Anyone want to run down why we've been so successful against PSU?
Here's some of my thoughts: We run a similar offensive style to that of PSU. That allows for us to have defensive personnel and practice time that is well-fitted to play it. The over achievement of Iowa's program, generally, is best utilized when we can play teams that are similar to ourselves in style but does not have the same level of player development we do.
PSU still outrecruits Iowa because of their superior recruiting base, but their recruiting isn't at the level it was 15 years ago. Iowa's recruiting, while hamstrung with a small recruiting base, is focused on areas that the Midwest is strongest at in prep production: OL, and DL.
Iowa's superior player development more than makes up for the closing gap in the schools recruiting while the programs strengths mirrors the strengths of the prep production that they recruit out of. It's a program built around the lines and that fits well the available talent.
Strength and Conditioning(a big part of player devo). One of the best S&C coaches in the country is Chris Doyle. His style and knowledge of S&C are at the cutting edge of the profession. PSU's John Thomas, is a competent S&C coach, but is more consistent with a style of S&C(HIT) that is generally loathed by the greater S&C community both in the larger college and pro levels. The periodized, Olympic, and free weight based program of Doyle is considered the better S&C style by most sports scientists. We get more physically from our players than they do.
A sub-category of the closing gap in recruiting and PSU's sub-par player development is at QB. The most important position on the field. QB's are more likely to fall into the "born not made"(obviously neither are entirely true but by degrees more born than made) category than most positions. Take a look five star QB's coming out of high school the last 5-6 years: Tebow, Cam Newton, Gabbert, Sanchez, Mallett, Clausen, and Andrew Luck are some of the highly ranked prep QB's the last 5-6 years. Heisman trophy winners and guys who were close to that level. One of the highest ranked QB's that came out of traditionally QB rich Pennsylvania was Chad Henne and he chose UM. PSU's QB recruiting hasn't been bad at getting star QB's but even when they have they haven't been stars the last 10 seasons. Michael Robinson was successful, but Morelli? Kevin Newsome? PSU's built in edge over teams that they should beat regularly if the world were aligned simply along the lines of recruiting bases, facilities and traditions hasn't worked out. They've either wiffed on getting star QB's or when they have gotten them in most cases they haven't worked out up to expectations.
Iowa's had success with much lesser rated QB recruits. No top of the NFL Draft types but productive QB's that in most cases are comparable or better to PSU's QB's the last 10 seasons.
Tom Bradley and Norm Parker are both excellent DC's so wouldn't really consider that as an edge for Iowa.
Some other important player development aspects to the program are outstanding position coaches-Every position group coach on defense has been outstanding. Phil Parker, both because of his length of service at Iowa and his production of his players, has been outstanding. Bob Sanders is a Pennsylvania boy that Pitt nor PSU were interested in, and he's been one of the best safeties in the country the last decade. Multi-year All-American, pro bowler and a one time AFC Defensive MVP. All-Conference and future NFL starters include DB's Sean Considine, Matt Bowens, Bradley Fletcher, Chris Godfrey, Amari Spievey, Tyler Sash etc. Most or all weren't worthy of a scholarship offer by PSU but ended up excelling.
QB coaching-Jay Paterno has been harshly attacked. I'd say given the advantage of more raw QB talent over than of QB/OC coach Ken O'Keefe has out coached him.
Offensive position coaches like Reese Morgan(and Kirk Ferentz is also a huge hand on the OL) and more recently, WR coach Erik Campbell have been very good. PSU's OL often seems a liability, or at least, not a strength.
Neither OC for either Iowa or PSU is well-loved by the fans of their respective fan bases but both are competent coaches who with solid talent can direct productive offenses. So, probably not a significant edge there.
So, without going into every nuance of it I'd say some main reasons Iowa has been similar offensive styles that play to Iowa's strengths. Superior over-all(not saying EVERY position coach at Iowa is better)position coaching and a S&C program heavily contributing to Iowa out perfroming their recruiting rankings and overall success. PSU's fade as a recruiter(not going to bash Joe Pa here but I'd think his age has played some role), and perhaps as a developer of talent. Iowa, then, has really done a lot with a little over the course of the last 10 seasons whereas PSU even with generally more talent has not had the level of player development that can compensate for their dips in recruiting.
A unspoken but significant one may simply be Ferentz over Paterno. Ferentz has put together an overachieving staff. He has an excellent grasp of the game and he's an excellent teacher of the game. In those important respects he may be very similar to what Paterno was as a younger coach. Ferentz may never be the coach Paterno once was but he's certainly very good, and that may most manifest itself in the PSU-Iowa game in game preparation. Iowa's teams have been very well-prepared for PSU in strategy and execution and a lot of that success(and failure) must be directed to the men at the top.
We Beat Penn St a lot!
