HawkeyeMHA
Well-Known Member
But can we outscore them? they've been doing what they do a lot longer than we have. I hope so
How to defend Northwestern?
- Thread starter HawkeyeMHA
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But can we outscore them? they've been doing what they do a lot longer than we have. I hope so
RocknRollface
Well-Known Member
Since 05 NWs offense, has averaged 20 points against Iowa so its not as if the D has been terrible. The scheme usually works but it does take allot of time off the clock.
If not for all the weird circumstances with fumbles and injuries and onside kicks, Iowa would have won most of those games.
That being said, I say play press coverage and blitz, for 3 reasons.
1. NW is not a big play sort of offense, they are a bunch of smart guys who are not great athletes. They can out think our zone defense and don't make the mistakes we count on most teams making. Iowa has superior athletes, stop playing into their hands.
2. The element of surprise. The last thing they would be expecting is Iowa to come out with a press and blitz game plan. How many times do we have to hear, "we knew exactly what they were going to do." For once id like to hear, "we had no idea they were going to do that"
3. Iowa can win in a shootout, it actually plays into our hands. If we blitz with press coverage it makes them try to go for big plays, something they are not as good at as Iowa is.
Yes we will give up some big plays but we will also get sacks and get them off the field one way or the other. I like Iowas odds of getting more sacks and TOs than giving up Tds, and I like our odds of outscoring them through the air.
If not for all the weird circumstances with fumbles and injuries and onside kicks, Iowa would have won most of those games.
That being said, I say play press coverage and blitz, for 3 reasons.
1. NW is not a big play sort of offense, they are a bunch of smart guys who are not great athletes. They can out think our zone defense and don't make the mistakes we count on most teams making. Iowa has superior athletes, stop playing into their hands.
2. The element of surprise. The last thing they would be expecting is Iowa to come out with a press and blitz game plan. How many times do we have to hear, "we knew exactly what they were going to do." For once id like to hear, "we had no idea they were going to do that"
3. Iowa can win in a shootout, it actually plays into our hands. If we blitz with press coverage it makes them try to go for big plays, something they are not as good at as Iowa is.
Yes we will give up some big plays but we will also get sacks and get them off the field one way or the other. I like Iowas odds of getting more sacks and TOs than giving up Tds, and I like our odds of outscoring them through the air.
CPHAWK82
Well-Known Member
Can't expect d line to create pressure so we need our linebackers to be fast enough to cover their receivers. Fitzgerald always takes advantage of our scheme and does his little dink and dunk passes. If our linebackers can get to their spots quicker to break up more of those passes I think we'll be in good shape.
