If I'm Greg Davis, this is what I do during the next 2 weeks.....

[racerhawk]

Re: This is basically what has happened the last 3 weeks...

The only success we've had throwing it is off play-action and throwing it when we want to throw it. And giving the defense a heavy dose of Weisman, Rogers lead-blocking and the o-line pounding the crap out of the defense. If Iowa is in a 3rd and longer than 5 yards at this point, we're toast.

The problem is that teams are going to start doing what Minnesota took to doing in the second half - playing so many guys at the line of scrimmage and sending safety and corner blitzes play after play. Force Iowa to react and make plays, and take away the running game and the play-action passing game. It's near impossible to run play-action effectively when the opponent is running double-corner blitzes every play, it takes too much time to develop. Most teams don't blitz with the impunity that Minnesota did in the second half because the defense is put in so many compromising positions. But Iowa is not able to make teams pay right now for doing that, either because of lack of recognition by the QB, lack of athletic ability by the receivers, or lack of recognition by the receivers, or all of the above.

Excellent synopsis of the second half. It kills me to watch teams blitz, as you say, with impunity and we can't make them pay for that.

It's like removing your goalie in hockey and putting an extra guy out there...after intermission.

 

[dmackindm]

Week 2 . I would prepare for the Spartans and coach up Vandy. But Hey Sider I doubt that he wears his rings at practice.

 

[SeattleHawkeye]

The only success we've had throwing it is off play-action and throwing it when we want to throw it. And giving the defense a heavy dose of Weisman, Rogers lead-blocking and the o-line pounding the crap out of the defense. If Iowa is in a 3rd and longer than 5 yards at this point, we're toast.

The problem is that teams are going to start doing what Minnesota took to doing in the second half - playing so many guys at the line of scrimmage and sending safety and corner blitzes play after play. Force Iowa to react and make plays, and take away the running game and the play-action passing game. It's near impossible to run play-action effectively when the opponent is running double-corner blitzes every play, it takes too much time to develop. Most teams don't blitz with the impunity that Minnesota did in the second half because the defense is put in so many compromising positions. But Iowa is not able to make teams pay right now for doing that, either because of lack of recognition by the QB, lack of athletic ability by the receivers, or lack of recognition by the receivers, or all of the above.

If Iowa can't burn a defense for throwing repeated corner and safety blitzes, it will be a long year. If VDB et al can do this, there should be some easy touchdowns.

And you've collectively summed it up.

IA (and by IA, I mean JVB and the WR's) must make teams pay for blitzing. If I was an opposing DC, I'd stack the box and play tighter, maybe press coverage, daring JVB to beat me. If he does it a few times, I might back off, but until then, I'd take my chances and force him to beat me before I'd back off. I also think this is generally what Dantonio, Narduzzi and MSU will do, and I think Davis and KMM really need to have good games and be ready to roll.

And JVB must absolutely get it going. He simply has to improve. Against the better B1G teams, his play will very likely dictate W's and L's.

 

[coralville]

why can other teams dink us to death and we can not do the same to them. Other teams hit slants with our DB's ten feet away and when we try to do it we have guys hanging all over our WR's.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

I expected to see..."work on his resume and schedule interviews"...but alas people really have an opinion on this topic. Just to stay in the same vein...If I'm Halle Berry, I'm standing naked in front of a mirror for a long time over the next two weeks...oh and toying.

 

[Golfer]

I disagree about the second half comments. For an open scrimmage, which is exactly what it was, I think they put in a lot of good work on what needs the most work, with real game reps. Pretty gutsy really. Open up the third quarter with an attitude of the game is won, let's get in some practice.

Also, I wouldn't discount the horizontal passing games effect on defensive formations, which might have a little something to do with our running success.

Just saying. Could be wrong.

 

[NickM]

Part of the problem is that JVB checks down everytime he sees blitz, even if we have enough blockers to pick it up. Not every blitz warrants a check-down/hot route. There is no reason to check down if the opponent is bringing 6 rushers and we have 6 blockers available to pick them up. You only need to check down if someong is coming uncovered or the blitz is leaving a receiver completely uncovered. There is no reason forJVB to check down so much when it looks like most of the time we have enough blockers to pick up the blitzes. If an opponent is bringing 5 or 6 rushers and we are only sending 3 receivers into a route than checking down plays rights into their hands. It's not like we run a lot of 4 and 5 recievers into a pattern such that a defender is always coming uncovered on a blitz.

 

[olddude]

I would watch film of the remaining schedule; Talk to my position staff; Recruit !!!: Listen to the Big Guy; and try to get a little sleep. But hey That's the way I Roll.

Spoken like someone who has never taught or coached (and thank god). I think GD WILL have a game plan for MSU that might make some peoples eyes get wide. If dumbarses like us see things he sees them also, and way more. He will have to work with what he has this year and if he gets the guys he wants, I expect him to put together a good run in the future.
The other side shows promise as well. The line coaches are top notch and doing great and Parker is starting to put together a game plan that works for the DL that will be top of the B10 possibly as soon as next year.
NOW THE REAL CREDIT GOES TO THE PLAYERS FOR WORKING HARD. I just hope they treat it like a job and tcob all year long. Like I said 110% and accountabilty is for players and coaches. If that happens, the future is what ever they want to make it.

 

[zhawkzrule]

Part of the problem is that JVB checks down everytime he sees blitz, even if we have enough blockers to pick it up. Not every blitz warrants a check-down/hot route. There is no reason to check down if the opponent is bringing 6 rushers and we have 6 blockers available to pick them up. You only need to check down if someong is coming uncovered or the blitz is leaving a receiver completely uncovered. There is no reason forJVB to check down so much when it looks like most of the time we have enough blockers to pick up the blitzes. If an opponent is bringing 5 or 6 rushers and we are only sending 3 receivers into a route than checking down plays rights into their hands. It's not like we run a lot of 4 and 5 recievers into a pattern such that a defender is always coming uncovered on a blitz.

I agree with this too, he's changing the play way too often into the same run play, he's a smart kid and it seems like he's thinking too much and not just playing the game. CJF has to get more involved, we've all spring and fall camp how he's a mismatch and even when it looks like he's covered he's not..... we throw to him no more than 3 times a game it seems, then he disapears, they need to get him involved more, especially red zone again, he's a mismatch against a shorter DB, why not split him out, throw up a fade for him to go up and get the ball.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

1. Stop the horizontal passing attack. JVB is not a good "spot" thrower....he does much better throwing to moving receivers (i.e. posts, seams, flys, crosses).

2. As much as possible, throw off play action as his rhythm seems much better.

3. As much as possible, design the majority of pass plays on 1st or 2nd down. Throw when we want to, not when we need to. Even if it's 3rd and long, I think I'd rather take my chances with Weisman than JVB throwing to a receiver 6 yards behind the 1st down marker.

4. Take the pressure off JVB and the receivers requiring them to read the defense and adjust their routes. It ain't working. JVB and the receivers, more often than not, are not seeing the same thing. I'm sure GD has plenty of pass plays that have pre-determined routes....stick with those.

5. Play the majority of snaps with 2 backs. At least with Weisman, it seems that most of his best runs come with Rogers as the lead blocker. Defenses don't want to have to take on a 230lb fullback and then when they may manage to shed him, have to try and tackle a 230lb running back.

6. Keep Weisman as the feature back and use Bullock as the change of pace.

I feel like we're close offensively. We could have put up 50 on Minny had we decided to keep running at them, but it was obvious that we were attempting to work on the pass offense, which unfortunately, didn't work. But if we need to turn into a 1970s offense in order to score points, so be it.....Scratch where it itches!!

Don't think so. Here is what I expect MSU (and the rest of the B1G) to do to Iowa. Iowa has shown a inability to pass. Expect MSU to load the box and force Iowa to pass. The main problem with Iowa's passing attack is the lack of communication between JVB and his recievers. Neither JVB or the recievers are picking up the blitz's and hitting the same route. Iowa needs to work on blitz pickup/communication. Horizontal passing or down field routes loosen up a defense. To have an effective passing game, Iowa's recievers need to be able to read defenses. This is college not high school football. Normally in college(and pro's) the QB goes to the huddle and tells the team two or more plays and then when they get to the line he audibles depending on what the defense does. An upper level defense will keep the QB guessing until the last moment. If the QB and the recievers can't read the D they are in trouble.

Weisman is doing a great job and he is benefiting from the Oline getting better each week. MSU's defense is a large step up from anyone that Iowa has faced. I am sure that both Wiesman and Bullock will each get their touches. But given what Iowa has shown so far, expect a loaded box and blitz's. With the run game nuetered, the PA pass is less of a threat. MSU has confidence in their D backs to cover KMM and Davis M 2 M.

While the players may be off this weekend, the coaches will probably out on the road recruiting. So don't expect big changes between now and the MSU game.

 

[Madman]

Spider,

You are pretty much on track. I would add; Keep JVB in the shotgun forever (he's bad under center) play 2 TE + 2 WO sets against MSU. Use Hamilton with his hand on the ground and CJF split out, send them both straight downfield frequently for 8 -10 yd curls. One of them will be open. It takes 2 second to run and would be tough for MSU (and others) to defend consistently. Forever forego the play action passing game idea with JVB.

 

[SpiderRico]

Don't think so. Here is what I expect MSU (and the rest of the B1G) to do to Iowa. Iowa has shown a inability to pass. Expect MSU to load the box and force Iowa to pass. The main problem with Iowa's passing attack is the lack of communication between JVB and his recievers. Neither JVB or the recievers are picking up the blitz's and hitting the same route. Iowa needs to work on blitz pickup/communication. Horizontal passing or down field routes loosen up a defense. To have an effective passing game, Iowa's recievers need to be able to read defenses. This is college not high school football. Normally in college(and pro's) the QB goes to the huddle and tells the team two or more plays and then when they get to the line he audibles depending on what the defense does. An upper level defense will keep the QB guessing until the last moment. If the QB and the recievers can't read the D they are in trouble.

Weisman is doing a great job and he is benefiting from the Oline getting better each week. MSU's defense is a large step up from anyone that Iowa has faced. I am sure that both Wiesman and Bullock will each get their touches. But given what Iowa has shown so far, expect a loaded box and blitz's. With the run game nuetered, the PA pass is less of a threat. MSU has confidence in their D backs to cover KMM and Davis M 2 M.

While the players may be off this weekend, the coaches will probably out on the road recruiting. So don't expect big changes between now and the MSU game.

Kirk keeps his coordinators off the recruiting trail, so I doubt GD will be out recruiting.....