JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
by HawkeyeGameFilm
It was a rough day for the LB corp as they tried slow down the PSU run game. All day their DL was struggling to protect them and eat up blockers, and the results were 231 rushing yard at 5.0YPC. The LBs make their fair share of mistakes but a lot of their problems were symptoms of a struggling a DL. This is a relatively undersized LB corp and they need to have better protection from the guys up front if they’re going to have success stopping the run.
As your leaders go, so goes your team. When Tyler Nielsen missed what should have been an INT and a shot at a return for TD you could almost sense it was going to set the tone for the whole game. Especially in road games where the crowd is a factor it’s important to have a good start. A big play there by Nielsen likely changes the complexion of the game. Nielsen is still clearly dealing with some injury issues and appeared to add a neck issue to the list of injuries he’s dealing with. He was relieved by Tom Donatell several times in the game and Donatell didn’t really have many chances to make plays. Any way you stack it, Iowa needs better play from their LEO spot.
Morris had some struggles taking on full-backs in the seam and it’s a very difficult thing to master. In the hole you have very little room to maneuver and a 240-pound full-back is barreling full steam at you. Morris got full on feet flying in the air cut several times and big gains were the result. About the only thing he could have done in those situations was attack the full-back outside-in, closer to the LOS, and try to clog up the hole. Even after getting cut Morris would pop back up very quickly and try to make a tackle. Love the effort he plays with but he will need to be more effective against the run in coming weeks.
Kirksey had a bit of an up and down day out there. Showed good instincts most of the time in the run game but had issues dealing with blockers who were consistently getting to him at the second level. He was effective when he was allowed to run free, but being undersized makes it tough for him to win in tight spaces. His effectiveness as a blitzer is becoming an asset for this defense, especially when trying to get off the field on 3rd downs. With the lack of pressure the DL is getting it might be something Iowa uses more and more often.
Nielsen
-1 Great job jumping the route in the flat but he just didn't finish it. He actually deflected this ball right into the Penn St guys hands. Not sure if the sun got into his eyes or what here. He had both hands on this ball and it should have been at worst a 3rd down stop and could have been a pick 6. S1
-1 Losses the edge here as he attacks the fullback inside out on the simple lead play. He takes himself out of the play and Redd simply cuts outside and runs for an easy 10 yards. S1
Overall: -2
Morris
-1 Played the running play too close to the line and couldn’t find the ball. Back ends up blowing by him 2 gaps over. S1
+1 Very nice job reading route here as he came down and attacked the shallow cross and forced an in-completion. Nice read here. S2
+1 Nice job being physical with the WR inside here and takes away the primary target on the goal-line play. S2
-1 Overruns the play here and the back goes right by him in the hole. Needs to find the ball a little quicker here. S5
-1 Very slow read here as he lets the pulling guard get into him in the seam. Gets sealed and the play goes for 20. S6
+1 Nice job fighting off blockers and making the play on the screen. Would have been a TD had he not disrupted the play and tripped up Redd. S6
-1 Needs to stack up the cut block in the hole. Gets cut in the hole here and didn’t take the outside lane way and the back pops outside him for an easy big gainer. S7
+1 Great penetration here shuts down the 3rd and short carry. Nice attacking defense here. S8
-1 Morris sealed off by the FB inside again here. Needs to do a better job than this. S9
Overall: -1
Kirksey
-1 Picked a gap and didn’t read the play here. Needs to see the ball before attacking. S1
+1 Blitz by Kirksey causes poor throw here. Utterly blind luck deflection ends up a completion but a nicely timed blitz. S1
-1 Poor awareness in coverage here as the crosser gets into his zone and doesn’t see him until he flies by him with the ball. Needs better route recognition and needs to peek routes in adjacent zones. S3
+1 Very nice job of tackling the ball here as he forces a fumble. Doesn’t end up a turn over, but a pretty nice job here by Kirksey to get the ball out. S4
+1 Nice job forcing the issue here as he penetrated the backfield and drew a holding call on the run play. S7
Overall: +1
Donatell
Overall: Push
It was a rough day for the LB corp as they tried slow down the PSU run game. All day their DL was struggling to protect them and eat up blockers, and the results were 231 rushing yard at 5.0YPC. The LBs make their fair share of mistakes but a lot of their problems were symptoms of a struggling a DL. This is a relatively undersized LB corp and they need to have better protection from the guys up front if they’re going to have success stopping the run.
As your leaders go, so goes your team. When Tyler Nielsen missed what should have been an INT and a shot at a return for TD you could almost sense it was going to set the tone for the whole game. Especially in road games where the crowd is a factor it’s important to have a good start. A big play there by Nielsen likely changes the complexion of the game. Nielsen is still clearly dealing with some injury issues and appeared to add a neck issue to the list of injuries he’s dealing with. He was relieved by Tom Donatell several times in the game and Donatell didn’t really have many chances to make plays. Any way you stack it, Iowa needs better play from their LEO spot.
Morris had some struggles taking on full-backs in the seam and it’s a very difficult thing to master. In the hole you have very little room to maneuver and a 240-pound full-back is barreling full steam at you. Morris got full on feet flying in the air cut several times and big gains were the result. About the only thing he could have done in those situations was attack the full-back outside-in, closer to the LOS, and try to clog up the hole. Even after getting cut Morris would pop back up very quickly and try to make a tackle. Love the effort he plays with but he will need to be more effective against the run in coming weeks.
Kirksey had a bit of an up and down day out there. Showed good instincts most of the time in the run game but had issues dealing with blockers who were consistently getting to him at the second level. He was effective when he was allowed to run free, but being undersized makes it tough for him to win in tight spaces. His effectiveness as a blitzer is becoming an asset for this defense, especially when trying to get off the field on 3rd downs. With the lack of pressure the DL is getting it might be something Iowa uses more and more often.
Nielsen
-1 Great job jumping the route in the flat but he just didn't finish it. He actually deflected this ball right into the Penn St guys hands. Not sure if the sun got into his eyes or what here. He had both hands on this ball and it should have been at worst a 3rd down stop and could have been a pick 6. S1
-1 Losses the edge here as he attacks the fullback inside out on the simple lead play. He takes himself out of the play and Redd simply cuts outside and runs for an easy 10 yards. S1
Overall: -2
Morris
-1 Played the running play too close to the line and couldn’t find the ball. Back ends up blowing by him 2 gaps over. S1
+1 Very nice job reading route here as he came down and attacked the shallow cross and forced an in-completion. Nice read here. S2
+1 Nice job being physical with the WR inside here and takes away the primary target on the goal-line play. S2
-1 Overruns the play here and the back goes right by him in the hole. Needs to find the ball a little quicker here. S5
-1 Very slow read here as he lets the pulling guard get into him in the seam. Gets sealed and the play goes for 20. S6
+1 Nice job fighting off blockers and making the play on the screen. Would have been a TD had he not disrupted the play and tripped up Redd. S6
-1 Needs to stack up the cut block in the hole. Gets cut in the hole here and didn’t take the outside lane way and the back pops outside him for an easy big gainer. S7
+1 Great penetration here shuts down the 3rd and short carry. Nice attacking defense here. S8
-1 Morris sealed off by the FB inside again here. Needs to do a better job than this. S9
Overall: -1
Kirksey
-1 Picked a gap and didn’t read the play here. Needs to see the ball before attacking. S1
+1 Blitz by Kirksey causes poor throw here. Utterly blind luck deflection ends up a completion but a nicely timed blitz. S1
-1 Poor awareness in coverage here as the crosser gets into his zone and doesn’t see him until he flies by him with the ball. Needs better route recognition and needs to peek routes in adjacent zones. S3
+1 Very nice job of tackling the ball here as he forces a fumble. Doesn’t end up a turn over, but a pretty nice job here by Kirksey to get the ball out. S4
+1 Nice job forcing the issue here as he penetrated the backfield and drew a holding call on the run play. S7
Overall: +1
Donatell
Overall: Push
