Is Iowa's Defense Broken?

Not sure if it's broke, and the following I realize is over-simplifying, but...

AZ--Defense gives up game winning drive (aberration)
scUM--Defense gets lit up through entire 4th quarter (let down)
Wisky--Defense gets run through most of entire game (3x 80yd drives)(can't think of an excuse here)

Granted, you could say the opponent talent level has gotten better, but, my observation is the "non execution" of the defense has escalated.

And the 'excuses' don't wash anymore. Rather, a pattern has emerged IMO.
 
This defense's scheme requires great d-line play and great LB play to be effective. The years it has been dominant, guys like Roth and Clayborn have been totally dominant up front and we had NFL caliber LBs like Greenway and Edds covering the slot guys with a high level of success. It is a delicate balance and given the average level of talent at Iowa where you don't always have a dominant defensive lineman and NFL caliber LBs, the defense bends and then breaks. See, e.g., 2005 with all underclass d-linemen or this year with just average LBs. The scheme only works if those two components are in place at the same time.

If the d-line is off, the QB has all day to throw the ball, if the LBs are off, there are really soft spots in the zone that can be picked apart all day. Given the proliferation of the spread offenses, I think our base defense's days may be numbered because every year we are seeing more and more QBs at the collegiate level who can pick it apart. The fact that Ferentz has a losing record against NU and NU runs a dink and dunk passing game really well should be all Ferentz needs to see to make at least some tweaks to the defensive scheme. For instance, if you know AC is going to get doubled, send the LB from that side at least a few times a game and have the safety cover the slot guy. You have to try to force something, you can't continually give an 8 yard cushion every down and give up easy 5 yard passes all day. We just need Norm back - he always mixed in some gambles where he would bait the QB with that 8 yard cushion and then after a few plays the CB would jump one of the routes - haven't seen too much of that this year.
 
Lets not forget... the defense did hold wisconsin into a punting situation on that final drive, then were forced to come back out on the field. Momentum is a very powerful thing, and wiconsin had a ton of it at that point.

In regards to the d-line, wisconsin has a stellar o-line, credit is well earned. so 5 good o-linemen plus a running back blocking 4 guys is a mismatch, i don't care how you attack it. Iowa's stunts can work and did work as we were able to put enough pressure on tolzien to force some throws. they just attacked the right places and made some good reads. I was very surprised to not see them dial up some blitzes, but i have to wonder how much of the defensive playbook they were using with morris and dibona. my thinking today is that they must not have trusted the young guys in the blitz. i am really, really not worried about the d-line.

i expect a much more spirited group this week as a whole, and look forward to the game.
 
BSpringsteen said:
ESox is 100% correct.

The blueprint has always been there for how to beat Iowa, its just that too few teams have had the experience or the discipline to do so.

If you have a team that is willing to play 4 WR sets and take 5 yard completions everytime, you are going to break Iowa's defense.

It's just that very few teams have taken that opportunity.
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Esox makes very good points, but I think you are missing those points. It is not nearly as obvious as you think it is. Noone can throw 5 yd passes every time. There is no obvious blueprint, which apparently you have devised after two losses both primarily based upon special teams issues. Esox points out the loss of Spievey, and cushion zones. But the cushion isn't an automatic blueprint to beat, when we stand up in the red zone when the zone is tighter due to less yardage to work with, and by design. Teams that can execute in the red zone despite our D are the successful ones. The lack of Norm is underrated. You cannot possibly think that you understand college football defense so intricately that you have figured out the blueprint way to beat Iowa's defense. The young ones at linebacker, and Hyde at corner are the difference, and they are still learning, that's it. Yes our defense can be overly conservative, but mostly it works and there is no blueprint to beat it. Sometimes it has to face great offenses, however, at which point it is not incapable of giving up points. No defense is.
 
Iowa's defense relies heavily on athletic and active linebackers, thus letting the front four and the back four take some risks. injuries have hurt the hawkeyes linebacking corps the last couple weeks. the d goes as their lbs go, IMO
 
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