What lost the game

[HawkfaninWA]

Simply our defensive scheme. I like Norm Parker but the bend don't break simply doesn't work for that type of passing offense. You HAVE to get some pressure on the QB so that he makes some bad throws and that includes more blitzes. Sure we might get burned for a 20 yarder instead of an 8, but that just means more time for our offense OR a sack or two. It was gut wrenching to watch them plod down the field over and over. We saw it against Indiana and you'd think they'd switch some things for NW . . . nope.

Our offense was not as effective as it should have been and there were definitely some questionable calls, but when you're up 17-7 in the 3rd with a D like ours you SHOULD be able to get some pressure and stop the long drives. Shoot, stop ONE long drive.

It was ugly and as others have said, there seemed to be a huge lack of heart/motivation down the stretch. And aspect that is usually big is our D's toughness as the game goes on and I just haven't seen it.

Ugh, I'm just sick because of this one. The season that could have been . . .

 

[JoeHawki]

Our defense was out of shape, and looked uninspired during the 4th quarter. NW wanted it more then us and they went out and got it.

 

[hawkforlife9]

I wonder if it would help to hire a cardio conditioning coach. Those guys looked gassed.

 

[sergeanthulka]

The scheme is to blame for the fact that the front 4 is gassed as well.

That, and we only play 5 guys on the DL (with Daniel getting about 5 snaps). Everybody else rotates guys, including at receiver, for example...Not us....

 

[homes]

Simply our defensive scheme. I like Norm Parker but the bend don't break simply doesn't work for that type of passing offense. You HAVE to get some pressure on the QB so that he makes some bad throws and that includes more blitzes. Sure we might get burned for a 20 yarder instead of an 8, but that just means more time for our offense OR a sack or two. It was gut wrenching to watch them plod down the field over and over. We saw it against Indiana and you'd think they'd switch some things for NW . . . nope.

Our offense was not as effective as it should have been and there were definitely some questionable calls, but when you're up 17-7 in the 3rd with a D like ours you SHOULD be able to get some pressure and stop the long drives. Shoot, stop ONE long drive.

It was ugly and as others have said, there seemed to be a huge lack of heart/motivation down the stretch. And aspect that is usually big is our D's toughness as the game goes on and I just haven't seen it.

Ugh, I'm just sick because of this one. The season that could have been . . .

The defense didn't get it done in the 4th quarter, no argument there. But, where is the offense? The last two games they've been bad. Critical penalties (drive killing holding call on Zues on the first drive), poor decisions (Stanzi's long ball in the 4th quarter), bad execution (dropped passes - pick your favorite), questionable play calling (why pass twice on the second to last drive), poor clock management (no need to spike the ball at the end of the first half - they gave away a critical down when they didn't need to), as just some examples.

 

[NEIChawk]

Hawkeyes fans let out a roar and they were at it again early in the fourth when Jeremiha Hunter intercepted Persa at the Iowa 38, but when Peters responded by picking off a deep pass near the end zone it changed everything.

"The interception cost us the game," Stanzi said.


With just a little over 6 minutes to go why are you going for the homerun into 18 mph winds? That's my take anyway...

 

[sergeanthulka]

Hawkeyes fans let out a roar and they were at it again early in the fourth when Jeremiha Hunter intercepted Persa at the Iowa 38, but when Peters responded by picking off a deep pass near the end zone it changed everything.

"The interception cost us the game," Stanzi said.


With just a little over 6 minutes to go why are you going for the homerun into 18 mph winds? That's my take anyway...

10.5 minutes left.

Had RS thrown an incompletion there, I believe we would have been facing a 3rd & 11 - so we were likely going to be punting anyway.

I like that Rick blames himself for that one (and that's what he should do). He misread the safety & it was a mistake. But it wasn't that costly.

What was probably more costly was the illegal procedure the play before that took us from 2nd & 6 to 2nd & 11. (IIRC)

Penalties absolutely killed us, offensively on Saturday...and they all seemed to occur when we were having some success going into the wind...

 

[DodgerHawki]

Not to be smart...

Simply our defensive scheme. I like Norm Parker but the bend don't break simply doesn't work for that type of passing offense. You HAVE to get some pressure on the QB so that he makes some bad throws and that includes more blitzes. Sure we might get burned for a 20 yarder instead of an 8, but that just means more time for our offense OR a sack or two. It was gut wrenching to watch them plod down the field over and over. We saw it against Indiana and you'd think they'd switch some things for NW . . . nope.

Our offense was not as effective as it should have been and there were definitely some questionable calls, but when you're up 17-7 in the 3rd with a D like ours you SHOULD be able to get some pressure and stop the long drives. Shoot, stop ONE long drive.

It was ugly and as others have said, there seemed to be a huge lack of heart/motivation down the stretch. And aspect that is usually big is our D's toughness as the game goes on and I just haven't seen it.

Ugh, I'm just sick because of this one. The season that could have been . . .

But did you watch the game? We blitzed more and played more nickel in the second half of that game than we did all year. Both of Northwestern's TD's in the fourth quarter came off pressure. On the first Iowa blitzes Sash right up the middle. Persa throws the ball right before getting decked by Sash. The long run to start the final NU drive came when Iowa blitzed Prater off the edge and Castillo then misses a tackle that turns it from a 2-3 yard run into a 22-yard run. Morris had a sack on a blitz right up the middle on another play in the second half. My point is I'm not sure blitzing more is the answer as we don't seem to have the personnel to pull it off.

I wouldn't question anyone's effort level. I didn't see anyone not trying. I saw lots of mistakes, but not lack of effort.

 

[HawkItime]

Simply our defensive scheme. I like Norm Parker but the bend don't break simply doesn't work for that type of passing offense. You HAVE to get some pressure on the QB so that he makes some bad throws and that includes more blitzes. Sure we might get burned for a 20 yarder instead of an 8, but that just means more time for our offense OR a sack or two. It was gut wrenching to watch them plod down the field over and over. We saw it against Indiana and you'd think they'd switch some things for NW . . . nope.

Our offense was not as effective as it should have been and there were definitely some questionable calls, but when you're up 17-7 in the 3rd with a D like ours you SHOULD be able to get some pressure and stop the long drives. Shoot, stop ONE long drive.

It was ugly and as others have said, there seemed to be a huge lack of heart/motivation down the stretch. And aspect that is usually big is our D's toughness as the game goes on and I just haven't seen it.

How many punts did we have? Answer: 7 And the final nail, Stanzi's interception. So, might as well call that 8 drives that went nowhere. Can't blame that on our D.

 

[Hawk4Life25]

I think part of the problem is not having your leader of the defense for a good part of the year. Norm's importance is not being looked at. Yes they have coaches on the staff that have been there the entire time Norm has been in place but you are missing 40 years of coaching experience.

Regardless of Saturday's results we have seen a drop off on the defensive side of the ball. I think it's two fold--graduation of some great leaders (Angerer and Edds) and the loss of Norm for a good chunk of the season.

 

[Jeebus]

Northwestern had the 10th rated pass defense going into Saturday's game. Iowa scored 17 points.

Iowa scored 18 points the week before against a team that gave up 80 to Wisconsin.

Still want to blame the defense?

Did it occur to you that when the offense doesn't sustain drives that the defense is going to get more tired?

 

[Cyclones17]

Why wouldn't the defense be gassed? Iowa went 3 and out so many times in the first half that they were constantly on the field. To blame that loss on the defense is ridiculous. Iowa held Northwestern to the same amount of points as Northwestern. Difference was that Northwestern and that awful offense scored some points

 

[FromFry2Ferentz]

I like to think that our dbacks could play a little man coverage against northwestern's receivers, I mean come on. They had 5 to 10 yard cushions all game that just makes it way to easy, especially if we arent getting the pressure on the qb.

 

[edr247]

You can't blame just the defense or just the offense. It has been two weeks of underwhelming performances by both sides of the ball.

Now, the defense hasn't been fantastic all season. They've gotten good stops, but unfortunately, they've also given up big TD scoring drives when they really couldn't afford to.

However, the offense had been performing pretty well before the Indiana game. Not fantastic, but better than last year, IMO. But when you take into account the defense and their inability to make crucial stops, it was apparent that this Iowa team was going to get as far as the offense could carry them. And the offense that had been producing pretty well, completely dropped off during the past two weeks.

 

[AntonioRamos]

Northwestern had the 10th rated pass defense going into Saturday's game. Iowa scored 17 points.

Iowa scored 18 points the week before against a team that gave up 80 to Wisconsin.

Still want to blame the defense?

Did it occur to you that when the offense doesn't sustain drives that the defense is going to get more tired?

This.

 

[IH8IAST8]

Forget our defense...Best QB in years, Best WR's maybe ever. Tough as nails TE's, great FB, strong OL...and a bad a$$ running back. 3 touchdowns isn't enough...we should be scoring at least 30 on just about anyone.