Iowa loses close games? DUH

H

HomerChampless

Well-Known Member
Iowa has a problem with pass defense - no opinion here. Fact. Some would call it prevent defense. Some would, while getting misty-eyed, call it bend-but-don't break pass defense. I say it doesn't prevent anything.

When Iowa's opponent has to pass it's way for a TD at the end of a game, Iowa pass defense puts up little resistance.

Some say it's a mystery why Iowa loses close games. I say look to Iowa's pass defense.
 
HomerChampless said:
Iowa has a problem with pass defense - no opinion here. Fact. Some would call it prevent defense. Some would, while getting misty-eyed, call it bend-but-don't break pass defense. I say it doesn't prevent anything.

When Iowa's opponent has to pass it's way for a TD at the end of a game, Iowa pass defense puts up little resistance.

Some say it's a mystery why Iowa loses close games. I say look to Iowa's pass defense.
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The Pass Defense struggled those last four plays, didn't they?
 
Great, Iowa's pass defense stopped Michigan yesterday. Off the top of my head, I can list at least 6 recent instances where Iowa's pass defense didn't shine at the end of games.

(1) Arizona 2010.
(2) Any Northwestern loss in recent memory.
(3) Minnesota 2011. Completed a 40+? yard pass on one of its final drives.
(4) Iowa State 2011.
(5) Michigan State 2009 (Iowa came back to win that game on a 'walkoff' touchdown).
(6) Michigan 2010 - almost tied Iowa in the 4th with long TD pass completions.

Now, I mention pass defense instead of run defense because most teams pass at the end of games to get back into games (even run-oriented teams like Michigan 2011).

Not tOSU and not PSU because they can't/couldn't pass.

EDIT: I count 3 loses in 2009, 5 loses in 2010 and, so far, 3 loses in 2011 for a total of 11 loses. Not all loses were close.
In at least 6 loses, 2 for NW games, the pass defense gave up TDs late in games. Bend-but-don't break? Not hardly.
 
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HomerChampless said:
Great, Iowa's pass defense stopped Michigan yesterday. Off the top of my head, I can list at least 6 recent games where Iowa's pass defense didn't shine at the end of games.

(1) Arizona 2010.
(2) Any Northwestern loss in recent memory.
(3) Minnesota 2011. Completed a 40+? yard pass on one of its final drives.
(4) Iowa State 2011.
(5) Michigan State 2009 (Iowa came back to win that game on a 'walkoff' touchdown).
(6) Michigan 2010 - almost tied Iowa in the 4th with long TD pass completions.

Now, I mention pass defense instead of run defense because most teams pass at the end of games to get back into games (even run-oriented teams like Michigan 2011).

No tOSU and not PSU.
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Those were wins. Quit your ********.

That MSU Game we gave up 13 points?
 
This isn't news. The secondary has historically been the "soft spot" of Norm Parker's defenses. We've always counted on our ability to get pressure on the QB to keep our secondary from getting exposed.
 
VAHawkFan said:
This isn't news. The secondary has historically been the "soft spot" of Norm Parker's defenses. We've always counted on our ability to get pressure on the QB to keep our secondary from getting exposed.
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But they usually make a lot of big plays and interceptions....

And Homer, you're a moron. What if, what if, what if, they gave up one touchdown, Cousins threw for 225 yards, and we gave up 13 points.
 
VAHawkFan said:
This isn't news. The secondary has historically been the "soft spot" of Norm Parker's defenses. We've always counted on our ability to get pressure on the QB to keep our secondary from getting exposed.
Click to expand...

Why should the secondary be the "soft spot"? It seems like it's pretty important.

It looks like 'spread' teams are negating Iowa's pass rush.
 
Pass defense is sketchy at times, we have young LBs and out Dline isnt seasoned yet. I agree if teams go pass heavy we are in trouble but they dont give up or play soft. We do need to get better at tackling on first contact there were quite a few broken tackles by MI receivers.
 
FalseMirage said:
Iowa wins a lot of close games. DUH.
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I don't have the exact record, but I remember posting a thread last year regarding KF's record in close games, and it isn't particularly good..

But as for the OP's point, the bend-dont-break defense has always bugged me, as well as pretty consistently conceding the short stuff. I guess it works pretty well if your front 4 can get pressure on the opposing QB's, and you tackle well to prevent alot of YAC's, but if you can't do that, then the D seems to have a lot of trouble getting off the field.

Overall, it's worked pretty well although I don't think it's a 1-size-fits-all defense - against teams that LIKE to take the underneath stuff.
 
HomerChampless said:
Iowa has a problem with pass defense - no opinion here. Fact. Some would call it prevent defense. Some would, while getting misty-eyed, call it bend-but-don't break pass defense. I say it doesn't prevent anything.

When Iowa's opponent has to pass it's way for a TD at the end of a game, Iowa pass defense puts up little resistance.

Some say it's a mystery why Iowa loses close games. I say look to Iowa's pass defense.
Click to expand...

It just a matter of schemes. Our soft 'prevent' defense we play all game long, gets even softer (if that were possible!) at the ends of games:(. It seems every game of importance in recent memory, we give up 2, long, fourth quarter drives. Just so happened this time, we stopped one of those drives at the very end. And we did blitz at the very end also, which was nice. Need to see more of that.
 
Its no secret that Iowa's pass defense has been pretty bad over the KF years just look at the stats. I think even back during the 3 year run of 02-04 the Hawks had some pretty bad pass defense rankings. But the rush defense was so good that teams had no choice other than to throw throw throw.
 
One thing you CAN count on from Iowa with a 4th quarter lead is that they'll allow the other team to march down the field and score a TD or come pretty darn close. It worked in our favor this week, but too many times has it not ended in our favor. The D relies on pressure from the front 4, we don't really got the guys this year.
 
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