HawkeyeGameFilm: Defensive Analysis from Iowa's Open Practice
- Thread starter JonDMiller
- Start date
Great read. Thanks to HGF for taking the time. I was pleased to read about the dee tackles getting low, getting penetration etc. I was hoping to hear the Dee Ends were showing real promise at holding the edge but maybe they did. I did notice McMinn added some weight but still looked speedy. It sounds like overall the dee line might be able to stand up the off line and disrupt their movement with some penetration.
From the review if the cornerbacks can play good man to man and let the linebackers and safeties play good defense up the middle then the defense can be improved (and they werent all that bad last year but more inconsistent and gave up big stats in a few games, NU, MIch, PSU).
From the review if the cornerbacks can play good man to man and let the linebackers and safeties play good defense up the middle then the defense can be improved (and they werent all that bad last year but more inconsistent and gave up big stats in a few games, NU, MIch, PSU).
SheagleHawk
Well-Known Member
Fantastic write-up. Thank you. Was really hoping Tanner Miller would not see the field this year. Hopefully he's greatly improved.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
Thanks HGF for the breakdown. I think that the D will be good enough to win games (per usual). Wins will come if the O can put up points. It would help of course if the D could be a little more firm with more 3 and outs, and getting more TO to set up the O. I think the improved DL play will help.....now if the DE would come along, we all know Iowa is toughest when good in the trenches.
Nice write up. The DEs are still a work in progress but I think will be more effective than in 2012. Especially if Davis becomes a factor inside along with LTP or Cooper. That will require teams give them more attention and possibly help DEs. I can see McMinn or Ott being used in passing situations with Hardy or Faith being used on running downs. More alternating and using strengths of players.
For DBs, situation seems similar to last year. I expect Tanner Miller to be much improved. Will see if Nico can live up to his internet hype or not.
For DBs, situation seems similar to last year. I expect Tanner Miller to be much improved. Will see if Nico can live up to his internet hype or not.
donho24
Well-Known Member
HGF and JM, thanks for writing & posting - a great read! Apologize in advance if this question has already been asked at some point, but - is there any chance Cooper gets slid out to DE if LTP and Davis are a solid combo inside? Sort of like when Ballard slid inside to balance the line in 2009 (I think).
Thanks.
Thanks.
Translation: "I am as behind the times as KF in understanding today's football." Explain what exactly counts as a running down in any offense besides Iowa.
hawkeyegamefilm
Well-Known Member
Not sure what Iowa is going to do with the other defensive end spot right now. The biggest concern to me with sliding out one of the DTs is the fact that Iowa will face a ton of athletic, mobile QBs. Not the least of which is Jordan Lynch of Northern Illinois who they'll see week 1. If I'm Iowa, I want a guy who can keep Lynch in the pocket by taking proper angles and not being overly aggressive. Lynch isn't quite as quick as Denard Robinson or Taylor Martinez but he's not far off either. If I'm coaching against NIU I'm putting my most athletic/rangy DE out there; as long as he can play smart contain football that is. A big of part of smart contain on the edge is proper angles and not just running as fast as you can at guys. It sounds really easy but when the bullets start flying, it can be hard to play smart assignment football.
I like the idea of Iowa being deep at DT this year; it will allow for a solid rotation where guys stay fresh longer. Ferentz mentioned this off-season that LTP had "dead legs" late in the '12 season and the is largely due to having to play so many snaps. LTP was severely undersized in '12 and had to bring it hard every play to be effective and that takes a toll on the body over a the 12 game season. If Davis is able to be an impact guy, Cooper and LTP are already known quantities who can be solid contributors. Both LTP and Cooper have shown flashes of being impact guys as well. Behind them is Johnson who looks to be ready to contribute as well. Hardy can also step down inside at times as well if he's not playing DE.
How about third and two/short where you still want to crash down from the end.
DP5555
Well-Known Member
Week 1 will be a stiff test all around. NIU is a legit challenge. If memory serves me correctly I think NIU started 5 new players on the offensive line last year. At the time, I thought this was a huge advantage in Iowa's favor, but boy was I wrong. They performed very well considering they all lacked experience. I believe their most experienced lineman got hurt just before the Iowa game, and they were already replacing the other 4.
So if I'm correct in that assumption then I would guess NIU will be returning all 5 of their starting OL from last year... a year where they ended up in a freakin BCS game. Now they all have a years worth of experience. I sure hope Iowa's d-line has made some major improvements or it could be a rocky start.
So if I'm correct in that assumption then I would guess NIU will be returning all 5 of their starting OL from last year... a year where they ended up in a freakin BCS game. Now they all have a years worth of experience. I sure hope Iowa's d-line has made some major improvements or it could be a rocky start.
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hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
Ferentz-ism #6:
On every team KFz has his "I'm sticking with this guy no matter how bad he looks" player. (sometimes more than one).
There is only two ways I know of to play a running qb. They are almost opposite of each other, either you do as you said or you try and get your DE's to crash to the inside and hope the whole DL gets a good push. This forces the runner to start his run several yards back futher than normal. At that point you need fast lb's to catch them behind the los or at the los in a side to side run. You also need to be ready to play man, incase they can throw a little on the run. Really you are forcing them out, but you have to be able to catch them if you do. I think this works because a running qb, when he sees the pocket getting crashed will almost always take off running for his life.
Who is his backup?
hawkeyegamefilm
Well-Known Member
Anthony Gair. Has some potential but is very raw and is likely to have plenty of growing pains if he were to play this year. Miller needs to step his level of play up and avoid mishaps, something he didn't do down the stretch in '12. All in all the whole defense needs to flush that last half of '12; need to improve across the board in '13 and look capable of doing it.
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Last year NIU had a very veteran defense,with a number of newbies on offense. And we struggled to move the ball against that vet defense,while their offense was just ok(Lynch's 73 yd TD run was much of their offense).
This year, they only return 3 starters on defense,while their offense has 7 guys back. Lynch is a stud,and will be touted for the Heisman,but only if they win.
I like our chances at Kinnick. We will have to contain Lynch,but he is more of a runner threat than passing stud,so somewhat one-dimensional. Our offense will get a chance to get some early momentum in this game vs a defense that will be pretty green. NIU has a new head coach,and that could also impact them.
I think if Davis can come around and Johnson can provide some depth there is a chance cooper could move to de. He played it a little last year and since he doesn't seem like he can bull rush up the middle to collapse his motor and speed could be useful on the outside. I am hoping for 3 dts to rotate and hopefully 2 des with a specialist pass rushing de who comes in with ears pinned back on downs like 3rd and 10+.
on another note I really like that the offense went no huddle as our defense has struggled against that in the past. Practicing more regularly against it should help with our conditioning and understanding of how to combat it.
on another note I really like that the offense went no huddle as our defense has struggled against that in the past. Practicing more regularly against it should help with our conditioning and understanding of how to combat it.
You have very little understanding of the read option or pistol by how you are talking about the D-Ends. You need to do a little studying up on how these offenses key off the D Ends.
