Hawks are decimated at Linebacker

ChosenChildren said:
Well, if you want to finish better than 7-5, then you better solve your linebacking situation quickly. Some thoughts:

1. Play a 5-2 instead of 4-3 (in other words, play all 5 of your stud defensive linemen)?
2. Move Sash to outside linebacker (the kid can run and he can hit; surprised they haven't already thought about that).

You are not going to get consistent defensive stops in this league with redshirt freshmen LBs. Not gonna happen.
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Just playing devil's advocate here because I don't think we'll see wholesale scheme changes over the course of just one week's practice time...

1. What happens when MSU goes 4 wide or trips to one side? Change our traditional Cover 2/4 shell and go with Cover 3 this week, thus covering down a safety...?

2. Moving Sash to OLB might help in pass coverage, but we'd get brutalized to his side against the run. And who do you take out? Nielsen? He's a strong side backer, so Sash would have to take on a TE in the running game. Hunter? He's great against the run but so-so against the pass, so you are flopping your strength there. Finally, putting Sash at OLB puts Donatell into the starting lineup at safety.:eek: [Nothing personal meant against Donatell by the :eek: face]


I think we have to dance with what got us here, but we might have to take a few more chances within that scheme. We might have to dare blitz once or twice per possession. We might have to vary our coverages in obvious passing downs. We might need to do something that MSU hasn't really seen from us before, but not to the extent that we change our entire identity.
 
I think the best cure for the problems at LB and defense in general are to trust the offense more. Its clear to just about everyone that the O is very strong this year. The reason we've been able to weather injuries the past few years is because the majority have been on the offensive side (RB, OL, TE, QB) with a few sporadic D injuries thrown in. That plays into our strategy to play conservative and lean on the D. Well when there are deep injuries to the defense, the strategy doesn't work.

I know defense wins championships, etc, and I don't think our D will be terrible, but it will need help. The coaches need to accept this and playcall to our strengths.
 
TChawk said:
7-5 with all the talent on this team would be a disgrace. If that is all this team ends up to be then it will be the most disappointing season ever in Iowa football history.

That being said with the way the D and special teams have been playing it is very likely that it happens.
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Actually the '97 season would be on par with this one if the hawks end up 7-5 this year.

As I stated in another post, i actually think Troy Johnson is better suited at the WIL than the Mike, but given the injuries......there aren't many options.
 
trj said:
Actually the '97 season would be on par with this one if the hawks end up 7-5 this year.

As I stated in another post, i actually think Troy Johnson is better suited at the WIL than the Mike, but given the injuries......there aren't many options.
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Well, with Hunter likely sidelined, do you think that maybe we go with Morris at Mike and move Johnson back to his more natural position? Given our predicament, that's a lineup I wouldn't mind seeing.
 
On the first two deep, Johnson was listed behind Nielsen at the strongside spot though...did they initially have Johnson out of position for some reason?
 
I think it is likely that Johnson moves to Will this week and Morris gets his first start at Mike. Johnson is banged up too, so it is possible that Tillison could start at Will alongside Morris. The problem here is while Morris looks very good in limited reps he is pretty undersized right now. For those of you wanting more blitz packages that is unlikely with a freshman in the line up at the Mike.
 
Discussions about Johnson to the WILL spot...you are under the assumption that Hunter won't be able to go at all?
 
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tm3308 said:
Well, with Hunter likely sidelined, do you think that maybe we go with Morris at Mike and move Johnson back to his more natural position? Given our predicament, that's a lineup I wouldn't mind seeing.
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Dude, I dunno.... I'm just a fan, just a blue collar schmuck, I really don't know what you do at this point.

Are you comfortable with a 19 year old 205 lb LB calling signals and making sure everyone is lined up properly against a balanced #5 team in the nation? Personally, I'm not. I haven't checked the two deeps, but people are tossing out Dibona name. Apparently , Petersen isn't good enough and everyone else isn't ready. You are more closer to the scene than I am, you tell me?
 
trj said:
Dude, I dunno.... I'm just a fan, just a blue collar schmuck, I really don't know what you do at this point.

Are you comfortable with a 19 year old 205 lb LB calling signals and making sure everyone is lined up properly against a balanced #5 team in the nation? Personally, I'm not. I haven't checked the two deeps, but people are tossing out Dibona name. Apparently , Petersen isn't good enough and everyone else isn't ready. You are more closer to the scene than I am, you tell me?
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Story is he bulked up to 235-240 this summer and I think he looks the part anyway.
 
hawkfarmer said:
Story is he bulked up to 235-240 this summer and I think he looks the part anyway.
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Looking at how some these safeties are built nowadays it is hard to tell the difference between 205 and 240. At one point he was listed at 205, you could be right he could have been doylized and now is 240.
 
trj said:
Looking at how some these safeties are built nowadays it is hard to tell the difference between 205 and 240. At one point he was listed at 205, you could be right he could have been doylized and now is 240.
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Just what I heard at the beginning of the fall. He looks bigger than 205 on the sidelines during warm ups too. he's no small guy
 
trj said:
Dude, I dunno.... I'm just a fan, just a blue collar schmuck, I really don't know what you do at this point.

Are you comfortable with a 19 year old 205 lb LB calling signals and making sure everyone is lined up properly against a balanced #5 team in the nation? Personally, I'm not. I haven't checked the two deeps, but people are tossing out Dibona name. Apparently , Petersen isn't good enough and everyone else isn't ready. You are more closer to the scene than I am, you tell me?
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Morris came into camp at least 225. Where he is at now IDK.
 
hawkfarmer said:
Just what I heard at the beginning of the fall. He looks bigger than 205 on the sidelines during warm ups too. he's no small guy
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He could very well be 240, still a lot of responsibility to put on that kid's shoulders. I understand he is very cerebral and has the athleticism to match....but he was just playing 2A ball a year ago. Clearly T. Johnson is struggling at the Mike.....at this point, wtf, why not.
 
I'm confused. Didn't Hunter reenter the game after he hurt his knee? Why would he be out for Saturday if he came back in? Am I missing something?

I know KF said he was dinged up but is he for sure out?
 
There's been no official word on Hunter, but at least based on the rumors (FWIW), he doesn't sound likely to go this week.

And Morris definitley looks to be much bigger than 205. I'M 210, and Morris absolutely dwarfs me. And I'd be willing to bet that he has much more muscle mass than I do.
 
I'm currently hoping that Morris covers the MIKE spot and that Johnson gets slid over to the WILL spot. I'm anticipating that we'll likely NOT see either Hunter or Tarp in the game.
 
Iowa is going to need to score on just about every possession Saturday to have a chance against Michigan State....and most of those will need to be TD's.

Our depleted defense is not going to stop them any better than they did Wisconsin.
 
83Hawk said:
Iowa is going to need to score on just about every possession Saturday to have a chance against Michigan State....and most of those will need to be TD's.

Our depleted defense is not going to stop them any better than they did Wisconsin.
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Its not really possible to stop them any less
 
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