TOP and Iowa's record.
- Thread starter atxhawk
- Start date
tm3308
Well-Known Member
That's something I mentioned on Soundoff. Since 2005, Northwestern has beaten us at our own game. Only twice have we won the TOP battle against them in that timeframe, and it was by a combined 96 seconds. Against most teams, it's usually us that wins TOP.
2010: 31:09NW/28:51Iowa
2009: 34:20NW/25:40Iowa
2008: 29:53NW/30:07Iowa
2007: 31:21NW/28:39Iowa
2006: 33:22NW/26:38Iowa
2005: 29:18NW/30:42Iowa
2010: 31:09NW/28:51Iowa
2009: 34:20NW/25:40Iowa
2008: 29:53NW/30:07Iowa
2007: 31:21NW/28:39Iowa
2006: 33:22NW/26:38Iowa
2005: 29:18NW/30:42Iowa
atxhawk
Well-Known Member
Iowa Opp Result
EIU 32:18 27:42 W 37-7
ISU 35:38 24:22 W 35-7
Zona 27:52 32:08 L 34-27
Ball St 34:06 25:54 W 45-0
PSU 31:48 28:12 W 24-3
Mich 29:00 31:00 W 38-28
Wisc 26:48 33:12 L 31-30
MSU 32:10 27:50 W 37-6
Indy 31:02 28:58 W 18-13
NW 31:09 28:51 L 21-17
So, is the difference in TOP a matter of the offense not being able to stay on the field or the defense not being able to get off the field?
More stats
AVG score in wins 33.4 - 9.1
AVG score in losses 24.7 - 28.7
EIU 32:18 27:42 W 37-7
ISU 35:38 24:22 W 35-7
Zona 27:52 32:08 L 34-27
Ball St 34:06 25:54 W 45-0
PSU 31:48 28:12 W 24-3
Mich 29:00 31:00 W 38-28
Wisc 26:48 33:12 L 31-30
MSU 32:10 27:50 W 37-6
Indy 31:02 28:58 W 18-13
NW 31:09 28:51 L 21-17
So, is the difference in TOP a matter of the offense not being able to stay on the field or the defense not being able to get off the field?
More stats
AVG score in wins 33.4 - 9.1
AVG score in losses 24.7 - 28.7
tm3308
Well-Known Member
That depends on the game. Sometimes it's turnovers that keep a defense out there a lot, sometimes the defense just can't get a stop. Arizona falls more into the first category, while Wisconsin was more on the defense not being able to stop Wisky, and Northwestern was a combo.
cabse5
Banned
There's another fallacy of a "bend but don't break" defensive philosophy - time of possession. If our defense is on the field, our offense can't score points (the defense must).
On a side note: I noticed that Indiana, which I believe has the 8th best defense in the Big Ten, employed a "bend but don't break" defense against Iowa. How much of a "bend but don't break" defense is the defense really responsible for?
With Northwestern's spread offense against Iowa's "ole" pass defense, it should be very difficult for them to have any time of possession advantage. Dropped passes stop the clock. Most of their offensive plays are geared to gain at least 10 yards, a first down, which also stops the clock.
On a side note: I noticed that Indiana, which I believe has the 8th best defense in the Big Ten, employed a "bend but don't break" defense against Iowa. How much of a "bend but don't break" defense is the defense really responsible for?
With Northwestern's spread offense against Iowa's "ole" pass defense, it should be very difficult for them to have any time of possession advantage. Dropped passes stop the clock. Most of their offensive plays are geared to gain at least 10 yards, a first down, which also stops the clock.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
They get around 6-8 yards on most of their pass plays. They also execute those plays very well. They don't typically drop many passes. And unless you're running Oregon's light-speed offense, a 12-play drive will eat up time.
Again, a fair chunk of the blame for that also falls on the offense. But NW ran a ton of plays, and our scheme allows for them to do that.
cabse5
Banned
tm3308, I wasn't going to nitpick, yet here I am. I didn't say, and I'm going to paraphrase you, average NW pass play I said with Iowa's "ole" pass defense - the 10 yard cushion defense. In the NW vs. Iowa rivalry under Parker, I don't recall many pass plays where the Iowa defender was ready to pounce on the receiver the moment they caught the ball.
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