No Epenesa, No Pass Rush!
- Thread starter HawkleberryFinn
- Start date
I just read this and AJ was not in on the last play, really, was he gassed which would be the only explanation.
tksirius
HN's Love Doctor
I would say the entire D was gassed at that point, but considering they had the timeout before the last play, I can't see any reason to keep AJ out unless he was injured/hurt.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
Iowa was rotating the Dline very well all game long. AJ was in the game on the last drive the first 8 plays. He was completely and totally gassed on plays 7 and 8. He gets pancaked on play 8 of the drive (partly because he slipped because he was gassed and had no burst left) and play 8 he didn't get anywhere on a stunt because he had 0 left in the tank.
When AJ came out, Iowa went contain on 1st and goal from the 10, you don't want McSorley's feet to beat you there. Result was a 3 yard completion to the TE.
Iowa went contain on 2nd down as well, keep everyone in front of you and Penn St. threw an incomplete pass.
3rd down Iowa brought 6 on the pass rush blitzing Niemman and Jewell, and Nelson knocked down the pass.
4th down Iowa blitzed again, and Penn St. beat it on the slant. AJ being in on the last 4 plays if anything hurts us. Nelson made a huge play on 3rd down knocking down that pass, is AJ in that same position to do so? Who knows, but our DL play certainly didn't cause us to lose the game on the last 4 downs.
Playing AJ for the first 8 downs shows Iowa wasn't pulling AJ off the field just because. They needed him, and he was in doing his best. The last 4 plays Iowa used Hesse and Nelson and they did their jobs well. Penn St. just made a play, it happens, and Penn St. is an excellent offensive team. Iowa had its chances to stop Penn st. earlier on a 4th and 2 at the 42 yard line and AJ was in there on that play.
I think saying that if AJ was in there for the last 4 plays we win is very disingenuous.
tksirius
HN's Love Doctor
Just watched the last drive and at no time did an OL pancake AJ. The play you're referring to, AJ actually beat his man and slipped after he beat him. AJ didn't look anymore tired than any of other DL on that drive. To add to that, 2 timeouts were called on the drive. The gassed theory simply doesn't apply when trying to make excuses for not having AJ in last 4 plays at all. Sorry, Dean. You're wrong.
HawkeyeDenis
Well-Known Member
Can you imagine what AJ is going to be able to do after a couple of years in Doyle's program?
I don't remember a freshman that could come out and play like that. He will definitely be in the rotation from here on out.
I don't remember a freshman that could come out and play like that. He will definitely be in the rotation from here on out.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
The tackle forced AJ way wide, he didn't get beat. That is what tackles are supposed to go against speed rushes, push the DE out of the play which he did to AJ and AJ slipped. McSorely stepped up in the pocket and AJ was nowhere near the QB. Heck even if McSorely didn't step up in the pocket, AJ was past the play.
Watch the next play as well, and watch AJ. He gets no push at the LOS on the stunt, and he lightly jogs after Barkley because he is gassed. I'm not trying to trash him, he was just spent, and needed to come out.
Either way AJ wouldn't have made a difference in the last 4 plays. The first two plays were quick outs. The 3rd play was a tunnel screen to a WR that Nelson played perfectly. The last play was a slant and we blitzed on the play.
Penn St. wasn't going to let the DL get to McSorely on those last 4 plays. Every one of them were quick plays, as time was running out. AJ wouldn't have made a difference in there.
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
Here's my question? Why don't we move Hesse inside to DT and let AJ take the DE position. Granted, at the 4, they do have the run option but are most likely to throw it, but damn...we needed someone in McSoreley face on that last play.
Wouldn't it be better to move A. Nelson inside? I'm not sure Hesse has the size to play tackle. Maybe on passing downs, idk.
Casey388
Well-Known Member
I think size is the only reason they aren't doing this. Hesse is great at getting into the back field but he is already a small DE, he would be tiny at DT.
D
DDThompson
Guest
In all fairness to whom?
D
DDThompson
Guest
AJE's move on second play of last PSU drive .... wow ... simply wow
tksirius
HN's Love Doctor
Seriously, there's just no point. Maybe you can find 56 to go back and forth with some other nonsense.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
I guess I just see it differently than you.
What do you think AJ could have done on 4 quick pass plays that Penn St ran? I guess I just don’t get how you think he was gonna do anything on those plays.
On the last play it's possible he could have affected the throw with some quick pressure. Either way, it's all hindsight. Without the benefit of knowing what plays were run, I would have wanted AJ in there and think it was a bad decision not to. Baring him being too gassed to go.
dahlhawk
Well-Known Member
Look Kirk is learning! Clayborn didn't play right away and many other players didn't smell the field till later in their career. AJ is getting valuable playing time over guys that have been in the program for years. He's gonna get starter minutes by midseason and maybe be a starter by late in the season. I'm sure no matter how talented he is (and he is) he still has a lot to learn.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
I get that, and I kind of thought the coaches should have stuck him back in. Yet to say what TK did, is kind of silly. Nelson is very good, and Hesse makes plays as well. How many other DE have 2 picks with one being a pick six?
