. The offense has to be able to control the game.

This was supposed to be the best Oline in the confernce and we had 50yds rushing in the first half! About 20 of that came on one Coker run. The offense was miserable yesterday.

 

[olivecourt]

We need the Offense to step up! Until the 4th qtr this game was win or lose or lose for the Defense becasue the Offense was a no show! The defense scored 10 points in this game - take away the pick 6 and Northwestern wins this game.....

The offense was horrible (given the opponent) through three quarters. There is a reason why TOP was so lopsided... we went 3 and out and they went on a 5minute game control drive. The offense has to be able to control the game.

This was supposed to be the best Oline in the confernce and we had 50yds rushing in the first half! About 20 of that came on one Coker run. The offense was miserable yesterday.

I'm not exactly certain what the offense was supposed to do for the 9+ minutes they didn't touch the ball in the 1st quarter. I guess Tanner Miller should have taken a knee so that we could have more TOP. That's the point of the game, right? To win TOP? They probably should have thought of that when they went 3 plays for 72 yards and a TD in the 2nd quarter. Much better to do what NW did-- two consecutive 10-play drives that resulted in zero points.

Seriously, it was a fluky first half, and we had a 10-point lead at the end of it. Step away from the ledge.

 

[JHHawk]

NW is the most efficient passing team in the league,and Persa is the best precision passer around. Since he came back vs Illini(until he was dinged) they have been doing the same to the Illini,Michigan and Iowa...making first downs and moving the ball. Different defensive schemes from all three opponents,yet they moved the ball with ease.
So, going forward,we play IU,who does not have a Persa type technician at QB,Minny,who does not also, Michigan,whose passer is erratic,MSU,with Cousins,the closest passer to Persa,PU, frosh qb who is not as accurate,and Neb,whose passer is simply bad. The way I see it, we will not be pinpricked to death like Persa does the rest of the year.
Now, those other teams have better defenses and more big play guys,so no cakewalk,but I think our defense just needs to continue to improve the pass rush,be sticky on the run,and get a few picks,and they will be good enough.

 

[HawkeyeMHA]

Have all our D-lineman doing gassers all day long every day until they can do them no more. We aren't the biggest, strongest, or quickest. The one thing we have to do is be in the best shape so we can pressure. Work them hard coaches!

 

[herky01]

I think the defense was pretty dang good last night, especially considering Morris, Nardo were out and Nielsen isn't 100%. Hopefully, now they know what level of energy they need to play with to win. This defense is also better against non-power running teams, so good thing we're not in the other division. Get Lowery on the slot receiver instead of a linebacker and we'll be in business. I think this team should have a good chance against Michigan.