Little D line respect

[Xerxes]

so giving my opinion, which obviously is in the minority = trolling?
got it.
point taken.
group-think is a must here.

Not quite. They're basically two sides here. The Anti-Ferentz crew and the Pro-Ferentz crew. All Iowa fans that see the program very different from the coaching standpoint. Some guys on both sides are good with having a discussion and being cool about it.

As you can see, some guys don't handle it very well when people have different opinions and they call each other idiots etc. But its very difficult to be the minority here because you'll often have one group that agrees with you.

Now you definitely picked the one spot on the team that both sides probably view as a strength. So you're asking to get attacked a bit. Iowa's DL played 3 great games in the non conference season. They have some goodwill built up.

You're probably going to have to wait until the DL gives up 5-7 yard chunks all game and rarely puts pressure on the QB in a few more games before you can expect much different.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I was a little meh about their run as well. Had we had 3 lb's with more experience, I think we could have shut them down for most of the game.

Yeah that wouldn't have hurt. Part of it is their Oline is pretty close to being as good as advertised too. Sometimes you gotta tip your cap to the other side when they have it coming too. But them running the ball like they did wasn't what beat us. We slowed them down enough to still win that game. It was a combination of most of our own mistakes that prevented Iowa from ultimately winning.

 

[CP87]

Yes these certain special plays and packages is what is called scheming. It is what coaching staffs are supposed to do.

Iowa schemes ok at times but does not pull them out of the bag enough. KOK used to run the fake bubble screen and throw it down the field to a Dallas Clark who was acting like he was blocking. Iowa was one of the first teams I saw use that play.

The fake fg against OSU last year was a great exotic. Some of the pass routes to get Wadley crossing were good schemes and they should work with IKM and Sargent.

Wisky's wheel route to the halfback has been used by lots of teams over the years, Hayden had Filer and others run it alot, and it really works when play action and the running game is working. About the only way to not get burned on that is for the Lbkr to take on the Fullback with correct leverage to knock the Fback off his route and to also be able to make the tackle on the run.

We are about 20-30 pounds per defensive tackle from having a great run stopping dee line. And Dee Tackles need to get push back into the face of a QB.

Sometimes you have to take a chance and run blitz into holes to get no gain or negative plays.

I think you could say Iowa schemed Hockensen wide open twice. Not sure exactly what they saw, but twice they were in 22 personal with their "blocking" TEs (Weiting and Hockensen), with Hockensen flanked wide to Weiting's side. They motioned Hockensen into a crack position, and then play-actioned with Hockensen running the deep cross (I think deep post by backside X). The first time went for 24 yards on Iowa's 1st drive. The 2nd time they used it was the overthrow on the 3rd to last drive.

The first TD to Fant was clearly a blown coverage, but they put the corner/safety in a tough position. The corner had to respect the Sargent wheel, and the safety had Hockensen running a deep-in right in front of this face. With both of their eyes occupied, somehow Fant ran free.

They also schemed the big gaps with the inside zone with the combination of jet-sweep motion one way and swap-boot action the other. They had Wisc LBs vacating the inside, and they had some really nice gains from that.

They failed on a few others. They must have thought they had something on the 5-wide, motion to jet sweep to Sargent on the early 3rd and 5, and they lost yards and gotten taken out of 4-down or long-FG territory (pretty big but now forgotten play). I get what they were trying with the rushed sneek on the 4th and 1 early, but after the review, they should have come up with something better. They also seemed to think the toss would work, but used it unsuccessfully several times.

So overall not an abomination, but you sure wish they would have come up with the one or two special situation plays they needed in the goal-to-go situations.

 

[Caddy]

Love the D line and the depth. I have been touting them as the best in the nation. Still believe it.

I did think they would apply more pressure. Not sure what is happening there.

The d line is nowhere near the best in the nation. They have faced one offensive line all year, and they were pushed around all over the field all night long. How can you say they are the best in the nation? Clemson, Alabama, OSU, are 3 that are far better. NIU, Iowa State, and UNI are what you're basing your claim off of? Absurd.

 

[Motigerhawk]

The d line is nowhere near the best in the nation. They have faced one offensive line all year, and they were pushed around all over the field all night long. How can you say they are the best in the nation? Clemson, Alabama, OSU, are 3 that are far better. NIU, Iowa State, and UNI are what you're basing your claim off of? Absurd.

I agree they have under performed.

I still feel the talent level is high across the board. I think we have 8 very talented linemen that should be, as a unit, the best in the nation.

 

[uihawk82]

A. Nelson is unquestionably our best D-lineman, and has been for some time. His production has fallen off due to getting constant double teams from the opponents.
.

If A Nelson is constantly getting double teamed then Parker needs to scheme around that by 1) letting nelson take an inside rush to occupy those two players for two counts/seconds and 2) bring a Lbkr corner or safety off the corner where Nelson has vacated. Or the other way around, Nelson takes and outside rush and a blitz comes in the gap. And in these situations A Nelson after a 2 or 3 count can drop into zone coverage or keep going after the qb if he is free.

I like to see blitzes and pressure on college QBs as most cant handle it.