When you reference OSU game, you are talking about 2009 where Kirk didnt let Vandenberg throw ball at end of game.
No, we are talking about how aggressiveness in the D may impact games this year and how the same "play to win" idea applies to D as well as epitomized by the 2010 game.
In 2010, Iowa wins if Clayborn makes stop on Pryor on that 4th down play. Pryor won that battle and OSU won game.
Somebody earlier mentioned the Persa quote about "knowing what Iowa was going to do" and I would like remind people that both Pryor and Tressel said after the game that the 4th down play was never going to be a pass. They knew Iowa would drop back into coverage like they did on the third down play before where Posey dropped the pass in the endzone. Think of that play as the first part of a double pump if you will. We ended up with 4 Iowa linemen against 6 Ohio players, odds favoring tOSU. Potential outcome is even on a running play.
In a more "aggressive" scheme Morris may have faked a drop back into coverage, for instance, and then blitzed like he did earlier in the game.
Granted this is risky because it could have left an open man in the uncovered zone but in this case Morris was looking at the turf in front of him. Putting pressure on Pryor may have forced him out of bounds. Putting pressure on Pryor may have caused one of the guys blocking Klug to release and pick up Morris giving Clayborn a better chance to make the play. Pryor's throwing was off when he was feeling pressure and a risky throw, w/ Morris bearing down on him, back across the field favors Iowa because the potential outcome favors the defender on a passing play.
In the scenario above the scheme forces Pryor to execute. As it played out, IIRC, the guard pulled off of Klug as Pryor ran to his left and double teamed Clayborn thus allowing Pryor a clear shot at a first down. The player that had to execute was the guard, not the man w/ the ball.
So the questions that arise are will other teams plan on Iowa dropping back into coverage in similar situations this year? Will Iowa actually blitz in a scenario like we faced against Ohio on that 4th down in 2010? What will the number of "big plays" given up look like?
The base 4/3 coverage is the same. We don't have a line like 2009/2010 (yet). Iowa is not going to blitz on every down, but when and how we blitz is going to be the key to success for this year's defense. Playing not to lose on D isn't going to cut it w/ the talent we have this year.