The strategy moving forward...

BSpringsteen

BSpringsteen

Well-Known Member
Our defense is abhorrent.

Bad enough that we need to just get the best 11 players on the field.

My opinion is that means going into a Nickel and getting Lowery on the field and using the safeties as run support more.

Then you try to score 42 points a game.

We should be ok with Minnesota but November scares the feces out of me.
 
I have had the Purdue game circled before the season even started as a possible "oops" game. Yeah, we simply need to just outscore opponents this year. Today was evident we are simply not going to stop anyone.
 
The D looked totally different with Alston in there. Also, who knows how long it will take to get Derby dialed up. Those two would add a lot of Stout.
 
CAARHawk said:
The D looked totally different with Alston in there. Also, who knows how long it will take to get Derby dialed up. Those two would add a lot of Stout.
Click to expand...

It won't matter if we keep getting pushed around up front.

I look at what happened today and I don't blame coaches, schemes, even players...

I am however more than a little concerned with how we are getting out muscled... where is Doyle?
 
BSpringsteen said:
Our defense is abhorrent.

Bad enough that we need to just get the best 11 players on the field.

My opinion is that means going into a Nickel and getting Lowery on the field and using the safeties as run support more.

Then you try to score 42 points a game.

We should be ok with Minnesota but November scares the feces out of me.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing. We need to find 11 guys that can make tackles and hopefully make an occasional big play. The most concerning thing about today's defensive effort was that we didn't create any turnovers. I don't think 'bend but don't break' works well for this group primarily because good teams will just jam it down our throat in the red zone. We need to accept we are going to give up a lot of points and take more chances to create negative plays/trunovers.
 
We just have to get healthy. Obviously we aren't going to be one of the top 2-3 defenses in the conference regardless, but if we can get back to full strength I think we can do enough to slow some teams and get the occasional turnover. It helps that we don't have any offensive juggernauts on our remaining schedule.
 
Seriously. As soon as Alston came in the team stopped getting pushed around. The last drive he was out. The line is not going to crush the pocket, but they can play their spot. But then you need a backer to fill IN the hole.
 
I have not figured out the strategy on defense yet. Is it let your opponent get inside the 10 yard line before you start trying?
 
WayzataHawkeye said:
I was thinking the same thing. We need to find 11 guys that can make tackles and hopefully make an occasional big play. The most concerning thing about today's defensive effort was that we didn't create any turnovers. I don't think 'bend but don't break' works well for this group primarily because good teams will just jam it down our throat in the red zone. We need to accept we are going to give up a lot of points and take more chances to create negative plays/trunovers.
Click to expand...

There is a really smart statement in here...

Our defense cant get off the field...

Taking a chance in an effort to force a mistake is worth the risk this year, because our defense is breaking. Not only that but their ineffectiveness coupled with the offenses efficiency is causing a potential problem where the defense is being forced to really be on the field a lot.

If we're likely going to give up the score , take a chance and try to force the mistake because we are giving up big plays and touchdowns.
 
olivecourt said:
We just have to get healthy. Obviously we aren't going to be one of the top 2-3 defenses in the conference regardless, but if we can get back to full strength I think we can do enough to slow some teams and get the occasional turnover. It helps that we don't have any offensive juggernauts on our remaining schedule.
Click to expand...

REMAINING? That would indicate we have faced one to date.

We have played one decent team in PSU and 6 bad ones most of whom have moved the ball at will.

There are three good teams on this schedule and Iowa has yet to face any of them.
 
BSpringsteen said:
There is a really smart statement in here...

Our defense cant get off the field...

Taking a chance in an effort to force a mistake is worth the risk this year, because our defense is breaking. Not only that but their ineffectiveness coupled with the offenses efficiency is causing a potential problem where the defense is being forced to really be on the field a lot.

If we're likely going to give up the score , take a chance and try to force the mistake because we are giving up big plays and touchdowns.
Click to expand...

I'm not happy with the defense either, but I do think it's worth pointing out that IU was 6-13 on third down-- not exactly all-world. Whatever Kirk told the D-line after those first two drives must have sunk in nicely, because from that point forward they were 2-9 on 3rd. One of those two successful conversions was on the garbage time drive in the last three minutes.
 
olivecourt said:
I'm not happy with the defense either, but I do think it's worth pointing out that IU was 6-13 on third down-- not exactly all-world. Whatever Kirk told the D-line after those first two drives must have sunk in nicely, because from that point forward they were 2-9 on 3rd. One of those two successful conversions was on the garbage time drive in the last three minutes.
Click to expand...

Valid point.
 
olivecourt said:
We just have to get healthy. Obviously we aren't going to be one of the top 2-3 defenses in the conference regardless, but if we can get back to full strength I think we can do enough to slow some teams and get the occasional turnover. It helps that we don't have any offensive juggernauts on our remaining schedule.
Click to expand...
Yeah, Michigan and Nebraska have really pathetic offenses. Oh wait....both have qb types that give this D headaches.
 
MoseSchrute said:
Yeah, Michigan and Nebraska have really pathetic offenses. Oh wait....both have qb types that give this D headaches.
Click to expand...

I just really disagree with this. The one thing we haven't struggled with this year is the QB option. I like this team's chances against QBs that can't throw. We'll see how it plays out.
 
olivecourt said:
I'm not happy with the defense either, but I do think it's worth pointing out that IU was 6-13 on third down-- not exactly all-world. Whatever Kirk told the D-line after those first two drives must have sunk in nicely, because from that point forward they were 2-9 on 3rd. One of those two successful conversions was on the garbage time drive in the last three minutes.
Click to expand...


They played better after the first two drives but not well enough to stop teams like Michigan or Nebraska. We made Indiana look competitive on offense and they are very poor. The one thing even KF's toughest critics have to admit is that his teams usually get better as the season progresses(2007 & 2010 being exceptions). Not sure where it is going to come from but let's hope he can find some magic.
 
olivecourt said:
I'm not happy with the defense either, but I do think it's worth pointing out that IU was 6-13 on third down-- not exactly all-world. Whatever Kirk told the D-line after those first two drives must have sunk in nicely, because from that point forward they were 2-9 on 3rd. One of those two successful conversions was on the garbage time drive in the last three minutes.
Click to expand...

Did you notice how much more aggressive the DL was after the first couple drives? It was night and day different...but it needed to be.

When it comes to offenses, there's always the "identity" question. But do we have one on defense this year? We know what we do traditionally, but this season they're often getting the ball ran down their gullet (in particular at PSU), which isn't our MO. W/o strong, consistent DL play, I can't figure out what to expect from the defense. This year we've blitzed more and played more man, at least against specific opponents, along w/ getting inconsistent play from the DL. It seemed early today the DL was in much more read and react mode, and when they were more aggressive, had much more success.

I think Minny, UM, and NE are run-based teams, and this worries me. We haven't held up particularly well against running teams this season. If they beat us throwing, so be it, but you've got to think Norm will take away the run. The question is during passing downs will he play soft zone and force inaccurate QB's to be accurate, or change things up and play more man and gamble w/ blitzes to try to heat up inaccurate throwers? (I'm guessing the former.) MSU and Purdue are more diverse offensively, and this actually worries me more, just b/c making them 1-dimensional may be more difficult. Regardless, the front 7 has got to play better and produce more. The lightbulb really, really needs to go on for a couple DL ASAP.
 
Hope the seniors(Binns,Bernstine,Prater,Neilsen,Nardo)if healthy will feel a sense of urgency with their Hawkeye careers coming to a close and raise their level of play.


Putting more emphasis on TO(s).


I am just throwing stuff out there. From an X and O standpoint I do not think that there is a whole lot that can be done at this point.
 
trj said:
Hope the seniors(Binns,Bernstine,Prater,Neilsen,Nardo)if healthy will feel a sense of urgency with their Hawkeye careers coming to a close and raise their level of play.


Putting more emphasis on TO(s).


I am just throwing stuff out there. From an X and O standpoint I do not think that there is a whole lot that can be done at this point.
Click to expand...


In my opinion Binns, Daniels & Bernstine have played well. I thought Prater might be our best defensive player coming in to the season and I think he has been average at best(not calling him out). I know that Nielsen has been hurt and it shows.

Rather than looking for seniors to step up my hope is that some younger player like Alston can create a 'Sanders-like' spark that gets us turned around on the defensive side.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Share this page

Top