Intriguing numbers: TFLs and Sacks

[homerHAWKeye777]

Back story: I decided to do a little bit of digging because I was curious about how the 2010 Iowa D has been stacking up production-wise compared to the 2009 Iowa D. In particular, I was curious about how the DL production has been comparing. Anyhow, here is what I found:

2009:

OOC games:
Entire D: 19 TFLs, 6 sacks
DL only: 10.5 TFLs, 6 sacks

13 game season:
Entire D: 74 TFLs, 31 sacks
DL only: 53.5 TFLs, 28.5 sacks

2010:

OOC games:
Entire D: 22 TFLs, 7 sacks
DL only: 16 TFLs, 6 sacks

Remarks: I suppose that because Clayborn and Ballard had seemingly been a little "quiet" thus far, I hypothesized that maybe the DL production might be down a little bit. However, interestingly enough, the numbers are even better than last year. It kinda seems to be a little bit like balancing an equation ... taking Clayborn out of the picture has been opening up thing more for Daniels ... among the other guys on the DL. I suppose that this maybe shouldn't have been a surprise ... but it was still nice to see.

Furthermore, I found it intriguing that the Iowa DL rattled off 43 more TFLs between the conference slate and the bowl game. This reaffirms the standard pattern at Iowa that the team (and the DL) plays better as the year progresses. Furthermore, it also hints that Iowa tends to play better on D against teams that we're more familiar with (like our conference foes).

Given that the DL production has already been pretty good ... albeit still capable of making serious improvement. I'm pretty excited about how the Iowa D and DL may end up faring against conference foes this year.

Lastly, another fun thing to comment upon is that the DL production has been BETTER than it was last year ... and that's even in spite the fact that the starting D has only play a complete 4 quarters against Arizona. With the competition picking up, the Iowa DL will be playing more full games ... and that will invariably lead to more chances to be productive. Furthermore, the 2010 DL is deeper, and consequently, the DL will likely have fresher legs throughout the ENTIRE game. That will likely help too!

 

[theboat]

It took things a while to get rolling last year, hopefully we get the same pickup this year in conference.

One thing I noticed is that when Daniels was making play after play in the backfield, AC was always the first one there to congratulate him because he was right in on the play as well. It was almost freakish (or beastish if you will) how quick Daniels was on the play, but AC would have been if Daniels wasn't. I actually said to my wife that AC is probably getting pi$$ed at Daniels for not giving him a half-second to make the play himself.

 

[homerHAWKeye777]

I think that the Iowa DL is also still trying to get used to how opposing teams are trying to game-plan against them. Clayborn, in particular, is receiving a bit more attention than he's probably been used to. Similarly, Klug has been taken out of the picture more than I would have expected too. And, Klug still has managed to get 3.5 TFLs.

Of course, I think that another issue is that we're also seeing the DL either overpursue or miss tackles more than I would expect. Just off hand, I can name AT LEAST 5 occasions when Iowa should have gotten a TFL and/or sack but whiffed instead. As they clean that up ... the D will be even more effective.

Again, when you account for the current production along with the near-misses ... and combine that with how much time the backups have been on the field ... the Ds TFL/sack production is pretty darn good.

 

[Hawk4Life25]

Nice breakdown. Confirms the notion that the Iowa FB team gets better as the year progresses.

 

[homerHAWKeye777]

Nice breakdown. Confirms the notion that the Iowa FB team gets better as the year progresses.

I wonder how much it is also due to how the coaches decide to scheme the DL. Whether they opt for the DL to place more emphasis on contain ... or to go get all-out pressure.

They tend to always require the DL to be pretty darn disciplined and control their gaps. However, they stunt more against some foes than others. Furthermore, they move around guys and provide more different looks against some foes than others too.

 

[Hawk4Life25]

I think it depends on the opponent. Also the experience or the scheme the opposing OL runs. How big the splits are....spread vs. power O.

Over the years the D has improved against the spread teams while maintaining its ability to contain the power O teams.

 

[MidnightBlueSix]

Clayborn has been doubled on almost every play, and literally every play going his direction. That's opened things up for the other DL. Add to that our rotation, keeping fresh legs out there, and that also adds to the production. The emergence of Mike Daniels has caught everyone (except for the players and coaches) off-guard, including opposing coaches and OL. I think early on, when he came in, opposing players thought they were getting a bit of a break and could focus more on the "starters". The same may be true for opposing coaches as they had a lot more footage on the others.

 

[spudhawk]

I am not sure I have ever seen teams max protect against Iowa so often. Arizona is the only team that has made it work so far. I am not sure who else has the QB- WR combo to exploit Iowa deep multiple times maybe OSU with Pryor to Posey. I expect Hyde to continue to improve.
I also think this d-line is significantly better versus the run than they were last season.

 

[StickUP]

I'm not knocking AC, but how is the DE from Mich St doing so well? He has to be drawing double teams and extra attention from opponents.

 

[MidnightBlueSix]

I'm not knocking AC, but how is the DE from Mich St doing so well? He has to be drawing double teams and extra attention from opponents.

Probably because opposing teams scheme a LOT more for Greg Jones. If you double someone on the DL, it leaves the LBs unblocked for the most part and nobody wants to play an entire game with Greg Jones running free or only being blocked by a RB/TE. Even though he's drawing extra attention, I doubt he's the defensive player opposing coaches gameplan around the way Clayborn is for us.