Linebackers - A much bigger test.

[WinOneThisCentury]

Ok, NIU was a pretty good test. They had an experienced OL and decent backs. This week is certainly a step up in scheme and talent IMO. If I'm Campbell, this game comes down to getting the ball to Montgomery via zone read and the short passing game. He's really going to challenge this linebacking group to defend the zone read, and the TEs and Montgomery in the passing game. It's an intriguing match up. I've been impressed with Campbell's game planning ability in the games I've watched or stomached. He knows how to exploit his advantages.

Honestly...I think there were more issues at linebacker than just Jones last week. Welch made alot of tackles, but they were alot of tackles 7-8 yards down field. NIU had 3rd and 3 or so a lot in that game..we just came up big on third down several times. Iowa State is much more varied offensively. You just can't give up that much on first down.

After watching NIU again earlier in the week, I thought Neiman was really solid and I swear I thought he was Ben several times. I thought NIU would really tell us how good this LB group could be. I think the jury still hasn't returned that verdict yet.

 

[Hawk1960]

I will go out on a limb and predict the "little" Nieman will end up being a better LB than his older brother ... and he just made an NFL roster with the Chiefs.

Welch looked fine to me last week. I'd give him a B+.

We have some sorting out to do in the middle but rotating our 8 studs up front are going to cover up most scars we have in the middle.

 

[SheagleHawk]

Ok, NIU was a pretty good test. They had an experienced OL and decent backs. This week is certainly a step up in scheme and talent IMO. If I'm Campbell, this game comes down to getting the ball to Montgomery via zone read and the short passing game. He's really going to challenge this linebacking group to defend the zone read, and the TEs and Montgomery in the passing game. It's an intriguing match up. I've been impressed with Campbell's game planning ability in the games I've watched or stomached. He knows how to exploit his advantages.

Honestly...I think there were more issues at linebacker than just Jones last week. Welch made alot of tackles, but they were alot of tackles 7-8 yards down field. NIU had 3rd and 3 or so a lot in that game..we just came up big on third down several times. Iowa State is much more varied offensively. You just can't give up that much on first down.

After watching NIU again earlier in the week, I thought Neiman was really solid and I swear I thought he was Ben several times. I thought NIU would really tell us how good this LB group could be. I think the jury still hasn't returned that verdict yet.

Same with the secondary. Honestly can't remember NIU ever even testing the secondary. You know the Clowns will. Hopefully we're better prepared this year bc those big WR ate our lunch last year.

 

[Lumberman]

Our WR must make them pay if they go man-to-man. If I am the opposing DC, I would run blitz the front 7 every down and force Nate Stanley and the WR/TE corps to beat me. After I run blitz my entire front 7, I move my 2 safeties up into MLB roles to cover the TEs and leave the CBs on an island. If we can’t get the ball to the WR or TEs down the field, there will be no need to keep the safeties back.

We are going to have to set up the run with the pass this week and possibly most every week.

Now, if we can do accomplish some success passing the ball, then our big OLine can really take over and gouge the defense on the ground.

That’s the way I see it anyway.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

Our WR must make them pay if they go man-to-man. If I am the opposing DC, I would run blitz the front 7 every down and force Nate Stanley and the WR/TE corps to beat me. After I run blitz my entire front 7, I move my 2 safeties up into MLB roles to cover the TEs and leave the CBs on an island. If we can’t get the ball to the WR or TEs down the field, there will be no need to keep the safeties back.

We are going to have to set up the run with the pass this week and possibly most every week.

Now, if we can do accomplish some success passing the ball, then our big OLine can really take over and gouge the defense on the ground.

That’s the way I see it anyway.

Agreed, we need to successful passing the ball. If so, we win. The other major factor is our linebacker play. If we can contain their offense, we're fine. If they throw the ball all over the place and Montgomery gouges us like NIU did early...we're in for a long day. They'll take the momentum with their offense and we'll be playing catchup. "grind it out" won't do it for the Hawks.

 

[ibahawkeye]

I think our DL will be good enough to cover up the LBs. If anything in week 1 we were just a little weak in the middle of the rush D but getting a couple guys back this week should help.

I'm more concerned with the offense. The ISU DL is better than in the past and I'm sure they will stack the box. Can we be balanced or lean on the passing attack to be productive?

Luckily ISM had a breakout game last year. Maybe Brandon Smith can do the same this year, we need him.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Our WR must make them pay if they go man-to-man. If I am the opposing DC, I would run blitz the front 7 every down and force Nate Stanley and the WR/TE corps to beat me. After I run blitz my entire front 7, I move my 2 safeties up into MLB roles to cover the TEs and leave the CBs on an island. If we can’t get the ball to the WR or TEs down the field, there will be no need to keep the safeties back.

We are going to have to set up the run with the pass this week and possibly most every week.

Now, if we can do accomplish some success passing the ball, then our big OLine can really take over and gouge the defense on the ground.

That’s the way I see it anyway.

I think your premise is pretty sound that you have to make a defense pay for being aggressive against our running game. This has been the big question in our offense for a few years now...can we force a defense to change the way they play our running game? I think Beathard in 2015 was able to do so...but when Tevan Smith graduated and Vandenburg got hurt...the offense was lacking the deep threat in 2016.

Fant and Hockenson become big issues if you bring the safeties up. They both have shown they are mismatches against most linebackers...Fant against all linebackers. Hell, Fant is a mismatch against most safeties, so you can't let him get deep against you either.

I think it's going to be hard for Brian Ferentz to not just line up and test his team mano a mano in the running game. With his two huge offensive tackles back and how well the interior of his offensive line played last week...well...i think you have to pound. Remember...four yards a carry gets you a first down every three plays. One thing I noticed is that Reynolds and Render looked like 5th year seniors last week. Grown men with attitudes...so you couple that with size and athleticism at tackle and a huge back...3 yards and a cloud of dust type of stuff.

Like I said, it's an intriguing match up in many facets of this game. Iowa State is no longer your father's Iowa State. Campbell has recruited well and scoured the JUCO ranks. Should be a great game.

 

[JoeyLabasForPresident]

I will go out on a limb and predict the "little" Nieman will end up being a better LB than his older brother ... and he just made an NFL roster with the Chiefs.

Welch looked fine to me last week. I'd give him a B+.

We have some sorting out to do in the middle but rotating our 8 studs up front is going to cover up most scars we have in the middle.

Worst case scenario we can always drop one of those studs back in coverage.

 

[JoeyLabasForPresident]

Same with the secondary. Honestly can't remember NIU ever even testing the secondary. You know the Clowns will. Hopefully we're better prepared this year bc those big WR ate our lunch last year.

We don't have Rugamba to blow every meaningful coverage this year. I think that's a step in the right direction.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

We don't have Rugamba to blow every meaningful coverage this year. I think that's a step in the right direction.

Our safety play last year was awful. Butlers 70 yard touchdown where he fakes a crossing pattern and our safety bites hard (gervase I believe) and he turns straight up down the middle of the field and was alone by 25 yards. That's really bad defense...the cross you can live with...just make the tackle...looking stupid at safety and giving up huge plays...not so much.

 

[4thngoal]

Definitely need to get the passing game going.
The sooner the better. The game starts out at 0 to 0, no need to wait and be forced to get it going.
Stanley just needs to not throw ints, otherwise if our D can hold them early, there is no reason to not throw almost every down to start the game. What is the worst that can happen if there are not any ints? 3 and out? Yeah we have seen that when they stack the box too. What's the best that can happen? Experience. Getting the passing game into a Rhythm early. Possibly go up by 21 extremely early in the game. Confidence?
We have the D to rotate and not get gassed so a quick strike offense isn't going to hurt that.

 

[JoeyLabasForPresident]

Our safety play last year was awful. Butlers 70 yard touchdown where he fakes a crossing pattern and our safety bites hard (gervase I believe) and he turns straight up down the middle of the field and was alone by 25 yards. That's really bad defense...the cross you can live with...just make the tackle...looking stupid at safety and giving up huge plays...not so much.

It was pretty embarrassing, but I'm hopeful the secondary is going to play a lot better. They improved as the season went on and overall are a much more complete unit than they were this time last year.

 

[BryceC]

If I'm Campbell, this game comes down to getting the ball to Montgomery via zone read and the short passing game.

If Campbell runs even one zone read with Kempt he should fire himself from being the offensive coordinator. That'd be literally insane. I could see some swing/screen passes to him to stretch the field against new LB's but a zone read would be absolutely insane.

Our WR must make them pay if they go man-to-man. If I am the opposing DC, I would run blitz the front 7 every down and force Nate Stanley and the WR/TE corps to beat me. After I run blitz my entire front 7, I move my 2 safeties up into MLB roles to cover the TEs and leave the CBs on an island. If we can’t get the ball to the WR or TEs down the field, there will be no need to keep the safeties back.

I'd do this too - ISU's strength on D is the corners, outside linebackers, and d-line. I'd let the freshman Rose just crash down and use his physical ability while letting the more experienced and good outside linebackers make decisions. Make Stanley prove he can make the accurate over the top throw to WR's that might be a little banged up in Smith-Marsette. I can take losing if Stanley is just making long accurate throws. The Iowa death by a thousand Mark Weisman cuts should never happen again.

 

[Fryowa]

Make Stanley prove he can make the accurate over the top throw to WR's that might be a little banged up in Smith-Marsette.

Both Fant and Hockenson are bigger blocking and receiving threats than any of our WRs. Deep or across the middle, doesn't matter.

Your squad needs to worry about them before even thinking about Iowa's wideouts. In reality, the only reason any of our WRs are even a remote threat to catch a deep ball is because of Iowa's two TE sets and defenses having to account for them.

 

[cincyhawk]

Our WR must make them pay if they go man-to-man. If I am the opposing DC, I would run blitz the front 7 every down and force Nate Stanley and the WR/TE corps to beat me. After I run blitz my entire front 7, I move my 2 safeties up into MLB roles to cover the TEs and leave the CBs on an island. If we can’t get the ball to the WR or TEs down the field, there will be no need to keep the safeties back.

We are going to have to set up the run with the pass this week and possibly most every week.

Now, if we can do accomplish some success passing the ball, then our big OLine can really take over and gouge the defense on the ground.

That’s the way I see it anyway.

The only two teams that didn't do this to Iowa last year - Iowa State and Ohio State.

 

[ChosenChildren]

I think the real question is can Iowa State stop our tight end passing game?

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I'll be curious how often we bring extra rushers... That quick RPO stuff is tough for a front 4 to provide quick pressure on consistently. This will be a much bigger test for both our LBs and DBs than what last week was. I hope our Dline can dominate and just make it a living nightmare for them. I don't think their QB is the biggest run threat ever. He prefers to hand it off or throw anyway so that helps with trying to decide how to play them.

That said a defenses best friend is a ball control offense (with the lead) If we can jump up on them early and establish our own running game that'll help a ton too...

 

[Ree4]

Our WR must make them pay if they go man-to-man. If I am the opposing DC, I would run blitz the front 7 every down and force Nate Stanley and the WR/TE corps to beat me. After I run blitz my entire front 7, I move my 2 safeties up into MLB roles to cover the TEs and leave the CBs on an island. If we can’t get the ball to the WR or TEs down the field, there will be no need to keep the safeties back.

We are going to have to set up the run with the pass this week and possibly most every week.

Now, if we can do accomplish some success passing the ball, then our big OLine can really take over and gouge the defense on the ground.

That’s the way I see it anyway.

I would destroy your hypothetical DC game plan with RB screens and draws

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I would destroy your hypothetical DC game plan with RB screens and draws

You can sometimes pop those on an over aggressive D but sometimes they catch you for 10 yard losses too...
I actually am surprised we don't see more aggressive Defenses sometimes for the reasons he mentioned. If I'm the opposing coach I'd try to take away our strength and what we want to do too. Make us beat you over the top once or twice first. Then adjust. For the most part NIU didn't do that

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

I didn't get to see the game last week. But in the highlights there's the play were NIU's running back makes a big play and Jones is way out of position. If that happens this week. Montgomery will be in the end zone.
Games like this Iowa state game are where we are going to miss Jewel and the others. When things are evenly matched they made a difference. There's only so much the defensive line can do. The linebackers have to plug the holes.