Urban Meyer Press Conference

[hawkeyebob62]

Yes. I definitely think he could have admitted they they prepared for a different Iowa attack then what they saw. His ego stands in his way of admitting normal human fallacy. I think his fan base would understand the fact that they spent all week changing things for a game plan that Iowa didn't use. I'm not sure any team or coach could have been prepared for Iowa to change so much. Maybe a few could have overcome it, but certainly not many. We truly trapped OSU and I have to believe it was planned all season long.

There were several factors: we had short fields, our OL looked like they were all 5th-year seniors that had played together all five years, no drops by receivers, no stupid penalties that killed drives, and the D did SOMEthing that evidently confused the hell out of Barrett.

What still concerns me is the way they moved and scored-effortlessly-on their first two TDs (and frankly, the TD after the fake-punt fiasco looked easy, as well).

But why am I even bitching!

 

[Adam]

well then what's the plan for next week.

Lol I wish I knew. If it were me, I would work in an Air raid attack this week of prep. Pass pro has been pretty darn good all season. Stanley has the goods and Wadley is probably better out of the backfield then the traditional between the tackles. I just don't see us dominating Wisconsin's defensive line like OSU. So the run game concerns me. I would like to stretch Wisconsin's defense out and continue to utilize the TE's with a little more space for them to run.

Defensively. It's by the book. STOP THE RUN. I don't think Whiskey's QB can beat us if we take away the run. That is of course no short order against Wisconsin.

I just really don't know at this point what level of Iowa play we are going to see. We are a little on the unpredictable side, but I think defense has been pretty consistently limiting and if we can score points I think the D will keep it close.

 

[Adam]

There were several factors: we had short fields, our OL looked like they were all 5th-year seniors that had played together all five years, no drops by receivers, no stupid penalties that killed drives, and the D did SOMEthing that evidently confused the hell out of Barrett.

What still concerns me is the way they moved and scored-effortlessly-on their first two TDs (and frankly, the TD after the fake-punt fiasco looked easy, as well).

But why am I even bitching!

We kept the safeties shallow early. That is how Hooker made the opening pick 6. We started off wanting to make Barrett beat us deep. He did lol so we switched it up. The great thing is the cover 2's and Cover 3's that we switched to were still not our normal base stuff( saw quite a bit of Cover 2 sink and Cover 3 cloud). It was a very good secondary defensive game plan.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

We kept the safeties shallow early. That is how Hooker made the opening pick 6. We started off wanting to make Barrett beat us deep. He did lol so we switched it up. The great thing is the cover 2's and Cover 3's that we switched to were still not our normal base stuff( saw quite a bit of Cover 2 sink and Cover 3 cloud). It was a very good secondary defensive game plan.

Definitely a great game plan. I think we basically ate on a couple of Barrett's early option/keeps and just missed coverage. After that, it was near-flawless.

Might have been a lot different if 1) we didn't have the success on offense that we had and 2) O$U got the lead and didn't need to throw.

 

[Adam]

I had posted something like this earlier. Iowa has upgraded talent. In one comment somewhere UM said something about being baited.

Would you rather be 7-2 or 8-1 and maybe not having this win? Interesting thought.

OSU outside of Barrett looks to me to be in trouble as far as being a power. Take away Barrett and I think Iowa has the better team and not just by a little bit.

I don't know if it is that we are better team or just that we were absolutely stronger. They are faster and more athletic, but does that matter at all when you can just push them around. I think this boils down to us being more physical. That is why I worry about repeating the great performance against Wisconsin, because I have to believe they are alot stronger than OSU.

 

[Adam]

Definitely a great game plan. I think we basically ate on a couple of Barrett's early option/keeps and just missed coverage. After that, it was near-flawless.

Might have been a lot different if 1) we didn't have the success on offense that we had and 2) O$U got the lead and didn't need to throw.

Absolutely. That is why Kirk was crying after the opening pick 6. Sometimes all Iowa needs to decimate their opponent is to score first lol.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

I don't know if it is that we are better team or just that we were absolutely stronger. They are faster and more athletic, but does that matter at all when you can just push them around. I think this boils down to us being more physical. That is why I worry about repeating the great performance against Wisconsin, because I have to believe they are alot stronger than OSU.

Let's face it, the perfect storm included so many things. We forget we had short fields, maybe, but also that OSU had exactly one possession that began on our side of the field. And at that point it was already pretty much "game over".

If we can pull it off vs. Wiscy, I'm a true believer. If we follow yesterday's blue print, I like our chances that it won't look like the MSU or NW games, win or lose.

 

[Adam]

Let's face it, the perfect storm included so many things. We forget we had short fields, maybe, but also that OSU had exactly one possession that began on our side of the field. And at that point it was already pretty much "game over".

If we can pull it off vs. Wiscy, I'm a true believer. If we follow yesterday's blue print, I like our chances that it won't look like the MSU or NW games, win or lose.

Yes my concern is also that it was a perfect storm game, and those are very hard to replicate. All the same though, I will cherish that game and win for the rest of my life. One of my proudest moments ever as a Hawk fan.

 

[HawkGold]

Let's face it, the perfect storm included so many things. We forget we had short fields, maybe, but also that OSU had exactly one possession that began on our side of the field. And at that point it was already pretty much "game over".

If we can pull it off vs. Wiscy, I'm a true believer. If we follow yesterday's blue print, I like our chances that it won't look like the MSU or NW games, win or lose.

Bob believe. It was real. Iowa was faster. Iowa was stronger.

What is unknown is if the ground hog eill go back into his hole.

 

[HawkGold]

I don't know if it is that we are better team or just that we were absolutely stronger. They are faster and more athletic, but does that matter at all when you can just push them around. I think this boils down to us being more physical. That is why I worry about repeating the great performance against Wisconsin, because I have to believe they are alot stronger than OSU.

Wisky doesnt have a good resume. OSU didnt havd a good road resume.

Its all on KF. Wisky doesnt have Iowa's speed.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

Bob believe. It was real. Iowa was faster. Iowa was stronger.

What is unknown is if the ground hog eill go back into his hole.

If we go back in the shelter-hole next week, I will be SO pissed. I just can't believe we would do that. Yet...I CAN believe it would happen.

 

[Adam]

Wisky doesnt have a good resume. OSU didnt havd a good road resume.

Its all on KF. Wisky doesnt have Iowa's speed.

We have an AMAZING resume this season playing 2 top 10 teams and 2 teams in the top 20. Wisconsin has a shitty one. This fact did not stop us from going 12-0 2 seasons ago. I like your takes and appreciate your perspective, but you seem to be far more confident then I am lol.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

Wisky doesnt have a good resume. OSU didnt havd a good road resume.

Its all on KF. Wisky doesnt have Iowa's speed.

I missed this post. When did Iowa, all of a sudden, get "speed"?!

 

[HawkGold]

I missed this post. When did Iowa, all of a sudden, get "speed"?!

When KF has good teams, the speed is noticeable. It's not necessarily normal speed guys, but it is normal. Such as Claiborne (spelling)? and others. This year it's Wadley and some in the defensive 2ndary. A few on the line. Fant is a fast TE. Stanley has a very quick release and decision making ability.

The game looked like one team was in high gear and the other wasn't. In 09 and 02 it was very noticeable. I personally think this team is one of the best ever, held back by conservatism. I've not really wavered on that much. It's in the speed. This wasn't a slow strong team pushing around fast 4/5 stars. Iowa was the faster team overall. Look at the replays. Which KF will show up next week remains to be seen. Could you imagine PSU running Barkely consistently into walls? No, they use him well.

 

[revkev73]

Some keys to the win (among many obvious ones)

Barrett seemed to have trouble seeing over and getting his passes over Iowa's tall defensive line. This caused drive killers and interceptions from ill advised passes.

Iowa's tight ends are the depth and talent of this team. They are perhaps faster, more elusive and more sure handed than our wide receiver options. Their talent and use in this game was something OSU struggled to contain.

Aggressive passing game plan by Iowa allowed the running backs space.

Iowa's defensive linemen played disciplined, in their lanes, not striving for sacks but containing a mobile QB.

And Captain Obvious...if you get four interceptions including a pick six off of a Heisman Candidate who is experienced and not prone to interceptions...you have a good chance to win.

 

[CJHawkeye]

Look, a team as talented as Ohio State shouldn't get molly-whopped by 31 points just because the Hawks changed up their game plan (though I disagree that the game plan was that different... it was that the execution was almost perfect).

The game plan wasn't terribly different but the tendencies were a huge change. We haven't thrown that much on first down in the entire Ferentz era and an incomplete pass on first down didn't turn into two conservative runs and punt.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

When KF has good teams, the speed is noticeable. It's not necessarily normal speed guys, but it is normal. Such as Claiborne (spelling)? and others. This year it's Wadley and some in the defensive 2ndary. A few on the line. Fant is a fast TE. Stanley has a very quick release and decision making ability.

The game looked like one team was in high gear and the other wasn't. In 09 and 02 it was very noticeable. I personally think this team is one of the best ever, held back by conservatism. I've not really wavered on that much. It's in the speed. This wasn't a slow strong team pushing around fast 4/5 stars. Iowa was the faster team overall. Look at the replays. Which KF will show up next week remains to be seen. Could you imagine PSU running Barkely consistently into walls? No, they use him well.

<<They use him well>>

Not lately, they don't...

 

[hawkeyebob62]

The game plan wasn't terribly different but the tendencies were a huge change. We haven't thrown that much on first down in the entire Ferentz era and an incomplete pass on first down didn't turn into two conservative runs and punt.

The key was that we had few incomplete passes on first down.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

When KF has good teams, the speed is noticeable. It's not necessarily normal speed guys, but it is normal. Such as Claiborne (spelling)? and others. This year it's Wadley and some in the defensive 2ndary. A few on the line. Fant is a fast TE. Stanley has a very quick release and decision making ability.

The game looked like one team was in high gear and the other wasn't. In 09 and 02 it was very noticeable. I personally think this team is one of the best ever, held back by conservatism.h I've not really wavered on that much. It's in the speed. This wasn't a slow strong team pushing around fast 4/5 stars. Iowa was the faster team overall. Look at the replays. Which KF will show up next week remains to be seen. Could you imagine PSU running Barkely consistently into walls? No, they use him well.

You are--literally--the only person claiming that this is one of KFs best teams, hindsight or any sight.

 

[RobHowe]

Here's Meyer from Monday: