Yunno. I gotta say that there might be a very remote outside option.
How about Norm goes all crazy and sends extra pressure from all over the field. Morris can blitz, Hyde can blitz, Prater can blitz, Kirksey can blitz.
Why let the guy coming off the Hammy tear get comfy?
CAAR, I seem to be "quoting" you a lot lately. Promise I'm not stalking, just coat-tailing of your excellent points and hoping to add a little ...
I was thinking this earlier this week ... There is simply no way the base 4-3 defense has any shot to pressure / contain SUPERsa (they have yet to set an edge against any team they've played and the LB's have been weak in position, prevention and tackling all year - except Kirksey), let alone keep NwU from scoring.
I say change up to a tight 3-4. NwU isn't going to beat you via the rush so 3 down is adequate. By tight I mean the LB's cheat closer to l.o.s. but play wider. This compensates for run support but primarily intends to always keep 4 in the areas NwU usually guts the Hawks with the dink & dunk. The wider alignment creates the natural containment "net". Finally, you send a blitzer on every 2nd
AND 3rd > 5 to get SUPERsa always on the move. Bring up the safety / corner to man the area vacated by the blitzer. Yes, this exposes the back end but, since when has SUPERsa ever beaten Iowa with the long ball? If you can get him moving on every pass attempt, it's even more difficult for him to launch downfield. He will break contain / find his receiver for the short route but he will also have to work for it every single time. And, as you implied, with a little luck, Persa might take some hits and / or strain something else.
Base 4-3 = loss.
Blitzkrieg 4-3 = still too many release outlets for SUPERsa and too many opportunities to break DL contain.
Blitzkrieg 3-4 = better contain, more disruption and pressure on SUPERsa.
Blitzkrieg 3-4, with cover 2 / 3 (depending on blitz call), safeties cheating up 3 yards closer than normal and corner-man = best opportunity for adequate coverage down field with focus on preventing being gutted.
I know, risky, but G-dam-it I want to physically dominate those purple p!55ants, make SUPERsa hurt until next Friday and win going away 38 - 3!!
That ain't gonna happen with a business as usual approach.