Linebacking core next year

[Thawki]

I have a question, spudhawk.

Okay, if Edds played the other side, then I can maybe see that part of your explanation.

However how do you believe there were more passing teams this season than when Greenway played? If so, who were they? Michgan and NW both had strong passing attacks then and now. We didn't play Illinois this year, so it wasn't them. I guess I have some doubts about that part of your answer, unless you can explain it more in-depth.

 

[skinnykilmer17]

I love watching Tarpinian smack people on kick coverage. Blockers and ball carriers. Tough kid. I just don't know if we will see him as a full-time starter though. Tons of talent at LB position. What about Poggi kid?

 

[switch351]

We also have a stronger D line this year. They could have eaten up a lot of the tackles as well.

 

[Hawks1]

Re: Jon, re Edds.

I would have totally agreed with you at the start of the season. Let me say I think he will play on Sundays too.

I still think Edds is good, but why were his tackle numbers not anything approaching Greenway's? We run the same defense as we did then. And the rest of the defense with Edds is not any better than it was with Greenway. I have not been able to figure out why his number of tackles over the course of this season were not greater and I am at a loss to explain it.

Can anyone shed any light on this for me? And don't tell me Angerer took too many tackles that would have otherwise been his. Greenway had Hodge right next to him and they both got that many tackles.

You have to look at the line play
This years line is much better than the line in front of Hodge and Greenway and are geeting the tackels

 

[iahawk72]

Re: I have a question, spudhawk.

I think that one has to understand that WLB and SLB are two completely different positions even though they share the title of linebacker. The WLB will typically get the opportunity to make a lot of plays on running downs. Traditionally, they are the smallest of the 3 LBs but also tend to be a little faster.

The SLB, especially in Iowa's system, spends a lot of time covering TEs and WRs. Iowa has a tendency to play more base defense against spread teams thus resulting in the SLB covering a WR in those cases. As a result the SLB is more occupied with coverage of a particular player and thus usually has more of a challenge in shedding blockers in the running game.

I don't think it is really fair to compare Greenway to Edds or Edds to Greenway with regards to productivity. They are, in my mind, the two best players to play their respective positions that I can remember. I think it is senseless to try and say one is better than the other because I don't think Greenway would have been nearly as good of a SLB as Edds was and likewise I don't believe Edds could have played Greenway's position at Iowa at the same level as he did.

iahawk72

Okay, if Edds played the other side, then I can maybe see that part of your explanation.

However how do you believe there were more passing teams this season than when Greenway played? If so, who were they? Michgan and NW both had strong passing attacks then and now. We didn't play Illinois this year, so it wasn't them. I guess I have some doubts about that part of your answer, unless you can explain it more in-depth.

 

[gohwks13]

I would be willing to bet that a true frosh WILL NOT start at a linebacker spot next year. No way they can make up that much ground in a short time to pass the guys already in the system. I think we will be good at the 'backer spots next year. It will be huge to have a dominant d-line.

 

[spudhawk]

Re: I have a question, spudhawk.

I think that one has to understand that WLB and SLB are two completely different positions even though they share the title of linebacker. The WLB will typically get the opportunity to make a lot of plays on running downs. Traditionally, they are the smallest of the 3 LBs but also tend to be a little faster.

The SLB, especially in Iowa's system, spends a lot of time covering TEs and WRs. Iowa has a tendency to play more base defense against spread teams thus resulting in the SLB covering a WR in those cases. As a result the SLB is more occupied with coverage of a particular player and thus usually has more of a challenge in shedding blockers in the running game.

I don't think it is really fair to compare Greenway to Edds or Edds to Greenway with regards to productivity. They are, in my mind, the two best players to play their respective positions that I can remember. I think it is senseless to try and say one is better than the other because I don't think Greenway would have been nearly as good of a SLB as Edds was and likewise I don't believe Edds could have played Greenway's position at Iowa at the same level as he did.

iahawk72

I don't think I could answer this better. Edds will be the standard at Leo from now on. He is the best pure cover linebacker ever and the most athletic player Iowa has ever had at the position. Greenway was the most instinctive run defender Iowa has ever had a weakside and probably also the best athlete at the position as well. They are both the best to play their postitions under the current defense.

Neilson has the same skill set as Edds. I am not sure if he will have Edds understanding of cover responsibilities that Edds has shown. Edds is also really, really smart and rarely gets out of position. He is willing to funnel plays to other defenders by playing smart positional technique instead of gambling to make a play.

 

[archfiend]

Re: I have a question, spudhawk.

Okay, if Edds played the other side, then I can maybe see that part of your explanation.

However how do you believe there were more passing teams this season than when Greenway played? If so, who were they? Michgan and NW both had strong passing attacks then and now. We didn't play Illinois this year, so it wasn't them. I guess I have some doubts about that part of your answer, unless you can explain it more in-depth.

It's not so much a matter of playing passing teams and the spread. As was said, Edds plays LEO. Greenway played WILL (weakside). That means A) Edds is the first linebacker off the field in nickel and dime packages. B) Edds spends a lot more time in coverage, covering tight ends (while Greenway, or Hunter this year would have been keying on the backs). C) Edds spends a good deal of time fighting off blocks from tight ends and full backs which brings me to D) a large portion of his job is to take out tight ends and fullbacks to clear the way for a clean tackle for the MIKE (Angerer) or the WILL (Hunter). All of this means considerably less tackles for the LEO. Also, E) Iowa played a lot less nickel and dime in Greenway's time than they do now. This was primarily due to personnel. Iowa has a lot more quality depth in the backfield than they have ever had in the Ferentz era. In short, this means that both Hunter and Edds play fewer downs than did Greenway (and whoever was playing LEO at various times during Greenway's career).

In the Ferentz/Parker defense, the MIKE cleans up. Next comes the WILL. The LEO is not really making tackles at or near the line of scrimmage. Typically, the LEO shouldn't and doesn't get many more tackles than the strong safety.

 

[ajones1996]

iowa is in a good position to break in a new LB or two next year since we have a monster d-line who can get the job done themselves without help of the LB's