JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
I was just chatting with a co-worker in the hallway...and he asked me the question I get asked about 50 times a week around town: So what do you think?
As in, what do I think about this week's game. Here is what I wrote last night
I wouldn't call that pessimistic, I wouldn't call it optimistic. Perhaps it's realistic. Then again, every person thinks his or her opinion is realistic, and unless others fall in line behind them, they are pessimists or optimists. But I digress.
I kept coming back to Terrelle Pryor and his comments from this week:
“The game plan we have in this week is one of my favorites since I’ve been here,†Pryor told reporters after practice on Wednesday. “I really like it."
When asked if he likes it better than that Rose Bowl game plan, Pryor said, “Yeah … more. It’s my favorite one since I’ve been here.â€
Iowa boasts the Big Ten’s best rushing defense, allowing just 86.8 yards per game. But the Hawkeyes are just eighth in the Big Ten in passing defense.
Does that mean Pryor will throw more than the season-low 13 attempts he had against Penn State?
“I think it depends on how we have to carry on and the way the game is flowing,†Pryor said. “That’s what Coach is so good at. Some people think that we go at a slow tempo. But if it’s needed …â€
You can read the entire story here
I guess I am of the opinion that if Ohio State is seriously considering adjusting the tempo of their offense, I consider that to be a good thing. This is an offense that has put up 43 points on the average in its last three games.
They scored just 18 on the road at Wisconsin, the last time they lost, and Wisconsin's defense isn't a world beating group.
In the article linked above, Pryor talked about how Iowa's defense was dead tired against Northwestern in the fourth quarter last week. They were. Part of that had to do with Iowa being 2-14 on third downs in the game and forcing the defense to keep hitting the field en route to a 50-play second half for the NW offense.
Ohio State does not regularly run a hurry up tempo. If they go to that early in the game, I don't think it will have the desired results...especially if the Iowa offense can move the ball a bit.
Now, if the Iowa offense struggles, it won't matter much.
But if you get a Top 10 team and one of the best programs in the nation to seriously consider breaking away from what it does week in and week out, they are worried about something...OR, they see a glaring opportunity. If its the latter, I just don't think they can execute at the tenor or tempo that Michigan and Northwestern execute their offenses at, since those programs do it every day in practice in the fall, the summer and spring.
Ohio State is not built like that.
Jim Tressell is no dummy...but perhaps he is on the verge of making a mistake on Saturday.
With all the pomp and circumstance surrounding this game, I think the Hawkeyes are sitting in a good spot...waiting to ambush the Buckeyes. Perhaps a lot of that is just Hawkeye hope on my part, and I won't argue with you if you feel that's the case...but the closer we get to kickoff, the more optimistic I am about Iowa winning this game.
One more thing to keep in mind: Ohio State's kickoff coverage unit has been worse than Iowa's this year, including their punt coverage. Wisconsin opened the game with a kickoff return for a touchdown, and on the average, DJK is the Big Ten's leader in that department. He took one to the house against the Buckeyes last year, and if there is one player more than any other on the Iowa team that is looking to make a final statement on Saturday, its Derrell Johnson-Koulianos.
As in, what do I think about this week's game. Here is what I wrote last night
I wouldn't call that pessimistic, I wouldn't call it optimistic. Perhaps it's realistic. Then again, every person thinks his or her opinion is realistic, and unless others fall in line behind them, they are pessimists or optimists. But I digress.
I kept coming back to Terrelle Pryor and his comments from this week:
“The game plan we have in this week is one of my favorites since I’ve been here,†Pryor told reporters after practice on Wednesday. “I really like it."
When asked if he likes it better than that Rose Bowl game plan, Pryor said, “Yeah … more. It’s my favorite one since I’ve been here.â€
Iowa boasts the Big Ten’s best rushing defense, allowing just 86.8 yards per game. But the Hawkeyes are just eighth in the Big Ten in passing defense.
Does that mean Pryor will throw more than the season-low 13 attempts he had against Penn State?
“I think it depends on how we have to carry on and the way the game is flowing,†Pryor said. “That’s what Coach is so good at. Some people think that we go at a slow tempo. But if it’s needed …â€
You can read the entire story here
I guess I am of the opinion that if Ohio State is seriously considering adjusting the tempo of their offense, I consider that to be a good thing. This is an offense that has put up 43 points on the average in its last three games.
They scored just 18 on the road at Wisconsin, the last time they lost, and Wisconsin's defense isn't a world beating group.
In the article linked above, Pryor talked about how Iowa's defense was dead tired against Northwestern in the fourth quarter last week. They were. Part of that had to do with Iowa being 2-14 on third downs in the game and forcing the defense to keep hitting the field en route to a 50-play second half for the NW offense.
Ohio State does not regularly run a hurry up tempo. If they go to that early in the game, I don't think it will have the desired results...especially if the Iowa offense can move the ball a bit.
Now, if the Iowa offense struggles, it won't matter much.
But if you get a Top 10 team and one of the best programs in the nation to seriously consider breaking away from what it does week in and week out, they are worried about something...OR, they see a glaring opportunity. If its the latter, I just don't think they can execute at the tenor or tempo that Michigan and Northwestern execute their offenses at, since those programs do it every day in practice in the fall, the summer and spring.
Ohio State is not built like that.
Jim Tressell is no dummy...but perhaps he is on the verge of making a mistake on Saturday.
With all the pomp and circumstance surrounding this game, I think the Hawkeyes are sitting in a good spot...waiting to ambush the Buckeyes. Perhaps a lot of that is just Hawkeye hope on my part, and I won't argue with you if you feel that's the case...but the closer we get to kickoff, the more optimistic I am about Iowa winning this game.
One more thing to keep in mind: Ohio State's kickoff coverage unit has been worse than Iowa's this year, including their punt coverage. Wisconsin opened the game with a kickoff return for a touchdown, and on the average, DJK is the Big Ten's leader in that department. He took one to the house against the Buckeyes last year, and if there is one player more than any other on the Iowa team that is looking to make a final statement on Saturday, its Derrell Johnson-Koulianos.
